Land and Livestock Post

OPTIMUM OPTIONS Several forage choices available for the Blackland Prairies PAGE 12

April 2019 – Issue I

EMINENT DOMAIN

What landowners, lease holders need to know.

PAGE 4

TIME OF THE SEASONS Consider which is better for calving: spring or fall.

PAGE 5

EYE IN THE SKY

Drones used to monitor animal health and crops.

PAGE 11

ARTICHOKE STUDIES

AgriLife researchers look at commercial possibilities.

PAGE 17

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April 2019 — Issue I

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The Land & Livestock Post

S

News From the General Manager

pring is here, and it brings a lot of things with it:wildflowers, butterflies, newborn calves, pollen, allergies. Spring also brings baseball back to the forefront — and I have always loved baseball. I played from the time I was in elementary school up until high school.

I remember the day my baseball career ended.

My freshman year JESSE WRIGHT in high school, I joined the wrestling team.

Through a fluke and some luck, I wound up going to the state tournament that year. The wrestling season itself started in August, and by the time the state tournament was over, it was late February. That is a very long season. The very day I got back to school from the tourna-

ment, there was an announcement that freshman baseball tryouts were that day.

Going into the school year, I had every intention of playing baseball. But after a grueling 7 months, I really wanted a little break from practices.

That decision there was all it took, because, truth be told, I was never a good baseball player. I was always good enough to make a team, but I tended to be on the bottom tier talent-wise. So, I wasn’t exactly the type who could stroll up midway through sophomore or junior year and declare that I was going to play ball. By that time, someone surely would have filled my spot at 10th in the batting order. I didn’t fully realize at the time that was the decision I was making, but I never played baseball again.

Now my son is playing baseball, and I am helping coach. Don’t worry, I’m not one of those dads trying to relive his

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April 2019 — Issue I

glory days through his son, because I never had any glory days — unless you count the time I chewed an entire pack of Big League Chew chewing gum and blew a basketball-sized bubble. My main goal is for him and the other kids to have fun — and not to throw dirt. There is a lot of dirt throwing that goes on.

I don’t know if baseball will be something my kid loves and sticks with. If he does, great. If he doesn’t, then I hope he finds something else that he loves, whether he is good at it or not. But for now, I’m back in baseball and I love it.

Just as life has options, you have options when it comes to forage. (I’m going to say that segue is a fair ball, since it stuck with the baseball theme by coming from out of left field.) In our cover story, we take a look at some of the options for your forage, and the best practices to get the most from your land.

In this issue we also have news from around the ag industry as well as information on 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.

3

News

Agricultural tenants and eminent domain proceeds

By Tiffany Dowell lashmeT Texas A&M Agrilife Extension

I

n Texas, a good deal of agricultural land is leased out to tenants who either farm or raise livestock on the land.

Recently, I’ve received a number of questions from agricultural tenants related to their rights in the event some portion of the leased property is impacted by eminent domain.

They are good LASHMET questions.

A condemning entity, such as a pipeline company, is required to pay just compensation in order to condemn the property needed for the project. Just compensation is defined as the fair market value of the property at the time of the taking.

Oftentimes, however, the pipeline company may not even be aware that a lease agreement exists on a property.

In that instance, the company may negotiate with the landowner, reach an agreement, pay the agreed upon fair market value to the landowner without ever hearing a word about there being a leasehold interest at stake.

This can leave a tenant in an unenviable position of having paid to lease property that is now going to be disturbed due to the construction of a pipeline, and not receiving any portion of the proceeds paid by the pipeline company.

Generally speaking, in order to protect their rights and to be in the best position to obtain any portion of condemnation proceeds, there are a number of steps tenants should take long before condemnation is even an issue.

4

Have a written lease agreement

All lease agreements should be in writing. Period.

I know that this has not historically been the practice in the agricultural industry, but the need for written agreements cannot be overstated. A written lease agreement is the best way to protect the rights of both the landowner and the tenant, and to preserve the relationship between them.

Leases do not have to be overly legalistic or complex, but should address key issues and set forth the responsibilities of each party to the agreement.

Include a condemnation provision

ing everyone on the same page before any type of negotiations begins with a potential condemnor is valuable.

Record lease in county deed records

There is no legal requirement that a lease be recorded in the county deed records in order to be a valid contract. However, recording in the deed records likely is the only way to make the lease enforceable against a third party. This is because in order for a lease agreement to be enforceable against a nonparty, that non-party must have notice of the agreement.

From the tenant’s perspective, it is important to record

lease agreements (or memorandum thereof) in the deed records at the county courthouse.

Doing so puts the world on notice that the lease exists and the tenant has that interest in the property.

Thus, when a pipeline company conducts a title search to determine who it should reach out to in order to negotiate, the existence of the lease agreement will show up. Hopefully, this will cause the pipeline company to reach out not only to the landowner, but to the tenant as well to begin negotiations.

Typically, condemning entities would not finalize an agreement to provide compensation to a particular landowner unless a tenant with a recorded

lease had also signed off on such agreement.

Some people may not want to record their entire lease agreement in the deed records as it is a public record and they may not want the world to know details in a lease such as price charged or stocking rates, for example. Rather than recording the entire lease, a “Memorandum of Lease” could be recorded that simply identifies the property, names the landowner and tenant, and states the duration of the lease agreement.

This “Memorandum of Lease” should be signed by both the landowner and tenant. Typically, the filing and payment of

See TENANTS, Page 10

Given the number of pipeline projects occurring across the Texas, it is a good idea for all agricultural lease agreements to include a condemnation provision. This provision simply addresses what will happen to both the lease agreement and to any proceeds obtained during the condemnation process.

What will happen to the proceeds from the condemnation?

Will they go 100 percent to the landowner, 100 percent to the tenant, or will they be divided somehow?

In the event they will be divided, how will that look? Will the parties agree on a percentage for each? Will the parties state that the proceeds for any crop damage goes to the tenant while all other compensation goes to the tenant?

There is no magic rule or specific formula here, but having an agreed upon plan for the parties to follow can help alleviate headaches and disputes later. Regardless of the term agreed to by the parties, hav-

April 2019 — Issue I

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News

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Consider the economics of spring vs. fall calving season

By Jason Bradley Noble Research Institute

Have you ever stopped and thought about the reasons why you manage your cattle herd the way you do? Can you justify your calving season?

You could calve in the spring and market calves in the fall. Or maybe you calve in the fall and market in the spring. Perhaps you have a continuous calving season throughout the year.

What to consider when picking a calving season

I’m not going to try to convince

you that you should be using one calving season over another.

There are endless things to consider when you are looking at how and when to market your yearling cattle, including: • Nutritional demands.

• Forage availability.

• Seasonality of yearling calf prices.

• Seasonality of feed prices.

• Availability of labor.

In the Southern Great Plains, spring calving seasons are more popular, seconded by fall calving seasons.

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April 2019 — Issue I

If it’s remotely possible, FieldNET can do it™

5

News Calving, from Page 5

factors, including more calves going to the market in the fall due to more spring-calving herds in this part of the country. This increase in supply pushes prices lower.

This causes a trade-off between the two management styles. The higher prices received by the spring yearling calves is offset by the higher management costs for that fall calving herd.

The lower prices received in the fall are made up by having lower

A continuous calving season has been shown to have more issues with management and marketing. Having a group of yearling calves that are larger and uniform in size and color has been shown to increase marketability.

Spring calving season reduces supplementation

In Oklahoma, forage availability and nutrient requirements are among the top factors, outside of yearling cattle and feed prices that influence timing of the calving season.

A cow’s peak nutrition requirement is going to be shortly after that calf is born.

If this is in the fall, there is a good chance that more supplemental feeding will be needed in order for her to provide for the calf and be ready in time for the

Noble Research Instutute photo A heifer with newborn calf. There are a number of things to consider when choosing a calving seaason. next breeding season. This is go- Fall calving season offers ing to increase her annual cost.

However, if she calves in the higher market prices By looking at an indexed price spring, she may need less supplementation with the availability for yearling steers weighing 500 to 600 pounds (shown in the of new forage growing.

While this may seem like an chart), we can see that having a obvious choice, we have to look calf of this size has a higher price in the spring compared to the fall. at the other factors.

This is influenced by multiple

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cow costs with the spring calving herd. This is why it’s important to look at your entire operation and consider the other factors, such as available labor or even the weather in your area.

There are trade-offs between all management decisions you face.

Understanding the seasonality of the cattle markets is just one of the pieces to the much larger puzzle of producing cattle.

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April 2019 — Issue I

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April 2019 — Issue I

7

News April 9 rancher leasing workshop to cover grazing, hunting and livestock agreements

By AdAm Russell Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

NACOGDOCHES — A ranchers-leasing workshop featuring Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service law and economics specialists is set for April 9 in Nacogdoches.

Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, AgriLife Extension agricultural law specialist in Amarillo, and Greg Kaase, AgriLife Extension economist in College Station, will present the program.

The event is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Nacogdoches Exposition and Civic Center, 3805 NW Stallings Drive, and will focus specifically on grazing, hunting and livestock lease agreements, Lashmet said.

Cost is $50 per person or $80 per couple and includes lunch. Registration is required online at agriliferegister.tamu.edu/Ranchers.

The half-day seminar will include a question and answer session with attorneys and economists, Lashmet said.

All attendees will receive a copy of the Ranchers’ Agricultural Leasing Handbook, which contains checklists and sample lease language.

For more information, contact Lashmet at 806-677-5681, Tdowell@tamu.edu, or Kaase at 979458-3348, g-kaase@tamu.edu.

Almost 900 residents have attended ranchers-leasing workshops around the state in the past three years, and it continues to be a highly recommended program,

Tres Palacios Watershed meeting set

PALACIOS — The Texas Water Resources Institute is hosting a meeting April 10 in Palacios to discuss the implementation of Lashmet said.

“Landowners and producers the Tres Palacios Watershed Proin East Texas enter into a wide tection Plan.

The meeting will be held at 1 array of lease agreements, from hay production and grazing cat- p.m. at the Matagorda County tle to hunting,” Lashmet said. Navigation District, 1602 Main St. The institute is part of Texas “It’s important for landowners leasing land and producers who lease land to understand the best way to avoid conflicts is to have a strong agreement in place from the start.

“We cover aspects of land leasing that many people may not be considering, and our collective knowledge on this subject makes this program invaluable to attendees.”

TJS S Hardware

A&M AgriLife Research, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.

Michael Schramm, institute research associate in College Station, said the Tres Palacios Watershed Plan recently was accepted by the U.S. EPA.

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April 2019 — Issue I

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News Speaker lineup announced for Hemphill beef conference

By Kay LedBetter Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

CANADIAN — Temple Grandin, John O’Leary and Burke Teichert will headline the Texas A&M AgriLife Hemphill County Beef Conference April 23-24.

The conference will be in the Jones Pavilion, 1101 N. Sixth St. in Canadian.

Andy Holloway, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agriculture and natural resources agent for Hemphill County, said attendance is expected to reach about 500 this year.

The cost for the two-day conference and tour is $100, and a spouse ticket is $85. Go to www. hemphillcotxbeef.com/ for advance registration. Participants also may call the AgriLife Extension office in Hemphill County at 806-323-9114 or contact Christa Perry at christa.perry@ag.tamu. edu to register or receive additional information.

The two-day event includes 10 speakers, three meals, a cattle-handling presentation and more than 60 agriculture trade vendors. Also, five Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be offered during the two days of presentations.

A Ladies Cultural Tour of Canadian will be from 2-5 p.m. on April 23. Tickets are $30, and preregistration is required with a limit of 45 participants. The bus tour will include the Canadian Cultural District, Citadelle Art Museum, and an artisan chocolate and wine tasting.

O’Leary is a best-selling author and speaker who at the age of 9 was playing with fire and gasoline, created a massive explosion in his home and was burned on 100 percent of his body. He was given 1 percent chance to live. His motivational book, ON FIRE: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically In-

spired Life, was an instant No. 1 national best-seller.

Grandin, a Colorado State University animal science professor, is responsible for designing equipment used to handle about half of all cattle in meat plants in the U.S. and Canada, as well as developing animal welfare GRANDIN guidelines for the meat industry and consulting with companies on animal welfare. She will speak on “StressFree Cattle Handling” and “Cattle Handling Made Easy.”

Teichert, BEEF Magazine columnist and beef consultant from Orem, Utah, has a long background in the cattle industry as a O’LEARY university professor, cattle reproduction specialist and general manager and vice president of AgReserves Inc., or the Deseret Ranches, which was once the largest beef cow/calf operation in the U.S. He will speak on “Systems Approach to Management” and “Profitable Ranching – Is It Possible?”

TEICHERT Craig Cowden, Hemphill County rancher and member of the conference committee, said the whole idea behind this conference is to allow cattlemen across the country to learn and hear about the latest industry updates and advice.

“This industry is changing so much that if you’re not learning, you’re going to be left behind, and you’re not going to be able to be profitable within the business,” Cowden said.

He said the guest speakers will

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talk about the importance of continuously measuring and managing all aspects of the ranching operation.

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure,” Cowden said.

“And so, if we aren’t keeping good records, if we aren’t staying on top of our trends and seeing where we can make improvements, then I think we don’t have a good understanding of what our production is, and we don’t have a base to know where to make improvements.”

On the agenda to help understand how and what to measure and manage are: • Troy Applehans, CattleFax market analyst, Denver, Colorado, “What Do the Numbers Indicate About the Future Beef

Cattle Markets Based on Supply and Demand?”

• David Lalman, Oklahoma State University Harrington Chair and beef cattle specialist, Stillwater, Oklahoma, “Fitting Your Herd Bull EPD’s to Your Ranch and Cowherd, New Research and Important Considerations.”

• Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, AgriLife Extension agricultural law specialist in Amarillo, “Ag Leases, Insurance Liabilities and New Ag Law.” • Cliff Lamb, Texas A&M University animal science department head in College Station, “Using Reproductive Management to Enhance Profitability of Cattle Operations.”

• Colt Keefer, Charolais Inter-

national of America regional manager in Fort Collins, Colorado, “Genetics for Growth and Quality, How Can a Rancher Add Value to His Cowherd?”

• Tim Steffens, AgriLife Extension range specialist in Canyon, “Grass Grazing and Reproduction, How They Work Together.”

• Ron Gill, AgriLife Extension state beef cattle specialist in College Station, and Grandin, “Cattle Handling Made Easy.”

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April 2019 — Issue I

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News

Tenants, from Page 4

actually were paid to the tenant.

filing fees is done by the tenant, but that is up to the parties.

If the ship has sailed

Good communication

For both tenants and landowners, maintaining a good relationship and staying in communication with each other is extremely important. It allows the parties to anticipate any issues and work together to further both of their interests.

For example, in the event a pipeline company were to contact a landowner, it may be beneficial to both parties if the landowner communicates that to the tenant. The landowner may be able to increase the amount of payment due from the pipeline company because of the value of the tenant’s crops or other value that can be argued to exist due to a lease agreement. On the other side, this communication allows the tenant to be involved in the negotiation process to ensure important terms like requiring fencing off livestock when pipeline construction occurs and allows the tenant to seek compensation for his interest in the leased property.

What if all of this information is too little too late, meaning a landowner and pipeline company (or other condemning entity) already reached an agreement and proceeds were paid? Unfortunately, that leaves tenants in a difficult position.

This would leave the tenant to seek to work out something with the landowner or even less likely, the pipeline company.

A landowner may be willing to pay some compensation to the tenant under the circumstances, especially in the event that there was a cash lease agreement involved and there was substantial damage or impairment to the tenant’s rights.

If not, the tenant may be left with the option of considering some legal action against the landowner, like breach of contract for example. Of course, from a practical perspective, filing a lawsuit against your landlord likely is not an attractive option. This is why taking the steps outlined above before an issue ever arises is so important.

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Consider working together in negotiations

It may benefit both the landowner and tenant to work together in negotiations with the pipeline company. By working together and seeking adequate compensation for the interests of both parties, this could result in a larger payment from the condemning entity.

Even if parties work together in the negotiation process, it is advisable for any proceeds paid by the pipeline company be paid directly to each party separately, rather than paid to the landowner, who then would turn around and make payment to the tenant. This will avoid potential tax implications on the landowner for proceeds that

10

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April 2019 — Issue I

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News The Most V ersatile Cow in the Industry Certified E6 & Purebred Beefmaster Replacement Female Sale

Texas A&M AgriLife Research photo Drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras have been buzzing over a research feedlot near Amarillo, as researchers develop test methods to identify feverish animals before they show symptoms of illness, such as eating less feed or infecting other animals.

SUNDAY • 12 NOON APRIL 28, 2019

AgriLife researchers use drones to monitor crops, animal health

By KENNY WILEY kenny.wiley@theeagle.com

Texas A&M University System researchers throughout the state are working with drones, automated cameras and thermal imaging as part of their efforts to lower the usage of antibiotics in livestock and provide consumers with a healthy meat supply.

Brent Auvermann, director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Amarillo, said the use of automated technology such as drones is a continuation of work in precision farming, a type of technology-assisted farming.

Auvermann said that the technology, known as thermography, works in a way that’s similar to technology used by pediatricians to ascertain the temperature of a child.

“If that temperature is above a certain threshold, the pediatrician is going to suspect that the child has some sort of infection,” Auvermann said. “We’re looking for the same kind of thing in animals, and truthfully, in crops as well.

“Veterinarians already use thermal imaging in their clinical practices, for example, to detect

lameness in horses. If the hoof has been damaged, thermography can be used to locate the damage, because the body is naturally trying to send healing biochemicals to that area through the bloodstream.”

Auvermann said that drones have been used in the past to monitor crops to assist with water irrigation, fertilizers and pesticides.

“We are trying to match up what the crops or animals need with what they actually receive,” he said.

Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp praised the ongoing research in a statement, following a late February tour of an A&M research site in Bushland, which is just west of Amarillo.

“Millennials are g etting blamed all the time for destroying industries, but in this case, they are creating one,” Sharp said.

“Demand for antibiotic-free meat and ingenuity from Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists is leading to some very exciting technology and a new segment of precision agriculture.”

According to Auvermann,

See DRONES, Page 16

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11

News

Grazin’ in the grass

Forage options for the Blackland Prairies

By RoBeRt FeaRs Special to The Post

A

large number of Land and Livestock Post readers ranch in the Blackland Prairies Ecoregion, so it is appropriate to discuss introduced forage options suitable for the area. The northern tip of the Texas Blackland Prairies Ecoregion is at the Texas-Oklahoma state line north of Dallas. It extends south along the east side of Interstate 35 to San Antonio. Watersheds and riparian areas of the Brazos and Trinity rivers and their tributaries bisect the area.

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department characterizes the area as having deep fertile black soils for which the ecoregion is named.

These soils once supported tall grass prairies dominated by tall-growing grasses such as big bluestem, little bluestem, Indiangrass and switchgrass. Because of the fertile soils, most of the original prairie has been plowed to produce food and forage crops.

Warm-seasonal perennial grasses

“Warm-season perennial grasses suited to the area include bahiagrass, bermudagrass and dallisgrass. Bahiagrass has several characteristics making it valuable as a pasture forage,” said Vanessa Corriher-Olson of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

“Compared to hybrid bermudag-

12

NRCS photo Grasses native to the Blackland Prairie include big bluestem, little bluestem, indiangrass and switchgrass. Because the land is so fertile, most of the Blackland Prairies have been plowed to produce food and forage crops.

rass, it tends to green up earlier in the spring and remain green longer in the fall. The plant lacks the drought tolerance of bermudagrass on deep sandy soils. Bahiagrass is resistant to weed encroachment due to extremely thick sod and tolerates close, continuous grazing better

than most other grasses. It also produces moderate levels of dry matter on soils of very low fertility. The grass is established from seed.”

Although bahiagrass has many positive characteristics as a pasture grass, the species also has some disadvantages. Because it can persist

April 2019 — Issue I

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under lower fertility environments, bahiagrass can invade bermudagrass pastures. This is usually because fertility is less than optimal for the bermudagrass to prevent invasion. Once present, bahiagrass

See BLACKLAND, Page 13

The Land & Livestock Post

News

Heart of Texas Special Replacement Female Sale

NRCS photo Warm-season annual grasses adapted to the Blackland Prairie are sorghums including sudangrass, forage sorghum and sorghum-sudan hybrids.

Blackland, from Page 12 tends to remain and even become dominant in bermudagrass fields or pastures.

Bahiagrass is recommended only in high rainfall zones east of Interstate 35 in Texas.

“Bermudagrass spreads mainly by rhizomes and stolons,” said Larry Redmon of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. “The grass tolerates a wide range of soil types and soil pH values and is adapted

to most of the southern U.S. “Limited cold tolerance in early common and hybrid cultivars led to the release of several cold-tolerant varieties. This provided useful warm-season perennial grasses for warm-season, cool-season transition areas like Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee.”

Although capable of high yields, bermudagrass re-

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April 2019 — Issue I

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NRCS photo Seeded bermudagrass hybrids include Texas Tough, Cheyenne and Tierra Verde.

quires good fertilization to optimize production. Soil pH values of 6 or greater also are important in maintaining a vigorous stand. Less than optimum bermudagrass growth can invite weed infestation resulting in reduced carrying capacity and increased input costs.

Careful attention to soil fertility, beginning with an annual soil test to determine soil nutrient status is necessary to ensure good bermudagrass growth, disease resistance and cold tolerance.

“Besides providing good nutrition for cattle during the growing season, bermudagrass is extensively harvested as hay for winter and drought feeding programs.

Use of hay, however, is generally an expensive way to winter cattle,” Redmon said.

“The average 1,000-pound round bale of bermudagrass costs the producer more than $60 to $70 to harvest, bale, haul, store and haul again to the feeding area.

14

Non-traditional methods of bermudagrass use can reduce winter feeding costs such as stockpiling for fall and early winter grazing.

Another method is to overseed bermudagrass with cool season annual forages such as small grains, ryegrass and clover to provide late winter and spring grazing.”

Hybrid bermudagrass cultivars that require sprigging for establishment include coastal, Tifton 85, Tifton 44, Jiggs, Alicia, Callie, Coastcross-1, Tifton 78, World Feeder and NK-37. Hybrids that are seeded include Texas Tough, Cheyenne and Tierra Verde. Varieties are often site-specific, therefore check with local count extension agents or Natural Resources Conservation Service staff before making a selection.

Dallisgrass is greater in nutritive value and palatability than bahiagrass and some bermudagrasses.

See GRASSES, Page 15

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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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April 2019 — Issue I

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News Grasses, from Page 14 It initiates growth earlier in the spring and grows later into the fall than most warm-season grasses. The grass retains its nutritive value late into summer. Dallisgrass grows well with bermudagrass, white clover and annual ryegrass and persists under heavy grazing. It is adapted to poorly drained loam and clay soils.

“Disadvantages of dallisgrass are lower dry matter production compared to some bermudagrass varieties, difficulty with establishment and susceptibility to ergot infection. Ergot can be toxic to cattle when infected seedheads are consumed.

Seed availability is often a problem as well,” said Corriher-Olson.

Warm-season annual grasses

Sorghums such as sudangrass, forage sorghum and sorghum-sudan hybrids are popular both for grazing and hay. These grasses have good heat and drought tolerance and are adapted to the heavier clay soils of the Blackland Prairies.

The warm-season annual grasses can accumulate nitrates to toxic levels when drought limits plant growth.

Chances of toxicity is increased in the presence of nitrogen.

Sorghum varieties can also produce toxic levels of prussic acid, which volatilizes out of hay during field curing. Despite toxicity concerns, warm-season annual grasses can provide high nutritive value forages for cattle.

Warm-season legumes

“Cowpeas are annual, vine-type plants with large leaves,” Corriher-Olson said.

“The species is fairly tolerant of drought, low fertility and a wide range of soil pH. “Cowpeas are often used as a warm-season food plot for white-tailed deer to offset the negative effects of summer stress.

“Allowing growing beef animals to have creep access to cowpeas provides enhanced performance during summer when forage nutritive value of other species is typically reduced.

Cowpeas do not cause bloat in ruminants; however, it is not immediately palatable to cattle.”

The annual lespedezas (common and Korean) are tolerant of acid and low phosphorus soils. These species offer forage of high nutritive value during late summer under low-input production systems. Light grazing pressure will generally allow the plants to reseed.

As with cowpeas, growing animals perform well when allowed creep access to lespedeza pastures.

Lablab is a vining, herbaceous tropical legume with high nutritive value for ruminant animals. Useful qualities of lablab include drought tolerance, high palatability, high nutritive value, excellent forage yields and adaptation to diverse environmental conditions.

Cool-season grasses

“Annual ryegrass is a popular forage choice for late winter/early spring grazing,” Redmon said. “It grows

The Land & Livestock Post

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on a wide range of soil types and produces better on wet soils than any other cool-season grass. Annual ryegrass is generally later in maturity, thus extending the grazing season well into spring.”

Soft red winter wheat is an excellent forage crop which has tolerance to wet growing conditions and is adapted to heavy-textured soils.

Oats also provide excellent cool-season pasture for cattle and is a popular food plot planting for white-tailed deer and turkey. These plants have the least cold tolerance of the cereal grains, but grow well on wet soils.

Oats are planted both during late summer/early fall and in late winter/early spring for pasture and hay.

clovers, but are more closely related to alfalfa,” CorriherOlson said. “They are best adapted to alkaline soils.

“Two released varieties

by Texas A&M AgriLife Research include Armadillo burr medic and Devine little burr medic. Armadillo has shown great potential where cold weather is not a concern. Devine is best adapted in the Interstate 35 corridor from south of San Antonio to nearly the Oklahoma border. Devine grows well with most perennial grasses provided they are grazed short in the fall to allow the medic to establish.”

Due to space limitations, the above list of introduced plants suitable for the Black-

land Prairies is not inclusive. Before planting pasture or hay meadow, it is a good idea to check with the county agricultural extension agent or conservationists in the local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for recommendations on which plant varieties are best suited for your ranch environment.

Cool-season legumes

“White and yellow sweetclover can be either annual or biennial and is best adapted to clay or loam soils at near-neutral or higher pH. It is relatively drought tolerant and winter hardy,” Corriher-Olson said.

“Coumarin, an aromatic compound found in sweetclover forage, reduces palatability to cattle until they become accustomed to the bitter taste. Dicoumarol is a toxic substance that develops from coumarin during heating and spoiling of wet sweetclover hay. The substance reduces the bloodclotting ability of animals and may cause their death.

This problem has been solved by the development of low-coumarin sweetclover varieties such as Denta, Polara and Norgold.”

“Annual medics resemble

April 2019 — Issue I

15

News LIVESTOCK MARKET REPORT Brazos Valley

Results of the Brazos Valley Livestock’s March 12 sale.

Head: 581 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $180$210; 300-400 lbs., $170-$205; 400-500 lbs., $160-$185; 500600 lbs., $142-$163; 600-700 lbs., $130-$155; 700-800 lbs., $128-$133.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $160$190; 300-400 lbs., $145-$173; 400-500 lbs., $140-$169; 500600 lbs., $128-$145; 600700 lbs.,$120-$138; 700-800 lbs.,$118-$129.

Slaughter bulls: $71-$83.50 Slaughter cows: $45-$66.

Bred cows: $700-$1,125.

Cow/calf pairs: $850-$1,450.

Brenham

Results of the Brenham Livestock Auction’s March 8 sale.

Head: 824 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $135-$205; 300-400 lbs., $130-$210; 400-500 lbs., $128-$192; 500-600 lbs., $123-$173; 600-700 lbs., $111$160; 700-800 lbs., $105-$138.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $115$230; 300-400 lbs., $120-$205; 400-500 lbs., $118-$162; 500600 lbs., $110-$176; 600-700 lbs.,$100-$139; 700-800 lbs.,$90-

Drones, from Page 11 drones equipped with thermalimaging cameras have helped researchers develop test methods to identify feverish animals before they show symptoms of illness, including when they eat less than other animals.

He said that AgriLife Extension centers throughout the state are

$122.

Slaughter bulls: $35-$72.

Slaughter cows: $50-$90.

Bred cows: $400-$1,250.

Cow/calf pairs: $450-$1,475

Buffalo

Results of the Buffalo Livestock Commission’s March 9 sale.

Head: 859 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $140-$220; 300-400 lbs., $135-$214; 400-500 lbs., $130-$204; 500-600 lbs., $125-$156; 600-700 lbs., $120$156; 700-800 lbs., $110-$138.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $125$184; 300-400 lbs., $120-$200; 400-500 lbs., $110-$166; 500-600 lbs., $95-$155; 600-700 lbs.,$95$146; 700-800 lbs.,$85-$123.

Slaughter bulls: $57-$89.

Slaughter cows: $15-$69.

Bred cows: $750-$1,250.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,150-$1,650

$177; 300-400 lbs., $160-$197; 400-500 lbs., $150-$240; 500600 lbs., $142-$157; 600-700 lbs., $125-$137; 700-800 lbs., $120-$138 Slaughter bulls: $65-$86.

Slaughter cows: $30-$70.

Bred cows: $575-$1,100.

Cow/calf pairs: $760-$1,150.

Groesbeck

Results of the Groesbeck Auction and Livestock Company’s March 14 sale.

Head: 127.

Steers: 300-400 lbs., $165-$210; 400-500 lbs., $140-$197; 500-600 lbs., $130-$175; 600-700 lbs., $125-$161; Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $135$200; 400-500 lbs., $120-$170; 500-600 lbs., $110-$155; 600-700 lbs., $100-$145.

Slaughter bulls: $75-$92.

Slaughter cows: $30-$70.

Bred cows: $800-$1,300.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,100-$1,300

Jordan

Results of the Jordan Cattle Auction’s March 14 sale.

Head: 1,485.

Steers: 200-300 lbs., $170-$215; 300-400 lbs., $170-$200; 400-500 lbs., $150-$178; 500-600 lbs., $150-$175; 600-700 lbs., $150$169; 700-800 lbs., $130-$141.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs.,$150-$166; 300-400 lbs., $150-$164; 400-500 lbs., $145-$169; 500-600 lbs., $138-$155; 600-700 lbs., $128$145; 700-800 lbs., $115-$130.

Slaughter bulls: $75-$89.50.

Slaughter cows: $40-$65.

Bred cows: $800-$1,060 Cow/calf pairs: N/A.

Caldwell

Results of the Navasota Livestock Commission’s March 9 sale.

Head: 1,174.

Steers: 200-300 lbs., $125-$225; 300-400 lbs., $125-$207.50; 400500 lbs., $125-$195; 500-600 lbs., $125-$177.50; 600-700 lbs., $115$162.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs.,$125-$210; 300-400 lbs., $125-$167.50; 400500 lbs., $125-$162.50; 500-600 lbs., $120-$150; 600-700 lbs., $115-$141.

Slaughter bulls: $60-$86.

Slaughter cows: $35-$73.

Bred cows: $400-$900.

Cow/calf pairs: $700-$950.

— Special to The Post

Subscribe to the award-winning

Results of the Caldwell Livestock Commission’s March 13 sale.

Head: 705 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $185-$210; 300-400 lbs., $183-$212; 400-500 lbs., $160-$185; 500-600 lbs., $152-$169; 600-700 lbs., $140$153; 700-800 lbs., $128-$137 Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $170-

involved in precision agriculture.

“Precision agriculture is much bigger than the drone program,” Auvermann said. “Drones are just one tool we’re using. We’re using artificial intelligence, digital video which may or may not be mounted on drones, and transfer data through artificial intelligence to monitor behavior over time.”

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April 2019 — Issue I

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The Land & Livestock Post

News

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AgriLife expands research on artichokes

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By Paul SchattenBerg Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

UVALDE — Researchers at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Uvalde have completed two more studies — both focusing on soil amendments and variety adaptation — related to the viability of organically-grown artichokes as a commercial crop in Texas.

Artichokes are a reasonably low-maintenance crop, requiring about the same growing season and less effort as onions, but with much higher profit potential.

Daniel Leskovar, center director and Texas A&M AgriLife Research vegetable physiologist leading artichoke research efforts, said the facility has been conducting a breadth of artichoke research since 2006.

He said previous center research included most aspects of growing artichokes, from seed and transplant quality and other management practices aimed at increasing crop yield, head quality and nutritional aspects. Studies evaluated different varieties of artichoke in relation to different irrigation regimes and nitrogen fertilization rates,

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Texas A&M AgriLife Research photo The Green Globe Improved was one several globe varieties of artichoke studied in the most recent research. along with water-use efficiency, drought and heat tolerance. “These studies and examples of successful artichoke production in South Texas, the Winter

See RESEARCH, Page 18

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Texas A&M AgriLife Research photo Yahia Othman inspects an initial planting of artichoke varieties in an organic field at the Uvalde center.

Research, from Page 17 Garden area, near Dallas and elsewhere have demonstrated the potential for artichokes as an alternative crop,” he said. “So our most recent studies have been focused on the best methods for organic production, particularly the use of soil amendments to improve artichoke yield and quality on new hybrids producing green and red color heads.”

Leskovar said the first study, “Organic and conventional farming differentially influenced soil respiration, physiology, growth and head quality of artichoke cultivars,” looked at how farming and fertilization affected globe artichokes. This study was co-authored with Yahia Othman, a research associate with AgriLife Research and now an assistant professor at the University of Jordan.

The study, published in the Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, can be found at tinyurl. com/UvaldeArtichokeResearch.

The two-year study assessed how organic and conventional fertilizing systems affected growth, marketable yield, head quality and soil chemical properties of globe artichokes, including Deserto, Lulu, Romolo, Green Globe Improved and Imperial Star cultivars. Fertilizers were

18

applied to both conventional and organic soil through drip irrigation system. In both years, significant differences were found across cultivars and soil type.

“The organic system increased the artichoke head quality indicators of chlorogenic acid by 31 percent and cynarin by 12 percent as compared to the conventional system,” Leskovar said.

“And after two years of soil amendment, organic fertilizer improved soil respiration per carbon dioxide — a key soil health indicator — 20-fold as compared to conventional field chemical fertilizer.”

However, he also noted over the study period artichoke plants grown in conventional fields with conventional fertilization had better plant morphology, physiology and marketable yield than those grown in their organic field during both growing seasons.

“The results of this study suggest organic farming is probably the best system to improve soil and head quality of globe artichoke, but it may not be the best option for farmers when yield is the primary short-term target,” Leskovar said.

A second two-year study he and Othman completed, “Organic soil amendments influence on soil

See STUDY, Page 19

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April 2019 — Issue I

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Study, from Page 18 health, yield and phytochemicals of globe artichoke heads,” was published in Biological Agriculture and Horticulture.

This study assessed the influence of plant- and animal-based soil amendments on different aspects of artichoke production quantity and quality. An abstract of that study and access to the full

paper can be found at tinyurl. com/ArtichokeOrganicAmendments.

“The study investigated four certified organic fertilizers — fish meal, blood meal, alfalfa meal and chicken manure — as experimental treatments,” Leskovar said.

“We assessed and compared

See ARTICHOKES, Page 21

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April 2019 — Issue I

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April 2019 — Issue I

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Artichokes, from Page 19 the soil respiration and organic matter content of soil treated with the alfalfa meal, a plantbased fertilizer, versus the three animal-based fertilizers.”

After two years, soil amended with the alfalfa meal plant-based fertilizer had higher soil respiration and organic matter content than soil amended with the animal-based fertilizers. Additionally, concentrations of phytochemicals in artichoke heads grown in soil amended with alfalfa treatment were higher than in those grown with animal-based fertilizers “The study also showed crop yield from soil treated with chicken manure was higher compared with the alfalfa treatment,” Leskovar noted. “And in the first year of the study, yields from both chicken manure and fish meal treatments were higher than the alfalfa treatment.

APRIL Apr. 6 Apr. 6 Apr. 13 Apr. 13 Apr. 13 Apr. 13 Apr. 18 Apr. 20 Apr. 27 Apr. 27

However, the cost of the alfalfa meal fertilizer was higher than that of the animal-based fertilizers.”

He said taking all factors into account, while plant-based fertilizer can be an ideal option for improving soil and head quality of artichokes, from a financial standpoint, animal-based fertilizers may be an appropriate choice for organic farmers when yield and overall cost are the main concerns.

Leskovar shared the results of these and other studies from the Uvalde center at the X International Symposium on Artichoke, Cardoon and Their Wild Relatives presented by the International Society of Horticultural Science in Orihuela, Spain, last month.

He was a keynote speaker at the symposium, presenting a scientific paper titled “Environment, water and nutrient management review: Analysis, approaches and trends.”

Professor has big plans for dairy sciences

By AdAm Russell Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Sushil Paudyal, assistant professor of dairy science in Texas A&M University’s department of animal science, plans to reinvigorate the dairy program in College Station.

Paudyal hopes to engage students, producers, the U.S. Dairy Education and Training Consortium and industry groups such as the Texas Association of Dairymen in the 90 percent teaching, 10 percent Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service position.

“The plan is to rebuild the dairy course by reaching out to dairy producers around the state and connecting them with students and connecting both producers and students with the the consortium,” he said. “That type

Texas Brangus Breeders Assoc. Annual Convention & Spring Sale, Salado, TX Heart of Texas Replacement Female Sale, Groesbeck, TX Jordan Cattle Auction Best of the Best Replacement Female Sale, San Saba, TX Doguet’s Diamond D Brangus Spring Sale, Poteet, TX Collier Farms Beefmaster Advantage Sale, Giddings, TX Texas Shorthorn State Sale, West, TX Jordan Cattle Auction Special Bull Offering, San Saba, TX East Texas/Louisiana Beefmaster Sale, Crockett, TX Lone Star Angus Alliance Female Sale, Hallettsville, TX Springtime in Texas Beefmaster Sale, Brenham, TX

of engagement can produce wellrounded teaching opportunities and knowledge-sharing that benefits the students and everyone in the industry: the animals, the producers and, ultimately, consumers.”

Aside from classroom discussions and lectures, Paudyal said students also would be engaged in off-campus instruction at dairy locations. As a part of the department’s emphasis on providing high-impact learning experiences, he will be leading dairy challenge activities and the internship program for animal science students.

Paudyal will also be the Texas A&M representative on the steering committee for the dairy consortium, formerly known as the Southern Great Plains Dairy Consortium, a multi-university

organization established in 2008 to meet the educational and training needs of the U.S. dairy industry.

The consortium is a partnership between academia, allied industries and dairy producers whose goal is sustainable dairy farming. He will serve on the steering committee, which includes assisting the six-week student training program that includes bringing visiting professors and students from different universities to the consortium and providing hands-on training on various aspects of dairy science.

Paudyal’s research focuses on using herd- and animal-level data for decision making in dairy farms, as well as utilizing innovative technologies to optimize pro-

See DAIRY, Page 23

Apr. 27 Genetrust at Cavender’s Neches River Ranch Brangus Sale, Jacksonville, TX Apr. 28 Beefmaster National E6 Commercial Female Sale, Columbus, TX MAY May 4 May 4

44 Farms Angus Female Sale, Cameron, TX Jordan Cattle Auction May Replacement Female Sale, San Saba, TX May 4 Genomic Gems Angus Sale, Giddings, TX May 5 Hillhouse Angus Production Sale, Schulenburg, TX May 9 Jordan Cattle Auction Special Stocker & Feeder Sale, San Saba, TX May 11 Mid Coast Santa Gertrudis Sale, Brenham, TX May 11 Queens of the South Replacement Female Sale, Crockett, TX May 18 Hereford Alliance Sale, Clifton, TX

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

The Land & Livestock Post

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April 2019 — Issue I

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To advertise contact: Jesse Wright 979.731.4721 or jesse.wright@theeagle.com SPILLMAN & SONS RANCH Tommy and Ruth Spillman Registered Line One Herefords BULLS FOR SALE Ranch phone- 903-626-5785 Tommy Spillman (cell) 979-331-8660 Ranch located 2 1/2 miles northwest of Jewett, TX on CR 336

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April 2019 — Issue I

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Dairy, from Page 21 duction, health and well-being of dairy cattle.

The dairy industry is poised to benefit from emerging technology that will change the way producers manage and monitor their dairy cows, Paudyal said.

Paudyal and AgriLife Extension dairy specialists are prepared to offer options in various ways, whether in disease detection or applying treatments in ways to help maintain an operation’s profitability.

Paudyal said addressing the economics of the dairy industry will be critical to their success.

Smaller operations are going out of business, and the industry is trending toward larger operations and labor-reducing technology.

“We want to be there for the producers, whether they are large operations or niche market operations,” he said.

Turfgrass specialist studies management of sports fields

“It may be that we help producers diversify to remain in the market or introduce them to technology to reduce their costs, but a big part of our mission will be addressing financial sustainability.”

Paudyal earned a bachelor’s degree in veterinary science and animal husbandry from Tribhuvan University in Nepal. He was a graduate research assistant with Texas A&M AgriLife Research in Amarillo. While in Amarillo, Paudyal earned a master’s degree in animal science from the department of agricultural science at West Texas A&M University. He then earned a doctoral degree at Colorado State University.

Paudyal is a member of the American Dairy Science Association and the American Society of Animal Science, and has received accreditation as a professional animal scientist from the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

DALLAS — The newest state turfgrass specialist for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service aims to inspire sustainable management of safe sports fields and other turfgrass applications.

Chrissie Segars’ office is at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas.

Her focus is coaching field managers on a system of approaches where primary goals are user safety and healthy turfgrass.

Segars’ extension outreach efforts cover aeration, fertilization, irrigation, variety selection, pests, weeds and a wide array of other practices.

“It’s so important to educate about how all these disciplines work together to cultivate safe

playing surfaces and healthy fields,” she said.

Segars cited several field characteristics that determine safety, which are affected by proper management. They include surface hardness and foot traction among others.

The South Carolina native,

in addition to her outreach initiatives, aims to find solutions that support better sports fields across the socioeconomic spectrum.

“My research in Dallas will give me a great opportunity to take the science right to the public and to industry,” she said.

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The Land & Livestock Post

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April 2019 — Issue I

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April 2019 — Issue I

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The Land & Livestock Post