Innovations for Texas agriculture focus of Dec. 8-9 conference
Writer: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, b-fannin@tamu.edu
BRYAN – Former Congressman Charles Stenholm will kick off the 27th annual Texas Plant Protection Association Conference scheduled Dec. 8-9 at the Brazos Center in Bryan.
Dr. Mark Hussey, vice chancellor and dean of agriculture and life sciences at Texas A&M University, will provide opening remarks prior to the general session on Dec. 8.
“We have assembled some leading experts in the field of agriculture who will be addressing innovations and strategies that will help make our farmers and industry as a whole more profitable,” said Ray Smith, Texas Plant Protection Association chairman, College Station.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Innovations for Texas Agriculture – Strategies for Implementation.”
“Weed control and resistance continue to be hot topics for Texas and across the southwest,” said Eric Castner, association president and DuPont Crop Protection representative “We have several general session speakers who will be addressing these issues and what we can expect in the future.”
Stenholm, served 13 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and is now a policy advisor with OFW Law in Washington. He will discuss “Ag and Industry: Innovation Partnerships” to open the conference.
He will be followed by Dr. David Baltensperger, head of soil and crop sciences department at Texas A&M, presenting “Professional Associations Leadership Role in GMOs.”
The morning program will also feature leading experts in weed control discussing new strategies and control methods:
– Weed Resistance Issues in Texas: Implementation of New Technology, Dr. Paul Baumann, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service state weed specialist, College Station, and Peter Dotray, Texas A&M AgriLife Research weed specialist, Lubbock.
– Strategies and Stewardship for the Use of New Herbicide Technologies in Cropping Systems, Jordan Iversen and Luke Etheridge, consultants with Monsanto.
– Strategies and Stewardship for the Enlist Weed Control System in Cotton, Corn and Soybeans, Haley Nabors, Enlist field specialist, Dow AgroSciences.
– Engenia Herbicide: Use and Stewardship in Dicamba-Tolerant Cropping Systems, Adam Hixson, BASF representative.
– Flag Technology Program, Bob Scott, University of Arkansas.
To register for the conference, visit tppa.tamu.edu.
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