The Texas Water Resources Institute, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Center for Environmental Resource Management at the University of Texas at El Paso are hosting a free, one-day program for agricultural producers in the middle Rio Grande Feb. 19 in El Paso.
“Managing Under Drought: Water Management Information for Growers in the Middle Rio Grande” is set for 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center, El Paso, 1380 A&M Circle.
Dr. Askarali Karimov of Texas A&M University’s Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering said speakers will present research results of two Rio Grande-related projects that are addressing salinity, alternative crops, marketing and economics and impacts of drought in future water availability issues in the mid-section of the basin.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture project, “Diversifying the Water Portfolio for Agriculture in the Rio Grande Basin,” is led by Texas Water Resources Institute director Dr. John Tracy.
Dr. Bill Hargrove, director of the University of Texas at El Paso center, is project lead for the USDA-funded “Sustainable water resources for irrigated agriculture in a desert river basin facing drought and competing demands.”
Program topics and speakers will be:
– Salinity issues on the Rio Grande, Dr. Zhuping Sheng, professor and resident director, El Paso center
– Salinity modeling, Dr. Suarav Kumar, research assistant professor, University of Texas at El Paso
– Salt tolerant, alternative crops, Dr. Girisha Ganjegunte, associate professor, El Paso center
– Marketing and economics on salinity, salt tolerant and alternative crops, Drs. Samuel Zapata, AgriLife Extension specialist, Weslaco, and Gregory Torell, assistant professor, El Paso center.
– Drought and climate projection modeling results for the Rio Grande, Dr. Caiti Steele, USDA Agricultural Research Service Climate Hub, Las Cruces, New Mexico
Jesus Reyes, general manager of the El Paso County Water Improvement District No.1 will give district updates during a catered lunch.
Orlando Flores, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in El Paso County, will conclude the program with Extension program updates.
For more information, contact Karimov at 979-412-9919 or Flores at 915-771-2354.