Marketing, cover crops, wild hogs on agenda March 8-9 in Wichita Falls
Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: David Graf, 940-716-8610, cdgraf@ag.tamu.edu
WICHITA FALLS – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will offer two days of educational programs during the eighth annual Wichita Falls Ranch and Farm Expo to be held March 8-9 at the J.S. Bridwell Agricultural Center, 111 N. Burnett St., Wichita Falls.
The show hours for the expo are from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on March 8 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on March 9. The AgriLife Extension educational programming will begin at 7 a.m. with a breakfast and conclude at 3 p.m. on March 8. Lunch will not be provided.
“We offer crops and farming topics on the first day and range and pasture topics on the second day,” said David Graf, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Wichita County. “However, in the past an overwhelming majority attend both days.
“Producers should know we will have our annual breakfast, as it was uncertain earlier that this would occur,” Graf said. “There is no need to preregister for it or the program.”
There will be a $10 registration fee that will include one or both days. Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units – one each in laws and regulations, integrated pest management and general categories – will be offered each day, for a total of six for those attending the entire program.
Guest speakers during the breakfast will be district representative for U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Clarendon, Caleb Pool, who will provide an update on legislative issues, and KFDX meteorologist Bryan Rupp giving a weather lookout. Additionally, the 2017 Ag Awards will be presented by the Wichita Ag Committee.
Registration for the next portion of the program will begin at 8 a.m. The lineup of topics and speakers will be:
– Where’s the Fit for New Cotton Technologies and Cotton Variety Selection, Dr. Gaylon Morgan, AgriLife Extension state cotton specialist, College Station.
– Cotton Marketing Overview, Dr. John Robinson, AgriLife Extension economist-cotton marketing, College Station.
– Wheat and Grain Market Overview, Dr. Mark Welch, AgriLife Extension economist-grain marketing, College Station.
– Cover Crops Pros and Cons, Dr. Paul DeLaune, Texas A&M AgriLife Research soil scientist, Vernon.
– Texas Department of Agriculture Laws, Regulations and Updates, Henry Krusekopf, TDA field inspector, Wichita Falls.
On March 9, the educational program will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. with programming from 9 a.m. to noon. The topics and speakers will include:
– Changes to EPA’s Worker Protection Standards, Krusekopf.
– Pasture Improvement Tips, James Jackson, AgriLife Extension range program specialist, Stephenville.
– Wild Hog Control Methods, Dr. John Tomecek, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, San Angelo.
For those who want more information on wild hog control, Tomecek will lead a Wild Hog Corral Demo and Pasture Talk from 2-4 p.m. To get to the site, take state Highway 25 north from Electra to Haynesville, then go east on state Highway 240 for 2 miles and turn north on Enterprise Road. Go north 3 miles to Flippin Road, and the group will meet at the intersection.
An additional two CEUs will be offered in integrated pest management for this discussion on catching wild hogs and the multiple methods it takes to control these destructive pests, Graf said.
For more information, contact Graf at 940-716-8610 or cdgraf@ag.tamu.edu.
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