March 2019 – Issue I
OPTIMISM FOR GRAIN
Reasons for Texas producers to be excited for the future. PAGE 5
HEIFER HOW-TO
What you need to know about developing young cows. PAGE 6
CONVENTIONAL WISDOM How to get the most out of all the beef industry meetings and exhibitions PAGE 12
WHERE’S THE FAKE BEEF? Campaign takes aim on lab-grown‘meat.’ PAGE 18
SOMETHING FISHY Conchos shiner makes first known U.S. appearance. PAGE 23
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March 2019 — Issue I
The Land & Livestock Post
News From the General Manager
A
s we head into March, a lot of us, myself included, are gearing up for the annual Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers convention. This will be my 17th one. I always have a lot of fun at these things. There are many clients and associates that I rarely get to see, and this convention provides the perfect opportunity to catch up. I remember my first convention. I had grown up around cattle and was familiar with life on a ranch, so I didn’t expect to get too JESSE WRIGHT squeamish about anything the industry had to offer. But, that year, our booth was directly across from one of those cattle bander castration products. That in itself didn’t bother me — I know the process and the necessity of it. I’d even helped cut calves before. What bothered me was their
presentation. They had a video on a loop of how the product worked, complete with a demonstration. After about the 30th time viewing it, I had to take a walk and consider if I should maybe look for work at a farming publication or something. But I got over it, and I’m glad I did. This industry has been wonderful to work in, and I hope to go to many more conventions before I’m done. For as many conventions as I have attended, I rarely am part of what the whole gathering is actually about. I spend all my time in the trade show area, and there is a whole world of learning going on just in the next room. Our writer, Robert Fears, has been to his share of conventions as well and, in this month’s cover story, he shares some tips to get the most out from the meetings and lectures that go on beyond the trade room floor. If you were to ask me for tips, I would just say that you always should check all the
snack stations first before you commit to a plate because sometimes they have different food at the different stations. Luckily, Fears has some more in-depth advice that he has gathered from some of the industry’s experts. In this issue we also have news from around the ag industry as well as information about upcoming events and sales. Hope you enjoy it and, as always, thanks for reading. ’Til next time,
z For more information about content or advertising, contact Jesse Wright at jesse.wright@theeagle. com.
Deadline to apply nears for EQIP National Resources Conservation Service
TEMPLE — The first funding deadline for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program is March 15, according to the USDANatural Resources Conservation Service in Texas. Applications for NRCS programs are taken year around, but deadlines are announced to rank and fund eligible projects. Producers interested in signing up for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program should submit applications to their local USDA service center or, if already a USDA client, online via Conservation
See DEADLINE, Page 19
TEXAS TOUGH + BRAND BERMUDAGRASS
THE SOUTH’S NUMBER ONE SEEDED FORAGE BERMUDAGRASS East Texas Seed Company is introducing an improved Texas Tough + Brand Bermudagrass blend that will now consist of one-third of each of the following varieties of Bermudagrass: Forage Max Plus, Majestic, and Giant. Forage Max Plus was trialed at Mississippi State University as ETSCITNS1115. Most producers have the notion that blends revert back to Common Bermudagrass. This is misleading because most blends have Common Bermudagrass in them. It is not that the other varieties turn into Common, it’s that Common exists in the blend or in the field and gradually replaces the other varieties. The blend will remain uncoated to provide the most value per dollar and have approximately 300 times more plants per square foot than sprigging. Planting rates are five pounds per acre for overseeding and ten pounds per acre for new establishment. Optimum planting is March through May.
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March 2019 — Issue I
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News LIVESTOCK MARKET REPORT Anderson
Results of the Mid-Tex Livestock Market’s Feb. 14 sale. Head: 650. Steers: 200-300 lbs., $150-$210; 300-400 lbs., $160-$210; 400-500 lbs., $155-$212; 500-600 lbs., $140-$180; 600-700 lbs., $135$160; 700-800 lbs., $120-$140. Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $130$185; 300-400 lbs., $140-$190; 400-500 lbs., $140-$180; 500-600 lbs.,$130-$175; 600-700 lbs.,$110$140; 700-800 lbs.,$100-$130. Slaughter bulls: $65-$85. Slaughter cows: $30-$69. Bred cows: $500-$1,000. Cow/calf pairs: N/A
Brazos
Results of the Brazos Valley Livestock’s Feb. 12 sale. Head: 486. Steers: 200-300 lbs., $175-$210; 300-400 lbs., $170-$209; 400-500 lbs., $160-$206; 500-600 lbs., $145-$176; 600-700 lbs., $130$155; 700-800 lbs., $130-$135. Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $140$170; 300-400 lbs., $145-$167; 400-500 lbs., $140-$163; 500-600 lbs.,$130-$148; 600-700 lbs.,$120$132; 700-800 lbs.,$116-$122. Slaughter bulls: $70-$83.50 Slaughter cows: $38-$64. Bred cows: $650-$925. Cow/calf pairs: $675-$950.
Brenham
Results of the Cattleman’s Brenham Livestock Feb. 8 sale. Head: 530.
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Steers: 200-300 lbs., $135-$200; 300-400 lbs., $130-$202; 400-500 lbs., $128-$192; 500-600 lbs., $123-$158; 600-700 lbs., $111$155; 700-800 lbs., $105-$130. Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $115$184; 300-400 lbs., $120-$173; 400-500 lbs., $118-$193; 500600 lbs., $110-$147; 600-700 lbs.,$100-$129; 700-800 lbs.,$90$115. Slaughter bulls: $52-$82. Slaughter cows: $30-$61. Bred cows: $450-$1,100. Cow/calf pairs: $800-$1,000.
Buffalo
Results of the Buffalo Livestock Commission’s Feb. 9 sale. Head: 558. Steers: 200-300 lbs., $140-$205; 300-400 lbs., $135-$210; 400-500 lbs., $130-207; 500-600 lbs., $125$187; 600-700 lbs., $120-$160; 700-800 lbs., $110-$134. Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $125$185; 300-400 lbs., $120-$210; 400-500 lbs., $110-$177; 500-600 lbs., $95-$155; 600-700 lbs.,$95$134; 700-800 lbs.,$85-$117. Slaughter bulls: $57-$86. Slaughter cows: $15-$63. Bred cows: $650-$1,060. Cow/calf pairs: $1,225
600 lbs., $150-$185; 600-700 lbs., $135-$150; 700-800 lbs., $120-$133. Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $160$207; 300-400 lbs., $158-$177; 400-500 lbs., $146-$185; 500600 lbs., $153-$225; 600-700 lbs., $120-$133; 700-800 lbs., $100-$108 Slaughter bulls: $60-$85. Slaughter cows: $30-$64. Bred cows: $650-$1,050. Cow/calf pairs: $900-$1,050.
Groesbeck
Results of the Groesbeck Auction and Livestock Company’s Feb. 14 sale. Head: 309. Steers: 300-400 lbs., $165$215; 400-500 lbs., $160-$210; 500-600 lbs., $155-$180; 600-700 lbs., $135-$165; Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $165-
$210; 400-500 lbs., $150-$175; 500-600 lbs., $135-$157; 600-700 lbs., $120-$140. Slaughter bulls: $70-$87. Slaughter cows: $30-$72. Bred cows: $800-$1,300. Cow/calf pairs: $1,000-$1,400
Jordan
Results of the Jordan Cattle Auction’s Feb. 14 sale. Head: 2,188. Steers: 200-300 lbs., $190-$220; 300-400 lbs., $185-$224; 400-500 lbs., $165-$212; 500-600 lbs., $155-$186; 600-700 lbs., $140$171; 700-800 lbs., $128-$141. Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $150$177; 300-400 lbs., $150-$174; 400-500 lbs., $140-$176; 500600 lbs., $130-$155; 600-700 lbs., $122-$139; 700-800 lbs., $110-$123. Slaughter bulls: $67-$85.50.
Slaughter cows: $40-$64. Bred cows: $600-$1,225 Cow/calf pairs: $800-$1,800.
Navasota
Results of the Navasota Livestock Commission’s Feb. 9 sale. Head: 716. Steers: 200-300 lbs., $115$200; 300-400 lbs., $115-$198; 400-500 lbs., $115-$191; 500-600 lbs., $100-$182.50; 600-700 lbs., $100-$153. Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $115$210; 300-400 lbs., $115-$172.50; 400-500 lbs., $115-$160; 500-600 lbs., $110-$145; 600-700 lbs., $105-$135. Slaughter bulls: $50-$84. Slaughter cows: $25-$62.50. Bred cows: $400-$975. Cow/calf pairs: N/A — Special to The Post
Caldwell
Results of the Caldwell Livestock Commission’s Feb. 13 sale. Head: 303. Steers: 200-300 lbs., $172$210; 300-400 lbs., $179-$210; 400-500 lbs., $173-$215; 500-
March 2019 — Issue I
The Land & Livestock Post
News Reason for optimism for Texas grain producers By Blair Fannin Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
WACO — Growing demand in developing markets will help fuel optimism for Texas grain producers this growing season, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist. Jason Johnson, AgriLife Extension economist in Stephenville, told producers at the recent Blackland Income Growth Conference that world demand for grain products has been growing steadily. “We’ve been benefiting from growing per capita grain use,” he said. “That growth is coming from the developing markets.” The U.S. corn crop has been plentiful over the past few years, Johnson said, as world production has been dominated by the U.S. and China. “Even with record crops, ending supplies of corn have been
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down,” Johnson said. Harvest averages per acre have been 171 bushels to 178 bushels. U. S . e t h a n o l production has helped with demand and another bright spot has been export demand, Johnson said. Price projections for corn JOHNSON are $3.50-$4.40 per bushel for 2019, Johnson said, with an average price projection of $3.90 a bushel. That’s good news for the cattle industry, whose margins heavily are dependent on the price of grain for feeding out livestock. Feed demand is expected to remain steady overall as other protein sources such as chicken, turkey and pork will continue to need grain to provide steady supplies of retail product to meet both domestic and export market demand. Wheat prices are projected at $5.74 a bushel, the highest price projection since 2015, Johnson said, primarily attributable to good demand, especially in export markets. Clark Neely, AgriLife Extension wheat specialist in College Station, discussed crop outlook for Texas wheat. He said for wheat growers, potential Hessian fly problems could be less of a threat due to wet conditions early on, coupled with delayed fall planting into November or December, reducing the likelihood of fall infestations. “You can expect wet conditions through harvest thanks to El Niño,” Neely said. Neely indicated there will be above average rainfall predicted for the February-March period as well.
The Land & Livestock Post
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March 2019 — Issue I
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News Top 5 essentials of heifer development you need to know By Ryon WalkeR Noble Research Institute
Heifer development should be considered one of the easiest management components of your cow-calf herd. You’re not pushing her for gain, she is not nursing a calf yet, she doesn’t tear up fences and equipment like a herd bull, and you’re just coasting her to a target breeding weight. Heifer development, however, is often one of the more challenging components in any given year. Heifer development is not that complicated as long as you plan for it. Manage heifers separately from the herd, separating pasture resources as well as additional hay and feed resources. What makes developing heifers a challenging decision is the development cost that incurs while keeping her in the herd before she produces a marketable calf.
Photo courtesy of Noble Research Institute Some say the best replacement heifer is one that gets bred early in the breeding season and delivers and mothers a healthy calf, regardless of what that heifer looks like. If you’re breeding a replacement heifer to calve as a 2-year-old, there will be two years of development cost before she produces a calf to market. And in most cases, calves out of firstcalf females do not bring as much as the herd average due to weaning weight difference. In addition, the most stressful time in a replacement heifer’s life is delivering her first calf and her first lactation period, so there sometimes are challenges getting her rebred and keeping her in the herd. So not only is properly developing heifers before the breeding season im-
See HEIFER, Page 7
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March 2019 — Issue I
The Land & Livestock Post
Cattleman’s
News
Brenham Livestock Auction
Special Replacement Female Sale
Photo courtesy of Noble Research Institute Heifer development should be considered one of the easiest management components of your cow-calf herd.
Heifer, from Page 6 portant, managing them after their first breeding season is just as critical. Here are five essential factors to think about when considering developing heifers for your operation.
Develop a plan
This may sound simple, but developing a plan will help you understand what goes into developing and breeding heifers, including the associated costs. Developing a plan will force you to think about how many heifers you plan to develop, what facility and feed resources you have and need ahead of time, your limitations, and how much you are willing to put into it. Structure your plan into different phases: development, breeding and calving. • In the development phase Determine how many heifers you plan to develop. Have in mind how you plan to
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develop them. Inventory your feed resources (pasture, hay, supplementation and minerals) and develop a diet based on targeted average daily gain for a specific number of days. Monitor heifer development and have culling criteria (such as body weight or gain) established to ensure heifers are on track for breeding. In the breeding phase • Determine when your breeding season starts and how long it will last. • Make plans to pull the bull(s) and manage them separately. • Are you only using natural service? If so, do you have enough calving-ease bulls to target one bull per 25 heifers (on average and depending on age of bull)? • Will you use estrous synchronization and artificial insemination (AI)? If so, do you have all the supplies ordered and an AI technician lined up?
See FACTORS, Page 8
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March 2019 — Issue I
Sale Every Friday P.O. Box 1207 Brenham, TX 77834 979-836-3621 office cattlemanbrenhamlivestock.com 979-830-7769 Scottie Schwartz 979-277-4987 Mark Schwartz 979-877-4454 Doug Bass
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News Factors, from Page 7 In the calving phase • Determine whether you have enough forage and supplement resources (forage quality is critical) or if you need to purchase them prior to and following calving. • Identify a calving pasture separate from the mature cow herd. Make sure you have the proper equipment to assist heifers calving and shelter for heifers that have been stressed from calving assistance.
Hire the right female
Not every heifer will make a good replacement heifer. Some say the best replacement heifer is one that gets bred early in the breeding season and delivers and mothers a healthy calf, regardless of what that heifer looks like. We still can use phenotype and genetic pedigree as a selection tool, as long as it is not the first selection criteria. The female you want to hire is a bred
heifer that conceives early in the breeding season. However, to get there we need to make some decisions early on in the hiring process. You need a pool of candidates to start with, based on your job description. Your job description should lay out minimum requirements that the heifer needs to meet before you choose her to go through the development process. These requirements should include: • No freemartins (infertile female born with a twin male) • Minimum body weight • Minimum age • Structural soundness • Not out of terminal sires • Any additional requirements you may have Throughout the development process, you should have checkpoints in place to monitor the performance of your heifers, for example, bodyweight throughout the development process and pelvic area prior to breeding. Finally, after the breeding season, she needs to be pregnant, preferably early
in the breeding season. Then, and only then, should you hire her for the job of a herd cow.
Stay on track for breeding
Regardless of her pedigree or looks, she needs to go into the breeding season cycling to increase her chances of conceiving early during a defined breeding season. There are three factors that affect timing of puberty: breed, age and body weight. In low percentage Bos indicus heifers, puberty typically will occur from 12 to 14 months. Regardless of breed, heifers should weigh close to 65 percent of expected mature body weight at breeding. Reproductive tract scores can be used to determine the puberty status prior to breeding; however, finding someone experienced and available to conduct the exams can be a challenge. If the heifer is old enough, body weight is the key factor to determine if that heifer is on track for breeding. How-
ever, you need to have the capabilities of weighing the heifers to determine if they are on track or not. Some studies have been successful at developing heifers that weigh less than 65 percent of mature body weight at breeding (55 to 58 percent) but only for a natural service breeding program. If estrous synchronization is used in conjunction with artificial insemination at a predetermined time, heifers that reach 65 percent or more of their target body weight at breeding are likely to have a higher conception rate and remain in the herd longer.
Breed early and calve early so she can stay longer
Research is limited, but studies show a strong correlation between heifers conceiving early in the first breeding season and remaining in the herd longer (raising a calf every year). It is hard to swallow the idea of leav-
See BREEDING, Page 9
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March 2019 — Issue I
ď‚Ť
The Land & Livestock Post
News Breeding, from Page 8 ing the bull out with your replacement heifers for only 30 days. If that is unrealistic, you still can maintain a 45-day, 60-day or longer breeding season if you have the capabilities of determining which heifer conceived in the first 30 days. You would then have the opportunity to add value and market heifers that conceived in the second half of the breeding season as bred heifers. The little research out there tells us that conception in the very beginning of the breeding season is impacted by target breeding weight. Heifers that reach 65 percent or more of their expected mature body weight by the start of the breeding season are more likely to get bred early (particularly when estrous synchronization and artifical insemination are used) in the breeding season and remain in the herd longer.
Manage for her future
In an article I wrote on heifer de-
velopment in the March 2018 issue of “Noble News and Views,” I talked about factors during heifer development that could affect their ability to stay in the herd. Let’s take that a step further and discuss managing that heifer after delivering her first calf. Managing a first-calf female for her second breeding season can be more challenging than developing a replacement heifer. If the heifer is not in adequate body condition when she delivers her first calf, it will be difficult for her to resume estrus prior to her second breeding season. Nutrient requirements are much higher for these lactating heifers because they require nutrients not only for maintenance and lactation but for growth. Thus, it is critical that a heifer calves in a body condition score of 6 at least two weeks prior to the rest of the cow herd so she has the same opportunity to conceive early in her second breeding season like she did in her first breeding season.
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The Land & Livestock Post
Rural Communities Conference set April 4-5 By Blair Fannin Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
AUSTIN — Addressing the future needs of rural Texas is the focus of the 2019 Engaging Rural Communities Conference April 4-5 at the Austin Midtown Holiday Inn, 6000 Middle Fiskville Road in Austin. The conference is hosted by the Texas Rural Leadership Program in partnership with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas A&M Public Partnership and Outreach. It will allow for discussion on identifying assets in rural communities and innovative ways to improve the lives of many. “The future of Texas is changing,” said Craig Rotter, Texas Rural Leadership Program executive director. “With it, the potential for the places we love are becoming increasingly more urban.
“Our program brings people together with a commitment to developing stronger rural communities through inclusive leadership. “This conference will bring everyone together for discussions on thoughtful movement into collective action.” Rotter said the conference also will connect rural-focused resources, “widening your definition of 21st century rural leadership and allowing for discussion about what we should be doing to improve our quality of life.” “We want everyone to come hear success stories, gain a greater understanding of the power of the Texas Rural Leadership Program, and remind themselves that it is often a handful of people that lead the way to a bright future.” Early registration is open by visiting bit.ly/2GC49Ht. To learn more, contact Rotter at craig.rotter@ag.tamu.edu or 979-845-2035.
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March 2019 — Issue I
The Land & Livestock Post
News Ranchers Leasing Workshops scheduled across Texas in 2019 By Kay LedBetter Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
AMARILLO — The 2019 schedule for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s popular Ranchers Leasing Workshop programs has been released. “We focus on legal issues related to grazing, hunting and livestock leases, including why leases should be in writing, how to determine the payment structure and rate, and key terms to include,” said Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, AgriLife Extension agricultural law specialist in Amarillo. “Most importantly, in these workshops, we work hard to be really practical, discuss realworld situations, and give advice you can take home and use that day,” Lashmet said. Greg Kaase, AgriLife Extension agricultural economist in College Station, will join Lashmet to present the programs, which have been attended by more than 850 Texans over the past three years. In addition to the discussion about leases, the programs also spend time covering the important topic of landowner liability. “Understanding the law regarding when a landowner or tenant may be liable if someone is injured on the property is so important for landowners,” Lashmet said. “There are a number of steps
landowners can and should be doing proactively to be prepared if an injury does occur.” At each half-day program, attendees will receive a copy of the Ranchers Agricultural Leasing Handbook, as well as a follow-up email with any other resources mentioned during the day. The cost is $50 per person or $80 per couple. Lunch is provided at each event by AgWorkers Insurance. To register for an event, go to agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ Ranchers. The workshop will be hosted on the following dates and locations: • April 9, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. — Nacogdoches Expo Center, 3805 N.W. Stallings Drive, Nacogdoches. • April 24, noon-4:30 p.m. — AgriLife Extension Burnet County office, 607 N. Vandeveer St., No. 100, Burnet. • May 22, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. — Ochiltree County Expo Center, 402 Expo Drive, Perryton. • Aug. 28, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. — Victoria County 4-H Activity Center, 259 Bachelor Drive, Victoria. • Sept. 13, noon-4:30 p.m. — AgriLife Extension Tarrant County office, 200 Taylor St., No. 500, Fort Worth. • Oct. 11, noon-4:30 p.m. — Thomas G. Hildebrand Equine Complex, 3240 F&B Road, College Station. For more information, contact Lashmet at 806-677-5681, Tdowell@tamu.edu, or Kaase at 979458-3348, g-kaase@tamu.edu.
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The Land & Livestock Post
March 2019 — Issue I
11
News
Get the most out of beef industry meetings By RoBeRt FeaRs Special to The Post
R
egional, state and national beef industry meetings normally are held during winter, spring and fall. The 2019 meeting schedule began with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Cattle Industry Convention and Tradeshow held in New Orleans from Jan. 30 through Feb. 1. The next big meeting for Texas and Oklahoma beef cattle producers is the Cattle Raisers Convention March 29-31 in Fort Worth. Other large meetings will be conducted later in the year. Two-day or longer meetings normally require travel, lodging, meals and meeting registration fees, which are expensive. To justify the expenses, an attendee needs to get as much benefit from the meeting as possible and this requires planning. Toward the end of last year, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association hosted a webinar during which Tim Hammerich, founder of AgGrad and host of the “Future of Agriculture” podcast, discussed how to get the most out of beef industry meetings. Information in this article is taken from Hammerich’s presentation.
What should you get out of an industry event?
Before arrangements are made to attend an industry event, ask yourself the following question: “Why am I going?”
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Photo courtesy of Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association
Interacting with agriculture industry experts either one-on-one or in small groups is one of the primary reasons to participate in shows such as the Cattle Raisers Convention March 29-31 in Fort Worth. Determine at least one goal to achieve at the meeting by writing the one thing you want to accomplish. There are seven possible reasons for attending, one of which
might fit your situation. The first reason to consider is to meet new people in the industry such as suppliers, cattle buyers, university extension specialists, ag credit
March 2019 — Issue I
irms, Natural Resources Conservation Service conservationists, or other people
See CONVENTION, Page 13
The Land & Livestock Post
News Convention, from Page 12 who can have an influence on your operation. Another reason to attend is the possibility of re-connecting with old friends. Maybe you haven’t interacted with them for a while and you want to re-kindle the relationship. Professional development is a good reason for attending an industry event. Most beef cattle events have qualified speakers who provide the latest technology in breeding, nutrition, animal health, livestock handling, business management and other pertinent topics. Adoption of some of the presented information may help to become a better producer. Many industry events offer opportunities to find new customers. Maybe you are look-
ing for a new cattle buyer or someone to lease your property for hunting. In addition, existing relationships are often strengthened at these events. If you market a certain type of cattle, an industry meeting is a good place to build or maintain your brand presence. Last but not least, maybe the reason for attending is to have fun. Most large events have dinners, receptions, dances, sight-seeing tours and various types of entertainment that you and your family might enjoy. Some producers use industry events as family vacations. Before attending the next event, outline a people strategy. Who are the 10 most important people to achieving your success and what can you do to deepen those relationships? Ask them what they can do to
help you reach your goals. Yo u may feel, at first, that this is using people to achieve success, but most people are flattered by the question. Develop a network of mentors and influencers. Whether you know the target people or not, arrange meetings prior to attending the event. Do not depend on catching them at the tradeshow where it is extremely hard to get anyone’s undivided attention. If you don’t have contact information for a person on your list, try connecting through social media. Settings for building relationships include breakfast, lunch or dinner; coffee or cocktails; city attractions and tours; sports such as playing golf, shooting skeet or attending a basketball game; outdoor activities such as hiking, fish-
Photo courtesy of Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association
The Cattle Raisers Convention March 29-31 in Fort Worth will have plenty of opportunities for attendees to learn more about the agriculture induustry through demonstrations and seminars. ing or boating; or attending cultural events. Ensure that you and your invitee will enjoy the activity you choose. Before arranging meetings, review the event program to determine the presentations of interest and then schedule meetings around them. Pack appropriate clothing for the event and don’t forget to include a sufficient quantity of business cards. Yo u might want to take small gifts, bearing the ranch name, for the
See INDUSTRY, Page 14
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March 2019 — Issue I
13
News
Photo courtesy of Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association
It isn’t all work and no play at cattle industry meetings.The Cattle Raisers Convention March 29-31 in Fort Worth will have lots of good food and fellowship.
Industry, from Page 13 people you are going to meet.
Get what you give
The more you give to an organization or event, the more you will receive. By becoming part of the event rather than just attending, you meet a lot of people and gain an in-depth knowledge about the event and the industry it represents. A great way to get involved is to volunteer. A big event requires a lot of people to keep it running smoothly and volunteers greatly are appreciated. Volunteer opportunities include working at the registration desk, taking tickets, introducing speakers, serving as time keepers during presentations and distributing written
materials. A great opportunity is to serve as a VIP host. There is no better way to build a rapport with people than picking them up at the airport and serving as their escort while they are at the event. If it is financially feasible, hosting a social activity is a great way to become known in the industry. The activity might involve serving drinks in a hotel suite or cosponsoring a meal or some other activity through the event organizer. A very economical way to volunteer is to post reports of activities on social media to make those who couldn’t attend feel involved. You might want to produce media, such as videos, to share with the public. Often volunteering is as simple as intro-
See LEARN, Page 15
SALE EACH SATURDAY 14
March 2019 — Issue I
The Land & Livestock Post
News
ews n g A t n e rr u c st o em Searching for th ox? b in il a m e r u o y delivered right to st o P k c to s e iv L & nd Sign up for the La er tt le s w e n ic n o tr elec
Photo courtesy of Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association
Meetings such as the Cattle Raisers Convention March 29-31 in Fort Worth are a good way to introduce the next generation to the ag industry.
Learn, from Page 14 ducing people to acquaintances who might help them achieve their goals. You also can offer to give a presentation on a topic of interest to the attendees. When interacting with people at the big events, always ask who else should you talk with concerning the achievement of your goals.
Follow up or fail
If you don’t follow up with your contacts after the event is over, you will lose the value gained at the meeting. Mark a date on your calendar for follow-up to ensure it gets done. Follow-up may be as simple as an email or a handwritten note expressing gratitude for the time spent with them. A telephone call will work as well. If you have a resource pertaining to the idea discussed, send it to them. It will make a good impression because it lets them know you were listening to what they said. More participants are brought
into the discussion by putting a tag on social media about talking with a person on a certain subject during the event. In that way, more information is revealed from people who read the post and respond to it. You might want to send the contact a small gift that is related to your conversation. Introducing them to another person who might help them answer their questions is a good follow-up. A visit to your contact’s operation or business also might be beneficial. It is very easy to attend a threeday industry event and then wonder what you accomplished. Creating a plan before you go can derive benefits and make attendance worthwhile. Do some preplanning before attending the Cattle Raisers Convention this month and see if the preparation doesn’t pay big dividends.
The Land & Livestock Post
To sign up, vis it
March 2019 — Issue I
landandlives tockpost.com 15
News Quail Appreciation Day set for March 21 at Long Acres Ranch By Paul SchattenBerg Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
RICHMOND — Landowners with an interest in quail management, hunters, wildlife enthusiasts and others will learn about one of Texas’ most iconic avian species during the Quail Appreciation Day on March 21 in Richmond, event coordinators said. The event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Long Acres Ranch Education Center, 2335 Williams Way Blvd. It is presented by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Wildlife Association, Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Quail Coalition. Cost is $10 for early registration and $20 at the door. Lunch is included. “At Long Acres Ranch, located southwest of Houston, we will present a full day of programming focused on quail ecology, habitat and management
challenges that includes a mixture of lectures and hands-on activities,” said Dale Rollins, state coordinator for Texas A&M AgriLife’s Reversing the Quail Decline Initiative in San Angelo. “Participants will spend time both inside and outside the classroom.” Rollins said the program will include the demonstration of several techniques used in the Texas Quail Index monitoring program, including call counts, habitat evaluations and dummy nests. The agenda also will cover quail anatomy, predation management and exotic grasses, and includes a bird-dog demonstration. “There will be a guided dissection and other activities to help people think like a quail,” he said. Amanda Goebli, AgriLife Extension associate with the Texas A&M Institute of Natural Resources in College Station, and an event presenter, said the
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo A Quail Appreciation Day will be held March 21 at Long Acres Ranch in Richmond. most recent series of quail appreciation days have been directed at urban populations. “Although participants in these areas are often far removed from quail habitat, many of them are still interested in the birds as wildlife or as a species to manage on their remote properties,” Goebli said. Participants will have the opportunity to meet experts in wildlife and natural resource conservation and ask them questions. They also will get the opportunity to interact with live, tame quail. Space is limited, so attendees are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible. If having difficulties with registration, call TWA headquarters at 210-826-2904.
MARCH Mar. 1 • Express Ranch Angus Bull Sale, Yukon, OK Mar. 1 • Beefmaster Houston Futurity & Classic Sale, Houston, TX Mar. 1 • Houston Magic XIX Beefmaster Sale, Houston, TX Mar. 1 • Mid-Coast International Super Sale, Houston, TX Mar. 2 • Beefmaster Promotion Group International Sale, Houston, TX Mar. 2 • Foundation Angus Alliance Bull & Female Sale, Luling, TX Mar. 2 • W4 Hereford Ranch Spring Production Sale, Morgan, TX Mar. 2 • Genetic Edge Brangus Sale, Houston, TX Mar. 2 • Braford Cattle Sale, Houston, TX Mar. 2 • South Texas Cattle Marketing Replacement Female Sale, Nixon, TX Mar. 6 • Buffalo Livestock Pre-Conditioned Sale, Buffalo, TX Mar. 7 • Jordan Cattle Auction Stocker-Feeder & Premium Weaned Sale, San Saba, TX Mar. 8 • Double Creek Angus Bull Sale, Clifton, TX Mar. 9 • SE TX ICA 24th Annual Commercial Bull & Heifer Sale, Beaumont, TX Mar. 13 • R.A. Brown Ranch Spring Angus Bull Sale, Throckmorton, TX Mar. 14 • Jordan Cattle Auction Special Bull Offering Cattleman’s Kind, San Saba, TX Mar. 16 • Live Oak Beefmaster Breeders Spring Sale, Three Rivers, TX Mar. 21 • Jordan Cattle Auction Special Replacement Female Sale, San Saba, TX
Mar. 23 • Bluebonnett Classic Santa Gertrudis Sale, Hallettsville, TX Mar. 23 • Emmons Ranch Beefmaster Bull Sale, Groesbeck, TX Mar. 28 • Jordan Cattle Auction Special Bull Offering Knox Brothers Bulls Sale, San Saba, TX APRIL Apr. 5-6 • Texas Brangus Breeders Assoc. Annual Convention & Spring Sale, Salado, TX Apr. 6 • Heart of Texas Replacement Female Sale, Groesbeck, TX Apr. 13 • Jordan Cattle Auction Best of the Best Replacement Female Sale, San Saba, TX Apr. 13 • Doguet’s Diamond D Brangus Spring Sale, Poteet, TX Apr. 13 • Collier Farms Beefmaster Advantage Sale, Giddings, TX Apr. 13 • Texas Shorthorn State Sale, West, TX Apr. 18 • Jordan Cattle Auction Special Bull Offering, San Saba, TX Apr. 20 • East Texas/Louisiana Beefmaster Sale, Crockett, TX Apr. 27 • Lone Star Angus Alliance Female Sale, Hallettsville, TX Apr. 27 • Springtime in Texas Beefmaster Sale, Brenham, TX Apr. 27 • Genetrust at Cavender’s Neches River Ranch Brangus Sale, Jacksonville, TX Apr. 28 • Beefmaster National E6 Commercial Female Sale, Columbus, 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 2019 — Issue I
The Land & Livestock Post
News Boll weevil eradication pioneer Charles Allen retires from Texas A&M AgriLife
Special Replacement Female Sale
By SuSan HimeS Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
SAN ANGELO — Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologist Charles Allen retired last week after three decades of service to the agency. Allen, a professor and associate head of Texas A&M’s entomology department is an awardwinning scientist who spent the past 10 years of his career in AgriLife Extension’s District 7, based in San Angelo. “I will miss the people the most; I’ve been so fortunate to work with really good people over the course of my entire career,” Allen said at his recent retirement event in San Angelo. “Everything I’ve ever done has been with a group or a collaborative project. It is so gratifying to have the opportunity to work with fantastic people on big, meaningful projects that ultimately did a lot of good for a lot of people.” These meaningful projects included leading the charge to eradicate the boll weevil. The state of Texas was saved an estimated $3.3 billion in cotton crop damage and revenue loss thanks to the boll weevil eradication efforts of Allen and his team. Every year, those eradication efforts have kept 12 million cumulative acres of cotton from needing to be sprayed in Texas. He also led the team that eradicated the pink bollworm from the continental U.S. The eradication resulted in more than $400 million in net benefits for cotton growers in the southwestern U.S. At his retirement dinner, Allen was feted by friends, family and co-workers — some who had traveled from across the state and nation to celebrate his career. “The advances that I have witnessed (in the cotton industry) in my lifetime are just tremendous,” said AgriLife Extension interim director Parr Rosson, who traveled from College Station. “Many of those advances, in terms of insect control, integrated pest man-
Heart of Texas
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension photo Charles Allen receiving his Superior Service Award in the Distinguished Career category in January. agement, the ability to increase yields and increase profitability to farmers have come about because of the efforts of folks like Dr. Allen.” San Angelo AgriLife Center resident director of research John Walker and district administrator Marty Gibbs also paid tribute to their retiring colleague. “Everyone might know the contributions Charles has made to the industry and the cotton growers, but he’s also made so many contributions to the AgriLife center in San Angelo,” Walker said. “He has been an inspiration for all of us. I’m going to miss his counsel, and we’re all going to miss Charles more than he knows.” “Dr. Charles Allen is one of the most professional, hardworking and dedicated individuals I have ever worked with in AgriLife Extension,” Gibbs said. “He has made tremendous impacts in the lives of farmers and ranchers over the past 38 years that have
Saturday, April 6, 2019 • 12 Noon Groesbeck Auction & Livestock Co., Groesbeck, TX (Located 2 miles east of Groesbeck on Hwy. 164)
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See ALLEN, Page 19
The Land & Livestock Post
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March 2019 — Issue I
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This is a very choice set of replacement cattle cosigned by leading commercial ranches throughout Texas. Cattle will be palpated and sold in uniformly sorted groups to fit any cattleman’s needs.
Sale cattle listings available online Thursday, March 28 at JohnsonCattleMarketing.com Sale managed by
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News Hill Country land stewardship conference set for April in Kerrville By Kay LedBetter Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
KERRVILLE — The Hill Country has its own special needs when it comes to managing livestock and wildlife and incorporating the millions of individuals who come to vacation, hunt and relax in the ranching environments. The sixth annual Hill Country Land Stewardship Conference to be hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service April 25-26 in Kerrville offers a chance for landowners in the region to learn more about addressing issues that arise when ranching and tourism combine, said Larry Redmon, AgriLife Extension program leader in College Station. “We keep coming back and offering speakers on everything from grazing to prescribed fire and legal issues to wildlife management because our clientele in the region say they want to learn more,” Redmon said. The conference will open with on-site registration, check-in and breakfast at 7:30 a.m. April 25 at
the Y.O. Ranch Hotel, 2033 Sidney Baker St. The program will begin at 8:30 a.m. The conference fee is $75 and includes all meals, break refreshments and tour transportation costs. Registration will be available through April 15 at agriliferegister.tamu.edu/BennettTrust or 979-845-2604. Redmon said several speakers will offer insight on some of the less-thought-of aspects of ranching or land ownership. Topics and speakers include: • Managing for Unwanted Plant Species — Robert Lyons, AgriLife Extension range specialist in Uvalde. • Birding in the Hill Country — Maureen Frank, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist in Uvalde. • Top Laws Texas Landowners Need to Know — Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, AgriLife Extension agricultural law specialist in Amarillo. • Using Prescribed Burning on Your Property — Morgan Treadwell, AgriLife Extension
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Lab-grown meat is the focus of beef association awareness campaign Special to The Post
range specialist in San Angelo. • How to Incorporate Exotics — Charly Seale, Exotic Wildlife Association executive director in Kerrville. – Managing Your Whitetail Deer — Redmon. The second day of the conference will be dedicated to tours. Attendees will pick from tours of the Hillingdon Ranch in Kendall County, where legacy management will be discussed, or the Cimarron Ranch in Kerr County, where wildlife management will be the topic. For more information, contact Linda Francis at L-francis@ tamu.edu or an AgriLife Extension agent in the region, or go to agrilife.org/bennetttrust/.
WASHINGTON — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association launched a campaign highlighting critical questions about the production of lab-grown meat. The Fake Meat Facts campaign will shine a spotlight on the many unknowns that the federal government must clarify before finalizing the regulatory framework for these products. “The federal government is moving in the right direction on lab-grown fake meat oversight, but new information raises more questions than answers,” said association President Jennifer Houston. “The lack of scientific consensus surrounding cell-cultured protein products became crystal clear to me when I participated in last year’s joint public meeting.
NCBA will continue to push for increased transparency to ensure consumers know the facts about lab-grown fake meat production.” Last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration announced a framework for regulating lab-grown meat. USDA will have primary oversight of food production and labeling, while the FDA will have oversight of cell collection and cell growth. However, as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association noted at the time, many details still need to be worked out. Additional information about the production, composition, and safety of cell-cultured protein is needed to inform the development of a comprehensive framework that protects consumers.
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March 2019 — Issue I
The Land & Livestock Post
News Allen, from Page 17 shaped the future of agricultural production in this region for many years to come. “Charles is a champion of extension education and has committed his career to building relationships with county extension agents, commodity leaders and agricultural producers across the State of Texas.” In January, Allen received a Superior Service Award in the Distinguished Career category for his 34 years with AgriLife Extension and for his work with the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Program. Other awards for his work include the West Texas Ag Institute’s Innovator award, the Service to Cotton award from the Plains Cotton Growers and the Friends of IPM – Pulling Together Award for the Entomology Team’s work in managing the sugarcane aphid. In addition to his pest eradication work, Allen said that it was in leadership where he was able to do the most good for Texans. Allen supervised as many as 2,200 people during his 38-year
Deadline, from Page 3 Client Gateway. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers. Technical assistance is provided without a fee from NRCS specialists to help landowners and land managers plan and implement conservation practices to help them meet
career. He started his AgriLife Extension career in 1981 in Weslaco. He then went to Fort Stockton where he spent 13 years as a specialist. In 1996, he left to be an extension entomologist at the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. In 2000, Allen returned to AgriLife Extension to serve as program director for the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation and as a professor and extension specialist in Abilene. Allen became the statewide IPM coordinator and associate department head in San Angelo in 2009. Allen’s academic contributions include 19 publications authored or co-authored, 43 Extension publications, 117 articles and three white papers. Over the course of his career, he received $3.1 million in grant funding and managed more than $16 million in state funds. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together. I’ve been blessed to associate with many fine, hard-working people, the salt of the earth, and I will not forget them,” Allen said at the conclusion of his retirement celebration. their land management goals, address natural resource concerns and improve soil, water, plant, animal, air and related resources on agricultural land and non-industrial private forestland. For additional information, go to the NRCS Texas website. Producers interested in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program can contact their local USDA service center or visit the NRCS EQIP web page.
The Land & Livestock Post
It’s time for the “Queen of Cow Country” to shine! We hope you can join us to consider a great offering of ABBA Golden Certified and Certified F1 Females, including F1 Plus females; registered and purebred Brahman, Hereford, and Angus females; and registered Brahman, Hereford, and Angus bulls (fertility and negative trich tested).
March 2019 — Issue I
View more sale information and details at brokentrianglecattle.com.
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News
The coming spring may require a renovation of the land By Vanessa Corriher-olson Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
During the dormant season, we often get eager for warm weather and green pastures so we start thinking about renovation. Renovation is a practice or series of management practices which “restores the vigor” or “makes new again.” In pasture management, renovation refers to improvement of a permanent pasture by changed management. Renovation of bermudagrass pastures may be as simple as soil testing and applying proper fertilization; or, it may be as complex and intensive as destroying the existing sod, preparing a seedbed and sprigging again. Some renovation practices:
• Soil testing and fertilization The first renovation practice should be extensive soil testing and fertilization in accordance with the soil test recommendations. With current cattle value and fertilizer prices now is the time to renovate with fertilization. • Weed control Weeds compete with bermudagrass for water, nutrients and sunlight. Scouting and identifying weeds early is critical in order to match the best method of control and potentially to have effective control. • Prescribed burning Burning during the dormant period will remove excess dead forage, destroy some insects, winter weeds, and weedy grasses. However, burning can be a fire hazard, remove stubble that protects the grass from
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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension photo Soil sampling tools. late freezes and allow potential for more soil erosion. Timing is critical: It must be done after weeds have emerged but before bermudagrass green-up. Waiting until later decreases yields. The potential fire hazard (buildings, hay, forest, etc) can be major liabilities so make sure to contact local authorities (police and fire department) before burning. • Subsoiling, chiseling, discing, plowing Subsoiling and chiseling will eliminate compaction layers (more common in heavier clay soils). More intensive discing or plowing will incorporate organic matter in the soil, incorporate fertilizer and lime, destroy grassy weeds, scatter cut sprigs
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The Land & Livestock Post
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March 2019 — Issue I
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News Soil, from Page 20 and increase soil water penetration. There is limited to no comparative research data to show a bermudagrass production advantage to discing. Any of the above renovation practices should be done during grass dormancy (winter), with care taken to conserve soil moisture, especially in a drought. In Northeast Texas that is typically February-March, however in Southeast Texas that time could be earlier. Keep in mind that any time we disturb the soil, we are potentially promoting the germination of weed seeds, so be prepared for weed control. • Replanting Replanting of a bermudagrass stand should only be considered when inadequate live rhizomes are left (<25 percent stand).
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension photo Sprigging bermudagrass
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension photo A tractor pulling a disc
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March 2019 — Issue I
The Land & Livestock Post
News A rare species of fish found in the Rio Grande in Presidio County By Laura Muntean Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Texas A&M University’s Kevin Conway, Joshuah Perkin and their team have located an extremely rare find within the waters of the Rio Grande along the U.S. and Mexico border. The Conchos shiner, Cyprinella panarcys, a fish species identified for the first time on record in the U.S. in April, was found in the mainstream of the Rio Grande at the confluence with Alamito Creek in Presidio County. The discovery was made by Conway, an associate professor and curator of fishes for the department of wildlife and fisheries sciences Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections at Texas A&M University, and Perkin, an assistant professor of fish ecology for the same department. Further details are revealed in their newly published article in the Biodiversity Data Journal: checklist.pensoft.net/ article/29309/.
Photo by Kevin Conway The Conchos shiner, or Cyprinella panarcys, was found for the first time in U.S. waters. “We found this fish by chance,” Perkin Rio Conchos drainage in Mexico, extendsaid. “We were conducting a survey for a ing from the Rio San Pedro at Meoqui in declining species known as the Rio Grande Chihuahua, Mexico, to the Rio Florido in shiner, Notropis jemezanus, but found Durango, Mexico. It is unique to see the species in other none of that species. In fact, it’s quite remarkable that we could find a species waters. According to Conway, there are never before detected in the U.S. but could two alternative theories that could explain the unexpected discovery of the Conchos not find a single Rio Grande shiner.” Previously, the Conchos shiner was con- shiner in Texas. “Either this species is native to Texas, sidered restricted to the upper parts of the
but its presence has simply gone unnoticed until now, or we were exceptionally lucky and managed to capture a rare vagrant outside of its natural distribution.” Conway and Perkin are excited to return to the survey area. “The discovery of the Conchos shiner in the main stem of the Rio Grande downstream from Presidio, an area that is considered to be relatively well studied, tells us that we still have a lot to learn about the fishes within the Rio Grande drainage,” Conway said. “This system has undergone major changes in recent years, and it is imperative that we learn as much as possible about the system now, specifically the endemic species, so that we can better manage and protect them in the years to come.” Others involved in the discovery were Amanda Pinion, a doctoral student, and Stephanie George, a graduate student, at Texas A&M.
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March 2019 — Issue I
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March 2019 — Issue I
The Land & Livestock Post