Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: John Villalba, 806-995-3726, john.villalba@ag.tamu.edu
TULIA – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Swisher County Ag Committee will host the Swisher County Corn and Grain Sorghum Field Day on Sept. 7 near Tulia.
The day will start with registration at 8:30 a.m. at the Don Macha Farm, 1.25 miles east of Finney Switch on Farm-to-Market 788. The tour will start at 9 a.m.
John Villalba, AgriLife Extension agent in Swisher County, said participants will be able to view the AgriLife Extension sorghum small-plot variety trial test area comprised of some 40 sorghum varieties.
“Dr. Ed Bynum, AgriLife Extension entomologist at Amarillo, will give updates on the sugarcane aphid and other pests at this location,” Villalba said. “Dr. Jourdan Bell, AgriLife Extension agronomist at Amarillo, will also be on hand to discuss nutrient management in corn.
“From there, participants will travel to the Jeremy Reed Farm, 4 miles north on the Interstate 27 West access road to view dryland sorghum plots.”
From the Reed property, the group will travel to the Dunn Farm, 16 miles north on Interstate 27 to Farm-to-Market Road 928, then 4.5 miles west to Farm-to-Market Road 3141, then 3 miles north.
On the Dunn Farm, a turn row lunch will be served, sponsored by Texas Corn Producers, Villalba said. While there, participants will also be able to view irrigated corn with information provided by Jason Birkenfeld of Soil Mender Ag. of Tulia.
Individual registration will be $10. RSVP by Sept. 1 by calling the AgriLife Extension office in Swisher County at 806-995-3726. More information is also available by calling that number.
Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units – one general, one drift minimization and one integrated pest management – will be offered.
-30-