PRE-CONVENTION TRAIL BOSS Building Bridges Grasslands to Rangelands Joint meeting of the American Forage and Grassland Council and the Society for Range Management LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY n JANUARY −1, 008 American Forage and Grassland Council SOCIETY FOR RANGE MANAGEMENT SUPPLEMENT TO RANGELANDS WELCOME to the SRM and AFGC Joint Annual Meeting & Trade Show! TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome ................................................................... 5 Louisville Map ............................................................... 6 Program-At-A-Glance ......................................................... 7 Traveling to Louisville ......................................................... 8 Hotel Information ............................................................ 9 Meeting Facilities ............................................................ 11 Registration Information ....................................................... 12 Registration Form ............................................................ 13 Trade Show Information ....................................................... 14 Sponsorship Information ....................................................... 16 Board/Council/Committee Meetings ............................................... 17 Special Events/Activities ....................................................... 18 Special Events At-A-Glance ..................................................... 18 Technical Field Tours ......................................................... 19 Student Activities ............................................................ 22 Student Activities At-A-Glance ................................................... 24 Job Fair ................................................................... 25 Techinical Program - At-A-Glance ................................................ 28 Presentation Instructions ....................................................... 29 Workshops ................................................................. 30 Technical Program ........................................................... 34 2008 Planning Committee ...................................................... 42 American Forage and Grassland Council and Society for Range Management The American Forage and Grassland Council and the Society for Range Management are co-hosting this meeting in Louisville Kentucky. The theme for the meeting is “Building Bridges: Grasslands to Rangelands”. Who We Are: The American Forage and Grassland Council (AFGC) is an organization with 19 affiliate councils in the United States and more than 2,000 members. The organization’s primary objective is to promote the profitable production and sustainable utilization of quality forage and grasslands. AFGC membership represents the academic community, producers, government agencies, private industry, institutes and foundations united in a common cause to promote and develop the forage industry. AFGC aspires to be the leader and voice of economically and environmentally sound forage focused agriculture. Contact at 800.944.2342 or email [email protected] for additional information. The Society for Range Management (SRM) is a professional and scientific society whose international membership is in- volved in studying, conserving, managing and sustaining the varied resources of rangelands. SRM membership includes land managers, ecologists, ranchers, erosion control specialists, educators and scientists, and decision makers in state and federal government agencies responsible for public land management. SRM has more than 3,500 professional and scientific mem- bers in 38 countries, dedicated to managing the world’s rangeland resources. SRM is committed to finding science-based so- lutions to the issues that impact the world’s rangelands. The Society’s goal is to ensure that rangeland resources are sustained in perpetuity. Contact at 303.986.3309 or email [email protected]. Bridge the Gap - Join AFGC and SRM: If you are a leader in the forage or rangeland management discipline, or seek to enhance your knowledge, there is no bet- ter way to increase your involvement and show your support than by becoming a member. AFGC and SRM members will receive a significant discount on individual registration and exhibit booth fees. To become a member: Society for Range Management, contact Lesley Radtke, Dir. of Membership / Special Events, at 303.986.3309 or email [email protected]. American Forage and Grassland Council, contact Dee Dee Bandy, Associate Director, at 800.944.2342 or email [email protected]. Welcome to the 008 Annual Meeting of the American Forage and Grassland Council and the Society for Range Management “Building Bridges – Grasslands to Rangelands” This Annual Meeting is the result of a strong partnership between AFGC and SRM. Many folks from both organizations volunteered substantial time to make it a rewarding experience for all who attend. The stage has been set for capitalizing in the future on our strengthened working relationship not only with each other, but with other organizations as well. You will see the results of our partnership in the program emphasis on Plenary Day, the broad mix of technical programs, the wide scope of program participants, a strengthened Trade Show, joint award and social activities, and in an atmosphere conducive to working together. Please take advantage of the many opportunities to advance your knowledge in technical areas, become acquainted with a broad cross section of professionals, renew old friendships, and enjoy the Southern hospitality of Louisville. We hope that you will use this occasion to form new friendships, expand your network, and provide the basis for new and productive partnerships. Dr. Ray Smith Deen Boe General Co-Chair General Co-Chair American Forage & Grassland Council Society for Range Management LOUISVIllE, KENTUCKY n JANUarY 26–31, 2008 American Forage and Grassland Council and Society for Range Management WELCOME Dear SRM Members, Colleagues and Friends, On behalf of the Society for Range Management (SRM), I am honored and privileged to extend to you a personal invitation to attend the 2008 SRM/AFGC Joint Annual Meeting in the Bluegrass State of Kentucky. We are excited to share our 61st meeting with the American Forage and Grassland Council (AFGC) and joint partners, associates and friends. The organizing and planning committees of SRM and AFGC have worked very hard and diligently to prepare for your attendance and participation at the Galt House Hotel and Suites in Louisville. The theme “Building Bridges, Grasslands to Rangelands” is very appropriate, and with this in mind the committees have put together an outstanding program. As expected, the program includes many educational symposia and workshops, technical papers, posters and outstanding social events and tours. As well as learning more about rangelands, grasslands and forage management, we have the opportunity to experience the horse capital of the world with tours scheduled for Churchill Downs (home of the Kentucky Derby) and many purebred horse facilities and farms. This should be a real treat for many of our members and of course the Bluegrass Region is known for its music, another attraction for many of you. The hosting SRM sections (National Capital and Florida) as well as many other SRM and AFGC members are committed to making this meeting a great success and a worthwhile experience. As always, we look forward to fostering our partnerships with AFGC as well as many other societies, agencies and institutions represented at the meeting. I would like to personally thank the organizing committee co-chairs, Deen Boe (SRM) and Ray Smith (AFGC) for their outstanding leadership, investment of time and dedication to the planning effort. I am confident that those attending the meeting will come away from Louisville grateful for the professional development and networking opportunities afforded by these joint efforts. I look forward to seeing you in Louisville, January 2008. Dennis Phillippi, President Society for Range Management Dear AFGC Members, I would like to extend a personal invitation for you to attend the 2008 AFGC-SRM Joint Annual Conference on January 26-31, 2008 in Louisville, Kentucky. This meeting promises to be an exciting, fun-filled, and professionally valuable event. Both AFGC and SRM members, our host council (Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council), and headquarters personnel have been working for years to make this one of the best meetings you will ever attend. Many of you, like me, attended the previous AFGC-SRM Joint Annual Conference in 1999 in Omaha, Nebraska. I found that conference to be very exciting and refreshing with new viewpoints and ideas expressed through this joint format. Though both organizations have members from throughout the U.S., more AFGC members are located in the eastern U.S. and more SRM members are located in the western U.S. Our geographic base may differ, but we continue to discover that we have much in common. We can learn so much from each other. The AFGC-SRM Planning Committee led by Ray Smith (AFGC) and Deen Boe (SRM) has put together an excellent, full program with several special events. It will all be in Louisville this January --- plenary presentations, excellent symposia, informative papers and posters, emerging scientists, forage spokesperson and other contests, fellowship, tours, auctions, job fairs, dancing, and so on. There will be time to learn, time to meet with your friends, and time to make new friends. If you have never