The 49th Stiles Farm Field Day scheduled June 19 will feature presentations on cotton fertility and new technology, plus weed control strategies and pasture recovery from drought. The Stiles Farm is located at 5700 Farm-to-Market Road 1063, near the intersection of U.S. Highway 79, 1 mile east of Thrall.

Cost is $10 with registration starting at 7:45 a.m. Presentations and tours begin at 8:30 a.m.

“At this year’s field day, we will be looking at some of the things available for farmers following last year’s drought and what we can put into the tool box and use toward profitability,” said Archie Abrameit, Texas AgriLife Extension Service farm manager.

A highlight on this year’s program is a presentation on sesame production and how it could be an option for Central Texas farmers, Abrameit said. “This is the first time since I’ve been here in 16 years we’ve planted sesame (at the Stiles Farm),” he said. “It’s a low-input crop and it’s very water efficient. Seed costs are low, but it does have some things you need to be aware of.  It has a terrific root system and breaks up some of this hard soil we’ve got.”

The following are morning presentations beginning at 8:30 a.m.:

Cotton fertility, new cotton technologies and cotton root rot control, Dr. Gaylon Morgan, AgriLife Extension state cotton specialist, and Dr. Tom Isakeit, AgriLife Extension plant pathologist, both from College Station.  

Weed control update, Dr. Paul Baumann, AgriLife Extension weed control specialist, College Station.    

Pasture recovery from drought, Dr. Larry Redmon, AgriLife Extension forage specialist, College Station.

At noon, youth scholarships will be presented and the Taylor Agriculturalist of the Year will be named for 2012. A barbecue meal, sponsored by the Taylor Chamber of Commerce, will follow. The afternoon session begins at 1:15 p.m. and will feature equipment demonstrations and a tour of weed control plots using a variety of DuPont herbicide crop protection applications.

Three continuing education units will be given to participants who hold a Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicators license, Abrameit said. The Stiles Farm is a non-profit, self-supporting institution established by bequest of the late J.V. and H.A. Stiles for the advancement of agriculture to benefit all Texans. A field day is held at the Stiles Farm each year to introduce producers to the latest research and best management practices.