Land and Livestock Post by The Eagle Advertising Department

September 15, 2012

Roughage It

MANAGING WINTER PASTURES TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FORAGE FOR THE HERD RETIRING KIND OF GUY

PAG E 1 6 LCRA TO EXPAND WATER SUPPLY

Ed Smith leaves AgriLife Extension Service.

Good news for Texas rice growers.

PAGE 5

PAGE 11

THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY

ON THE MEND

Cotton crop reported ‘all over the board.’

Bastrop State Park slowly recovers from fire.

PAGE 9

PAGE 26

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From the General Manager the sport but I would have gladly offered a trophy or a cash prize for them to stop pelting me. While Wisconsin deals with the issue of managing its cow chips, it is also a good time for folks in Texas to start managing pastures. In our cover story, we take a deeper look at managing fall pastures and getting them ready for winter grasses, and how to stock your pastures to make sure you get the most out of them. In addition to our cover story we have a wide array of stories ranching from pocket gophers to deep fried cactus, so you’re sure to find something you like. Hope you enjoy it, and thanks for reading. ’Til next time,

Several changes have been made to the way the Texas Farm Service Agency reports a producer’s farm program payments to the producer and to IRS. Acting Executive Director James B. Douglass, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Texas Farm Service Agency, announced the changes for calendar year 2012. In past years, IRS Form 1099-G would be issued to show all program payments received from the Farm Service Agency, regardless of the amount. “Starting with calendar year 2012, producers whose total reportable payments from [the Texas Farm Service Agency] are less than $600 will not receive IRS Form 1099-G (Report of Payments to Producers),” Douglass said. “Additionally, producers who receive payments from more than

one county will only receive one Form 1099-G if the total of all payments from all counties is $600 or more,” he said. “Producers who receive less than $600 in combined payments should consult a tax adviser to determine if these payments must be reported on their tax return,” Douglass said. “If the payments were subject to voluntary withholdings or subject to backup (involuntary) withholdings a Form 1099-G will be issued regardless of the total amount of the payments,” Douglass said. The same changes will apply to producers and vendors who normally receive IRS Form 1099-MISC from FSA. For more information regarding IRS reporting changes, please contact your local Texas Farm Service Agency office.

• September 15, 2012

ith this being an election year, you wouldn’t figure there would be any lack of ... well, let’s just say it’s best to tuck your jeans in your boots because it gets pretty deep. That’s why I had to include a story from Wisconsin in this issue that addresses the shortage of “pies” for an annual cow chip throwing contest. This is just a small example of the devastation caused by the ongoing drought in America’s great Midwest. On the tragedy scale, it’s pretty low, but unfortunate none the less. There is an art to throwing cow pies, and it’s a shame that there may not be enough to go around this year. I grew up in the city for the most part, but I had plenty of country cousins who would not hesitate to pick up a cow pie and fling it in my general direction, often with stunning accuracy. I don’t believe any of my kin competed professionally in

Changes in reporting farm program payments begin this calendar year

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• The Land & Livestock Post September 15, 2012

News Washington County man arrested in theft of two calves from employer’s ranch Special to The Post

Houston — A Washington County man was arrested recently by authorities after he was charged with third degree felony livestock theft. Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Doug Hutchison and Washington County Sheriff ’s Investigator Damon Wegner led the investigation. Benjamin Gonzales, 47, is accused of stealing 2 calves from his employer’s ranch in Washington County and selling them

at an auction market in Giddings, Texas. The calves were worth a total of $1,000. According to Special Ranger Hutchison, the calves were not branded, but the victim kept a close eye on his herd and noticed they were missing soon after. Hutchison said that a paper trail and eyewitness statements led authorities to Gonzales. Bond is set at $50,000. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

16-part video series to show drug cartel violence spreading north into Texas Special to The Post

SAN ANGELO — In an ongoing effort to seek increased federal resources to enhance border security, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples served as keynote speaker at the Angelo State University NarcoTerrorism Conference. As part of his presentation, Staples announced the debut of a 16-part video series titled “Texas Traffic – True Stories of Drug and Human Smuggling.” The series is available at www.ProtectYourTexasBorder.com. • Don’t establish a routine when “Federal officials in Washfeeding. Vary the times you feed. ington can no longer deny vio• Be cautious about who gets lence in Mexico is flowing into keys and combinations. the United States,” Staples said. • If possible, park trailers and “These brazen transnational equipment where they are out of criminal organizations are using view from the roadway. terrorism to smuggle drugs and • Keep tack rooms and saddle people through our Texas farms compartments on trailers locked. and ranches. The violence is not • Don’t feed in pens. only taking place along the Rio • Participate in neighborhood Grande River, but also on propCrime Watch programs. erty 50 or 60 miles north of the • Don’t build pens close to a border.” roadway. Each week over the next four • Never leave keys in tractors or months, the Texas Department other equipment. of Agriculture will release vid— Courtesy of www.tscra.org eotaped interviews with law

Theft prevention tips • Display Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association member sign on gates and entrances. It is an excellent deterrent. • Lock gates. • Brand cattle and horses. Make sure the brand is recorded with the county clerk. • Put driver’s license number on all saddles, tack and equipment. • Videotape horses and tack. Keep complete and accurate descriptions on file. Establish an organized, easy-to-find proof of ownership file to save valuable time in recovery process. • Count cattle regularly.

enforcement agents, farmers, ranchers and other citizens on the website. These “Texas Traffic” stories offer firsthand accounts of drug running, human trafficking, international trespassing and other criminal activities linked to dangerous Mexican drug cartels. “Our citizens are finding human remains in their fields along with drugs and cut fences,” Staples said. “There also have been incidents where fearful U.S. citizens have sold their property or had to hold intruders at gunpoint in order to protect their families. Clearly, this is a national security breach that demands sufficient federal resources to combat the cartels and restore safety and security to Texas soil.” The true “Texas Traffic” stories are a testament to the reality with shelter activities, support that violence initiated by Mexiany unmet needs of impacted can drug cartels is flowing into livestock and poultry producers, the United States and extendas well as assist the local veterinary community that may be affected by a catastrophic event.

Horsebackemergencyresponse team created to help in disasters Special to The Post

A horseback emergency response team, a group of approximately 20 responders who will enhance the state’s capability to assist the citizens of Texas with animal issues in emergency situations, has been created by the Texas Animal Health Commission. The commission is designated as the lead state agency for animal issues in disasters within the Texas Division of Emergency Management state response structure.

According to Amanda Bernhard, commission emergency management coordinator, “Disasters in the past have revealed the need for responders on horseback to help with livestock handling issues. Public safety, as well as animal safety, can be

compromised when displaced animals are found on public roadways, as occurred during Hurricane Ike in 2008. Experienced riders on horseback will be invaluable in capturing stray livestock, as well as assisting with other “search” or “damage assessment” operations in isolated or affected areas.” The horse responder team is composed of commission animal health inspectors, whose primary role in the aftermath of a disaster will be to assist with locating, rounding up, identifying, and moving livestock. The horse team also will perform any other appropriate duties as requested by local and state responders. In general, the Texas Animal Health Commission staff will work to reunite stray livestock with their owners, assist local jurisdictions

TODD STAPLES

Dr. Dee Ellis, commission executive director and state veterinarian, said, “The development of a mounted response team is a testimony to the dedication of [commission] personnel. These employees are volunteering to put themselves and their horses in harm’s way to help with emergency response operations. In the future, with proper training, these responders could assist not only with animal disaster issues, but also participate in other response roles as requested, including providing horseback security services, or participating in search and rescue operations.”

ing northward into other areas of the nation. In one interview, Dr. Mike Vickers, a veterinarian and longtime resident of Brooks County, compares the Texas border to a battleground and accuses the federal government of downplaying the severity of the situation. “The border is not secure,” Vickers says. “It’s dangerous. We are in a war zone. There’s absolutely no truth to what they federal officials are saying.” Using a PowerPoint presentation entitled “Texas in the Crosshairs,” Staples offered conference attendees a barrage of overwhelming statistics proving what Washington officials continue to deny. “The Mexican drug cartels are violent, they are relentless in accessing the American drug market and they have chosen Texas as their primary access point,” Commissioner Staples said. “Unfortunately, President Obama and his staff continue to make jokes about the situation and suggest our border is safer than ever. The ‘Texas Traffic’ testimonials prove the violence is here on the U.S. side of the border. The statistics also prove that the escalating violence in Mexico’s drug wars is overwhelmingly taking place along the Texas portion of our border. Texas is clearly in the crosshairs,” Staples said. The “Texas Traffic” video testimonial series and Staples’ “Texas in the Crosshairs” PowerPoint presentation can be found at www.ProtectYourTexasBorder.com.

Ed Smith: From grapefruit to making policy Director of Texas AgriLife Extension Service retires

OLLEGE STATION – When recent high school graduate Ed Smith drove his old, un-airconditioned car into College Station and moved into an un-airconditioned dorm in 1969, the Tahoka native “quite literally thought it was Hell.” Smith’s gravelly laugh fills his office as he takes a swig of his ever-present diet Pepsi. But his somber reflection returns as he recalls those who mentored him toward his career. As an 18-year-old, Smith had only a vague idea of what Texas A&M was, based on what a high school teacher had told him. And he knew nothing of the land-grant university system that began during the American Civil War. But Smith’s path was steered on a course not of his design which ultimately led to the position of director of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service — a position from which he retires Friday after 38 years with the land-grant agency. He now describes his career as just short of heavenly. “My family was low-income and no one had ever been to college, or even high school,” Smith recalls. “They didn’t believe college was affordable.”

Fatherly advice

Smith’s father, who was ill, advised his son to join the military with the hope of getting GI benefits to afford an education later. “But my agriculture teacher convinced my dad that I would work my way through school and that I could make it in college,” Smith said. “Other than my dad, that ag teacher — Lester Adams — had the greatest influence on my life. He provided me the vision and helped me to see that instead of taking basket weaving and playing football, I needed to take biology and chemistry, physics and trigonometry. I

Never boring

ED SMITH went with what he said, and it’s been good.” With a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics in 1973, Smith might have moved back to Tahoka in northwest Texas, but one of his professors threw another curve on his path. “Carl Schaeffer, an ag economics professor, had a project looking at the marketing analysis of grapefruit in the Rio Grande Valley,” Smith said. “He asked me to work on it, though at the time, I didn’t know if a grapefruit grew on a tree, a vine or what. So that was a great learning experience to work on that project. And from that, I got my master’s degree in 1975.” It was time to get a job, Smith recounted. With two degrees in agricultural economics, he accepted a job with the National Agricultural Statistics Service in Sacramento, Calif. But that would not be his path either. Extension officials had a job fair on the Texas A&M campus before he left for California, and with his father in failing health, Smith decided to check it out. “I was offered a job as assistant county agent in Seminole, Gaines County, just 80 miles from my parents, so I backed

Challenges meant the job was never boring, but Smith’s path would go in a different direction when he thought of advancing up the ladder after five years as a county agent, by then in Terry County. Smith applied for law school at Texas Tech University and was accepted in the early 1980s. He visited with his supervisor, Bill Gunter, to tell him he would be going to law school unless the agency had a program for him to pursue. Gunter described a program by then-Extension director John Hutchison to encourage people to earn a doctoral degree in Extension administration. Smith was half convinced to do it, but this was not the degree he wanted. “I convinced them that a doctorate in agricultural economics was broader and would cover the items I would need to know as an administrator,” Smith recalled. “And they agreed.” Smith became an Extension grain marketing specialist with a knack for working on farm policy, which he had fine-tuned while getting his doctorate. That parlayed into his working on policy pertaining to agricultural cooperatives — both positions with what is now the Agriculture and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M. Throughout 1980s and 90s, Smith ventured down the

policy path of his career. He recalled the 1980s real estate collapse in the U.S. which eventually led to an overhaul of federal farm policy. The policy center worked with the U.S. Congress as a “third party analytical base” to help legislators determine the best options to positively impact the most people, he said. “I never left the policy arena. It was the common denominator throughout my professional career,” Smith said. “And those were exciting times. There were no dull moments. Every day was like a new job and you didn’t get bored. I enjoyed that 20-year period very much.” That affinity for things political would be served up in a different way when Smith became director of the agency in May 2005. “I had been working with all the key agriculture and natural resources congressmen from Texas and the U.S., so from the political context, I knew the people,” Smith said. “Politics are politics and know-

ing the system can save you a lot of heartaches.”

Management style

His ease in the policy arena was complemented by his managerial preference to delegate. “I’ve always had a kind of administrative philosophy of trying to get the best people to do the job,” Smith said. “Get smarter people than you are around you, and you will be successful. Of course, getting them smarter than me wasn’t a very high bar.” Smith’s laughter returns, followed by another swig of Pepsi and then another look back. “I’m finishing my 38th year with Extension as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act,” Smith noted. “That was one of the five most important pieces of legislation in the history of this country. “It recognized that if you don’t have education, you’re not going to have economic development. So with the nation torn in two by civil war, they passed a law that said ‘we don’t

• September 15, 2012

out of the job in California,” he said. His first role in the agency that was new to him gave him lasting respect for the work of a county agent – the position he still believes is the toughest in AgriLife Extension. “You have to be a counselor, a minister, a youth director and a subject matter specialist in all the academic disciplines we deal with,” Smith said of the people who work for the agency in all of the Texas counties. “So while it is an exciting job, it is extremely challenging.”

By KATHLEEN PHILLIPS Texas AgriLife Extension Service

The Land & Livestock Post

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• The Land & Livestock Post September 15, 2012

News

Weather causes a drought in suitable ‘pies’

Wisconsin throwing contest suffers from shortage of cow chips By CARRIE ANTLFINGER Associated Press

SAUK CITY, Wis. — It’s very seldom someone talks about the quality and amount of cow dung, but in one southern Wisconsin city that’s all they’ve been talking about lately. The drought has caused a shortage of flattened, dried cow manure — or cow chips — for the Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw and Festival, which attracts about 300 throwers and 40,000 spectators to Prairie du Sac, Wis. “This is my 24th throw, and it’s never been this difficult to find chips,” said Marietta Reuter, who helps organize the festival. They use the chips from a local beef cattle herd that mostly eats grass, because the diet helps keep the chips dense and strong. The hot, dry summer — which has caused crop, water level and other problems across the nation — caused the grass to brown and cattle to stay near their barn for food and to keep cool. That means the manure in the pasture wasn’t able to dry and flatten in the sun. The committee members who run the festival usually goes out once in July to shovel the manure and let it dry in wagons in the sun. But this year they had to skip it because of the poor quality.

Instead, a few organizers went out sporadically and collected about a third of the usual amount: 200 or 300. Every year they keep the good ones that don’t break — so they will dip into the 150 to 200 in reserve barrels for this year’s competition. When searching for chips, they look for them be about the size of a Ping Pong paddle. “If it looks like it has air bubbles on the top, it’s bad chip,” Reuter said. “It won’t be worth it because it will be light and airy. But if it’s thick and solid and grassy, it’s a good chip.” Once they dry, they don’t really stink anymore. “A lot of people are afraid to pick it up,” said Terry Slotty, who runs the throw every year. “They look at it, and it looks like AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger what it is but once they touch it Terry Slotty, one of the organizers of the Wisconsin State Cow Chip throw, stands over this year’s chips in Sauk City, Wis. Orgathey notice that it’s very dry.” nizers had to dip into chip reserves because the drought caused a shortage. The men’s record was set in 1991 at 248 feet. The woman’s record is from 2005 at 157.5 feet, Reuter said. The festival will give the top finishers $200 each toward a trip to the World Championship Cow Chip Throw in Beaver, Okla., should they decide to go, Slotty said. Re u t e r ’ s b r o t h e r, Ru s s 4400 East Hwy 21, Bryan, TX 77808 Ballweg, who is the festival’s grounds chair, said the committee already is planning on a backup plan for next year. BESIDES BUILDING THE BEST TRAILERS ON THE MARKET, “We are probably going to WE ALSO OFFER A HUGE SELECTION OF: have to go out more often and pick so we can get our reserve back up a little bit,” he said.

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Remembering 38 years with agency Continued from A5

Model is strong

“I’m often asked if that model fits in 2012,” Smith said. “And I say it was important in 1700, it was important in 1900 and it will be important in 2500. Because it starts by asking the people what’s important to their economic or health or social livelihood, and then brings the science to meet those issues in their locality. That gives people the ability to make informed decisions.” “The model is strong,

so as long as the leadership in land-grant systems understand the principle and understand that all three parts – teaching, research and Extension – are absolutely necessary for economic development and success, then the model is tried and true.” Smith swallows more Pepsi and pauses after rehashing his career. “I have tried to make it fun for all the folks I’ve worked with in Extension,” he said. “There’s always a job to be done and when you can do it using your own talents, then the job is fun all the time.” “Fun” will take another form in his career as Smith considers the next turn on his path.

“I’ve never golfed, never fished, never hunted and I don’t have any hobbies. So I’ve obviously got to find something fun to do. I need to get in shape. Maybe you’ll see me on TV Ed Smith Does Yoga telling everyone to stretch or whatever. I told my wife I would be hers 24/7/365 and she said she was going back to work,” Smith said through deep laughter. “Actually, I have two grandkids in Houston and two in Austin, along with my sons and their wives. So I have lots of grandpa-type stuff to deal with,” he said. “And you know, Extension depends a lot on volunteers. Maybe I’ll be a volunteer.”

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DES MOINES, Iowa — Cattle are being bred with genes from their African cousins who are accustomed to hot weather. New corn varieties are emerging with larger roots for gathering water in a drought. Some day, the plants may even be able to “resurrect” themselves after a long dry spell, recovering quickly when rain returns. Across American agriculture, farmers and crop scientists have concluded that it’s too late to fight climate change. They need to adapt to it with a new generation of hardier animals and plants specially engineered to survive, and even thrive, in intense heat, with little rain. “The single largest limitation for agriculture worldwide is drought,” said An-

drew Wood, a professor of plant physiology and molecular biology at Southern Illinois University. On his Kansas farm, Clay Scott is testing a new kind of corn called Droughtguard as his region suffers through a second consecutive growing season with painfully scarce precipitation. “These are products I really need,” Scott said. “I couldn’t be any happier that they are working on these products.” The urgency is also evident in Texas, where rainfall has been below normal since 1996. Crops and pastures were devastated in 2011 by a searing drought, and some got hit again this year. Ranchers have sold off many animals they couldn’t graze or afford to feed. Cattle inventory, at 97.8 million head as of July 1, is the smallest since the U.S.

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• September 15, 2012

have money but we’ll give you land to start a public university in each of the states.’ And the sole objective is that the common person, the Ed Smiths of the world, doesn’t have to have wealth to receive a higher education,” he said. That legislation was followed by the Hatch Act in 1887, which established experiment, or research, stations to study particular agriculture issues in connection with the public land-grant university, Smith noted. And the Smith-Lever Act was tacked on in 1914 to establish the county agent structure that would take the information

from the universities and research stations to the local producers, where it would be applied to grow more and healthier food and fiber crops for the people.

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• The Land & Livestock Post September 15, 2012

News Livestock reports Brazos Valley

Results of the Brazos Valley Livestock Commission’s August 28 sale: Head: 706 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $ 205-$225; 300-400 lbs., $177$207.50; 400-500 lbs., $154$191; 500-600 lbs., $137-$161; 600-700 lbs., $120-$137; 700800 lbs., $122-$132. Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $170$190, 300-400 lbs., $158-$186; 400-500 lbs., $128-$148; 500600 lbs., $122-$138; 600-700 lbs., $112-$129; 700-800 lbs., $118-$125. Slaughter bulls: $84-$94. Slaughter cows: $62-$84. Bred cows: $925-$1,325. Cow/calf pairs: $1,250.

Buffalo

Results of the Buffalo Livestock Marketing’s August 25 sale: Head: 1,480 Steers: 150-200 lbs., $175$280; 200-300 lbs., $170-$250; 300-400 lbs., $165-$217; 400500 lbs., $155-$185; 500-600 lbs., $130-$170; 600-700 lbs., $120-$142; 700-800 lbs., $115$136. Heifers: 150-200 lbs., $150$265; 200-300 lbs., $145-$245, 300-400 lbs., $140-$195; 400500 lbs., $135-$175; 500-600 lbs., $130-$165; 600-700 lbs., $125-$145; 700-800 lbs., $115$143. Slaughter bulls: $84-$101. Slaughter cows: $55-$87. Bred cows: $925-$1,375. Cow/calf pairs: $900-$1,600.

Caldwell

Results of the Caldwell Livestock Commission’s August 29 sale: Head: 469 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $200$220; 300-400 lbs., $180-$210; 400-500 lbs., $155-$185; 500600 lbs., $135-$155; 600-700 lbs., $125-$140; 700-800 lbs., $120-$130. Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $170$180; 300-400 lbs., $160-$190; 400-500 lbs., $140-$175; 500600 lbs., $130-$155; 600-700 lbs., $120-$130; 700-800 lbs., $120-$125. Slaughter bulls: $80-$95. Slaughter cows: $55-$85. Stocker cows: $1,000-$1,200.

Groesbeck

Results of the Groesbeck Auction and Livestock Exchange’s August 30 sale:

Head: 561. Steers: 300-400 lbs., $190$235; 400-500 lbs., $180-$220; 500-600 lbs., $155-$170; 600700 lbs., $140-$155. Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $175$195; 400-500 lbs., $145-$160; 500-600 lbs., $140-$150; 600700 lbs., $130-$137. Slaughter bulls: $96-$103. Slaughter cows: $77-$83. Stocker cows: $1,000-$1,400. Cow/calf pairs: $900-$1,500.

Jordan

Results of the Jordan Cattle Auction Market August 30 sale: Head: 5,361 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $200$232; 300-400 lbs., $175$232.50; 400-500 lbs., $150$211; 500-600 lbs., $140-$163; 600-700 lbs., $130-$144; 700800 lbs., $120-$134. Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $160$195; 300-400 lbs., $150-$190; 400-500 lbs., $130-$174; 500600 lbs., $125-$160; 600-700 lbs., $120-$141; 700-800 lbs., $115-$127. Slaughter bulls: $85-$98. Slaughter cows: $68-$87. Stocker cows: $750-$1,900. Cow/calf pairs: $1,000-$2,025.

Milano

Results of the Milano Livestock Exchange’s August 28 sale: Head: 439. Steers: 300-400 lbs., $152$205; 400-500 lbs., $150-$195; 500-600 lbs., $129-$156; 600700 lbs., $110-$140. Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $130-$167.50; 400-500 lbs., $125-$150; 500-600 lbs., $117$147.50; 600-700 lbs., $111$135. Slaughter bulls: $95-$104. Slaughter cows: $61-$83. Stocker cows: $1,000-$1,060.

Navasota

Results of the Navasota Livestock Auction Co.’s August 25 sale: Head: 1,606. Steers: 150-300 lbs., $150$300; 300-400 lbs., $150-$220; 400-500 lbs., $125-$200; 500600 lbs., $120-$150; 600-700 lbs., $115-$140. Heifers: 150-300 lbs., $135$290; 300-400 lbs., $130-$190; 400-500 lbs., $120-$160; 500600 lbs., $115-$148; 600-700 lbs., $115-$137.50. Slaughter bulls: $80-$100. Slaughter cows: $50-$84. Stocker cows: $850-$1,550. — Special to The Post

Texas cotton crop reported ‘all over the board’ By RoBeRt BuRns Texas AgriLife Extension Service

• September 15, 2012

COLLEGE STATION – The Texas cotton crop is “all over the board,” according to Gaylon Morgan, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service statewide cotton specialist in College Station. Morgan briefly summed up the situation, starting in South Texas: Rio Grande Valley has wrapped up its irrigated cotton harvest, he said. The Coastal Bend area finished quite some time ago, with most fields either showing very low yields or being disastered-out by crop insurance adjusters. “As you move up the coast, into Victoria and the upper Gulf Coast region — Wharton, El Campo and Colorado County areas — things are actually looking very good,” Morgan said. “We harvested some cotton variety trials down there,

and a lot was pushing twoand-a-half to a little over three bales per acre.” North into the Brazos Valley, the cotton harvest just started the end of August, but Morgan expected yields on both dryland and irrigated cotton to be very good. “And I’ve heard similar reports from the Uvalde area on irrigated land,” he said. In the Blacklands, the harvest was nearly over, with yields varying greatly depending on rainfall, ranging from a little more than a bale to as much as two bales per acre. Rains came just in time for some northern Blackland cotton producers. “Of course, most of that is dryland cotton,” he said. “But guys in the northern Blacklands were pleasantly surprised by some of their yields. In the southern Blacklands,

The Land & Livestock Post

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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Gaylon Morgan

See Rains, Page a10 Cottony clouds hang over a cotton field inWharton County.Parts of the Upper Gulf Coast saw good cotton yields thanks to timely

rains, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. Conditions varied widely throughout the state in September.

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• The Land & Livestock Post September 15, 2012

News Rains offer producers some help across portions of Texas Continued from A9

The Rolling Plains has been suffering from a substantial drought most of the season, which has hammered both dryland and irrigated cotton production, Morgan said. “Scattered showers have helped some of the dryland cotton keep going, but mainly it’s helped some of the irrigated guys by supplementing irrigation,” he said. “I heard some late-planted cotton in the Rolling Plains is doing okay because it caught some timely rains in the last 30 days. But the earlier-planted cotton pretty much burned up before the rains came though. “Late-planted irrigated cotton that got some of those rains may make average yields, but it’s going to be far from a bumper crop.” In the High Plains and South Plains, it’s again a “mixed bag,” Morgan said. Dryland cotton is lost, but the recent rains helped supplement irrigation there too.

“There have been some areas where scattered showers fell and dryland cotton looked decent, but as a whole, they continued to suffer from the long-term drought,” he said. It’s too early to make estimates for the total Texas cotton crop, but simply because so much of the state’s cotton is usually grown in the Southern Plains and Rolling Plains, it will certainly be a below-normal year, Morgan noted. 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 — Montgomery County remained dry, and there were various levels of grasshopper and armyworm infestations. Producers were harvesting hay. Waller County was very hot and windy due to Hurricane Isaac, but did not

receive any rain. In Burleson County, pastures were declining, and the harvesting of row crops continued. In Brazoria County, the last of the grain sorghum was harvested. The delayed harvest there was due to late planting. High pecan yields were expected, with tree limbs already breaking under heavy nut loads. In Jefferson County, the lows were in the 70s and the highs in the 90s, and 1.5 to 2 inches of rain was received. Orange County reported cooler temperatures, which enhanced forage growth. A drying trend there promoted hay harvesting. Central — Many counties had spotty showers, but overall the region remained dry. In some counties, weed pressure and lack of rain continued to slow recovery of native forages. In other areas, pastures benefited from rain. Many will have enough warm-season grass for another hay cutting. Improved varieties of grass that were earlier fertilized greened back up and began to grow. As the corn harvest

See Cotton, Page A19

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Robert Burns Rains came just in time for some northern Blackland cotton producers.

LCRA purchases land to expand water supply Matagorda County. Most farmers this year got no water from LCRA, but Simon estimated that the amount of excess water flowing through the river that off-channel reservoirs could have captured would have been enough for more than a year’s worth of rice crops. Rice farmers are the authority’s biggest customers. Another purchase approved by the LCRA was for water-rich land in Rockdale owned by aluminum maker Alcoa. White said the 34,000-acre property comes with a “significant amount of surface water rights,” and the parcel is expected to add 45,000 acre-feet per year in water supply. An acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons of water, enough for three average Central Texas households for a year.

• September 15, 2012

AUSTIN (AP) — Faced with shrinking resources brought on by severe Texas drought, the Lower Colorado River Authority is moving toward buying water-rich land near the Gulf Coast in a sale cheered by rice farmers who were largely denied water this year because of short supply. The LCRA, which manages lakes and rivers that provide drinking water for more than 1 million people around Central Texas, had no immediate estimate how much water a pair of planned off-channel reservoirs would hold. The LCRA also did not disclose the price for the 4,200 acres in Wharton and Colorado counties. The money put down will take the properties off the market for a year while the LCRA considers a final purchase, spokesman Jerry White told the Austin AmericanStatesman. Currently, the LCRA relies entirely on the Colorado River basin for supply. By putting reservoirs on the proposed sites, the authority says it could capture excess flows downstream that could be stored away and used to meet later demand. “This is a significant day in LCRA history, and this year has been a good example of why we need downstream reservoirs,” board Vice Chairwoman Rebecca Klein said in a statement. Rice farmers hailed the news as “a very positive development,” said Haskell Simon, a longtime farmer and local and regional leader in

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• Information from: Austin AmerPhoto courtesy of tsswcb.texas.gov ican-Statesman, www.statesman. The Colorado River at Bastrop falls under the control of the Lower Colorado River Authority.

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• The Land & Livestock Post September 15, 2012

News

Don’t dump your pets on a country road P

eople love pets. Let me rephrase that: Pets have a welcome place in many households around the country. Approximately one-third of all homes in the U.S. have a cat or dog. It is a common response when students are asked why they chose to go into the veterinary medicine or vet tech professions, to say, “I just love little animals!” Psychologically, it is possible for some humans to literally “love animals.” They can develop an extreme attachment to them or, more likely, to one individual pet — be it a dog, cat or horse. I would guess the preponderance of these very close attach-

ments occur during childhood and have a deep, emotionally entangled relationship. As a person matures, starts a family and acquires grown-up responsibilities, a pet-affection must compete with other important demands on their heart. A person may still enjoy the company of a dog or cat. BACTER BLACK I have On the Edge of been surCommon Sense rounded by dogs and cats most of my life. I had one or two that I shed a

Texas fruit, nut grower meeting set for October at Brazos Center By Kathleen PhilliPs Texas AgriLife Extension Service

Information on growing fruit and nut crops in different regions of Texas — whether commercially or at home — will be presented by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service Oct. 11-12 at the Brazos Center, 3232 Briarcrest Drive in Bryan. Talks will include new orchard establishment, insects and diseases, fruit varieties, and challenges and opportunities. Earth-Kind techniques for producing fruit and nuts will be discussed as well. “The conference will be valuable to anyone interested in growing fruits or nuts for health, wealth or recreation,” said Monte Nesbitt, AgriLife Extension horticulture program specialist in College Station, one of the organizers. “While it will assist commercial fruit producers, it also will be helpful to homeowners and gardeners who simply want to grow fruits and nuts.” Because Texas has a wide range of weather, soil types and water availability, Nesbitt said, the varieties and methods for

growing fruits and nuts differ among the regions. “AgriLife Extension specialists from Fredericksburg, Lubbock, Uvalde and College Station will present successful growing practices for pecans, figs, citrus, olives and pomegranates,” Nesbitt said. “High tunnels, tools for protecting fruit crops from frost damage and extending market windows will also be discussed.” Other fruit crops on the agenda are peaches, plums and other stone fruits, apples, pears, persimmons, blackberries, strawberries, blueberries and grapes. Grower Dale Ham of Terrell will talk about his experiences growing peaches and berries at Ham Orchard. Pesticide continuing education units are offered for this event. The meeting costs $75 via online registration at agriliferegister.tamu.edu through Oct. 2. AgriLife Extension county agents may register there for $45. Onsite registration is $80. For more information and the complete schedule, see bit. ly/PtH8ql.

tear for, and many more who were “part of the farm life,” i.e., cowdogs, barn cats, strays, ravens, rabbits, fish, a good horse, county fair animals and the occasional ‘marker’ beast. I figger if we gave the animal a name, even ones such as Born to Buck or Lead Foot, we have elevated them in our consciousness. In a recent study, over the past 10 years, pet ownership is down 2.4 percent. Analysts concluded it is the economy and changing demographics, i.e. two-parent families with children are the most likely to have pets. As America and Canada move away from traditional households, pet numbers decline. It can be an expensive hobby these days for the average family. Fear not that they are in danger of extinction, however.

There are still 70 million dogs and 74 million cats living in our homes and, to our consternation, millions more are being dumped on our farm roads and/or taken to the local humane society. There are radical animal rights groups who want to outlaw the raising and selling of registered breeds of dogs. Their convoluted logic is that people who would like to own a dog of their choice should be forced to buy a pet from a local animal shelter instead. Those of us who live in the country realize irresponsible pet owners, just as irresponsible horse owners, neither will neuter nor spay their pets. And if the pets become a nuisance, the owners will drop them off down a country road. They assume the animal will find a home.

The truth is, we who are being dumped-on usually take on the responsibility of humanely disposing of your unwanted, abused or neglected animals. We do it for the animal’s sake, just as the local animal shelters do. And let me tell you, we do not take pleasure in killing the animals you don’t want. So, the decision you make when you consider a pet is not “how you will raise and care for it,” but rather “what will you do when you decide you don’t want it anymore, even though your children just love little animals?” We all will thank you. • Baxter Black is a former large animal veterinarian who writes a syndicated column and appears regularly on National Public Radio. His website is www.baxterblack.com.

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RangemanagementsocietyannualmeetingOct.10-12 By Kay LedBetter Texas AgriLife Extenion Service

ral resources. “We’re proud to be hosting this year,” Roeder said, adding that the German-settled community of Fredericksburg has a rich history for visitors to explore. He suggested those planning to attend the meeting should log into www.visitfredericksburgtx.com for information on area tourism. The meeting will kick off with a tour of the living history Sauer-Beckmann Farmstead, presented as it was in 1918, and modern-day Wildseed Farms on Oct. 10. A mixer/social and dance will follow that evening at Lady Bird Park. The Oct. 11 morning program will be in the park’s Pioneer Pavilion and will consist of presentations by ranchers and scientists discussing both the settlement and ecological history

Fried cactus a finalist at Texas State Fair DALLAS (AP) — Hold the thorns. Fried cactus was announced as one of eight finalists for the zany food of choice at the Texas State Fair. Officially called “chicken fried cactus bites,” thinly sliced prickly pear cactus pads will be fried in chicken batter and served with jalapeno ranch and agave nectar dipping sauces. If something sweet sounds a little better, fairgoers can try fried chocolate tres leches cake. The cake will be soaked

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in buttermilk batter and fried, then topped with cinnamon, whipped cream, strawberries and peaches. Other finalists from the deep fryer include jambalaya, macaroni and cheese, cinnamon rolls

and pork wings. Vendors are competing in the categories of best taste and most creative. The state fair runs Sept. 28 to Oct. 21 at Fair Park, east of downtown Dallas.

Facing the reality of a changing climate Department of Agriculture began a July count in 1973. Ron Gill, a rancher who also heads the animal science department at Texas A&M University, said research has been under way for years to develop cattle that can withstand heat and grow on lower-quality forage. Last year, he started incorporating into his herd Beefmaster cattle, a cross between Brahman cattle, which originated in India, and European breeds that include Herefords and Shorthorns. He’s also experimenting with the appropriately named Hotlanders, a Texas breed developed for its heat tolerance using genetics from Senepol cows bred

of the Edwards Plateau. Other topics will include how ranchers have coped with changing times, women’s heritage in rangeland management and the history of land tenure. Afternoon presentations will describe changes in land use over time, military application of rangeland management on Camp Bullis and water use by juniper in the Honey Creek Hydrology Study. Later presentations will include carbon sequestration on rangeland, the relationship of habitat quality to ecological sites for endangered species and “Your Rattlesnakes are getting into My Yard!” The day will conclude with an annual awards banquet, followed by a dance. “You will not want to miss any of these,” Cearley said. The Oct. 12 morning session will be held at the Inn on Baron’s Creek Conference Center and will continue with presentations on managing huisache, Texas native seed, new herbi-

in the Virgin Islands. As ranchers replenish their livestock, the advice from experts is to breed drought tolerance into herds. “We’re telling people, ‘Regardless of what you have to buy to restock, your future breeding programs need to target this new normal and re-establish a different paradigm than what we’ve had in the past,’” Gill said. It’s no different for farmers in the nation’s Corn Belt, who are confronting a drought that stretches from Ohio west to California and from Texas north to the Dakotas. Only in the 1930s and the 1950s has a drought covered more of the U.S., according to the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.

Nearly half of the nation’s corn crop is in poor or very poor condition, as well as a third of soybeans. The damage would be much worse without the crop science advancements of the last 40 years, said Andrew Wood, a professor of plant physiology and molecular biology at Southern Illinois University. “We don’t want to turn corn into a cactus,” Wood said. His perfect plant would tolerate mild drought and, when it finally rains, quickly resume “normal biology and output.” Developed by St. Louis-based Monsanto and German-based BASF, Droughtguard is a combination of the best droughttolerant seed.

cides, exotic and native grass management, mule deer, nutritive value of woody plants and keys to getting goats to eat juniper. There will be plant identification contests for the collegiate participants and the meeting attendees, as well as a trade show featuring the latest products and supplies useful in land stewardship. A poster presentation will feature many topics also that day. Certified professionals in rangeland management will earn 12 continuing education units for attending the meeting. Certified pesticide applicators will earn three continuing education units from the Texas Department of Agriculture. More detailed information as well as registration information can be found at texas.rangelands.org/. For the latest details, Cearley encourages everyone to follow the Texas Section Society for Range Management on Facebook.

• September 15, 2012

FREDERICKSBURG — “Building on Our Heritage to Prepare for the Future” will be the theme of the annual meeting of The Texas Section Society for Range Management’s Oct. 10-12 in Fredericksburg. Ken Cearley of Amarillo, Texas AgriLife Extension Service wildlife specialist and this year’s Texas Section president said the Texas Section is an organization of landowners, managers and professionals concerned with range, wildlife and water conservation in Texas. “And one of the best ways to prepare for the future,” he said, “is for some of us who have a considerable heritage to do what we can to help younger folks get

ready to take our place some day. So, annual meeting organizers Mark Moseley and Charles Anderson, along with many others, are doing their best to make this an enjoyable, productive meeting for all ages, with that goal in mind.” The meetings will be at the Pioneer Pavilion of Lady Bird Johnson Park, 432 Lady Bird Drive, and the Inn on Baron’s Creek, 308 S. Washington St. The AgriLife Extension office in Gillespie County will serve as local host for the meeting. Attendees will include members statewide and the meeting will offer continuing education units to both certified professionals in rangeland management and certified pesticide applicators, said Brad Roeder, AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natu-

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• The Land & Livestock Post September 15, 2012

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Imported ‘bio-beetles’ attack invasive saltcedar By Steve ByrnS Texas AgriLife Extension Service

DALLAS — Sometimes it takes a foreign ally to conquer a foreign invader. Such is the case with saltcedar, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service entomologist. Since 2006, a steadily growing army of tiny beetles from the invasive trees’ homelands of Crete and Tunisia have been providing biological control of the pest by eating their way through saltcedar thickets to slowly weaken the foe, said Allen Knutson, AgriLife Extension entomologist at Dallas. “Most Texans who spend time along West Texas’ rivers, streams and reservoirs recognize saltcedar,” Knutson said. “It was introduced into the U.S. as an ornamental plant in the early 1800s, but unfortunately it escaped to become an invasive species. Today, dense thickets of saltcedar choke out desirable vegetation, use large amounts of

groundwater and increase the risk of flooding as trees narrow the river channel.” Saltcedar infests some 500,000 acres in Texas, Knutson said. He added that herbicides are effective but very costly. Saltcedar arrived in the U.S. without its natural enemies, he said. Biological control reunites the saltcedar with its natural enemies, limiting the trees’ invasive nature. “We have been working to establish the leaf beetles for biological control of saltcedar since 2006,” he said. “To date, we have collected and released over 800,000 beetles in 15 West Texas counties. This year, we are starting to see the area-wide impact of this effort as beetles have defoliated saltcedar thickets along miles of the Rio Grande, Pecos, Colorado and Upper Brazos Rivers. Once established, these ‘biobeetles’ should persist without the need for additional releases.” He said the small beetles and their larvae eat saltcedar leaves. Without leaves, the trees slowly

starve to death. “Not many of these trees are ‘graveyard dead’ yet, but over time, our research and experience has shown canopies will die back and in some sites, trees will die as the beetles return each year and defoliate the trees.” In the meantime, Knutson and Mark Muegge, AgriLife Extension entomologist at Fort Stockton, said the defoliated saltcedar trees aren’t using as much water or shading out desirable species. And the defoliated trees produce few or no seeds. The saltcedar beetles eat only saltcedar and athel, a closely related tree that grows in South Texas. Knutson said the beetle project originated with work done by Jack DeLoach, entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service at Temple. Texas AgriLife soon joined the effort and has since led the beetle implementation program through

Texas AgriLife Extension Service photo by Mark Muegge The saltcedar leaf beetle species from Tunisia is proving effective in destroying the trees that are choking West Teas rivers. educational programs, applied research and redistribution of the insects to establish them at new sites. “The saltcedar biological control program has the potential to provide a low-cost, environmentally safe and sustainable

approach to managing a widespread, invasive species that impacts ranching, agriculture, recreation and water issues across the state,” Knutson said. For more information about saltcedar control see: bc4weeds. tamu.edu/.

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Hay there!

Managing winter pasture systems By RoBeRt FeaRs Special to The Post

inter forage planting options were listed in the Sept. 1 issue of Land & Livestock Post and the discussion is continued in this issue with grazing management techniques for winter pastures. This second discussion is taken primarily from Monte Rouquette Jr.’s presentation at the recent Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course on forage and pasture options for wintering cattle. Rouquette is professor with Texas AgriLife Research at Overton. The primary forage base for pastures and rangeland in Texas is warm-season perennial grasses. There is considerable grass species diversity and production due to climate variance across the state. These grasses have restricted to nonexistent growth after the first killingfrost and during the winter months, though. Therefore, management strategies for wintering cattle must include an array of options and associated costs.

Performance expectation

All cattle have daily requirements for energy and protein with roughage as the primary source. In order to make productive and economically sound decisions for wintering cattle, performance expectations must be considered for the specific class of cattle. Daily nutrient requirement for cattle classes vary with body weight, age, sex, stage of production and performance expectations. (See March 15 issue of Land & Livestock Post.) Although specifics of meeting an animal’s nutrient requirement may require study and evaluation, the “shortcut” answer is that grazing cattle prefer to consume from less than 2 percent to nearly 3 percent of their body weight daily. Intake is influenced by availability of forage and its quality. With forage nutritive value knowledge, a supplement source may be developed that will provide energy and protein requirements for animal performance expectations.

Photo by Robert Fears It is important to properly manage grazing of winter pastures so that they remain healthy for future years. Grazing cattle consume from less than 2 percent to almost 3 percent of their body weight daily. Intake is influenced by availability of forage and its quality.

Small grain pastures

Utilization of small grain pastures vary with management objectives and risk associated with the grazing venture. Small grain pastures are expensive, costing $150 to $250 per acre depending on vegetation zone, soil requirements and nitrogen rates. These costs may not necessarily be too high to justify small grain use in an overall grazing plan. Decisions on use, methods and stocking rates for small grain pastures may include the following alternatives for optimizing forage utilization. These options are not intended to be allinclusive. One alternative is to stock pastures initially so the low winter growth rate

does not necessitate animal removal. Incorporate additional cattle into the grazing scheme in mid-February to early March, or harvest excess spring growth as silage or hay. Hay is usually not a good option in March and April due to inclement weather conditions for curing. The additional cattle may be resident cows and calves or they may involve winter-spring purchased stockers. A second alternative is to stock pastures during the fall at a moderate to heavy rate and vacate pastures during the winter, if necessary. Supplement with hay and/or protein during the winter and resume grazing small grain in the spring. This option requires a sacrifice area for cattle to reside dur-

ing the potential 30- to 45-day winter period. This alternative assumes cold, inclement weather during December and January. Option 3 dictates stocking pastures initially at the optimum spring stocking rate for your area. Exercise a limitgraze scenario during the fall-winter period until the rapid spring forage growth occurs usually in late February to early March. This management strategy is a good choice for fall-calving cows and involves supplemental hay and protein in addition to a sacrifice area to use when the cattle are not grazing small grain. Normally, these limitgraze systems entail a daily two- to

See ProPer, Page A17

Proper care of pastures will ensure health in the future Continued from A16

Ryegrass/clover pastures

Stocking rates for ryegrass or ryegrass mixtures are similar to those mentioned for small grains during the late winter and spring months. Initial stocking rates that allow for an abundance of forage will provide stocker average daily gain of 2.5 to 3.0 pounds per day. Pastures that are stocked sufficiently heavy to reduce forage heights to about four inches are likely to limit stocker average daily gain to less than 2 pounds per day. Most ryegrass and/or clover pastures are used primarily by cow-calf operators rather than for stockers. A seven-year average of forage and cow-calf responses to multiple stocking rates at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton showed suckling, fallborn calf average daily gain of 1.9, 1.2 and 3.2 at stocking rates of 2.1, 1.3 and 0.8 cow-calf units per acre. (One cow-calf unit equals 1,500 pounds.) On continuously stocked pastures in East Texas, a conservative stocking rate of 0.75 to 1.35 cow-calf units has been consistently low-risk with respect to the need to de-stock from February to weaning in June or July. At 0.75 to 1.0 cow-calf units per acre, there is usually an abundance of

forage production and animal response is site specific and is affected by the timing of cultural management events and climate. Expectations of average daily gain under moderate stocking conditions are approximately 2.0 to 2.5 pounds per day for stockers and 2.5 to 3.0 pounds per day for suckling calves. For cool-season annual forages, and particularly small grain-ryegrass pastures, one of the most efficient grazing management methods is to initiate a stocking rate that allows for adequate leaf area for rapid plant growth during late winter. Once the forage has initiated a spring burst of growth, stocking rate increases may be made. Grazing management should not allow for enough small grain growth to initiate premature flowering and flag leaf set.

Photo by Robert Fears A sample from this pasture has been cut and weighed to determine the amount of available forage.

â&#x20AC;˘ September 15, 2012

three-hour grazing period with a 20- to 22-hour deferment. It is important to have an optimum number of cattle on hand and available for grazing during the spring growth flush period. The last option is to delay stocking winter pastures until mid to late winter or until the rapid spring growth occurs. This strategy may involve purchasing stocker cattle at a time when prices generally are higher than during the previous fall, but hay and supplement requirements are low during this period. Another option is to purchase calves during the fall and background them on hay, standing forage, and supplemental protein. Option 4 may also be used for cows and calves.

ryegrass-bermudagrass forage that can be harvested as hay in late May to late June. Animal performance from clovers, primarily crimson, during winter resulted in suckling calf average daily gain of 1.7, 2.4 and 3.0 pounds per day at stocking rates of 1.9, 1.2 and 0.75 cow-calf units per acre. Although suckling calf gain and pasture stocking rates were relatively similar at low stocking rates, ryegrass was more resistant to severe defoliation regimes than were the clovers. With most clovers, except arrowleaf, grazing management decisions usually dictate that cattle be removed for haying or reseeding about 30 days earlier than for ryegrass pastures. Arrowleaf clover usually matures and flowers later than annual ryegrass. Grazing management options and expectations for

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• The Land & Livestock Post September 15, 2012

News

Going to ground to get rid of pocket gophers By Sean HuBBard Oklahoma State University

S T I L LWaT e r , O k l a . — They construct and live in underground tunnels and leave mounds of soil in evidence of their excavation efforts. While sometimes considered a pest, pocket gophers can be valuable because they contribute to the formation and conditioning of the soil, and provide food for larger predators. Controlling pocket gophers, however, may be necessary when they eat garden crops, clover, roots of fruit trees, shrubs, alfalfa, or their digging activities interfere with harvesting hay or grain. “Gophers populations can be reduced over a considerable area with persistent control efforts,” said dwayne elmore, Oklahoma State university Cooperative extension wildlife specialist. “Control is best conducted when gophers are most active near the

surface, usually in the spring or fall.” Gopher activity is evident through the mounds of soil left on the surface. The two most effective gopher management techniques are poisoning and trapping. For larger areas, with more gophers doing more damage, elmore suggests contacting wildlife services which will know what currently is legal and may even conduct the control if it is impacting agricultural production. Trapping is the most practical method on smaller areas such as lawns or where few gophers are involved. Two traps of appropriate size should be placed in the main runway, one set in each direction. There should be little disturbance to the surrounding area as possible. Once the traps are set in the tunnel, cover the opening in the burrow with a clod or handful of grass to cut off most of the

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light. Traps should be fastened to a stake with a light wire as gophers instinctively cover open burrows to keep out enemies. “after traps are set, tramp down the tops of all the mounds so that mounds made by the gophers you miss will be evident on your next visit,” said elmore. “For efficient use of traps and for best results, visit trap sets morning and evening.” In large numbers, pocket gophers can have a major negative economic effect. Before a decision is made on whether or not controlling gophers is necessary, however, landowners should be aware of the animal’s long-term benefits. “Management is preferred because it recognizes the value of gophers and the impossibility of eradication,” said elmore. “Trying to eradicate any species upsets the integrity of the ecosystems in a manner we cannot posPhoto courtesy of courtesy of wdfw.wa.gov sible predict from our current knowledge of the structure and Although pocket gophers can be useful for the formation and conditioning of the function of those ecosystems.” soil, it sometimes is necessary to control their populations.

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Cotton crop good in places Continued from A10

atures and no rain stressed cotton and pastures. Early planted forages, including wheat and triticale, were not germinating because of dry conditions. Peanuts were in fair condition. The fall-calving season was ongoing. Spring calving producers who hadn’t weaned calves early were weaning them now. The peach harvest neared completion. Pecans looked good with some producers spraying for weevils. Stock tanks were still dry in some areas. South — Hot, dry and windy conditions continued. Soil-moisture levels ranged from short to very short in all counties, with the exceptions of Atascosa and Willacy counties, where they were 75 to about 80 percent adequate. Though soil moisture was rated adequate in those counties, it was not enough to green up rangeland and pastures that had been severely dried out over the summer. Ranchers continued to increase supplemental feeding of livestock to maintain good to fair body condition. Rangeland

See ‘Cooler’, Page A30

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Fall Forage

• September 15, 2012

began to grow. As the corn harvest neared completion, producers were getting ready to plant small grains for forages. Some were applying fertilizer to winter pastures. The cotton harvest began in some areas; it was about half done in others. Many were off to a good start only to be forced to wait because of rain. Pecans lood good. East — Hurricane Isaac drove spotty showers into the eastern part of the region. Counties in the western part of the region reported pastures were extremely dry and moisture-stressed. Several counties issued burn bans. Producers in some counties had excess hay for sale. Cattle remained in good condition. Livestock producers continued weaning and selling calves. Pecan tree limbs were breaking due to heavy nut loads. Southwest — Extremely dry, hot conditions continued, with a few counties receiving very light scattered showers. Pastures continued to decline with grasses going dormant. The corn and sorghum harvests were completed. Cotton was largely harvested with good yields similar to last year’s. Field preparation for small-grain planting was in progress. Livestock remained in good condition where forage was available. Rangeland was in poor condition with the risk for wildfire high. Far West — Many counties reported cooler weather. Highs were in the upper 90s, and lows in the upper 60s to lower 70s. Eastern Crane County got 1 inch of rain. In Andrews County, there were patches of green, but the native grasses hadn’t responded yet. Ector County got 0.35 to 1 inch of rain. Andrews County wheat producers were planting irrigated fields. The fifth alfalfa cutting was completed and being irrigated in El Paso County. Cotton fields were showing improvement in Upton County, while producers there continued to provide supplemental feed to livestock and wildlife. North — Soil-moisture levels were short to adequate. Pastures and hay fields continued to do well thanks to spotty rains and the slightly cooler temperatures. Cattle continued to do well too. Nearly all grain harvests were finished, with corn and grain sorghum yields above average in some counties. Corn yields were averaging 80-85 bushels per acre, and grain sorghum yields were about 5,500-5,800 pounds per acre. Grasshopper pressure remained heavy, and there

were some reports of armyworms. Feral hogs were still a problem. Panhandle — The region remained hot and dry, with soil moisture levels mostly still very short to short. Some producers were preparing land for fall planting. Deaf Smith County producers were trying to decide what to do with the corn and other crops damaged by hail in the last couple of weeks. Silage choppers, trucks and huge tractors with pushing blades were running hard and fast on some of the more severely damaged crops. Elsewhere in the region, cotton was in very poor to good condition, with most counties reporting fair. Rangeland and pastures were in very poor to poor condition. Cattle were in good condition. Rolling Plains — Pasture conditions were improving in counties that got rain last week. The rain also gave irrigated cotton a boost. Dryland cotton was still trying to hang on. Producers in some areas were preparing land for wheat and oats, and expected to begin planting soon. In other counties, hot temper-

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• The Land & Livestock Post September 15, 2012

It’s Right Around the Corner...

The 2012 ANNUAL

BULL ISSUE Call now to guarantee space!

Deadline: September 13 Publishes: October 1 Call Jesse Wright to reserve advertising space

979-731-4721 jesse.wright@theeagle.com 20

Texas school officials cautious of West Nile virus By STEVE BYRNS Texas AgriLife Extension Service

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tion of protecting their student from the possibility of a vectorborne disease, parents may apply mosquito repellents to their children and mosquito repellents may be kept in the nurses office in the event that reapplication is necessary. “It would be up to each school district to determine whether or not they want to allow the practice of keeping mosquito repellents, sent by parents for their children, in the nurses office,” he concluded. Hurley said the announcement from the Texas Department of Agriculture is important, because the repellent issue had some school districts worrying about breaking school pesticide rules. She said Kelly’s comments should allay concerns in favor of protecting students when school starts. Cecil Fueston is the McKinney school district’s integrated pest management coordinator and one of a number of area coordi-

nators working with Hurley. He said good communication both within the district and the community is the key component to a successful pest control program. “It’s very important to develop a working relationship with city and county health officials especially now with the mosquito concerns,” he said. “In my case, I know when and where the city traps mosquitoes, when they test the mosquitoes, where they fog and what product they are using,” he said. He said one often overlooked area outdoors, especially now as football two-a-day practices are underway in many areas, are the contraptions and training equipment the teams use. “Here for example, all football teams use old tractor or truck tires for strength training,” he said. “The tires lay out on the practice field the entire season. Water collects in these tires and must be removed. I drill four to

Events Calendar

September

Sept. 15: 4 States Limousin Association Sale. Mt. Pleasant, TX. 281-808-5511 Sept. 17: Jordan Cattle Auction, StockerFeeder & Premium Weaned Calf Sale. Mason, TX. Sept. 22: Farm & Ranch Equipment Auction. Sealy, TX. 979-885-2400 Sept. 24-26: TSCRA Fall Meeting. Austin, TX. Sept. 27: Advertising deadline for Land & Livestock Post Sept. 29: Rudy Mueller Estate, Real Estate Auction. Cat Spring/ Millheim Area. (979) 885-2400

six half to 3/4 inch holes in each tire, so they can’t hold water; problem solved.” In keeping with proper integrated pest management practices, Fueston is cautious where pesticide use is concerned. Under normal circumstances, pesticides are among the last resorts used to control a pest outbreak after more preventative measures have proven ineffective, according to Hurley. For more school-related integrated pest management information go to schoolipm.tamu. edu/forms/public-health-pestsinformation-resource/ .

• September 15, 2012

DALLAS — With Dallas officials having declared a state of emergency in regards to West Nile virus, Texas AgriLife Extension Service personnel are being flooded with calls from area school integrated pest management coordinators seeking information to allay parents’ and teachers’ mosquito concerns once school starts. “It’s a valid concern, but one that’s manageable,” said Janet Hurley, AgriLife Extension state school integrated pest management specialist headquartered in Dallas County. “State law mandates that public school districts in Texas, all 1,030 of them, must have a trained integrated pest management coordinator on staff. They are trained to deal with situations such as the mosquito problems we are seeing in many parts of the state now.”

Hurley explained that integrated pest management uses a number of practices to control pests in the safest, most effective way possible that has the least amount of impact on the environment. “AgriLife Extension is the lead agency among several agencies that can provide the training for [integrated pest management] coordinators,” she said. “And the Texas Department of Agriculture is the regulatory agency that is responsible for doing on-site inspections to ensure the mandate is being met and the school or school district is in compliance.” “A big question has been whether mosquito repellents can be used by students in school,” she said. According to Michael Kelly, Texas Department of Agriculture structural pest control service coordinator at Austin, “Given the need for parents of school children to have the op-

The Land & Livestock Post

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2403 Oct. 10: R.A. Brown Ranch 38th Annual Bull, Female & Quarter Horse Sale. Throckmorton, TX 940-849-0611 Oct. 11: Jordan Cattle Auction, Special Bull Offering. San Saba, TX. Oct. 11: Dudley Bros. 51st Annual Bull Sale. Comanche, TX. 325-356-2284 Oct. 19: W4 Ranch, Annual Production Sale. Morgan, TX. 817-595-1121 Oct. 19: Briggs Ranches 9th Annual Santa Gertrudis Bull Sale. Bloomington, TX. 361573-7141 Oct. 20: 35th Annual Tri-Star Santa Gertrudis Sale. Bloomington, TX. 361-573-7141 Oct. 21: Texas Hereford Fall Classic. Buffalo, TX. 903-322-4940 Oct. 27: Oak Creek Farms Forage Tested Bull Sale. Chappell Hill, TX. 979-836-6832 Oct. 27: 44 Farms Fall Bull & Female Sale. Cameron, TX. 254-697-440 1

October

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Oct. 5: Return to the Remuda. 2012 Annual Sale, 6666 Ranch. Guthrie, TX 806-596-4424 Oct. 6: Heart of Texas Special Replacement Female Sale. Groesbeck, TX . 903-599-2403 Oct. 9: Powell Herefords 15th Annual Production Sale. Ft. McKavett, TX. 903-599-

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

• The Land & Livestock Post September 15, 2012

Commentary Home on the range, but not the microwave

ny man will tell you that bachelorhood has its advantages, but cooking isn’t always one of them. A cowboy stays pretty busy all summer — always in a hurry and trying to get his work done so he can do his other stuff that involves horses, saddles, trailers and ropes. One time back when it rained and the monsoons were forced through the area by a cou- JULIE CARTER ple of landCowgirl Sass & Savvy locked hurricanes, Jack had to fend for himself for days on end. With his buddy’s arena underwater, there was no roping practice and therefore no home cooked meals from his buddy’s wife. For Jack, the rain brought on some of the issues that become glaring in bachelorhood. No one to visit with except the dog, and while that’s acceptable most of the time, there was also no one to cook for him except ... himself. Proof of the danger in that came one evening. Leaving his job at the feed store and feeling quite hungry, Jack stopped at the grocery store on the way home to buy the fixings for a Tater Tot casserole. This now-famous dish had been made notorious by a neighbor and his recipe found its way to Jack’s house. Upon arrival at his humble homestead, he placed the frozen tots in the bottom of a casserole dish, added a can of Wolf Brand Chili on top and then a nice covering of grated cheese for the next layer. Thinking his culinary creation was looking quite good and the recipe could be improved on, he added a few sliced-up wieners to the top

and followed that with a layer of diced jalapeños. To his way of thinking, this had to be about the best supper ever. Knowing he had piled a lot of food into the one dish, he shoved it in the microwave and cranked it up a ways. His thought was that it would take a while to get it all warmed completely through so he gave it plenty of minutes on the timer. Deciding to make use of the cooking time, he headed out to tend to his chores at the corrals while his delectable dinner cooked nuclear-style. As cowboys are wont to do, he got sidetracked and it was a good 30 minutes before he got back to the house. What he found inside his kitchen was the aftermath of the complete explosion of his microwave and its contents. That wasn’t part of the recipe, but it was the part that made it notorious. There were wieners and Tater Tots stuck all over the ceiling with tendrils of cheese hanging in various places around the room. Blobs of chili were splotted red in places that would never be the same. Too tired to care much about the mess, his main concern was still the fact he was very hungry. Like most cowboys in cow camp after long hard day, he resorted to the old standby: canned peaches. He drank off the liquid and then filled the can up with whiskey. Falling into a resigned slump in his favorite easy chair, he ate his cold supper of “pickled” peaches while the weatherman spoke of more rain. Pondering on his situation, he blamed it all on the rain. After all, none of this would have happened if he had just been able to rope.

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Study may help improve fertilizer applications By Kay LedBetter Texas AgriLife Extension Service

aged properly, the fertilizer won’t run off and the lawn will still be green. So there is no reason to over-apply. At the same time, he said, abandoned lawns can have as much or more erosion and nutrient loss than a well-maintained lawn. “Our goal at the end of the day is to understand how t h e s e d i f f e re n t manipulations of fertilization and irrigation affect the runoff volume and nutrient load and provide recommendations Texas A&M AgriLife Research photo and best management suggestions,” A new turf runoff facility has been built at the Texas A&M Urban Ecology Field Laboratory. A team of Texas A&M AgriLife Research turf specialists are testing and comparing runoff from plots with Peterson said. no fertilizer

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Fertilizer improperly applied to newly placed sod may result in nutrient runoff into the water supply, but just when is the best time to apply fertilizer and what kind is the best for new turf ? Aiming to answer those questions is a team of scientists from Texas A&M AgriLife Research: Jacqui Aitkenhead-Peterson, assistant professor of urban nutrient and water management; Ben Wherley, assistant professor of turfgrass science and ecology; Richard White, professor of turfgrass physiology and management; and Jim Thomas, senior research associate. All arewith the department of soil and crop sciences at Texas A&M University. “We are looking at the establishment of turf and what nutrients are coming off of that turf in the water runoff after irrigation or rain events,” Peterson said. The study, sponsored by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, is being conducted at the Texas A&M Urban Ecology Field Laboratory on F&B Road in College Station. Results of the entire study will be discussed at the Turf and Landscape Field Day, set for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 10. For more information on the fie ld day or to register, go to agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ and type in the keyword “turf.” The runoff facility used in the study took a year to construct and consists of 24 individual plots, each 13 feet wide by 27 feet long on native soil that had not been disturbed until planting, all on a 3.5 percent slope. The plots are isolated with vertical plastic barriers between

them so that water applied either infiltrates into the ground or runs down the hill where it can be sampled for nutrient content. “We have the capability of irrigating where we can force a ‘rainfall event’ but the equipment is always on to also record any naturally occurring events,” Peterson said. The study was planted on Aug. 8 and the first event measured was the following day, they said. The plots are planted to St. Augustine grass, which is most commonly used in new construction in Central Texas, Thomas said. They will test and compare runoff from plots with no fertilizer to those receiving several different nitrogen sources, applied either immediately or weeks after sod has been laid and rooted in, Thomas said. After a month or two, they will be able to gather conclusions and information on the results. “This will be the largest runoff facility of its kind in Texas, if not in the country,” Peterson said. “We hope to have a lot of long-term projects looking at management practices, water conservation and nutrient conservation.” Turfgrass, she said, is the largest irrigated crop in the country. It is important to have recommendations for the industry. “Considering the amount of sites that are sodded during new construction, it is important to understand what nutrients are coming off in runoff that could impair surface water quality,” she said. “Hopefully we can make recommendations towards sciencebased best management practices for sod establishment after our study.” Thomas said if turf is man-

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• The Land & Livestock Post September 15, 2012

News

Drought lingers, out-of-state hay required again By Kay LedBetter Texas AgriLife Extension Service

been a tough year, he said. Same goes for Central Texas, West Texas and South Texas, where it has been spotty. “Some of these areas look much like it was last year, so no matter how good of a manager you might have been, you just didn’t get the rain to make the hay,” Redmon said. “I’m afraid as we get closer to autumn, we will see more and more of those big 18-wheelers rolling into the state, but not nearly to the extent we saw last year,” he said. “There are people cutting hay, good hay and plenty of it, but they might not be nearly as interested in selling as they have in years past.” Redmon said there will be producers with hay to sell in the state, but it won’t be anything near a ‘normal’ year, and it won’t be enough to supply hay needs across the state. But it is much better than last year. “As I drive across the state,

COLLEGE STATION — Some areas are making hay while the sun shines and the rains fall, but others just never had a chance, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension service specialist. “We’ve had a better year than last year, but that isn’t saying a lot,” said Larry Redmon, AgriLife Extension state forage specialist in College Station. “We had great winter rains and some in spring, but then the rains shut off for the most part. “There are some areas that have had 8 to 10 inches this summer, but it is not widespread.” Travis Miller, associate department head and AgriLife Extension program leader in the Texas A&M University soil and crop sciences department, said the state overall continues to face drought, with notable exceptions along the Gulf Coast Texas AgriLife Extension Service photo by Kay Ledbetter and parts of East North Texas. See EffEcts, Page A25 Round bales of hay will start showing up in fields as producers begin searching for supplies to get them through the winter. “While showers along the coast and in North Texas eased drought conditions and greened up hay meadows, conditions are worsening over most of the southern and western parts of the state, where livestock producers are continuing to supplement cattle with hay and feed and are struggling to maintain water supplies,” Miller said. He said at this time, nearly 90 percent of the state ranges from abnormally dry to exceptional drought. Redmon said some producers already have made one hay cutting and are ready to make another. These producers have taken care of their grass, applied fertilizer and had timely rains, so they won’t be buying hay, he said. “But just down the road, there may be producers who didn’t get the timely rains and the grass simply hasn’t had a chance to Texas AgriLife Extension Service photo by Steve Byrns recover from last year,” he said. Alfalfa hay is a quality product that will be imported by some producers the year. “So it really depends on the management level of the propLauderdale Aerial Spraying, LLC erty and whether it has received rain as to whether an individual Kenneth Lauderdale made hay or has to buy it.” Cell Phone: 979.255.1380 SOURCE OF Looking around the state, RedOffice Phone: 979.535.8024 NITROGEN mon said, North Texas seems to www.lauderdalespraying.com get a rain “almost whenever it wants one.” In Southeast Texas and the Houston and coast areas, good rains have fallen and producers are growing some hay. East Texas has had good rain in some spots and is in good shape. But, up in the High Plains, it’s

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Effects of drought linger

continued from A24

I’m able to see hay bales sitting in the field. Last year, you could drive anywhere and not see bales of hay.” In addition to some areas not seeing the recovery of their grass, other areas have suffered through tremendous grasshopper infestations this year that have been just like a heavy grazing by cattle, he said. Redmon categorized hay into three categories: high quality alfalfa hay, grass hays that can range in quality and then the lower-quality stalk or strw hay. Alfalfa hay is used primar-

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ily by the dairy and horse industry, he said. However, a lot of the lower quality alfalfa hay — the early cuts — does not go to either of those markets. “This could be a good buy for the beef market, using it instead of the 20 percent crude protein cubes,” Redmon said. “It is much less costly than buying the cubes. These square bales will come from Colorado, Oklahoma and New Mexico, primarily.” At the opposite end of the spectrum is straw or stalk hays from wheat, rice, sorghum or corn. This hay is lower in cost, but also lower in nutritive value, he said.

• September 15, 2012

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• The Land & Livestock Post

News

Bastrop slowly recovering By MICHAEL GRACZYK Associated Press

September 15, 2012

BASTROP — From a hilltop known as “The Scenic Outlook,” Nicholas McClendon scanned thousands of acres of Central Texas until he spotted something familiar: the green crown of a pine tree. “That used to be the view, green treetops,” the Bastroparea man said. “Now it’s not.” A green speck peeking over the black expanse of tall barren sticks is one of the few trees that survived a firestorm one year ago this month at Bastrop State Park, where historic wildfires claimed 95 percent of the trees, including most of the 6,600-acre park’s signature “Lost Pines.” State wildlife officials and others are working on restoring the forest but acknowledge it will take plenty of manpower, time and money to succeed. The project calls for planting some 2 million seedlings to re-

AP Photos/Michael Graczyk Wildflowers bloom last month among the landscape at Bastrop State Park ravaged by fire on Labor Day weekend 2011.An estimated 95 percent of all the trees at the park east of Austin were destroyed, including its signature ìLost Pines. State parks and forestry officials are beginning a campaign to replant some 4 million pine tree seedlings at the park and surrounding area.

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State officials symbolically water loblolly pine seedlings On Aug. 28. The seedlings are intended to replace trees lost in the Labor Day weekend 2011 wildfires that devastated Bastrop State Park. “You hear about the damage, place the charred foliage in the park, another 2 million on thou- but you don’t realize how much sands of acres outside the park really is gone until you see it,” and more than $4 million to pay for them. See Full, Page A27

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Full recovery of the forest may take 30 years or longer Continued from A26

• September 15, 2012

Gary Stephens of Spring said after driving around the park to set up his RV at a campsite that had survived the inferno that started during Labor Day weekend last year. “It’s just amazing. It’s changed the landscape of this park for at least a generation.” He’s right. Foresters say it could be at least 30 years before the park less than an hour’s drive east of Austin and known for its forest resembles one. One bright spot has been the discovery of “Lost Pine” seeds that apparently were stored unknowingly more than two decades ago in a cooler at a grocery warehouse in Lufkin in East Texas, said Bill Oates, a regional forester for the Texas Forest Service. It’s hoped seedlings from that genetically pure source will provide at least the first 25,000 new plantings. A batch of several hundred

seedlings about 6 inches tall and growing in black plastic tube containers was brought to the park last month to receive a ceremonial hand-watering from top officials of the parks and forestry agencies. The first plantings won’t take place until next February when weather is more ideal and will focus on the west side of the park. “That will be a big day,” Jamie Hackett, the park superintendent, said. “Every step we face is a positive healing for the people in this park and in this county.” About 160,000 visitors a year traditionally have made the state park one of Texas’ most popular. Attendance figures had slipped before the fires last year when record high temperatures and a persistent drought not only contributed to the fire danger but kept people from outdoor activities. While park attendance is not yet at levels of years past, it has exceeded last year’s drought-impacted figures

The Land & Livestock Post

News

Samantha Morrette and Nicholas McClendon of Bastrop inspect a shelter being rebuilt on a hilltop at Bastrop State Park.The

See Visitors, Page A29 shelter,built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps,lost its wood roof during a wildfire on Labor Day weekend a year ago.

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• The Land & Livestock Post September 15, 2012

News

NuffieldFarmingScholarselectsTexasA&M University as grassland study destination By Kay LedBetter Texas AgriLife Extension Service

COLLEGE STATION — Everything from emerging research into grass-fed cattle and forages to soil fertility work attracted Gareth Davies to visit Texas A&M University’s soil and crop sciences department. “I’m impressed with the range of relevant research projects and the openmindedness and knowledge of the people I am visiting,” said Davies, a Nuffield Farming Scholar from South Wales in the United Kingdom. “They are not trying to make research fit preconceived ideas. And their willingness to share the knowledge and be free with information transfer is great.” “The Current and Future Role of Quality Grazed Grass in Lowering the Cost of Production on U.K. Farms Regardless of Systems” is the topic of Davies abroad studies. His topics of interest include grassfinished beef, grazing strategies for beef production, forages for grazing animal health, sustainability of forage-based systems, study of potential health benefits of pasture-fed over grain-fed cattle, drought-resistant grasses and soil nutrient retention/leaching. The Nuffield award, presented to around 20 individuals each year, provides the opportunity to research topics of interest in farming, food, horticulture or rural sectors. Scholars are able to travel anywhere in the world, visiting one or more countries in order to further knowledge and understanding, with a view to advancing their respective industries, according to the organization. Davies, the grassland manager for Genus ABS in the United Kingdom, said each scholar travels for eight weeks and then writes a paper and attends conferences to share the knowledge they learned. Guiding Davies on his Texas A&M experience is Russ Jessup, an assistant professor of perennial grass breeding. He said the largest resources Texas A&M has to offer Davies include soil nutrient research, stress-tolerant grass cultivar development and accessibility to an abundance of producers and farmers utilizing a diverse array of operations. “Gareth’s visit is a unique opportunity to exchange ideas towards improving grassland productivity,” Jessup said. “There are more than 12 million acres of grassland in Texas that are abandoned

Photo by Tami Hons Gareth Davies, left, a visiting Nuffield Farming Scholar from South Wales in the United Kingdom, looks at forage plots grown by Russ Jessup, a Texas A&M University perennial grass breeder. or underutilized. Europe is arguably ahead of us in thinking about advanced strategies to improve production on these lands.” The visit by Davies is a two-way learning experience, Jessup said. “Our program will be able to research and integrate some of the European strategies into the Texas grass-fed beef industry, and Davies will be exposed to the entire breadth of the soil and crop science department.” Davies said he’s interested in the work of Frank Hons, a professor of soil science, and in learning more about the key role soil carbon plays in grass production. Also he met with Jamie Foster, AgriLife Research forage agronomist and head of the grassland research at Beeville; Monte Rouquette, Texas AgriLife Research forage scientist in Overton; and Vanessa Corriher, Texas AgriLife Extension Service forage specialist, also at Overton. Another area of interest is Jessup’s work. “In my area, the dairy industry has a larger interest in grassland management

than beef,” Davies said. “It will be interesting to see how the grass-fed beef area has come about and how it is growing. I am very interested to talk about varieties of grasses that respond to a range of conditions and the different challenges faced.” Jessup said the grass-fed beef market is an emerging consumer-driven market that is not well developed yet, but one that is gaining a lot of interest. He is accompanying Davies onto producers’ farms around the state, and he said this is giving him an excellent opportunity “to make sure the perennial grasses I’m developing in my program are adaptable to them. “As a perennial grass breeder, my task is to develop improved perennial grasses suitable as forages and biofuels,” Jessup said. “We also have a large interest in developing dual-use biofuel forage crops.” He has been with Texas A&M for three years and plans to release his first new cultivar next year. Two crops in his program that will have interest to producers, Jessup said,

are sterile Columbus grass, which is a perennial sorghum that does not set seed, and a hybrid between pearl millet and Napier-grass, which provides a high-biomass, seeded-yet-sterile perennial feedstock. Davies said there are certain parts of the United Kingdom that get no more than 23 inches of rain a year, and they struggle to grow high quality forage in large quantities. He believes there is a good chance the grasses Jessup is developing will work in those regions. “I’m fascinated by the amount of research, the breadth of research, going on related to soil fertility and new forage species,” he said. “We’ve had a big biomass plant recently fire up on the west coast of England. Because a lot of the farmers may be tempted to provide fuel for the plant, producers will want to look at biomass grasses.” Davies said his visit to Texas A&M exceeded his expectations, “with the staff and their knowledge being of the highest caliber” and a large help to his study.

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Gary and Jane Stephens of Spring set up their RV in one of the few areas of Bastrop State Park not ravaged by wildfires on Labor Day weekend a year ago.

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Visitors are beginning FOR SALE to return to the park 200 PLUS TRACTS Continued from A27 as visitors return to see how the park now looks, Hackett said. “I can’t tell you how important it is to keep the trees and visitors coming in here,” Jim Wither, Bastrop County judge, said. “We particularly want to keep the economy moving and the trees that will be replanted will certainly help along those lines.” The park has been known for its unique stand of loblolly pines related to but genetically different from the great East Texas pine forest that extends into the Southeastern United States. According to the Texas Historical Association, the pines were believed part of an ancient forest that shrank during or after the Ice Age. Spanish explorers described it in 1691, and the area that’s now the state park was part of the original 1832 land grant to Stephen F. Austin’s first colony. Extensive logging took place in the later 1800s and when land for the park was acquired, the Civilian Conservation Corps built cabins and other park facilities during the Great Depression

that still are used today. Except for a couple shelters that lost wood roofs, the historically significant CCC-built structures were saved from the blaze, which was among some 500 that raced across droughtparched Texas last year. Foresters estimate the trees lost in Bastrop were about 80 years old. Replacing them won’t be easily done on state funds alone. With state money tight and some $3 million already spent on repairs, removal of debris and other projects, the Arbor Day Foundation is taking the lead on fundraising efforts for the new trees, said Carter Smith, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department executive director. Visitors and state officials are both looking forward to restoring the forest. “We’re through looking back,” said Tom Boggus, a Texas A&M Forest Service state forester. “We’re looking forward. And that’s what planting a seedling is all about.” ——— • Lost Pines Forest Recovery Campaign: www.arborday. org/takeAction/disasters/lostpines.cfm.

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News ‘Cooler’ weather helps Continued from A19 and pastures continue to worsen; very little standing forage was available and of poor nutritional value if it was. Hay was scarce and very expensive. Stock tanks were either completely dry or nearly so. Dried-up stock tanks were causing hardship for livestock ranchers and wildlife as well. In Webb County, livestock producers considerably trimmed down their herds. Many cattle producers had fewer than 50 head left after the trimming. Even ranchers with only a few cattle remaining had to haul water on a weekly basis. In Atascosa County, irrigated peanuts were doing well, and the cotton harvest was under way. In Frio County, some irrigated hay was harvested. In Jim Wells County, producers were plowing under crops. Crop producers in that area feared a greater fall crop failure unless rain is received in the next few months. In Zavala County, cotton was finished, with reports of excellent yields and good quality. Also in that area, vegetable growers

began preparing seedbeds for cabbage and onion planting. In Cameron County, row-crop harvests were finished. In Hidalgo County, the cotton harvest was under way, and in Starr County, fall crop field preparations were ongoing. In parts of Willacy County, there were reports of as much as 0.75 inch of rain. South Plains — Most of the region remained under a severe to exceptional drought. There was no rain, with light winds, and highs in the mid- to upper 90s, with lows in the upper 50s to low 60s. Irrigated crops were maturing and doing well in areas where there was previous rainfall. Irrigated sunflowers were progressing well. Many cotton fields had open bolls showing. Very low yields were expected in dryland cotton fields. Many dryland crops were suffering, and some were scheduled to be evaluated by insurance adjusters. Producers were haying sorghum forage. Rangeland and pastures needed rain, as there were no cool-season grasses in most locations. Cattle mostly remained in fair to good condition.

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