Land and Livestock Post, March 4, 2013

March 2013 — Issue 1

Putting the whole in holistic To apply or not to apply?

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March 2013 — Issue 1



The Land & Livestock Post

From the General Manager

M

Mark Tyson was recently hired as a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service associate to work on the Lone Star Healthy Streams program’s feral hog issues, said Jim Cathey, AgriLife Extension associate department head and program leader at College Station.

Tyson will be headquartered in College Station, developing and delivering educational materials to landowners in Grimes, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Walker, Waller, Brazoria, Galveston, Fort Bend, Austin, Colorado and Wharton counties, Cathey said.

“Landowners work hard to reduce the negative impacts feral hogs have on land and water sources,” Cathey said. “Tyson will build on past efforts including 16 AgriLife Extension

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Existing ma- TYSON terials can be found at feralhogs.tamu.edu, plumcreek.tamu.edu/feralhogs and extension.org/feral hogs.

Cathey said feral hogs are a non-native invasive species that cause about $52 million in damages annually to Texas farms, ranches and the agricultural industry.

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March 2013 — Issue 1

a wild night out in Cowtown, were reduced to a night in the hotel room staring out the window.

But it is more than just the weather that makes this such a mad, mad month. There are livestock shows, sales, conventions and trade shows aplenty all throughout March.

If this spring, you are finding your pastures to be a little crazy, we have a story to help you with that. Our cover story focuses on holistic management of your pastures. We also have some information about upcoming events, as well as advice from some of the leaders in the industry to keep your herd healthy and productive.

Hope you enjoy it, and if you’re headed out of town this March, take a jacket just in case. ’Til next time,



arch madness is a term that’s heard a lot this time of year.

It’s a reference to the NCAA basketball tournament, but I think it applies to the month as a whole. March usually marks the beginning of spring for most of us in this part of the world, although you never can tell when another cold-snap will blow through.

I remember one March, I was at the TSCRA convention in Fort Worth. My trip was preceded by warm sunny days in the high 70s, so I didn’t even consider packing any warm clothing and even prematurely broke out my straw hat. Well, sure enough, the mercury dropped right about the time the trade show let out, and I shivered all the way back to my hotel room. I would have hailed a cab if one was going by, even though it was only about 200 yards to the door.

My plans for that evening,

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The Land & Livestock Post  March 2013 — Issue 1

News Producers weigh options on buying replacement cattle

By Blair Fannin Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

WACO — A 32 percent decline in Texas beef cattle has many pointing to drought as the main culprit, but there are other factors that have chipped away at inventory levels over the past couple of years, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist.

Stan Bevers told beef producers at the Blackland Income Growth Conference that not only has drought forced large sell-offs of cattle down to the point of Texas inventory levels of 1959, but land fragmentation continually is taking away potential beef cattle production.

“When somebody sells 100 acres outside of Waco, who is buying it? Folks are using it for a lot more reasons than just cows,” Bevers said. “You’ve also got to factor in rising input prices. Land that’s being sold is not being bought by ranchers to run cows on.”

Overall, the outlook for cattle prices will continue an upward climb, a trend that could last for at least two more years, Bevers said, unless rain returns through the Midwest and the Dakotas. “(Ranchers) there are making the same decisions we were making two years ago during the 2011 drought,” he said.

Feedlot capacity is approximately 38 million to 42 million calves, with this year’s calf crop being only about 34 million head, Bevers said.

“Feedlots either pay high prices or they close down,” Bevers said. “We are going to

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin Overall, the outlook for cattle prices will continue an climb, a trend that could last for at least two more years, said Stan Bevers, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist, at the Blackland Income Growth Conference in Waco, unless rain returns through the Midwest and the Dakotas.

continue to see this market contract. If you’ve got cows, hold onto them. You aren’t going to get just decent prices, but good prices as a result of our supply situation.”

Bevers said rebuilding the nation’s beef cattle herd has not begun.

“We aren’t done going down yet,” he said. “We’ve got 29.3 million female cows and 34 million calves. We’ve seen very little indication that heifers are being held back even though the recent cattle inventory report showed retention in Texas.

Most pastures have not recov-

ered enough yet to sustain increased numbers.”

He said retail beef prices likely will continue to move higher and that’s going to test what price consumers will pay.

“We have many (cattle producers) scratching their heads, asking themselves, ‘Am I going to buy replacement heifers?’” he said.

What has happened is a floor price was put in the replacement heifer market by feedlots needing cattle, Bevers said.

That floor price is approximately $1,100 a head. If a rancher wants to purchase replacement

Ranch Expo to showcase Akaushi cattle

By Blair Fannin Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

4

SIMONTON — The latest in pasture management, weed control and an in-depth look at Akaushi cattle will be featured at the first Upper Gulf Coast Ranch Expo May 10 in Simonton.

The event, to be held at the Twinwood Cattle Co., 4430 Guyler Road, will feature bus tours with several Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialists from College Station discussing beef cattle production, forage

management, weed control and pecan production.

“We are anticipating a large turnout for this regional event and there will be great interest in the topics that will be discussed throughout the day,” said Greg Kaase, AgriLife Extension program specialist-risk management. “With beef cattle producers looking to capitalize on continued strength in cattle prices, there will be a variety of management practices they can take home and apply in their own operations. Also, three continuing education units will be offered to all interested pesti-

cide applicators.”

Registration and sponsored booth exhibits open at 7 a.m. At 8:20 a.m., Doug Steele, AgriLife Extension director from College Station, will provide opening comments. At 8:45 a.m., Stephen Deiss, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resource Conservation Service, will discuss conservation and financial assistance opportunities.

Following a break at 9:15 a.m., participants will board buses for tour stops featuring Jason Cleere, AgriLife Extension beef

See AKAUSHI, Page 5

heifers, then the price will go up depending upon conditions such as color, quality, conformation, etc.

“The question a lot of folks are asking when paying $1,100 or more for replacements is, ‘will it work?’” Bevers said.

He said producers have to take into account the annual net income over the years of life of the cow and the value of the cow at the end of her life.

“Hopefully each year, the calf value is worth more than the expenses you (paid) to maintain her,” he said.

Bevers said according to Stan-

dardized Performance Analysis data, it costs $594.78 annually to maintain a cow. Using this cost figure, and assuming average production for the next seven years, Bevers analyzed what a rancher could afford to pay for a four-year-old bred cow today.

“Each year of the cow’s life, varying net incomes would be received based on the productivity level of the cow, calf prices, and the annual maintenance costs for the cow,” he said. “As an example, in 2013, the cow would generate a net income of $404 based on the costs to keep her, the price of the calf sold, and the fact that she was already bred.”

However, in 2014, Bevers said a calf from that cow would net only $155 due to lower productivity, higher maintenance costs for the cow and lower calf prices. After seven years of varying net incomes and a useful life, the cow could be sold for a cull value of $900 assuming the female weighed 1,075 pounds and brought .83 cents a pound, he said. Given this seven-year net-income stream, the most a rancher could pay for a fouryear bred cow today is $1,918.

“Your long-term investment is predicted to be zero,” Bevers said. “If you paid more than $1,918, given these assumptions, you would lose money on your long-term investment.”

Bevers said the break-even would be after calculating depreciation, annual maintenance cost over the life of the cow and other expenses.

“The probability is very high that we will have high prices for the next two years,” he told attendees.

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cattle specialist, discussing beef cattle production; Larry Redmon, AgriLife Extension state forage specialist, forage production; Paul Baumann, AgriLife Extension weed specialist, weed control in pastures; and Monte Nesbitt, AgriLife Extension horticulturalist, pecan production.

During lunch, Miles Phillips, AgriLife Extension specialist, will present a program on ranch diversification through tourism.

He will be followed by David Anderson, AgriLife Extension livestock economist, who will provide a livestock market-

ing update; Francisco Abello, AgriLife Extension program specialist from College Station, will provide an update on the Market Maker program. Aaron Sumerall, AgriLife Extension agent in Newton County, will discuss feral hog control methods and demonstrate different trapping methods.

Cost is $10 by May 6 or $20 for on-site registration. For more information, call 281-342-3034.

The Land & Livestock Post

News

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The Land & Livestock Post  March 2013 — Issue 1

News Tyson, from Page 3 feral hog damage and their contributions of E. coli bacteria to Texas streams.

Tyson earned a bachelor’s degree from Sul Ross State University at Alpine and a master’s degree from Texas Tech.

While attending Sul Ross, he worked as a student biolo-

gist for a 32,000-acre Hudspeth County ranch. He later worked as a research assistant evaluating coyote diets on the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch near Roby.

Tyson, a Bryan native, joined the U.S. Navy after high school and served aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln until his honorable discharge in 2003.

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March 2013 — Issue 1

Agriculture plant hardiness zones, which includes not only all of Texas, but much of the rest of the U.S. One other thing to note is that Natchez is a semi-erect plant, which means it will need a trellis.

Depending on growing space, some growers may consider Natchez’s vigor a little excessive, but this is easily managed, Stein said.

“What a lot of people will do when they have excessive growth is to prune it, and when they do, that just makes it grow more. The best thing to do is just pinch the top out of it, which will typically slow it down.”

Texas Superstar is a registered trademark owned by AgriLife Research, a state agency that is part of the Texas A&M University System. More information about the Texas Superstar program can be found at texassuperstar.com/.



COLLEGE STATION – Say “blackberry” today and most people will think of smartphone first and the fruit second.

Like the phone, there is an upgrade available to Texas growers: Natchez thornless blackberries, one of the new Texas Superstar selections for 2013, said Larry Stein, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulture specialist in Uvalde who works mainly with pecans, fruits, grapes and vegetable crops.

Blackberries have a long history of being grown in Texas, and for good reason, Stein said.

The fruit is easy to grow and densely packed with antioxidants, dietary fiber, vitamins C and K, and folic acid, as well as manganese, an essential mineral.

These were only some of the reasons the Texas Superstar board has chosen Natchez thornless blackberries as one of the 2013 Superstars, he said.

“Of all the thornless varieties we’ve looked at, this one has been the best one to date,” Stein said.

Usually thornless blackberries aren’t as productive and flavorful as the thorned varieties, Stein said. But Natchez, which was developed by a University of Arkansas breeding program, is the exception, producing large berries with lots of flavor.

Texas Superstar plants undergo extensive tests throughout the state by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension horticulturists, said Brent Pemberton, AgriLife Research horticulturist, Overton, and chair of the Texas Superstar executive board.

To be designated a Superstar, a plant must not just be beautiful but also perform well for consumers and growers throughout Texas. Superstars also must be easy to propagate, which should ensure the plants are not only widely available throughout Texas but also are reasonably priced, Pemberton said.

Natchez easily fulfills all the basic Superstar requirements, Stein said.

“Like other blackberries, you

plant them one year and they will fruit the next year,” he said.

“Typically, you establish them from root cuttings, which simply is a piece of the root. Plant in mid-to-late January or early February, cover it with soil, and in the spring, it pushes up a shoot, and away you go. The fruit will ripen (next year) in late May to early June.”

“Container grown plants are also often seen for sale in nurseries and garden centers,” Pemberton said. “These can be planted anytime they are available, but are best planted as dormant plants in mid-winter when they can have an entire growing season to become established so that a nice crop of berries can be harvested the following year.”

There were no substantial common diseases observed in the Texas trials, Stein added.

“The fruit are elongated, somewhat blocky and very attractive with an exceptional glossy, black finish, and it stores well,” he said.

Natchez’s fertility needs are not exceptional, about the same as other fruit plants.

“Typically, we just need a nitrogen fertilizer. Although, if the soil pH is low, you can use a 3-1-2 (ratio) fertilizer, something like a 15-5-10,” Stein said.

Like many fruit crops, blackberries should be planted where they have sunlight all day long, according to Pemberton.

“Only minimal bed preparation is needed as long as the soil is well drained. Control weeds as needed,” Pemberton said.

“But in many cases you could just dig a hole and set the cutting or container plant in and have success.”

Mike Arnold, AgriLife Research horticulturist and another Texas Superstar board member, said, “In areas where soil characteristics are not conducive to in-ground culture, plants can be grown successfully in large patio containers or raised beds using commercial potting mixes. Alternatively, where regional water quality, for instance in areas with salty water, presents challenges, irrigation with collected rainwater or reverse-osmosis treated water can permit successful culture.”

Stein also noted Natchez thrives in U.S. Department of

The Land & Livestock Post

News Natchez thornless blackberry named Texas Superstar

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Larry Stein

Natchez blackberries are very large, averaging a third of an ounce each.

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The Land & Livestock Post  March 2013 — Issue 1

10

Ask the Vet

Better bulls are the way to increase herd fertility Q uestion: “I’m just getting started in the cattle business and need some advice from you on my bull situation. My pregnancy rate last year was 75 percent and I know I need to do better. I run 100 cows on leased land with an ancient set of pens. I can work cows in the setup, but putting bulls through there is out of the question.

I’ve read about how it’s important to semen test bulls and just can’t do it in my pens. I decided to get around the problem by putting in plenty of bulls with my cows. Last year I used four bulls, 4 to 7 years old that were semen tested when they were 2 year olds. I plan to buy a new 2 year old, semen tested bull this spring so I’ll have 5 bulls. Can you think of anything else I should do?”

Answer: Yup! If I were you I’d make an appointment with your veterinarian to visit your ranch, observe Dr. STEVE your cows and WIKSE pastures, and discuss all the details of how you manage them. It takes excellent management for a beef ranch to reach the goal of a 90 percent-plus pregnancy rate.

The four main management areas that determine pregnancy rate are what I call the “4 B’s of beef herd fertility”: body condition of cows, bulls, bugs and balanced minerals.

Bugs are the infectious agents such as bacteria or viruses that impair fertility. All these factors must be managed properly to have reproductive success. Your veterinarian can evaluate specific details of each area.

I will give you some important general information, recommendations and food for thought relating to your question concerning bulls. First, you’ve just got to figure out a way to get a breeding soundness examination (BSE) for each of your bulls. Can you haul them to the veterinary clinic?

Unfortunately, your plan is not the formula for successful

Bull A

B C D

Year 1 Calves

Year 2 Calves

Year 3 Calves

70% (10 yr) 17% (4 yr) 8% (3 yr) 5% (2 yr)

76% (11 yr) 18% (5 yr) 6% (4 yr) Not used

12% (12 yr) 63% (6 yr) 12% (5 yr) 13% (4 yr)

reproduction. Reducing the number of cows that a bull must breed by putting out a lot of bulls doesn’t always increase pregnancy rates. The reason is the oldest bulls in the pasture will breed a lion’s share of cows. This is due to social dominance where the oldest or biggest bulls prevent the younger, smaller bulls from breeding cows.

The above table showing the percentage of calves sired by bulls of different ages in a multiple sire pasture illustrates how little breeding is done by younger beef bulls In year 1 of the study, the 2-year-old bull only impregnated 5 percent of the cows. In your herd you have a very old bull (8 years) that may be of poor fertility but probably will breed many cows and you will have a 2 year old bull recently certified as fertile who will be kept from breeding cows by older bulls. The only bull in your pasture you will be certain has high fertility will not be doing much breeding.

The best way to remedy the problem is to expend the effort needed to get all your bulls evaluated for fertility. You need a way to get that done every year a month or two before your breeding season.

Then you will have time to buy a new bull if needed. You also will have time to pasture your new bull with the other bulls to let them get over their fighting and settled into their social ranking.

You actually can achieve higher pregnancy rates with fewer bulls when you use bulls that have passed a BSE. Studies have shown that excellent

pregnancy rates can be attained at bull to female ratios of 1:25 to 1:35 with mature bulls that have passed a breeding soundness examination by a veterinarian. That means you only need four bulls at the most for your herd. You will save the cost of feeding and maintaining one bull a year.

Those savings can be used to cover costs of breeding soundness examinations.

The important thing about expecting bulls to do a good job in breeding more cows is that the bulls must have passed a breeding soundness examination done properly.

Too many exams are not done quite right. The main shortcoming is not taking time to make a smear of the semen sample on a microscope slide and classifying 100 sperm cells as normal-shaped or abnormal-shaped. That is called evaluation of sperm cell morphology. A bull must have at least 70 percent normal sperm cells to pass a breeding soundness examination. Good clinical trials have demonstrated that bulls with 70 percent or greater normal sperm cells sired large numbers of calves while bulls with less than 70 percent normal sperm cells sired small numbers of calves in the same breeding pastures.

So, be sure sperm cell morphology is evaluated on your bulls.

Recent data collected from an east Texas ranch that is a study herd in the Texas Beef Partnership in Extension Program shows the huge impact that sperm cell shape has on herd fertility. The ranch had a standard policy of annual

breeding soundness examinations for all bulls, however, the only measure of sperm cell health was semen motility. Sperm cell morphology was not evaluated. Pregnancy rates were low. The beef partnership program included sperm cell morphology in breeding soundness examinations. Many bulls were culled the first year of the study due to below 70 percent normal sperm cells. Pregnancy rate increased over 10% the first year only bulls with 70% or more normal sperm cells were used for breeding.

Bottom Line

It’s a great idea to have your veterinarian visit your ranch to evaluate the “4 B’s of beef herd fertility.” That will be a huge step toward improving your herd pregnancy rate. Meanwhile, figure out a way to get your bulls to the veterinary clinic for breeding soundness examinations.

Bull batteries that have passed breeding soundness examinations make more profits for beef herds by higher and earlier pregnancy rates attained by fewer bulls. It’s critical for reproductive success to not skip this management practice

the breeding pasture.

My motto on breeding soundness examination’s used to be “all bulls, every year.”

I’ve upgraded it to “all bulls, every year, done properly!”

• Dr. Steve Wikse is a retired professor of large animal clinical sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University.

Loan, from Page 6 gram, is administered through the Farm Service Agency and provides various credit options and solutions for small agricultural producers, according to USDA officials. It also provides a simplified loan application process for beginning farmers and ranchers, and may provide financing for farmers wanting to grow “niche crops” to sell to ethnic markets or farmers markets.

“Last fall, beginning urban farmers came from 11 Central Texas counties to AgriLife Extension’s three-week Strong Starts: Urban Farming 101 series,” said Daphne Richards, AgriLife Extension agent for horticulture in Travis County.

“Agency specialists traveled from across the state to teach everything from farm business

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planning and budgeting to crop selection and cultivation strategies.”

Richards said the series included presentations from county and state officials involved in food system policy development and representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Feedback was overwhelmingly positive from both the farmer participants and presenters, so when the USDA initiated this micro-loan program a month ago, Terri contacted us to see if our agency could help get the word out about its urban farming program and the Strong Starts initiative.”

Farmers and ranchers may apply for a maximum of $35,000 to be used toward initial startup expenses, USDA officials explained. And as their needs increase, they may apply for an additional operating loan of up to $300,000 — or seek commercial-lender financing from an institution within its Guaranteed

Loan Program.

Officials said farm loans can be used for a variety of purposes, including buying land, equipment, livestock, seed, feed and supplies, or for building construction or farm improvements.

“At this event, AgriLife Extension in Travis County also hopes to survey participants about their informational and educational needs, so that we may support their continued growth and success as urban farmers,” Richards noted.

The workshop cost is $15 and those interested may register online at the AgriLife Extension Conference Services website, agriliferegister.tamu.edu.

Enter “loan” in the keyword search field or “Austin” in the location field.

Producers interested in applying for a micro-loan should contact their local Farm Service Agency office. For more information about the March 5 workshop, contact Trevino at Terri.Trevino@tx.usda.gov.

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The Land & Livestock Post  March 2013 — Issue 1

12

News

Simply the best

Fight drought with holistic management

By RoBeRt FeaRs Special to The Post

I

n visiting ranches across Texas, I see the results of many different management styles and production methods. A consistent observation is that holistic managed ranches have more grass and survive droughts better than ranches under other management programs.

Holistic management is a ranch planning system that utilizes resources to reap sustainable environmental, economic and social benefits. Through holistic management, land can be returned to a healthy condition so productivity is greatly increased without large infusions of cash, equipment or technology.

Relationships between land, grazing animals and water are managed in ways that mimic nature.

“Forage utilization is measured in animal days per acre,” said Peggy Sechrist, holistic management certified educator with Holistic Management International. “One animal day per acre represents the amount of forage one animal consumes in one day and is easily converted to the actual square yards required to feed one animal for one day.

“With practice, a land manager can learn to estimate the number of animal grazing days on a pasture and use the estimate to adjust stocking rates or grazing periods,” she said.

“In holistic management, livestock density is increased to match available forage in order to maximize animal impact,” Sechrist said.

“Hooves of animals pastured at a high stock density pulverize soil, allowing more water penetration and nutrient cycling. Plants are grazed more evenly and there is better distribution of forage utilization, urine and manure.

“High stocking density also causes a more even distribution of litter as a soil cover.

“The layer of litter cools the soil, aids in water absorption and degrades into organic matter. Moving livestock to fresh manure-free ground results in improved animal nutrition and performance.”

Photos by Robert Fears

Stockers are used to manage grass holistically on the Clark and Birdwell Ranch near Henrietta.

Right,in a soil stability test, stable soil is on the far right and an unstable soil left of it.

Adopting the concept

The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service is changing the way it does business by adopting the holistic management concept to help land managers improve soil health and reduce input costs. Healthy soil is the basic requirement for producing good yields of any crop, regardless of whether it is grass, cotton or vegetables. It is very hard to increase yields or sustain

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The Natural Resources Conservation Service launched its new holistic management program to Texas landowners through one-day soil health workshops held across the state during September.

Principles of agro-ecology, basic soil function, ecosystem processes, adaptive nutrient management and adaptive grazing principles were taught in the workshops. The theme was to facilitate a holistic understanding on how the soil functions.

“If we understand the different components that contribute to soil health, we can increase infiltration rate and add organic matter, all of which can improve ranch profits,” said Ray Archuleta, Natural Resources Conservation Service conservation agronomist.

“When we improve soil health, we address the majority of our natural resource

concerns. The problem is that we have become detached from our land and no longer understand it. We need to be able to diagnose soil health and design management strategies for improvement,” he said.

During the workshops, Archuleta demonstrated soil stability. Four air-dried clumps of soil or clods were placed on screens positioned on top of four separate large glass cylinders. Water was poured over each of the clumps and allowed to flow into the cylinders.

Archuleta explained, “If the water immediately dissolves a clump and carries soil into the cylinder that particular soil is very unstable and is subject to water and wind erosion. The rapid dissolving soil is carbon depleted — it lacks organic matter. Organic matter is 58 percent carbon.

Two of the soils used in the demonstration were Cecil clay loam from North Carolina: one

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The Land & Livestock Post  March 2013 — Issue 1

News Manage, from Page 13 from a field that had been in no-till crops for 40 years and a conventionally tilled soil.

The second pair of soils was obtained from fields near Temple,: one from a field that has been no-tilled for two years, and a conventionally tilled soil. The soil clumps from the conventionally tilled fields disintegrated immediately and washed into the cylinder.

Soil that had been no-tilled for two years only partially came apart. The 40-year no-till soil stayed intact, meaning it is

very stable.

No-till soil remains open to the surface, thus water can filtrate through its pores without destroying aggregate integrity.

There is organic matter in no-till soils that allow them to absorb and hold water.

There are many indicators that help determine soil health, but the soil stability test is the most visual demonstration, Archuleta said. “A cover crop is needed on the soil 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to build organic matter, hold wa-

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Holistic management

See RECOVER, Page 19

March 2013 — Issue 1

You only need to visit two or three ranches under holistic management to start believing in the system. Forrest Armke, manager of the Ford Ranch near Brady, has used holistic management for 20 years. In November 2011, some of his pastures were covered with knee-high little bluestem grass and the ranch had only received four inches of rainfall since Jan. 1, 2011. Their normal annual rainfall is 24 inches. Cattle body condition scores ranged from 4½ to 5 in November.

“We have 34 800 acre pastures,” Armke said. “The pastures are grazed in a six to eight week rotation with 450 cows. We only supplement protein during fall and winter when the grass is dormant and its protein content is low.

No hay is fed, but minerals are offered free-choice yearround. Santa Cruz cows are bred to Red Angus bulls and our calves graded 86 percent Choice at the packing plant last year. “ The ranch is owned by a trust and I am required to make an annual profit,” Armke said.

Emry Birdwell and Deborah Clark use stocker cattle to manage intensively their ranch near Henrietta. The ranch is divided into 50- to 90-acre paddocks. During the winter when cattle are purchased, they graze two or three herds. Starting in March, herds are combined into one large herd that is rotated through the paddocks. Last year, the herd size consisted of 5,300 steers. The average rest period for a paddock from March until summer is 50 to 60 days. By July of each year, if not sooner, the rest period is increased to allow ample time for grass recovery during the hot summer months. Summer rest periods vary from 90 to 120

days.

“Holistic management grazing increases plant diversity and returns rangeland to its condition prior to the overgrazing era of the 1800s,” Birdwell said. “Our steers primarily graze little bluestem, Indian grass, switchgrass, blue grama and hooded windmill grass. Big bluestem is slowly re-establishing after years of absence and several previously overgrazed pastures on the ranch are showing recovery signs as a result of holistic management.”

“I’m very excited to see the return of big bluestem and Indian grass to the Ford Ranch,” Armke said. “A previous ranch manager visited the ranch and couldn’t believe how range condition has improved with holistic management.

“Other advantages of holistic management grazing is parasite reduction and improved wildlife habitat,” Armke said. “Pests such as



ter and stop erosion. Continuous live or dead cover helps maintain soil health and protects it from heat and raindrop impact. Soil needs armor.”

The need for continuous soil cover is the reason pastures should not be grazed to bare ground. Manage grazing so that there is always enough vegetation to generate new growth and to avoid bare spots.

“A healthy soil is full of organic matter, earthworms and micro-organisms that include bacteria, fungi and protozoa,” Archuleta said. “Eighty percent of our plants are mycorrhizal, meaning they have a mutualistic relationship with fungi. Carbohydrates are translocated by plants to their fungal partners and in return, the plant gains benefits from the fungi’s higher absorptive capacity for water and minerals. Through the absorption process, the fungi coats soil particles with a glomalin protein.

“Fungi are made of a mass or network of threadlike tubes called mycelium. The individual thread-like mycelium parts are hyphae. Mycorrhizal fungi produce glomalin protein to coat hyphae to aid in absorption of water and nutrients,” Archuleta said.

“Hyphae act as a frame upon which soil particles may collect while glomalin glues them together and protects them,” said Kris Nichols of the USDA. “This is similar to walls in a house, where 2 X 4s are used to frame the wall, insulation fills in spaces between walls, wall board help keep every thing in place, and finally it is all coated with a protective layer of paint. In a soil profile, hyhae are the 2 X 4s; soil particles are the insulation; microbial glues like glomalin and fungal and bacterial polysaccharides are the wall board; and glomalin is the paint,” Nichols said.

“Glomalin is an important molecule in soil aggregate stabilization,” Nichols said.

“When aggregates are not stabilized, they break apart with rainfall. Organic matter and nutrients within disrupted aggregates may be lost to rain and wind erosion. High glomalin concentrations are related to the formation and stabilization of aggregates in

undisturbed and no-till systems compared to nearby conventionally tilled sites.”

When soil contains organic matter, it is normally inhabited with earthworms. They are major decomposers of dead and decomposing organic matter and derive their nutrition from bacteria and fungi that grow on it.

The Land & Livestock Post

News

Photo by Robert Fears

Peggy Segrist and Forrest Armke standing in a holistically managed pasture on the Ford Ranch during November 2011.

Questions About Cattle Health?

Ask the Vet! Steve Wikse - Retired DVM Large Animal Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University

WIKSE

Submit your questions to:

P.O. Box 3000 Bryan, TX 77805 or jesse.wright@theeagle.com

15

The Land & Livestock Post  March 2013 — Issue 1

News

Water quality training will focus on Lampasas River

By Paul SchattenBerg Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

LAMPASAS — A Texas Watershed Steward workshop on water quality and availability issues of the Lampasas River is set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 28.

The no-cost workshop will be at the Lampasas County Farm Bureau Building, 1793 U.S. 281 N. in Lampasas.

The Texas Watershed Steward workshop is sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board in coordination with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Lampasas River Watershed Partnership.

Workshop coordinators said the program is open to anyone interested in improving water quality in the Lampasas River and surrounding area.

“The workshop is designed to help watershed residents improve and protect their water resources by becoming involved in local watershed protection and management activities,” said Heath Lusty, AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Lampasas County.

Lusty said the workshop will include an overview of water quality and watershed management in Texas and will primarily focus on water quality issues relating to the Lampasas River, including current efforts to help improve and protect the health of important area water

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sources.

The training will include a discussion of watershed systems, types and sources of water pollution, and ways to improve and protect water quality. There also will be a group discussion on community-driven watershed protection and management.

“Surface water in the Lampasas River is a critical source of water in the area,” said Lisa Prcin, research associate with AgriLife Research. “Stakeholders need to be armed with the knowledge to protect and restore water quality in the watershed.”

AgriLife Research and the Lampasas River Watershed Partnership are working to develop and implement a stakeholder-driven watershed protection plan aimed at reducing pollution and improving water quality in the Lampasas River.

The Lampasas River Watershed Protection plan will be finalized and adopted later this year, and implementation of the plan’s management strategies will begin soon after.

Prcin said efforts outlined in the plan will include several best management practices which will reduce pollution in the watershed and potentially lower the bacteria levels in the Lampasas River.

The Lampasas watershed area is an important water resource for Central Texas as evidenced by this hydrological map. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service graphic) “Along with the free training, participants receive a free copy of the Texas Watershed Steward Handbook and a certificate of completion,” said Galen Roberts with AgriLife Extension and the Watershed Steward Program.

The program also offers seven continuing education units in soil and water management

for certified crop advisors, seven units for professional engineers and certified planners, and seven continuing education credits for certified teachers.

It also offers three general continuing education units for Texas De par tment of Agriculture pesticide license holders, seven for certified landscape arch itec ts and three for certified floodplain managers.

Preregistration is available through the Texas Watershed Stewards website, tws.tamu.edu. A Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo boxed sandwich A free Texas Watershed Steward workshop will be held March 28 at the Lampaspas County Farm lunch will be pro- Bureau Building. vided by the Texas Land Bank of Lampasas.

“Participating in the Texas NEWS YOU Watershed Steward program CAN USE is a great opportunity to get involved and make a difference in RIGHT your watershed,” Roberts said.

IN YOUR For more information, conMAILBOX tact Roberts at 979-862-8070, groberts@ag.tamu.edu, or Lusty at 512-556-8217, rhlusty@ ag.tamu.edu.

For information about the SUBSCRIPTION Lampasas River Watershed Protection Plan contact Prcin Subscribe to the award-winning Land & Livestock Post and receive 24 issues at 254-774-6008 or lprcin@brc. of the latest ag news and information about the issues that affect you! tamus.edu.

Mail or Fax to:  New Subscription Additional information on c/o Land & Livestock Post P.O. Box 3000 the watershed is available at  Address Change Bryan, TX 77805 FAX (979) 776-8923 or vist www.lampasasriver.org. www.landandlivestockpost.com The Texas Watershed Stewand click “subscribe”. ard program is funded through Name: a Clean Water Act nonpoint source grant from the Texas Address: State Soil and Water ConservaCity:_____________________ St: ________ Zip: tion Board and U.S. EnvironPhone #: mental Protection Agency.

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The Land & Livestock Post March 2013 — Issue 1

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Born to farm, but not sure where to start?

2013 Next Generation Agricultural Conferences May 23‒24

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Recover, from Page 15

 March 2013 — Issue 1

stomach worms and some of the flies lay their eggs in fresh manure. With holistic management grazing, the cattle are moved to a different pasture before the eggs have time to hatch and infest the animals.”

“Deer hunting is a good revenue stream for us, so we keep the animals in good condition,” Armke said. “We monitor browse recovery periods and balance deer population size to match available vegetation. We provide supplement only during

hunting season. Due to holistic management, we also have a lot of quail and other types of birds.”

Holistic management offers an opportunity to manage the entire pasture ecosystem in harmony and to preserve long-term ranch production capability.

The Land & Livestock Post

News

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312 Ac Robertson County…Tidwell Creek Ranch near Calvert. Productive hayfields, good hunting, great terrain variations, oak and pecan flats, cedar breaks in the draws, several outstanding homesites with great access to HWY 6! $2,721/ac 198 Ac Walker County….Cedar Creek Ranch offers a 4800 sq. ft. home, 10-stall barn with tack/feed room, 6,000 sq/ft metal bldg/shop and roping/riding arena. Two ponds, some hardwoods, rolling pastures, improved hay meadows. North of Huntsville. $1,586,800 192 Ac Walker County…FM 247 and Pinedale Road just minutes from I-45 and Huntsville. Rolling terrain, wooded areas separated by open fields. Long frontage on Hadley Creek and lots of wildlife. Multiple homesites with lots of natural character. $3,538/ac 315 Ac Grimes County… Great location on Highway 105 near Plantersville. Huge potential for developed usage. Upland rolling hillside pastures, Caney Creek transects portion of bottomlands.

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The remainder of the property provides diverse cover and vegetation for the abundant exotic wildlife and improved whitetail genetics. Barndominium in central 3 acre compound offers shop and large living quarters. $1,498,000

d l so

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The Land & Livestock Post  March 2013 — Issue 1

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Livestock, pasture management school to be March 26-28

By RoBeRt BuRns Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

March 2013 — Issue 1

Jason Cleere, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, demonstrates how to insert an ear tag on a calf at the 2012 East Texas livestock and pasture management school.



OVERTON — Even though parts of Texas have had relief from the drought, grain and fertilizer prices remain high, which makes efficient pasture management as critical as ever to livestock producers, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist.

To address those issues, a three-day Pasture and Livestock Management Workshop is set March 26-28 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton.

Though billed as being for novice ranchers, the school teaches both beginners and the experienced to get the most “bang for their buck,” according to Gerald Smith, Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant breeder in Overton, one of the school instructors.

“Actually, high feed grain prices means efficient forage production is more important than ever,” Smith said “It’s simple. More forage for less money means more profit.”

And while costs everywhere else are going up, Overton center faculty have worked to keep the cost of the school level, said Monte Rouquette, AgriLife Re-

search forage scientist, another program instructor. Registration for the three-day school is $350, which includes lunches, barbecue, a steak dinner, continental-style breakfasts, break refreshments and educational materials.

As in previous years, registration is limited to 60 to allow plenty of one-on-one time between the instructors and students, Rouquette said. Participants may reserve an opening by phone or email by contacting Jennifer Lloyd at 903-834-6191 or jllloyd@ag.tamu.edu. Lloyd will have information on class openings, local accommodations and driving directions to the center.

“We’ve heard again and again from students that what they’ve learned in the first morning paid for the cost of the course many times over,” said Greg Clary, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist and another course instructor.

Most of the instructors hold doctorates in their fields and are either with AgriLife Extension or AgriLife Research, Rouquette said. They have expertise in forage breeding and production, soil fertility, wildlife management, beef cattle nutrition and marketing.

Having knowledge in these areas can mean the difference

The Land & Livestock Post

News

.Texas A&M AgriLife Communications photos by Robert Burns

Working cow dogs will be one of the more entertaining presentations at the livestock and pasture management school. between profiting from the cattle business or it becoming a bottomless money pit, Rouquette said.

One indication of the workshop’s value can be found in repeat attendance, according to Rouquette. Though the grazing school originally was designed for local novices in 2001, attendance soon expanded beyond the region, attracting students nationwide and out-of-country with varying levels of expertise.

Rouquette said some graduates have found the intensive course so valuable, they have returned a second year to take it again, and some have returned a third year.

The school is split between the classroom and instruction in the field. Outdoor demonstrations cover all aspects of running a beef operation, from establishing and maintaining high-quality forages, calibrating sprayers, taking soil samples, castrating and vaccinating cattle, and de-horning calves, said Vanessa Corriher-Olson, AgriLife Extension forage specialist and workshop instructor in Overton.

Also included will be training on writing a business plan for a ranch, keeping proper records, choosing the appropriate forage species for different soils, understanding soil fertility, establishing forage systems that minimize winter feeding costs, setting correct stocking rates, choosing the right cattle breeds,

promoting good animal health and marketing cattle, Rouquette said.

Another subject, dealing with wild pigs, aka feral hogs, has become crucial to ranchers throughout Texas. There will be extensive instruction on trapping and other types of control by Billy Higginbotham, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist in Overton, a nationally

recognized expert in the field, Rouquette said.

A full program agenda can be found at overton.tamu. edu/beef-cattle/g razingschool-2013/. A registration form at the same URL can be printed out and mailed with a check to the center.

Driving directions may be found at overton.tamu.edu/ info-maps-history/.

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March 2013 — Issue 1

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The Land & Livestock Post  March 2013 — Issue 1

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