Texas fruit, high tunnel conferences scheduled in Bryan Oct. 6-8

BRYAN — Back-to-back conferences will be held in Bryan Oct. 6-8 for growers interested in fruit production and farming under “high tunnels,” according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension specialists.

The third annual fruit conference will be 1-5 p.m.Oct. 6 and 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 7.  The second annual high tunnel meeting will be 8:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Oct. 8.  Both events will be at the Hilton Garden Inn, 3081 University Dr. E, Bryan.

“The programs offer valuable information and updates to seasoned fruit growers while providing persons with no experiences in orchard management a place to learn how to get started,” said Monte Nesbitt, AgriLife Extension horticulturist in College Station.

Among the fruit topics are a session for new growers followed by talks on orchard and vineyard diseases, fertilizers, soils, insects and marketing techniques. Attendees will hear specifics about olives, pears, citrus, blackberries, pomegranates and muscadines. A pomegranate variety tasting will conclude the fruit conference at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 7.

Speakers include AgriLife Extension specialists Dr. Larry Stein of Uvalde, Jim Kamas of Fredericksburg, Erfan Vafaie of Overton and Nesbitt, Dr. David Appel, Sheila McBride, Justin Scheiner and Dr. Marco Palma, all of College Station.

Other speakers include Dr. Arlie Powell, fruit grower from Jemison, Alabama; George Ray McEachern of College Station, retired AgriLife Extension specialist; Dr. David Byrne of College Station, Texas A&M AgriLife Researcher breeder; Gary Marburger, Marburger Farms of Fredericksburg; and Larry Don Womack of Womack Nursery in De Leon.

The high tunnel meeting will include information about cost and maintenance, crop selection, soil quality practices, growing vertically, pesticide laws and regulations and pest control.

Speakers include AgriLife Extension specialists Drs. Russ Wallace of Lubbock and Joe Masabni of College Station;  Texas A&M University agricultural economics research assistant Daniel Chavez; Prairie View A&M University sustainable research scientist Dr. Peter Ampim of Prairie View; U.S. Department of Agriculture conservationist Trey Bethke of Hempstead; Kyle Barnett of Canadian, Sweet Ruthie’s River Ranch farmer; and Brad Tullis, Texas Department of Agriculture inspector.

Registration for the fruit conference is $80 before Sept. 25 and $90 at the door. The high tunnel registration is $55. Participants may register for both events for $125. Online registration is at http://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/. Program details can be found on the Texas Fruit Growers Blog at http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/blog/.

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