Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: Rick Minzenmayer, 325-365-5212, r-minzenmayer@tamu.edu
SAN ANGELO – The 10th Concho Valley Cotton Conference is set for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 28 at The City of San Angelo McNease Convention Center, 500 Rio Concho Drive.
“Growers wanting to catch up on the latest happenings in West Texas cotton production, along with some other crops, should plan to join us for this popular biennial event,” said Rick Minzenmayer, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologist for Runnels and Tom Green counties.
“We’ll be looking at everything from the Farm Bill to the latest on cotton root rot,” he said. “We’ll also have updates on work being done on some perennial issues such as cotton variety selection and weed control.”
The event will include a trade show that will remain open throughout the day.
The Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association will hold its annual meeting at 3 p.m. That meeting will include an election of officers as part of their annual business meeting.
Other conference topics will include: aerial imagery for mapping and monitoring cotton root rot, current and future cotton root rot-related work, cotton research, weed resistance avoidance and grain sorghum management.
A program highlight prior to the serving of a complimentary lunch, will be the presentation of the High Cotton Award by Ron Smith, Southwest Farm Press editor.
The conference is sponsored by AgriLife Extension’s Runnels/Tom Green Integrated Pest Management Committee, the Tom Green and Runnels counties crops committees, the Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association and the AgriLife Extension staffs in Runnels and Tom Green counties.
Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be offered to those staying for the entire program.
Registration is free and includes a noon meal and snacks, but participants must preregister by March 22, otherwise individual registration becomes $20.
To preregister, call the AgriLife Extension office in Runnels County at 325-365-2219, Minzenmayer’s office at 325-365-5212 or the AgriLife Extension office in Tom Green County at 325-659-6523.
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