Multi-County Wheat Tour touts Big Country varietal plots
Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: Robert Pritz, 325-672-6048, r-pritz@tamu.edu
ABILENE – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will conduct the Multi-County Wheat Tour from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. May 5 at the Taylor County variety test plots.
The test plots are located off Texas Highway 351 on County Road 521, also known as Mesquite Lane.
Robert Pritz, AgriLife Extension agent in Taylor County, said a unique wheat-growing season should make for an exciting and informative tour.
“This season’s growing conditions and price outlooks have really forced producers to make some hard decisions,” Pritz said. “On the other hand, it has re-emphasized the importance of sound marketing strategies and the implementation of new technology.”
Pritz said the tour and industry-sponsored lunch are free and open to the public. For further information and to RSVP by May 3, call any of the participating AgriLife Extension offices in the following counties: Callahan, 325-854-5835; Jones, 325-823-2432; Shackelford, 325-762-2232; or Taylor, 325-672-6048.
The first stop will include the following topics and speakers:
– Review of the planted test varieties and an overview of the area’s current small grain situation, Daniel Hathcoat, AgriLife Extension program specialist, College Station.
– Fertility management and fertility demonstration update, Dr. Jake Mowrer, AgriLife Extension soil nutrient and water resource management specialist, College Station.
– New and developing precision technologies, Dr. Tracey Carrillo, Quality Implement precision farming solutions manager, Munday.
The tour will then move to the Taylor County Expo Center – Round Building, 1700 Texas Highway 36, where the topics and speakers will include:
– U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency update, Robert Frost, Taylor County Farm Service Agency executive director, Abilene.
– Market situation and commodity outlook, Dr. Mark Welch, AgriLife Extension economist, College Station.
– Farm policy update, Bill Thompson, AgriLife Extension economist, San Angelo.
A Texas Department of Agriculture representative will make a presentation on laws and regulations following the industry-sponsored lunch.
Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units, one each in laws and regulations, general and integrated pest management, will be offered.
