[vc_row][vc_column][special_heading title="Western Rice Belt Conference and Texas Rice Council Annual Meeting" subtitle="January 18, 2017 - El Campo Civic Center, El Campo Texas" separator="bottom"][vc_column_text]The annual Western Rice Belt Production Conference will be held on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at the El Campo Civic Center. Registration for the conference will begin at 8:00 a.m., with the remainder of the program to begin at 8:15 a.m. After a catered lunch, provided by area agribusiness sponsors, the program will conclude at 2:30 p.m.

This joint effort of our Western Rice Belt planning committee, The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, U.S. Rice Producers Association, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research will offer growers and others the opportunity to hear presentations from the top Extension and Research scientists from Texas as well as respected individuals from the rice industry. Topics and speakers will include: Association updates from U.S. Rice Producers and USA Rice; Price Risk Management Tools, Dennis Delaughter; Rice Market Inventory and Outlook, Thomas Wynn; Rice Disease Management Update, Dr. Shane Zhou; Weed Management Update, Dr. Muthu Bagavathiannan; Insect Management in Rice, Dr. Mo Way; Pesticide Laws and Regs Update, Greg Baker; Financial Risk Management, Silveus Financial; and a Rice Policy Update from Dr. Joe Outlaw. The Texas Rice Council will also conduct their Annual Meeting in conjunction with the 2017 Western Rice Belt Conference. The Texas Rice Council will conduct their producer elections during the lunch hour, following the announcement of the Rice Poster Contest.

For more information, contact the Texas AgriLife Extension office in Matagorda County at 979-245-4100; or Colorado County at 979-732-2082; or Wharton County at 979-532-3310; or go to http://wharton.agrilife.org and click on Events to view a flyer for the Rice Conference. 2 1Ž2 CEU’s (1 L&R and 1 1Ž2 IPM) for TDA Pesticide Applicators will be awarded at this event. CCA hours have been applied for and will be offered pending approval. Pesticide Applicators are reminded to provide their Pesticide Applicator License number at registration.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="1482" alignment="center" onclick="img_link_large"][/vc_column][/vc_row]