Extension

Interested in learning about pecan production in Oklahoma? Registration is open for the Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association Conference & Trade Show. The Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association has more details and a link to register online on their website. Registration costs increase after April 15.

 

Meeting details:

• When: May 30 – June 1, 2024
• Where: Ardmore Convention Center, Ardmore, OK
• Field Day Site on Saturday: Buchanan Family Pecan Farm, north of Dickson (about 20 minutes from Convention Center)
• Convention Hotel: Holiday Inn I-35 Ardmore (reserve by April 30, 2024, and ask for an OPGA rate of $109/night) Phone: (580) 226-3333

 

Thursday, May 30

Registration begins at 12:30 pm. The mini-pecan class will begin at 1:00 pm. We will be offering two (2) pesticide applicator CEUs for the Thursday afternoon session. Our vendors will be set up and available on Thursday and Friday to show the latest and greatest in the pecan world. Thursday evening, a social is planned for the group from 6:00 – 7:00 pm.

 

Friday, May 31

Friday is chocked full of pecan fun and education. The program will begin at 8 am. Below is Friday’s agenda. We have switched the awards banquet from the evening to a luncheon. Your registration will include one ticket to the luncheon, but additional tickets are available.

 

• 8:00 – 8:15 AM - Welcome
• 8:15 – 9:00 AM - Monitoring Techniques for Improving Management of Pecan Orchards – Charlie Graham, Noble Research Institute
• 9:00 – 9:30 AM - Economics of Microbial Biopesticides for Pecan Weevil Control - Kelly Seuhs, Associate Extension Specialist, Entomology & Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University
• 9:30 – 9:45 AM - Meet our new Plant Pathologist – Dr. Mustafa Jibrin, Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist, Entomology & Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University
• 9:45 – 10:15 AM - Break
• 10:15 – 10:45 AM - Murray State Pecan Project - Brian Cothran, Professor, Agriculture Program Chair, Dean, Murray State College School of Agriculture, Business, and Occupational Technology 
• 10:45 – 11:00 AM - Chickasaw Climate Smart Program – Amy Seiger, Water Resources Planner for Chickasaw Nation Office of Natural Resources
• 11:00 – 11:30 AM - Pecan Breeding for Scab Resistance – Dr. Angela Hilton, USDA ARS Breeding Program
• 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM - Awards Luncheon (one ticket included with registration)
• 1:00 – 1:30 PM - OPGA Business Meeting – Bob Knight, OPGA President
• 1:30 – 2:00 PM - Break
• 2:00 – 2:30 PM - Our Unified Plan to Win with Pecans - Anne Warden, Chief Executive Officer, American Pecan Council & American Pecan Promotions Board
• 2:30 – 3:00 PM - Pecan Breeding for Northern Growers – Dr. Xinwang Wang, geneticist & breeder with the USDA ARS Pecan Breeding & Genetics in College Station, Texas
• 3:00 – 3:30 PM - Break
• 3:30 – 4:00 PM - Cracking the Nut Code: How Your Pecan Trees Calculate Carbohydrates to Determine Nut Production - Dr. Lu Zhang, Assistant Professor, Horticulture & Landscape Architecture Department, Oklahoma State University
• 4:00 – 4:45 PM - Pecan Shellers Panel Discussion on Pricing - Dan York, York Pecan Company, Foreman, Arkansas & John Hutchens, Navarro Pecan Company, Corsicana, Texas, Jared Miller, Miller Pecan Company, Afton, OK

 

We hope to provide another CEU on Friday. The trade show will be open as well as the State Pecan Show viewing and the Pecan Food Show. You have a free evening to visit and network or explore the Ardmore area.

 

Saturday, June 1

We will travel to Buchanan Family Pecan Farm just about 20 minutes from the convention center for our field day and lunch. The address is 6881 US-177, Ardmore, OK 73401. The Buchanan Family is excited to share about their operation with the membership.