Category Archives: Uncategorized
Upcoming Programs for Urban Farmers
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Tarrant County Commercial Horticulture will be offering two great programs for urban farmers and those who are considering an urban farming enterprise in April. Friday, April 12, 2013: This program will feature an interactive webinar session with Dr. Joe Masabni, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Vegetable Specialist, entitled “Starting an Urban Farm.” After we discuss some of the challenges of our local resources, we’ll visit Gnismer Farm to see strawberry, asparagus and other spring vegetable production. Lynn and Cynthia Remsing will tell us about how… Read More →
IR-4 Survey
The mission of IR-4, more formally know as Interregional Research Project #4, is to facilitate the registration of sustainable pest management technology for specialty crops and minor uses. Since all horticultural uses are minor in the big picture of pest management, IR-4 is instrumental in expanding labels to include ornamentals, fruits and vegetables. The IR-4 team recently opened a new survey to help them focus their research efforts on diseases, insects, and weeds. They will target those diseases, insects, and weeds that impact crop production but do not… Read More →
EarthKind Landscape Short Course
Professionals who manage residential landscapes, parks, commercial properties and golf courses are encouraged to attend the Earth-Kind Landscape Short Course Dec. 10-14 in College Station. Experts including your own Laura Miller and lots of smarter speakers from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will address landscape issues at the five-day course at the G. Rollie White Visitor Center, 7707 Raymond Stotzer Parkway. Continuing education credits will be offered. Registration is $575 prior to Nov. 23 and $675 thereafter. Single-day registration is available for $135 before Nov. 23 or… Read More →
Texas Fruit and Nut Orchard Conference
This one and one-half day educational program was developed for prospective and existing commercial fruit growers, hobby growers, master gardeners, and extension agents desiring training in basic orchard management, IPM, recommended fruit varieties, Earth-Kind practices, and fruit marketing. Pecans, high tunnel strawberries, figs, pomegranates, citrus and olives will be discussed on the all day Thursday and Friday half-day conference. Participating speakers include: Larry Stein, Jim Kamas, Mark McFarland, Russ Wallace, David Appel, Sheila McBride, Allen Knutson, Sam Feagley, George Ray McEachern, and Monte Nesbitt. Dale Ham, Ham Orchards… Read More →
Oklahoma Greenhouse Production Short Course June 20-21, 2012
http://www.oknla.org/page_images/1334778654.pdf Click the link for more information about the Greenhouse Production Short Course featuring Steve Upson from the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation talking about hoop house production techniques and much more at the OSU-OKC (that’s Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City, Texans) Horticulture Center.
Beekeeping Qualifies as an Agricultural Use Enterprise
The new tax code change that now qualifies beekeeping as an agricultural use enterprise in Texas open-space land appraisals has generated a lot of interest, said Dr. Chris Sansone, Texas AgriLife Extension Service entomologist in San Angelo. Sansone said that in a recent update, Deborah Cartwright, director of the Property Tax Assistance Division from the state comptroller’s office ( http://www.window.state.tx.us/ ), announced the Texas Legislature added beekeeping as another agricultural use for purposes of open-space land appraisal. Tax Code Section 23.51(2) was amended to include in the definition… Read More →
Horticulture Field Day at Henrietta Creek Orchard
Denton County Horticulture Agent Janet Laminack and I, along with Steven Smith and Steve Upson of the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and Ray and Sue Short at Henrietta Creek Orchard invite you to participate in a Field Day at the Orchard on Friday, April 20, 2012 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. This is a great year to look at fruit trees, and you can also see how they irrigate from their pond, learn about beekeeping, and just meet other farmers. Please let me know if you have… Read More →
Do You Need Another Number?
You might. Farmers, ranchers and timber operators who produce agricultural and timber products for sale will need a special registration number to claim sales tax exemption on purchased taxable products used for their operations beginning Jan. 1. The registration number was made a requirement by House Bill 268, which passed in the recent legislative session. The new registration process has implications for agricultural producers. “While purchases of feed and seed are not subject to sales tax, it is important that agricultural producers obtain an identification number because many… Read More →
NRCS EQIP Technical and Financial Support for Conservation on eOrganic Farms Webinar
In its fourth year, the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives (EQIP) Program’s Organic Initiative, aims to provide technical and financial assistance to certified organic, transitioning to organic, and exempt from certification producers. The agency has made many improvements in how the program is implemented and numerous changes are in place for the 2012 sign-up. Sarah Brown manages Oregon Tilth’s Organic Conservation Program which aims to bring organic technical assistance to the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). When she is not working with NRCS and providing outreach to producers,… Read More →
New webinars on Marketing Organic Produce, Organic Transplants, Food Safety and Hops Production
Join eOrganic and SARE for a series of 4 free webinars on marketing organic produce, organic transplants, food safety, and hops production in October and November! All webinars are open to the public, and advance registration is required. Save the dates and register now at for the following webinars at http://www.extension.org/pages/25242 Plan for Marketing Your Organic Products, by Susan Smalley, Michigan State University: October 25, 2011 at 2PM Eastern Time. Register at http://www.extension.org/pages/60942 Root Media and Fertility for Organic Transplants, by John Biernbaum, Michigan State University: November 1,… Read More →