Crop Management:
Texas agriculture is a $15 billion industry. Your Randall County Extension office is pleased to offer assistance in crop management, through applied technologies and environmental stewardship. The primary role of the program is to disseminate research based knowledge to agricultural producers. Your Randall County Extension Agent is able to assist small scale farmers and ranchers to become self sustaining and profitable.

COTTON

WHEAT

FORAGE

CORN

Upcoming Events:

Producers needing help in establishing a marketing plan for their feed grains operation in the midst of recent rising prices are invited to attend a two-day seminar, said Dr. Steve Amosson, a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

"Developing This Year's Marketing Plan for Feed Grains" will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 22-23 at the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Amarillo. The course will be taught by Amosson of Amarillo and Dr. Mark Waller of College Station, both Extension economists.

"The volatility in the feedgrains market has truly been remarkable," Amosson said. "The increase in ethanol production has and will change the market dynamics for years to come. It will affect the balance between industrial, feed and export use."

The course will allow producers to discuss and analyze these changes and develop a good marketing plan for the upcoming year, he said. Producers can learn about fundamentals, technicals and seasonal trends in cash, basis and contracts, Amosson said. They also will learn to evaluate pre- and post-harvest marketing strategies and cash marketing tools, such as cover calls, spreads, storage hedging and windows, he said.

The short course is a part of the Advanced Topic Series hosted by Extension's Master Marketer Educational System, Amosson said. A fee of $125 will cover instruction, materials and lunch. For more information, contact Amosson at (806) 677-5600 or visit the Master Marketer Web site at http://mastermarketer.tamu.edu .

Greater demand for corn in the wake of the growing ethanol industry could change the demand for irrigation in the upcoming year, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

The High Plains Irrigation Conference and Trade Show is scheduled for Jan. 17 at the Amarillo Civic Center, said Leon New, Extension irrigation specialist and agricultural engineer. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m The cost is $15 and includes a catered lunch. For more information, contact New at 806-677-5600.

South Plains producers can update their crop production and management skills and earn continuing education units at any of seven agriculture conferences. The Texas Cooperative Extension events are slated for January and February.

Conference dates and locations are:
Jan. 15; West Plains Cotton Conference at the Sundown Room on the South Plains College campus in Levelland. Registration begins at 8 a.m.; the program at 8:30 a.m. Participants can qualify for five continuing education units. Call the Extension office in Hockley County at 806-894-3159 for more details.

Jan. 16; Caprock Cotton Conference at the Plains Baptist Assembly south of Floydada. Call the Extension office in Floyd County at 806-983-4912 or Crosby County at 806-675-2347.

Jan. 24; Southern Mesa Ag Conference at the Dawson County Annex Building, 609 N. First St. in Lamesa. Registration begins at 8 a.m.; the program at 8:30 a.m. Participants can qualify for at least five continuing education units. Call the Extension office in Dawson County at 806-872-3444.

Jan. 26; Llano Estacado Cotton Conference at the Bailey County Coliseum in Muleshoe. Call the Extension office in Bailey County at 806-272-4584.

Feb. 6; Sandyland Ag Conference at the Gaines County Civic Building in Seminole. Call the Extension office in Gaines County at 432-758-4006.

Feb. 7; South Plains Ag Conference at the Nikki Vinson Youth Center, 110 E. Hill St. in Brownfield. Call the Extension office in Terry County at 806-637-4060.

Feb. 7; Hale and Swisher County Crops Conference at the Ollie Liner Center in Plainview. Call the Extension office in Hale County at 806-291-5267 or Swisher County at 806-995-3726.

For more information contact: Danny Nusser
200 N. Brown Rd. - Canyon, TX 79015
806-468-5543 (office) - 806-468-5547 (fax)