Organic Growers Conference

Fundamentals of organic farming, certification on agenda

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host an organic growers conference Oct. 18-19 at Williamson County EMS, 3189 S.E. Inner Loop in Georgetown.

The event will cover the fundamentals of organic farming and how to become a certified organic grower. The event will be from 1:30-5:30 p.m. on Oct. 18 and 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Oct. 19.

Cost is $50 and preregistration is required at https://tx.ag/OrganicGrowers.

Contact Kate Whitney, AgriLife Extension horticulturist for Williamson County, at 512-943-3300 or by email at kate.whitney@ag.tamu.edu for additional information.

Organic growers conference schedule, speakers

Oct. 18 topics and speakers:

• Introduction to the World of Organics – Bob Whitney, AgriLife Extension state organic program specialist, Stephenville.

• Tour of Gabriel Valley Farm – Cathy Slaughter, owner, Georgetown.

Oct. 19 topics and speakers:

• Cover Crops – Bob Whitney.

• Soils, Soil Microbiology and Rhizosphere – Betsy Pierson, Ph.D., professor, Texas A&M Department of Horticulture Sciences, Bryan-College Station.

• Organic Crop Pest Control: More Than Magic – Holly Davis, Ph.D., Certis Biologicals field development manager and entomologist, Floresville.

• Beneficials in Organics – Blaine Junfin, Kunafin “The Insectary” entomologist, Del Rio.

• Soil Testing for Nutrients and Health – Bob Whitney.

• An Organic Program is Not All That Hard – Brandi Chandler, Texas Department of Agriculture coordinator for organic certification, Austin.

• All About Compost – Zong Liu, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension specialist and assistant professor in the Texas A&M Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Bryan-College Station.

Kate Whitney, AgriLife Extension horticulturist for Williamson County, at 512-943-3300 or by email at kate.whitney@ag.tamu.edu.