1. Subtropical Agriculture and Environments Society
HWY107
FM 88 / Texas Blvd.
HWY 83
HWY 281
72nd ANNUAL MEETING
of the
Subtropical Agriculture and Environments Society
(formerly: Subtropical Plant Science Society & Rio Grande Valley Horticultural Society)
February 9, 2018
at the
Rio Farms Inc.
25601 North FM 88
Monte Alto, TX
Rio Farms, Inc.
25601 North FM 88
Monte Alto, TX
Thank you to our sponsor at
Bayer CropScience

2. Subtropical Agriculture and Environments Society Program
Venue: Rio Farms, Inc.
25601 North FM 88
Monte Alto, TX
Moderator: Dr Debbie Villalon, President of SAES
SAES Board of Directors
Executive Officers Nominees
President Debbie Villalon Madhura Kunta
President-Elect Madhura Kunta Michelle Garcia
Secretary John Goolsby John Goolsby
Treasurer John da Graca John da Graca
Section Directors 2017
Fruits, Catherine Simpson, Texas A&M Kingsville
Vegetables, Kranthi Manadi, Texas A&M Agrilife Research
Plant Science, Sonia Irigoye, Danielle Sekula
Entomology, Chris Vitek, UTRGV
Plant Pathology, Veronica Ancona, Texas A&M Kingsville
Animal Science, Michelle Garcia, Texas A&M Kingsville
Ecology, Alex Racelis, Univ. of Texas, UTRGV
Molecular Biology, Dan Murray, South Texas College
Poster Program, Robert Saldana & Veronica Ancona, Texas A&M Kingsville Outreach, Ashley Gregory, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension
Executive secretary, Teresa Gonzales, Texas A&M Kingsville
Section Directors 2018 Nominees
Fruits, Cheri Abraham, U.S. Citrus
Vegetables, Brad Christoffersen, UTRGV
Plant Science, Danielle Sekula, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension
Animal Science, Tanner Michado, Texas A&M Kingsville
Molecular Biology, Evan Braswell, USDA-APHIS
Poster Program, Veronica Ancona and Jim Hearn, Texas A&M Kingsville
Webmaster, Robert Saldana, Texas A&M Kingsville
Outreach, Ashley Gregory, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, Debbie Villalon, South Texas College
Editorial Board
Editor-in-Chief, Alex Racelis, Univ. of Texas, Rio Grande Valley
Managing Editor, Madhura Kunta, Texas A&M – Kingsville – Citrus Center
Fruits, Dr. Eliezer Louzada, Texas A&M Kingsville – Citrus Center, Weslaco Vegetables, Dr. John Jifon , Texas A&M Agrilife Research – Weslaco Agronomy, Dr. Shad Nelson, Texas A&M Kingsville Plant Pathology, Dr. Femi Alabi, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension – Weslaco Entomology: Dr. Mamoudou Setamou, Texas A&M Kingsville – Citrus Center
Dr. Hugh Conway, USDA-APHIS, Edinburg, TX
Ecology, Dr. Alex Racelis, University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley
Irrigation, Dr. Juan Enciso, Texas Agrilife Research – Weslaco
Environmental Science, Dr. David Ruppert, Texas A&M Kingsville
Animal Science, Dr. Michelle Garcia, Texas A&M Kingsville
Molecular Biology, Dr. Janisete Silva Miller, Univ. Estadual de Santa Cruz, Brazil
Time Titles & Speakers
07:45-08:20 Registration: $25 Students, $45 Individual, $35 for Institutional registrations of 5 or more
08:20-08:30 Introductions: Debbie Villalon, President
08:30-09:00 Barry Goldsmith, NOAA, Meteorological update for LRGV agriculture
09:00- 9:30 Shad Nelson, Advancing Student Learning Opportunities in the Agricultural and Biological Sciences through Hispanic Serving Institutional Collaborations
9:30-9: Hugh Conway, APHIS, Mexican Fruit Fly –Aerial release of Mexican fruit fly by Drone (UAV)
9:50-10:45 Break and Poster Session
10:45-11:05 Robert Miller, Areawide management of Cattle Fever Tick in Puerto Rico
11:05-11:25 Randy Stanko, Utilization of Hair Sheep as an alternative small ruminant in South Texas
11:25-11:45 Larry Smith, Update on Boll Weevil Eradication in the LRGV and Tamualipas
11:45-12:05 Sonja Swiger, Extension, CDC center for excellence in vector borne disease
12:05-12:25 Ninfa Ramos, Development of Some Strategies for the Control of Spodoptera sp.
12:25-1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 1:30 SAES: Election of new officers & Potts Award
2:00 -3:00 Student presentations
3:00-4:00 Tour of Rio Farms