May / June, 2001

WELCOME TO AG EXPO 2001!
By: Tim Harrigan, Ag Expo Director

Ag Expo---the largest agricultural show in Michigan---is one of the premier farm shows in the nation. Celebrating its 22nd year, this three-day outdoor show highlights the latest improvements in equipment, buildings, supplies and services for production agriculture. It's the only place in Michigan where farm families can see new technologies and equipment operating in the field, talk with industry and university experts, and gather ideas for improving the farm business in a single setting. Ag Expo is sponsored by the Agricultural Engineering Department in cooperation with MSU Extension and the Agricultural Experiment Station.

In addition to the hundreds of commercial exhibits at Ag Expo, special demonstrations planned that will be both entertaining and informative. Field demonstrations on hay and forage harvesting and handling will be held each day from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. The emphasis will be on harvesting and moving forage quickly and efficiently. More than two dozen machines will be operating in a forty acre field near the MSU dairy barns.

Concurrent demonstrations on grazing will be held in the pastures adjacent to the forage demonstrations. The grazing demonstrations will focus on the tools that grazer use to handle livestock: fencing, fence chargers and water systems, and improvements such as stream crossings and lane stabilization. Free bus shuttles will run between Ag Expo's parking lot and the nearby demonstration sites. Interested in better managing or improving your wood lot for income or wildlife habitat? State and university foresters will offer guidance and help you develop a plan during a tour of a university woodlot.

Teamsters from Tillers International will reveal the pleasure and utility of haying with draft animals at 10:00 A.M. each day. Folks from Tillers will also be giving ongoing demonstrations on training working calves, carving ox yokes and other rural skills at their exhibit site.

Are you interested cattle handling equipment and safe, low-stress techniques for moving and handling cattle? Be sure to see the cattle handling demonstrations at 11:00 A.M. each day at the west end of the central exhibit area. Whether you move cattle every day or simply enjoy livestock, these demonstrations will highlight your day at Ag Expo.

Nearly every farmer stores or handles grain of some type. If you are looking for ideas on how best to move or store grain, or if you are planning an expansion of your grain handling facilities, make a point of visiting the grain handling demonstrations at 1:00 p.m. each day at the west end of the exhibit area.

And, as you're enjoying the commercial product displays in the central exhibit area take a few moments to visit the Michigan Steam Engine and Threshers Club, and the antique tractor and farm equipment activities. MSU's "education row" at the west end of the exhibit area will feature exhibits by more than a dozen departments within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Representatives will be on hand to answer questions about such things as animal health, crop production, manure management, wildlife habitat, educational programs and water quality.

Ag Expo 2001 pdf. file

Agricultural Engineering
Michigan State University
A.W. Farrall Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824-1323
(517) 355-4720

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June 5, 2001