Annual Randall County Ag Show and Crops Tour set for Sept. 20

CANYON – The 35th annual Randall County Ag Show and Crops Tour sponsored by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service is scheduled for Sept. 20, according to J.D. Ragland, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resource agent for Randall County.

The program will start at 8:30 a.m. with coffee and donuts sponsored by Panhandle-Plains Land Bank of Amarillo. The instructional portion will begin at 9 a.m. in the Dillehay Education Room of the Kuhlman Extension Center, 200 N. Brown Road, Canyon.

Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units – two general, one integrated pest management – will be provided for all private pesticide applicators.

A $10 registration fee will be required for all attendees and is payable the day of the tour, Ragland said. However, those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by 5 p.m. Sept. 16 by calling the AgriLife Extension office in Randall County at 806-468-5543.

The educational program will have the following topics and speakers:

– 2011-12 Wheat and Small Grain Market and Pricing Outlook, Dr. Steve Amosson, AgriLife Extension economist, Amarillo.

– Dry Grains and Feed Management for Cattle During Drought, Dr. Ted McCollum, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, Amarillo.

– 2011 Wheat Variety Results and Recommendations/Sorghum Update, Dr. Brent Bean, AgriLife Extension agronomist, Amarillo.

– 2011 Panhandle Corn Moth Trapping Program-Specifically Randall County, Dr. Ed Bynum, AgriLife Extension entomologist, Amarillo.

The luncheon and awards presentation will begin at noon, Ragland said. Wells Fargo Bank and Feldman’s of Canyon are this year’s lunch sponsors. Randall County Outstanding Demonstrator and Top Hand Awards will be presented.

Following the awards, the luncheon speaker will be Sherry Stephens, High Plains Underground Water District executive aide from Lubbock. She will be highlighting the High Plains Water District Rule Changes.

Before leaving the Kuhlman Center for the afternoon tour, short presentations will be provided by all booth exhibitor participants, introducing their latest products and technologies, Ragland said.

And this year, he said, the afternoon tour will only be one stop, due to the extremely dry conditions and their effect on all crops in Randall County.

The Crops and Beef Cattle Committee elected to feature an in-depth tour of Caviness Packing Plant in Hereford. At 1:30 p.m., participants will board a tour bus, sponsored by the Palo Duro Soil and Water Conservation District of Canyonand head for the plant, which is located approximately 3.5 miles west of Hereford on U.S. Highway 60.

The tour will conclude around 4:30 p.m.
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