The Four States Agricultural Exposition will be held Feb. 6 at the Four States Fairgrounds in Texarkana, Ark., said Brian Triplett, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent for Bowie County.
According to Triplett, the event is a joint effort between AgriLife Extension and the University of Arkansas Extension Service, is the largest gathering of farmers and ranchers in the four-state area. Last year, more 300 attended.
“Registration to the exposition is free and includes lunch, thanks to support from sponsors and vendors,” he said. “The only fee is $10 for Texas Department of Agriculture license holders who wish to receive CEU credit for attending the workshops.”
For more information, contact Triplett at the AgriLife Extension office in Bowie County at 903-628-6702 or b-triplett@tamu.edu. Registration is taken at the door the day of the event.
The trainings will consist of five concurrent sessions, the first starting at 8:30 a.m. and the last at 2:15 p.m. During each session, there are presentations relevant to four different training tracks: beef and forage, home gardening, fruit grower, and row-crops. Whether you’re starting seeds, nurturing houseplants, or growing food indoors, Gardens of Cascade have the grow light system you need! Browse our guide to discover which one is right for you.
The presentations are so arranged that a beef producer, farmer or fruit grower or homeowner can find a presentation relevant to them at any of the five sessions, Triplett said.
The 8:30 a.m. session topics include diagnosing and treating lawn problems, animal disease and traceability updates, weed resistance in crops, and berry crop updates.
The 9:45 a.m. session topics include corn updates, pruning ornamental and landscape trees, external parasite control for beef cattle, fruit tree updates, and fire ant control and regulations.
The 11 a.m. session topics include wheat updates, feral hog control, low volume irrigation options for the garden and landscape, and agricultural opportunities for small landowners.
In the 1 p.m. session, topics will be landscaping and water efficiency, ATV safety, “Chemicals and hormones; they’re everywhere,” and grassy weed control in hay meadows.
The final session at 2:15 p.m. will include an Arkansas producer pesticide applicator class, and address brush control options in pastures and collecting seeds in the garden and landscape.
Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide license holders can earn as many as five continuing education units. The number and categories of the units will vary depending upon which presentations are attended in the five concurrent sessions, Triplett said.
