Texas Border Business
The annual virtual Texas Fruit Conference, hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences, will be Jan. 23-24.
The program will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. both days. Registration is $60 for both days.
The format will be completely online to accommodate as many participants as possible, said event coordinator Tim Hartmann, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension statewide fruit specialist and assistant professor, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Bryan-College Station.
This year’s theme is entitled “Combating Climate Challenges in Texas Fruit Production,” with a focus on maximizing fruit yield and quality while optimizing plant health and longevity. This year’s online event topics are intended mainly for commercial growers and hobbyists, Hartmann said, but anyone interested in fruit production is welcome to attend.
Primary conference presentations will include research-based topics such as protected culture production, novel frost protection strategies, plant growth regulator use, and other best management practices, covering a wide range of tree and small fruit crops.
Four Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator continuing education units are available.
Participants will also have access to documents and video recordings from the presentations.
On the program
Topics and speakers for this year’s program will represent Texas as well as the southeast U.S., including:
- Performance of biopesticides for year-round management of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni in peach orchards – Junaed Ahmed, graduate research assistant and doctoral student, Clemson University.
- Bacterial canker management in stone fruit – Hartmann.
- Kaolin clay and other materials for protection against heat and sunscald – Alden Hotz, AgriLife Extension associate, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Bryan-College Station.
- Winter cold protection of fruit crops and cultural practices to reduce damage – Stephen Janak, AgriLife Extension program specialist, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Hallettsville.
- Shaded fruit production – potentials for increased yields, quality and plant health – Jacy Lewis, doctoral candidate and manager of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Viticulture and Fruit Lab in Fredericksburg, in the Department of Horticultural Sciences.
- Evaluating select plant growth regulators on improving fruit set in apricot – Allison Love, graduate student, Department of Horticultural Sciences.
- Influence of shade on blackberry cultivar performance in central Alabama – Libby Neal, graduate research assistant, horticulture, Auburn University.
- High tunnel citrus production – Monte Nesbitt, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension fruit and statewide pecan specialist and assistant professor, Department of Horticultural Science, Bryan-College Station.
- Frost protection strategies for fruit crops – Nesbitt.
- Arthropod pest management in protected culture systems – Kyle Slusher, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension entomologist and assistant professor, Texas A&M Department of Entomology, Stephenville.
- Evaluating high tunnel production of southern highbush blueberries in central Alabama: insights from the first two years of production – Lucas Speer, graduate student, horticulture, Auburn University.
- Maximizing irrigation effectiveness during drought – Larry Stein, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension horticultural specialist and professor, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Uvalde.
- High tunnel stone fruit production – live video, and a grower interview – Russ Studebaker, Studebaker Farm, Fredericksburg.
- Recognizing stress-related abiotic disorders from biotic diseases – Pedro Uribe, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension program specialist, Texas A&M Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Bryan-College Station.
- Hydrogen cyanamide use, Budpro, in fruit crops – Edgar Vinson, Ph.D., assistant professor and Alabama Extension horticulturalist, Auburn University.
- Sprayable materials for frost protection of fruit crops – Matthew Whiting, Ph.D., professor, tree fruit horticulture, Washington State University.
For more information, contact Hartmann at t-hartmann@tamu.edu
