An update on cattle ticks, new technologies in cotton and new horticultural practices will highlight the 57th annual Blackland Income Growth Conference Jan. 15 at the Waco Convention Center, 100 Washington Ave. in Waco.

The conference, which attracts hundreds of producers from 23 counties covering more than 12 million acres, is sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Waco Chamber of Commerce.

“The BIG Conference features a number of commodity sessions including beef, horticulture, cotton grain, rural land management, forage and wildlife designed to help producers improve profitability and enhance stewardship practices,” said Brent Batchelor, AgriLife Extension regional program leader, Stephenville.

Bill Foshea, Blackland Income Growth Conference chairman from, said several emerging issues affecting both farmers and ranchers will be covered at this conference.

“Many take home what they learn at the conference and apply it directly into their farming and ranching operations,” he said.

The keynote lunch speaker will be Dr. Dan Hale, AgriLife Extension meat specialist in College Station, who will discuss connecting food and agriculture. Hale interprets and extends information on diet, health, food safety, livestock growth and meat science to consumers, youth,  health professionals, retailers, packers, processors and livestock producers. He has worked on several national studies on consumer retail and beef tenderness.

A full program agenda can be found at https://bit.ly/2BAWKoF. 

A program called “From the Ground Up: Connecting Agriculture and Health” will also be held in conjunction with the Jan. 15 conference. A program agenda and registration is available at http://agrilife.org/fromthegroundup/. On Jan. 15, a BIG recertification will be held. The cost is $60 and includes lunch. Registration at the door is $70. Call 254-757-5180 to preregister or pay $70 at the door.

A private applicator training will also be held. Cost is $75 with lunch included. To preregister, call 254-582-4022.