We have an excellent 5-hour CEU program planned for Friday, February 24th from 8:30 until 3:00 at the DeLeon City Auditorium. This year the bulk of the program will focus on forage production. However, the first hour will be providing the required “Auxin Training” for producers or commercial applicators that maybe applying products over cotton. Other topics will include: “Pest Control and Identification in Forages”, Practical Brush Control and Encroachment Prevention”, “Identification and control of weeds in Improved Forages” and finally “TDA Laws and Regulations”.
We have a group of excellent specialists coming to discuss these topics. Dr. Sonja Swiger, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Entomologist, Dr. Morgan Treadwell, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Range Specialist, Dr. Case Medlin, Pasture and Weed Specialist, Bayer Crop Sciences and Jason Jones Texas Department of Agriculture.
This program will offer 5 total CEU’s, 2 Laws and Regulations, 2 IPM’s and 1 general. If you only need the “Auxin Training” you can take it and then leave with just the 1-hour Auxin Training certificate. More than just providing certificates, this program will provide you with the knowledge needed to improve your forage operations and help to recover from the drought. Lunch will be provided, but there will be a $50.00 fee for the program. If you are interested in attending or have questions please call the office to RSVP, 325-3562539.
Chill Hours for Fruit Production Occasionally we have a year where we have a hard time getting enough chill hours for good fruit tree production, it looks like we reach required hours this year for most all fruit this year. I can only give a good estimate but depending on which method you use to figure chill hours we are in low 700 hours or the very high 700-hour range. I can only give a good estimate, because the folks that used to maintain the website that monitored chill hours have dropped that project. Not to worry, next year the information will be available on the Texas ET site as they have taken up the project.
Most of the peach trees planted in our area require 600 to 800 chill hours for good fruit production. Chilling hours for plums, pears and other fruit trees can vary, but most are 700 hours or less. Most vineyards only require 150 chill hours. We are on track to reach our required hours this year for most fruit production. This is good news for farmers in the area.