http://agrilife.org/today/2012/02/01/et-fruit-vegetable-conference/

East Texas Fruit and Vegetable Conference set Feb. 28
Irrigation/alternate crops such as pomegranates, olives and figs covered
February 1, 2012 By: Robert Burns


Alternate crops for East Texas such as pomegranates, olives, cold-hardy citrus
and figs will be discussed.
(Texas AgriLife Extension Service photo by Monte Nesbitt)

TYLER — Despite recent rains, drought – and water-use restrictions – are far from history in East Texas, and fruit and vegetable growers will need to plan accordingly in 2012, said Texas AgriLife Extension Service experts.

The East Texas Fruit and Vegetable Conference, set Feb. 28 at the Tyler Rose Garden Center in Tyler, will help producers plan for the coming year, with information on irrigation and new potential crops, said Chad Gulley, AgriLife Extension agent for Smith County.

Though parts of East Texas received as much as 5 inches of rain in late January, Tyler’s primary sources of water, Lake Tyler, Lake Tyler East and Lake Palestine, remain historically low for this time of year, according to Greg Morgan, director of Tyler’s utilities and public works.

“Based on weather projections, it’s a safe bet that we will be under some type of water conservation measures as we go into the summer,” Morgan said. “As of yesterday (Jan. 26), our lakes are still about 6 feet low.”

But even if producers have their own wells and don’t depend upon public water supplies, there’s the question whether extensive irrigation of fruit and vegetable crops is feasible in the first place, said one of the speakers on the Feb. 28 program.

“In East Texas we shouldn’t have to irrigate much, except for supplemental irrigation,” said Rick Leopold, agronomist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bryan. “And in years where we do have to irrigate a lot, like last year, you generally don’t have enough water to do it. You have to ask if it’s worth all the expense to set up irrigation, if you don’t have adequate capacity to save your crop anyway.”

Leopold will also discuss water-quality issues for producers who do want to provide supplemental irrigation.
Another highlight of the conference will be a presentation on “new, niche and potential fruit crops.”

“Many new or traditional fruit growers are interested in emerging crops like pomegranates, olives, cold-hardy citrus and figs. I will cover the risks and unknowns with these crops, and possible approaches to growing them in East Texas,” said Monte Nesbitt, AgriLife Extension horticulture specialist, College Station.


Satsuma mandarin, a Texas Superstar and the highest quality, most cold-tolerant
citrus for Texas, according to Texas AgriLife Extension Service horticulturists.
(Texas AgriLife Extension Service photo by Monte Nesbitt)

Other topics for the morning of the daylong program include: “Drip and Micro Irrigation Technology,”Michael
Pippen, Irrigation-Mart, Inc.; “Water Quality Issues,” Charlotte Rambo, doctoral candidate, department of horticultural sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station; and “Food Safety Issues,” Dr. Joe Masabni, AgriLife Extension vegetable specialist, College Station.

After lunch, there will be three concurrent sessions, with vegetables, fruit and vineyard production topics reviewed separately.

The afternoon grape session will include a presentation on “Vineyard Tasks and Their Time Requirements,” by Fran Pontasch, AgriLife Extension viticulture associate, Stephenville. Pontasch’s presentation will be followed by a tour of a local vineyard.

The afternoon fruit session topics will include: “Blueberries,” Dr. David Creech, professor of horticulture, Stephen F Austin University, Nacogdoches; “Earth-Kind Fruit Crops,” Nesbitt; “New, Niche and Potential Fruit Crops,” Nesbitt; and “New Texas A&M Peach Varieties,” Dr. David Byrne, professor horticulture, Texas A&M.

The afternoon vegetable session topics will include: “Tomato Grafting/Soil Amendments,” Masabni; “Earth-Kind Vegetable Crops,” Masabni; “Tomato Growing Experiences,” David Claiborne, a large-scale commercial tomato grower, Troup; and “Plant Disease Trends and New Products,” Dr. Tom Isakeit, AgriLife Extension plant pathologist, College Station.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. with the program to follow at 8:30 a.m. The cost will be $30, payable at the door with cash or check and will include lunch.

Attendees with Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide licenses will receive three hours of continuing education credits, one in integrated pest management and two in the general category, Gulley said

The Rose Garden Center is located at 420 Rose Park Drive in Tyler. For more information call the AgriLife Extension office at 903-590-2980.

Gulley noted that persons with special needs should contact the office at least five working days before the conference so necessary arrangements can be made.

Heritage Land Bank, Tyler, and Irrigation-Mart, Inc., Ruston, La., are co-sponsors of the event.

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