VICTORIA – Strategies in dealing with oil and gas issues, plus the ongoing drought, will be among the topics to be discussed at the 2011 South Texas Farm and Ranch Show Oct. 26-27 at the Victoria Community Center, 2905 E. North St., in Victoria.
“Oil and gas activity in this area has been booming, so we’ll be offering advice to landowners on how to successfully navigate lease negotiations and pipeline easements,” said Joe Janak, Texas AgriLife Extension Service agent in Victoria County.
Leading that discussion will be Judon Fambrough, an attorney with the Texas Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, Janak said.
“And, of course, we’ll be discussing this drought and its continued stranglehold on the area,” he said. “We’ve organized a program to look at management strategies for ranchers to consider.”
Other topics to be addressed at the show include financial planning for farmers and ranchers, home energy conservation, grazing management, wild hog problems, water conservation, farm geographical information systems technology, pest control and pasture management for small-acreage landowners.
The show will offer 16.5 hours of Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units, 20 hours of certified crop advisory credits and 5.5 hours in beef quality assurance, Janak said.
“As in the past, the show will offer pesticide license training from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., and testing at 1 p.m. on Oct. 26,” he said. “Registration for the training session begins at 6:30 a.m.”
The two-day show will also feature more than 125 exhibit booths.
Keynote speakers at the luncheons will be Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp on Oct. 26 and Evelyn Browning Garriss, an historical climatologist, on Oct. 27, Janak said.
“Mr. Sharp is a former resident of Victoria, a Texas A&M graduate of 1972 and also served as Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts,” Janak said. “Evelyn Browning Garriss publishes the Browning Newsletter and will talk about what to expect from a changing climate.”
Admission to the show to view the exhibits is free. A $5 fee will be charged each day to attend any number of the educational programs, Janak said.
Tickets for either luncheon are $8 and must be purchased by 5 p.m. Oct. 24 from the AgriLife Extension office in Victoria County, 528 Waco Circle, Victoria.
For more information about the show, call 361-575-4581.
