Ag Conference Draws Crowd
JONESBORO, ARKANSAS
The 25th Annual Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference, Southern Corn & Soybean Conference, Delta States Irrigation Conference and Southern Precision Ag Conference held recently in the Jonesboro Red Wolf Convention Center, Jonesboro, Arkansas drew an eager in- person crowd.
The crowd was great. We had an attendance of about 600. We were glad to see everyone, said John M. Larose Jr., President and Publisher, MidAmerica Farm Publications.
The conference was a production of MidAmerica Farm Publications, AgWiki.com and was sponsored by Cotton Incorporated and U. S. Rice Producers Association. The Southern Corn & Soybean Conference was co- sponsored by the United Soybean Board and the Mid-South Soybean Board.
The Delta States Irrigation Conference was co-sponsored by the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute and the Missouri Rice Research and Merchandising Council.
Over the two-day period there were 11 cotton presentations by 13 researchers, five farmers and three certified crop advisors. Rice sessions totaled 14 with 15 researchers, nine farmers and two certified crop advisors. The 14 corn and soybean sessions were conducted by 14 researchers, eight farmers and three certified crop advisors. Eight irrigation sessions were presented by nine researchers, five farmers and two certified crop advisors. A precision ag presentation was made by one researcher and one farmer. There were seven round-table sessions moderated by 17 researchers, five farmers and one certified crop advisor.
During the award luncheon the following awards were presented:
Dr. Scott Stewart, director of the West Tennessee AgRearch and Education Center- Conservation Systems 2022 Cotton Researcher Of The Year Jonathan S. Shane Isbell, Muscle Shoals, Alabama- Conservation Systems
2022 Cotton Farmer Of The Year
Dr. Michele Reba, research hydrologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture- Conservation Systems 2022 Rice Researcher Of The Year Paul O. Johnson, Welsh, Louisiana- Conservation Systems 2022 Rice Farmer Of The Year Dr. Simerjeet S. Virk, Assistant Professor and Precision Agriculture Specialist, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia- Conservation Systems 2022 Precision Ag Researcher of the Year William Mead Hardwick, Newellton, Louisiana- Conservation Systems 2022 Precision Ag Farmer Of The Year Dr. Tom Barber, Professor and Extension Weed Scientist, University of Arkansas- System Division of Arkansas, Conservation Systems 2022 Soybean Researcher Of The Year Dr. Drew M. Gholson, Assistant Professor and State Extension Irrigation Specialist at Mississippi State University, Delta Research and Extension Center, Stoneville, Mississippi- Conservation Systems
2022 Irrigation Researcher Of The Year
Tommy Young, Tuckerman, Arkansas- Conservation Systems 2022 Irrigation Farmer Of The Year The social reception sponsored by US Rice Producers Association, entertained attendees with the live music of Grassfire, drinks, hors doeuvres and attendance prizes.
Other sponsors were:
Greenway Equipment sponsored luncheon
Cotton Inc. sponsored speakers banquet
BASF Corporation sponsored continental breakfast Nutrien sponsored conference bags Adama sponsored lanyards Corporate co-sponsors were:
BASF Corporation
Bayer Cropscience
Corteva Agriscience
Cotton Solutions Cooperative
Horizon Ag LLC
Koch Agronomic Services LLC
RiceTec, Inc.
Syngenta
UPL
Academic Partners were:
Auburn University
Alabama
University of Arkansas
LSU AgCenter
Mississippi State University
University of Missouri
University of Tennessee
Texas A&M University.
Technical Partners were:
USDA-ARS National Sedimentation Laboratory Oxford, Mississippi USDA-ARS Jamie Whitten Delta States Research Center Stoneville, Mississippi USDA-ARS National Soil Dynamics Laboratory Auburn, Alabama.
Ag Media Co-Sponsor was Farm Press Publications.
Plans for the 26th Annual National Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference, Southern Corn & Soybean Conference, Delta States Irrigation Conference and Southern Precision Ag Conference are underway to be held in Louisiana. ∆