VICTORIA — Prospective and current olive growers will have an opportunity to learn about the opportunities and challenges of growing olives in an orchard management training May 29 at the Victoria Educational Gardens Pavilion, 283 Bachelor Dr., in Victoria.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The program starts at 9 a.m. and concludes with an afternoon orchard tour.Lunch is included.
The training, “Olive Orchard Management: Planning, Practices and Challenges,”will be presented by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service fruit crops specialists Larry Stein of Uvalde, Jim Kamas of Fredericksburg and Monte Nesbitt of College Station. The trio will review soil and site preparation, irrigation and nutrition, varieties, disease control, weed management and other topics important to growing olives in Texas.
Registration is $20 per person, payable to the Victoria Ag Fund,or incash at the door.
The program is sponsored by the Texas Olive Oil Council.
Coordinators said participants will hear what was observed on a recent tour of the California olive industry and visit a new high-density olive orchard near Victoria. The orchard is being planted this year by Texas Olive Ranch, which has additional production orchards in the Carrizo Springsarea.
Two pesticide continuing education units — one general and one integrated pest management — are offered.
Those interested in attending are asked to contact the AgriLife Extension office in Victoria County, 361-575-4581, or AgriLife Extension agent Peter McGuill at pjmcguill@ag.tamu.edu to register and reserve a meal.
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