The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will once again provide educational programming through several different events at the Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at the Amarillo Civic Center, 401 S. Buchanan St., Amarillo.
AgriLife Extension’s primary programming will be during the long-running Panhandle Farm and Ranch Management Symposium from 8:45 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 30 in the Grand Plaza, said Megan Eikner, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Potter County.
Registration begins at 8 a.m., and the fee is $60. Lunch will be provided with registration. RSVP’s are requested to megan.eikner@ag.tamu.edu for planning purposes.
There will be five Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units offered for pesticide applicators – one laws and regulations, one integrated pest management and three general.
The program will feature the following topics and speakers:
• Pesticide Management in Sorghum and Corn Silage, Jourdan Bell, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomist, Amarillo.
• New Herbicide Weed Control Systems for Grain Sorghum, Kevin Heflin, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomy program specialist, Amarillo.
• A Specialty Crop Panel.
• IPM – Early Season Cotton; Local Bollworm BT Data; SCA in Sorghum and Mite Issues in Corn, Blayne Reed, AgriLife Extension integrated pest management specialist, Plainview.
• TDA Rules and Regulations, Kyle Thompson, TDA inspector, Lubbock.
Pasture management
AgriLife Extension will also present an afternoon of training on pasture management on Dec. 1, also in the Grand Plaza.
The free program will begin at 1:30 p.m. and adjourn by 3 p.m.
Topics and speakers include:
• Prescribed Burn for Pasture Management, Jeff Bonner, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department technical guidance biologist, Pampa.
• Pasture Reseeding Programs, Todd Montandon, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist, Canyon.
• Forage-based Nutritional Management Programs, Jason Smith, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, Amarillo.
Healthy living
AgriLife Extension District 1 family and community health agents will provide a variety of health-related information at their booth just outside of the Grand Plaza in the north foyer on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
They will provide different healthy food samples and recipes at 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. both days. The recipes will include Spicy Pimento Cheese, One-pan Tex Beef and Rice, Berry Compote Parfait and Street Tacos with Corn Salsa.
They also will share information on helping farmers, ranchers and their families manage stress and maintain a balanced lifestyle.
Texas A&M AGriLife Extension contributed this article.