Division of Agriculture faculty, researchers to present at January commodity production conferences
Dec. 13, 2024
By the U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts:
- Division experts speaking at concurrent conferences in Memphis, Tennessee
- Scheduled Jan. 27-28, 2025
- Register at nctd.net
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(Newsrooms: Download file art; “Advisors” in 8th graf is CQ)
UNDATED — More than a dozen faculty and staff with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will address attendees at a series of concurrent agricultural education conferences in Memphis, Tennessee.
The National Conservation Systems Cotton and Rice, Southern Soybean and Corn, Delta States Irrigation and the Southern Precision Ag Conferences are each scheduled to be held Jan. 27-28, 2025, at the Hilton Memphis, 939 Ridge Lake Blvd.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is among the seven academic co-sponsors of these conferences, which will feature more than 100 presentations from researchers, farmers, crop consultants and others in the ag industry from 13 southern states and Washington, D.C.
Speakers from the Division of Agriculture include:
- Nick Bateman, associate professor, extension entomologist
- Fred Bourland, professor of plant breeding and genetics, cotton breeder
- Tom Barber, director, Jackson County Extension Center, extension weed scientist
- Chuck Capps, corn and grain sorghum research verification coordinator
- Jason Davis, assistant professor, extension remote sensing and pesticide application specialist
- Gerson Drescher, assistant professor, soil fertility
- Christian DeGuzman, assistant professor-rice breeding and genetics
- Elvis Elli, assistant professor of crop physiology and adaptation to climate change
- Mike Hamilton, irrigation education instructor
- Jarrod Hardke, professor and extension rice agronomist
- Chris Henry, associate professor and extension water management engineer
- Jason Kelley, professor and extension wheat and feed grains agronomist
- Nick Newberry, program associate NE Rice Research and Extension Center
- Aurelie Poncet, assistant professor of precision agriculture and remote sensing
- Xueyan Sha, professor of plant rice and genetics
- Terry Spurlock, associate professor and extension plant pathologist
- Nathan Slaton, associate vice president for agriculture
- Ben Thrash, assistant extension entomologist
- Zachary Treadway, assistant professor and extension peanut and cotton agronomist
- Caio Vieira, assistant professor of soybean breeding.
The 2025 conference marks the 28th year that the Division of Agriculture, has co-sponsored these conferences with Auburn University, LSU AgCenter, Mississippi State University, University of Missouri, University of Tennessee and Texas A&M University.
Keynote speaker Jim Wiesemeyer is a frequent contributor to profarmer.com and is a participant in Farm Journal’s Agri-Talk radio program. He will provide the latest information on agricultural policy and trade development. Wiesemeyer serves as a Washington analyst for Pro Farmer and Farm Journal.
In addition to the major commodities, topics covered include soil health, regenerative agriculture, pest management, precision agriculture and 14 presentations on irrigation alone. There are six round table breakout sessions addressing soil testing and health, soil moisture sensors, drones and regenerative cotton. Certified Crop Advisors can choose from more than 70 CEU courses in various disciplines.
John LaRose, Jr., conference steering committee chairman, said the conference will offer perspective on a wide variety of farming concerns.
“The conference is a gathering of the most knowledgeable researchers/specialists in the mid-states and midsouth-states, and highly productive farmers who produce cotton, rice, soybeans and corn,” LaRose said. “This conference has the reputation as being the No. 1 place in the United States where all producers can learn the latest agriculture production methods and techniques being utilized by leading agriculture farmers, researchers and the ag industry. I encourage anyone involved or interested in agriculture to make plans to attend.”
The conference was first held in Little Rock in 1998 and has been held yearly since then in either Dallas, Tunica, Mississippi; Marksville, Louisiana; Houston, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Memphis or Jonesboro, Arkansas.
For abstracts of speakers, registration, or further information visit www.nctd.net or phone 573-547-2244.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media Contact:
Ryan McGeeney
rmcgeeney@uada.edu
@Ryan_McG44
501-671-2120