Land and Livestock Post

March March2017 2017——Issue Issue11

Getting it right To apply or not to apply?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX Determining the best stocking rate for your land.

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JAMES THOMPSON GETTING MAD, GETTING EVEN

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March 2017 — Issue 1

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The Land & Livestock Post

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News From the General Manager

arch can be tricky. I always associated March with springtime and beautiful weather. This is partially true.

March, however, still has the capacity to knock you down with cold when it wants to.

One year, I was in Fort Worth for the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers convention. It was JESSE WRIGHT at the end of March, and it had been sunny and bright for weeks. I didn’t pack a coat, and I doubt I even had a long sleeve shirt.

On the last day of the trade show, I went to the convention center when it was a beautiful balmy day. By the time the trade show was over, a cold

north wind was blowing, and the mercury had dropped. It was about a hundred yards from the convention center to my hotel. On that walk back, had I seen a cab, I would have flagged it down. It was that cold.

I had intended on spending that last night in Cow-Town painting the place red, but since I didn’t bring any winter clothes, I was afraid I’d end up turning blue. So, I just sat in my hotel and watched the windows ice up.

Lack of planning was my downfall on that particular business trip.

When it comes to establishing your stocking rate, though, you want to be sure you plan correctly. In our cover story we look at what factors you need to consider when deciding how many cattle you can run on

your place.

In this issue we also have news from around the ag industry, as well as information on upcoming events and sales. Be sure to mark your calendars for the Cattle Raisers convention this year, and make sure you bring a coat, just in case.

Hope you enjoy the issue, and as always, thanks for reading. ’Til next time,

Photo courtesy of Texas A&M AgriLife

A road sign warns of a cattle fever tick quarantine in South Texas.

Texas cattle fever ticks back with a vengeance

By Steve ByrnS Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

• For more information about content or advertising,contact Jesse Wright at jesse. wright@theeagle.com.

Texas cattle fever ticks, which made Texas longhorns the pariah of the plains in the late 1800s, once again are expanding their range with infestations detected

See TICKS, Page 18

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March 2017 — Issue 1

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News

Don’t just talk about being safe on farm machinery in the nation. These are horrific disturbing statistics!

By RoBeRt BRown Penn State Extension

You probably are aware that farming is one of the most dangerous occupations there is in this country. An even though we know about tractor, machinery, and all terrain vehicle hazards on the farm, we don’t seem to be able to lower the farm death statistics.

Every year, consistently, about 400 people are killed in farm accidents involving farm tractors and machinery.

Yet this is not just a Midwest farm belt problem, because every year about 30 to 40 of those deaths are in Pennsylvania.

That’s about 10 percent of the national total right here in Pennsylvania.

Additionally, another 400 to 500 are killed on ATVs nationwide, with Pennsylvania ranking third

Tractors

Consequently, let’s talk about some farm statistics to help us understand what is going on.

About 70 percent of farm fatalities involve tractors, and of these fatalities, about 70 percent are tractor rollovers. That equates to about 200 of the 400 total farm deaths involve a tractor rollover.

Doubtless not a surprise, but spring and fall are the worst times of the year for fatalities when spring planting, baling and then fall harvests are taking place. Interesting to note that right after lunch time and

evening is the time of day when most accidents occur.

We’ve all experienced the afterlunch food coma, and obviously the evening is when we are pushing and in a hurry to finish a job, a field, or beat the oncoming rain.

Often cutting corners and taking more risk to finish a long day comes when we are most tired.

Friday and Saturday are the days most accidents occur. Maybe our minds are on ending a long week or on weekend plans instead of the job at hand.

As for age, most fatalities are in two age groups. One of those is the 50 to 70 year old group. This stands to reason as the average age of the American farmer is 58 and about at that midpoint. The

scariest statistic is the other age group for high fatalities: 20 and younger, with many of these kids not old enough to have a driver’s license.

Farming is the only dangerous occupation where we allow kids to run heavy equipment. They

are not allowed underground in mines. They are not allowed to work heavy construction.

But they are running farm equipment. We need to do a better job of taking the time to teach

See SAFETY, Page 6

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Every year, consistently, about 400 people are killed in farm accidents involving farm tractors and machinery.

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March 2017 — Issue 1

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March 2017 — Issue 1

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News Safety, from Page 4 and train youth running farm equipment!

Since most fatalities involve a tractor rollover, we should have a better understanding of how a rollover occurs so we can avoid the situation in the first place.

There are the physical hazards we come upon out in the fields and traveling on roads. There are holes, rocks and logs our wheels hit that can unstable the tractor. Ground around banks and ditches can give way. Ground slope needs to be observed and hitched equipment, loads on the front, and spray tanks change the handling of the tractor. Additionally, driving on a road with unforgiving car traffic is an experience all of its own.

Dennis Murphy in the Penn State Ag Engineering Department is one of the most highly respected experts on farm safety. He wrote a concise informative paper on tractor rollovers that should be required reading for everyone. Whether, you have been driving tractors for 60 years or a novice, you should read this tractor safety article.

The information in the article simply explains the dynamics of how a rollover occurs. Every tractor has stability lines, which are four lines drawing an imaginary box around your tractor. The lines are across your front and rear axles and from your front to rear tires.

Additionally, every tractor has a center of gravity. When the center of gravity goes over one of the stability lines, you will have a rollover. The center of gravity will move if you raise equipment, a loader, are on a slope, etc. The higher the center of gravity is- the quicker it can go over your stability lines. There are also 3 forces that act against you. Centrifugal force (turning)

and speed act against you for a sideways rollover. Rear axle torque and drawbar leverage are instrumental in an overturn to the rear. Hitching or wrapping a chain to something other than the drawbar has caused many rear overturns and fatalities. With the center of gravity usually closer to the rear axle, it usually takes less than a second to be involved in a rear overturn.

All terrain vehicles

ATVs have become a more prevalent piece of equipment on many farms. The same principals involving tractor rollovers apply to ATVs — except that the stability lines on ATVs are closer, and your center of gravity astronomically is high.

Then you add in the speed they go, the fact that we like to make sharp turns (centrifugal force), and usually our attitude with ATVs is that they are a recreational play vehicle.

Furthermore, we let young kids use them and they usually go too fast, and many times the machines are too big for their size and strength. These are some of the reasons ATV fatalities and emergency room visit statistics read like a script to a horror movie.

Farming is a dangerous business that involves many farm families. There are always young and inexperienced people involved in your operation also.

You need to talk safety, teach safety, practice safety yourself, lead by example, and make it the most important part of your daily operation because you can’t afford the alternative.

Neither your corn production numbers, your forage production numbers, nor your milk production numbers are more important than you becoming a farm fatality number. Be careful out there!

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News

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin

U.S.Sen.Ted Cruz,R-Texas,recently addressed representatives of the agriculture industry at the Southwest Ag Issues Summit in Fort Worth.

Next farm bill will require doing more with less

By Blair Fannin Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

FORT WORTH — Doing more with less to fund the next farm bill program was a recurring theme at the recent Southwest Ag Issues Summit in Fort Worth.

Leaders from all major commodity groups throughout Texas and national representatives converged for two days of discussion leading up to what is anticipated to be a new farm bill program adopted by Congress in 2018.

“This is the first meeting of this next farm bill cycle,” said Joe Outlaw, co-director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist in College Station. “This is where all the ag community in Texas comes together and gets the same set of facts from experts across the country so they can start thinking about what they want to ask

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for that would be best for Texas agriculture producers. At this time, the amount of money will be less. What we are talking about is what’s the most efficient use of limited funds.”

“Policies made today will possibly impact the next three to five years of how farmers and ranchers make decisions,” said Doug Steele, AgriLife Extension director. “Reliable, trusted information on which to make these decisions will be critical to their success. AgriLife Extension is pleased to partner with many of the influential organizations and individuals who will assist in developing our national farm and ranch policies.”

As it stands, experts say not to count on any new money flowing into the next farm bill as it is under budget by several billion dollars.

“That’s a big deal,” said Outlaw, who will be part of a panel

See FARM BILL, Page 9

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News Farm Bill, from Page 8 of economists discussing forecasts and outlooks for U.S. farms. “What you are trying to do with the safety net is provide last line of defense before major bankruptcies. When there’s less money available that safety net has to be a little lower, so things have to get a little worse before government help (begins).”

High input costs have eroded thin profit margins, according to economists, and three years of low commodity prices have made it tough for farmers.

“There’s a lot of stress right now on agriculture producers,” said Travis Miller, AgriLife Extension state operations interim director in College Station. “The bills (to produce) crops are not getting any lower and government assistance is less.”

The Fort Worth summit featured opening remarks by U.S. House Agriculture Chairman Michael Conaway, R-Midland.

“I’m looking forward to working with you over the next two years in getting a good farm bill,” Conaway said. “I’m committed to being a best friend to America’s farmers and ranchers. Agriculture has been under attack.

Farmers and ranchers are hurting right now as farm incomes have been on a three-year decline.

“These are hard times in farm country right now. We need to make sure to get this new farm bill right.”

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who recently spent two-and-ahalf days touring West Texas agricultural operations, said, “A lot of farmers and ranchers in Texas are hurting” after three years of low commodity prices.

He said regulatory reform, particularly changes in the Environmental Protection Agency, will lead to dramatically changing the agency and repealing many different acts.

Notably, Cruz mentioned WOTUS or Waters of the United States, which defines the EPA’s jurisdiction over navigable waters in the U.S. The rule has been one of contention for the nation’s farmers and ranchers and the water that is on the surface of the land they own.

Cruz also noted he will pursue tax reform, which will lead to jobs and economic growth both in Texas and nationa l l y. C r u z , who has campaigned for a flat tax, reemphasized JOE OUTLAW those intentions during the summit.

“Jobs and economic growth have been the focus of my campaign since day one,” he said.

“Tax and regulatory reform are two keys” He is calling for a 16 percent tax on businesses, abolishing the estate tax, which would help family farms, and setting a 10 percent tax rate on families.

“If you buy a new combine, under my plan you would be able to expense all of that from day one instead of amortizing that over several years,” he said. “This would encourage you to invest capital, creating jobs.”

Cruz also discussed repealing Obamacare, which he said would help restore job growth on farms and ranches across the nation.

Summit speakers also focused on the new challenges that lie ahead for agriculture with President Donald Trump, a new administration and agenda items, including trade.

“Price outlook (for commodities) is considerably lower on into 2020,” said Parr Rosson, AgriLife Extension economist and head of the department of agricultural economics at Texas A&M. “When you look at yields it leans very strong upward. Farmers need to continue to produce higher yields to cover for low prices.

“A strong dollar is sending positive price signals to Brazil and Argentina. It’s important for coalition building with producers, environment and society to produce safe food at reasonable prices.”

The summit is hosted by the Southwest Council of Agribusiness and the Texas Ag Forum, a program in partnership with AgriLife Extension.

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South Texas Cattle Marketing’s “Cattleman’ “C ttl ’s OOpportunity” t it ” FFemalel SSalel Saturday • March 4, 2017 • 12:00 noon Nixon Livestock Commission • Nixon, Texas (3 miles east of Nixon on Hwy. 87)

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March 2017 — Issue 1

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News

Forage and Ruminant Lab helps improve animal diets

By AdAm Russell Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Adam Russell

Nichole Cherry, Texas A&M AgriLife Research associate in the Forage and Ruminant Nutrition Lab in Stephenville,shows some samples that were assayed for nutritional value at the lab.

STEPHENVILLE — The Forage and Ruminant Nutrition Lab at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Stephenville explores ways to improve ruminant diets and mitigate negative environmental impacts for researchers around the state, nation and globe, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Research expert.

The lab is used by researchers throughout Texas, the southeastern U.S. and as far away as South Africa, Brazil and Argentina, said Jim Muir, AgriLife Research grassland ecologist in Stephenville.

The lab analyzes soils and manure to determine mineral content and forages to measure digestibility and nutritional quality of what livestock are consuming or might consume, Muir said.

Nichole Cherry, an AgriLife Research associate, is the person who makes the lab run, Muir said.

In her 13 years in the lab Cherry has

MARCH Mar. 1 Thomas Charolais Inc. Spring Bull Sale, Raymondville, TX Mar. 2 Jordan Cattle Auction Stocker-Feeder & Premium Weaned Sale, San Saba, TX Mar. 4 Foundation Angus Alliance Sale, Luling, TX Mar. 4 W4 Hereford Ranch Bull & Commercial Female Sale, Morgan, TX Mar. 4 South TX Cattle Marketing Female Sale, Nixon, TX Mar. 7 Houston International Simmental/Simbrah Sale, Houston, TX Mar. 8 Houston All Breeds Commercial Female Sale, Houston, TX Mar. 8 Houston All Breeds Registered Range Bull Sale, Houston, TX Mar. 8 International Brahman Sale, Houston, TX Mar. 9 Jordan Cattle Auction Special Bull Offering Cattleman’s Kind Simmentals, San Saba, TX Mar. 10 Houston Magic Beefmaster Sale, Houston, TX Mar. 10South Texas Beefmaster Breeders Assn. Sale,

performed more than 100,000 assays on samples to determine various aspects of forage and soil composition, from digestibility of forages to condensed tannin levels to identifying elements and compounds within samples.

For example, Cherry uses a machine that emulates an animal’s digestive system, Muir said. In hours it can predict digestibility that would take up to six weeks by testing animals in pastures or feedlots.

The machine can analyze 50 samples in 48 hours.

“We can predict the effects and digestibility of anything the animal might ingest,” he said.

The majority of the lab’s work is on

See NUTRITION, Page 11

Houston, TX Mar. 10Mid Coast Santa Gertrudis Sale, Houston, TX Mar. 11 Genetic Development Center Best of the Test Brangus Cattle Sale, Navasota, TX Mar. 11 Evans Angus Female Sale, Proctor, TX Mar. 11 Genetic Edge Brangus Sale, Houston, TX Mar. 16 Jordan Cattle Auction Special Replacement Female Sale, San Saba, TX Mar. 16 McKellar Angus Bull Sale, Mt. Pleasant, TX Mar. 18 44 Farms Angus Bull Sale, Abilene, TX Mar. 18 Tested by Time Brangus Sale at Mound Creek Ranch Leona, TX Mar. 18 ABBA National F1 Female & Brahman Sale, Caldwell, TX Mar. 18 SE TX ICA Bull & Female Sale, Beaumont, TX Mar. 23 Jordan Cattle Auction Special Bull Offering JE Red Angus Ranch, San Saba, TX Mar. 25 Bluebonnet Classic Santa Gertrudis Sale, Hallettsville, TX Mar. 25 Cavender and Sturgess Double Charolais Bull & Female Sale, Jacksonville, TX

APRIL Apr. 1 Heart of Texas Replacement Female Sale, Groesbeck, TX Apr. 1 MW Ranch Hereford Production Sale, Brownwood, TX Apr. 8 Collier Farms Beefmaster Advantage Sale, Giddings, TX Apr. 8 Jordan Cattle Auction Best of the Best Replacement Female Sale, San Saba, TX Apr. 8 Griswold Cattle Grass to Grid Angus Bull Sale, Follett, TX Apr. 8 Caldwell Livestock Replacement Female Sale, Caldwell, TX Apr. 15 East Texas/Louisiana BBA Sale, Crockett, TX Apr. 15 2017 Southwest Showcase Sale, Crockett, TX Apr. 20 Jordan Cattle Auction Special Bull Offering Angus of Clear Creek, San Saba, TX Apr. 22 Springtime in Texas Beefmaster Sale, Brenham, TX Apr. 23 National E6 Beefmaster Sale, Columbus, TX Apr. 29 Live Oak BBA Spring Sale, Three Rivers, TX

Do you have a sale or event you’d like listed? Call Jesse Wright (979) 731-4721 or email jesse.wright@theeagle.com

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March 2017 — Issue 1

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Water well owner training scheduled March 2 in Tyler Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

TYLER — Anyone interested in private water well management is invited to a Texas Well Owner Network training March 2 in Tyler.

The training, which is free and open to the public, will be from 1-5 p.m. in Building C at the East Texas State Fair, 2112 W. Front St. “The [Texas Well Owner Network] program is for Texas residents who depend on household wells for their water needs, so they can learn about improving and protecting their community water resources,” said Drew

Nutrition, from Page 10 small ruminants, such as sheep and goats, which are more popular globally, and some whitetailed deer, Muir said.

About 60 percent to 70 percent of samples sent in by researchers serving producers are small ruminants.

Cherry’s work with condensed tannins has put the lab on the global map because it focuses on vegetation, such as forbs and dicots, that naturally address internal parasites that can be deadly to ruminants, Muir said.

Parasites especially are rampant in tropical regions where rainfall and warm temperatures are prevalent, he said. In Texas, springtime and over-grazed pastures present parasite challenges for producers.

Muir said condensed tannins are a natural tool for producers who hope to mitigate losses to parasites.

“Condensed tannins evolved in plants as a way to protect themselves,” he said. “It usually makes them bitter and less palatable or poisonous to animals or insects, but some animals have harnessed their protective features in a coevolutionary relationship.”

Tannins can be good and bad for animals, so the lab tries to

Gholson, AgriLife Extension program specialist and network coordinator in College Station.

“The program was established to help well owners become familiar with Texas groundwater resources, septic system maintenance, well maintenance and construction, and water quality and treatment.”

He said participants may bring well-water samples to the training for screening. The cost is $10 per sample, due when they are turned in. “ Wa t e r s a m p l e s w i l l b e screened for nitrates, total dis-

See WATER, Page 20

identify ratios to help producers decide whether to increase or reduce certain browse, such as woody plants and shrubs, in diets, especially for browsers such as goats and white-tailed deer, Muir said.

Tests can determine the level of condensed tannins, where they are in the plant cell, how it is delivered and breaks down in the animal’s digestive tract, or how biologically aggressive it is in fighting gastro-intestinal parasites.

Condensed tannin assays take about two weeks, Muir said.

Cherry has trained nearly 40 graduate students, many of who came to the lab from other countries such as Colombia and Kenya, to assay condensed tannins and return home with the knowledge.

She recently was awarded the Texas A&M Soil and Crop Sciences Departmental Research Support – Lab Award for her work.

“Without Nichole and her lab, our research program on small ruminant gastro-intestinal parasites, such as barberpole worm, would not exist,” Muir said.

“Producers in Texas, the southeastern U.S. and many corners of the world depend on her assays to keep their animals healthy and increase their profits.”

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News

Prime rate

Strive for accuracy in calculating stocking rates

By RoBeRt FeaRs Special to The Post

A

lthough correct stocking rates are key factors in maintaining a ranch in sustainable condition and producing profits, overgrazing is common among cattle producers. Grazing to bare soil kills perennial forage, promotes weeds and brush, causes soil erosion, and reduces soil microorganism populations which are important for soil health and plant growth.

An overgrazed pasture increases the feed bill and reduces animal performance, which leads to decreased profits.

Due to importance of stocking rates, the subject was addressed by Robert Lyons and Richard Machen in Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Bulletin L-5400, “Stocking Rate; The Key Management Decision.” Lyons is professor and extension range specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Machen is a former professor and livestock extension specialist with the organization. He now is employed with King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management.

This article paraphrases their publication.

Required knowledge

In preparation of a grazing plan, it is important to understand the definitions of stocking rate, stock density and carrying capacity.

Stocking rate is the amount of land allotted to each animal for the

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Photos courtesy of Robert Fears

Above, an animal unit is a 1,000 pound cow and her unweaned calf. On the cover: Cattle seldom graze more than two miles from water.

entire grazeable portion of the year.

Stock density is the number of acres allotted to each animal at a specific point in time. Carrying capacity is the maximum long-term stocking rate that can be sustained without detrimental effects on land resource.

Several factors determine proper

stocking rates, including animal species (cattle, sheep, goats, deer), animal size and physiological stage, pasture or ranch size and number of grazable acres. When cattle have a choice, their annual diets consist of 80 percent or more grass and usually no more than 10 percent browse

March 2017 — Issue 1

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(leaves and twigs from brush). Since browse is a very small portion of the cow’s diet, subtract acres of dense brush from total pasture size in determining grazable acres.

Cattle make limited use of slopes

See RATES, Page 13

The Land & Livestock Post

News

Cattleman’s Brenham Livestock Auction Special Replacement Female Sale

Saturday • March 18, 2017 • 12 noon 2405 Highway 105 East • Brenham, Texas Featuring

800 Head

of Quality Replacement Females

Pairs • Breds • Open Heifers Photo courtesy of Robert Fears

Half of forage production should be left as residual and 25 percent is lost to trampling, defication, and insects leaving 25 percent for grazing.

Rates, from Page 12 greater than 10 percent or areas more than two miles from water, so when establishing a stocking rate for cattle, exclude steep areas and areas too far from water.

There are two perspectives in determining stocking rates. One is land resource and the second is animal performance. It is possible to stock properly from a resource conservation perspective but overstock in terms of animal performance because of animal forage preferences.

Available forage

The first step in determining stocking rates is to estimate amount of available forage. Rainfall is usually the primary controlling factor for forage production in Texas, so amount of available grazing will vary with soil moisture. Conduct forage inventories in late June or early July and again in October and March. Then

make stocking adjustments based on estimated forage supply.

The most accurate and time-consuming method of measuring forage inventory is to clip and weigh palatable forage from a representative number of small square areas, average the weights, and adjust the total to a per acre basis. A quicker, yet accurate, method is use of the Natural Resources Conservation Service measuring stick. After one of the two methods is used several times, many people learn to estimate available forage just by walking the pasture.

A major goal of good grazing managers is to leave enough forage in a pasture to protect the soil and maintain plant vigor. The old rule of thumb, “take half — leave half,” does not mean that half the forage can be allotted to grazing animals.

About 25 percent of the forage disappears through

Also Featuring Approximately 40 Bulls:

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See STOCKING, Page 14

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March 2017 — Issue 1

Sale Every Friday P.O. Box 1207 Brenham, TX 77834 979-836-3621 office

5 - Registered Angus 2 - Registered Brahman 2 - Registered Charolais 5 - Reg. Herefords from B&C Cattle Co.

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979-830-7769 Scottie Schwartz 979-277-4987 Mark Schwartz 979-877-4454 Doug Bass

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News Stocking, from Page 13 trampling, decay and insect damage. If 50 percent is left as residue, only 25 percent is available for the grazing animal.

As an example, let’s assume a rancher is using a stocking rate of 20 acres per animal unit per year. An animal unit consumes 26 pounds of forage dry matter per day, or 9,490 pounds per year.

(26 pounds X 365 days per year = 9,490 pounds per year) The rancher has allotted 20 acres to produce the 9,490 pounds of forage needed per animal unit per year. Therefore, each acre must produce 475 pounds of forage annually to support grazing.

(9,490 pounds ÷ 20 acres per animal unit per year = 475 pounds per acre) If an animal needs to consume 475 pounds per acre per year, then required forage production per acre per year is four times that amount since only onefourth is available for consumption. Therefore, total forage production requirement is 1,900 pounds per acre.

(475 pounds X 4 = 1,900 pounds)

Considerations

As illustrated in the above example, stocking rates are calculated in animal units. Currently, the most widely accepted definition of an animal unit is a mature 1,000-pound cow and her calf, representing an average daily intake of 26 pounds. This average daily forage intake also can be expressed as a percentage (2.6

14

percent) of the cow’s body weight.

Mature size of beef cows has increased steadily since the 1950s to weights greater than 1,000 pounds. Because of the heavier weights, most cows are not equivalent to one animal unit. Since different size cows require different stocking rates, it is important to weigh each cow in the herd. Very few people can estimate animal weights accurately enough for stocking rate calculations.

For example, if the estimated stocking rate for a 1,000-pound cow is 20 acres, the estimated stocking rate for a 1,150-pound cow is determined as follows: 1,150 pounds X 0.026 (2.6 percent) = 30 pounds of

forage intake per day ÷ 26 pounds of forage per animal unit = 1.15 animal units per cow 1.15 animal units per cow X 20 acres per animal unit = 23 acres per 1,150-pound cow It is assumed in this example that both cows have the same forage intake of 2.6 percent of body weight.

Estimating forage intake from a cow’s weight can cause some degree of error if the animal’s body condition is not considered.

Weight varies about 8 percent for each body condition number above or below 5. For instance, weight per body condition varies from about 72 pounds for a 900-pound cow (0.08 X 900 = 72) to about 104 pounds for a

1,300-pound cow (0.08 X 1,300 = 104). A cow weighing 1,000 pounds at 5 body condition score would weigh about 840 pounds at 3 body condition score.

5-3 = 2 body condition scores less 0.08 X 2 = .16 percentage change in weight 1,000 X .16 = 160-pound weight loss 1,000 – 160 = 840 pounds of weight at body condition score 3 If the example cow gained

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to 7 body condition score, she would weigh 1,160 pounds (1,000 + 160 = 1,160).

The fact that the example cow is lighter or heavier because of body fat does not mean she will consume less or more forage than when she weighs 1,000 pounds.

By using a condition score 5 weight for cattle, these calculations are standardized, and forage intake is estimated relative to intake

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Forage, from Page 14 potential as animal size and gut capacity increases.

Differences in stocking rate estimates also are created by cow production levels.

Cows that produce heavier calves usually produce more milk, and therefore, eat more forage.

These cows need more acres to satisfy their forage demand and still leave the proper amount of forage residue.

Average annual forage intake rate of 2.6, 3.0 or 3.5 percent often are achieved by beef cows with low, medium or high milk production levels, respectively. If the estimated stocking rate for a low-milking, 1,000-pound cow is 20 acres, a high-milking, 1,000-pound cow might need 27 acres.

1,000 pounds X 0.035 (3.5 percent) = 35 pounds of forage intake per day ÷ 26 pounds of forage per animal unit = 1.35 animal units per cow 1.35 animal units per cow X 20 acres per animal unit = 27 acres per cow

If the high-milking cow weighs 1,150 pounds, the estimated stocking rate is 31 acres per cow.

1,150 pounds X 0.035 (3.5 percent) = 40 pounds of forage intake per day ÷ 26 pounds of forage per animal unit = 1.55 animal units per cow 1.55 animal units per cow X 20 acres per animal unit = 31 acres per cow Cows can eat a higher percentage of their body weight than the averages. One dairy cow was documented to have a dry matter intake rate of 7 percent of body weight.

Possible variances are why it is important constantly to monitor pasture and animal conditions and adjust stocking rates when necessary.

Taking time to calculate proper stocking rates pays dividends in both ranch sustainable and economic viability. Once pastures are grazed to bare ground, they must not be grazed for long periods to allow forage to recover. During the rest periods, they won’t produce an income. It also is more

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expensive to feed a cow to regain body condition score than it is to maintain her in good condition.

For more information, the

Lyons/Machen publication on stocking rate is found in the proceedings of the 62nd Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course, Aug. 1-3, 2016

Photo courtesy of Robert Fears

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March 2017 — Issue 1

15

News Texas ag experts: Mexico may retaliate if U.S. imposes tariffs

By MARIANA ALFAROFEB Texas Tribune

Texas agricultural producers say if the White House slaps a tariff on Mexican products, the state’s farmers and ranchers — as well as Texas consumers — could suffer from a Mexican retaliation against U.S. exports.

Last month, President Donald Trump said the border wall he promises to build between Mexico and the United States could be paid for by placing a 20 percent tax on all Mexican imports.

Hours later, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer clarified that this proposal was just one of many approaches currently under review by the administration.

Mexico’s economy minister, Idelfonso Guajardo, said in an interview with Mexican television that his country would need

Douglas Young, The Texas Tribune

Stacks of fresh vegetables from Mexico await loading into north-bound trucks at the McAllen Produce Terminal. to be prepared to “immediately neutralize” the impact of any U.S. border tax.

“And it is very clear how: Take a fiscal action that clearly neutralizes it,” he said.

TJS S Hardware

The idea of a tariff on Mexican imports or a radical change to the North American Free Trade Agreement — another Trump promise — worries many Texas agriculture industry leaders, who say it is in the state’s best interest to continue fostering a positive trade relationship with Mexico rather than imposing tariffs on its imports.

Mexico is the state’s largest trade partner, overshadowing its two closest competitors, China and Canada, by billions of dollars. According to U.S. Census data, in 2015 Mexico imported more than $92 billion worth of goods from Texas, while Texas imported more $84 billion worth of goods from Mexico.

Luis Ribera, an associate professor at Texas A&M University’s Center for North American Studies, said any large-scale tariff

on Mexican goods would hurt American consumers more than anyone else by making everything from avocados to tomatoes more expensive for Americans — or compelling Mexico to buy Texas-produced staples such as wheat, beef and corn from other countries.

“We’re going to lose that market, or [if we don’t] lose it, we’re going to get tariffs on the products that we send to Mexico,” Ribera said. “So it’s going to make our products less competitive when we compete with the rest of the world.”

Steelee Fischbacher, director of policy and marketing at the Texas Wheat Producers Board and Association, said a potential Mexican tax worries the Texas wheat industry because Mexico

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

The Land & Livestock Post

News LIVESTOCK MARKET REPORT Buffalo

Caldwell

Groesbeck

Results of the Buffalo Livestock Commission’s Feb. 4 sale.

Head: 1,169 Steers: 150-200 lbs., $150$290; 200-300 lbs., $145$200; 300-400 lbs., $140$190; 400-500 lbs., $135-182; 500-600 lbs., $120-$157; 600700 lbs., $115-$145; 700-800 lbs., $105-$121.

Heifers: 150-200 lbs., $135-$230; 200-300 lbs., $130-$170; 300-400 lbs., $120-$165; 400-500 lbs., $110-$150; 500-600 lbs., $105-$145; 600-700 lbs.,$95$122; 700-800 lbs.,$85-$110.

Slaughter bulls: $65-$95.

Slaughter cows: $40-$71.

Bred cows: $950-$1,700.

Cow/calf pairs: $975$2,025.

Results of the Caldwell Livestock Commission’s Feb. 8 sale.

Head: 416 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $190$215; 300-400 lbs., $170-$212; 400-500 lbs., $150-$162; 500600 lbs., $140-$150; 600-700 lbs., $120-$129; 700-800 lbs., $105-$119.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $160-$167; 300-400 lbs., $145-$167; 400-500 lbs., $135-$151; 500-600 lbs., $130-$145; 600-700 lbs., $120-$147; 700-800 lbs., $106-$119.

Slaughter bulls: $60-$90.

Slaughter cows: $45-$68.

Bred cows: $825-$1,500.

Cow/calf pairs: N/A.

Results of the Groesbeck Auction and Livestock Company’s Feb. 9 sale.

Head: 353 Steers: 300-400 lbs., $150-$197; 400-500 lbs., $145-$165; 500-600 lbs., $127-$157; 600-700 lbs., $120-$138; 800-900 lbs., $90$119.

Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $140-$175; 400-500 lbs., $135-$153; 500-600 lbs., $127-$140; 600-700 lbs., $106-$116; 800-900 lbs., N/A. Slaughter bulls: $75-$87.

Slaughter cows: $46-$52.

Bred cows: $700-$1,300.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,000$1,500.

Auction’s Feb. 2 sale.

Head: 1,633 Steers: Under 200 lbs., $170-$202.5; 200-300 lbs., $170-$190; 300-400 lbs., $160-$185; 400-500 lbs., $145-$166; 500-600 lbs., $130-$159; 600-700 lbs., $122-$147.5; 700-800 lbs., $118-$130.

Heifers: Under 200 lbs., $150-$210; 200-300 lbs., $135-$150; 300-400 lbs., $135-$148; 400-500 lbs., $125-$141; 500-600 lbs., $120-$141; 600-700 lbs., $115-$139; 700-800 lbs., $110-$135.

Slaughter bulls: $75-$89.

Slaughter cows: $50-$70.

Bred cows: $700-$1,650 Cow/calf pairs: $1,000$1,975.

Navasota Results of the Navasota Livestock Commission’s Feb. 4 sale.

Head: 1,860 Steers: 150-300 lbs., $115-$230; 300-400 lbs., $110-$182; 400-500 lbs., $100-$178; 500-600 lbs., $100-$159; 600-700 lbs., $100-$139.

Heifers: 150-300 lbs., $100$185; 300-400 lbs., $90-$145; 400-500 lbs., $90-$137.5; 500600 lbs., $90-$132; 600-700 lbs., $85-$125.

Slaughter bulls: $65-$89.

Slaughter cows: $40-$63.

Bred cows: $700-$1,210.

Cow/calf pairs: $800$1,750.

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March 2017 — Issue 1

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17

News Ticks, from Page 3 in Live Oak, Willacy and Kleberg counties, said Texas A&M AgriLife experts.

As of Feb. 1, more than 500,000 acres in Texas are under various quarantines outside of the permanent quarantine zone.

Pete Teel, Texas A&M AgriLife Research entomologist in College Station, said the vigilance and cooperation of regulatory agencies — the Texas Animal Health Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Animal and Plant Health Service — in collaboration with the livestock and wildlife industries are needed to detect, contain and eliminate cattle fever ticks.

Because there is no cure for tick fever, a series of quarantine levels are used to prevent animal movement and the spread of a fever tick infestation, and to permit animal treatments for tick elimination. For an explanation of these quarantines go to bit.

ly/2jkqTNX. “We’ve been responding to calls for several weeks now stemming from this outbreak,” said Sonja Swiger, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service veterinary entomologist in Stephenville.

“Most of Texas has been shielded from this problem for so long that there is little memory of what it took to be able to enjoy the benefit,” she said. “Now when producers are confronted with the issue without knowledge of the history and biology and risks associated with cattle fever, they are overwhelmed.”

Teel said the historic cattle drives from Texas to railheads in Missouri and Kansas in the late 1800s brought unwanted attention when local cattle died of a strange fever associated with the arrival of Texas cattle.

“Texas cattle fever was ultimately linked to ticks brought along by the Texas longhorns,” Teel said. “These ticks were ap-

propriately named Texas cattle fever ticks, due to their ability to transmit a fever-causing agent from infected to uninfected cattle.”

By 1906, Teel said, it was determined these ticks and Texas cattle fever were found throughout 14 southern states and were limiting the economic development of the region. It was also discovered that procedures separating cattle from these ticks was essential to disease prevention and tick elimination.

“State and federal eradication programs with industry support began in 1906 and slowly eradicated the disease by eliminating these specific ticks from the eastern seaboard to the TexasMexico border, a task declared completed in the 1940s,” he said.

“A permanent buffer zone was created and has been maintained ever since along the international border from Del Rio to the mouth of the Rio Grande to prevent re-establishment of

ticks from Mexico where both ticks and pathogens remain.”

Happening now

Since the 1970s, there have been periodic incursions of these ticks into Texas. One such incursion is happening now, requiring quarantine and eradication to prevent their spread, he said.

“However, the success of this program has protected our cattle industry from the risks of disease outbreaks by preventing contact with the tick vector for so long that most people do not remember the tremendous effort and significant benefits, and are often unaware that this risk still exists,” Teel said.

“Decades of changes in landuse, brush encroachment, expansion of native and exotic game, diversification of animal enterprises and variation in climatic cycles are contributing to new challenges in keeping this problem at bay.”

Photo courtesy of Texas A&M AgriLife

Southern cattle tick,Boophilus microplus.

How risky is the disease? Teel said the Southern Region of the U.S. is home to more than 400,000 cattle operations producing a third of all fed cattle in the country. This region is the original distribution location of these ticks before the eradication program, and climate modeling indicates it would still support these ticks today.

Mortality in cattle without prior exposure to the disease is estimated to range from 70-90 percent. There are no protective vaccines and no approved drugs to treat sick animals in the U.S., he said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has estimated that if eradication of these ticks had not occurred, cattle industry losses across the southern U.S. today would be about $1 billion annually.

The technical name for Texas

See FEVER, Page 19

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March 2017 — Issue 1



The Land & Livestock Post

News Fever, from Page 18 cattle fever is bovine babesiosis, a name related to the organisms that infect the red blood cells of cattle. It is their destruction of the red blood cells that results in anemia, fever and death, Swiger said.

“There are two closely related tick species capable of transmitting these pathogens, one called ‘the cattle tick,’ Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus, and the other called ‘the southern cattle tick,’ R. microplus,” she said.

“Both of these tick species and associated pathogens were introduced to the Western Hemisphere on livestock brought by early explorers and settlers from different parts of the world.”

The origin of the cattle tick is the Mediterranean area where climates relatively are temperate, while the southern cattle tick is from the tropics of the Indian sub-continent. Thus, they were both successful in adapting to the southern climates of the U.S., as well as similar climates in Mexico, Central and South America, Teel said.

Same animal

Teel said fever ticks remain on the same animal through their larval, nymphal and adult stages until the blood-engorged females drop off the host animal. Once off the host, females lay from 2,5004,000 eggs, and then die. The males remain on the animal to mate with more females. It takes 20 days from the time the larvae arrive on the host animal until the first females start dropping off with the most females leaving the host at about Day 25. So, animal movement during this period allows ticks to be dropped into new locations.

“A successful hatch depends on moderate temperatures and high relative humidity more common to tree and brush covered areas than to open meadow or grass habitats,” Teel said. “If ticks pick up the pathogen from their host during blood feeding, the pathogen is passed through the egg to the larvae of the next generation. No other tick species in the U.S. are capable of transmitting the pathogen of Texas cattle fever.

“Cattle are the preferred host

for tick suppression or prevention of pathogen transmission.

“There is evidence that the manure of tick-infested cattle contains detectable differences in chemical makeup compared to non-infested animals and may provide for improved methods of tick detection,” he said.

“And, the complex interactions of tick-host-habitat-climate relationships through simulation modelling are currently being investigated to improve tactics and strategies for tick elimination where both wildlife and cattle are involved.”

To learn more, Teel and Swiger recommend using Tick App, a free smartphone application available at tickapp.tamu.edu, and the Texas Animal Health Commission’s website at www. tahc.texas.gov/regs/code.html for information on tick treatment options, tick quarantine and associated regulations, as well as the latest updates on current quarantines.

Photo courtesy of Texas A&M AgriLife

Cattle tick in hand. Such ticks can cause often-fatal anemia in cattle. and back when cattle were ba- of cattle, wildlife and feral unsically the only host, the ticks gulate hosts, Teel said research were much easier to control,” and technology development are he said. “Today white-tailed deer providing new tools to meet these and several exotic ungulates in- challenges.

“AgriLife Research and the cluding nilgai antelope serve as hosts. Nilgai, an imported exotic USDA’s Agricultural Research species that have naturalized in Service are collaborating to dismuch of South Texas, are native cover new and improved methto India and historically were ods of detecting and eliminating noted as a host animal for the cattle fever ticks,” he said. “These southern cattle tick in India. So efforts include mining sequences what we’ve done is bring both the of the DNA of both tick species ticks and nilgai together again.” to discover sites to disrupt funcWhile there are many chal- tions such as tick feeding or egg lenges to optimizing tick sup- laying, to identify targets for new pression where there is a mix pesticides, or genetic approaches

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LB / ACRE

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2011

2012

2013

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Texas Tough +

4,646

11,488

7,618

7,917

1

Sungrazer +

3,516

11,281

6,599

7,132

2

Buckaroo

3,979

10,881

6,428

7,096

3

Cowboy

3,426

10,054

7,301

6,927

4

Ranchero Frio

3,051

10,374

7,013

6,713

5

Numex Sahara

3,201

10,293

6,772

6,755

6

Amarillo King

3,586

9,873

6,561

6,673

7

Laredo

3,410

9,975

6,654

6,680

8

Highlander

2,379

10,880

6,159

6,473

9

Mohawk

3,163

9,739

6,321

6,408

10

Cheyenne II

3,612

9,334

5,941

6,295

11

Rancher

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9,740

6,085

6,218

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Planting Date: 6/4/11 (Replanted 7/13/11) 10 lbs (P.L.S.) Planting Rate, LSD (0.05) Commercially available varieties only included in these results.

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Tough +with establishes fast of withstands. excellent forage quality have and fineremained stems. I has held up under our loss Floridainconditions very even well. We hope our drought of the last four years. It establishes fast with excellent forage quality and much finer stems than Coastal am Bermudagrass. very pleased with my It Texas +, it has increased my grazing time from 90 90 days to plant moregrasses in the future when the on rightmyland is available. days Texas Tough hasTough increased my grazing time from days on native to 150 stands.

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March 2017 — Issue 1

19

News Water, from Page 11 solved solids and bacteria,” Gholson said.

Well owners who would like to have their well water sampled can pick up two sample containers from the AgriLife Extension offices in Smith County at 1517 W. Front St. in Tyler; in Cherokee County at 165 East 6th St., Suite 104 in Rusk; in Wood County at 618 S. Main St. in Quitman; or in Rains County at 410 Tawakoni Drive in Emory.

Bringing water samples to the training is not required, Gholson said, but those wanting to have samples analyzed must attend.

He said space is limited, so attendees are requested to register at twon.tamu.edu/training or by calling 979-845-1461 as soon as possible.

The training is one of 30 being conducted statewide through the Texas Well Owner Network project.

“The core content of this program is the same as other trainings, but the information is tailored to local water quality issues and aquifers,” he said.

More than a million private water wells in Texas provide water to people in rural areas and increasingly to those living on small acreages at the growing

Published by Bryan-College Station Communications, Inc. (979) 776-4444 or (800) 299-7355

President - Crystal Dupré .....................................................Ext. 4613 Publisher and Editor- Kelly Brown.........................................Ext. 4656 Sales and Marketing Director - Sean Lewis .......................... Ext. 4740 Advertising Sales/General Manager - Jesse Wright ...............Ext. 4721 Finance Director - Rod Armstrong.........................................Ext. 4605 Production Director - Mark Wilson........................................Ext. 4671 Circulation Director - Greg Parker ........................................Ext. 4752

Published by Bryan-College Station Communications, Inc., P.O. Box 3000, Bryan,Texas 77805.

E-mail: thepost@theeagle.com All offices are located at 1729 Briarcrest Drive Bryan,Texas 77802.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Eagle, P.O. Box 3000, Bryan,Texas 77805-3000 The Post is printed in part on recycled paper and is fully recyclable.

20

Texas A&M AgriLife Communications photo by Steve Byrns

A water well training and opportunity to have water samples screened will be conducted March 2 at the East Texas State Fair site in Tyler. rural-urban interface, according to Gholson.

“Private well owners are independently responsible for monitoring the quality of their wells,” he said. “They are responsible for all aspects of ensuring their drinking water system is safe – testing, inspecting, maintaining it. This training will help private well owners to understand and care for their wells.”

Funding for the Texas Well Owner Network is through a nonpoint source grant provided by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board. The project is managed by the Texas Water Resources Institute, part of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, AgriLife Extension and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.

March 2017 — Issue 1

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The Land & Livestock Post

Solid Rock Ranch To advertise in Marketplace Contact: Jesse Wright - 979.731.4721 or email jesse.wright@theeagle.com

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March 2017 — Issue 1

Angus Bulls Twos and coming twos.

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News

Saturday, April 1, 2017 • 12 Noon Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Adam Russell

Vanessa Corriher-Olson,Texas A&MAgriLife Extension Service forage specialist in Overton, examines a dormant Bermuda grass pasture overtaken by volunteer ryegrass.

Producers have options to rid pastures of ryegrass and help Bermuda grass emerge as temperatures warm.

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Options to address ryegrass for warm-season forage production

By AdAm Russell Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

OVERTON — Producers hoping to mitigate annual ryegrass growth for warm-season hay production have options and should start sooner than later, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

Annual ryegrass, a cool-season forage, often is utilized by livestock producers for winter grazing, said Vanessa CorriherOlson, AgriLife Extension forage specialist in Overton. East Texas hay producers, however, often view it as an unwanted species that competes with Bermuda and Bahia grasses, she said.

Volunteer annual ryegrass can be common in East Texas hay meadows. Winter rainfalls can promote seed germination, and seeds can survive multiple years in regional soils.

Late season annual ryegrass can delay or prevent warm-season perennial forages, such as Bermuda or Bahia grasses, from breaking dormancy in April or May. “This can delay our initial hay cutting,” she said.

Corriher-Olson said ryegrass can be controlled with herbicides.

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“Spraying is probably the most common control method,” she said. “As with any herbicide application, timing is critical along with following label directions.”

Prowl H2O, or pendimethalin, is a good pre-emergent herbicide labeled for dormant Bermuda grass and Bahia grass pastures and hay meadows. Treatments should be applied prior to rainfall, she said, to enhance soil incorporation and herbicide activation.

Glyphosate, the active ingredient i n Roundup and other herbicides, and Pastora, which includes nicosulfuron and metsulfuron, are two postemergent herbicide options.

Ideally, ryegrass needs to be sprayed when plants are less than 6 inches in height in the fall, but second applications are recommended in February or March, Corriher-Olson said.

“Annual ryegrass is generally susceptible to postemergence herbicides in early winter prior to freezing temperatures and before seed-head emergence,” she said. “Unfortunately for Bahia grass growers, there are no selective herbicides available for

1,400 HEAD

of Quality Replacement Females including Pairs, Bred Cows, Bred & Open Heifers. Certified F1s, True F1s, Brangus, Hereford, Brahman and other premium quality replacements.

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440 FM 246 Wortham, TX 76693 903/599-2403 Mobile 817/291-5121

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See RYEGRASS, Page 23

March 2017 — Issue 1

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News Ryegrass, from Page 22 postemergence control of annual ryegrass.”

Spot treatments of glyphosate are recommended in Bahia grass for control, she said. For rates and any restrictions refer to labels.

Producers can control ryegrass by grazing it, she said.

“If your hay meadow happens to be fenced and has a good source of water, grazing can be an excellent way to utilize a high-quality forage and remove it from the meadow,” Corriher-Olson said.

Ryegrass also can be baled for hay, she said.

Baleage, or haylage, is forage baled at 50-60 percent moisture. It should then be preserved in an airtight plastic wrap as single bales or one long tube. This requires specialized equipment and diligence in maintaining the integrity of the plastic wrap.

Harvesting for a dry bale product can be tricky during wet springs, she said.

“A lot of people clear hay meadows of volunteer g rasses and weeds during their first cutting,” she said. “They may be battling ryegrass, and many consider that a ‘trash cutting’ because they value warm-season grasses like Bermuda grass. But ryegrass is a very good forage under the right conditions.”

Another way to fight ryegrass is to promote warm-season grasses, she said. Maintaining some substantial Bermuda or Bahia grass stubble, 4 inches or more, could provide some shade to reduce ryegrass seed germination.

Maintaining a higher stubble height can also be beneficial for warm-season perennial forages’ future growing season, CorriherOlson said. Higher stubble height means more substantial root structure to capture deeper soil moisture and nutrients.

“This may not provide 100 percent control, but competition can help reduce undesired plant growth,” she said.

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Mexico, from Page 16 is the largest importer of hard red winter wheat, the top class of wheat produced in the state.

In 2011, the U.S. exported 2.4 million metric tons of hard wheat to Mexico, according to a Texas A&M study.

“Being our number one customer, it’s a very critical market for us, especially in a time where we have low wheat prices,” she said, adding that Mexico has plenty of other potential trading partners for wheat such as Argentina, Canada and Australia.

Robert McKnight Jr., vice president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, said any threat to the current “integrated” cattle and beef trade system between Mexico, the U.S. and Canada could also be detrimental for the Texas beef industry. Well more than half of Texas’ cattle imports, he said, come from

March 2017 — Issue 1

Mexico and Canada.

McKnight said international trade adds close to $300 to the value of each head of Texas cattle.

“To threaten any part of that $300 for the producers would be very tough, if not devastating for us,” he said.

In a recent meeting with Mexican and Canadian cattle raisers, McKnight said representatives from all three countries agreed that it doesn’t hurt to sit down and review the NAFTA agreement, but the countries should “take the scalpel instead of the hatchet” if they’re going to change.

At the consumer level, Bret Erickson, president of the Texas International Produce Association, said a tariff or trade war with Mexico would limit the variety of produce available for Texans, since Mexico is the largest supplier of fruits and vegetables to the state. Though the argument

has been made that pricier Mexican goods could be offset by an increase in the production and sales of Texas-made produce, Erickson said that isn’t likely.

“If the administration did institute a tariff across the board on all commodities, onions is something that I think would see a bump in production in Texas but I don’t think that necessarily translates to reduced costs to the U.S. consumer,” he said. “I think it just presents an opportunity for Texas producers increase their acreage and be competitive.”

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