The Blackland Income Growth (BIG) Conference, the largest conference for Central Texas Blacklands region farmers and ranchers, is set for Dec. 13-14 at the Extraco Events Center, 4601 Bosque Blvd., in Waco.
This will mark the 55th conference, which provides farmers and ranchers with the latest information on new technology and cropping methods to boost yields and profits.
The conference is earlier than in years past in order to accommodate the region’s farmers.
“We are anticipating this date will work well with all of the farmers, as well as ranchers, in the region to plan ahead for 2017,” said Ron Woolley, AgriLife Extension regional program leader in Stephenville. “This gives them plenty of lead time to make important decisions with regard to new seed varieties, planting methods and other important decisions with a new crop. This also gives early ideas for other varieties in other commodity areas such as beef, forage, grain, horticulture, wildlife and rural land management.”
Julie Borlaug, associate director of the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture at Texas A&M University in College Station, will be the keynote luncheon speaker Dec. 13 discussing agricultural sustainability. Borlaug is the granddaughter of the late Dr. Norman Borlaug, Nobel Peace Prize laureate who was considered the father of the Green Revolution.
Other topics during the conference include nutritional economics; public policy and how it affects the cattle business and landowners; and a 2017 cattle market outlook, among others.
The Mid-Tex Farm and Ranch Show will be held in conjunction with the conference, showcasing the latest in farm and ranch equipment, seed, chemicals and agriculturally-related services and technologies.