Southwest Farmers and ranchers have multiple opportunities over coming weeks and months to pick up useful information and a few continuing education units at field days, conferences and expos across the region.

Offerings include rotation and cover crops, water rights and eminent domain, livestock trade and production, rice outlook and trade show, and a look at farm policy.

NMSU Farm Walk

A New Mexico State University farm walk in La Cienega, New Mexico, is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, at the Green Tractor Farm in La Cienega in Santa Fe County. The event is free; however, advance registration is required, and space is limited to 50 people. Please go to http://rsvp.nmsu.edu/rsvp/farmwalk2017 to register.

Water rights and eminent domain

East Texas landowners can learn about water rights and eminent domain issues during an event Oct. 5 at the Texas State Technical College Library, 2650 East End Blvd. in Marshall. The program is presented by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Leadership Advisory Board and the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee in Harrison County.

The program begins at 6 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Coffee and cookies will be provided.

James Bradbury, a property and water rights attorney in Austin, will be the speaker.

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To RSVP, contact the AgriLife Extension office in Harrison County at 903-935-8413.

Cow Country Congress

Global trade impacts, herbicide and forage management, bull selection and winter feeding strategies will be the featured topics at Cow Country Congress scheduled Oct. 13 at Santa Rosa Ranch in Crockett.

The event is sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Santa Rosa Ranch and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

Registration, which includes lunch, is $20 by Oct. 6 or $30 after. Call 936-544-7502 to preregister.

The event will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. and the program will conclude by 5 p.m.

For more information, call 936-544-7502.

Centex Beef Cattle Symposium

Live cattle demonstrations, a ranch tour and ribeye steak dinner will be the featured activities at the Centex Beef Cattle Symposium Sept. 29 at the Swinging B Ranch, 1652 Kirkland Hill Road in Axtell.

Cost is $25, and RSVP is requested by Sept. 22 by calling 254-757-5180. One general Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education unit will be available for licensed applicators. Two Beef Quality Assurance credits will be offered.

The symposium is hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county beef and forage committees in Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Hamilton, Hill, Johnson, Limestone and McLennan counties.

 USA Rice Outlook Conference and Trade show, Dec. 10-12

 The USA Rice Outlook Conference, Dec. 10-12, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas, brings together rice farmers, millers, merchants, and representatives of allied businesses from all rice-producing states and beyond. 

The Conference features a trade show devoted to rice-related farm equipment, technology, products, and services. The 2017 USA Rice Outlook Conference program will fill two full days and will include economic and political outlooks, state-by-state production and research reports. Keynote speaker will Mark McKinnon, Political and Media Advisor, Creator, Executive Producer, and Co-host of Showtime’s The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth.

New this year are breakout sessions for all segments of the industry.  Visit www.usarice.com/outlook for more information including sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities or contact Jeanette Davis at [email protected] or (703) 236-1447.

TPPA

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.

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 .

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