COTTON WORKSHOP FOCUS - EMERGENCE TO EARLY BLOOM

    The second in a series of Gulf Coast Cotton Management Workshops will be held on Thursday, April 28, 2011 at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center on Hwy. 44 just west of the Corpus Christi Airport.  The focus of this workshop will be the “Emergence to Early Bloom” period.  This series, offers producers the opportunity to ask questions and interact with industry representatives, consultants,  AgriLife Extension and Research personnel.  With cotton prices currently at record levels, it is important to fine tune cotton production needs to be as efficient as possible to take advantage of the excellent prices.   This workshop is designed to provide local cotton growers with tools to help them be successful in the coming growing season, according to Dr. Juan Landivar, Director of the Corpus Christi Agrilife Research and Extension Center.
    The workshop will begin at 1:30 p.m. and conclude by 5:00 p.m.  Topics will include a discussion of  Ecological considerations in managing early season insect pests by an invited guest speaker, Dr. Megha Parajoulee, Professor and Faculty Fellow/ Cotton Entomology Project Leader   in Lubbock.  Dr. Parajulee has a strong background in ecology and population dynamics modeling of arthropod pests and natural enemies. His research focuses on developing biologically and ecologically intensive arthropod management approaches for Texas High Plains cotton.  He has organized several national and international invited symposia including at the International Congress of Entomology in Australia (2004) and South Africa (2008) and International Plant Protection Congress in China (2004).
    An online management tool available at the Crop Weather Program website will be discussed and demonstrated, while agronomic considerations for producing a good cotton crop will also be discussed, including the use of growth regulators.  In addition, marketing updates and risk management strategies will be discussed by local Extension Economists.
    2 CEU’s will be offered for pesticide applicators and certified crop advisors.  This workshop is being sponsored by Texas AgriLife Research and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Individuals with disabilities, who require an auxiliary aid, service or accommodation in order to participate in any of the mentioned activities, are encouraged to contact the County Extension Office at 361-767-5223 at least eight days before all programs for assistance.
Educational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all citizens without
regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age or national origin.