Land and Livestock Post

May 2018 – Issue II

GETTING ANTSY

Now is the time to deal with those pesky fire ants.

PAGE 3

INTERIM DIRECTOR

Parr Rosson named to head Extension during search.

PAGE 18

WORMING IN

Cotton farmers face increased pressure from bollworms.

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PLANTING FOR DROUGHT Weather forecast may alter summer crop schedule.

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FOWL PLAY Help is available to manage waterfowl habitat on your property PAGE 12

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The Land & Livestock Post

News From the General Manager

M

A “dead” fire ant mound along a fence line in rural East Texas.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Adam Russell

Now is the time to deal with fire ants

By ADAM RUSSELL Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

DALLAS — Dealing with fire ants is no picnic, but getting rid of them can be as easy as Step 1, Step 2, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Ser - vice Serexperts.

Allen Knutson, AgriLife Extension entomologist in Dallas, said spring is a good time to control fire fire ants as this is when they search for food and build m o u n d s, wh i c h makes them easier to locate.

Broadcast baits are the core of AgriLife Extension’s recommended treatment. The method becomes effective as temperatures begin to rise and ants begin to gather forage to feed their new brood, he said. But once hot, dry summer conditions fire set in, fi re ants become less active and mounds become less visible as ants go deeper in search of moisture.

“It’s time now in central and southern Texas to put out baits.

But we encourage homeowners

in north central Texas to wait a few weeks to begin applying baits because of our cooler soil temperatures,” Knutson said.

“It’s a good time to apply baits in spring as they are generally slow acting. It typically takes two to four weeks to see results from using baits containing indoxacarb, spinosad or hydramethylnon.

“Starting as early as possible provides more time to enjoy summ e r fire without fi re ants.”

Knutson said baits with other active ingredients may require two to six months to achieve results, but often require fewer retreatments. So again, starting early has benefits.

Mike Merchant, AgriLife Extension urban entomologist in

The Land & Livestock Post

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Dallas, noted fire ant activity, especially mound construction, is ramping up following the cool spring weather.

“By all evidence, this should be a typical fire ant year, with fire ants becoming more active over the next month or so,” he said.

“Baits are still our best weapon against fire ants, and baiting season in North Texas runs from May to September.

This is the time when fi fire re ants will actively pick up baits a n d bring them to the nest.”

Fire ant mounds often are most visible at this time of year, Merchant said, so now is a good time to treat the biggest and worst mounds with an individual mound t r e a t ment, such as a liquid drench, or some form of granular, non-bait, insecticide or dust.

There inevitably will be small colonies that get overlooked by individual mound treatments, so AgriLife Extension still recom-

y appreciation of waterfowl started at a young age. My brother and I were at the park, feeding the ducks. A giant goose came out and started chasing my brother.

I would have helped, but I was doubled over laughing, so I couldn’t. He ran as fast as he could, but that goose was faster and he got goose-bit, right on his rear. He was fine, of course. In fact it probably took me longer to recover from my laughing fit than it took him to get over his goose attack.

That was probably close to 30 years ago, and the thought of it still makes me smile.

my life, and that was enough to cure me of ducks for the rest of my days.

But, I do appreciate waterfowl and wetlands, and I know there are crazy people out there who like to dress in GORE-TEX, sit in the mud and shoot at those feathered comets streaking across the sky. As far as I’m concerned, if that one goose brought me that much happiness, then I’m all for wetland creatures.

In our cover story we take a look at managing waterfowl and how it can benefit your ranch.

We also have news and information from around the ag industry, as well as the latest upcoming sales and events. Hope you enjoy it, and as always, thanks for reading. ’Til next time,

I’ve never been a duck hunter. They fly too fast, you have to hunt them in the dead of winter, and they are usually next to, or in, the water — unless there is some prairie duck I’ve never heard of. So, if you shoot one, odds are you are going to get wet trying to get it, and then you have to clean it. I’ve cleaned one duck in

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

See ANTS, Page 4

May 2018 — Issue II

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News Ants, from Page 3 mends broadcasting baits for fire ant control over the entire yards once the soil temperatures are warm enough for active fire ant foraging, usually around 70 degrees at 1-inch depth, Merchant said.

AgriLife Extension developed the Two Step method of fire ant control to help consumers make sense of all the products on the market, Merchant said. The TwoStep Program is described in a bulletin that can be found at Merchant’s “Insects in the City” website: agrilife.org/citybugstest/ files/2015/02/L-5070-1.pdf.

“The bulletin targets fire ant control in lawns and the home landscape,” Knutson said. “Where a product can be used,whether a lawn, garden, agricultural production pasture or orchard, is determined by the insecticide label. Users should read the pesticide label to be sure the site they are treating is listed on the product label.”

Products labeled for fire ant con-

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trol are commonly sold as baits or individual mound treatments, Knutson said. A third category includes a few products that are broadcast over the lawn and kill ants by contact.

The first step in the Two-Step Method is application of a fire ant bait to the treatment area, Knutson said. Baits have the advantage in that users don’t have to find each fire ant colony and treat them directly. They also are less costly in terms of time and amount of product needed when treating a large area.

“Fire ant colonies can be difficult to find, especially over a large area,” Knutson said. “With baits, ants pick up the bait and return it to the nest.”

Baits are slow to work, however, Knutson said.

For those fire ant colonies in high traffic areas, such as around a mailbox, that must be controlled quickly, follow Step 2 and treat these mounds individually with a contact insecticide.

“Most products applied directly to the mound kill the colony in 1-2 days,” Knutson said. “If the area has just a few mounds, then it may not be necessary to apply bait. Just go to Step 2.”

Baits do have a limited shelf life, Merchant said. He advises users to discard bait products opened for more than a few months. Users also should make sure products they purchase from stores are not more than two years beyond their production date. If users are not sure of the age of the bait, apply the product around an active fire ant mound. If ants gather the bait and take it underground within a few minutes, it should be fresh and ready to use, he said.

“Many native ant species are beneficial in that they compete for food with fire ants, and some also attack new fire ant queens as they attempt to start a new colony,” Knutson said. “Insecticides for fire ants also kill native ants, thus only use these insecticides if fire ants are present.”

Beef Quality Assurance courses offered in East Texas this month

By AdAm Russell Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

MOUNT PLEASANT — The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will offer two Beef Quality Assurance Training events in East Texas in late May. Both events are free and open to the public and are in collaboration with the Texas Beef Council and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. The events are sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim.

On May 22, a training course will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Priefert Manufacturing Hangar, 409 F.M. 4000 in Mount Pleasant.

On May 23, a training

May 2018 — Issue II

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course will be held from 3:307:30 p.m. at the Hart-Morris Conservation Center, 601 County Road 4812 in Athens.

A free beef lunch or dinner will be served.

Jason Banta, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist in Overton, will be the speaker at both events. Topics will include residue avoidance, vaccine handling, proper injection technique, genetic selection, environmental stewardship and cattle handling and welfare.

“The benefits of attending the training are many, including learning best management practices that ensure production of a safe, wholesome food product,”

See QUALITY, Page 5

The Land & Livestock Post

News Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo

Two Beef Quality Assurance courses in Mount Pleasant and Athens in May will offer instruction regarding production of safe, wholesome, high-quality beef.

Quality, from Page 4

quality.com/ or call 800-242-7820 ext. 192.

For more information, call the AgriLife Extension office in Henderson County at 903-675-6130 for the event in Athens or TSCRA at 800-242-7820 for either event.

Banta said. “Additionally, many of these practices can improve the productivity and profitability of your operation.”

To register, go to texasbeef-

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May 2018 — Issue II

www.circlexbrangus.com 5

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May 2018 — Issue II

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May 2018 — Issue II

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PROVEN MATERNAL

PROVEN EFFICIENCY

PROVEN HETEROSIS

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Beefmaster ranked second, for both steers and heifers, in an

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Steers ADG,DMI = 0.203

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May 2018 — Issue II

Heifers ADG,DMI = 0.096

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Both data, visual aspects of cattle count when making purchases

By Blair Fannin Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

FORT WORTH — When buying female replacement cattle or breeding bulls, it’s important to use data and visual observations to make the best selections, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

Jason Cleere, beef cattle specialist in College Station, gave a series of demonstrations on conformation at the recent Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Convention in Fort Worth , advising the best methods for buying replacements.

“If I look at what the cow looks like visually first and not look at the data, things

like Expected Progeny Differences, or EPDs, birth weight, other evaluations, I may not be making the best choice,” Cleere said. “When it comes to selecting female cattle, I look at the feet and the legs first. You’ve got to start at the ground first.”

Cleere said he wants to choose female cattle that have sound feet and good bone structure.

“Over time, if you have a cow that does not meet good physical criteria, those joints in the hips and shoulders will start to align and she will lose cushion and mobility,” Cleere said. “That’s going to lead to problems down the road.”

This is also the case when choosing breeding bulls,

Cleere said.

“When a bull mounts a cow and comes down, he hits that ground really hard, a bull that’s too straight over time will wear those joints out,” he said. “When we see cows that have structural problems, they usually are thinner. As you go further west, you need to make sure they are structurally sound because they cover a lot of ground out west where there is flat, open territory. They’ve just simply got more ground to cover.”

Bulls make a tremendous influence on the entire calf crop, Cleere said.

“That’s why it’s important to take into consideration all aspects of a bull from both the data and visual composition.”

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin

Jason Cleere,TexasA&MAgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist in College Station,discusses the importance of using both data and visual analysis when purchasing female replacement cattle and breeding bulls at theTexas and Southwestern Cattle RaisersAssociation Convention in FortWorth.

May 18 • 32nd Annual Dr. O.D. Butler Forage Field Day, Franklin, TX May 19 • Emmons Ranch Beefmaster Production Sale, Fairfield, TX May 19 • Genomic Gems Angus Production Sale, Giddings, TX May 19 • Larson’s Running L Ranch Hereford Alliance Sale, Clifton, TX May 19 • Texas Best Brangus Sale, Weimar, TX May 19 • Buzzard Hollow Fleckvieh-Simmental Sale, Granbury, TX May 19 • Top Cut Replacement Female Sale, Navasota, TX May 23 • Buffalo Livestock Pre-Conditioned Calf & Yearling Sale, Buffalo, TX May 25 • Cattleman’s Brenham Livestock Special Replacement Female Sale, Brenham, 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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May 2018 — Issue II

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News LIVESTOCK MARKET REPORT Anderson

Results of the Mid Tex Livestock Commission’s April 26 sale.

Head: 800 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $160-$218; 300-400 lbs., $160-$204; 400500 lbs., $150-$188; 500-600 lbs., $140-$175; 600-700 lbs., $125-$153; 700-800 lbs., $120$148 Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $150-$210; 300-400 lbs., $145-$188; 400500 lbs., $140-$168; 500-600 lbs., $130-$165; 600-700 lbs., $110-$145; 700-800 lbs., $115$132 Slaughter bulls: $60-$91 Slaughter cows: $40-$66 Bred cows: $700-$1,300 Cow/calf pairs: $700-$1,350

Brenham

Results of the Cattleman’s Brenham Livestock Auction’s April 20 sale.

Head: 557 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $185-$222; 300-400 lbs., $150-$192; 400500 lbs., $145-$186; 500-600 lbs., $130-$170; 600-700 lbs., $128-$151; 700-800 lbs., $115$142

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $170-$218; 300-400 lbs., $150-$165; 400500 lbs., $158-$242; 500-600 lbs., $135-$225; 600-700 lbs., $125-$190; 700-800 lbs., $112$178 Slaughter bulls: $68-$86 Slaughter cows: $22-$67 Bred cows: $500-$1,050 Cow/calf pairs: $800-$1,250

Buffalo

Results of the Buffalo Livestock Commission’s April 20 sale.

Head: 1,070 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $160-$215; 300-400 lbs., $155-$190; 400500 lbs., $145-$185; 500-600 lbs., $135-$170; 600-700 lbs., $130-$152; 700-800 lbs., $120$137 Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $140-$205; 300-400 lbs., $135-$175; 400-500 lbs., $125-$167; 500600 lbs., $120-$157; 600-700 lbs.,$115-$140; 700-800 lbs., $105-$129 Slaughter bulls: $65-$110 Slaughter cows: $35-$71 Bred cows: $750-$1,500 Cow/calf pairs: $1,050-$2,050

Caldwell

Results of the Caldwell Livestock Commission’s April 25 sale.

Head: 765 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $180-$215; 300-400 lbs., $172-$190; 400500 lbs., $165-$187; 500-600 lbs., $155-$175; 600-700 lbs., $146-$152; 700-800 lbs., $135$146 Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $171-$185; 300-400 lbs., $166-$195; 400500 lbs., $160-$182; 500-600 lbs., $145-$160; 600-700 lbs., $132-$180; 700-800 lbs., $125$147 Slaughter bulls: $65-$81 Slaughter cows: $45-$65 Bred cows: $675-$1,200 Cow/calf pairs: $1,390-$1,410

Groesbeck

Results of the Groesbeck Auction and Livestock Company’s April 26 sale.

Head: 466 Steers: 300-400 lbs., $175-$200;

400-500 lbs., $168-$190; 500600 lbs., $137-$187; 600-700 lbs., $135-$167 Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $155-$190; 400-500 lbs., $145-$172; 500600 lbs., $135-$160; 600-700 lbs., $125-$145 Slaughter bulls: $80-$90 Slaughter cows: $38-$68 Bred cows: $800-$1,600 Cow/calf pairs: $900-$1,800

Jordan

Results of the Jordan Cattle Auction’s April 26 sale.

Head: 2,373 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $180-$200; 300-400 lbs., $175-$202; 400500 lbs., $165-$192; 500-600 lbs., $150-$179; 600-700 lbs., $138-$156; 700-800 lbs., $125-$146 Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $150$165; 300-400 lbs., $150-$168; 400-500 lbs., $147-$160; 500-600 lbs., $135-$157; 600-700 lbs.,

$125-$137; 700-800 lbs., $115-$130 Slaughter bulls: $72-$88 Slaughter cows: $50-$67 Bred cows: $610-$1,200 Cow/calf pairs: $1,000-$1,600

Navasota

Results of the Navasota Livestock Commission’s April 21 sale.

Head: 1,298 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $115-$230; 300-400 lbs., $115-$195; 400500 lbs., $115-$177.50; 500600 lbs., $110-$173; 600-700 lbs., $110-$157.50 Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $115$215; 300-400 lbs., $115-$176; 400-500 lbs., $115-$168; 500-600 lbs., $110-$157.50; 600-700 lbs., $105-$140 Slaughter bulls: $55-$84 Slaughter cows: $35-$65 Bred cows: $750-$1,175 Cow/calf pairs: $850-$1,325 — Special to The Post

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May 2018 — Issue II

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News

Fowl Weather

Managing waterfowl habitat on private land

By ROBERT FEARS Special to The Post

W

etland improvement can provide many benefi benefits ts including water and wildlife conservation and an added income stream from duck and geese hunting, bird watching and other ecotourism activities. In addition, wetland improvement normally raises property values.

Areas that stay moist for long periods during the year may have potential for duck habitat.

are availTechnical help and funds able to private landowners for developing waterfowl habitat if they have suitable areas. In 1991, Ducks Unlimited, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service partnered to create the Texas Prairie Wetlands Project. The primary goal of this project is to provide habitat for wintering waterfowl that could improve survival rates and body conditions before spring migration.

The Texas Prairie Wetlands Project works with private landowners to restore, enhance and create shallow-water wetlands through a 30-county focus area along the Gulf of Mexico.

Ducks Unlimited has worked to conserve more than 228,000 acres of waterfowl habitat throughout Texas since 1985. Although Ducks Unlimited was organized by a group of hunters, conserOn the cover:Wetland improvement can provide many benefits including water and wildlife conservation and an added income stream from duck and geese hunting, bird watching and other ecotourism activities.

Photo by Beverly Moseley

12

vation is its primary objective and many of its members do not hunt. The biggest concentration of Ducks Unlimited projects is on the Gulf Coast; yet a heavy concentration exists in East Texas and others are scattered across Central and South Texas and the Texas Panhandle.

“We focus on regions that have the greatest need of habitat improvement and offer offer the greatest conservation benefit,” benefit,” said Todd Merendino, manager of conservation programs for Ducks Unlimited. “Over time, our priorities and emphasis may shift due to landscape changes and habitat threats.

“The current focus

is on the Texas Prairie Wetlands Project on the Texas Coast because of water fowl habitat degradation due to land fragmentation and drought.

“During the 1980s we were more active in East Texas because that was where we were needed the most. We don’t do much work in the Texas Panhandle due to the playa lakes providing natural bodies of water with little or no construction requirements. In other areas, construction of levees and flood gates is necessary for managing water levels.”

Wetlands Project projects

“Texas Prairie Wetlands Project projects are partly responsible for com-

munity economic revitalization in areas where incomes were negatively impacted by drought,” said Matt Kaminski, regional biologist with Ducks Unlimited.

“Wetland construction provides

dition to duck and geese hunting provide additional income streams to landowners. Local businesses such as restaurants, motels, and service stations also benefit benefit financially financially from ecotourism and waterfowl hunting.

“Some wetland sites are being used to educate school children as well as adults on wetland ecology and aquatic ecosystems.”

work for contractors and sales for pipe distributors and other types of suppliers. Cost-share money helps pay for drilling water wells and installing pumps.

“In addition to serving as a source of water for duck habitat, these wells allow rice farmers to go back into production. Due to the drought, they have been unable to draw irrigation water from the Colorado and Brazos rivers.

“Rice and waterfowl are very compatible since both require shallow water, and grain residue from harvesting provides a food source.”

Beef producers also benefit, benefit, because wetlands can provide additional water for their livestock. Since waterfowl habitat is required only during the fall, winter and early spring, wetlands can be drained and used for pasture in the late spring and summer. Residual water stored in the soil improves grass production for grazing.

“New enterprises, such as bird watching and photography, have been initiated due to wetland development,” Kaminski said. “These ecotourism activities in ad-

Getting help

May 2018 — Issue II

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“For a landowner interested in developing habitat for ducks and other waterfowl, the fi rst step is to contact a memfirst ber agency of Texas Prairie Wetlands Project,” said Kevin Hartke, waterfowl and wetland habitat specialist with Texas Parks and Wildlife. “A biologist will schedule a site visit with the landowner to assess the potential for a project.

“If a viable project meets program guidelines, a wetland development agreement will be drafted. The agreement, project design, and cost estimates are returned to the landowner for his or her review and signature. Projects may be combined with USDA conservation programs.”

Important funding considerations are landowner contributions of cash and in-kind, as well as the overall habitat benefit-to-cost ratio. Project size should be a minimum of 20 acres of surface water or a combination of smaller sites that equal at least 20 acres.

See Fowl, Page 13

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News

s urrent Ag new c st o m e th r fo Searching il inbox? a m e r u o y to t h delivered rig ck Post to s e iv L & d n a L e Sign up for th letter electronic news

To sign up, vis it Photo by Beverly Moseley

Since waterfowl habitat is only required during the fall,winter and early spring,wetlands can be drained and used for pasture in the late spring and summer.

Fowl, from Page 12 “Sites less than 20 acres are evaluated on a case by case basis. “Projects include management of harvested croplands, waterfowl food plots, moist soil areas, forested wetlands, and other created or natural existing wetlands to increase biodiversity for waterfowl and other wetland dependent species. “Landowner cooperators may receive up to 65 percent cost

share based on the number of acres of the project site and the cost per acre,� Merendino said. “The cooperator is responsible for at least 35 percent of improvement costs. Financial costshare assistance is available for habitat enhancement, levee construction, and the installation of water control structures and delivery systems. Technical biological and engineering assistance plus a detailed aquatic

See HABITAT, Page 14

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May 2018 — Issue II

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News Habitat, from Page 13 wildlife management plan are also provided to cooperating landowners.”

“The landowner is responsible for routine operation and maintenance of the project site,” Parks and Wildlife’s Hartke said. “It is required that the landowner grant project access to a field representative for monitoring purposes. Operations and maintenance primarily involve water level and aquatic vegetation.

“During an average year, 10 to 18 inches of surface water from precipitation, run-off wells, or irrigation provider must be present on an average of four months between Sept. 1 and April 30. Water also may be maintained on the project site during spring and summer if it is compatible with agricultural, wildlife, and other land use

“A basic goal of managing habitat for waterfowl is to provide food (seed-bearing plants) and open water for birds to land,” Hartke said. “Left undisturbed, aquatic plant communities become less favorable for waterfowl due to species changes.

“Seed-bearing plants are replaced by those that are mostly vegetative and produce little

Photo by Beverly Moseley

Technical help and funds are available to private landowners for developing waterfowl habitat if they have suitable areas. practices.

“Some landowners farm or graze cattle on wetland areas

or no seed. The invasive plants may encroach upon open water, restricting ducks and geese access to the wetlands.

“About every three to four years, water should be drained from shallow wetland impoundments and the amount of vegetation reduced. Roller chopping and disking are acceptable veg-

See WATER, Page 15

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May 2018 — Issue II

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Water, from Page 14 etation management practices that encourage growth of desirable plants.”

Northeast Texas

Kenneth Braddock, manager of the Rosewood Ranch in Ennis, continually studies opportunities to further diversify using resources that nature provides. The Ennis ranch is one of five owned by a subsidiary of The Rosewood Corp., which is a Dallas-based company owned by the Caroline Hunt Trust Estate. Braddock has managed the ranch with a holistic approach for more than 20 years.

A portion of the Ennis ranch consists of flat land — “bottoms” — surrounded by long sloping hills. During periods of extended rain, the flat land acts as a basin catching excess water that isn’t captured by the continuous grass cover on the hillsides.

“When I came to the ranch, the bottoms were extensively farmed,” Braddock said. “Farming these areas presented a challenge since the soil was often saturated when a crop needed to be planted or harvested. The late Bunker Sands (1948-2003) felt that the flat ground was actually wetlands and should be managed in that manner. Sands at that time was executive director of The Rosewood Corp. After Sands discussed his idea with me, I agreed to work with him on wetland development.”

Two thousand acres of wetlands was established using a levee system, with outlets to regulate water levels. Flow gates are used to move water from one diked area to another. Flooded areas serve as duck habitat and when dry, they are grazed by the ranch cattle. Periodically, areas are burned to create bare spots where ducks can land and to release seed-bearing plants.

Some of the wetlands were

Photo by Beverly Moseley

A basic goal of managing habitat for waterfowl is to provide food (seed-bearing plants) and open water for birds to land. left in hardwoods to create habitat for wood ducks and mallards, whereas the open wetlands attract diver and paddle ducks. The wooded wetlands contain water when the trees are dormant. These areas are drained when the trees start budding, because woody plants cannot tolerate standing water while they are in a growth stage. All the wetlands are leased to a duck hunters club with rights reserved for use by the Rosewood family. The created diversity in the wetlands provides a large variety of ducks to hunt.

Bryan Glass, owner of Redleg Outfitters established a 38-acre and a 79-acre wetland on the Glass Ranch near Paris using cost-share money from the Natural Resources Conservation Service Wetlands Restoration Program. In addition to the wetlands, the ranch has several large lakes, small ponds and bottomland areas that support large amounts of puddle ducks and divers. These sites are well managed and are used by Redleg Outfitters to provide successful duck hunts.

Wetland restoration creates habitat for ducks, geese and other waterfowl; conserves and provides water for other uses; contributes financially to local economies; and increases value of marginal land.

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News

Some advantages to early weaning for the beef herd

By Glenn Selk Oklahoma State University

This article could probably be titled “What to Do If All Else Fails.”

Certainly, no one ever plans to find himself or herself in a drought and/or wildfire, short of forage, and with a group of cows too thin to breed. It does happen, however, and early weaning of calves at 6 to 8 weeks old is an effective way to get high rebreeding rates, even in very thin cows.

Although early weaning certainly is not advocated for all producers all of the time, it can provide an attractive alternative in certain situations such as drought, when large amounts of purchased forage would be necessary to maintain a cow herd through to normal weaning time or when cows are already too thin to rebreed.

Studies at Oklahoma State University show that earlyweaned calves can be efficiently raised to a normal weaning weight with minimal labor and facilities.

The procedure used at OSU is outlined here.

Why early weaning works

Lactation roughly doubles the daily energy and protein requirement for a typical beef cow.

Removing the calf at six to eight weeks into lactation obviously reduces the quantity and quality of forage needed to maintain the cow herd. Reasons for improved rebreeding after early weaning involve more than nutrition, however. Research has shown that the removal of the nursing calf and therefore the removal of stimuli of the nerves in the udder causes hormonal changes in the cows that allow estrus cycles to begin.

Estrus activity can then be induced in cows too thin to cycle while still suckling a calf. Pro-

16

ducers who use artificial insemination will observe that many “early-weaned” cows will “short cycle” and show heats about 10 to 12 days apart after the first estrus. Subsequent heat cycles usually are normal.

Therefore, breeding on the first heat after early weaning is discouraged.

Age for early weaning

In order to maintain a 365-day calving interval, calves should be early weaned at less than 80 days old. About 40 days old may be a practical minimum for early weaning in beef herds. Calves at least 40 days old do not require milk replacers in the ration and are old enough to eat dry feed.

Since smaller and younger calves may have difficulty competing for feed and water, the age range in any given group of early-weaned calves should be kept as narrow as possible.

early weaning anyway because immunity will be established by weaning time and calves will not be subjected to the added stress associated with vaccines, injections and handling at weaning time.

All calves not intended for breeding replacements or destined to “all-natural” programs could be implanted.

Calves first should be placed in a small pen with some type of shelter available. Small pens are preferred over larger lots because large lots or traps encourage fence walking and make it more difficult for calves to find feed and water. The feed bunk and water source need to be accessible and easily recognizable.

Previously, the Oklahoma State University early weaning program utilized three weaning

rations starting with a high concentrate ration for the first few days when feed intake is very low.

More research has shown that performance is better when a single ration is used throughout.

This also makes management of the program much easier.

Example rations for early weaned calves can be found in the Oklahoma State University Fact Sheet ANSI-3031, “Nutrition and Management Considerations for Preconditioning Home Raised Beef Calves.”

Look specifically at Table 3 in this fact sheet.

Expect improvements in cow performance

Early weaning increased conception rates of very thin first-

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Managing the early weaned calf

The procedures described in this section were developed from three studies conducted at the Range Cow Research Center at Oklahoma State University.

Two studies were conducted with spring-born calves early weaned in April and May while the third study involved fall-born calves early weaned in December.

The most critical time is the first two weeks after early weaning. Calves must overcome the stress of weaning and learn to eat feed very quickly. With good management to reduce stress and to provide palatable feed, however, early weaning is not as risky as first might be feared.

At the time of early weaning, all calves should be vaccinated for blackleg and malignant edema. Consult your veterinarian for other suggested vaccinations. It is probably a good idea to vaccinate two weeks prior to

calf heifers from 59 percent to 97 percent and shortened the days to first estrus by 17 days. The mature cows were judged to be in moderate condition.

All the early weaned mature cows rebred; while only 83 percent of the cows that raised calves rebred. Many of the cows cycled within three days of early weaning, indicating that extra bull power may be needed for a few days following early weaning.

As mentioned in the first paragraph, early weaning is not for everybody. Those herds that have been affected by drought and wildfires, however, may benefit by allowing thin, but otherwise healthy young cows to re-cycle and re-breed for next year’s calf crop.

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May 2018 — Issue II

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News Rosson appointed Texas A&M AgriLife Extension interim director

By Blair Fannin Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Parr Rosson was appointed interim director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents during its April 19 meeting at Prairie View A&M University.

Rosson is head of the department of agricultural economics at Texas A&M University in College Station and an AgriLife Extension economist.

“We are pleased to have Dr. Rosson leading AgriLife Extension, furthering the agency’s education programming to consumers, agricultural producers and extending our outreach with industry stakeholders across Texas,” said Patrick Stover, vice chancellor of agriculture and life sciences at Texas A&M.

Stover said a national search will begin for an agency director.

The interim appointment follows the stepping down of former agency director Doug Steele, who accepted a position as director of International Outreach and Education with the Norman E. Borlaug Institute ROSSON for International Agriculture at Texas A&M. Rosson has an extensive background in AgriLife Extension, serving as an agency economist and previously as director of the Center for North American Studies at Texas A&M for more than two decades focusing on international trade and marketing.

“I’d like to thank the Board of Regents, Chancellor John Sharp

and Vice Chancellor Stover for the opportunity to serve in this key role,” Rosson said.

As head of agricultural economics, Rosson leads more than 150 faculty and staff offering degrees in agribusiness and minors in sales, entrepreneurship and personal financial planning.

Rosson’s most recent AgriLife Extension programming efforts have focused on exporting agricultural products to Cuba and other emerging markets, as well as the economic impacts of immigrant labor and invasive species. Much of this work has been provided to U.S. Congressional committees, state officials, commodity associations and farm organization leadership.

His applied research efforts are directed to support his AgriLife Extension programs. Rosson also has taught upper-level

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He also co-authored a textbook, An Introduction to Agricultural Economics. The book is in its fifth edition.

Rosson holds a bachelor’s degree in agronomy, plus master’s and doctoral degrees in agricultural economics, all from Texas A&M.

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News Experts: Cotton farmers may face increased bollworm pressure

By Steve ByrnS Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Cotton farmers across the state could face a growing bollworm problem this season, said David Kerns, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologist and statewide integrated pest management coordinator in College Station.

For 15 years Bt transgenic cotton varieties have done a good job preventing bollworm damage across much of the U.S. cotton belt, but things are changing and not for the good, Kerns said.

Over the past few years, Kerns said, there have been increasing numbers of instances where cot-

ton bollworms were largely unaffected by genetically altered Bt cottons meant to stop them.

“It kind of comes and goes with the first instances noticed in 2010,” he said. “But these outbreaks have gotten progressively worse, with last season being the worst we’ve seen.”

To address the problem, Kerns now heads a research project with the Cotton Technology Stewardship Committee, a group of seed companies with vested interests in cotton.

The project involves collecting

See BOLLWORM, Page 21

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo courtesy David Kerns

Bollworm in cotton boll. Farmers across Texas are facing a growing bollworm problem.

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May 2018 — Issue II

19

News Critical Texas drought forecast may alter summer crop planting

By Kay LedBetter Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Kay Ledbetter

Subsoil moisture is only about 4-6 inches below the surface in fields where residue was left standing.

AMARILLO — The Texas High Plains is under extreme drought and if current conditions continue, producers need to make important decisions for summer crops, said Jourdan Bell, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agronomist in Amarillo.

“The current U.S. Drought Monitor is reporting we are in a Stage 4 drought,” Bell said.

“With that, many producers are having to make critical management considerations as they are approaching summer planting season.”

Fortunately, the region’s extended precipitation forecast is improving, she said. The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center is now predict-

ing the region will have equal changes of above or below average precipitation.

“What does that mean for a

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News Bollworm, from Page 19 worms from damaged cotton and other crops, establishing lab colonies and running laboratory assays on worms from the various colonies to determine how they respond to varying concentrations of Bt toxins in their diet.

In 2016, their work revealed larvae from many of the colonies survived after eating diets treated with concentrations of Bt toxins that previously killed them.

Kerns said the responses of larvae from several colonies prove bollworm larvae from many areas in the southern states now are resistant to several Bt toxins. High levels of resistance were seen to Cry 1Ac, which was the first Bt toxin available in Bt cotton and corn to combat bollworms/corn earworms — common names for the same species.

Kerns and colleagues also detected bollworm resistance to the Cry2 toxins, the second toxins introduced into Bollgard II cotton in 2003, and TwinLink in 2014.

Widestrike uses a combination of Cry1Ac and Cry1F technologies.

Resistance to that toxin package was seen as well.

“Our 2017 data collected throughout the southern states indicated a very large shift with all bollworm populations exhibiting high resistance to the Cry1Ac technology and about 70-75 percent of these populations also showing resistance to the Cry2 toxins,” Kerns said.

“So if you lose those two toxins, then really the only technology that’s even out there and available is the Vip3A toxin, which is pretty new, so it has not been grown extensively.

“That said, the occurrence of resistance doesn’t mean the worms are immune, so even with resistance, large bollworm infestations are usually required to cause a problem.”

Kerns said they haven’t found any resistance to Vip3A in cotton bollworms, but the toxin often doesn’t work as well in cotton as it does in corn. And stressed cotton may not express enough Vip3A to provide desired control.

So under the right conditions, cotton still can suffer damage,

even with the Vip technology.

“Essentially, we have bollworm resistance to all the Cry proteins — all of them,” Kerns said.

“Those trying to ride this Vip technology exclusively to protect their crop from bollworms are setting their crop up for a very dangerous scenario. That’s just bad management, so producers should pick their cotton varieties based on something that’s going to yield on their farm.”

Kerns said using tried and true integrated pest management methods, starting with scouting fields for bollworms, is important in areas plagued by Bt resistant bollworms, particularly if planting cotton without the Vip technology.

“If you don’t have the Vip technology and you’re in a high bollworm pressure area, then you definitely need to be scouting these fields for bollworms and treating them with effective insecticides as needed.”

Pesticide treatments can be tricky too, Kerns said, as there is much concern about pyrethroid resistance in bollworms, which is rampant in some areas.

“We don’t have a really good idea on how common it is in Texas yet, but we do get a lot of complaints,” he said. “I have treated grain sorghum infested with these worms and control was not very effective.”

Kerns said in areas with pyrethroid resistance, Prevathon or Besiege, which contain a diamide insecticide, are the most common products of choice. They are effective, but expensive. They do have long residual activity, but applications must be applied when larvae are small, he said.

“If you allow bollworms to get very big and they move into the plant’s leaf canopy, you won’t get them even using this very good chemistry, because you won’t be able to get the product down there where they are feeding,” he said. “Timeliness is of the utmost importance. We have a lot of producers who say: ‘Well, I’m going to wait to see if the technology works,’ after seeing a lot of small worms. They wait too long and then they’re unable to control them.”

Kerns said it was not unusual

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

to see as much as 40 percent crop loss from bollworms in affected areas last year. The problem is exacerbated because while corn earworms/cotton bollworms are the same pest, they feed on two very different crops.

“What we think is probably happening is we’re selecting for earworm resistance in corn, because these same technologies with the same mode of actions are in both crops,” he said.

“The worms that survive the technologies are the resistant ones. The next generation moves into cotton, which is planted later than corn, so they are already genetically selected for resistance.”

Corn producers are supposed to plant refuge acres of non-Bt corn, another integrated pest management strategy, Kerns said. The idea is to produce susceptible moths, the sexually mature stage of the worms, to cross with the resistant moths to dilute the resistance so it doesn’t carry forward.

Unfortunately, those acres often aren’t planted for a variety of reasons, one being the Bt varieties usually produce more corn, he said.

“I know some people do what they are supposed to do, but there’s a lot who don’t, and that’s just adding to the problem of selecting for resistant moths in cotton,” Kerns said.

“It affects corn too, and while ear feeding in corn isn’t as damaging as boll feeding in cotton, it can open entry points for fungal growth and the development of mycotoxins, which can affect animals and humans that consume the corn.”

Developing new bollwormresistant technologies is very expensive and takes years to be tested and approved, Kerns said.

In the meantime, he urges producers in bollworm-prone areas to be vigilant in their field scouting.

He also advised producers to become familiar with available pesticides and to use them wisely when necessary to effectively control bollworms while preserving as many beneficial insects as possible. And finally, he urged corn producers to plant their Bt refuge acres.

May 2018 — Issue II

Kern’s colleague, Charles Allen, AgriLife Extension entomologist in San Angelo, said bollworm damage to Bt cotton in Texas predominantly has occurred in fields east of Interstate 35 through 2017.

“The danger is we know insects are resistant in some areas,” Allen said. “No colonies from west of I-35 have been established in Kern’s lab and tested, so we do not have a ‘read’ on them. In fields west of I-35, we have seen

only a few instances where the Bt toxins did not work properly.

“I believe Dr. Kern’s advice to scout Bt cotton and spray it if worms survive at above damage threshold levels is good advice no matter which side of I-35 the field is located,” he said.

“At this point implementing integrated pest management measures to control resistant worms is about the only way we have to put some lipstick on this ugly hog.”

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News Drought, from Page 20 are a key driver in crop water use, we are still at risk for crop stress under dryland and limited irrigation.”

With summer planting, it is important to know how much moisture is in the soil profile, “because that is our bucket,” Bell said. “With that, it’s also important to know what crops will be planted and what is their rooting depth. That will help us determine how much subsoil moisture we have and how far it will carry a crop through the growing season, especially if we don’t receive timely moisture.”

Many producers are having to pre-irrigate, so they can have sufficient moisture in the seed zone to germinate summer crops, she said.

“Our current forecast is actually calling for precipitation. If we do get rain, many producers are evaluating how soon they will plant dryland acreage,” Bell said. “But even with a precipitation event, it will depend on the amount of rain we receive and the rate it falls to determine the effectiveness of the precipitation event. One rain is not going to break the drought situation we are in.”

The Texas High Plains is de-

pendent on winter precipitation in the form of snowfall to build up soil moisture during the fallow period, she said. Across the region, negligible snow fell this winter and rainfall has been anywhere from less than a tenth of an inch to about 3/10ths of an inch for the entire winter.

“On the bright side, we are very fortunate because we had very good early fall precipitation, so in many areas we still have good subsoil moisture,” Bell said.

She estimated under no-till and especially under good residue, soil moisture may be 4-6 inches deep; under cultivated or tilled ground, subsoil moisture may be 8-10 inches.

“It is important for producers to evaluate the depth to moisture before they begin to pre-irrigate,” Bell said. “Soil moisture sensors are an invaluable tool not only for scheduling in-season irrigation, but also determining how much pre-irrigation is needed.”

That subsoil moisture also al-

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May 2018 — Issue II

for producers to get the crop planted in May because “we are trying to grow a perennial crop in a very short annual environment,” Bell said. “In order to accumulate sufficient growing degree days or heat units to mature that crop and optimize production — not just yield but also quality — we really need to get that crop off and running in May and preferably early to mid-May if conditions are favorable.”

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nel set and sometimes benefits by planting that crop even later in the summer. So, producers have to evaluate how they manage their insurance programs with regards to their planting times.”

For grain sorghum under both irrigated and dryland production systems, producers do have flexibility with planting dates, she said.

When it comes to cotton across the High Plains, it is important

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lows dryland producers to gauge precipitation in the forecast to determine if it will give them enough moisture to plant on, she said.

“Even if we receive up to a half inch, that’s probably not going to be enough, because roots will not grow through dry soil to reach the wetter subsoil.”

The primary crops grown in this region under irrigation are corn and cotton, she said. As producers evaluate the forecast and probability of precipitation, many are opting to split irrigated acreage between corn and cotton so they will have sufficient water to meet critical crop water demands throughout the summer.

“For crop insurance purposes, corn needs to be planted on or before June 5 for counties in the Texas High Plains, but planting later in June shifts the critical water demand period of tasseling out of some of the hotter periods of summer,” Bell said.

“Often we will see greater ker-

HAYBARNS CARPORTS STORAGE SHEDS AND MuCH MORE. FOR All YOuR RESIDENTIAl AND AGRICulTRuAl NEEDS lET uS HElP YOu CuSTOMIZE YOuR NEXT METAl PROJECT. DElIVERY AVAIlABlE

30X60X12 EAVE 1-10X10 FO All GAlVAluME

SAVE MONEY MANuFACTuRER DIRECT

1 2 5 0 3 H W Y 6 N AVA S O TA , T X 7 7 8 6 8 • 9 3 6 . 8 2 5 . 0 5 0 0 w w w. h i l c o s u p p ly . c o m • F O l l O W u S O N

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May 2018 — Issue II

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The Land & Livestock Post