Beaumont Field Day to highlight emerging production challenges on July 9
Annual event to feature field tours, expert presentations and producer-focused topics
Rice producers, consultants and industry representatives are invited to attend the 78th annual Beaumont Field Day on July 9 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Beaumont.
Themed “Resilience in Texas Rice: Growing Together,” the field day will focus on research advancements and management strategies that support the long-term success of the Texas rice industry.
The event will begin with field tours at 8 a.m., followed by an indoor educational program at 10:45 a.m., a noon barbecue lunch and an afternoon workshop focused on grain quality and water management practices. There is no registration fee to attend the event.
Field tours, current rice research
Morning field tours will provide attendees with an opportunity to learn about the latest developments in rice production research conducted by Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists.
Tour stops will feature updates on inbred and specialty rice breeding, plant physiology, nutrient management, insect management, disease management, weed control and the use of drone technology in rice production systems.
Featured faculty and scientists include:
- Lee Tarpley, Ph.D., AgriLife Research plant physiologist and professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, and Fugen Dou, Ph.D., AgriLife Research scientist in crop nutrient management and professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, who will lead discussions on rice physiology and nutrient management.
- Shane Zhou, Ph.D., AgriLife Research plant pathologist and professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, and Lina Bernaola, Ph.D., AgriLife Research entomologist and assistant professor in the Department of Entomology, will highlight current disease and insect management research.
- Omar Samonte, Ph.D., AgriLife Research rice breeder and associate professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, and Sam Rustom, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomist and assistant professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, will cover specialty rice breeding and weed management.
- Shyamal Talukder, Ph.D., AgriLife Research hybrid rice breeder and assistant professor, and Chin-Cheng “Scotty” Yang, Ph.D., entomologist in the Department of Entomology, will present advances in inbred rice breeding and digital rice technologies.
Emerging threats, technologies
The indoor program will begin with opening remarks from Mithila Jugulam, Ph.D., director of the Texas A&M AgriLife center at Beaumont.
Educational presentations will address several timely issues affecting rice production across Texas and the Gulf Coast region.
- Rice delphacid — Bernaola.
- Rice hoja blanca virus —Zhou.
- Spray drone technology – Dan Martin, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service research agricultural engineer and aerial application technology research project.
- Export quality standards and logistics — Mark Pousson, South Louisiana Rail Facility general manager,
Afternoon workshop to focus on grain quality and water management
Following the luncheon, attendees will have an opportunity to participate in a workshop examining grain quality and alternate wetting and drying practices.
The session will provide producers with practical information to support decision-making in rice production systems.
Speakers will be Lloyd “Ted” Wilson, Ph.D., former center director and Jack B. Wendt Endowed Chair in Rice Research professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences and the Department of Entomology, Tarpley and Dou.
For more information about the field day, contact the Texas A&M AgriLife center at Beaumont at 409-752-2741.
