The 2022 edition of Stiles Farm Field Day Tuesday, June 21, featured strategies on combating high fertilizer and input costs, plus information on new herbicide technology and hemp production in the Blackland’s region.
Following the tours, meal and guest speaker, awards and scholarships were presented. Larry Leschber was named 2022 Agriculturist of the Year, and two of the scholarships were awarded to Barrett Bradshaw, from Canyon High School, and Brynn Michalke from La Grange High School. Both are incoming Texas A&M University students.
A third scholarship for a high school work study program is in partnership with Thrall ISD. Recent Thrall graduate RC Porter was awarded a $1,000 scholarship for his participation commitment to the program.
Tour topics and speakers included Reducing Nitrogen and Phosphorous Costs with Strategic Cover Cropping, EQUIP Funding, Blackland’s Integrated Pest Management Update, Cotton Stand Decision Making/Utilizing the Soil Bank to Save Money, Drought Management in Grain, Herbicide Product Technology, Justifying Late Nitrogen Application, and Hemp Basics in the Texas Blackland’s
The guest speaker for the event was Mark Welch, AgriLife Extension economist from Bryan-College Station, who spoke about managing high costs and the marketer commodity outlook.
“Regarding the topic, there are three things when you think about our market,” said Welch. “The first thing is where are we and why are we here? The second being where are we going? And the third aspect, what do we do about it.”
Welch spoke for 30 minutes about the market, supply and demand, and the prices compared to those of over the last 20 years, along with the method of slow thinking versus fast thinking in regard to getting the cost down and production up.
The Stiles Farm Foundation is a 2,716- acre farm located in Thrall. The farm is managed by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service as a living demonstration of research-based, profitable and environmentally sustainable agricultural practices for the Texas Blackland Prairie.
The farm works with scientists and industry partners to create farm demonstrations and research trials evaluating new technologies, farming methods or equipment so producers can adopt the most beneficial practices.
For more information, visit https://stilesfarm.tamu.edu.
