The eighth annual Red River Crops Conference (RRCC) is set for Jan. 20-21, 2021. The conference, tailored to agricultural producers in the Texas Rolling Plains and Southwest Oklahoma, alternates its location each year between Texas and Oklahoma. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference will be virtual.
The RRCC is a joint effort of Extension personnel from Oklahoma State University Extension and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
"After much planning and discussion both within our planning committee and with each university’s administrations, we have decided that the most responsible approach with this year’s conference is to present it virtually via zoom webinar," said Gary Strickland, Jackson County agriculture educator and Southwest Research and Extension Center regional agronomist. "While we enjoy the personal interaction of the conference, the safety and well-being of all attendees take precedence."
Although the format is different, the focus remains the same, reassures Strickland, who serves on the RRCC Extension Conference Planning Committee.
"January 20, we will continue to have a full day focusing exclusively on cotton issues. January 21, will be devoted to programming regarding in-season and other crops," he said.
Two programs that may be of special interest to attendees is the "Cotton Equipment Technology" program, said Strickland, presented by John Long, assistant professor and Extension agricultural engineer, OSU. "He will discuss his work on improving seed germination and emergence rates in the field."
During Day 2, Francisco Abello, Texas A&M AgriLife assistant professor and Extension specialist for farm management, will discuss economic comparisons of perennial and annual grass grazing systems and guidance associated with these systems for producers.
The Cotton Day presentations are as follows:
National Cotton Council Update- Jody Campiche, NCC director of economics and policy analysis
Cotton Market Update- John Robinson, professor and cotton Extension economist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Herbicide Program Updates- Peter Dotray, professor and Extension specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife
Cotton Plant Pathology Update- Thomas Isakeit, professor and Extension specialist, Texas A&M University
Cotton Area Program Update- Seth Byrd, assistant professor and cotton Extension specialist, OSU Extension Service; and Emi Kimura, assistant professor and Extension agronomist, state peanut specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife
The In-Season and Summer Crops Day presentations are as follows:
Current Wheat Crop Status and In-season Management- Fernando Portal, assistant professor and small grains and oil seed crops Extension specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Brush and Weed Control in Pasture Systems- Laura Goodman, assistant professor and range Extension specialist, OSU
Grain and Livestock Markets- Trent Milacek, West District Area Agriculture Economics specialist, OSU
Grain Sorghum Cropping Systems- Jason Warren, professor and soil and water conservation management Extension specialist, OSU; and Strickland
"Since this year’s conference format is virtual, we are taking a different approach to our meeting times in hopes of not tying up the attendee’s whole day in front of a computer. We understand that can be difficult for various reasons," Strickland said. The conference will start at 6:30 a.m. and conclude around 10 a.m. each day.
"We believe that even with the challenges of this year, the conference will still present an informative and applicable program for regional agriculture producers," Strickland said.
The cost of the conference is $25. To register, go to https://rb.gy/yoke1e. For more information regarding the conference, email RRCC committee contacts Kimura, at [email protected]; or Strickland at [email protected].
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