By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent EAST LANSING, Mich. — Ag Expo, Michigan’s largest agricultural show, is back for its 30th year with traditional farm displays and activities as well as special attractions for the whole family. The event is July 21-23 on the Michigan State University (MSU) campus.
The expo, sponsored by MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR), will feature more than 250 exhibitors, including equipment, seed, fertilizer, building and service suppliers. Visitors will see tractors, implements, trailers and other equipment, with the opportunity to talk with representatives from manufacturers, dealers and agencies. They also can learn about research, teaching and Extension programs offered through the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
“We’ve got a great mix of educational activities, ride-and-drive demonstrations and informational presentations planned for this year’s show,” said Ag Expo Director Ruth Hohl Borger. “Whether you manage 1,000 acres or mow a half-acre lawn, you’re guaranteed to learn something new at Ag Expo.”
In addition to the traditional variety of educational and commercial activities and exhibits that center on agriculture, the state’s second-largest industry, Ag Expo offers several new attractions this year.
New to this year’s show is “Profitable environmental options for livestock producers,” a one-day series of demonstrations at the MSU Beef Cattle Research Center on July 21. MSU experts will discuss feeding sites, feeders and bunk silos, watering systems, cattle handling and pasture seeding options.
One focus of the demonstrations will be a session on how to improve wasteful feeding habits to ultimately lower the cost of feed inputs – especially hay.
“Hay is too expensive to waste,” said Dan Buskirk, MSU Extension beef production specialist. “Using a well-designed hay feeder can be the difference between a profitable feed management system and leaving money on the ground.
“Managing hay waste can help keep feed costs in line while better managing forage nutrients and preventing environmental problems,” he said.
Also during the demonstrations, MSU Extension staff will offer valuable advice to farmers to help them to keep manure from running off the land. By identifying high-risk fields, using cover crops and vegetative filter strips, and managing manure on drained cropland, livestock producers can prevent bacteria from contaminating surrounding waterways.
“Contamination of water by bacteria is one of the leading causes of impairment in water surfaces,” said Lois Wolfson, Extension specialist with the Institute of Water Research at MSU.
“There are many management practices that livestock producers can use to reduce this runoff.
“Tillage and manure management practices that quickly move manure into the root zone help to protect water quality and improve farm profitability by recycling valuable crop nutrients,” she said.
“Profitable environmental options for livestock producers” will feature demonstrations at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. July 21 at the Beef Cattle Research and Teaching Center at 3200 Bennett Road, Lansing, less than one mile from the main Michigan Ag Expo site.
Transportation to the center will be available from Ag Expo, and parking will be available at the center.
Another new Ag Expo feature will be on-site seed plots from commercial seed companies. Visitors will be able to talk with seed company representatives while looking at examples of the companies’ soybeans and hybrids.
The expo also will feature two days of tractor pulling contests. The garden tractor pulls are scheduled to begin at noon July 21 and at 10 a.m. July 22 in the special events area.
Ag Expo will feature commercial and farm equipment from throughout the Midwest and several Canadian provinces on the 35-acre main site as well as educational exhibits from several MSU colleges and departments.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 21 and 22 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 23 at the corner of Farm Lane and Mount Hope Road on Michigan State University’s (MSU) East Lansing campus. Because of road construction on Farm Lane, the Ag Expo parking area and grounds will only be accessible from Mount Hope Road. Admission is free.
Visit www.agexpo.msu.edu or call 1-800-366-7055 for more information or a complete list of Ag Expo activities. |
