Registration is now open for the 2009 Central Coast Cotton Conference. The sixth annual meeting will be held Jan. 21-23, at The Cliffs Resort in Pismo Beach (formerly Shell Beach), Calif.

The annual conference is the only meeting that focuses on California cotton production and is a continuing education course for pest control advisors and agronomists.

Growers and pest control advisors who register for the conference by Dec. 31 will be entered into a drawing for a free trip to the conference courtesy of Western Farm Press. The free trip includes registration and two nights lodging at The Cliffs Resort. To qualify, registration must be complete by the December deadline by registering online at www.cottonconference.com, or by calling (805) 239-8200.

The theme for the 2009 meeting is “New Frontiers: Innovative Production Strategies for a Changing Industry.” The conference features three half-day sessions with 18 topics and more than 20 speakers.

New for 2009, the topics have been broadened to include presentations that can be applied to other field crops such as corn, wheat, alfalfa and processing tomatoes.

Presentations will cover new technologies to help growers maximize production while minimizing costs; adapting new technologies such as precision farming; implementing integrated farming solutions; and water issues. The conference will also include sessions on production and agronomy and industry outlook and updates. Presentations that apply across crops include:

• Biology of soil fertility

• How changes in the crop mix influence insect pests

• Farming systems for weed management

• Crop biotechnology update

• Precision farming technology

• Water outlook for 2009 San Joaquin Valley agriculture

• Tips for integrating cotton production with wheat and processing tomatoes

• Economics of producing cotton versus other field crops

The conference includes an oceanfront welcome reception featuring great food and Paso Robles wineries, a golf tournament at the Avila Beach Resort in Avila Beach, Calif., and a custom Ag-Venture.