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Texas providing financial support to improve specialty crop production

Almost $2 million will be invested

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

Fifteen specialty crop projects across Texas will share $1.8 million in funding from the Texas Department of Agriculture.

Distributed by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service, the money will go towards helping promote specialty crops, which include fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, nursery crops, horticulture and floriculture.

“Texas is a leader in the production of many specialty crops, including citrus, onions, watermelons, pecans and grapes,” Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller said. “This round of specialty crop funding will support these growing segments of the Texas agriculture industry and producers across the state through research and promotional activities. The more support we give our Texas farmers, the more we can enjoy locally grown, fresh products.”

Projects were selected based on a specific set of criteria including food safety improvements, development of the specialty crop industry, increases in marketing and promotion of Texas crops, and protection of specialty crops from pests and diseases.

Projects set to receive funding include:

  • The Texas Citrus Pest and Disease Management Corporation’s commitment to decreasing the spread of the plant disease known as citrus greening by hiring a consultant to detect early signs of citrus greening.
  • The Texas Pecan Growers Association trying to create new markets for locally grown pecans by showcasing them at the Produce Marketing Association’s 2016 Fresh Summit.
  • The Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association will provide three educational and outreach workshops about vineyard soil management with the goals of attracting new producers and helping current growers produce more.

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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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