Con-Till Conference Provides an Abundance of Information

BATON ROUGE, LA – The 26th Annual Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference (Con-Till) was held here this week.  The conference first convened in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1998.  Initially the meeting focused on conservation related to rice and cotton production but has expanded to include varied production topics while adding corn, soybeans, irrigation, precision ag, and regenerative ag presentations.
 
More than 600 conference participants had the opportunity to choose from sessions by more than 100 presenters including farmers, consultants, university and industry researchers, and other professions.  The conference format is unique as most sessions are comprised of two speakers, often a university researcher addressing an emerging technology paired with a farmer who speaks to the implementation of that technology in their production system.

USA Rice was well represented with a booth and presentations by both staff and members.  

“This is an excellent meeting that allows farmers to exchange ideas with a wide array of growers and other professionals in rice and other crops in the region,” said Michael Fruge, a rice farmer from Eunice, Louisiana, and member of the USA Rice Farmers Board of Directors who led a session on how to maximize benefits from the Provisia rice system.

A highlight of the conference was the awards luncheon where researchers and farmers are recognized for the conference focused crops and technologies.  Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards was the featured speaker during the luncheon.