Farm Progress

“The Texas Plant Protection Conference brings together Texas's top agricultural leaders, researchers, consultants, farmers, crop protection companies, distributors, dealers, related ag industry, university researchers and extension personnel,” says TPPA President Gary Schwarzlose.

Ron Smith 1, Senior Content Director

September 7, 2017

2 Min Read
Bob Sasser, executive director, TPPA, chats with former TPPA president Vernon Langston during registration at the 2016 annual conference.

Speakers on tap for the Texas Plant Protection Association’s annual Conference, Dec. 5-6, at the Brazos Center in Bryan, Texas, will discuss far-ranging issues from the state of the world economy, expectations for the next farm bill, and techniques, challenges and opportunities affecting farms and ranches in Texas and beyond.

Luis Ribera, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Economist, leads off with an update on the status of world economics and how that affects U.S. and Texas agricultural interests.

Bart Fischer, Chief Economist, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, will offer a timely evaluation of “U.S. Ag Economics / Farm Bill.”

Beau Greenwood, Executive Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs, CropLife America, looks at “Agricultural Advancements.”  Mark Miller, CEO, Texas Farm Credit, will discuss “Texas Agriculture- Finance.”  Peter Dotray, Texas A&M                                        AgriLife Research offers a Texas Agriculture technology update.                

 Ray Smith, TPPA Chairman of  the Board closes out the opening session with an update on the Flag the Technology mobile app offered to Texas producers during the 2017 growing season.

Afternoon sessions include a pest identification contest directed by Barron Rector, Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

DAY TWO

Day two features major crop breakout sessions and the annual rewards luncheon. A poster display, including research projects from AgriLife research as well as student entries will feature analyses of cutting edge research. A student poster contest offers cash prizes.

“The Texas Plant Protection Conference brings together Texas's top agricultural leaders, researchers, consultants, farmers, crop protection companies, distributors, dealers, related ag industry, university researchers and extension personnel,” says TPPA President Gary Schwarzlose. 

It’s a valuable opportunity for the agriculture industry as well, says TPPA Chairman of the Board Ray Smith. 

“Regarded as one of the top crop conference in Texas, this two day event provides sponsors an opportunity to contact and discuss your products and your company's latest information with around 300 crop production leaders in Texas,” Smith says.

For more information on the annual conference agenda, registration and sponsorships, check the TPPA website at  http://www.texasplantprotection.com/ ,email [email protected]   or phone (936) 537-7083 .

 

 

About the Author(s)

Ron Smith 1

Senior Content Director, Farm Press/Farm Progress

Ron Smith has spent more than 40 years covering Sunbelt agriculture. Ron began his career in agricultural journalism as an Experiment Station and Extension editor at Clemson University, where he earned a Masters Degree in English in 1975. He served as associate editor for Southeast Farm Press from 1978 through 1989. In 1990, Smith helped launch Southern Turf Management Magazine and served as editor. He also helped launch two other regional Turf and Landscape publications and launched and edited Florida Grove and Vegetable Management for the Farm Press Group. Within two years of launch, the turf magazines were well-respected, award-winning publications. Ron has received numerous awards for writing and photography in both agriculture and landscape journalism. He is past president of The Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association and was chosen as the first media representative to the University of Georgia College of Agriculture Advisory Board. He was named Communicator of the Year for the Metropolitan Atlanta Agricultural Communicators Association. More recently, he was awarded the Norman Borlaug Lifetime Achievement Award by the Texas Plant Protection Association. Smith also worked in public relations, specializing in media relations for agricultural companies. Ron lives with his wife Pat in Johnson City, Tenn. They have two grown children, Stacey and Nick, and three grandsons, Aaron, Hunter and Walker.

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