The Texas AgriLife Extension Service will conduct two cotton field events in September, but there will be a change caused by the ongoing drought, organizers said.
The annual Tom Green County Cotton Field Tour is slated for 9 a.m. Sept. 15 on the John and Doug Wilde farm. However, lack of a cotton crop has caused the Runnels County tour to be scaled back to a turnrow meeting set for 8 a.m. Sept.16 on the Paul Minzenmayer Farm.
The Wilde farm is just north of the intersection of Loop 306 and Farm-to-Market Road 765, east of San Angelo. The Minzenmayer farm is on the south side of U.S. Highway 67 near Halfmann’s Garage, southwest of Ballinger.
Rick Minzenmayer, AgriLife Extension entomologist for Runnels and Tom Green counties, said the Tom Green County tour will include an irrigated cotton variety test, a harvest-aid trial and a look at an ongoing cotton root rot study. The tour will end with a Texas Department of Agriculture presentation on laws and regulations, a Boll Weevil Eradication Program update and a complimentary meal at the St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Wall.
Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units -- two general and one laws and regulations -- will be available for those attending the entire tour.
The Runnels County turnrow meeting will consist of talks on cotton varieties along with wheat varieties to be considered for planting during the upcoming fall small-grain season, Minzenmayer said. Two general continuing education units will be available. Complimentary burritos and drinks will be provided.
For more information on either program call the AgriLife Extension offices in Runnels County at 325-365-2219 or Tom Green County at 325-659-6523 or Minzenmayer at 325-365-5212.