Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: John Villalba, 806-995-3721, john.villalba@ag.tamu.edu
TULIA – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Swisher County Ag Committee will conduct the Swisher County Ag Day from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Dec. 10 in Tulia.
The program will be held in the Swisher County Memorial Building, 127 SW Second St.
“The Swisher County Ag Committee has identified issues relating to dryland farming techniques as hot-button topics for producers in this part of the Panhandle,” said John Villalba, AgriLife Extension agent in Swisher County. “The speakers for this program will all touch on a variety of factors that influence the decisions farmers are having to make, especially as they relate to drought and the decline in overall water availability.”
Individual registration is $10 due upon arrival, but those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to the AgriLife Extension office in Swisher County by Dec. 3 by calling 806-995-3721.
Five Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units, one laws and regulations, one integrated pest management and three general, will be available for those with a valid private pesticide applicators license. Six Certified Crop Advisor credit hours will also be available.
The program topics and speakers include:
– Chemical Schemes for Weed Control, Johnny Webb, Crop Production Services, Plainview.
– Understanding Resistant Weeds, Dr. Peter Dotray, AgriLife Extension weed specialist, Lubbock.
– Strategic Integrated Pest Management and Pesticide Suggestions, and New Pesticide Trial Results and Applications, Blayne Reed AgriLife Extension integrated pest management agent for Hale and Swisher counties.
– Texas Department of Agriculture Laws and Regulations, Casey Summers, Texas Department of Agriculture, Lubbock.
– Production Systems Utilizing Cattle, Rick Kellison, project director, Texas Alliance for Water Conservation, Lubbock.
– Range and Pasture Herbicide Recommendations and Methods of Application, Villalba.
– What to Expect from Drought Tolerant Trait Corn and Refuge Requirements, Reed.
– Adapting to Dryland Farming in Swisher County, Dr. Bob Stewart, director, Dryland Agriculture Institute, West Texas A&M University, Canyon.
– Adapting to Farming with Less Water and Chemical Use Rotation–panel discussion.
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