Western Rice Belt Production Conference scheduled Jan. 21 in El Campo
Rice delphacid challenges facing Texas producers to be highlighted
The latest research involving rice delphacid, which devastated many southern crops last growing season, will be highlighted at the Western Rice Belt Production Conference scheduled Jan. 21 at the El Campo Civic Center, 2350 N Mechanic St., in El Campo.
Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with the program beginning at 8:15 a.m. There is no fee to attend the conference, but an RSVP is requested for accurate meal count by calling the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in Wharton County at 979-532-3310.
Three continuing education units for Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicators will be awarded. Certified crop adviser hours will be offered. Pesticide applicators are reminded to provide their number at registration.
The conference is a joint effort between the Western Rice Belt planning committee, AgriLife Extension, U.S. Rice Producers Association and U.S.A. Rice. The conference gives producers an opportunity to hear presentations from the professionals and leaders in the agriculture industry.
A trade show featuring conference sponsors will be held throughout the day. The conference will conclude at 2 p.m.
Topics, speakers
The following are topics and speakers:
- Producer Challenges in Texas Rice – Sam Rustom, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomist and assistant professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Soil and Crop Science, Eagle Lake.
- Rice Delphacid Research – David Kerns, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension entomologist and associate department head, Department of Entomology, Bryan-College Station, and Lina Bernaola, Ph.D., AgriLife Research entomologist and assistant professor in the Department of Entomology.
- New Herbicide Technology in Rice –Conner Webster, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
- Texas Agriculture Grant – Kristin Lambrecht, Texas Department of Agriculture field representative, Region 6, Houston.
- UAV Licensing Requirements – Keith Edwards, Hylio Inc.
- UAV Pesticide Application Research – Muthu Bagavathiannan, Ph.D., weed scientist and Billie Turner Professor of Agronomy, Bryan-College Station;
- Rice Variety Research – Shyamal Talukder, Ph.D., AgriLife Research hybrid rice breeder and assistant professor, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Beaumont.
- Texas Rice Council Report – Tommy Turner, Texas Rice Council president, Katy.
- USA Rice Update – Jake Westlin, USA Rice vice president of government affairs, Arlington, Virginia.
- Farm Policy and Risk Management – Sydney Lundberg, Combest, Sell and Associates, Washington.
The results of the Rice Poster Contest will be announced during the lunch hour by AgriLife Extension agents Lori Garcia and Laura Reyna.
For more information, contact the AgriLife Extension office in Colorado County at 979-732-2082; in Matagorda County at 979-245-4100; or Wharton County at 979-532-3310.
