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East Texas Forage Conference Set Aug. 28

By Robert Burns

The East Texas regional forage conference will be held 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Yamboree Fairgrounds in Gilmer.

Programming will focus on helping producers increase yields and lower costs, with presentations to address the latest in production techniques and newest herbicides, said Randy Reeves, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent for Harrison County.

Registration for the conference is $10 per person, with a lunch sponsored by Legacy Ag Credit, Longview. To register, mail checks to East Texas Regional Forage Conference, 405 E. Marshall Ave., Longview, TX 75601. Make the check payable to “Gregg, Harrison, Upshur Ag Fund” and include the name of the person or persons registering, along with a mailing address, phone number and email.

Morning program topics and speakers will include:

– “Irrigation of Forage Crops,” Paul Griffin, Kilgore, cattle producer and engineer.

– “Winter Forage Utilization,” Hugh Aljoe, pasture and range consultant with the Noble Foundation.

– “Pasture Herbicide Updates,” Jack LeClair, range and pasture specialist with Bayer Crop Sciences.

After-lunch topic and speakers will include:

– “Winter Forage Options,” Dr. Vanessa Corriher-Olson, AgriLife Extension forage specialist, Overton.

– “Low Input Option Ideas for Producers from a Producer’s Perspective,” Mr. Craig Watson, Sherman area rancher and attorney,

The presentations will be followed at 3 p.m. by a question-and-answer session.

Holders of Texas Department of Agriculture private pesticide applicators licenses will have the opportunity to earn two continuing education units, one in laws and regulations and one in the general category. Reeves said. The conference is also approved to award 1.5 credits toward the Beef Quality Assurance program.

The Yamboree fairgrounds are located approximately 1.5 miles north of downtown Gilmer on U.S. Highway 271.

The conference is hosted by AgriLife Extension offices in Gregg, Harrison, Panola, Rusk and Upshur counties.

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The Manitoba Seed Growers Association (MSGA) held its first annual SeedLink Conference in Brandon last week, where a new president was appointed to take the helm of the organization.

A.J. Armstrong of Armstrong Seeds in Boissevain took the gavel from Past-President Tom Greaves. In a sit-down interview, Armstrong shared insights into his personal journey within the seed industry. Born into a family deeply rooted in seed cultivation, he took the reins of the family business in 2003, building on a legacy initiated by his father in 1980.

Regulatory modernization emerged as a significant focus of the conversation. While acknowledging the complexities of the process, Armstrong expressed optimism about the potential benefits for seed growers once the regulatory framework is finalized.

Discussing the dynamics of working with family in a business setting, he stressed the importance of open communication.

Operating with a streamlined team that includes his mom as the bookkeeper, his father as the “gopher” handling specific tasks, and a dedicated employee for day-to-day operations, the Armstrong family has successfully navigated the intricate balance of personal and professional relationships.

Open discussions about roles, responsibilities, and business plans contribute significantly to the smooth functioning of a family-operated seed business,” he said.

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