Rising expenses will be a topic at the area’s annual notable event for farmers and the community.
Stiles Farm Field Day is scheduled from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 21. The program will feature strategies on combating high fertilizer and input costs, plus information on new herbicide technology and hemp production in the Blacklands region.
“Sky-high input costs are at the forefront of every farmer’s mind this year,” said Ryan Collett, farm manager and AgriLife Extension specialist. “Our field day overall is geared towards helping producers improve efficiencies during times of higher production costs. This can be done through more efficient fertilizer usage, marketing strategies, or even deep soil sampling.”
Tour topics and speakers include:
• “Reducing Nitrogen and Phosphorous Costs with Strategic Cover Cropping,” Jake Mowrer, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension soil specialist, Bryan-College Station; • “How Can EQUIP
• “How Can EQUIP Funding Help?” Connie Ramirez, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resource Conservation Service, Williamson County;
• “Blacklands Integrated Pest Management Update,” David Kerns, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension entomologist, Bryan-College Station; and Matt Matocha, AgriLife Extension integrated pest management program specialist, Bryan-College Station;
• “Cotton Stand Decision Making/Utilizing the Soil Bank to Save Money,” Ben McKnight, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension state cotton specialist, Bryan-College Station;
• “Drought Management in Grain,” “Herbicide Product Technology,” and “Justifying Late Nitrogen Application,” Ronnie Schnell, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomist, Bryan-College Station; and
• “Hemp Basics in the Texas Blacklands,” Calvin Trostle, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension specialist, Amarillo; Gary Pastushok, AgriLife Extension agent, Williamson County; and Lauren Mayes, Texas Department of Agriculture field representative.
The event is spon sored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. The Stiles Farm is at 5700 FM 1063 in Thrall.
There is no cost to attend the event. A catered dinner will be sponsored by area agribusinesses and the Williamson County Farm Bureau is sponsoring two continuing education hours for pesticide license holders.
Registration begins at 4:45 p.m. with concurrent field tours beginning at 5:30 p.m.
A catered dinner will follow the field tour along with a grain market/risk management update with Mark Welch, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension economist, Bryan-College Station.
Scholarships and Williamson County Agriculturist of the Year awards will follow. Door prizes will also be awarded, and the field day will adjourn at 8:30 p.m.
