AgriLife Extension gears up for second Regional Sorghum Program
Plainview event is set for March 3
Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: Danny Nusser, 806-677-5600, dnusser@ag.tamu.edu
PLAINVIEW – Plans are being finalized for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Regional Sorghum Program set for March 3 in Plainview.
Danny Nusser, AgriLife Extension regional program leader for the North Region, said the free event will start with registration at 8 a.m. in the Ollie Liner Center with the last speaker slated for noon.
The center is located at 2000 S. Columbia St.
“This is shaping up to be an outstanding program that will focus on understanding water efficiency and sorghum needs, weed issues and the sugarcane aphid,” Nusser said. “This will be our second regional program focusing on sorghum with the first drawing a good crowd and positive reviews late last month in Dumas. Both programs involve top AgriLife experts who are able to provide up-to-date, cutting edge-information.”
Session topics, AgriLife Extension speakers and specific talks will include:
– Sorghum Soil and Water Relationships: Dr. Charles Hillyer, irrigation specialist, and Dr. Jourdan Bell, agronomist, both at Amarillo, and Dr. Dana Porter, engineering specialist at Lubbock – crop water requirements, soil moisture management, irrigation technologies and best management practices to improve water use efficiency, agronomic relationship to water use.
– Sugarcane Aphid: Dr. Pat Porter, entomologist, Lubbock, and Blayne Reed, integrated pest management agent for Floyd, Hale and Swisher counties – biology and history, control options both chemical and cultural, resistant/tolerant varieties, effects on forage and silage production, future research.
– Weed Management Options: Bell and Reed – problem weeds and biology, a plan for success to include tillage and pre-emergent control, herbicide options and mode of actions, effective timing and application, rotational considerations.
– Risk Management/Profitability Outlook: Dr. Jackie Smith, economist, Lubbock.
Two Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units in the integrated pest management category will be offered.
For more information, contact Nusser at 806-677-5600 or dnusser@ag.tamu.edu .
