ROD SANTA ANA: Conference explores future of food

McAllen — Growing Sustainably: The Future of Food sums up this year’s theme for the annual Sustainable Ag Conference, Feb. 10 and 11 at the Marriott Casa de Palmas Hotel, 101 N. Main St. in McAllen.

It is sponsored, in part, by Texas AgriLife Extension Service, an agency of Texas A & M University, and the Sustainable Agronomic Education Association.

On Friday, opening day, Barbara Storz, a horticulturist with AgriLife Extension, will lead a farm tour that starts with the Garcia Brothers’ organic hay and vegetable operation.

“We’re going to discuss their organic nutrient management program and the varieties of crops produced on the farm”, Storz said.

The second stop is Natural Soil Solutions, managed by Jimbo Bitner and Bob Dyer, who are producing a soil enrichment product made of composted sugar cane.

The final stop on the tour is Hilltop Gardens, home to a certified organic vegetable operation and a botanical garden.

“Hilltop has worked with researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and with Dr. Juan Anciso, AgriLife Extension’s vegetable specialist, to develop a regimen of cover crops to improve soil fertility,” Storz said. “This will be of interest to those who want to explore growing their own fertilizer.”

The afternoon speakers at the hotel on Friday include Amy Normand of Quick-Sol, and a program by Kathy Pechacek, a commercial nursery owner who will speak on an organic approach to pesticides and herbicides.

William Durham, conservation agronomist with USDA-NRCS, will discuss “Nutrient Management for Organic Cropping Systems,” based on the national organic standards soil and health practices. Rolando Trevino will give a presentation on the use of beneficial insects, and Bertha Venegas, also with USDA-NRCS, will provide information on conservation programs available through various grant-farm programs.

The evening speaker is Dr. Gene Lester, USDA research scientist, who will discuss his research on testing healthy compounds found in melon varieties grown in South Texas, Storz said.

Saturday’s program begins at 8 a.m. with a full schedule including a talk by Dr. Luis Ribera, an AgriLife Extension economist, who will talk about small acreage profitability in vegetable systems.

“Back by popular demand is farmer Don Bustos and AgriLife Extension economist Edumund Gomez, both of New Mexico, who will provide a program on crop planning for small acreage,” she said.  

Dr. Juan Landivar, the director of the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension centers in both Weslaco and Corpus Christi, will talk about the innovative research programs being implemented in South Texas.

Author Pamela Walker will provide a program on developing farm and food communities, and Norma Sanchez, a local vineyard owner, will give a presentation on her organic wine grape operation.

Penny Adams, AgriLife Extension specialist and former winemaker, will provide a program on how to establish a commercial wine grape operation.

To register for the conference, contact the AgriLife Extension county office at (956) 383-1026 or for more information go to the website: www.sustainableag.rgv.org. Cost for the entire program is $145.00, including the farm tour, lunch and dinner on Friday and lunch on Saturday.

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Rod Santa Ana III is a Texas AgriLife communications specialist.