Texas farmers, ranchers and ag industry representatives will have two-information-packed days Dec. 5 and 6 to absorb the latest on precision agriculture, aflatoxin in corn, the effect of budget cuts on the ag economy and updates from technology and chemical manufacturing companies.

Other issues to be discussed at the annual Texas Plant Protection Association Conference include markets and production information for grain crops, rice, soybeans, cotton, grain sorghum and pastures and rangeland.

The meeting will be held in the Brazos Center in Bryan, near the Texas A&M Campus.

"The upcoming TPPA meeting offers a lot of information for the Texas agriculture community,” says Vernon Langston, vice president and program chairman, Texas Plant Protection Association, and a field scientist in range and pasture and industrial vegetation management.

“The conference will include presentations on corn aflatoxin and its effects on the Texas ag market, the impacts of the current budget cuts on Texas agriculture and numerous presentations on precision agriculture.”

Several major chemical and technology companies will discuss coming innovations, Langston says. “Breakout sessions for specific crops will include fertility and water management, cotton genetics, cotton crop protection and pasture rangeland issues during this two day event,” he says. 

David Baltensperger, department head, soil and crop sciences, Texas A&M University, will moderate a precision ag session. "New precision measurement technology, from fiber quality, to soil data, to yield is coming on line and will affect producer decisions,” he says. “The precision management session at TPPC will highlight recent advances and on farm implementation of these new technologies.”

  Dan Fromme, president, Texas Plant Protection Association and Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Corpus Christi, says the Texas Plant Protection Conference “is the premier venue in Texas where ag industry, consultants, and university extension and research personnel can gather to learn about new technology and exchange information.

“Each year conference attendees are able to learn about the latest technology and are updated on critical issues that are confronting Texas agriculture. Also, the conference provides the perfect environment for a person to discuss production issues informally with other people who are involved in the ag industry.”

Fromme says the 2011 TPPC planning committee has put together an excellent program that benefits anyonewho worksin the Texas ag industry. He says presentations on the value of precision agriculture to farming operations will be one of the program highlights.

Those attending will be able to receive TDA and CCA credits, including Laws and Regulations.

For more information contact: 936/537-7083 (phone) 936/539-9526 (fax) e-mail: [email protected]; web site: http://tppa.tamu.edu