Agricultural Sustainability in a Challenging Marketplace will be the keynote luncheon theme during the 55th Blackland Income Growth Conference Dec. 13 at the Extraco Events Center, 4601 Bosque Blvd. in Waco.
The conference is sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Waco Chamber of Commerce.
Julie Borlaug, associate director of external relations at the Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture at Texas A&M University in College Station, will be the keynote luncheon speaker.
“The BIG Conference features a number of commodity sessions including beef, horse, horticulture, cotton grain, rural land management, forage and wildlife designed to help producers improve profitability and enhance stewardship practices,” said Robin Liebe, conference chair and McLennan County agriculture producer.
The following are program topics and speakers:
–9:00-11:45 a.m. beef session:
Nutritional Economics, Dr. Ron Gill, AgriLife Extension livestock specialist, College Station
Cattle Market Outlook (Short and Long Term), Dr. Jason Johnson, AgriLife Extension economist, Stephenville
Public Policy and How it Affects the Cattle Business and Landowners, Jason Skaggs, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Austin.
–9:00-11:45 a.m. grain session:
Herbicide Resistance, Where We Came From and Where Are We Going?, Dr. Peter Dotray, Texas A&M AgriLife Research weed scientist, Lubbock
Northern Corn Blight and Goss’s Wilt in the Texas Blacklands, Dr. Tom Isakeit, AgriLife Extension plant pathologist, College Station
Nitrogen Management and Efficiency, Dr. Jake Mowrer, AgriLife Extension soil specialist, College Station
Sugarcane Aphid Resistance/Tolerant Varieties, Dr. Allen Knutson, AgriLife Extension entomologist, College Station
Ryegrass Control, Herbicide Update for Small Grains, Dr. Clark Neely, AgriLife Extension small grains specialist, College Station.
–8:45 – 11:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.: horticulture session:
What We Know About Soil Health, Willie Durham; Grapes in North Texas, Dr. Justin Scheiner; Safer Salads, Dr. Sujata Sirsat
Troubleshooting Irrigation Systems, Charles Swanson, AgriLife Extension irrigation specialist, College Station
Plant Pathology Winter 2016, Dr. Kevin Ong, AgriLife Research scientist, College Station
Organics vs Traditional Fertilizer, Tim Hartmann; Protecting Pollinators, Jerry Hayes, featured speaker, 6 p.m.
–9-11:45 a.m. rural land management:
Best Management Practices When Using Pesticides in Agricultural Sector, Dr. Don Renchie, AgriLife Extension pesticide safety educator program coordinator, College Station
Economic Factors of Managing a Farm or Ranch, Large/Small Acreage, Business Plan, Dr. Blake Bennett, AgriLife Extension economist, Dallas.
–2-4 p.m. forage session:
Haylage As An Alternative, Bernard Adam, Selection of Forage Species for Longevity in Our Soil Types, Weed and Pest Control and Prussic Acid Prevalence, Dr. Vanessa Corriher-Olson, AgriLife Extension forage specialist, Overton
Bermuda Grass Stem Maggot, Dr. Allen Knutson, AgriLife Extension entomologist, Dallas.
–2-4 p.m. cotton session:
Importance of Weed Management Systems Limitations, Prices, Laws, Dotray; Cotton Root Rot Disease Update, Isakeit
Cotton Yield, Fiber Quality demonstration updates, Dr. Gaylon Morgan, AgriLife Extension state cotton specialist, College Station
Policy Update from National Cotton Council, Craig Brown
Blackland Cotton and Grain Association meeting will follow cotton session.
–2-4 p.m. wildlife session: Stacking Your Operation and Running a Traditional Livestock Operation with a Wildlife Operation
Effective Methods to Control Feral Hogs, Josh Helcel, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, College Station.
–5:30-8 p.m. horse session: Parasite Control for Horses, Dr. Sonja Swiger, AgriLife Extension entomologist, Stephenville
Importance of Good Hay in Feeding Management and How to Determine Hay Quality, Dr. Sarah White, Texas A&M assistant professor of equine physiology, College Station
How to Read a Feed Tag, White; and The Current State of the Art in Foot Care, Pat Burton, farrier, Burleson.
The Mid-Texas Farm and Ranch show will also be held in conjunction with the conference showcasing the latest in farm and ranch equipment, seed, chemicals and ag-related services and technologies.
Registration on Dec. 13 to attend all commodity sessions is $20 and includes lunch. On Dec. 14, a BIG Recertification will be held and cost is $60 and includes lunch. Call 254-757-5180 to preregister or $70 at the door.
Private applicator training will also be held. Cost is $75 with lunch included. To pre-register, call 254-582-4022. For complete schedule of sessions and speakers, download the conference brochure at http://bit.ly/17IGNEB.
