Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, [email protected]
Contacts: Dr. Emi Kimura, 940-552-9941 x233, [email protected]
Dr. Paul DeLaune, 940-552-9941 x207, [email protected]

CHILLICOTHE – The Rolling Plains Summer Field Day, hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Vernon, will be Aug. 30.

The field day activities will focus on many of the cotton trials at the AgriLife Research Chillicothe Station, 1340 Farm-to-Market Road 392, south of Chillicothe.

“It is an important year for cotton production in Texas as new technologies came onto the market,” said Dr. Emi Kimura, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agronomist in Vernon. “Producers will benefit from side-by-side variety demonstrations for their variety decision making next year.

“The field day is also a good opportunity for interaction between AgriLife personnel from both Vernon and College Station, agribusiness personnel and producers in the Rolling Plains,” Kimura said.

Registration is set for 7:45-8:30 a.m., followed by the field tour. There is no charge for the program and lunch will be provided.

Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education credits will be offered – two general and one integrated pest management.

Tour stops, topics and speakers will include:

– Cotton Trials: Replicated Agronomic Cotton Evaluation (RACE) Trials, and Management of Enlist and Extendflex Technologies, Kimura.

– Advancements in Cotton Development: Phenotyping, and Breeding for Yield Potential, Drought Tolerance and Insect Resistance, Dr. Steve Hague, associate professor of cotton genetics and breeding in the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Cotton Improvement Lab in College Station, and Dr. Curtis Adams, AgriLife Research cropping systems agronomist in Vernon.

– Conservation Systems: Conservation Tillage; Cover Crops; Irrigation Management; Soil Health and Producer Experiences, Dr. Paul DeLaune, AgriLife Research environmental soil scientist in Vernon, and area producers.

At 11 a.m., the event will move indoors for a presentation on herbicide regulations by Henry Krusekopf, Texas Department of Agriculture field inspector in Wichita Falls.

Also, Advances in Research and Technology will be discussed by AgriLife Research leaders Dr. Richard Vierling, Vernon center director; and Dr. Craig Nessler, director, and Dr. Bill McCutchen, executive associate director, both in College Station.

Following the noon lunch and updates from sponsors, there will be a wrap-up with drawings for door prizes.

For more information, call 940-552-9941 and extension 233 for Kimura, or extension 207 for DeLaune.

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