West Texas Agricultural Chemicals Conference
Slated on August 28, at Lubbock Civic Center

Writer: Tim W. McAlavy (806) 746-6101, t-mcalavy@tamu.edu

LUBBOCK – West Texas agriculture producers and agribusiness people can update their chemical use and
application skills, and learn more about water conservation, the current farm bill, and pest control August 28
at the 50th  annual West Texas Agricultural Chemicals Conference in the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.

On-site registration over coffee and donuts begins at 7 a.m. and costs $70 per person.

The morning conference session runs from 8 a.m. to noon, and will include presentations on food safety, the
future of Texas agriculture, plant stress and water conservation. Morning keynote speakers include: Jay Lehr,
Potash Corporation; C.J. Scifres, deputy director of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station; and Dan
Upchurch and John Burke, USDA Plant Stress Laboratory, Lubbock.

More than 500 producers, chemical dealers and agribusiness people are expected to attend.

Participants can earn up to five continuing education units (CEUs) required by the Texas Department of
Agriculture for certification of commercial and non-commercial pesticide applicators, or as many as 6.75 CCA
education units. Four of these CEU’s are approved by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, and two are
approved by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture.

The conference is sponsored by the West Texas Agricultural Chemicals Institute (WTACI), an organization of
scientists, educators, industry representatives and agribusiness leaders. The institute has sponsored-conducted
research and educational programs focusing on safe ag chemical use since 1953.

A morning awards ceremony will feature presentation of WTACI awards and college scholarships totaling
more than $7,000.

The afternoon general session begins at 12:45 p.m. with presentations on the current farm bill, boll weevil
eradication and textile quality issues. Featured speakers include Tommy Sell, deputy staff director of the U.S.
House of Representatives Agriculture Committee; Charles Allen, Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation;
and Darrell Lindsey, Plains Cotton Cooperative Association.

Concurrent educational sessions on precision agriculture; biotechnology; insect identification and control; crop
diseases; and a weed workshop will be presented by Extension specialists, Texas Agricultural Experiment
Station scientists and Texas Tech University and industry representatives following the afternoon general
session.

The concurrent afternoon educational sessions will begin at 3:15 p.m. and wrap up around 4:45 p.m. Closing
remarks, CEU-CCA certificates and session evaluations will be the order of business after these sessions conclude.

For more information on the WTACI conference, call Sheryl Smith at 806-746-6101.