There are several programs that will be offered early in 2009 that I want to make folks aware of.

Electronic Waste Collection
Do you have old computer equipment that you want to get rid of but don’t know how? If so, there is an opportunity coming your way to make that computer benefit the state of Texas! January 16th from 1pm to 4pm and January 17th 9am to 12noon at the Old Kmart Parking Lot (across from the Precinct 1barn) the City of Corsicana and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice are partnering up to take in the following items: computers, printers, monitors, mice, keyboards, computer parts, scanners, televisions and rechargeable batteries. All items will go to a TDCJ facility to be refurbished and if possible returned to Texas schools. This program provides technical training for inmates and quality computers for the youth in Texas! call 903-654-4889 or 903-654-3075.

Row Crop Update and CEU Seminar
January 27 in the Small Fannie Mae Vernon Room at the Navarro County Exposition Center. Cost is $10 to cover the lunch and 4 CEU’s will be provided (1 general, 2 IPM and 1 Laws and Regs). The agenda will cover the following: Reading Pesticide Labels, Applying Wasterwater Residuals to Improve Soil Fertility, Variety Performance and IPM Applications, Boll Weevil Eradication, Atoxigenic Strains to Manage Alfatoxin in Corn, and Corn, Milo and Small Grains Demonstration Reports. The program will start at 9am and conclude by 2:30 pm. RSVP by January 24 by calling 903-654-3075.

Row Crop/Commodity Marketing Workshop
Thursday, February 12 at the Navarro College Lonestar Room. Cost is $10 per person to cover the expense of the meal. Speakers for the day include Dr. John Robinson, Extension Ag Economist for Cotton Marketing, Dr. Mark Welch, Extension Ag Economist for Grain Marketing and Nicole Gueck Extension Program Specialist for Risk Management will team up to talk about the market outlook for cotton and grains, marketing options and alternatives, Risk management, Farm Assist Program and calculating break-even costs for your operation. The most useful portion of this program will be in the afternoon when our speakers will work one-on-one with producers to develop break-even costs and discuss marketing options for 2009. RSVP by February 9 by calling 903-654-3075.

2009 Beef Clinic
February 26 at the Navarro County Exposition Center. Cost is $3 to cover a steak dinner that you will not want to miss. The Agenda will include an update from Texas Beef Council, A Bull Breeding Soundness Exam Discussion and Demonstration, Emerging Reproductive Diseases in Cow-Calf Herds, an update on Country of Origin Labeling, door prizes and more. Don’t forget about the always exciting trade show featuring local and state agribusinesses and agencies. This is going to be a program you will not want to miss. Reserve your seat (and your steak to for that matter) by calling 903-654-3075 by February 24th.