Amarillo — The 29th annual High Plains Irrigation Conference and Trade Show has been scheduled Jan. 8 at the Civic Center, Third and Buchanan Streets, Amarillo.
The conference is sponsored by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service in cooperation with a host of industry service companies. Leon New, agricultural engineer with the Extension Service coordinates the event each year.
“We strive to offer growers concise and timely information to help them manage water and crop production,” New said. The conference theme ‘Programmed to Help’ encompasses a broad array of topics to be addressed by technical and production experts from Texas and other states where irrigation is practiced.
Producers can see the latest technology in equipment and services at the Trade Show. Conference registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with coffee and donuts. A registration fee of $7 covers the cost for lunch.
Two continuing education units (CEUs), approved by Texas Department of Agriculture, will be offered to private, commercial and non-commercial pesticide applicators completing the day’s progam.
Potter County Extension agent, Jim Allison will serve as moderator of the morning program which starts at 9:25 a.m. Ken Glenn, general manager of Big T Pump Company of Hereford will discuss what’s next for idled pumps and wells on CRP lands.
Dr. Steve Amosson, Extension Service economist and specialist in farm management from Amarillo will address issues involving equitable tenant-landowner agreements.
Advances in satellite remote sensing technology to monitor crop growth patterns, including strategies for irrigation will be reviewed by Quentin Rund, regional leader for Resource 21, from Mansfield Illinois. A brief question and answer session concludes each presentation throughout the day.
The noon break features a catered lunch and allows time for trade show tours.
The afternoon program, moderated by Jim Bob Reynolds, Hutchinson County agent, will resume at 1:30 p.m.
Managing irrigation capacity to fit crop water use will be discussed by New, a Texas A&M professor of agricultural engineering and Extension irrigation specialist, from Amarillo.
Karl Johnson, a grower from Hutchinson County will describe his operation located nearMorse and how he manages crop production with current technology.
Extension agent Seth Ralston of Hartley County will moderate the final afternoon segment. Dr. Brent Bean, associate professor and Extension specialist in agronomy and weed science from Amarillo will address opportunities to use new herbicide tolerant varieties for corn, soybean and cotton production.
Dr. Carl Patrick, professor and Extension entomologist will present information on insect resistant crops. Patrick, also from Amarillo, will review the most recent studies involving genetically engineered crops, specifically Bt corn and Bt cotton, which were monitored in the field with Gaucho treated sorghum seed. He also will discuss future plans for insect resistance trials.
The Industry Trade Show will feature the latest technology and products from Agri Inject, Inc., American Technical Services, Brooke Pipe and Supply, Inc., Cimarron Marketing, Cobb Sales Company, Energas Company, Equipment Supply, Great Plains Meter, Inject-O-Meter, Nelson Irrigation, Oil-Vac, Inc., Pivot Products, Rain Bird Agri- Products Co., T-L Irrigation, T-Systems International, Inc., Waterman Industries, Watermaster Industries, Wolf Irrigation, Inc., and Wylie Manufacturing Company.
For more information, contact your local county agent or call Leon New, irrigation specialist with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service at (806) 359-5401, or use email: l-new@tamu.edu.