WACO - The effects of the 2002 Farm Bill, as well as programs on the potential threat of agricultural bioterrorism and small scale agriculture, headline the 41st Blackland Income Growth Conference scheduled Jan. 24-25.
The event will be held at the Waco Convention Center and attracts both national and state experts in all fields of agriculture. It will coincide with the Mid Tex Farm and Ranch Show.
“Our goal each year is to bring in the most knowledgeable speakers available who can offer farmers and ranchers the best ideas to enhance agricultural production in this region,” said Ronald Woolley, district director for Texas Cooperative Extension.
Sessions covering beef, horticulture, grain, forage, cotton and horse are included. On Friday, Dr. Rick Rigsby, assistant professor in the department of speech communication and theatre arts at Texas A&M University, will be the keynote luncheon speaker.
Rigsby is a motivational speaker and is a special assistant to Texas A&M head football coach R.C. Slocum. Rigsby serves as life skills development coordinator and holds appointments with the Center for Executive Development in the College of Business, and the Program in Presidential Rhetoric affiliated with the George Bush Presidential Library at Texas A&M. He is also president of Impact World Group and founder of Impact Family Ministries.
The conference will open at 8 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 24, with registration. Sessions begin at 9 a.m. Friday’s sessions include cotton, featuring a discussion on the effects of the 2002 Farm Bill on Blackland cotton producers led by Dr. Joe Outlaw, assistant professor and Extension economist management. Other segments will focus on conservation tillage technology, management of bollworm/budworm in an active boll weevil eradication zone, and an update on the Blacklands Boll Weevil Eradication program.
The beef session will include a discussion on agricultural bioterrorism at the farm level, led by Dr. Neville Clark, director of the Institute for Counterterrorism against Agricultural Bioterrorism at Texas A&M. Other segments will focus on animal health and preconditioning cattle for market.
The forage session will feature a herbicide update led by Dr. Twain Butler, Extension forage specialist, plus presentations on photoperiod sensitive and brown mid rib forage sorghums and fertilization of improved pastures.
The horticulture session will be led by Dr. Steve George, Extension horticulturist, who will discuss the Texas Superstar Program, composting and weed control options in landscapes. Dotty Woodson, an Extension horticulturist, will give a presentation on the Texas Smartscape Program and discuss Texas native trees.
A grain session will feature topics on aflatoxin in corn, research results involving corn rootworm and related farm bill issues.
A family forum session titled “Cooking from the Garden” will feature segments on herbs, 30 minute meals and flavored vinegars.
Saturday sessions will focus on small scale agriculture, horse and additional horticulture topics. The small scale agricultural program will feature segments on purchasing land and marketing venues for agricultural commodities.
The horse program will be held at Bentwood Farm. Topics include “Performance Horse Selection Based on Pedigree and Genetics” and a program on “Estimating Body Weight and Conditioning.” Horticultural topics include plant disease diagnosis and home lawn management.
Registration for the B.I.G. Conference on Friday is $10 and includes lunch. Single registration for the Saturday horse program is $5 and includes lunch. Single registration for the Mid Tex luncheon on Saturday is $10.
For registration and other conference information, contact any Extension county office, or call (254)968-4144.
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