Writer: Pam Dillard (806) 359-5401, p-dillard@tamu.edu
Contact: Carl Patrick (806) 359-5401, c-patrick@tamu.edu
AMARILLO — Issues and concerns affecting the stored grain industry will top the agenda for the 1998 Texas High Plains Grain Elevator Workshop scheduled at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center, Feb. 5.
The event will feature presentations on grain quality, fumigation, aflatoxin, weed control around structures and pest control issues. In addition, speakers will address all laws and regulations of interest in the grain storage and processing industry.
Registration is $25 and begins at 8 a.m. Event sponsors are the Texas Agricultural Extension Service and the Tri-State Chapter of the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS). Pre-registration by Jan. 30 is encouraged.
Texas Department of Agriculture has approved five continuing education units (CEUs) for commercial, non-commercial and private pesticide applicators. CEUs will be given in integrated pest management (2.0), laws and regulations (1.0) and general topics (2.0).
“This year marks the workshop’s 10th anniversary,” said Carl Patrick, Extension entomologist of Amarillo, and a key organizer of the event. It was first organized as a result of an integrated pest management (IPM) special projects educational grant from U.S. Department of Agriculture-Extension Service.
“The event has been self-supporting since 1989 due to the enthusiastic support by the Texas High Plains stored grain industry ,” the entomologist added.
The program starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 3:45 p.m. The morning session will be moderated by Greg Cronholm, Extension pest management entomologist from Plainview.
Speakers will include Stan Miller, Miller Grain Consultants of Enid, Oklahoma, who will look at key decisions and choices that impact grain quality.
Peter Dotray, Extension agronomist from Lubbock, will address weed control around storage structures. Joel Goucher, Fossil Shell Supply Co., Amarillo, will discuss stored grain insect control techniques using diatomaceous earth.
Richard Frederiksen, plant pathologist with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and Texas A&M University at College Station, will discuss the realities of the sorghum ergot disease arriving in the United States last year.
Norman Goodfellow of Continental Grain Company of Amarillo and president of the Tri-State GEAPS chapter will serve as conference moderator. He said that the partnership with the Extension Service has helped ensure sound educational programs for the stored grain industry.
“Continuing education units are available about anywhere, but we wanted something designed especially with our concerns and issues in mind,” he said.
Fumigation tops the afternoon agenda, with a presentation by Jerry Meers with Great Plains Chemical of Lubbock.
Other speakers for the session include John Haliburton, Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory of Amarillo, who will address the impact of mycotoxins on livestock, followed by Alex Mims with Tri- State Chemical Company of Amarillo. Mims will discuss the hazardous materials exemption’s expiration and what this will mean for the industry.
To register and obtain information, call Carl Patrick, Extension entomologist, at (806) 359-5401.
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