Coming Events . . .

June 26, 2002, 8:00 a.m. - Noon

Overton Horticulture Field Day
TAMU AREC @ Overton, TX
For more information contact:
Marty Baker (903) 834-6191 X 271

In late June, East Texas nursery growers, greenhouse mangers, and home owners will have the chance to see horticultural field trials of ornamentals and commercial, edible field crops on the same day.

At the upcoming East Texas Horticultural Field Day, set June 26 at the Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center near Overton, professional horticulturists will give presentations and field tours of more than 400 bedding plants, disease-resistant roses, and other perennial ornamentals. In addition, attendees will learn about 18 hybrid and 20 seedless watermelon varieties. Though primarily designed for Master Gardeners and professional growers and landscapers, the field day is open to the general public. Extension professionals will be on hand to identify pests and diseases found in local landscapes. Home owners and commercial producers alike are encouraged to bring plant and insect samples for identification.

Registration for the field day will be begin at 9:00 a.m. at Overton Center’s North Farm, where the actual research plots are located. At about 10:30 a.m., the tour will move back to the Overton Center main complex. A Dutch Treat lunch will be offered at 11:30.

The Overton Center is located one mile from downtown Overton on Highway 3053. Coming from south of Overton, take 135 into town. At Overton’s single red stoplight, take a left, go across the railroad tracks, and turn right immediately after the Brookshire market. Look for the large white sign on the right side of the road identifying the Overton Center. The North Farm site is about five miles north on Highway 3053. Attendees should look for signs, or they may drop in at the Center headquarters for directions to the North Farm. Coming from the north, take the 3053 exit from I-20. Look for signs approximately four miles south of State Highway 31. Maps and more detailed driving instructions can be found on the internet at

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July 9, 2002, 8:30 a.m. - Noon

Overton Watermelon Field Day
TAMU AREC @ Overton, TX.
For more information contact: Ron Earhart (903) 834-6191

September 11 - 13, 2002

Texas Produce Convention
Intercontinental Hotel - Houston, TX
For more information contact: Ray Prewitt,
Texas Vegetable Association, (956) 581-8632

September 30, 1:30 - October 2, Noon

TAMU Horticulture Food Crops Symposium
Rudder Tower Texas A&M University - College Station, TX

The Department of Horticultural Sciences, Extension Horticulture, has announced plans for its 2002 Horticulture Food Crops Symposium. The Symposium is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. on September 30 and conclude at noon on October 2, 2002.

The Symposium is intended to offer producers, processors, consultants, and county Extension agents college-level training on factors influencing plant growth and response, and other considerations enabling successful crop production. Topics to be covered range from photosynthesis and respiration to business-management issues explaining why small farms fail. Many of the symposium topics will be presented by teaching faculty members from Texas A&M, Arkansas, and Oregon State Universities.

Registration fee for the Symposium will be $125/individual prior to September 15, and $150 after September 15. More specific information and the complete Symposium agenda will be presented in future issues of VPM News. If additional information is needed at this time, contact a Symposium Planning Committee member:

Drs. Ed Hellman @ 806 / 746-6101
Larry Stein @ 830 / 278-9151
Frank Dainello @ 979 / 845-8567 or
Jim Kamas @ 830 / 997-7047).

December 3 - 4, 2002

Texas Plant Protection Conference
Pebble Creek Country Club - College Station, TX
For more information contact: Pat Miller (512) 259-2118