Texas farmers and ranchers have three opportunities for production, marketing and business education in coming weeks through workshops and conferences, including a Master Marketing program, a guar workshop and four ranch leasing workshops.

Guar, a multi-use, drought-resistant crop in the bean family, will take center stage during an Aug. 15 workshop and field tour in Lubbock, says Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agronomist Calvin Trostle, Lubbock.

The 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. program is free and will begin with research reports from various investigators through 2 p.m. at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Stress Lab at 3810 4th Street. Lunch will be provided. At about 2 p.m., tour vans will depart to a growing field and then to Guar Resources for a look at their new guar processing plant, followed by dinner.

For further information on the workshop, contact Trostle at 806-746-6101, or [email protected] . For more crop information on guar, see http://lubbock.tamu.edu/guar.

MASTER MARKETER

A Master Marketer Program will be held in two-week intervals from Sept. 18-Oct. 31 at the Medina County Justice of Peace Court Precinct 2, 8366 Farm-to-Market Road 471 S. in Castroville.

“This national, award-winning program is for agricultural producers and agribusiness leaders seeking to develop the skills and learn the tools to manage price and production risk in today’s uncertain economic climate,” said Dr. Rob Hogan, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist based in Uvalde.

The course includes 64 hours of intensive marketing training focused on improving comprehension of key marketing concepts.

Cost is $350, and registration deadline is Sept. 15. Space is limited and organizers encourage early registration. To register online, go to https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu, click on “Events” and then scroll through “Conferences and Workshops” to the 2017 Master Marketer Program in Castroville.

For more information about registration and payment options, call 979-845-2604 or email [email protected]. For additional information on the Castroville program, contact Hogan at 432-940-6777 or [email protected], or Dr. Mark Welch at 979-845-8011 or [email protected]. For more information on the Master Marketer Program, go to http://agecoext.tamu.edu/?s=Master+Marketer.

RANCHER LEASING WORKSHOPS

Four Rancher Leasing Workshops covering grazing, hunting and livestock leases are scheduled across the state by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. The free programs are funded by the Southern Extension Risk Management Education Center, says Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, AgriLife Extension agricultural law specialist in Amarillo.

The schedule will be:

– Aug. 22, noon-4 p.m., Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 1102 E. Farm-to-Market Road 1294, Lubbock.

– Sept. 1, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Hildebrand Equine Complex, 3240 F&B Road, College Station.

– Sept. 19, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., AgriLife Extension office for Frio County, 400 S. Pecan St., Pearsall.

– Oct. 19, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Tom Green 4-H Center, 3168 N. U.S. Highway 67, San Angelo.

Lunch will be provided by two sponsors: Ag Workers Insurance for the Lubbock, College Station and San Angelo programs, and Security State Bank for the Pearsall program. Participants will need to RSVP at least one week before the meeting they will attend to Kim Garcia, 806-677-5626 or [email protected].