Silage conference held in U.S.

MADISON, Wis. — Silage specialists from around the world gathered at the XV International Silage Conference July 27-29 in Madison, Wis.

The conference has not been held in the U.S. since 1975. The conference brought together university, government and industry researchers and graduate students from around the world.

There were 250 people registered for the conference representing 33 countries. The event was hosted by the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center (USDA-Agricultural Research Service) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

Researchers

Researchers from various countries presented information and results from studies they have completed on silage research. Silage is very important whereas research on silage quality conducted by the universities has a huge impact on the milk and beef production for the food supply of the world.

K.E. Griswold, P.H. Craig and S.K. Dinh of Penn State gave a presentation on relating dry matter density to dry matter loss in corn silage bunker silos in southeastern Pennsylvania.

There may be two or more countries conducting the same type of experiment to make silage better. At the conference they share information and in doing so make great strides in their research.

Tours

On Tuesday afternoon individuals could choose from one of seven tours: Hoard’s Dairyman Farm and the National Dairy Shrine, the UW Madison Campus, the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center Farm, the UW Arlington Research Station, the Crave Bros. Farm and Rock River Labs, the International Crane Foundation or the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center.

International Silo Association was one the 19 businesses that was asked to sponsor the Silage Conference. All sponsors could set up a booth displaying farm related products and information.

Next conference

The International Silage Conference is held about every three years and the next event is scheduled for 2012 in Finland.