Land and Livestock Post

April April2015 2015——Issue Issue22

Making hay while the sun shines

Growing high-quality hay PAGE 10

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BRYAN, TX 77802 PERMIT # 23

JAMES THOMPSON STEPPING DOWN

JAMES THOMPSON BOOSTING TEXAS CROP

PAGE 4 3

PAGE 9 3

JAMES SICK OF THOMPSON WILD PIGS

JAMES THOMPSON REDEFINING FARMING

PAGE 6 3

PAGE 16 3

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Stiles Farm manager.

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April 2015 — Issue 2

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The Land & Livestock Post

News From the General Manager

R

ecently, I slept wrong and woke up with a terrible pain from my neck to my elbow. I don’t know how this happened, because sleeping is one of the few things I do well. But I somehow managed to mess that up. That entire week was a mixture of Icy Hot, ibuprofen and trying to sleep in weird positions.

Needless to JESSE WRIGHT say, I haven’t slept well. I also don’t think I’ve driven in the left lane all week long — it’s much more comfortable not to have to check my blind spot.

I think I am on the mend though, which is a good thing because there is too much to do this time of year to be stuck puttering in the slow lane. But, I should probably take it easy,

so I won’t be able to help any of you load or stack any hay this spring.

To make up for it, we have our cover story, which is probably a bigger help than I’d be. We look at hay harvesting and offer a few tips on the whys, hows and whats of that springtime process.

We also have some news about feral hogs, as well as info about upcoming classes and workshops.

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

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

Niche marketing can expand cow-calf producer opportunities

By Evan WhitlEy The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

Cattle prices once again were favorable for most cow-calf enterprises throughout the 2014 production year. Yet, it was about this time last year that analysts were warning that our bubble was about to burst and prices would soon “level off” and possibly start to decline.

Their reasoning was based primarily upon consumer sensitivity to red meat prices compared to alternative (poultry and pork) animal protein sources, an export market that offered few expansion opportunities and heifer retention that already was underway.

For the most part, these demand-side prognostications held

true.

Omitted during these discussions was a reduction in supplyside expenditures, most notably corn, keeping cattle prices elevated beyond early projections.

Will 2015 be the year we finally see a softened cattle market? The reality is, no one knows. Yet, we must remind ourselves continually that commodity markets — including cattle — are cyclical and somewhat unpredictable due both to internal and external factors.

A complacent mindset is adopted easily. Therefore, reminding ourselves of a potential market softening often is overlooked when conditions are good — yet this is the best time to plan for the next market bottom.

See NICHE, Page 7

The Land & Livestock Post

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April 2015 — Issue 2

3

News Archie Abrameit retires as manager of Stiles Farm

By Blair Fannin Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

THRALL — As only the second Stiles Farm Foundation manager in its history, Archie Abrameit says he always has viewed the 2,600-acre Stiles Farm as a “validation center” for Blacklands farmers in Central and South Texas.

The farm, owned by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, is located near Thrall, about 40 miles northeast of Austin. After 18 years of helping lead the Stiles Farm to employ such pioneering practices as conservation tillage, Abrameit retired last month.

The farm serves as a research and teaching platform for Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

Ryan Collett, who was AgriLife Extension agent for Hill County, has become the new farm manager.

The Stiles Farm produces a variety of crops: corn, grain sorghum, wheat, oats, cotton and new alternative crops such as sesame. It also runs a cow-calf operation on both improved and native pastureland.

“The Blackland soils here are unique,” Abrameit said. “Some things that might not work in the northeast might work here.

You’ve got to be open-minded and give it a try.

“The Stiles Farm is self-supported through sales of various commodities and livestock. We approach everything we do here as a commercial farmer and rancher seeking a return on investment.

“With new technology we ask ourselves ‘Can I get return from it?’”

Abrameit came to the Stiles Farm in 1997, taking over for longtime manager Calvin Rinn.

Abrameit previously had spent 19 years leading the Luling Foundation farm. He said he always has

4

NEW

!

SUNDAY APRIL 26, 2015 12 NOON

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin

After 18 years as Stiles Farm manager, Archie Abrameit recently retired. enjoyed “growing things and working with animals” while growing up in Goliad County.

He was one of eight children whose parents were children of the Great Depression.

Abrameit said he and his siblings “learned to chop cotton and survive.

“We didn’t have much, but neither did anybody else,” he said.

The family’s conservative values through the years helped mold Abrameit for many things he has approached in life, he said.

Abrameit was active in 4-H and FFA in high school and later went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education at Texas A&M University. He later taught agriculture in the La Grange school district for two years and another five years at Seguin.

Along the way, he worked on his master’s degree at Texas A&M on a fellowship.

When he first took the job at the Stiles Farm, Abrameit identified some key areas that have helped both Texas A&M Agri-

DATE

, 201 IL 26 APR

5

See STILES, Page 5

April 2015 — Issue 2

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Stiles, from Page 4 Life Research and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service educate Blacklands producers. In particular, he identified the need to switch from a stocker cattle operation to a cow-calf program, adding more profit to the farm.

The beginning of several drought years in Texas when he first came on board served as another impetus for the change.

“1998 was a dry year and we saw the opportunity to buy some cows really cheap,” he said.

A 50-cow Angus-Brangus purchase helped form the base herd for the Stiles Farm the next several years.

Drought also shifted focus from the farm’s commercial catfish operation. There was no irrigation to fill the ponds, and the only available water source was from a reservoir. Abrameit said drought depleted much of the water supplies, and good labor became hard to come by. That, coupled with the expansion of commercial fish operations in the Southwest, was another.

Later, conservation tillage became one of the farm’s signa-

ture research and Extension programs that continues to be on the annual field day agenda.

“We looked at the deep tillage operations to control cotton root rot,” Abrameit said. “It was really an intensive activity that took away much-needed soil moisture.

We looked at no-till, strip-till practices and decided we should conduct some long-range studies.

We have that luxury here to see how it compares to a commercial farm.”

The annual field day is also one of the Stiles Farm signature activities. The field day draws as many as 400 producers from across the Blacklands region, Texas and even out-of-state producers.

“We’ve always received good community support for the field day and activities in general here at the farm,” Abrameit said. “The people here recognize this as an agricultural community, and it’s one with a very good school system. It’s a small, community-oriented school system. The teachers are very interested in the students and a lot of kids that have come out of here have done very well in college and vocationally as well.”

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The Land & Livestock Post

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April 2015 — Issue 2

5

News

Feral hogs present disease risk for livestock and people

By Joshua Gaskamp The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

Feral hogs can carry numerous diseases of importance to commercial livestock producers and human health. As the nation’s feral hog population increases, so does the rate of exposure to infected hogs and potential for disease transmission.

Pathogens of most concern to livestock producers include brucellosis and pseudorabies virus.

These pathogens can bring devastating impacts (e.g., decreased production, animal deaths, quarantine) if infections reach commercial livestock operations, resulting in economic burdens to producers.

Private and governmental agencies continually are collecting samples from feral hogs to

USDA APHIS Wildlife Services photo Feral hogs present a risk of disease to livestock and humans.People should exercise caution when handling feral hogs. monitor for various pathogens.

• Pseudorabies (PRV) PRV is a herpesvirus, sometimes referred to as Aujeszky’s disease or mad itch. PRV infects the nervous system of livestock, as well as many species of wildlife. In most species, infection rapidly leads to death with mortality rates approaching 100 percent.

Only pigs are able to survive an acute infection and are the natural reservoir for the virus.

Humans cannot contract PRV. • Brucellosis Brucellosis, also known as Bang’s disease or undulant fe-

See HOGS, Page 7

ver usually is caused by the bacterium Brucella suis in hogs and Brucella abortus in cattle. Feral hogs, however, are capable of contracting and transmitting both pathogens.

Brucellosis is primarily a reproductive tract disease that causes abortions, infertility, inflammation of testicles, reduced milk production and lameness.

Infected hogs are long-term carriers and can infect wildlife, livestock and humans.

• Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) The PRRS virus causes lateterm reproductive failure and post-weaning respiratory disease in hogs. Transmission occurs through pig-to-pig contact, and some strains can aerosolize over short distances.

The virus often is found in sa-

liva, nasal secretions, urine, feces and semen. Indirect transmission can occur through external parasites.

No evidence exists that humans can contract PRRS. • Tularemia Tularemia, also known as rabbit fever, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. In most susceptible mammals, the clinical signs include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, signs of sepsis and possibly death.

Rodents, rabbits, white-tailed deer and feral hogs are capable of contracting and transmitting tularemia. Humans are most often infected by tick bite or through handling an infected animal.

• Q Fever Q fever is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella

burnetii. This organism may be found in hogs, cattle, sheep, goats and other domestic mammals.

An infection results from contact with the milk, urine, feces, vaginal mucus or semen of infected animals.

The disease can be tickborne.

Humans are vulnerable to Q fever and may exhibit flu-like symptoms if infected.

• Plague Yersinia pestis is an anaerobic bacterium that typically is found in rodents. Humans and other mammals that get plague usually have been bitten by a flea carrying the bacterium or by handling an infected animal.

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April 2015 — Issue 2

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Hogs, from Page 6 can cause serious illness or death.

Population monitoring and research in south-central Oklahoma conducted by the Noble Foundation demonstrated the following feral hog exposure rates to these diseases: pseudorabies, 22 percent; brucellosis, 0.7 percent; PRRS, 0.3 percent; tularemia, 20 percent; Q fever, 3.4 percent; plague, 1.4 percent.

The rates reflect the percentages of 283 animals tested with antibodies to these diseases detected in their blood.

Although most of these exposure rates are relatively low, it is important to exercise caution when handling feral hogs. Hunters who bag a few hogs a year never may encounter an infected animal, while trappers may catch enough animals to encounter one

Niche, from Page 3 One such way to minimize the impact of a cyclical low is by taking steps to differentiate your operation from others, particularly those in your geographic area (i.e., your direct competition).

At the surface, this sounds relatively easy — just do the opposite of what your neighbor is doing.

Two very important concepts, especially for cow-calf producers, however, have to be employed to find a successful niche: scalability and market acceptance. In other words, the addition of true long-term value for cow-calf producers depends on implementing management practices that provide positive differentiation and do so at a level that meets logistical needs (i.e., approximately 100 calves weighing 500 pounds).

The average U.S. cow herd is roughly 40 head, so scalability is often the most difficult obstacle to overcome due to the size of an individual producer’s cow herd.

The implementation of management practices such as a defined calving season, purchasing bulls to meet specified objectives, adopting a well-thought-out preventative vaccination program and recognizing the importance of proper animal husbandry can

per month. Hunters and trappers always should wear gloves when handling feral hogs and cover any open cuts, scrapes or other wounds.

Feral hogs can be excellent table fare, but when cooking wild pork for dinner, be sure to raise internal meat temperature to 165 F. Some of the aforementioned diseases are of little concern to human health but are of a great concern to the health of livestock and wildlife. Prohibiting relocation of infected feral hogs to new areas is important for controlling the spread of livestock diseases.

Additionally, the practice of providing small water points or supplemental feed for wildlife or livestock may increase the risk of transmission by concentrating other animals and feral hogs at these sites.

go a long way in meeting both scalability and acceptability requirements, however. These practices are often minimum requirements for participation in any value-added calf marketing program or alliance due to their positive contribution to overall animal performance and meeting consumer preference.

Central to this discussion is the importance of record keeping. If the proper paperwork is not in place, then the benefits of implementing the management practice can’t be realized fully in many marketing programs.

The same information kept and utilized during the managerial decision-making process often is required to meet participation criteria. The demands of export markets as well as heightened consumer awareness have increased the potential benefits for producers to participate in a value-added program. The difficulty arises in finding one that fits your management style and is available in your location.

The decision on whether or not to participate in one of these programs ultimately will determine what information is required to be kept and the required level of scrutiny (e.g., affidavits, certification, etc.).

The Land & Livestock Post

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April 2015 — Issue 2

7

News LIVESTOCK MARKET REPORT Brazos Valley Results of the Brazos Valley Livestock Commission’s March 24 sale: Head: 304 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $350-$450; 300-400 lbs., $290-$430; 400500 lbs., $265-$315; 500-600 lbs., $270-$290; 600-700 lbs., $220-$250; 700-800 lbs., $210-$225.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $280-$345; 300-400 lbs., $275-$320; 400500 lbs., $255-$290; 500-600 lbs., $225-$270; 600-700 lbs., $205-$240; 700-800 lbs., $190-$210.

Slaughter bulls: $130-$152.

Slaughter cows: $90-$128.

Bred cows: $1,650-$2,350.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,800-$2,250.

Buffalo Results of the Buffalo Livestock Exchange’s March 21 sale: Head: 606 Steers: 150-200 lbs., $380-$570; 200-300 lbs., $350-$445; 300400 lbs., $315-$405; 400-500 lbs., $285-$365; 500-600 lbs., $235-$325; 600-700 lbs., $220-$250; 700-800 lbs., $195-$220.

Heifers: 150-200 lbs., $330-$510; 200-300 lbs., $275-$425; 300400 lbs., $245-$335; 400-500 lbs., $225-$340; 500-600 lbs., $215-$320; 600-700 lbs., $195-$240; 700-800 lbs., $165-$225.

Slaughter bulls: $115-$142.

Slaughter cows: $75-$123.

Bred cows: $1,350-$2,800.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,100-$2.625.

Caldwell Results of the Caldwell Livestock Commission’s March 25 sale: Head: 347 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $450-$485; 300-400 lbs., $385-$420; 400500 lbs., $315-$375; 500-600 lbs., $275-$310; 600-700 lbs., $250-$320.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $350-$480; 300-400 lbs., $310-$365; 400500 lbs., $290-$310; 500-600 lbs., $265-$305; 600-700 lbs., $230-$275.

8

Slaughter bulls: $128-$140.

Slaughter cows: $95-$145.

Stocker cows: $1,475-$2,350.

Cow/calf pairs: $2,050-$2,700.

Jordan Results of the Jordan Cattle Auction’s March 19 sale: Steers: 200-300 lbs., $340-$365; 300-400 lbs., $300-$357.50; 400-500 lbs., $285-$337.50; 500-600 lbs., $245-$285; 600-700 lbs., $220-$262.50; 700-800 lbs, $200-$226.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $300-$335; 300-400 lbs., $280-$325; 400500 lbs., $250-$297.50; 500600 lbs., $220-$345; 600-700 lbs., $195-$270; 700-800 lbs., $180-$235.

Slaughter bulls: $134-$146.

Slaughter cows: $100-$123.

Bred cows: $1,350-$3,000.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,925-$4,050.

Milano Results of the Milano Livestock Exchange’s March 24 sale: Steers: 300-400 lbs., $375-$430; 400-500 lbs., $290-$370; 500600 lbs., $260-$287; 600-700 lbs., $212-$255.

Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $320-$405; 400-500 lbs., $261-$320; 500600 lbs., $245-$345; 600-700 lbs., $196-$232.

Slaughter bulls: $138-$143.

Slaughter cows: $85-$130.

Navasota Results of the Navasota Livestock Auction Co.’s March 21 sale: Head: 600 Steers: 150-300 lbs., $225-$570; 300-400 lbs., $225-$425; 400500 lbs., $185-$335; 500-600 lbs., $175-$282.50; 600-700 lbs., $170-$245.

Heifers: 150-300 lbs., $195-$475; 300-400 lbs., $185-$330; 400500 lbs., $185-$272.50; 500600 lbs., $175-$260; 600-700 lbs., $170-$240.

Slaughter bulls: $110-$147.

Slaughter cows: $85-$115.

Stocker cows: $1,300-$2,650.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,500-$2,925.

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April 2015 — Issue 2



The Land & Livestock Post

News

Study may lead to increase in a drought tolerant corn crop

By Kay LedBetter Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Aground-breakingTexasA&M AgriLife Research-led study on corn has identified useful gene variations for yield increases, drought tolerance and aflatoxin resistance that could make a real difference to Texas producers in the years to come.

The study, titled “Genome Wide Association Study for Drought, Aflatoxin Resistance, and Important Agronomic Traits of Maize Hybrids in the SubTropics,” recently was published in PLOS ONE, an international, peer-reviewed, open-access, online publication.

The study included the growing years of 2011, a drought year,

and 2012, and was conducted on dryland and irrigated corn in College Station and in Mississippi, all with similar results, said Seth Murray, an AgriLife Research corn breeder in the soil and crop science department of Texas A&M University at College Station.

Murray said at this time all corn seed available to growers in Texas comes from commercial breeding conducted in the Midwest. As a result, there’s been no significant increase in corn yields in Texas for many years, as reflected in previous publications.

Murray designed this recently published study to see if there was a genetic reason, possibly the

See CORN, Page 17

The Land & Livestock Post

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News

Hay there

How to produce the best hay for your herd

By RoBeRt FeaRs Special to The Post

H

ay production is a valueadded operation for many Texas producers. Not only is it used to feed their own herds when adequate forage isn’t available, but selling the excess hay can be a source of income.

As can be said: There’s hay and then there’s hay. It does a producer little good to grow an inferior quality product.

The value of hay is dependent on its nutrient content and its utility as a feed supplement. Production of poor quality hay usually is not a profitable enterprise. Soil fertility, weather, correct planting procedures, weed management and proper harvesting techniques all play a role in production of good hay.

Harvesting techniques of good hay production include timing, process steps and the importance of plant moisture content.

When to harvest Crude protein content decreases as forage plants mature. Mature plants contain more lignin, which either is indigestible or only slowly digestible.

Lignin provides no energy to the animal.

The bottom line is that forage nutritive value declines as the plant matures.

“Optimum nutritive value and maturity of a forage plant depends on the target animal,” said Vanessa CorriherOlson of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. “Bermudagrass, for example, should be harvested at approximately 15 inches tall if the target animal is a dry, pregnant cow. This height is a good compromise between dry matter yield and nutritive value in the plant at that stage.”

But, she said, “Mature horses, on

10

Cut hay high enough to support plant photosynthesis and to encourage a more rapid recovery from harvest. Modern equipment usually allows height adjustment.

On the cover: Cured forage is raked into windrows that are the width of the take-up header on the baler. the other hand, typically have higher nutrient requirements. For horses, bermudagrass should be harvested seven to 10 days earlier, or at approximately 12 inches in height, to capture a higher level of nutrients. Cool-season grasses should generally be harvested in the early boot stage.”

Hay crops often are harvested when dry matter yield is the highest to get maximum tonnage. More is not better in this case. Since nutritive value of these

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension photos

forages is generally low, animals will need supplements during winter or during droughts. It is usually less expensive to fertilize appropriately and harvest at the correct stage of maturity than it is to purchase supplements. The goal is to harvest hay when yield and nutritive value are balanced for the target animal species and class.

Harvest steps

Harvest steps and equipment can vary

April 2015 — Issue 2

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depending on climate, terrain, type of crop, nutrient requirements and the animal to which it will be fed. The first step in any hay production is the actual cutting of the forage.

Hay mowers are usually of two classes: sickle-bar cutters and disk mowers.

Sickle-bar mowers have long cutting heads with reciprocating teeth, whereas disk mowers have cutting heads with several small rotating cutters.

See HAY, Page 11

The Land & Livestock Post

News Hay, from Page 10 “In the past, it was difficult to adjust cutting height and most mowers left stubble height of two inches or less,” CorriherOlson said. “Cutters today are more adjustable and a higher cut provides more leaf material for photosynthesis and a more rapid recovery from harvest.”

Corriher-Olson said ,“After cutting, hay should remain in the field to dry or field cure. The dried or cured forage is then raked into windrows that are the width of the baler take-up header.

“Sometimes a heavy dew, high relative humidity, or rain will cause windrow to be dry on top but wet underneath. When this happens, a tedder can be used to turn the windrow over to help it dry.

Once moisture content in the windrow has reached the appro-

priate level, the forage is baled into round or square bales.”

Moisture content

“Most forage contains about 70 to 80 percent moisture when it is cut,” said Larry Redmon of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

“Field curing or drying forage as quickly as possible will help preserve its nutritive value, especially the energy portion.

“How quickly forage dries depends on humidity, temperature, wind speed and solar radiation. Hay cures quickly on hot, sunny, windy days with low relative humidity. It cures more slowly when conditions are cool, cloudy or humid.”

As long as forage moisture content is greater than 40 percent, hay will continue to respire or burn up carbohy-

See MOISTURE, Page 12

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The Land & Livestock Post

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April 2015 — Issue 2

11

News Moisture, from Page 11 drates, leaving less energy for livestock.

Harvested forage that is left to be rained on may exceed 40 percent moisture content for an extended period of time and lose substantial energy content due to leaching of certain carbohydrates. Rain also can shatter leaves off harvested forage and reduce both crude protein and energy levels.

It is better to wait for good curing conditions than to take a chance that rain will fall on mowed hay, Redmon said.

“At baling, moisture content of hay for large round bales should not exceed 18 percent and for small square bales, it should not exceed 20 percent,” Redmon said.

“Although experienced producers can estimate moisture content by touch, a moisture

meter provides a more accurate reading. One way to get consistent readings with a moisture meter is to use an 18-inch length of two-inch diameter PVC pipe with a threaded cap on one end. Pack harvested forage into the PVC pipe and then insert the moisture meter into the hay to obtain a reading.

“It is important to pack the tube to the same density each time,” Redmon said. When finished simply unscrew the cap and push the hay out with a wooden dowel. Then replace the cap and you are ready to sample other fields.“ “Temperature of baled hay will increase during the first few weeks after baling,” Corriher-Olson said.

“This increase is called ‘sweating’ or going through a sweat.’ It is mainly caused by

See HEAT, Page 13

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension photo

Mold consumes hay nutrients and makes it less palatable.

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April 2015 — Issue 2

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News Heat, from Page 12

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension photo

microbial activity, though it can include some final plant respiration.

“As the hay dries it loses roughly one percent of dry matter for each percent of moisture.“ “At a moisture content of greater than 20 percent up to 35 percent, mold production becomes a great concern because it consumes nutrients in the hay and reduces its value,” Redmon said.

“Mold also creates heat from respiration and produces toxins that make hay less palatable,” Redmon said. “While mold-related heat up to about 120 degrees Fahrenheit does not damage hay nutritive value, higher temperatures can reduce it.

“Protein breakdown begins at temperatures above 120 degrees F and browning begins at about 140 degrees F. This carmelization can further increase temperature and take forage nearly to the point of combustion. These high temperatures also bind up much of the protein in forage, making it unavailable

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Most beef cattle producers prefer round bales because they require less labor to feed than square bales. to the animal.”

Hay temperatures less than 120 degrees F are considered safe. Monitor hay closely when it is between 120 degrees F and 140 degrees F. Between 140 degrees and 180 degrees, hay is likely spontaneously to combust.

“Hay moisture and temperature are not constant and should be monitored periodically,” Redmon said. “Hay normally reaches its peak temperature from seven to 14 days after baling, but temperature may rise for as long as 30 days.

“If high bale temperatures are observed and you are unsure about what is happening to the bales, store suspect bales outside and away from other dry haystacks. Safety and nutritional considerations make it critical that you bale hay at the appropriate moisture content and exercise other proper harvesting techniques.”

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April 2015 — Issue 2

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April 2015 — Issue 2

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News USDA proposes definition of farming, limiting some subsidies

By MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The USDA is revising its definition of what it means to farm, and some people who receive farm subsidies but don’t do any of the work would receive less government cash.

Congress charged the Agriculture Department last year with creating a new definition for what it means to be “actively engaged” in farming, the criteria to receive some subsidies. USDA proposed March 24 that farms must document that their managers put in 500 hours of substantial management work annually or 25 percent of the time necessary for the success of the farming operation to qualify.

“We want to make sure that farm program payments are going to the farmers and farm families that they are intended to help,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said.

The rules only apply to some farm businesses, however. Congress exempted family owned

entities, which make up some of the country’s largest farms, as part of a provision in the wideranging farm bill that directed USDA to issue the new rules.

USDA said as many as 1,400 operations could lose eligibility under the rules, saving around $50 million over a three-year period.

The rules are in response to concerns that some people were abusing the idea of “actively engaged” to qualify for subsidies.

A report by the Government Accountability Office in 2013 looked at some farms that received hundreds of thousands of subsidies a year and claimed that 11 or more people were engaged actively in the operation. For some operations, unlimited numbers of socalled managers now can receive payments.

Under the new rules, up to three managers per operation could receive subsidies.

Farmers receive roughly $5 billion a year under the activelyengaged requirements. The definition until now has been broad, allowing people to claim vague

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“active personal management” to receive subsidies. People who don’t even visit a farm can receive money, and USDA employees often have a difficult time verifying how engaged an individual is.

The proposed rule still would allow people to claim “active personal management” but defines that as the 500 hours of work or 25 percent of time. To receive payments, managers would have to document that they were directly involved in farm finances, labor management, planting, marketing or other activities directly contributing to the success of the operation.

The rule is focused on farm businesses that are organized as general partnerships, in which multiple members share management, and non-family joint ventures, which are short-term business associations among in-

dividuals or entities.

Farms that organize under those two types of business models can sometimes sidestep farm subsidy limits. The GAO report found that general partnerships and joint ventures received a very high proportion of their subsidies through multiple mem-

bers claiming that they were actively engaged in farming.

Craig Cox of the Environmental Working Group, which has fought farm subsidies for the wealthy, called the rule “a tiny step forward.”

“It doesn’t get at the heart of the problem,” he said.

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April 2015 — Issue 2

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Corn, from Page 9 use of Midwest-temperate rather than sub-tropical genetics, limiting production.

He was joined in his research

by Mike Kolomiets, an AgriLife Research plant pathologist, and Tom Isakeit, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service plant pathologist, both in College Station, along with students Ivan Barrero Farfan, Gerald De La Fuente and Pei-Cheng Huang.

Other researchers who grew the test plots and contributed to the analysis were Marilyn Warburton, Paul Williams and Gary Windham, all U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service researchers at Mississippi State University.

The study was funded by a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative for Plant Breeding and Education grant. Additional support was given by the Texas Corn Producers and Texas A&M AgriLife.

Basically, Murray said, there are 2.4 million acres of corn planted in Texas, with each bag

of seed costing at least $150 and covering more than 2 acres, which equates to well more than $180 million of sales in Texas for corn seed.

“The idea is if it is bred in the best conditions in the Midwest, it should survive in the not-so-good conditions we see here in Texas,” he said. “So we believe the private breeders for the commercial industry are trying to do the best for most producers, just not our producers. There has not been an effort to develop corn that addresses the unique needs of southern locations, especially not in the way they have for the Midwest.”

yield and aflatoxin resistance, ultimately improving everyone’s bottom line” He said in their search for genes or gene variants that improve corn for the southern U.S., most of the best diversity came from Mexico, where wild corn was domesticated, and South America, not the Midwest.

“There’s a lot of benefit to having the tropical material brought up and crossed with temperate material generally sold by commercial companies,” Murray said.

The AgriLife Research study used a diverse corn association mapping panel to identify ge-

said.

“We are finding genes that can benefit temperate corn,” Murray said. “We looked at a number of traits, but the best advantage was found with three genes that improved production by about 15 bushels per acre under both irrigated and dryland conditions.

They seem to work synergistically.”

He said this is only one study, but the results are exciting

enough to follow up on because they were the same over multiple years and in multiple environments. The follow up will concentrate on the three genes.

“We don’t know if they will work in a producer’s corn field yet,” he said. “So we are validating in some new populations this summer and will see if they actually have an effect on yield.

See MARKERS, Page 18

Texas A&M AgriLife Research photo by Li Zhang

Seth Murray, Texas A&M AgriLife Research corn breeder in College Station, looks at corn plants during a field day.

Murray said addressing the needs of the southern locations is not as simple as adding more traits.

“A lot of it will come from identifying and using the right native genetics,” he said. “Growers are smart and will find those companies that are selling adapted hybrids, which will improve both

nomic regions associated with grain yield, aflatoxin resistance and important agronomic traits in southern U.S. environments.

This study also was one of the first in corn to test hybrids, he

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April 2015 — Issue 2

17

News Markers, from Page 17 We’ve already advanced the crosses, made hybrids and the DNA markers have been collected on all of them. This summer we will get our yield data, and we should know if they are real or not.�

Murray said each of the three gene markers have two variants: one good and one bad. In the follow up to this study, he said they will look at other breeding material and select for the markers and screen for anything with bad markers and get rid of that.

Two of the three genes have not been associated with functions previously, so the next scientific step is to figure out what these genes actually do; how they change the biology of the plant, he said. “We have absolutely no idea how it is affecting yield and why, but that is where the science will take us,� Murray said. “We are a lot closer to having a quality outcome. They appear to have effects in both dryland and irrigated conditions, so that is what is so exciting.�

Murray said this research has provided additional guidance for improvement of corn in Texas and other southern states and will enhance Texas A&M AgriLife’s breeding programs.

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

President - Crystal DuprĂŠ .....................................................Ext. 4613 Publisher and Editor- Kelly Brown.........................................Ext. 4656

Processed Meat Technology School set for April 22-24 Special to The Post

The 2015 Aggie Processed Meat Technology School will be held April 22-24 at Texas A&M University in College Station.

Dan Hale, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service meat specialist, said based on input from past participants, the school has been expanded by one day. “Anyone who wants to learn the basic science and art of making processed meat products should attend,� Hale said.

That includes people directly involved in processed meat production, “as well as others in your company, such as quality

Circulation Director - Greg Parker ........................................Ext. 4752

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

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

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

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The Southwest Meat Association, North American Meat Institute and Texas Association of Meat Processors have partnered with the department of animal science at Texas A&M and AgriLife Extension to conduct the school.

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Hale said the school website features a tentative schedule, and more general and registration information can be found at aggiemeatschool.blogspot.com/.

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April 2015 — Issue 2

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April 2015 — Issue 2

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