by Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, Lubbock, 806-746-6101, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu

Sesame is a heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant crop that has a good fit in much of Texas. Due to its small seed size it may present a planting challenge for some farmers (the right planter plates/discs and proper settings alleviate this), and due to just a few registered herbicides (Sonalan, some grass herbicides for mid-season control, Dual products) sesame is not for your weedy ground.

But sesame has crop rotation advantages, wild hogs largely seem to leave it alone, and there are over two dozen Texas counties where crop insurance is available (application deadlines may be past though for 2016).

AgriLife Extension has prepared a summary of sesame production practices for the Rolling & High Plains, posted online at http://lubbock.tamu.edu/sesame/ Contractor information and contacts (Sesaco), recent pricing ($0.30/lb, irrigated or dryland), and basic agronomic practices are discussed, and links are provided to further contractor production and harvest resources. Last recommended planting dates extend to late June in the High Plains and early July in the Rolling Plains (though earlier planting there appears advantageous).

Contractors announced the week of May 30 that an additional 50,000 acres are available for 2016.

Calvin Trostle
Professor and Extension Specialist
Lubbock, TX
803.746.6101
ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu