The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is partnering with the Texas Grain Sorghum Association to provide two series of regional updates for Texas sorghum farmers utilizing an online format.

The effort is led by AgriLife Extension agronomists Calvin Trostle, Lubbock, and Ronnie Schnell, Bryan-College Station, both in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.

Schnell said they are dividing Texas in two regional updates so each can be tailored to the needs of each region's sorghum growers.

“Grain sorghum in South Texas, if it survived the freeze, or was planted right afterwards, is a month or more old,” Schnell said.  “Most sorghum has already been planted as well in Central Texas.”

This contrasts the Texas High Plains where sorghum planting begins at the end of April and is completed in late June. Some sorghum will be planted shortly in the Concho Valley region and Rolling Plains.

Meeting details

“Over the past year AgriLife Extension—and many of our clientele—have become more comfortable with using online means for live meetings,” Trostle said. “This is a quick way to get information to Texas producers on many topics quickly.”

Both grain sorghum series will use the Zoom platform. First-time users of Zoom should allow a couple extra minutes for their computer to install Zoom after clicking on the links. Video and audio will be available so attendees can ask questions live with participating AgriLife Extension staff.

The Central and South Texas meetings will be held from 12:30-1:15 p.m. on April 14 and April 21.

The Zoom log-in for both meetings is the same. Those unable to join by Zoom can call 346-248-7799 to listen. For further information on meeting passcodes and topics, contact Schnell at 979-845-2935, [email protected].

The first of the High Plains with Rolling Plains and Concho Valley sessions will be from 5-6 p.m., April 8, utilizing the Zoom platform and log-in, with Trostle and Jourdan Bell, agronomist, Amarillo. The other two will be from 12:30-1:30 p.m., April 15, addressing weed control, and April 22, addressing insects. Each will have a different set of codes that can be obtained from Trostle at 806-746-6101 or [email protected].  Additionally, all three High Plains meetings may also be accessed by calling 346-248-7799 to listen in.

Partnership makes it possible

Trostle and Schnell acknowledge the Texas Grain Sorghum Association in making this series of meetings possible. The two AgriLife Extension agronomists have teamed up since 2012 to write a monthly grain sorghum production tip for the association’s “Sorghum Insider” member newsletter.

“This close relationship makes it easier to think about what we can do to help sorghum growers across Texas,” Trostle said.

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