COLLEGE STATION — Pest management, research and innovations will highlight the Texas and Southwest Greenhouse Growers Conference Nov. 10-12 at the Hilton in College Station.
The pest management sessions will begin at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 11 with discussions on Integrated Pest Management, a new IPM database at Texas A&M University, disease diagnosis and management, solving problems before they occur, and an update on laws and regulations. Speakers include Drs. Bart Drees and Dawn Gouge, both Texas A&M entomologists; Dr. Larry Barnes, Texas A&M plant pathologist; and a representative from the Texas Department of Agriculture.
On Nov. 12, three continuous sessions will cover research, growers issues and innovations. On the research agenda will be talks from Drs. David Reed, Brent Pemberton, Yin Tung Wang, Dan Lineberger, Wayne Mackay, Steve George and Garry McDonald, all horticulturists with the Texas A&M University System. Topics will include water quality, bedding plant trials, orchid production, the Aggie- Horticulture Website, new plant introductions and water management.
Growers workshops will feature Dr. Bill Fonteno, North Carolina State University horticulturist, and Dr. John Dole, Oklahoma State University horticulturist, who will discuss growing substrates, greenhouse cut flowers, and outdoor cut flower production.
New technologies will be features in the innovations section with presentations by Sharon Gravitt of DGT Volmatic, Houston, talking about computer controls, Tom Manis of Progressive Pump Corp., Houston, talking about acid injection and fertigation, and Danny Sosebee of Netafirm Corp., Mission, talking about innovations in irrigation.
Also in that section will be a talk on new structures for greenhouse crops by Grahm McDonald of Cravo Equipment Ltd., Canada; water management by Ron Dodson of Aquatrols Corp. of America Inc., Cherry Hill, N.J.; and breakthrough control systems by Cliff Barrow of Hyde Park Electronics, Camden, N.J.
Dr. Charles Hall, Texas A&M agricultural economist, also will present a workshop and symposium “Pricing for Profits” at 1:15-3:40 p.m. on Nov. 12.
For more information or to register, contact the Texas Agricultural Extension Service horticulture office at (979) 845-7341.
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