04/18/08 British expert to talk about alternative livestock feeds

Washington Ag April 18, 2008 High corn and hay prices have livestock producers looking for alternatives. In Europe root crops and alternative forage crops remain the mainstay of dairy, beef, pork and sheep production. Peter Garland is one of Britains's leading experts on the topic. Kate Halstead with Snohomish County Extension says Garland will be making a rare West Coast visit and will present a workshop at the Snohomish County Extension Office in Everett next Wednesday. Halstead: "It is actually in a way a back to the future sort of presentation in that if you look back in the history of agriculture in the United States, not so much the brassica forages, but especially the fodder beets, or as they were referred to in our grandparents time, mangels, were a very common part of any well run dairy at the turn of the century in Europe and England." Garland will be talking about feedstuffs that can be grazed, harvested as silage, or dug and stored for winter confinement feeding. There has been tremendous interest in the workshop and although it is free pre-registration is required. Call 425-338-2400. The workshop is Wednesday April 23rd from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Snohomish County Extension office in Everett. I'm Bob Hoff.