Land and Livestock Post

August August2014 2014——Issue Issue11

From pasture to table

Many producers utilizing vertical integration to increase profits PAGE 16

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August 2014 — Issue 1



The Land & Livestock Post

News

T

From the General Manager

his month, I will attend my 12th Beef Cattle Short Course at Texas A&M. This year marks the 60th anniversary for short course, so that means I’ve been to 20 percent of them. I’m no mathematician, but 20 percent is one in five. That’s the same number of dentists who do not agree with the dental merits of sugar-free gum. It’s not a staggering figure, but a milestone nonetheless.

The Land & Livestock Post will have a booth again at the trade show during the Beef Cattle Short Course.

I’ve always enjoyed trade shows. I’ve met a lot of great people and have an extensive Koozie collection because of them. The first time I met Nolan Ryan JESSE WRIGHT was at a trade show. I walked up to him, trying to decide whether to talk about cattle or baseball. He was talking to someone else, and I hovered awkwardly while in my head I nervously tried to decide, “Cattle or baseball? Cattle or baseball? Cattle or baseball?” He eventually finished his conversation and I walked up, still undecided.

I stuck out my hand, “Mr. Ryan, I’m Jesse Wright,” I said.

He shook my hand, “Nice to meet you,” he said.

I stood there for about two or three seconds, just enough time to make it awkward, then turned right around and went back to my booth.

There was another time at a trade show when I was sitting with a group of guys on a big leather couch. We were talking baseball and I, being an avid Astros fan, threw out my 2 cents about a pitcher the team had just called up. Someone on the opposite end of the couch spoke up and disagreed with my assertion of the new pitcher. Now, this was one of those plush couches that, when you sit in it you sink down so far you pretty much can only see directly in front of you. So, I leaned forward to tell the person on the end of the couch that he didn’t know what the heck he was talking about, and that’s when I realized it was Nolan Ryan. I shut my mouth and let the couch swallow me back into the cushions.

But, aside from embarrassing myself in front of Hall of Famers, my experience at trade shows overall has

been positive, and I am looking forward to number 12.

Hopefully you are looking forward to finding out about vertical integration in the beef business, because that’s what our cover story is about. We take a look at what that means and how it can be a viable option for some producers.

In this issue we also have news from around the cattle industry, as well as tips and information to help with your herd.

Hope you enjoy it, and if you’re heading to College Station for the Short Course, be sure to stop by our booth and say “Howdy!”

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

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August 2014 — Issue 1

located just off Hwy. 6 and OSR 1415 East OSR • Bryan, Texas 77808 Office: (979) 776-5760 • Fax: (979) 776-4818 Website: www.circlexbrangus.com Steve Densmore, Cattle Mgr., (979) 450-0819, cell • (979) 778-1055, home Chris Duewall, Operations Mgr., (979) 777-6803, cell

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News

Study identifies factors for falling groundwater tables AgriLife Research investigation shows news isn’t all bad, although demand keeps rising

By Kay LedBetter Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

VERNON — It’s no secret groundwater levels have declined across the state over the past eight decades, and that the primary reason is the onset of irrigation in agriculture and population growth. But a recent Texas A&M AgriLife Research study has identified other factors having an impact.

The groundwater declines have been most severe in the past four decades, but the news isn’t all bad, according to Srinivasulu Ale, AgriLife Research geospatial hydrology assistant professor in Vernon.

“Long-term (1930–2010) trends in groundwater levels in Texas: Influences of soils, land cover

and water use,” authored by Sriroop Chaudhuri, former postdoctoral research associate at Vernon, and Ale, was published in the Science of the Total Environment journal recently.

Ale said they conducted the study because, by 2060, the state’s population is expected to double, increasing the demand for water at a time when the existing water supply is expected to be reduced by about 10 percent.

“We wanted to know which areas are more vulnerable to water shortages,” he said. “In order to plan and implement strategies to deal with the water level declines, we needed to know how these levels were declining spatially and temporally.”

Previous hydrologic studies on Texas groundwater levels were conducted mostly on an aquifer-

specific basis, and lacked the statewide panoramic view Ale and Chaudhuri wanted to present. They wanted an overview of trends in groundwater levels from 1930 to 2010, and they wanted to identify spatial patterns from the 136,930 groundwater level observations from the Texas Water Development Board’s database.

They utilized the boundaries of the Texas Water Development Board’s designated Groundwater Management Areas, or GMAs, for their assessment. The 16 GMAs, with boundaries identified in response to legislation passed in 2001, included all major and minor aquifers in the state.

The objective behind groundwa-

ter management area identification was to delineate areas considered suitable for management of groundwater resources.

“Our results indicated a progressive decline in statewide decadal median water levels in Texas from about 46 feet to 118 feet between the 1930s and 2000s,” Chaudhuri said. “We identified hot spots of deep water levels in Groundwater Management Area 8 (North Central Texas) and the Texas Panhandle regions since the 1960s, mainly due to extensive groundwater withdrawals for urban and irrigation purposes.”

For the purposes of this study, the Panhandle region includes 12 western and central counties in Groundwater Management Area

1 and three northwestern counties in Groundwater Management Area 2, he said.

Statewide, the number of counties with deeper median water levels, a water-level depth below 328 feet, increased from two to 13 between the 1930s and 2000s, he said. At the same time, there was a decrease in the number of counties, from 134 to 113, having shallower median water-levels or groundwater located within 82 feet of the ground surface.

“We know irrigated agriculture is the major cause of depletion in the Texas Panhandle, as compared to increasing urbanization in Groundwater Man-

See WATER, Page 6

of Bryan

 Single Section  Multi Section  Used & Repo Homes Texas A&M AgriLife Research graphic

TheTexasA&MAgriLife Research study utilized information and boundaries identified by the Texas Water Development Board.This map depicts both Groundwater Management Areas and the smaller inset identifies aquifers.

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August 2014 — Issue 1

5

News Water, from Page 4 agement Area 8,” Chaudhuri said. “We saw a significant drop in median groundwater levels in irrigation wells from 75 to 180 feet between the 1940s and 1950s in the Texas Panhandle, coinciding with the initiation of widespread irrigated agricultural practices.”

But he said they knew there was more to the decline than just these uses, because “unused” wells monitored across the state throughout the decades also were showing varying levels of decline.

That was when they studied groundwater and surface-water use patterns, soil characteristics, geology and land cover types to better understand the water-level changes in Texas.

For instance, the South Plains and Panhandle were equally involved in agriculture and irrigated crops over the Ogallala Aquifer.

The sandier soils of the South

Plains, however, allow more infiltration and recharge than the tighter clay soils of the Panhandle.

In addition to population growth in Groundwater Management Area 8, the high clay content in soils coupled with shale/claystone type geology and more land area covered by highways and parking lots have lowered the amount of recharge, thus contributing to the decline in water levels.

There is a brighter note, Ale said.

“Interestingly, the trends we observed over the decades show the water-level declines are leveling off recently in some parts of the state, including Groundwater Management Area 8, suggesting a recovery from historical drawdown due to implementation of conservation and regulatory strategies,” Ale said.

The leveling off of the decline has been seen in the past decade after the implementation of the

Hawaii grapples with ability to regulate GMOs HONOLULU (AP) — Kauai County’s authority to regulate genetically modified crops and pesticides was the subject of arguments in a federal court hearing July 23 in a lawsuit by four seed companies seeking to stop a new law from going into effect this month.

Syngenta Seeds, DuPont Pioneer, Agrigenetics Inc., doing business as Dow AgroSciences, and BASF Plant Sciences are suing for a permanent injunction. The companies argue the ordinance is invalid and unfairly targets their industry.

The new law requires companies to disclose their use of pesticides and genetically modified crops. It also requires them to establish buffer zones around sensitive areas, including schools and hospitals.

Ahead of the hearing, U.S. District Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren had asked lawyers to focus their arguments on the issue of whether state and federal laws pre-empt Kauai’s law,

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Groundwater Management Areas and the guidelines and regulations that were established with them, he said. Increased use of surface water and assessment of water levels are some measures being utilized to address groundwater depletion issues in the Houston, Groundwater Management Area 14, and Dallas, Groundwater Management Area 8, areas.

These voluntary conservation or regulatory strategies, however, have resulted in a variable pattern of recovery in ambient water-levels, which still are occurring frequently at deeper depths in the hot spots and thus warrant further investigation, he said.

Ale said the need for more spatially intensive and frequent water-level monitoring has been realized over the course of this study. In addition, further investigation of aquifer-specific influences such as groundwater recharge and flow paths, human

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This graphic was generated by Sriroop Chaudhuri and Srinivasulu Ale, both with Texas A&M AgriLife Research in Vernon, to depict the water-level decline over the decades. dimensions on water-level fluctuations and climate are warranted.

“Overall, our study indicated that use of robust spatial and statistical methods can reveal important details about the trends in water-level changes and shed

light on the associated factors,” Chaudhuri said. “Due to their very generic nature, techniques used in this study can also be applied to other areas with similar eco-hydrologic issues to identify regions that warrant future management actions.”

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News

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Individual chute scales are effective in serving a number of purposes.

Weight measurement enables effective cattle management

By Bryan nichols The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

We commonly hear the phrase “you can’t manage what you don’t measure,” especially in regards to forage production and pasture management. This statement, however, applies to many other facets of beef cattle production.

Cattle are managed in many ways, according to their weight.

Stocking rates, feeding programs and dosages for antibiotics and dewormers all are based on an animal’s weight. In public markets, all cattle except for breeding females are sold in terms of weight.

Given the importance of weight in cattle production, it is important to capture weight data when necessary to make good management decisions. Below are a few ways that this data can be collected.

Individual chute scales are effective in serving a number of

purposes. Perhaps their most important function is in determining correct dosages for treating livestock. It is important to use the correct dosage because under-dosing can be ineffective and overdosing can be costly.

Many of today’s antibiotics cost upwards of $4 per milliliter and are administered at 1 milliliter per hundred pounds. If producers are overestimating the weight and overdosing, it does not take long for this number to add up.

Chute scales also can be used to collect individual weight data on cows and calves to measure productivity. This data then can be used to make culling decisions when appropriate. Additionally, during scheduled workings when all animals come through the chute for vaccinations, weights can be collected so that an average weight can be calculated and used to design supplementation

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News Weight, from Page 7 programs most effectively.

Pen scales are a great tool for collecting weights on all types of livestock. These are nice for collecting average weights on a large number of cattle in a quick manner. They typically have tremendous value for stocker operators.

It is very important to have accurate weights in order to make good marketing decisions. If an operation is selling cattle directly off the ranch, accurate weights are essential. A good set of pen scales can be a sizeable investment, so these typically are used by larger operations.

An alternative option is to use the truck scales at a local feed store, truck stop, etc., to get an average weight of a set of cattle.

There is usually no cost to use these scales. Your only costs will be time, the fuel to get the cattle there, and wear and tear on your vehicle and trailer. This is an option that many people may forget.

Another type of scale that can be useful is on your pickup feeder.

This ensures the amount of feed that you are providing is the de-

sired amount. Without scales on a feeder, you should at least know the amount your feeder contains when full, and calibrate to know how much is released with each “click” on a trip-hopper or per a certain amount of time with auger-fed systems. These amounts will vary, however, depending on the type of feed you are using, the amount in the feeder and the angle of the truck if you are not on a flat surface. If emptying the feeder to one set of cattle, this is not a problem. If, however, you are splitting a feeder between multiple sets of cattle, errors can occur. Once again, underfeeding can result in decreased performance, and overfeeding is overspending.

My hope is that this article causes producers to ask two questions: First, how am I determining weights currently to help make management decisions, and can I improve upon it? Second, would purchasing one of these types of scales be a wise investment?

The answer will vary by producer, but I encourage everyone to ask the questions.

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9

News 2014 Eng Symposium to feature cow-calf production system Special to The Post

SAN ANTONIO — Although high cattle prices may tempt cattle producers to expand herds, rising prices for land, fuel and feed still have some reconsidering expansion, according to experts.

Opportunities for efficient expansion will be discussed indepth at the 2014 Dr. Kenneth and Caroline McDonald Eng Foundation Symposium, scheduled Sept.

18-19 at the Embassy Suites Riverwalk, 125 E. Houston St. in San Antonio. The symposium will feature current research that explores how cattle producers best can meet these challenges and forward-looking ideas and opportunities, said Ken Eng, cattleman and nutrition consultant.

“This year’s symposium will offer perspectives on opportunities for innovation in production systems through strategic intensification,” he said. “We’ll address questions such as: Can increasing management intensity increase profitability, reduce risk and enhance the sustainability of beef production enterprises?”

“Innovative Intensification in

Cow-Calf Systems” is the second annual symposia to be sponsored by the Eng Foundation. Texas A&M University will host the event, which includes participation by researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Oklahoma State University.

Topics include: • Managing energy requirements in confined cows.

• Drylot beef cow systems in the Northern Great Plains.

• Cow efficiency: Implications for beef sustainability.

• Nutritional and management considerations when merging cow-calf and feedlot operations.

• Fetal programming: Implications and opportunities in confinement.

• Intensified cow-calf production in the Southern Great Plains combining semi-confinement,

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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.

wheat pasture and cover crops.

• Herd health observations in Nebraska drylot cow project.

• Does intensification improve sustainability?

The event is open to the public. Cattle producers interested in opportunities to expand production or increase land-use efficiency should plan to attend, as well as researchers and students, according to organizers.

Cost is $125 for preregistration and $50 for students. Onsite registration is $150. Hotel information and registration information can be found at animalscience.tamu. edu/eng-symposium.

For more information, contact the Eng Foundation at 575-7436331, email engnm@hotmail.com or call the Texas A&M University department of animal science at 979-845-1541.

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August 2014 — Issue 1

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News 2014 dove, teal season dates, bag limits finalized by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Sign up for the Land & Livestock Post

Electronic Newsletter

Ag news you can use, now at the click of a mouse!

Special to The Post

AUSTIN — Dove hunters will have more opportunity later in the season with dates and bag limits finalized by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department last month.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved the 2014-2015 Texas dove season, including a 70-day season and 15-bird daily bag statewide, and a 16-day early teal and Canada goose season.

The traditional Sept. 1 dove season opening day in the North and Central Zones remains — this year falling on Labor Day Monday. The first segment in those zones will be shorter than last season, however, closing on Oct. 20. The season will reopen Dec. 19 and run through Jan. 7 in the North and Central Zones.

In the South Zone and Special White-winged Dove Area, the first segment will be shortened by five days compared to last year, and those days would be added to the end of the second segment. The South Zone opens Sept. 19 and runs through Oct. 20.

The second segment will run Dec. 19 through Jan. 25, 2015.

The daily bag limit for doves statewide is 15 and the possession limit is 45.

The Special White-winged Dove Area will be restricted to afternoon only — noon to sunset — hunting the first two full September weekends on Sept. 6-7 and Sept. 13-14. Hunting in this area will reopen Sept. 19 and continue through Oct. 20, and then reopen Dec. 19 through Jan. 21. During the early two weekends, the daily bag limit is 15 birds, to include not more than two mourning doves and two white-tipped doves. Once the general season opens, the aggregate bag limit will be 15 with no more than two white-tipped doves.

A 16-day statewide early teal and Eastern Zone Canada goose

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today for Land & Livestock Post Photos courtesy of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

The 2014 hunting season and bag limits for doves, Canada goose and teal have been set by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Top, mourning dove.

Above, whitewing dove. season will run Sept. 13 through Sept. 28. The daily bag on teal remains six, with a possession limit of 18. Bag limit for Canada geese will be three and a possession limit of 6 in the Eastern Zone only.

The Land & Livestock Post

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August 2014 — Issue 1

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11

News

South Texas study looks at crossbreeding Brahman, British crossbred cattle add ‘significant value’

By Blair Fannin Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

CORPUS CHRISTI — Data from a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service South Texas study shows Brahman and British crossbred cattle add significant value to breeding stock in South Texas and performed best in terms of sale price.

“The research here shows the value of crossbreeds in this region,” said Levi Russell, AgriLife Extension economist in Corpus Christi.

“The increase in the number of calves a rancher could expect from his or her breeding stock due to Brahman influence certainly increases profit potential for the herd.”

The study examined the effects of Brahman influence and other managerial and market factors on prices paid for breeding cattle in South Texas.

The results are available in a publication at the AgriLife Extension Bookstore, bit.ly/1ohskqB. The study data was collected in April at the Tri-County Commercial Female Sale in Beeville.

The special sale featured 123 lots from which the following information was collected: number of head sold, coat color, frame size, condition, Brahman influence, physiological stage, polled, price per head and weight.

“Our work with the special sale in Beeville indicates that Brahman influence in British and Continental breeds is extremely valuable in this region,” Russell said.

“Combining the hot-weather hardiness of the Brahman breed with the high-gain and muscling

12

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Joe Paschal

A South Texas study conducted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service examined the value of crossbreeds in the region, which is important for producers looking to purchase new females as cowherds begin to build back following drought. characteristics of the British and Continental breeds certainly pays off in South Texas,” Russell said.

Russell teamed with David Anderson, AgriLife Extension economist in College Station; Matthew Bochat, AgriLife Extension agent in Bee County; Brian Yanta, AgriLife Extension agent in Goliad County; Joe Paschal, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist in Corpus Christi; and Mac Young, AgriLife Extension program specialist, risk management, Corpus Christi.

The study found that black coat color was discounted due to cattle with black hides being less adapted to the hot climate in South Texas.

“However, the study suggests price premiums don’t necessarily imply increased profit, which can only be calculated against production cost data,” Russell said.

“It’s also worth noting that it takes all of these breeds to make some of the cross breeds that command a premium.

“The biggest surprise was seeing just how much prices have risen for breeding stock.

“This really shows that the rest of the beef supply chain has shown a great deal of increase in value, as documented elsewhere.

Some of our other work shows that, even with high prices in breeding females, restocking is still a profitable proposition.”

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August 2014 — Issue 1

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The Land & Livestock Post

Commentary Florida representative pushes bill to sink EPA’s ‘land grab’

By National Cattleman’s Beef Association

T

he Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers continue to be in hot water on Capitol Hill over the proposed rule expanding federal jurisdiction over “waters of the United States.” The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council applaud the efforts last month of U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., to invalidate this rule.

Under the proposal, nearly all waters in the country will be subject to regulation, regardless of size or continuity of flow. Southerland’s bill H.R. 5078 Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act halts any action of the EPA and the Corps regarding the proposed definition of “waters of the United States.”

“The EPA continues to claim that its proposal does not expand the reach of the Clean Water Act,” said Bob McCan, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president and Texas cattleman, “but the way the proposal is written, there is no other interpretation. The vague and subjective wording gives regulators the authority and access to nearly any water, and with it, all land use activities including ranching.”

For the first time, ditches are included in the definition of a “tributary” and many will now come under federal jurisdiction. Activities near a jurisdictional ditch now will require a federal permit. As a result, many cattle operations will be required to get Sec. 402 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits, Sec. 404 Dredge and Fill permits or Sec. 311 Spill Prevention Control, and Countermeasure spill plans.

The bill also includes a pro-

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Opinion vision previously offered as stand-alone legislation by Rep. Reid Ribble, R-Wis., that will invalidate the “interpretive” rule, which attempts to define and interpret the “normal farming, silviculture and ranching activities” exemptions under Sec. 404 of the Clean Water Act. According to the EPA, the 56 exempted National Resource Conservation Service practices, including prescribed grazing, were chosen because they have the potential to discharge if they are done in a “water of the U.S.” Effectively, the agencies have made cattle grazing a discharge activity, forcing cattle producers to obtain a National Resource Conservation Serviceapproved grazing plan or else be subjected to the 404 permitting scheme and the penalties under the Clean Water Act. “This proposal takes the authority Congress granted EPA far beyond the scope of Congressional intent,” said Public Lands Council President Brice Lee, a Colorado rancher.

“Not only is this illegal, but it clearly disregards the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Clean Water Act jurisdiction.

We appreciate Mr. Southerland and Mr. Ribble’s efforts to prevent the agencies from finalizing this regulation, which we see as the largest federal land grab in history.”

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council strongly support this legislation and encourage the House to pass this bill, protecting the rights of private property owners across the country.

The Land & Livestock Post

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Texas corn producers need to keep an eye for southern rust

By Blair Fannin Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

COLLEGE STATION — A Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service plant pathologist recently met with corn growers at a field day near College Station discussing southern rust, a foliar disease that can be problematic for growers and threaten yields.

Tom Isakeit shared practical advice and application methods at the 2014 Crop Tour, sponsored

by AgriLife Extension and BASF Corporation, at the Texas A&M University field laboratory near College Station, which serves as a research and teaching platform for Texas A&M AgriLife.

More than 100 area producers, consultants and industry partners attended the field day.

Southern rust, caused by the

fungus Puccinia polysora, is the most important foliar disease of corn in the Upper Coast region of Texas, Isakeit said. In some wetter years, when very susceptible hybrids are grown, it may require a fungicide treatment to minimize yield loss.

Isakeit told producers application of fungicide early on will help prevent rust from developing on leaves, even if the farmer can’t visually see the rust infection.

“Southern rust is recognized by small circular orange pustules and this is in comparison to common rust, which is reddish and more elongated,” Isakeit said. “If you have corn that is at tasseling to early grain development stage, you want to check your lower leaves. If leaves have 3 to 5 percent pustules, that will be your trigger to spray.”

The Land & Livestock Post

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In determining whether to spray or not, he said when the crop is still in the vegetative stage, don’t spray. When the crop is near flowering and development of the ear of corn, that would be the most beneficial time to apply fungicide.

Isakeit said there are many fungicides from which Texas farmers can choose, but the key is prevention of rust on upper leaves during the grain fill period.

“Any fungicide would be fine under Texas conditions,” he said.

“You can see rust as early as as vegetative stage, but I’ve seen it more as corn is flowering. There is a limited window of time during early flowering and ear development that you would need to worry about disease development and need to spray a fungicide.”

August 2014 — Issue 1

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin

Tom Isakeit, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service plant pathologist, inspects corn at the Texas A&M University field laboratory near College Station. Isakeit discussed southern rust and use of fungicides as part of the 2014 CropTour sponsored byAgriLife Extension and BASF. Isakeit suggested farmers at agrilife.org/plantpathology/ read a bulletin he authored on files/2011/05/Southern-Rust-ofsouthern rust that is available Corn_2014.pdf.

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News

Controlling interest

Vertical integration in the beef business can boost income

By RoBeRt FeaRs Special to The Post

V

ertical integration is the term used when a beef producer assumes multiple phases of production and distribution, from calving to feeding, from transportation to the slaughter house. The more aspects of the cattle industry a producer controls, the greater his or her potential profit.

Advantages of vertical integration include the ability to reduce costs and control product quality throughout the production and distribution chain. When a producer sells directly to consumers, forward vertical integration is used. If a wholesaler or retailer produces his or her own beef, they are backward vertically integrated.

“The conventional beef processing chain for beef calves begins with producers selling their calf crops through an auction to a feedlot or a preconditioner,” said David Anderson of the department of agricultural economics at Texas A&M University. “Some feedlots and order buying companies have their own preconditioning facilities, and there are com-

16

Below, the Rosewood Ranch at Ennis breeds Wagyu bulls toAngus/Brangus cross cows to produce tender juicy steaks.

Anderson said, “Some ranches have their own feedlots and sell finished cattle to packers.”

On the cover: Rosewood Ranch’s holistic management of pastures resulted in grass, even during the recent drought.

Niche marketing

Photos by Robert Fears

panies whose sole business is preconditioning calves.

“Purchases for feedlots and preconditioners are usually made by an order buyer. Preconditioners sell their cattle to feedyards, which later sell finished cattle to packers. After animals are processed, packers sell beef products to grocery stores and restaurants. Grocers and restaurants, in turn, sell to consumers.”

Anderson said, “In direct marketing, the producer bypasses one or more links in the beef processing chain. A rancher may sell directly to a preconditioner, feedlot or to an order buyer who is buying for one of these entities.

“Another option is for the producer to precondition or background his calves on the ranch and then retain ownership through the feedlot. The cattleman then sells directly to the packer.”

Niche marketing is a type of direct selling where a group of consumers desire a particular product that they cannot purchase through conventional marketing channels. Examples of niche market products are lean beef, organic beef, natural beef and pasture-finished beef. When consumers prefer these types of meat, they usually are willing to pay a premium over conventional meat prices.

“Production of specialty beef products for niche markets offers added profit opportunities,” Anderson said.

“Although a niche market adds product value, there are downsides. Niche marketers must develop their own customer base, identify the desired product concept and be able to deliver the product when the customer wants it. Marketing skills are a must in these types of businesses.

“In addition to production costs, pro-

August 2014 — Issue 1

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ducers must derive enough value from their product to pay their marketing expenses.”

A year-round supply of calves is required and a packer must be identified to process these calves on a custom basis. Niche marketers must keep sufficient inventory to supply their customers and have the ability to market the less desired cuts of meat.

44 Farms

Cameron-based 44 Farms is forward vertically integrated in the natural beef niche market. The operation was founded in 1909 by Sherwood and Josie McClaren, great grandparents of current owner Bob McClaren. For nearly a century, 44 Farms produced crops and raised cattle.

McClaren has fond memories of visiting his grandparents on the family farm during his childhood. When the opportunity arose for him to run 44 Farms, he jumped at the chance. Today, 44

See INTEGRATION, Page 17

The Land & Livestock Post

News Integration, from Page 16 Farms not only produces fine steaks, but also is recognized as one of the premier Black Angus producers in the country.

“Bob has always had a keen interest in supplying the public with tender, juicy steaks even while he was busy developing his breeding stock business,” said Doug Slattery, executive director of 44 Farms. “It took us a while to get all the right pieces in place for a successful 44 Farms Angus Steaks enterprise. We had to overcome the challenges faced by any new direct marketer of beef products: a steady supply, the right cuts and a sufficient number of customers to produce a profit.”

“A constant supply of product is achieved by working with our breeding stock customers,” Slattery said. “We buy weaned calves produced from 44 Farms genetics and raised In compliance with 44 Farms RightWay™ program. Requirements of the program include identification of each individ-

ual animal, records of all treatments, agreement to third party inspection of records, and adherence to industry best management practices. To qualify for the RightWay program, calves cannot be given antibiotics or growth promotants and cannot be fed animal by-products. These latter requirements allow the product to be sold as natural beef. Calves that have to be treated for sickness with antibiotics are culled from the program. Ninety-nine percent of the product for 44 Farms Angus Steaks comes from our breeding stock partners.”

“As required of our suppliers, 44 Farms produced calves are managed in compliance with the RightWay program. Selections for herd replacements, breeding stock sales and the Angus steak program are made at weaning. Required inventory numbers drive our sorting decisions,” Slattery said. “Our genetics are developed to the point that differences in conformation

See PROFITS, Page 18

Photo by Robert Fears

44 Farms has developed genetics that fine steaks and premier Black Angus breeding stock.

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News Profits, from Page 17 and production are very small which makes our sorting decisions very difficult.”

Regardless of whether calves are purchased or produced, they are shipped to a West Texas feedyard approximately 45 days post-weaning. They are custom fed and then processed under contract at Hereford.

Boxed beef is shipped to a webbased distribution center and to distributors who sell to restaurants and grocery retailers.

The less popular cuts are sold as ground beef, which helps product flow to the consumer.

Each cut of meat is traceable to its original source.

Rosewood Ranches

One of the Rosewood Ranches near Ennis is another example of a pasture-to-plate beef production operation.

The Ennis Ranch is one of five Rosewood ranches located in Ellis, Navarro and Henderson counties. They are owned by a subsidiary of The Rosewood Corporation, a Dallas-based company, owned by the Caroline Hunt Trust Estate.

Kenneth Braddock, ranch manager of the Ennis ranch for over 20 years, strives for perfection in everything he does. This trait is evident by his holistic pasture management systems and high-level care of the cattle.

Due to proper rotation and stocking rates, the pastures have produced forage through-

out the drought and the cattle have maintained good body condition scores.

One of Braddock’s goals was to produce a steak that even the most finicky eaters would enjoy. He tried several breed combinations and was not satisfied totally with the product until he tried Wagyu cattle. Wagyu bulls were bred to Angus/Brangus crossed cows and Braddock immediately liked the appearance of the calves.

He fed one of the calves, had it processed and prepared a steak dinner for his most “picky” friends and his wife, who Braddock claims is very opinionated on food quality. All the guests said that the steak was the best they had ever eaten, which meant that Braddock’s new product had passed the taste test. He was on his way to producing a natural beef product with excellent marbling and nutrition for direct marketing to consumers.

“After weaning, we precondition our calves here at the ranch,” Braddock said. “Calves selected for the home freezer market are fattened in the ranch feeding pen and the rest are shipped to a Nebraska feedyard for custom feeding. The meat is processed in Nebraska and then shipped back to Texas for sale to five star hotels and resturants.”

To address the continuous supply challenge, Rosewood Ranches partnered with Jackman Wagyu Beef Company

last year to form the Jack Rose Cattle Company. Jackman is a Florida-based company with cattle in Texas. Rosewood Ranches further guarantees supply by loaning Wagyu bulls to other producers who have cows with Angus based genetics. The ranch then buys the calves from the producers. To participate in this program, producers have to be willing to follow Rosewood Ranch production guidelines.

Rosewood Ranches and 44 Farms have organizations that efficiently move beef from pasture to plate through a direct marketing system. An advantage of these systems is the control of product quality throughout the production and marketing chain. The two companies deliver a natural and safe product to consumers that provide a pleasant eating experience.

Photo by Robert Fears

Good nutrition is an essential part of the 44 Farms management programs.

Another big plus for these programs is the opportunity for

smaller producers to participate.

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Alternative culling methods potentially increase profits

By Jon Biermacher, Kellie curry raper and BILLY COOK The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

By summer, cow-calf producers start thinking about weaning their spring calf crop and how best to manage and market older, unproductive and open cull cows. To help provide producers options for managing and marketing cull cows, researchers at the Noble Foundation and Oklahoma State University teamed up to conduct a study to evaluate the economics of two alternative management and marketing systems for retaining open beef cows.

A total of 161 cows (48 in 2008, 42 in 2009 and 71 in 2009) from a black-hided Angus herd maintained at the Noble Foundation’s Red River Farm were retained in either a dry-lot feed system or in a stockpiled native grass pasture grazing system. In the dry-lot system, cows were provided a lowcost diet of rye hay, mineral and a 20 percent cubed supplement while the native pasture system allowed cull cows access to stockpiled native grass pasture.

This system allowed cows grazing access to stockpiled native grass. In addition, at the time of weaning in October, body weight, body condition score, and USDA grade and dressing percentage were obtained for each cull cow.

Approximately every 30 days for a five-month period, weight, body condition score, and USDA

Photo courtesy of The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

Researchers at the Noble Foundation and Oklahoma State University teamed up and conducted a study that evaluated the economics of two alternative management and marketing systems for retaining open beef cows. grade and dressing percentage were collected again on each cow through March (about 150 days in total).

Using feed, pasture and labor costs, body weight, body condition score and USDA grade and dressing data collected in the study, net returns were calculated for each management system at each of five sequential marketing periods (November, December, January, February and March).

In addition, the body condition scores were used to categorize cull cows into three independent size categories, including thin (body condition score less than 5), medium (body condition score between 5 and 6) and heavy (body condition score greater than 6).

In each period, net return was calculated as the difference between the revenue that would be generated at marketing minus retention, feed, labor and pasture costs minus the revenue that would be generated if cows had been sold at the time of weaning. This allowed us to compare the potential profitability that a producer could expect to earn for each marketing period beyond

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News Cow-calf producers should monitor animal mineral consumption

By DonalD StottS Oklahoma State University

STILLWATER, Okla. — A consistent and appropriate intake of medicated minerals is critical to a successful anaplasmosis prevention program, but cowcalf producers need to monitor closely that label-recommended amounts are being consumed by the cattle.

The most popular means of

anaplasmosis prevention is the use of mineral mixes that contain chlortetracycline. According to the November 2013 issue of Veterinary Entomology, vol.

6, issue 4, chlortetracycline will reduce the risk of anaplasmosis infections when fed at a rate of 0.5 milligrams per pound of body weight.

“However, producers need to be aware chlortetracycline is

Beef producers approve Beef Checkoff Program in Texas Special to The Post

AUSTIN — The Texas Department of Agriculture announced last month that Texas beef producers have voted to establish a state-level Beef Checkoff program, which was approved by a wide margin of 66.7 percent of voters. Overall, 33.3 percent of voters opposed the measure.

The department conducted this referendum upon petition by cattle industry organizations under the authorities designated by the Texas Legislature.

“Texas is the largest cattle producing state in the nation, and our beef is among the highest-quality in the world,” said Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples. “As Texas ranchers continue to grow and raise the bar to meet consumers’ tastes and preferences, it is my hope these funds will be used in a manner to enhance our producers’ profitability and sustainability of food production.

The Lone Star State is a national leader in agriculture, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

Passage of the referendum establishes a producer-funded program without the use of tax dollars. The Beef Checkoff program will research ways to continue improving Texas beef quality, as well as educate prospective consumers of Texas beef around the world. Texas beef producers will pay a refundable assessment of no more than $1 per head of

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cattle they sell. Collection of the assessment will begin on Oct. 1 and continue until the Beef Promotion and Research Council of Texas notifies cattle collection points to cease collection.

“I am proud of my fellow Texas cattlemen and women for standing up for our future,” said Coleman Locke, Beef Promotion and Research Council of Texas chairman and Brahman cattle producer from Hungerford. “As a life-long Texas cattleman from a long line of ranchers, I was confident our industry’s consumerfocused heritage would result in this decision to invest in our future. Our future success depends on our ability to meet the needs of consumers and reach those individuals with the facts about the quality product we produce, which is exactly what this program will accomplish. I look for-

See CHECKOFF, Page 28

added to minerals for several different reasons, and these other uses require different levels of drug in the mineral,” said Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension emeritus animal scientist.

Selk cautioned producers to make sure the product label states it is formulated at a rate for the prevention of anaplasmosis and gives the specific amount of daily consumption needed to supply that level.

The next step is for the cowcalf operator to monitor his or her herd to make sure the product is being consumed at the appropriate rate.

If not, the producer may need to look at other products or change management practices in order to correct consumption deficits.

“A producer needs to be aware recovered animals will be carriers of the disease and a source of infection for susceptible individuals,” Selk said.

“General management recommendations are to clear them of the organism with high levels of antibiotics administered parentally, isolate them from susceptible animals or cull them from the herd.”

Placement of mineral feeders and blocks can aid in achieving optimum mineral intake. Place them in areas where cattle spend a lot of time: loafing areas, near water sources, in shady areas or any other location that tends be a popular place for the herd to congregate.

“A rule of thumb is to provide one mineral feeding station for every 30 to 50 cows,” Selk said.

“Check feeders at least once a week and keep a clean, fresh supply of minerals present at all times.”

A good feeder should keep minerals dry, be portable and hold up to abuse and corrosion.

Open tubs are not adequate in high rainfall areas.

“Summer is often a busy time of year for ranchers, especially during haying season,” Selk said.

“Don’t forget to check the mineral feeders or blocks to be certain they are supplying the minerals needed by the herd.”

Selk recommends producers with questions about anaplasmosis prevention or who suspect an animal in their herd has anaplasmosis to contact their veterinarian for help with treatment.

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Culling, from Page 19 when cows typically are culled and sold at weaning in the fall.

This is also the time of year when the market for cull cows is typically at a seasonal low.

At first, we excluded the body condition scores collected in the study and accounted for the net benefits of all culled animals, regardless of their condition, and found that it was more economical to retain them on stockpiled native grass pasture and market them in February. On average, in this scenario, open cattle earned an additional $32 per head compared to marketing them at weaning in October.

When body condition scores were used to separate cull cows by size, however, the results suggested that it would be more economical for producers to go ahead and market their heavier cows (body condition score greater than 6) at weaning in October

and retain the medium and thin cows on stockpiled native grass pasture until at least February.

This strategy resulted in an additional net return of $60 per head above what would have been earned selling them at weaning in October.

So producers who have the ability to place body condition score on their cull cows at the time of weaning can expect to increase the salvage value of thin and medium-sized animals beyond selling them at the time of weaning in October. Thin (body condition score less than 5) cows realized a positive net return of $20 per head in the dry-lot system during the February marketing period, which was $40 lower than the pasture system.

Our results suggest that there are economic alternatives for producers to add value to the beef cows culled out of their springcalving herds prior to taking them to market.

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The Land & Livestock Post

News A&M doctoral student plans to take his lessons back to Africa

By Kay LedBetter Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

AMARILLO — Silvano Ocheya is a long way from home. But it won’t be long before he returns to Kenya or another developing country in need of the new skills he’s learned in the U.S. “I hope to work in a developing country; not necessarily my country, but I have a passion to help make change in people’s lives. That’s my focus,” said Ocheya, a Texas A&M University doctoral student in College Station.

Ocheya spent the summer in Amarillo harvesting wheat and gathering data for his dissertation project, which he will complete in about 18 months under advisors Shuyu Liu, Texas A&M AgriLife Research small grains

geneticist in Amarillo, and Amir Ibrahim, AgriLife Research wheat breeder in College Station.

He grew up in Kenya near Kisumu on a farm run by his mother after his father’s death in 1990. There are five boys and three girls in his family, and all of them advanced to the college level. But Ocheya will be the first with both a master’s and a doctoral degree.

His undergraduate degree was earned at the University of Nairobi, followed by an internship at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Kenya. He pursued a master’s degree in genetics and plant breeding at the same university and returned to the center for four years.

“My mentor was Dr. Dan Makumbi, an alumnus of Texas A&M University,” Ocheya said.

“He encouraged me to pursue my education further, and recommended I apply for Monsanto’s Beachell-Borlaug International Scholars Program.”

Ocheya worked on corn with Makumbi. But he said Makumbi urged him to work on wheat while in the U.S. so he could learn something different. Wheat, corn, cassava and sorghum are the daily food staples for most farmers in Africa.

“Working on those crops will make the biggest impact,” he said. “With these crops, the farmers can have food and make surplus to sell, so they can buy other things or take the kids to school.

Beyond primary school, education costs money in Kenya.”

Ocheya’s project addresses issues dealing with drought and

See WHEAT, Page 25

Texas A&M AgriLife Research photo by Dr. Shuyu Liu

Silvano Ocheya takes biomass samples from a Texas A&M AgriLife Research wheat plot near Bushland as a part of his doctoral research.

SALE EACH SATURDAY The Land & Livestock Post

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August 2014 — Issue 1

23

News Winter pasture production training set Aug. 12 in Overton

By RoBeRt BuRns Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

OVERTON — With the likelihood of a moderately strong El Niño this fall, the prospects for winter pasture are better than they have been in years, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

To help beef and forage producers capitalize on the expected extra moisture, Jason Banta, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist in Overton, and his colleague, Vanessa CorriherOlson, AgriLife Extension forage specialist in Overton, will be conducting a training Aug. 12, “Winter Pastures for Central and East Texas.”

El Niño refers to warmerthan-average ocean water temperatures off the Pacific coast of South America, which usually means more moisture to parts of the Southwest and Southeast U.S. during the late fall and winter, according to climatologists.

And for winter pastures, the timing couldn’t be better, Banta said. Improved odds of adequate moisture during critical planting

and development stages takes a lot of the risk out of establishing winter pastures.

“Hay prices have remained historically high since 2011, and hay feeding during the winter represent one of the highest annual costs to cow-calf producers,” he said. “Planting winter annual forages can reduce both hay and supplement costs for cow-calf producers.”

The training will be from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton.

Registration for the program is $60 before Aug. 5 and $75 before Aug. 11. Registration includes lunch and program materials.

Register online by going to agriliferegister.tamu.edu, entering “pasture” in the search window or call Extension Conference Services at 979-845-2604.

Corriher-Olson said the program will address many of the issues people commonly have about establishing winter pastures, such as: • Cool-season forages and variety selection.

• Monthly and seasonal forage production potential.

• USDA web soil survey demonstration.

• Establishment and fertilization.

• Grazing and utilization strategies.

• Impact of cool-season annuals on warm-season perennials.

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24

• Appropriate mineral supplementation.

• Armyworms and other coolseason forage insects.

• Estimated costs of establishment.

Banta said time will be allotted for a question-and-answer session after the presentations.

The program will offer two continuing education units to Texas Department of Agriculture private pesticide applicator license holders: one in the integrated pest management category and one in general.

Maps and driving directions to the Overton center can be found at overton.tamu.edu and clicking on “Center Information” on the left panel.

For more information, call Michelle Sensing at 903-834-6191.

AgriLife Extension photo

AgriLife Extension beef cattle and forage specialists will be conducting a training Aug. 12, called “Winter Pastures for Central and East Texas.”

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Wheat, from Page 23 rusts, which are major problems for wheat in the U.S. and many African countries, including Kenya.

“We import two-thirds of the wheat consumed in Kenya,” he said. “So production-wise, we need to pull ourselves up.

But there are many issues with drought. Farmers rely solely on rainfall. We need to breed wheat that is drought tolerant but also disease resistant. Stem rust is the primary yield-limiting factor for us.”

In his doctoral studies, Ocheya is combining drought tolerance and rust resistance from U.S. and Kenyan wheat cultivars to find traits that will work under the Kenyan conditions.

He said the training here is different, because the combination of coursework and research “trains you to be a more wellrounded scientist. And, the availability of facilities completes your training.”

It is that well-rounded education that will be needed in the future, he said.

“We just need to do simple things,” Ocheya said. “The U.S. has improved their yields by doing simple things: breeding in resistance and taking it to the farmer. We need to do that in these developing countries — take the technology to the farmer.”

Ironically, “take it to the farm-

er” was the last thing said be the late Norman Borlaug, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and wheat breeder at both International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center and Texas A&M, according to Ibrahim.

“The time is ripe for this generation of outstanding African scholars, such as Ocheya, to carry on that legacy and fulfill Borlaug’s dreams,” Ibrahim said.

“This is very befitting as Ocheya is a Monsanto Beachell-Borlaug Scholar.”

Liu said Ocheya, in addition to the three-year scholar program, was selected this year as one of 14 graduate students worldwide recognized as a “Borlaug next generation delegate.”

“His success in his research is built on the success of the wheat improvement team at Texas A&M AgriLife Research,” Liu said.

“His advising committee is a strong team, including wheat breeders, geneticist and stress physiologist.”

Ocheya said in the U.S., the system works right. The government helps the process instead of hindering it and everyone seems to work together.

He said there is a time lag in technological advancements in the developing countries, adding, “the technology people in these countries are trying to implement now has already been replaced in the U.S. We need cur-

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rent technology to address current problems.”

Often in developing countries, he said, the problem is a failure to get new technology to the fields.

There is a missing connection between the scientists and Extension agents. While phone app use is growing, most farmers still don’t have knowledge of computers and don’t know where to get information.

The Ministry of Agriculture operates the Extension program in Kenya and every county has an agent. But it is different from the U.S. where the agents travel and there is a lot of contact, Ocheya said.

In Kenya, the agents have limited capacity to visit the farms, he said. The farms are small, averaging 1 acre, so there are many more people to educate.

And many are run by women, such as his mother, who rely on what they produce to feed their families and provide a livelihood.

Ocheya knows he wants to

breed new varieties to respond to the issues of climate change, such as drought. But he also knows he can be successful only if there are more people involved to ensure the varieties he develops get to the farmer.

“If they don’t, it is a waste of time,” he said. “I know if I go back and try to work alone, I will fail. I will need everyone to be on board. Extensionists, pathologists and entomologist — everyone has to be on board to make sure the technology reaches the farmer.

“We need varieties that respond well to enhanced agronomic practices; but the farmer, at the end of the day, needs a full complete package of education. If he or she grows the best variety, but doesn’t know how much fertilizer to apply, it will fail again.”

Ocheya said technology such as Round-up Ready would allow intensive farming systems. Additionally, the farmers need high

density crops that provide more plants per acre to increase the production, since the farm size is so small. The farmers also need to learn to prioritize the use of their resources to make an impact.

So while his work may not take him home when he graduates, Ocheya is sure it will take him where he is needed.

“I believe my skills are not needed in the U.S. at this time,” he said. “The yields in the U.S. are over 5 tons per hectare. But in Africa, for instance, it is 2 to 3 tons per hectare. So every year they have to import wheat. And with oil prices going up, that is not sustainable at all. This is where I am needed.”

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August 2014 — Issue 1

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News

Rains boost hay production in some parts of Texas

By RoBeRt BuRns Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

While some parts of Texas have been lucky when it comes to hay production, others likely will have an expensive go at feeding cattle this winter, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

“We’ve been blessed with rainfall during our spring and even during the mid-summer in East Texas,” said Vanessa Corriher-Olson, AgriLife Extension forage specialist in Overton.

“So hay production in the eastern part of the state has been higher than other areas.”

Though the rest of the state has received some rain, drought conditions persist, which has of course pretty much stymied hay production in much of the state, Corriher-Olson said.

“Part of Central Texas, around Waco and along the I-35 corridor, did receive some rainfall, but not as much as we have had in East Texas, and probably did not provide much improvement in hay production,” she said.

West Central Texas also received some good rains in late May and early June, which helped hay production, but the area remains under moderate to severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Though hay production has

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Robert Burns

Hay, hay and more hay — a common sight in East Texas this year, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts. been good in East Texas, it hasn’t been as good as it might have been because of the frequent rains, Corriher-Olson said. Mid-summer is usually a drier time for East Texas, which is conducive to curing and harvesting hay. But frequent rains have made it a challenge in some areas to get the hay in.

She also said she hasn’t seen much hay moving out of East Texas or out of the state.

“Some are rebuilding their stocks, and many have pastures that are still recovering from the drought of 2011 and subsequent droughts,” CorriherOlson said.

With pastures still in recovery, livestock producers will

need hay to make up for lack of grazing.

She also noted that with the chances of a moderately strong El Niño this fall, the prospects for winter pasture are better than they have been in years. A strong El Niño usually means a wetter late fall and winter for all of the Southwest and Southeast U.S. “This presents us with an excellent chance to reduce costs and preserve hay stocks, not just in East Texas but in Central Texas and other areas too,” she said.

Corriher-Olson will be conducting a training, “Winter Pastures for Central and East Texas,” Aug. 12, at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton.

For more information on the

training, go to today.agrilife. org/?p41113.

More information on the current Texas drought and wildfire alerts can be found on the AgriLife Extension Agricultural Drought Task Force website at agrilife.tamu.edu/drought/.

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries: Southeast — Soil moisture varied widely throughout the region, with most counties having adequate levels, but some reporting as much as 100 percent surplus.

Rangeland and pasture ratings varied widely too, from excellent to good, with good ratings being the most common. Hay harvesting con-

See HAY, Page 27

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August 2014 — Issue 1

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Hay, from Page 26 tinued throughout much of the region. Spotty precipitation continued across Brazoria County, with more rain forecast. Most hay producers just finished taking either a second or third cutting. Livestock were in good condition, and the grain sorghum harvest began. In Chambers County, rice was maturing fast.

Recent rains were not good for the rice crop as it increased disease pressure. Also, the rains did not come at an opportune time for rice flowering and pollination. Heavy rains in Orange County caused flooding and left standing water in hay fields. Cooler temperatures slowed forage growth. In Brazos County, scattered showers greatly benefited pastures and row crops.

Central — Soil moisture, rangeland and pastures, livestock and overall crop conditions were rated good throughout the region. However, lack of rain could soon start to slow forage growth in some areas. Cotton was in good condition.

Some dryland producers anticipated record yields. Corn harvesting was expected to start in two weeks, and producers were expecting re-

cord yields with this crop as well.

Hay production was proceeding well. Earlier rains maintained creek and pond levels. Livestock were holding strong. Producers were still fighting sugarcane aphids in grain sorghum. Some had already treated twice with the emergencyuse pesticide Transform.

Coastal Bend — Sorghum and corn growers were busy harvesting.

Sorghum yields were averaging in 4,000 to 6,000 pounds per acre.

Early planted cotton was opening bolls. Spraying for bollworms resumed in some areas. Grasshoppers continued to be a problem for pasture and forage crops, as well as lawn and gardens. Pasture grasses needed more moisture and a break from the blistering summer heat.

East — The region had belownormal temperatures and abovenormal precipitation for mid-July.

Some counties had 1 inch to more than 6 inches of rain. San Augustine County received 6.5 inches of rain during a four-day period. Wood County, which had remained dry for several weeks, finally received some rain.

CARC ASS DATA

TE PRIVA Y T A E TR

AgriLife Extension’s Travis Miller elected to Texas Plant Protection Association board of directors

By Blair Fannin Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

COLLEGE STATION — Travis Miller, interim associate director for state operations with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, has been elected to the board of directors for the Texas Plant Protection Association.

“We are extremely pleased to have Dr. Miller join our group of outstanding leaders on the TPPA Board,” said Ray Smith, chairman of the Texas Plant Protection Association.

“Travis is well known throughout Texas and has an extensive background in agronomy throughout the state.”

Miller joined AgriLife Extension in 1979 as an agrono-

mist based in Weslaco.

His responsibilities included field trials and educational programming, primarily in cotton, corn, sorghum and soybeans in the Rio Grande Valley.

In 1982, Miller became the state Extension specialist for small grains and soybeans, headquartered in College Station, a position.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural mechanization from Texas A&MKingsville, and master’s and doctoral degrees in soil science from Texas Tech University.

More information about the Texas Plant Protection Association, including its annual conference Dec. 10-11 in Bryan, can be found at tppa. tamu.edu/.

Texas A&M AgriLife Communications photo by Kathleen Phillips

Travis Miller, interim associate director for state operations with theTexasA&MAgriLife Extension Service, has been elected to the board of the Texas Plant Protection Association.

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News Checkoff, from Page 20

LIVESTOCK MARKET REPORT Buffalo

Results of the Buffalo Livestock Market’s July 12 sale: Head: 1,506 Steers: 150-200 lbs., $325-$415; 200-300 lbs., $300-$360; 300400 lbs., $285-$355; 400-500 lbs., $235$320; 500-600 lbs., $215-$270; 600-700 lbs., $195-$225.

Heifers: 150-200 lbs., $295-$375; 200-300 lbs., $270-$340; 300400 lbs., $265-$330; 400-500 lbs., $235$282; 500-600 lbs., $205-$2527; 600-700 lbs., $195-$245; 700800 lbs., $150-$210.

Slaughter bulls: $110$148.

Slaughter cows: $65$132.

Bred cows: $1,150-

$2,025.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,100$2,425.

Results of the Groesbeck Auction and Livestock Exchange’s July 17 sale: Head: 603 Steers: 300-400 lbs., $300-$360; 400-500 lbs., $275-$325; 500600 lbs., $245-$285; 600-700 lbs., $200$240.

Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $275-$330; 400-500 lbs., $210-$280; 500600 lbs., $190-$260; 600-700 lbs., $190$240.

Slaughter bulls: $124$149.

Slaughter cows: $76$134.

Stocker cows: $1,250$2,500.

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Results of the Milano Livestock Exchange’s July 15 sale: Head: 403 Steers: 300-400 lbs., $245-$305; 400-500 lbs., $225-$293; 500600 lbs., $190-$251; 600-700 lbs., $155$221.

Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $223-$279; 400-500 lbs., $177-$253; 500600 lbs., $179-$233; 600-700 lbs., $151$209.

Slaughter bulls: $98$137.

Slaughter cows: $81$120.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,075$1,950.

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ward to working with those who supported and opposed this election to earn their confidence in their investment.”

Voting on the measure took place June 2–6. Beef producers, regardless of age, who owned cattle in Texas between June 6, 2013, and June 6, 2014, were eligible to vote in the election.

The Beef Checkoff program will be used for the promotion, marketing, research and educational efforts of beef and beef products for prospective consumers of Texas beef around the world.

As required under the Texas Ag ricul-

Results of the Navasota Livestock Auction Co.’s July 12 sale: Head: 1,959 Steers: 150-300 lbs., $200-$405; 300-400 lbs., $200-$360; 400-500 lbs., $175-$305; 500-600 lbs., $160-$250; 600-700 lbs., $155-$224.

Heifers: 150-300 lbs., $195-$350; 300-400 lbs., $185-$290; 400500 lbs., $175-$250; 500-600 lbs., $165$240; 600-700 lbs., $160-$225.

Slaughter bulls: $100$148.

Slaughter cows: $85$117.

Stocker cows: $1,000$2,250.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,350$2,250.

— Special to The Post

ture Code, the Texas Department of Agriculture conducted the referendum following a petition from cattle industry organizations on behalf of their members.

After cattle owners voted, a canvassing committee of representatives from the department and the Texas Secretary of State counted the votes.

The department conducted an eligibility audit of voters, which confirmed the vote results.

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August 2014 — Issue 1



The Land & Livestock Post

News

MAGLIME

Some folks and groups don’t want us to know ‘where our food comes from’

Q

uestion: Who would like RFDtv off the air? Or U.S. Farm Report? Who would like Farm Bureaus shut down, along with the National Cattlemen’s Association, the Pork Producers, the Egg Council, the Northern Ag Network, Range magazine, the Delmarva Farmer, the Farm Journal, the Beef Checkoff, the Brownfield Ag Network? Who would like to make it illegal for movie stars, sports stars, heroes, singers and baby calves to be pictured with a milk moustache?

Answer: Any person or group who does not want people to know “where your food comes from.”

The first one that comes to mind is the Humane Society of the U.S. (not associated with the local Humane Society in your home town). It makes a living attempting to make farmers and ranchers look bad. I don’t question its motive — it’s a job, it’s how it pays the bills. Its employees come to work each day and send out letters asking for the “cash” so they can “fight the evil farmers and ranchers.” As long as it can keep its donors misinformed, blindfolded and mislead about the whole truth, the “cash” keeps comin’ in!

Another factor that is critical, is to portray agriculture, be it modern or homegrown, as inhumane, environmentally harmful, and run by insensitive, country hicks who have no real moral attachment to the animals and the land — that it’s all about money. That is easy for Humane Society workers to understand since so much of their own time and effort and commitment is dedicated to the pursuit of “cash.”

There seems to be endless quasi-associations seeking funds to “protect and enhance

the wildlife and the habitat, the heritage and the natural resources.” They pop up every time someone can find a cause that will stimulate the “cash.”

But just having a good cause is not enough. They must create a straw man to portray the enemy. That eliminates any deep inspection of the validity of their cause, and ranchers and farmers, hunters, miners, lumberjacks and oil field roughnecks fill their bill.

BAXTER BLACK Another On the Edge of influential Common Sense group of people who don’t want people to know “where their food comes from” are politicians with a prejudice against those who work the land. Their reasons are usually personal; some childhood animosity that is now being repaid because they have the power, a guilt complex because they were born with a golden spoon, maybe the only farmer he knows ran against him for office. Who knows?

RFDtv is being dropped from some media networks that are intent on merging. The reason given is that a network about and for agriculture is not relevant to the modern urban viewer. The Humane Society of the U.S., among others, will be thrilled!

Agriculture on television is one of the few places where the consumer can get to know “where their food comes from.”

The presence of agriculture is growing. It’s not uncommon to see or hear news stories about farmers and ranchers. Most are good. Most reporters are

The Land & Livestock Post



reasonable people; they eat bacon and hamburger. They have a general concept that global population growth will demand more food, and that the USDA represents and is involved with keeping our food safe.

They are like most Americans: They trust farmers and ranchers and expect us to stay on top of things. We are able to do that because we have access to such a broad source of information, (see first paragraph).

We continue to educate and include the curious urban consumers in our thinking.

We invite them to see for themselves; to know the truth about our business and to show them “where your food really comes from.”

And that, my friends, is the last thing the Humane Society of the U.S., the extremist “antis,” and vengeful offended politicians want them to know.

• Contact Baxter Black at www.baxterblack.com.

Rainwater harvesting class planned in Seguin

By PAul SchAttenBerg Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

SEGUIN — The “Rainwater Harvesting for Homeowners” program will be held from 10 a.m.noon Aug. 12 at the GuadalupeBlanco River Authority’s River Annex, 905 Nolan St. in Seguin.

The program is a joint effort of the Geronimo and Alligator Creeks Partnership, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board.

Attendees are asked to RSVP to Ling at wling@ag.tamu.edu or 979-845-6980 in order to ensure adequate materials.

August 2014 — Issue 1

• Maglime is an Agricultural Limestone Material containing about 90% Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) and 8% Magnesium Carbonate (MgCO3) and about 2% Acid Insoluble.

• Over 4,000,000 tons of Maglime have been spread on the soils of East Texas and Louisiana. Maglime has been used to neutralize soil acidity and to provide calcium and magnesium to the plants and animals which live on the land.

• Many farmers and ranchers realize they need agricultural limestone when applied fertilizer is less effective than in the past.

• Soils in East Texas and Louisiana become acid for three reasons. High amounts of rain leach calcium and magnesium out of the soil. Commercial fertilizers are typically acidic compounds. The removal of crops and animals from the land take calcium and magnesium with them as they go to market.

• When Maglime is applied to an acid soil, calcium, magnesium, nitrogen, phosphorous, and potash all become more available to the plants as the soil acidity is reduced.

• Maglime is sold in two grades of fineness, premium and super fine. Studies rate the super fine as 100 percent effective while the premium is rated at about 65 percent effective. Some people find that the better handling, spreading, and storage characteristics of the premium grind offset its lower efficiency.

• Much of the land on which Maglime is spread is used to grow forage for breeder cows. The fact that milk is a rich source of calcium is widely known. A rapidly growing calf demands a lot of calcium because its bones are primarily composed of calcium and phosphorus. A fully grown 1,200 pound calf has about 200 pounds of bone • Legumes, such as clovers, soybeans, and alfalfa are a unique group of plants that can transform atmospheric nitrogen into a source of plant food.

Legumes typically will grow best in neutral or alkaline soil that is rich in calcium. Where soils are acidic and deficient in calcium and magnesium, legumes typically show a dramatic response to the application of Maglime.

• If your soils are acidic or are deficient in calcium or magnesium, give us a call at 800 772 8272. We will be glad to put you in touch with a Maglime distributor in your local area or provide more information regarding Maglime.

TEXAS CRUSHED STONE 800-772-8272

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