Crosbyton Meeting Will Explore Cropping Options

Writer: Tim W. McAlavy, (806) 746-6101, email: t-mcalavy@tamu.edu
Contact: Calvin Trostle, (806) 746-6101, email: c-trostle@tamu.edu

LUBBOCK – High production costs and low commodity prices have many crop producers scratching their heads and rethinking their 2002 farming strategies.
 
Helping producers carefully evaluate their cropping options is the purpose of a Feb. 7 meeting slated at the Memorial Building in Crosbyton.

“We will take a long, hard look at what it takes to produce crops such as grain sorghum, peanuts, and wheat,” said Calvin Trostle, Texas Cooperative Extension agronomist headquartered at Texas A&M’s Lubbock Research and Extension Center. “But we will also discuss production strategies for other crops such as guar and sunflowers.

“We will also spend some time discussing forage crops such as sorghum-sudan, millet, and alfalfa. These are some crops producers should consider if they are interested in diversifying their operations.”

The cropping options meeting will run from 8:45 a.m. to noon. There is no registration fee, and those who attend can qualify to earn three continuing education units (CEU’s).

Trostle will discuss agronomic factors producers should consider/evaluate when making decisions on crop options.
Peter Dotray, agronomist with a joint Texas Tech-Texas A&M appointment, will focus on weed control strategies and the importance of herbicide flexibility when growing crops other than cotton.

Harold Kaufman, Extension plant pathologist-Lubbock, will discuss plant health and the disease potential associated with these crops.

A home-cooked lunch will also be provided; courtesy of these sponsors: Crosbyton Seed, Texas Farm Bureau,
American State Bank of Floydada, and the Crosby/Floyd County Integrated Pest Management Steering Committee.

For more information on this event, contact the Crosby County Extension office at (806) 675-2347
or Trostle at (806) 746-6101.