West Central, Far West Texas producers targeted
Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: Bill Thompson, 325-653-4576, w-thompson@tamu.edu
SAN ANGELO – Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service personnel are blanketing the state with educational meetings for farmers on the intricacies of the new farm bill and West Texas is no exception, according to one of the educators.
Bill Thompson, AgriLife Extension economist at San Angelo, said the free public meetings are collaborative efforts among AgriLife Extension, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The dates, times and locations of the West Central and Far West Texas farm bill decision-aid meetings will include:
– Nov. 10 – Eden, 9 a.m. – noon, Eden Multi-Purpose Center, 319 W. Blanchard St.
– Nov. 13 – Garden City, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., AgriLife Extension office in Glasscock County, 117 South Myrl St.
– Nov. 19 – Eldorado, 9 a.m. – noon, Schleicher County Community Center, 427 U.S. Highway 277 South.
– Dec. 4 – Abilene, 9 a.m. – noon, Location: TBA.
– Dec. 9 – Melvin, 8 – 11 a.m., Jacoby’s Café,101 North Main Street.
Thompson said the meetings are designed to help producers through the new farm bill’s decision-making process.
“Signing up for the new farm bill requires producers to make several major decisions that will affect them at least through 2018,” Thompson said. “Each of the meetings will be tailored to the needs at that particular site. This may range from a full classroom presentation on the farm bill and overview of the available decision-making aids, to simply helping producers by answering individual questions while they study their own operations on their own computers.
“Whatever the format, these trainings are meant to help producers through the sign up process by teaching them to address the decisions they’ll need to make related to base reallocation and yield data, as well as the decisions concerning whether to select Price Loss Coverage or PLC or, Agricultural Risk Coverage or ARC for covered commodities.”
Thompson said producers seeking this information at other venues should check with their local AgriLife Extension agent for possible additional meeting dates and locations.
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