Writer: Pam Dillard, (806) 359-5401, p-dillard@tamu.edu
Contact: Thomas Marek, (806) 359-5401, p-dillard@tamu.edu
ETTER — Virtually any issue that concerns High Plains growers or impacts production of summer crops will be highlighted during the 1997 North Plains Research Field Ag Day.
Organizers of the event include scientists with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas Agricultural Extension Service and USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, in conjunction with West Texas A&M University Agriculture Division faculty.
The field day will take place at Texas Agricultural Experiment Station’s North Plains Research Field, nine miles north of Dumas on U.S. Highway 287. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. with refreshments and opportunities to see a select group of exhibits. Attendance is free and lunch is being sponsored by the Texas Corn Growers Board.
Research and demonstration field tours will begin by 9 a.m. Three continuing education units (CEUs) will be available for commercial, non-commercial, and private applicators needing credits for pesticide applicator recertification.
“We’ve structured our program to provide growers with the essential information they may need to make better decisions with summer crops production,” said Thomas Marek, Field Station superintendent.
The event, now held once every three years, offers growers the latest information on how to improve crop quality and consistency for irrigated and dryland systems.
“Our current research and demonstration efforts also reflect direct input from the growers. It’s an excellent way for them to see our progress,” Marek said. “Our chief aim is to help them solve problems and make improvements in their production systems.”
Specialized topics include presentations from Leon New, Extension agricultural engineer, who will discuss heat unit changes in the North Plains PET Network. Insect modeling validations and insect- resistant pre-treated grain sorghum seed for both dryland and irrigation will be featured. Extension entomologist, Carl Patrick, will address biotechnology issues involving transgenic or Bt corn variety trials.
Soybean variety results will be offered by Clay Salisbury, Experiment Station agronomist, who will also address weed control problems in the Panhandle. Extension agronomist Brent Bean will present results of three major studies regarding limited water production of corn, starter fertilizer assessments on corn and planting date, and maturity and population work with corn yield for the northern panhandle.
County Extension agents will address corn varietal tests using limited sprinkler water and narrow row corn spacing trials. Experiment Station plant pathologist Charles Rush will discuss current issues involving ergot disease development in grain sorghum.
Grower-subscribers to the North Plains PET Network and anyone interested in this new tool benefitting area production systems can see a high tech demonstration using computers and the internet to obtain data generated by 10 weather stations linked around the Panhandle.
During lunch, keynote speakers include Amarillo Experiment Station research director John Sweeten, who will describe the new initiatives for agriculture being pursued by units headquartered in the Panhandle. State Rep. David Swinford will brief participants on legislative issues directly impacting the Panhandle. Texas A&M University System Agriculture Program assistant vice chancellor Ronald Lacewell of College Station will address the future of irrigation in the Texas High Plains.
The field day also features a demonstration of a new generation of water well drilling technology, aided by minicamera videography inside well casings. Water well reclamation issues will also be addressed.
Other organizations sponsoring this year’s event are the North Plains Ground Water Conservation District No. 2 and the Panhandle Agriculture Advisory Council.
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