Annual Randall County Ag Day and Crops Tour set Aug. 29

Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. J. D. Ragland, 806-468-5543, j-ragland@tamu.edu

CANYON – The 41st annual Randall County Ag Day and Crops Tour hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is set for Aug. 29 at the Kuhlman Extension Center, 200 North Brown Road, Canyon.

“We have a great program lined up that offers something for just about everyone interested in agriculture in Randall County,” said Dr. J. D. Ragland, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Randall County.

The morning portion will kick off with registration at 8:30 a.m., followed by the program at 9 a.m.

This event is free, with the registration fee covered by Happy State Bank.

The following topics and speakers are on the morning agenda:

– Wheat Varieties and Yield Results from the High Plains Region, Dr. Jourdan Bell, AgriLife Extension agronomist, Amarillo.

– Considerations for Purchasing and Managing Cows/Calves; and Does Future Outlook Have Profitability?, Dr. Ted McCollum, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, Amarillo.

– Current and Future Commodity Outlook; Expected Pricing?; and Marketing Options, Dr. Steve Amosson, AgriLife Extension economist, Amarillo.

– Commodity Group Updates; Panel Question and Answer Session – Texas Corn Growers, Angie Martin, grassroots director, Lubbock; Texas Sorghum, Dr. Brent Bean, director of agronomy-Sorghum Checkoff, Amarillo; Texas Wheat Producers, Steelee Fischbacher, director of policy/marketing, Amarillo; Plains Cotton Growers, Cody Bessent, vice president of operations and legislative affairs, Lubbock; and High Plains Underground Water District, Victoria Messer, governmental affairs director, Lubbock.

The noon luncheon will feature a team of AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agents presenting “Recent Wildfires – The Lasting Impact on the Texas Panhandle.”

Following the keynote addresses will be the presentation of the Randall County Extension Top Hand, Outstanding Result Demonstrator and Outstanding Agribusiness awards.

The luncheon and awards presentation is sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank of Canyon.

At 1:30 p.m. all participants will have an opportunity to view and learn about the newest technology in agricultural equipment with displays and presentations from local and area dealers just south of the Kuhlman Extension Center. Then the tour bus, sponsored by the Palo Duro Soil and Water Conservation District of Canyon, will be loaded and make stops to include the following topics and presenters:

– Lone Star Dairy Products Plant Tour, Travis Bland, plant controller in Canyon.

– R.A.C.E. Dryland Cotton Variety Trial on Danny Hicks Farm, Bell.

The busses will return to the AgriLife Extension office around 5:30 p.m.

Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units – one drift minimization and two general – will be available for private pesticide applicators.

An RSVP is requested by Aug. 25 by calling 806-468-5543. For more information, contact Ragland at that number or email him at j-ragland@tamu.edu.

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