Weed Control in Grassy Forages

Jun 16, 2021

The second in a series of grassy weed control forage online presentations offered to producers in Brazoria and Galveston counties is scheduled from 6-7 p.m. July 13.

Vanessa Corriher-Olson, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service forage specialist, Overton, will give an overview of weeds and control options in coastal Texas hay and pastures.

Fertilization, weed control and pest management will be critical to maximizing forage production this year.

Utilizing herbicide applications properly and timely will help efficacy rates, and scouting for pests like fall armyworms and grasshoppers and acting quickly when they near thresholds could save crops.

Cost is $10 and one continuing Texas Department of Agriculture education unit in the general category will be offered to those who register. Registration is online at http://tinyurl.com/y8eapnu6 and the deadline is noon July 13.

Attendees must be registered to receive a meeting link.

The upcoming final presentation

The final virtual session addressing fall brush control will be held from 6-7 p.m. Aug. 31.

Source : tamu.edu

Video: Designing a Robotic Berry Picker

Since blackberries must be harvested by hand, the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive. To support a growing blackberry industry in Arkansas, food science associate professor Renee Threlfall is collaborating with mechanical engineering assistant professor Anthony Gunderman to develop a mechanical harvesting system. Most recently, the team designed a device to measure the force needed to pick a blackberry without damaging it. The data from this device will help inform the next stage of development and move the team closer to the goal of a fully autonomous robotic berry picker. The device was developed by Gunderman, with Yue Chen, a former U of A professor now at Georgia Tech, and Jeremy Collins, then a U of A undergraduate engineering student. To determine the force needed to pick blackberries without damage, the engineers worked with Threlfall and Andrea Myers, then a graduate student.