The Texas Fruit Conference brings together the diverse interests in growing fruit in Texas for education & networking.
Registration Information: http://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/fruit/
Monday Morning October 11th, Intro to Fruit Growing Workshop
8:30-9:00 Site Selection: Is this a good place for an orchard? Jim Kamas, Extension Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
9:00 -9:30 Crop and Variety Selection: What crop is right for me? Justin Scheiner, Extension Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
9:30-10:00 Water, Fertilizer & Weeds: Surviving your first year. Larry Stein, Extension Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
10:15-10:45 Developing a Pesticide Philosophy and IPM Program Monte Nesbitt, Extension Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
10:45-11:15 Economic Considerations for a Commercial Fruit Business, Steven Klose, Extension Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
11:15-11:45 Time Considerations in Fruit Production, Jacy Lewis, Extension Program Manager, Viticulture & Sustainable Fruit Research Program, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
11:45-12:00 Q&A
Monday Lunch—all registered participants: 12:00-1:15pm
Main Conference General Session 1-Marketing & Regulations
1:15-1:45 Worker Protection Safety Standards & Pesticide Use Regulations, Melissa Barton; TDA Pesticide Inspector
1:45-2:15 Selling Texas Fruit in Farmers Markets, David Rodriguez, County Extension Agent-Horticulture, Bexar County
2:15-2:45 Food Safety and Cottage Food Laws for Fruit Growers, Juan Anciso, Extension Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Main Conference General Session 2-Alternative Fruit Crops
3:15-3:45—Climate Constraints on Fruit in Texas & Impact of Winter Storm Uri—Tim Hartmann, Extension Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
3:45-4:15—The New Fruit Frontier: Alternatives and Possibilities for Texas Growers—David Creech, Professor, Stephen F. Austin University
4:15-4:45 Audience Survey/Panel Discussion/Q&A (minor crop interest?)
Taste of Texas Fruit Reception: 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm-Open to All Participants, Includes heavy hors d’oeuvres
October 12, 2021: Tuesday Morning
Main Conference General Session 3-Fruit Research & Extension in Texas
8:30-9:15 Where We’ve Been: Reflections on Fruit Research & Extension Activites, Larry Stein & Jim Kamas
9:15-9:45 Impacts & Outcomes of the Texas A&M Peach Breeding Program, Dave Byrne, Professor, Texas A&M University
10:15-10:45 Figs: Past, Present, Future, David Creech, Professor, Stephen F. Austin University
10:45-11:30 Land Grant & Fruit Industry Collaboration, Amit Dhingra, Head, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University
11:30-12:00: Texas Fruit Grower Needs Panel Discussion
Tuesday Lunch 12:00-1:00: Main Conference Participants
Main Conference General Session 4—Overview of Fruit Growing Approaches
1:00-1:30 Sustainable Fruit Growing-Jacy Lewis, Program Manager, Viticulture & Sustainable Fruit Research Program, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
1:30-2:00 Growing Fruit Organically-Bob Whitney, Extension Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
2:00-2:30 IPM in Fruit Growing-Stephen Janak, Extension Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
2:30-2:45 What is your IQ on EIQ? Jacy Lewis, Extension Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
2:45-3:15 Break
Main Conference General Session 5—Fruit Crop Management
3:15-3:45 Nitrogen Management Options for Fruit Orchards, Monte Nesbitt, Extension Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
3:45-4:15 Orchard Management for Cold Hardiness, Jim Kamas, Extension Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
4:15-4:30 Q&A
4:30 pm: Evaluation & Adjourn
