Concho Valley Cotton Conference, Growers Association meeting set Feb. 26

Writer: Susan Himes, 325-657-7315, Susan.Himes@ag.tamu.edu

Contacts: Josh Blanek, 325-659-6523, j-blanek@tamu.edu

Marty Vahlenkamp, 325-365-2219, Marty.Vahlenkamp@ag.tamu.edu

Haley Kennedy, 325-365-2219, Haley.Kennedy@ag.tamu.edu

SAN ANGELO— The 2019 Concho Valley Cotton Conference and the Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association annual meeting will be held Feb. 26 at McNease Convention Center, 501 Rio Concho Drive, San Angelo.

“The planning committee is excited about this year’s biennial conference,” said Josh Blanek, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent for Tom Green County. “We will have a full day of the best cotton researchers and educators from West Texas presenting the latest on new technology, variety selection and pest management.”

The conference will start at 8:30 a.m. and run until 4:30 p.m. It is free if preregistered by Feb. 22; the cost at the door is $20. Participants may preregister through the AgriLife Extension office of Tom Green County at 325-659-6522 or Runnels County at 325-365-2219.

Craig Brown, vice president of producer affairs for the National Cotton Council, will be the keynote speaker for the luncheon. Lunch is complimentary, and there will be booths for local agriculture businesses to showcase new market products.

Topics to be covered at the conference include:  

• Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) resistance and bollworm management.
• New technologies for reniform nematode management.
• Verticillium wilt management and cotton root rot updates.
• Optimizing soil fertility for cotton.
• Cover cropping and alternative crops to enhance cotton production.
• Cotton varieties update and new technologies.

There also will be an auxin laws and regulations training for pesticide applicator license holders. Participants can earn three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units – two integrated pest management and one general – for the conference. An additional two continuing education units in laws and regulations will be available for completing the auxin training.

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