Milam County Row Crop Tour Scheduled for June 23rd

CAMERON — Area farmers and producers can get a firsthand look at local crop performance and hear the latest market updates during the upcoming Milam County Row Crop Tour on Tuesday, June 23rd.

The annual event offers an opportunity for the local agricultural community to review field trials, discuss seed varieties directly with company representatives, and earn continuing education credits.

The tour kicks off at 8:00 AM with registration, donuts, and coffee at 6993 N FM 486 in Thorndale. After the morning registration, participants will tour various county crop plots to view local performance data before transitioning to the Buckholts Community Center for the remainder of the educational program and lunch.

This year’s program features an array of expert speakers from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and federal agricultural agencies, covering key trials and industry updates:

• Corn & Grain Sorghum Demonstration Variety Trials: Dr. Ronnie Schnell, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in Cropping Systems, will lead the discussions on both corn and grain sorghum performance.
• Replicated Agronomic Cotton Evaluation (RACE) Trial: Dale Mott, Texas A&M Extension Program Specialist, will present findings and insights on local cotton trials.
• Seed Variety Discussions: Representatives from participating seed companies will be on hand at the plots to discuss the specific traits and management of the planted varieties.
• Milam County USDA Update: Local agricultural administration will be reviewed by Ruben Hernandez, Milam County FSA Director, alongside Mark Stoll, District Conservationist for the NRCS.
• Commodity Market Update: Dr. Mark Welch, Professor and Extension Specialist from Texas A&M University, will provide an outlook on current market trends and commodity pricing.

A lunch catered by the Thorndale Meat Market will be provided for all attendees. The afternoon will conclude with the drawing of door prizes and the distribution of Continuing Education Unit (CEU) certificates.

For licensed pesticide applicators, the tour offers a total of 2 CEUs: one in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and one in the General category.

The cost of the program is $15.00, payable at the door. To ensure an accurate meal count for the catered lunch, participants must RSVP by Tuesday, June 16th. To reserve a spot, contact the Milam County Extension Office by phone at (254) 697-7045.