Upcoming conference focuses on brush, weed control

NEWS RELEASE
Issued - March 4, 2010

ARDMORE, Okla. — The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation Agricultural Division will host the 3rd Annual Texoma Pasture Conference from 9:20 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 27, at the Ardmore Convention Center in Ardmore, Okla. The focus of the 2010 conference is cost-effective processes for brush and weed control in pastures.

Controlling brush and weeds in forages is a complicated and dynamic problem. During the full-day educational event, experts from the Noble Foundation and across the Southern Great Plains will discuss chemical, mechanical and cultural methods of weed control; ways to minimize off-site drift; economics of brush and weed control; and laws and regulations pertaining to pesticide use.

Guest speakers for the conference are Joe Armstrong, Ph.D., weed science extension specialist, Oklahoma State University; Bob Wolf, Ph.D., application technology extension specialist, Kansas State University; Dearl Sanders, Ph.D., professor, Louisiana State University Agriculture Center; and Don Renchie, Ph.D., extension program leader for agriculture and environmental safety, Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Jim Johnson, James Locke, Dustin Oswald, Job Springer, and Eddie Funderburg, PhD, from the Noble Foundation will also present timely topics.

"All these speakers are recognized as regional and national experts in their areas who can directly relate to agricultural producers," said Eddie Funderburg, Noble Foundation senior soils and crops consultant. "This is a unique opportunity to hear pasture weed and brush control topics presented in a practical manner that ranchers can put into use on their operations."

Armstrong will begin the conference with a discussion on broadleaf pasture weed control. The remaining guest speakers and Noble Foundation consultants will present sessions on brush management with cultural practices, hard-to-control pasture weeds and rejuvenating Bermudagrass pastures. A trade show will also be provided by event sponsors throughout the conference.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be offered for Texas and Oklahoma pesticide private applicator license holders, Certified Crop Advisors (CCA) and Certified Professional Independent Crop Consultants (CPCC-I).

Registration is $20 and lunch is provided. Participants can register online at www.noble.org/agevents or by contacting Tracy Cumbie at tlcumbie@noble.org or 580.224.6411.

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For media inquiries concerning the Noble Foundation, please contact:

J. Adam Calaway

jacalaway@noble.org

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.