REFUGIO – The Refugio Crop Consultant Workshop will be held from 8 a.m-3:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Bonnie View Community Center on Farm-to-Market 629 in Bonnie View.
It is being hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
“In the past we’ve always focused on producer education, but in modern farming, many producers hire certified crop advisors to help monitor their crops and make important production decisions,” said Michael Donalson, AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Refugio County. “Therefore, the Refugio Crops Committee felt it was imperative to extend our effectiveness by offering Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units and education for crop advisors.”
The program fee is $25. Registration begins at 8 a.m.; the program begins at 9 a.m. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by Dec. 11 to 361-526-2825.
Six hours of crop consultant advisor continuing education units will be offered, including one in integrated pest management, three hours in crop management and two hours in soil and water management.
Topics will include:
— Sugarcane aphid scouting and control.
— Weed control and resistance.
— Sorghum seeding rates.
— Methods of soil moisture conservation.
— What will this year’s weather mean for next year’s crop?
— Crop scouting with unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones.
Donalson said educating crop consultants is of direct benefit to growers.
“If producers are to take full advantage of the research-based information imparted by Texas A&M AgriLife Research on modern row crop production, then it’s important that we reach out to paid crop consultants,” he said.
For more information, contact Donalson at 361-526-2825 or Michael.Donalson@ag.tamu.edu.