Central Texas IPM Meeting Set for Aug. 26 in Temple

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host the Central Texas Integrated Pest Management Meeting on Aug. 26 at the Bell County Expo Center in Temple, offering producers and landowners a free opportunity to address some of the region's most pressing agricultural pest concerns.

The program, running from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., zeroes in on three threats currently reshaping pest management strategies across Central Texas: the rapidly spreading pasture mealybug, destructive fall armyworm populations, and the ongoing New World screwworm crisis affecting livestock operations near the Texas-Mexico border.

David Kerns, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologist and professor, will lead discussions on pasture mealybug management. The insect has now infiltrated 79 Texas counties, triggering an EPA emergency exemption for the insecticide Centric 40WG earlier this month. Kerns, who has tracked the mealybug's expansion since its initial detection, brings critical field data on treatment timing and application methods that have shown success in affected pastures.

Fall armyworm pressure this season has caught many producers off guard. The meeting will cover scouting protocols and threshold-based intervention strategies, helping attendees distinguish between damage levels that warrant immediate treatment versus those where natural predators can maintain control. With armyworm populations capable of defoliating pastures within days, accurate identification and rapid response timing remain essential.

The New World screwworm component addresses what has become a sustained emergency for Texas livestock producers. With 45 confirmed infestations across 22 counties as of early August, the flesh-eating parasite has prompted statewide quarantine measures and intensified surveillance efforts. Meeting participants will receive updates on sterile fly release programs, wound treatment protocols, and regulatory requirements for interstate animal movement.

The Bell County Expo Center location in Temple provides central access for producers from Williamson, Bell, Coryell, and surrounding counties. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m., with lunch provided for attendees who preregister through their local Extension office.

Continuing education credits will be available for Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator licenses, as well as for Certified Crop Advisers. The integrated pest management focus aligns with broader AgriLife Extension efforts to reduce unnecessary chemical applications while maintaining effective pest suppression—a balance that has become increasingly complex as invasive species pressure mounts across Texas agricultural landscapes.

For registration information and additional details, producers should contact the Bell County Extension office or visit the AgriLife Extension events page.