Writer: Robert Burns, 903-834-6191, rd-burns@tamu.edu
OVERTON — The East Texas Turfgrass Conference has been scheduled for Feb. 4 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton, 1710 Farm-to-Market Road 3053.
The annual conference is primarily for professional grounds and landscape managers for local school districts and city parks and recreation departments, said Randy Reeves, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent for Gregg County and one of the conference organizers.
The general public is also welcome, and there will be plenty of information presented that private homeowners will find interesting and useful, Reeves said.
Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. and cost is $35 per person, payable at the door by check or cash. The program will finish at 3:10 p.m.
Attendees will be eligible for five continuing education units toward the renewal of their Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator licenses. Two continuing education units in the general category, two in integrated pest management and one in laws and regulations will be offered.
“Be sure to bring your pesticide license or pesticide number with you to ensure proper CEU credit,” Reeves said. “Your driver’s license number alone will no longer serve.”
The presentations will begin at 8 a.m. and end at 3:10 p.m., with an all-you-can-eat catfish noon lunch, which will be included with registration.
Topics and presenters will include:
— Weed control, herbicide updates and new turfgrass varieties, Dr. Matt Elmore, AgriLife Extension turfgrass specialist, Dallas.
— Disease management in turfgrass, Dr. Kevin Ong, AgriLife Extension plant pathologist and director of the Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, College Station.
— Fire ant control updates, Dr. Robert Puckett, AgriLife Extension entomologist, College Station.
— Integrated pest management strategies for key turfgrass insects, Dr. Mike Merchant, AgriLife Extension urban entomologist, Dallas.
— Irrigation efficiency, Charles Swanson, AgriLife Extension irrigation specialist, College Station.
— New EPA updates and how they affect you, Dr. Mike Matocha, AgriLife Extension agricultural and environmental safety specialist, College Station.
The program brochure can be found at http://bit.ly/1K0hx5p.
Reeves said morning and afternoon breaks will allow attendees to visit with industry sponsors and view their exhibits.
For more information, contact Reeves at 903-935-8413 or dr-reeves@tamu.edu.
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