The annual conference is sponsored by AgriLife Extension and the Waco Chamber of Commerce.

The Dinner Tonight cooking school is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 4, featuring recipe demonstrations that promote Texas agriculture. Cost is $15 with preregistration and $20 onsite.

Registration for the main Blackland Income Growth Conference on Feb. 5 is $20 per person and includes lunch. Several sessions will award continuing education units. Click here to download the brochure and see specific continuing education credit allocations, sessions and speakers.

The keynote luncheon speaker Feb. 5 will be James Kroll, also known as “Dr. Deer” and is the Henry M. Rockwell Chair in forest wildlife and director of the Institute for White-tailed Deer Management and Research at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Kroll is a nationally-known resource for excellence in research in deer biology, management and economics. Most recently, Kroll was appointed by Gov. Scott Walker as the nation’s first deer trustee for Wisconsin and given the authority to investigate and develop solutions to long-standing public issues related to the management of white-tailed deer in the state.

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The following is a list of concurrent sessions scheduled Feb. 5-6:

Feb. 5 sessions:

  • 9 a.m.  Beef session will feature presentations on fly control, restoration of pastures, rebuilding the cow herd, livestock traceability and beef checkoff program.
  • 9 a.m. Grain session topics include nutrient management, weed resistance management, management in wheat, and a Farm Bill update.
  • 9 a.m. Horticulture session will feature presentation on causes of tree death in Texas.
  • 9 a.m. Rural Land Management – topics include what constitutes ag evaluation and custom farming rates/needs for small scale operators.
  • Noon – Blackland Income Growth Conference luncheon.
  • 2 p.m. Cotton session – Farm Bill update, boll weevil eradication update, cotton root rot management update, variety and technology update, and Cotton Inc. research and program update.
  • 2 p.m. Forage session topics include drought management strategies, forage options (native versus improved grasses) and weed/brush control management.
  • 2 p.m. Wildlife session will feature white-tailed deer management in the 21st century.
  • 2 p.m. Horse commodity session topics include form to function, manure management, taxation issues on horses, pasture management and conditioning and exercising the equine athlete.

Feb. 6 sessions:

  • 8:30 a.m. Blackland Income Growth recertification program to feature topics and presentations on environmental risk management, agricultural emergency management, and laws and regulations.
  • Noon – MidTex luncheon
  • 1 p.m. Agricultural water conservation program and insect management for forages, pecan and small fruit tree.

For additional information, call (254) 968-4144.  end mark

—From AgriLife Today