Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: David Graf, 940-716-8610, cdgraf@ag.tamu.edu
WICHITA FALLS – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will provide two days of educational meetings during the Wichita Falls Ranch and Farm Expo March 9-10 in the J.S. Bridwell Ag Center, 111 N. Burnett St. in Wichita Falls.
Educational activities each day will provide three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units for private pesticide applicators, according to David Graf, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Wichita County.
Registration is $10 for the sessions that include continuing education. Three CEUs will be offered on March 9, one each in laws and regulations, integrated pest management and general. An additional three will be offered on March 10 in the same areas.
U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry, District 13, will be a highlight of the two-day event at a free breakfast at 7 a.m. March 9. He will hold a brief question and answer session on key topics for this area. Following, the Wichita Ag Committee will present the Young Ag Farmer, Veteran Farmer and Friend of Ag awards.
The topic and speaker lineup for March 9 is:
– Near and long term weather forecasting, Bryan Rupp, KFDX-TV3 meteorologist, Wichita Falls.
– Converting crops to permanent pasture, Hugh Aljoe, Noble Foundation pasture and range consultant, Ardmore, Oklahoma.
– Economics of converting cropland to permanent pasture, Stan Bevers, AgriLife Extension economist, Vernon.
– Dealing with feral hogs, Dr. John Tomacek, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, San Angelo.
– Updates on laws and regulations, Henry Krusekoph, Texas Department of Agriculture, Wichita Falls.
The first day will conclude at 3 p.m. with an evaluation and presentation of CEUs.
The second day will be split between a focus on cattle and CEUs on ranges and weed control. The CEU portion of the program will be in the meeting area on the south side. The cattle portion will meet in the arena.
Registration will begin at 8 a.m. At 9 a.m., attendees will have a choice of hearing Dr. Ron Gill, AgriLife Extension animal science program leader from College Station, speak about cow/calf nutrition and herd health, or Gerald Hobson, Bayer CropScience range and pasture specialist from Peaster, speak on improving pastures through weed control
At 10 a.m., the concurrent session choices will be Bevers, economic indicator targets for cow/calf operations, or Dr. Emi Kimura, AgriLife Extension agronomist in Vernon, resistant weeds and control.
The 11 a.m. programs are Krusekoph discussing laws, regulations and labels, and James Henderson, Bradley 3 Ranch manager, Childress, who will speak on management practices to hit economic indicator targets.
Both sessions will adjourn at noon, and an annual production bull sale will begin at 1 p.m. in the arena.
More information is available at http://www.wichitafallsranchandfarmexpo.net/ or by contacting Graf at 940-716- 8610 or cdgraf@ag.tamu.edu.
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