Robstown To Host Texas AgXchange

The TexasAgXchange, a Farm and Ranch Show will be held Thursday, October 4 and Friday, October 5, 2012 at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds, located at 1213 Terry Shamsie Blvd, just east of Hwy 77 in Robstown, Texas.  Admission and parking will be free. 

Texas AgXchange is being produced by VerticalXchange in cooperation with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Research.

            This Farm & Ranch Show will showcase some of the latest Agricultural technology being used in South Texas.  In addition to the many farm industry exhibits, there will be numerous educational sessions offering CEU’s for Pesticide Applicators, Certified Crop Advisors, and credits for BQA.  Moreover, the third annual South Texas Commodity Symposium will be held Thursday, Oct. 4 in conjunction with the show and will be hosted by Texas Corn Producers, Texas Grain Sorghum Producers, South Texas Cotton & Grain Association and Southwest Council of Agribusiness.

Speakers at the Commodity Symposium will include Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples giving an update on state border control and immigration issues, Tom Sell of Combest - Sell and Assoc. giving a 2012 Farm Bill Update, and Brian McCuistion with the Texas Grain Producers Indemnity Board providing information on the upcoming indemnity fund referendum.

The symposium will begin Thursday, October 4 at 10 a.m. and will end at noon with attendees to the symposium receiving free lunch tickets to the AgXchange BBQ Cook-off being held at the show.

An educational conference will also be held at the show hosted by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Research.  Topics on Thursday, October 4 will include; Improving Profits with Bull Selection, Cattle Working/Handling Demonstration, Updates from Texas Animal Health Commission and the Texas Beef Council, Citrus Greening Update, Managing Wildlife to Enhance Ranch Income, and Pond Renovation.  Topics on Friday, October 5 will include; Pesticide Laws and Regulations Update, Crop Market Outlook and Marketing Strategies for the Coming Year, Long-rang Weather Outlook by the National Weather Service, and New Developments in Brush Control.

Events at the show will begin at 10 am both Thursday and Friday.  For more information about the 2012 Texas AgXchange Farm & Ranch Show, please visit www.texasagxchange.com.

            Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin.  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 eight days before all programs for assistance.

Special Soil Test Campaign Implemented

    With the dry soils producers can gear up for next year's growing season by soil sampling now to determine the status of soil nutrients in their fields and pastures.  A year with below normal rainfall resulted in some crops not performing to their fertilized potential, thus some nutrients remain in the soil for the next crop.  Moreover fertilizer prices remain a significant input cost, all the more reason to soil sample now to determine what actual soil nutrients will be needed for the coming crop season.
    The Coastal Bend Soil Testing Campaign, coordinated by local offices of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, for farms in Aransas, Bee, Jim Wells, Kleberg/Kennedy, Live Oak, Refugio, Nueces, and San Patricio Counties will be held from October 1 through November 15, 2012.  Soil samples may be turned in at your local County Extension Office for analysis at up to a 33% reduced testing fee.  Soil tests will be analyzed by the Texas A&M University Soil Testing Laboratory for a reduced fee of $7 per sample for the Routine Analysis and $14 for Routine /Micronutrient Analysis during this special campaign. This special soil testing campaign is for row crop farmers and ranchers with improved pastures.   Soil sample bags and test information sheets may be obtained in your local County Extension Office.   For more information call the Nueces County Extension Office at 361-767-5223.

Workshop to Focus on Ag apps

 

            The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will conduct a workshop to train farmers and ranchers to use their iPhones and iPads to help make decisions to increase their profit margins.  The workshop will be Tuesday, October 23, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Texas A&M Agrilife Research & Extension Center at 10345 State Hwy. 44, just west of the Corpus Christi Airport.  Space is limited and preregistration is required by October 19, 2012 by calling 361-767-5223.  The registration fee is $25 per person and does include lunch.  Participants will be eligible for an iPad which will be given away at the conclusion of the workshop. 

 

In this workshop, participants will learn to use their iPhones and iPads to make quick decisions in the field, on the tractor or in the pickup.  The team will train producers to utilize these apps to more effectively manage risks in their business and improve the profitability of their business. They will learn to access market data to help them evaluate relevant pricing strategies. Moreover they will improve their knowledge of costs and break-even using the Cost of Production app the Extension team has developed.

 

Participants will be introduced to a wide range of other apps related to marketing, budgeting, irrigation decisions, various time-saving calculators and other tools. Each workshop participant will have access to iPads with apps already installed. The participants will enter data and learn to utilize various apps that can help them make decisions related to profitability and improve their price and production risk management skills.

            For more information contact the Nueces County Extension Office at 361-767-5223.

This workshop is being sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. 

Individuals with disabilities who require an auxiliary aid, service, or accommodation in order to participate in any Extension event are encouraged to contact their County Extension Office at 361-767-5223 at least one week in advance of the program in order for proper arrangements to be made.  

 

Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex. disability, religion, age, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.