Wiregrass Cotton Expo, February 4

The Wiregrass Cotton Expo, one of the Deep South’s most important and comprehensive annual cotton meetings, will mark its sixth year February 4.

The meeting, actually an educational seminar that serves cotton producers in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, will be held at the National Peanut Festival grounds on U.S. Highway 231 South.

“Many of our growers have credited the program with providing them with an excellent chance to receive first-rate instruction in crop management as well as cutting-edge developments in cotton research,” said William Birdsong, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System cotton agronomist.

Registration for the meeting, which is sponsored by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and its Florida counterpart, begins at 8:00 a.m.

Featured topics will include a discussion on new challenges and technologies in cotton weed control by Dr. Dale Monks, Alabama Extension crops physiologist. The meeting will also include a 2005 cotton varieties update.

Later that morning, Dr. Robert Goodman, Alabama Extension economist, will discuss cotton profitability and the 2005 market update, following by a panel discussion on profitability.

The University of Georgia’s Philip Roberts will discuss the relationship of stink bug injury to cotton fiber quality. Following Roberts’ remarks, Dr. Ron Smith, Auburn University professor emeritus of entomology and plant pathology, will discuss new tools for cotton insect control.

Capping the day’s discussions will be Ben Moore, district conservationist with the Natural Resource Conservation Service, who will discuss how the conservation security program will affect producers’ bottom lines.

For more information about the Expo, contact William Birdsong at (334) 693-3800.

Posted by Jim Langcuster at January 28, 2005 04:01 PM