Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Ed Bynum, 806-677-5600, ebynum@ag.tamu.edu
AMARILLO – The first Texas Panhandle Scout School hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will be held May 9 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 6500 Amarillo Blvd. West, Amarillo.
Dr. Ed Bynum scouts for aphids on a potato plant. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Kay Ledbetter)
The training is open to anyone interested in learning about scouting and identifying insect pests of corn, grain sorghum and cotton, said Dr. Ed Bynum, AgriLife Extension entomologist in Amarillo. They will also learn how to distinguish differences between pest damage, herbicide injury, fertilizer deficiencies and disease symptoms.
Bynum said the school should benefit any agricultural worker wanting a refresher or to learn more, including crop consultant workers, farmers and their workers, and AgriLife Extension agents and their interns.
Registration will begin at 12:45 p.m. and sessions will go from 1-5 p.m. There is a $10 fee payable at the door.
Speakers and topics will be:
– Dr. Jourdan Bell, AgriLife Extension agronomist in Amarillo, weed identification, herbicide injury and fertilizer deficiency symptoms.
– Bynum and Blayne Reed, AgriLife Extension integrated pest management agent for Hale and Swisher counties, insect scouting, pest identification and damage symptoms.
– Dr. Ron French, AgriLife Extension pathologist in Amarillo, diseases and disease symptoms.
A Texas Department of Agriculture worker protection safety DVD will be shown for agricultural workers needing a pesticide handling green card. Three continuing education units – two integrated pest management and one general – will be offered.
Those planning to attend should preregister with Ronda Fisher at 806-677-5600 or at rk-fisher@tamu.edu by May 7.
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