The Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI) will host a one-day Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Watershed Planning training event on May 14 in College Station.
The training will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will be at the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Center, 7707 Raymond Stotzer Parkway (Hwy 60).
Registration is $50, which includes training materials, a catered lunch and a certificate of completion. Attendees must register by May 7. Attendees can register online at: tx.ag/May14BMPs.
Best management practices help protect local water quality
Agricultural BMPs are essential conservation measures that reduce the volume and pollutant load of stormwater runoff flowing into rivers, lakes and other water resources.
This training is for agricultural producers, watershed coordinators, conservation professionals and anyone interested in understanding how agricultural practices support water quality improvement efforts in Texas.
“Agricultural conservation practices play a critical role in protecting water resources across the state. This training helps bridge the gap between planning and real-world implementation,” said Lucas Gregory, Ph.D., TWRI associate director. “Participants will walk away with a deeper understanding of both the science behind BMPs and the practical support available to make them successful.”
Financial assistance for BMP implementation is available
Course instructors include experts with extensive experience in watershed planning and agricultural conservation at the federal, state and local levels. Attendees will learn about agricultural nonpoint source programs offering technical and financial assistance, the development and implementation of conservation plans, and methods for integrating BMPs to address resource concerns while meeting producer goals.
The morning classroom portion will take place at the Beef Cattle Center. Then, there will be an afternoon field tour of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Farm. The farm is a 1,000-acre research and demonstration facility managed by the Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences. The tour will highlight real-world examples of cropping system practices, livestock management strategies, and ongoing research in land and water stewardship.
“Seeing these practices on the ground is invaluable,” Gregory added. “It reinforces how conservation planning, producer needs and watershed protection come together in ways that benefit both working lands and natural resources.”
More information is available at: https://texaswpp.twri.tamu.edu/agricultural-best-management-practices-bmps/.
For questions, contact Tina Hendon at tina.hendon@ag.tamu.edu or (979) 314-2472.
Attendees should dress casually and be ready for outdoor walking during the afternoon field portion. TWRI manages the Texas Watershed Planning education program. TWRI is a unit of Texas A&M AgriLife Research that brings together expertise from across The Texas A&M University System. The program is supported by funding through a federal Clean Water Act Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Grant. This grant is provided by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
