Blackland Income Growth Conference Changes Location, Date

By Blair Fannin

The largest conference for farmers and ranchers in the Blacklands region will be changing locations and dates in 2016, according to organizers.

For the past 53 years, the Blackland Income Growth Conference has provided producers with the latest information on new technology and cropping methods to boost yields and profits, said Ron Woolley, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service regional program leader in Stephenville.

The 2016 conference will be held Jan. 5-6 at the Waco Convention Center. The conference will be held a month earlier to give farmers more time in advance of corn planting to incorporate much of the information shared at the conference.

“We think this schedule change will benefit all producers in the Blacklands region,” Woolley said. “The Blackland Income Growth Conference has a long history of providing the latest research information and production management practices for farmers and ranchers throughout the region.”

“The BIG executive board members evaluated the whole conference and presentations,” said Blackland Income Growth Program Chairman Robin Liebe of Waco. “By providing an earlier conference date, this gives farmers a jumpstart to making decisions with regards to new seed varieties, planting methods and other important decisions with a new crop. This also gives early ideas for other commodities we feature during sessions, whether its beef, forage, grain, horticulture, wildlife or rural land management.”

Attracting more young farmers and ranchers is one of the focus areas of planning committee members as well as enhancing programming that appeals to session programs in rural land management, equine and family nutrition.

“We had really strong attendance for this year’s conference and we are looking to build on that,” he said.

Joining Liebe in conference leadership for 2016 is Blackland Income Growth Program Vice Chairman Bill Foshea of Midlothian.

“We want folks to come and participate, share new ideas and help everyone become more profitable,” he said.

The 2015 conference attracted more than 600 attendees. The beef session had more than 100 attendees, one of the highest attended sessions in recent years, he said.