Rural land management and practical crop production strategies will be featured at the 50^thBlackland Income Growth Conference scheduled Feb. 6-8 at the Extraco Events Center in Waco.

The Extraco Events Center is located at 4601 Bosque Blvd. in Waco.

“We are celebrating 50 years of educating agricultural producers in the Blacklands region, and this year’s conference features several informative sessions on production agriculture,” said Ron Woolley, Texas AgriLife Extension Service regional program director at Stephenville and conference coordinator. “We think we have a little bit for everyone, and producers will take home plenty of strategies they can incorporate into their operations.” The annual conference is sponsored by AgriLife Extension and the Waco Chamber Commerce.

The Dinner Tonight cooking school is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 6, featuring recipe demonstrations that promote Texas agriculture. Cost is $15 and preregistration is encouraged by calling 254-757-5180. Registration for the main Blackland Income Growth Conference on Feb. 7 is $20 per person and includes lunch. Several sessions will award continuing education units. Producers are encouraged to download the brochure at http://stephenville.tamu.edu/blackland-income-growth/conference-information/ to see specific continuing education credit allocations, sessions and speakers.

State Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, will be the keynote lunch speaker. Birdwell represents District 22, serves as vice chairman of the higher education committee and is a member of the economic development, government organization and veteran affairs committees.

The following is a list of concurrent sessions scheduled Feb. 7-8:

Feb. 7 sessions:

- 9 a.m.: Grain session topics will include a historical perspective of grains in the Blacklands, 50 years of improvements; wheat varieties and management; nutrient management in grain production, new technologies in corn and grain sorghum, and new technologies in aflatoxin control.

- 9 a.m.: Horticulture session topics include Earthkind gardening and diagnosing and identifying plants.-

9 a.m.: Beef session topics include bull power, producing safe wholesome beef, financing beef production and pasture management after a drought.-

Noon: Blackland Income Growth Conference luncheon.

- 2 p.m.: Cotton session will feature topics on boll weevil eradication, from basket to bale, cotton root rot management, production and price-risk management strategies.

- 2 p.m.: Forage session will feature topics on soil sampling and nutrient management, grazing strategies during drought and hay production management decisions during drought.

- 2 p.m.: Horse session will feature stock horse demonstration, emergency preparedness, safe trailering, environmental issues for horse owners and determining when a horse is too old.

Feb. 8 sessions:

- 8 a.m.: Rural land management session will feature topics on tax valuation and appraiser panel discussion, landowner issues and pond and lake management.

- 8 a.m.: Blackland Income Growth recertification program,  featuring forage pest management, weed and brush management, laws and regulations, predator control and water issues affecting grazing

- 9 a.m.: Wildlife session featuring Texas Brigades, update on 1-D-1 open space wildlife exemption, ecotourism and update on quail research.

- 9 a.m.: Private applicator training and testing.

- Noon: Mid-Tex luncheon.