Whether it's market or weather volatility or pesticide availability and fertilizer prices, Texas producers and the agricultural industry face change daily. Responding to those changes will be the focus of the upcoming Texas Plant Protection Association Conference in Bryan, Texas, Dec. 6-7. 

“These are volatile times in agriculture. Between the markets, supply chain, and the unknowns of future fertilizer prices, producers have tough decisions ahead of them," said TPPA Chair Ray Smith. "Our hope is that the conference presentations will help producers and the ag industry navigate some of those tough decisions and provide clarity as they plan for 2023.” 

General Session 

The General Session will feature presentations on topics such as fertilizer prices, pesticides innovation, weather patterns and a global market update and its impact on Texas agriculture by Economist Mark Welch, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.  

"2022 has been a year of high costs, high production risk, and high price opportunities," said Welch. "At this point it looks like many of the factors that produced those conditions will be with us heading into 2023 putting the squeeze on profit margins.  

"As we plan for next year, are we more afraid of high prices or low prices? Are we so concerned about missing the top of the market that we don’t take adequate protection against prices going lower or fail to lock in profitable margins when they are available? These are some of the questions I plan to address."  

Chis Novak, president and CEO, CropLife America, will provide a pesticide forecast, looking at innovation, opportunity and challenges.  

"Farmers looking ahead for what pesticides to use in the 2023 growing season should find some good news, but there are changes coming that will make their input decisions more complicated," Novak said. "Our industry is recovering from natural disasters and supply chain disruptions that created product shortages last year.  New rules from Washington, however, are going to mean farmers need to think differently about their pesticide applications moving forward." 

Novak will also address the importance of a strong regulatory system. "It may seem strange to think that the pesticide industry actually wants a strong EPA, but we know that farmers and consumers want products that are safe and effective, so a strong regulatory system helps build that confidence.  

"Our industry is working to increase investments into EPA so that the agency can hire the scientists it needs for reviewing new pesticide products and ensuring compliance with the Endangered Species Act.  At a time when things are becoming more polarized, it is more important than ever that farmers, industry, government, and environmentalists work together to solve real problems."  

During the afternoon General Session, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Law Specialist Tiffany Lashmet, will discuss carbon credit contracts.  

"Carbon contracts have certainly been one of the hot topics in agriculture this year," Lashmet said. "However, not all contracts are created equal.  There are a number of considerations that producers and landowners should think through before signing on the dotted line. I'll be focusing on some of the main questions to ask and terms to watch for when evaluating and negotiating a carbon contract." 

She'll also discuss the importance of carefully reading contracts. "The differences in the contractual terms from company to company are extreme.  Combine that with this being a new market and there are a lot of considerations and decisions producers need to make before entering into a carbon contract."  

The afternoon Consultant General Session presentations will include the following: 

Day 2 will begin with a TDA update on laws and regulations by Perry Cervantes, followed by the following concurrent sessions: Cotton, Horticulture/Turf, Fertility Management, Grain, Pasture and Rangeland, Water and Irrigation Management.  

An awards luncheon will also be held on the last day. TPPA will recognize members for their service, including presenting the association's most prestigious award, the Norman Borlaug Lifetime Achievement Award.   

CEUs will be available along with presenter abstracts and the poster contest for graduate and doctoral students. To view the agenda or register, visit https://bit.ly/3b0xF7u. The conference will be available in person or virtually. Early registration ends Nov. 6.