Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: Rick Minzenmayer, 325-365-5212, r-minzenmayer@tamu.edu
BALLINGER – Concho Valley cotton producers will have two chances to learn what’s new in the West Texas cotton patch during upcoming field events in Runnels and Tom Green counties.
The first is the Runnels County Turnrow Meeting set for 8:30 a.m. Sept. 30 on the Paul Minzenmayer farm located just off U.S. Highway 67 between Ballinger and Rowena. The second is the Tom Green County Cotton Field Tour slated for 9 a.m. Oct. 2 on the John and Doug Wilde farm just north of the intersection of Loop 306 and Farm-to-Market Road 765 east of San Angelo.
Both events are free and open to the public.
“The Runnels County Turnrow meeting will center around talks on cotton varieties,” said Rick Minzenmayer, AgriLife Extension integrated pest management agent for Runnels and Tom Green counties. “We’ll also discuss wheat varieties producers may want to consider planting during the upcoming fall small-grain season. And with a little luck, we should have a harvest-aid trial ready to view while discussing the various treatments involved with that demonstration.
“We’ll complete the program with a complimentary noon meal served at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Hall in Ballinger.”
Minzenmayer said Texas Department of Agriculture continuing educations units will be available for those completing the entire morning’s program.
“The Tom Green County tour the following week will offer an irrigated cotton variety test plot, harvest-aid trial and a look at the new Monsanto XtendFlex technology in Americot/NexGen cotton varieties,” Minzenmayer said. “This technology features insect-protected, herbicide-resistant traits meant to better allow control of resistant weeds within a cotton crop.
“The tour will conclude with a boll weevil eradication update and complimentary meal at the barbecue area at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Wall.”
Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units, one general and two integrated pest management, will be available to those attending the entire tour.
Minzenmayer said the Tom Green County event typically draws a large crowd, so those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to the AgriLife Extension office in Tom Green County at 325-659-6523 by Sept. 26 so an accurate meal count can be made.
Minzenmayer is the contact for both meetings. He can be reached by calling the AgriLife Extension integrated pest management office in Runnels County at 325-365-5212.
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