55th Blackland Income Growth Conference

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Agricultural Sustainability in a Challenging Marketplace will be the keynote luncheon theme during the 55th Blackland Income Growth Conference December 13 at the Extraco Events Center, 4601 Bosque Blvd in Waco. The conference is sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Waco Chamber of Commerce.

Julie Borlaug, associate director of external relations at the Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture at Texas A&M University in College Station, will be the keynote luncheon speaker.

“The BIG Conference features a number of commodity sessions including beef, horse, horticulture, cotton grain, rural land management, forage and wildlife designed to help producers improve profitability and enhance stewardship practices,” said Robin Liebe, conference chair and McLennan County agriculture producer.

The following are program topics and speakers for Tuesday, December 13, 2016:

  • 9:00 – 11:45 a.m. Beef Session: Nutritional Economics; Cattle Market Outlook (Short and Long Term); Public Policy and How it Affects the Cattle Business and Landowners
  • 9:00 – 11:45 a.m. Grain Session: Herbicide Resistance, Where We came From and Where Are We Going?; Northern Corn Blight and Goss’s Wilt in the Texas Blacklands; Nitrogen Management and Efficiency; Sugarcane Aphid Resistance/Tolerant Varieties; Ryegrass Control, Herbicide Update for Small Grains
  • 8:45 – 11:45 am and 1:30 pm – 8:00 pm: Horticulture Session, What We Know About Soil Health; Troubleshooting Irrigation Systems; Organics vs Traditional Fertilizer; Protecting Pollinators
  • 9:00 – 11:45 am Rural Land Management: Best Management Practices When Using Pesticides in Agricultural Sector; Economic Factors of Managing a Farm or Ranch, Large/Small Acreage
  • 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Forage Session:  Haylage As An Alternative; Selection of Forage Species for Longevity in Our Soil Types, Weed & Pest Control and Prussic Acid Prevalence; Bermuda Grass Stem Maggot
  • 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Cotton Session: Importance of Weed Management Systems, Limitations, Prices, Laws; Cotton Root Rot Disease Update; Cotton Yield, Fiber Quality demonstration updates; Policy Update from National Cotton Council; Blackland Cotton and Grain Association meeting follows cotton session.
  • 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Wildlife Session: Topics include stacking your operation and running a traditional livestock operation with a wildlife operation; Effective methods to control feral hogs
  • 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. Horse Session: Parasite Control for Horses; Importance of Good Hay in Feeding Management and How to Determine Hay Quality; How to read a feed tag; and the Current State of the Art in Foot Care

Continuing Education Credits for those with a Private Applicator’s License is an option with some of the above commodity sessions. The Mid-Texas Farm and Ranch show will also be held in conjunction with the conference showcasing the latest in farm and ranch equipment, seed, chemicals and ag-related services and technologies.

Registration to attend all commodity sessions on Tuesday, December 13 is $20 and includes lunch.  On Wednesday, December 14, a B.I.G. Recertification for those with a Private Applicator Pesticide License will be held offering 5 CEUs (1 Law & Regulation, 2 IPM and 2 Generals).  Cost is $60 if pre-registered, or $70 at the door, and includes lunch.  Private Applicator training will also be held on Wednesday, December 14, cost is $75 with lunch included.  For more information contact Chelsea Dorward at the Bosque County Extension Office at 254-435-2331

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