Blogging with Brian

The Smith County Extension office will be holding a Private Pesticide Applicator training and testing class on Thursday, February 25, in Room 116 of the Smith County Cotton Belt Building (1517 West Front St., Tyler). Registration will begin at 8:30 AM and the training will conclude around 1:30 PM. 

Landowners interested in developing a wildlife management program for their property should attend a Small-Acreage Wildlife Management Workshop on Friday, March 5^th, at the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area.

Presentations by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), Texas Agrilife Extension and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff will help landowners better understand some commonly recommended management practices and create a workable management plan.  Wildlife management tax valuations, habitat management, supplemental food and shelter, erosion control and pond construction are covered in the presentations and demonstration site tours.      

"We have a great combination of presentations and demonstrations designed to help landowners managing recreational or family lands of less than 250-acres," stated TPWD biologist Wes Littrell.  Littrell said the program could be especially valuable to those applying for a wildlife management tax valuation.

The program is hosted by the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area located on US Hwy 287 between Corsicana and Palestine. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the program will conclude by 4:00 p.m.  A barbeque lunch will be provided.

Due to limited space, attendees must reserve their place in advance with a check for $12.00 per person made out to the Anderson-Houston SWCD.  Registration is limited to the first 60 paid individuals.  Checks, along with attendee's name, property county and contact information should be sent to: Gus Engeling WMA, 16149 North US Hwy 287, Tennessee Colony, TX 75861.

Program sponsors include the Anderson-Houston Soil & Water Conservation District, Henderson County Wildlife Committee, NRCS, Texas Agrilife Extension and TPWD.

If you are involved or interested in raising fruits and vegetables to sell to the public, make plans now to attend the East Texas Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Conference on February 16 at the Rose Garden Center (420 Rose Park Dive) in Tyler. Registration for the event will begin at 8 AM and the conference will adjourn at 3:00 PM. There will also be commercial vendors on hand throughout to provide attendees with updates on the latest products for fruit and vegetable production.

This conference is structured with a morning general session and afternoon breakout sessions that focus on fruits, vegetables, and viticulture (growing grapes) in more detail.

Topics for the morning session this year are: Drip Irrigation Management, Pond Management for Irrigation Purposes, Marketing Success Stories, and Dealing with Feral Hogs - Problems and Solutions.

Topics for the afternoon breakout vegetable session are: Go Texan Marketing, Tomato and Southern Pea Production, New Insect Control Products, and Nematode Updates.

Topics for the afternoon fruit breakout session are: Go Texan Marketing; Low Input, Sustainable, and Organic Pecan Management Systems; and Reducing Inputs and Increasing Peach Orchard Profitability.

Topics for the viticulture afternoon breakout session are: Go Texan Marketing, Starting a Vineyard, and a Pierce's Disease Update.

Cost for the conference is $25 per person (includes lunch) at the door. Attendees with Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide licenses will receive 3 hours of continuing education credit (1 hour Laws and Regulations, and 2 hours General).

For a complete agenda of the event, please visit http://smith-tx.tamu.edu and click on the link under the 'Events' section or simply call the Smith County Extension office at 903-590-2980.

Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin. Persons wishing to attend this program who have special needs are asked to contact the office at least 5 working days in advance so that necessary accommodations can be made.

The East Texas Turfgrass Conference, a yearly event that addresses the needs of those who manage turfgrass on a large scale (i.e. school districts, municipalities, and commercial lawn and landscape companies), is scheduled for Thursday, February 4, at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton.

This conference also welcomes avid home lawn managers seeking tips and techniques that will make them the envy of the neighborhood.

This year's conference will feature the following topics: Disease Control Updates for Turfgrass; Feral Hogs in Turf Situations; Weed Identification; When You Cant' Grow Grass; Zoysia Management and Varieties for East Texas; Turfgrass Insect Problems; Ants, Ants, and More Ants; and Facts and Fiction on Soil Fertility Products

There will also be commercial vendors on hand to showcase the latest in products and technologies in the turfgrass field.

Cost for the conference is $25 per person (includes lunch) and registration for the event will be taken at the door. Attendees with Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide licenses will receive 5.5 hours of continuing education credit (1 hour Laws and Regulations; 2 hours Integrated Pest Management, and 2.5 hours General).

Registration begins at 8 AM and the conference ends at 3 PM.

For a complete agenda of the event, including a map to the AgriLife Center at Overton, please visit http://smith-tx.tamu.edu and click on the link under the 'Events' section or call the Smith County Extension office at 903-590-2980.

Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin. Persons wishing to attend this program who have special needs are asked to contact the office at least 5 working days in advance so that necessary accommodations can be made.