Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico cotton producers and consultants are urged to reserve a seat at either of two special workshops aimed at increasing their awareness of best management practices (BMPs).

The National Cotton Council-coordinated workshops will be held in Texas at the Moore County Community Building in Dumas on April 1 from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and at the Reece Technology Center in Lubbock on April 2 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided at both of the advanced training workshops, which are free to attendees. Bayer CropScience is providing support.

Texas AgriLife Extension Service specialists, Texas AgriLife Research and Texas Tech University scientists will lead the workshops which will focus on: 1) “The First Forty Days, ™” early season BMPs -- with in-depth discussion of variety selection and arthropod/weed/nematode management and 2) “Fruiting to Finish, ™” BMPs including fertility, irrigation management and fiber quality -- particularly as quality is affected by harvest practices, i.e. stripper versus picker harvesting.

Continuing education units will be offered to attendees.

“These workshops are designed to help cotton growers, consultants and others involved in on-farm decision-making increase the efficiency and cost effectiveness of cotton production systems,” said Bill Robertson, the Council’s manager, Agronomy, Soils & Physiology. “Seating will be limited so we encourage early reservations.”

To reserve a seat, each attendee must RSVP by emailing to BMP@cotton.org their name, email address, phone number and workshop location they will be attending. Those who respond by March 27 will be eligible for a door prize drawing at each location, but must be present to win.

For more information, email Bill Robertson at BMP@cotton.org.