Dateline: February 13, 2003

Conference will increase ag education

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

WELLINGTON – The annual Northwest Texas Ag Conference slated February 27 will offer an expanded educational program this year, say organizers with Texas Cooperative Extension.

The event will be held at the Bura Handley Community Building and is a joint effort by Extension in nine area counties – Briscoe, Childress, Collingsworth, Cottle, Donley, Hall, Hardeman, King, and Motley. 

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and the program at 8:30 a.m.  Seven continuing education units (CEUs) will be available for commercial, non-commercial, and private pesticide applicators.  The cost to attend is $5 per person, which includes a noon meal and program materials. 

Conference topics and speakers include Dr. Darrell Ueckert, range scientist with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station at San Angelo, who will discuss range recovery strategies.  In addition, Barbara Jones, zone manager with the Texas Boll Weevil Foundation of Vernon, will present a boll weevil eradication update.  Childress cotton producer John Inman will discuss the current status of the Boll Weevil Referendum.

Dr. Carl Anderson, Extension cotton marketing and risk management economist at Texas A&M University in College Station, will cover emerging issues and market projections.  Also, Extension agronomist, Dr. Todd Baughman with A&M’s Research and Extension Center in Vernon, will provide cotton varieties and production updates.

Dr. Joe Outlaw, Extension crop production and policy economist from A&M at College Station, will discuss how to use the new peanut base software for farm bill analysis.

Several agricultural industry sponsors from across the region will have booths and representatives at the conference for technical demonstrations.

For more information, contact Texas Cooperative Extension offices in any of the host counties, or call Dale Dunlap at 806-447-2313 for assistance.