AMARILLO — The Tri-State Chapter of the Grain Elevator and Processing Society, in cooperation with Texas Cooperative Extension, will host its 14th annual conference Feb. 14 at the Amarillo Civic Center.
“The event is unique in the region and has been designed specifically for the grain storage and processing industry,” said Carl Patrick of Amarillo, Extension entomologist. In addition, participants can earn continuing education units (CEUs) approved for licensed commercial, non-commercial and private applicators by Texas Department of Agriculture.
Registration will begin at 8 a.m. with refreshments. Pre-registration is encouraged. The workshop fee is $30 per person.
Greg Cronholm, Extension integrated pest management agent at Plainview, will serve as moderator of the morning session that will open by 8:30 a.m.
Edmond Bonjour, manager of the Oklahoma State University Stored Product Research and Education Center at Stillwater, will provide an overview of current programs. OSU’s Ron Noyes, agricultural and biosystems engineer, will discuss facility fumigation strategies.
Greta Schuster, Extension IPM specialist and West Texas A&M University assistant professor from Canyon, will review karnal bunt issues.
Jack Turner with OSHA’s Compliance Division in Lubbock will focus on federal regulations for stored grain and fumigants.
Following a break for lunch, David Hoffman, Tri-State GEAPS chapter president, will serve as moderator for the afternoon session.
At 1 p.m., Jerry Meers with Great Plains Chemical of Lubbock will address rodent management issues. Perry Bledsoe with Tiernan Aeration of Amarillo will focus on aeration issues.
Grain handling and the regulation and use of fumigants in Russia and Egypt will be discussed by grain operations expert George Kornstad of Minneapolis, Minn. Climate and meteorology as related to stored grain aeration will be discussed by Heather Hope, meteorologist with KVII TV, Amarillo.
Conference evaluation and CEU completion will end by 4 p.m. To pre-register, contact Carl Patrick, Texas Cooperative Extension, 6500 Amarillo Blvd West, Amarillo, Texas 79106; or call (806) 359-5401.
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