2003 Texas A&M University Advanced
Horticulture Food Crop Symposium

The Extension Horticulture Food Crops Group of the Department of Horticultural Sciences will be sponsoring an Advanced Horticulture Food Crops Symposium September 29-October 1, 2003. The Symposium will be conducted in Rudder Tower on the Campus of Texas A&M University. All fruit and vegetable growers, shippers, farm managers, processors, consultants and related agri-businessmen are encouraged to attend.

What is the Advanced Horticulture Food Crops Symposium?
The Symposium is intended as a medium to provide in-depth information on a range of topics impacting plant growth, yield, quality and profitability of production. Topic discussions will be more basic than those normally presented at typical Extension grower meetings. With the exception of the breakout sessions for fruit, grape and vegetables, the discussion will not be crop specific. Instead, emphasis is placed on common factors influencing plant growth, development and yield. The Symposium will follow a college lecture format with the topics presented by outstanding members of the teaching and extension faculties from Texas A&M University.

Why should I attend?
The face of agriculture is rapidly changing. The way crops are produced and marketed is becoming more competitive as market windows shrink and competition increases. If producers are to remain competitive and profitable in today’s agricultural climate, the need to minimize input expense while maximizing profits is more important now than ever before. One way to help accomplish this is to develop an understanding of the factors that impact plant growth, yield and quality. When such understanding is based on sound scientific principles a producer will be better able to make informed decisions as to which inputs are essential and which are needless. More often than not the success or failure in crop production is a result of marginal profits. Needless inputs can easily consume such profits. Therefore, wise decision making and timing are the basis of successful horticultural food crop production. The information provided in the Symposium is intended to aid you in this regard.

What evidence is there that my attendance will be of any value to me?
Upon completion of the Symposium participants are request to complete a questionnaire to determine if their expectations were met and if there was any value to their attendance. The results from the surveys of the first two Symposiums (2001 & 2002) were extremely positive. For instance, when asked specifically if they believed that the information presented would be of value in their decision making process the following results were found:
2001: Yes = 80 % No = 6 % Undecided = 14%
2002: Yes = 96 % No = 0 % Undecided = 4%

Featured speaker will be Dr. Blaine Hanson, Irrigation Engineer, University of California Davis. Dr. Hanson will be discussing design and management of drip irrigation systems and managing water, salts and fertilizers with irrigation systems.