Land and Livestock Post

December December 20162016 — Issue — 1

Greener pastures

Ways to promote pasture health PAGE 10 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BRYAN, TX 77802 PERMIT # 23

JAMES THOMPSON DEERLY NUTS

JAMES VOLUNTEERS GREAT THOMPSON

PAGE 3

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JAMESBIG Going THOMPSON

JAMES THOMPSON CONTINUING JOURNEY

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Straight from Abundance ofthe acorns horse's maymouth. hurt East Texas hunters.

Straight Growth Income from theConference horse's mouth. slated for Dec. 13.

Straight from AgriLife Extension the horse's honorsmouth.

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December 2016 — Issue 1

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The Land & Livestock Post

I

News From the General Manager

n this newspaper, we try to keep you informed with the latest advances in agriculture. The methods and practices we cover help make for better, more efficient production. I’m no expert by any means, but I know who the experts are and they often are used as sources for the stories and articles we publish.

The overall goal of agricultural production is to be able to feed the world. For centuries, crop and animal production has been tweaked and improved in order to continue to feed an ever-growing population. I understand that to a point. What I don’t understand is how pizza has gotten so cheap.

When I was in college,

pizza was a major staple of life. I usually hit up the cheap buffets, or ordered just a regular pepperoni pizza and used a coupon or something.

I remember once, after I had just finished finals, I JESSE WRIGHT was going to reward myself with some premium pizza. I called Pizza Hut and ordered a large pizza with everything on it. The total was almost $30. After hearing this, I cancelled the order and went the Red Baron route instead.

Somehow, in the past 20odd years, pizza has become cheaper. Everything else is

more expensive, but pizza prices are at an alltime low.

The same pizza from Pizza Hut is $10, a third of the late ’90s prices. There are deals for an entire pizza for $5.

I think deep down, like in my arteries, I am glad that pizza was a little pricier. I may have had to eat my share of Ramen noodles, but it was probably for the best in the long run. I don’t think Ramen noodles are all that great for you, but they have got to be healthier than devouring a 14-inch circle of cheese and grease.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my cheese and grease, but too much is not always a good thing. The same is true for your pastures. If you over-

graze your pastures, the consequences can be devastating for your operation. In our cover story we look at planning your grazing to maximize the utility of your pastures.

We also have news and information from around the ag industry along with our regular features. Hope you enjoy it and, as always, thanks for reading. ’Til Next time,

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

East Texas deer hunters going nuts

By ADAM RUSSELL Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

OVERTON — A good crop of acorns and fewer mature deer could put the pressure on hunters in East Texas this deer season, said Billy Higginbotham, wildlife and fisheries specialist in Overton.

Higginbotham said hunters in the Pineywoods and Post Oak Savannah ecoregions in East Texas could face tougher hunting conditions due to a bumper acorn crop this year.

Consumption of shelled corn and food plot crops decreases dramatically when acorns are available, which likely means hunters will have to adjust their strategies to harvest deer.

“Several different oak species are

See ACORNS, Page 6

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December 2016 — Issue 1

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News Producing the right calf key to capturing premium pricing

By Blair Fannin Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

BRENHAM — Though cattle prices have come down from historic highs, there are still ways for beef cattle producers to capture more dollars for their calves by adding value at the ranch, according to experts at the 45th South Central Texas Cow-Calf Clinic in Brenham.

Several hundred beef producers from Washington, Brazos, Austin, Burleson, Fayette, Harris, Lee and Waller counties took part in the day-long program hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and surrounding beef and forage county committees.

Dan Hale, AgriLife Extension meat specialist, discussed carcass value and what cattle order buyers are looking for. He said there could be as many as nine order buyers at an auction ring looking to fill specific orders.

“What are those buyers looking at inside the auction ring?”

Hale said. “They are looking at how fast those calves are going to gain once they leave the livestock market auction.”

He said it’s important to get as many buyers in attendance to bid on your cattle to fill their orders.

“You do that by making sure your calves you are marketing fit their orders,” he said.

Hale said the buyers are given orders every week before they go to the auction and may have as many as 20 orders to fill.

“If your calves fit at least one or two orders on each of the bidders present need to fill, then your cattle will potentially receive higher prices and maybe the top price of the day,” he said.

“They are looking at frame size, the size of the animal and how large they are going to get before they start to get fat.”

Hale said the longer you can feed those animals before they start getting into the rapid fattening phase of their life, and the more muscular they are, the

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faster they grow.

“The order buyer is looking at seeing how long they will they grow in the feedyard or on grass before they start getting really fat,” he said. “This is also why lighter-weight calves often bring higher prices per hundredweight, as lighter cattle will be able to spend more time as a stocker calf and as a feeder calf before they become finished in the feedyard.

They also look at genetic makeup of the animal, and estimate the final USDA quality grade — USDA prime, choice or select — once the calf has gone through the feedyard and is a finished market animal.”

Hale said order buyers are also looking at gender. He said heifers start the fattening phase of their lives much sooner than steers and that is the reason prices paid for them are often less than comparable steers.

Hale said producers should consider adding value to their calves. This can be achieved by implementing programs such as the VAC 45 program, also known as the Value Added Calf program, where calves are weaned 45 days before they are sold. They also receive two sets of booster vaccines to enhance their immunity to disease and sickness.

The buyers of VAC 45 calves find them to attain more easily their genetic potential, have an enhanced immune system, are more predictable in their feedyard performance, and reduce

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin

Paschal said.

Though cattle prices have come down from historic highs, there still are ways for beef cattle producers to capture more dollars for their calves. the use of antibiotics.

Castrating bull calves also adds value, said Joe Paschal, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service livestock specialist in Corpus Christi. Paschal and Dr. Helen Philips of Philips Veterinary Hospital in Brenham provided a live chute-side demonstration.

“Talk to your veterinarian and develop what is referred to as a vet-client relationship,” Phillips told attendees. “Don’t wait until your calves are too sick to call a veterinarian.”

Phillips urged producers to develop a herd health plan with their veterinarian, and both she and Paschal discussed proper vaccinations to prevent diseases such as blackleg and redwater from causing death to valuable calves. They also discussed practices such as ear notching to help ranchers identify the pasture in which calves have received a round of vaccinations.

“There are practices that can add value to your calves, whether it’s sticking an ear tag in their ear, putting a notch in the ear, blackleg vaccination or castrating bull calves at a young age. All of this adds value to those calves and you will be compensated when you market those calves.”

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December 2016 — Issue 1

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The Land & Livestock Post

News

DEDICATED TO LAND AND

BIG Conference to be Dec. 13 in Waco

By Blair Fannin Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

WACO — Agricultural Sustainability in a Challenging Marketplace will be the keynote luncheon theme during the 55th Blackland Income Growth Conference Dec. 13 at the Extraco Events Center, 4601 Bosque Blvd. in Waco.

The conference is sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Waco Chamber of Commerce.

Julie Borlaug, associate director of external relations at the Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture at Texas A&M University in College Station, will be the keynote luncheon speaker.

“The BIG Conference features a number of commodity sessions including beef, horse, horticulture, cotton grain, rural land

management, forage and wildlife designed to help producers improve profitability and enhance stewardship practices,” said Robin Liebe, conference chair and McLennan County agriculture producer.

The following are program topics and speakers: • 9 to 11:45 a.m. beef session — Nutritional Economics, Ron Gill, AgriLife Extension livestock specialist in College Station; Cattle Market Outlook (Short and Long Term), Jason Johnson, AgriLife Extension economist in Stephenville; Public Policy and How it Affects the Cattle Business and Landowners, Jason Skaggs, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Austin.

• 9 to 11:45 a.m. grain session: Herbicide Resistance, Where We Came From and Where Are

We Going?, Peter Dotray, Texas A&M AgriLife Research weed scientist in Lubbock; Northern Corn Blight and Goss’s Wilt in the Texas Blacklands, Tom Isakeit, AgriLife Extension plant pathologist in College Station; Nitrogen Management and Efficiency, Jake Mowrer, AgriLife Extension soil specialist in College Station; Sugarcane Aphid Resistance/Tolerant Varieties, Allen Knutson, AgriLife Extension entomologist in College Station; Ryegrass Control, Herbicide Update for Small Grains, Clark Neely, AgriLife Extension small grains specialist in College Station.

• 8:45 to 11:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. horticulture session — What We Know About Soil Health, Willie Durham; Grapes in North Texas, Justin

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News Acorns, from Page 3 producing abundant crops of acorns this year, and hunters who hunt the early part of gun season over supplemental feeders or food plots could be in a very lonely spot when acorns are raining down on other parts of the property,” he said.

Higginbotham said hunters may need to hunt in or near stands of acorn-producing oaks.

He recommends using portable or temporary hunting blinds for concealment in those areas.

Blinds should be set up downwind or crosswind from the feeding area, he said. Hunters should enter the area from a direction that does not result in scent drift into the feeding area.

“That may delay the opportunity to hunt those areas until the wind direction is favorable,” he said.

Compounding difficult conditions, the number of mature deer also likely will be lower this season compared to previous seasons, he said.

Higginbotham said the 2011 drought resulted in extremely low fawn crops. Deer typically enter prime antler maturity at age 5, which means hunters likely will see fewer mature bucks of that year class to harvest.

But antler restrictions in effect in East Texas counties have produced positive results for all hunters, he said.

“Fewer 1 1/2- and 2 1/2-year-old bucks are being harvested and the percentage of 3 1/2 and older bucks are showing up in deer populations,” he said. “This translates into better antler quality for our region.”

Higginbotham said East Texas hunters should expect the rut to be on schedule. Bucks typically begin rutting activity sometime during the first two weeks of November.

“Hunters who can locate does during that time period should expect bucks to follow,” he said.

“In addition, once the rut kicks in hunters may encounter bucks anytime during the day as they actively seek and chase does.”

Higginbotham said hunters can aid wildlife management by collecting and sharing data re-

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AgriLife Extension Service photo by Billy Higginbotham

A hunter weighs an EastTexas buck before it is field dressed.Hunters are encouraged to collect as much data on harvested deer, such as weight, sex and when and where the deer was taken. Texas A&M garding deer sightings and harvested deer. Hunters are encouraged to keep a tally of the number of does, bucks and fawns they see during the first two weeks of rifle season which started Nov. 5.

Hunters also can record harvest data on deer including the date, time and location, sex, antler measurements for bucks, lactation status of does and field dressed weights on all deer. Photos of all bucks harvested also are encouraged.

Harvest data can be compared to future hunting season’s data to determine if the deer population and habitat are in balance and trending toward the goals of hunters and landowners, he said.

“This is all valuable information that can be used to formulate future harvest recommendations,” Higginbotham said.

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Conference, from Page 5 Scheiner; Safer Salads, Sujata Sirsat; Troubleshooting Irrigation Systems, Charles Swanson, AgriLife Extension irrigation specialist in College Station; Plant Pathology Winter 2016, Kevin Ong, AgriLife Research scientist, College Station; Organics vs Traditional Fertilizer, Tim Hartmann; Protecting Pollinators, Jerry Hayes, featured speaker, 6 p.m.

• 9 to 11:45 a.m. rural land management — Best Management Practices When Using Pesticides in Agricultural Sector, Don Renchie, AgriLife Extension pesticide safety educator program coordinator in College Station; Economic Factors of Managing a Farm or Ranch, Large/Small Acreage, Business Plan, Blake Bennett, AgriLife Extension economist in Dallas.

• 2 to 4 p.m. forage session — Haylage As An Alternative,

Bernard Adam, Selection of Forage Species for Longevity in Our Soil Types, Weed and Pest Control and Prussic Acid Prevalence, Vanessa Corriher-Olson, AgriLife Extension forage specialist in Overton; Bermuda Grass Stem Maggot, Allen Knutson, AgriLife Extension entomologist in Dallas.

• 2 to 4 p.m. cotton session — Importance of Weed Management Systems Limitations, Prices, Laws, Dotray; Cotton Root Rot Disease Update, Isakeit; Cotton Yield, Fiber Quality demonstration updates, Dr. Gaylon Morgan, AgriLife Extension state cotton specialist in College Station; Policy Update from National Cotton Council, Craig Brown; Blackland Cotton and Grain Association meeting will follow cotton session.

• 2 to 4 p.m. wildlife session — Stacking Your Operation and Running a Traditional Livestock Operation with a Wildlife

Operation; Effective Methods to Control Feral Hogs, Josh Helcel, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist in College Station.

• 5:30 to 8 p.m. horse session — Parasite Control for Horses, Sonja Swiger, AgriLife Extension entomologist, Stephenville; Importance of Good Hay in Feeding Management and How to Determine Hay Quality, Sarah White, Texas A&M assistant professor of equine physiology in College Station; How to Read a Feed Tag, White; and The Current State of the Art in Foot Care, Pat Burton, farrier, Burleson.

The Mid-Texas Farm and Ranch show also will be held in conjunction with the conference showcasing the latest in farm and ranch equipment, seed, chemicals and ag-related services and technologies.

Registration on Dec. 13 to attend all commodity sessions is $20 and includes lunch.

On Dec. 14, a BIG Recertifica-

tion will be held and cost is $60 and includes lunch.

Call 254-757-5180 to preregister or $70 at the door.

A private applicator training also will be held. Cost is $75 with lunch included.

To pre-register, call 254-5824022.

For complete schedule of sessions and speakers, download the conference brochure at bit. ly/17IGNEB.

Brazos Valley Livestock Commission, Inc.

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(979) 778-0904

Brazos Valley Livestock Commission 19th Annual Fall Replacement Sale

Highway 21 East • Bryan, Texas • Saturday December 3, 2016 • 11:00 AM

CALL TO CONSIGN QUALITY CATTLE TO THIS REPUTATION SALE IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO SELL CATTLE WE ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING ON ADDITIONAL CONSIGNMENTS OF YOUNG QUALITY REPLACEMENT FEMALES THAT INCLUDE: OPEN HEIFERS · PAIRS · BRED FEMALES

All cattle are young and screened for quality.

Call us to consign your quality females

REGULAR CATTLE SALES TUESDAYS 12:00 NOON FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: (979) 778-0904

Scott Scarmardo Mobile (979) 224-3764 • brazosvalleylivestock@yahoo.com The Land & Livestock Post

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December 2016 — Issue 1

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News LIVESTOCK MARKET REPORT Brazos Valley

Results of the Brazos Valley Livestock Commission’s Nov. 8 sale.

Head: 656 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $140$165; 300-400 lbs., $135-$162; 400-500 lbs., $115-155; 500-600 lbs., $104-$130; 600-700 lbs., $96-$118; 700-800 lbs., $102$106.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $115$135; 300-400 lbs., $110-$125; 400-500 lbs., $98-$120; 500600 lbs., $94-$115; 600-700 lbs.,$90-$102; 700-800 lbs.,$95$105.

Slaughter bulls: $60-$74.

Slaughter cows: $40-$63.

Bred cows: $850-$1,300.

Cow/calf pairs: N/A.

Buffalo

Results of the Buffalo Livestock Commission’s Nov. 5 sale.

Head: 1,204 Steers: 150-200 lbs., $145$200; 200-300 lbs., $140-$175; 300-400 lbs., $135-$165; 400500 lbs., $130-155; 500-600 lbs., $115-$145; 600-700 lbs., $105$121; 700-800 lbs., $90-$107.

Heifers: 150-200 lbs., $135$175; 200-300 lbs., $130-$150; 300-400 lbs., $110-$140; 400-500 lbs., $105-$135; 500600 lbs., $100-$125; 600-700 lbs.,$90-$120; 700-800 lbs.,$80$100.

Slaughter bulls: $60-$90.

Slaughter cows: $35-$58.

Bred cows: $950-$1,550.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,050$2,000.

Caldwell

Results of the Caldell Livestock Commission’s Nov. 2 sale.

Head: 602 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $145$162; 300-400 lbs., $130-$152; 400-500 lbs., $125-$140; 500600 lbs., $120-$125; 600-700 lbs., $115-$118; 700-800 lbs., $105-$109.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $135$162; 300-400 lbs., $125-$137; 400-500 lbs., $115-$127; 500-600 lbs., $115-$140; 600-700 lbs., $105-$150.; 700-800 lbs., N/A. Slaughter bulls: $67-$80.

Slaughter cows: $50-$77.

Bred cows: $800-$1,175.

Cow/calf pairs: N/A.

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Groesbeck

Results of the Groesbeck Auction and Livestock Company’s Nov. 10 sale.

Head: 617 Steers: 300-400 lbs., $140$170; 400-500 lbs., $133-$152; 500-600 lbs., $127-$150; 600700 lbs., $117-$147; 800-900 lbs., $86-$108.

Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $130$155; 400-500 lbs., $127-$142; 500-600 lbs., $115-$137; 600700 lbs., $99-$118.

Slaughter bulls: $63-$75.

Slaughter cows: $49-$65.

Bred cows: $900-$1,500.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,200$1,600.

Jordan

Results of the Jordan Cattle Auction’s Nov. 10 sale.

Head: 1,184 Steers: Under 200 lbs., N/A; 200-300 lbs., N/A; 300-400 lbs., $150-$166; 400-500 lbs., $130$162; 500-600 lbs., $117-$143; 600-700 lbs., $108-$123.5; 700800 lbs., $103-$115.

Heifers: Under 200 lbs., $135$152; 200-300 lbs., $125-$145; 300-400 lbs., $125-$144; 400500 lbs., $110-$135; 500-600 lbs., $105-$125; 600-700 lbs., $100-$143; 700-800 lbs., $93$120.

Slaughter bulls: $60-$81.

Slaughter cows: $45-$60.

Bred cows: $800-$1,200 Cow/calf pairs: $1,000$1,250.

Navasota

Results of the Navasota Livestock Commission’s Nov. 5 sale.

Head: 1,264 Steers: 150-300 lbs., $100$180; 300-400 lbs., $100-$160; 400-500 lbs., $95-$160; 500-600 lbs., $85-$140; 600-700 lbs., $80-$116.

Heifers: 150-300 lbs., $100$170; 300-400 lbs., $90-$145; 400-500 lbs., $90-$145; 500-600 lbs., $85-$130; 600-700 lbs., $80$125.

Slaughter bulls: $58-$72.

Slaughter cows: $40-$59.

Bred cows: $800-$1,100.

Cow/calf pairs: N/A. —Special to The Post

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December 2016 — Issue 1

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Importance of estimating how much hay a cow will consume

by Glenn Selk Oklahoma State University

Estimating forage usage by cows is an important part of the task of calculating winter feed needs. Hay or standing forage intake must be estimated in order to make the calculations.

Forage quality will be a determining factor in the amount of forage consumed. Higher quality forages contain larger concentrations of important nutrients so animals consuming these forages should be more likely to meet their nutrient needs from the forages. Also cows can consume a larger quantity of higher quality forages.

Higher quality forages are fermented more rapidly in the rumen leaving a void that the animal can re-fill with additional forage. Consequently, forage

intake increases. For example, low quality forages (below about 6 percent crude protein) will be consumed at about 1.5 percent of body weight (on a dry matter basis) per day. Higher quality grass hays (above 8 percent crude protein) may be consumed at about 2.0 percent of body weight. Excellent forages, such as good alfalfa, silages, or green pasture may be consumed at the rate of 2.5 percent dry matter of body weight per day. The combination of increased nutrient content and increased forage intake makes high quality forage very valuable to the animal and the producer.

With these intake estimates, now producers can calculate the estimated amounts of hay that need to be available.

Using an example of 1,200 pound pregnant spring-calving cows, let’s assume that the grass

per day on an “as-fed basis.”

Unfortunately we also have to consider hay wastage when feeding big round bales. Hay wastage is difficult to estimate, but generally has been found to be from 6 percent to 20 percent (or more).

Photo courtesy of North Dakota State University For this example, let’s assume 15 percent hay hay quality is good and tested 8 wastage. This means that appercent crude protein. Cows will proximately 30 pounds of grass voluntarily consume 2 percent of hay must be hauled to the pasbody weight or 24 pounds per day. ture for each cow each day that The 24 pounds is based on 100 per- hay is expected to be the primary cent dry matter. Grass hays often ingredient in the diet. will be 7 percent to 10 percent After calving and during early moisture. If we assume that the lactation, the cow may weigh 100 hay is 92 percent dry matter or 8 pounds less, but will be able to percent moisture, then the cows consume about 2.6 percent of will consume about 26 pounds her body weight (100 percent

TJS S Hardware

dry matter) in hay. This would translate into 36 pounds of “asfed” hay per cow per day necessary to be hauled to the pasture.

This again assumes 15 percent hay wastage.

Accurate knowledge of average cow size in your herd as well as the average weight of your big round bales becomes necessary to predict hay needs and hay feeding strategies.

Big round hay bales will vary in weight. Weighing a pickup truck or trailer with and without a bale may be the best method to estimate bale weights. In lieu of that opportunity, forage specialists at the University of Georgia have published other calculations that can be helpful in estimating hay bale weights.

Here is a link to its discussion: georgiaforages.caes.uga.edu/ Ga_Cat_Arc/2012/SF1209.pdf.

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News

Going ‘graze-y’

Plan grazing to restore pasture conditions

G

By RoBeRt FeaRs Special to The Eagle

razing forage to the ground is not profitable ranching and overstocking pastures does not increases net income. Overgrazing considerably increases feed costs and can cause cattle to weigh less when marketed, which reduces sales revenue.

Even more troubling is that overgrazing results in bare ground which leaves soil vulnerable to erosion and compaction. The end result is reduced production capability of the land.

In addition, soil erosion causes silting of our streams, rivers, reservoirs, ponds and lakes, lowering water quality. We need to plan our grazing systems to restore and maintain sustainable pasture conditions.

“As pasture-based livestock producers, we are in the business of harvesting solar energy and converting it to food and fiber products for people,” said Edward Rayburn of the West Virginia University Extension Service.

“We manage plants to optimize solar energy harvest, feed animals so that they can transfer that energy into livestock products, and to cycle mineral nutrients in the landscape. These processes are necessary to make our businesses socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.

“We are pasture ecosystem managers.”

According to Wikipedia, an ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals and microbes) in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (air, water and mineral soil) interacting as a system. Interactions within an ecosystem are not understood by some land managers and they definitely are not known by most bureaucrats and citizen groups who demand policies that do more harm to our environment than good.

One component of an ecosystem cannot be altered without affecting the other parts. In restoring our lands from over-grazing effects, we must consider the entire ecosystem in order to be successful.

“Most of our day-to-day efforts are spent with livestock and managing the above ground portion of the pasture community to ensure that the animals are properly fed; however, there is more biomass and

10

Photos by Robert Fears

Grazing pastures properly leaves a good legacy to future generations.“We are pasture ecosystem manager,” said Edward Rayburn of West Virginia University Extension Service.

On the cover: If you can stand in a pasture and see hooves of a cow, it is being overgrazed. biological activity below ground than above. Every plant, animal, bacteria, protozoa and fungus has its niche or place in the pasture ecosystem,” Rayburn said.

“Each has an optimum physical and chemical environment and habitat. The habitat provides adequate food and cover, allowing the species to reproduce and maintain itself. “Environment is based on climate,

time of year, soil texture, position in the landscape and management.”

“Healthy agro-ecosystems are considerably more productive, stable and resilient than those in poor condition,” said Richard Teague of Texas A&M AgriLife Research. “Ranch livelihoods depend on healthy ecosystems.”

See GRAZING, Page 11

December 2016 — Issue 1

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Grazing, from Page 10

Photo by Robert Fears

Too many cattle on a pasture increases the feed bill.

Forage management

Teague and others have researched the use of planned multi-paddock grazing for restoring range ecosystems. They have learned that putting a large number of cattle in a paddock for a short period of time causes the animals to graze more of the whole landscape and to select a wider variety of plant species. This grazing system allows the manager to regulate how much is grazed, the period of grazing, and length and time of recovery from grazing.

“Achieving desired outcomes of multi-paddock grazing include the match of animal numbers to available forage and the spread of grazing over the entire ranch,” Teague said.

“Forage needs to be defoliated moderately during the growing season with short grazing periods. Adequate recovery is allowed prior to re-grazing, but paddocks are grazed again before forage becomes too mature to be palatable. To achieve desired outcomes, it is very important to adjust the multi-paddock grazing elements in response to changing weather and other conditions.”

Soil management

Forage as well as other plants can be as healthy as the soil in which they grow. As part of the ecosystem, plants depend upon soil for anchorage, oxygen,

water, temperature moderation and nutrients. Plants interact with specific soil microbes by releasing carbohydrates through their roots into the soil to feed microbes in exchange for nutrients and water. Ninety percent of soil function is mediated by microbes which depend on plants, so how we manage plants is critical.

“The spaces among soil particles contain air that provides oxygen, which living cells (including root cells) use to break down sugars and release the energy needed to live and grow,” said Lois Stack of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

“Soil spaces also contain water, which moves upward through plants. This water cools plants as it evaporates off the leaves and other tissues, carries essential nutrients into plants; helps maintain cell size so that plants don’t wilt and serves as a raw material in photosynthesis.

“Soil insulates roots from drastic fluctuations in temperature, which is especially important during excessively hot or cold times of the year.

“In addition, soil supplies nutrients and holds the nutrients to keep them available to plants.”

According to the United

See MANAGE, Page 12

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News Manage, from Page 11 States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service, management for soil health and improved soil function is mostly a matter of maintaining suitable habitat for the myriad of creatures that comprise the soil food web. This can be accomplished by disturbing soil as little as possible, growing as many different plant species as practical, keeping living plants in the soil for as many days during the year as possible, and keeping soil covered all the time.

Avoiding the overgrazing of pastures provides constant soil cover.

Water management

Ranchers who are good land stewards have a favorite saying: “I don’t want my neighbors’ wa-

12

The Natural Resources Conservation Service defines infiltration as the process of water soaking into the soil.

Infiltration rate is simply how fast water enters the soil and

usually is measured in inches or millimeters per hour. This rate depends on soil texture (amount of sand, silt and clay)

See WATER, Page 13

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Calves on overly grazed pastures don’t receive optimum prices at market. 721 - If you can stand in a pasture and see hooves of a cow, it is being overgrazed. ter — I just want to keep what falls on my property.”

These people are saying that one of their primary goals is

to maintain enough pasture vegetation to catch as much precipitation as possible for infiltration into the soil.

Carl Herrmann 979.820.5349 Hank Herrmann 979.820.5277 Hwy 36 South, P.O. Box 542, Caldwell, TX 77836 Sale Barn Phone: (979) 567-4119

December 2016 — Issue 1

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Water, from Page 12 and on soil structure, which is the way individual particles of sand, silt and clay are assembled.

Soils in good condition have well developed structure and continuous pores to the surface. As a result, water from rainfall readily enters these soils.

According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, soil is a reservoir that stores water for plant growth. The water in soil is replenished by infiltration.

Poor management can restrict infiltration rate where water does not readily enter the soil. Instead it moves downslope as runoff or ponds on the surface to evaporate. Thus, less water is stored in the soil for plant growth, and plant production decreases.

This results in less organic matter in the soil and weakened soil structure that can further decrease infiltration rate.

Runoff can cause soil erosion and formation of gullies. It also carries nutrients and organic matter, which together

with sediment, reduces water quality in streams, rivers and lakes. Sediment reduces capacity of reservoirs to store water. Excessive runoff can cause flooding, erode stream banks and damage roads.

Runoff from adjacent slopes can saturate soils in low areas or create ponded areas, thus killing upland plants. Evaporation in ponded areas reduces the amount of water available to plants.

Thomas Thurow wrote, “Ecosystem structure and function is influenced by infiltration rate, soil moisture storage capability, precipitation characteristics and rain use efficiency. The degree to which these hydrologic attributes are affected by land use determines the impact of land use on the ecosystem. “Simply removing the initial cause of degradation may not restore the site’s production potential and may not even break the pattern of decline, if a selfsustaining cycle of deterioration has developed. “Reasons why severely disturbed landscapes may not recover production potential include loss of species, altered

species interactions, physical degradation of hydrologic characteristics or nutrient depletion.�

Soil and vegetation properties that currently limit infiltration and the potential for an increased rate must be considered in any management plan.

Where water flow patterns have been altered by a shift in vegetation, such as a shift from grassland to open-canopy shrub land, restoration of higher infiltration rates may be difficult or take a long period of time.

This is especially true if depletion of organic matter and/or soil loss have occurred. Excessive grazing of forage can impair infiltration while regenerative grazing management can restore infiltration and reduce runoff and erosion.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service suggested the following management strategies for rangeland restoration: • Increase amount of plant cover, especially of plants that have positive effects on infiltration. • Decrease extent of compaction by

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avoiding intensive grazing and use of machinery when soils are wet. • Decrease formation of physical crusts by maintaining or improving the cover of plants or litter and thus reducing the impact of raindrops. • Increase aggregate stability by increasing the amount of organic matter added to the soil through residue decomposition and vigorous root growth.

These management systems can be accomplished only through a planned grazing system that prevents overgrazing.

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December 2016 — Issue 1

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Four States Cattle Conference set for Dec. 13 in Texarkana

By AdAm Russell Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

TEXARKANA — The fourth annual Four States Cattle Conference will provide relevant information about how cattle producers can improve operational profitability amid a challenging market, said a Texas A&M specialist.

The conference will be held Dec. 13 at the Texas A&M University of Texarkana University Center Building, 7101 University Ave. in Texarkana.

Jason Banta, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist in Overton, said attendees should note the event has changed locations from the previous three years.

Preregistration cost is $50 for a couple, $30 for individuals and $15 for 4-H and FFA students.

Cost is $70 per couple and $45 per individual after Nov. 29.

To register, send your name, organization, mailing address, phone number and email along with a check or money order payable to Clark County CES, 640 S. 6th St., Suite B, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71923.

The event begins with registration at 8 a.m. followed by speakers at 8:30 a.m.

A catered plate lunch will be provided as well as snacks and beverages. The conference also features a large trade show featuring pharmaceutical and feed

representatives as well as various agriculture-related vendors.

Banta said the featured speakers are nationally known cattle and livestock specialists and include: • Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University livestock market economist in Stillwater — Cattle Market Outlook.

• Paul Beck, University of Arkansas department of animal science professor in Fayetteville — Winter Cow Nutrition.

• Dave Lalman, Oklahoma State University Extension beef cattle specialist in Stillwater – Mineral Supplementation.

A panel discussion featuring cattle producers from multiple states will follow the speakers, Banta said. Ryon Walker, Louisiana State University assistant professor and researcher at the Hill Farm Research Station in Homer will moderate the discussion.

The panel will share real-world success stories on genetic management and other production strategies that improved their operations.

Banta said the event is a great opportunity to learn valuable information about cow/calf and stocker operations, insights into the current cattle market and production management strategies designed to improve profitability for producers.

“The cattle market has been really volatile so this will be a very timely event,” Banta said.

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News Brazos County volunteers honored at AgriLife Extension luncheon

By Blair Fannin

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

BRYAN — Several volunteers were recognized with awards during the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Brazos County volunteer awards luncheon held recently at the Brazos County Expo in Bryan.

“Growing Leaders, Nurturing Community” was the theme of the event, which recognized outstanding volunteers for their support of activities for AgriLife Extension in Brazos County in the areas of family and consumer sciences, 4-H youth development, agriculture and horticulture, and

16

Cooperative Extension programming.

2016 Outstanding Volunteer award recipients were: Bryan Brown, agriculture and natural resources; Sharon Burton and Lisa Williams, Prairie View A&M Cooperative Extension Program; Martha Sanders, family and consumer sciences; Sonja Bouse and Cheryl Kocman, 4-H volunteers.

Joe Janac and the Mark Stasny family received the Friend of Extension award.

Katie Wendt, Brazos County 4-H Council vice president, gave a presentation titled “Genetically Modified Outlook.”

See HONOR, Page 17

Sharon Burton was recognized as a 2016 Outstanding Volunteer for 4-H. Also pictured is Arvitta Scott, AgriLife Extension agent for 4-H and youth development, Brazos County, and Joice Jeffries, Prairie View Cooperative Extension 4-H specialist.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photos

by Blair Fannin

Joe Janac, Addie Stasny and Mark Stasny received the Friend of Extension award.

Lisa Williams was recognized as a 2016 Outstanding Volunteer for 4-H. Also pictured is Arvitta Scott, AgriLife Extension agent for 4-H and youth development, Brazos County, and Joice Jeffries, Prairie View Cooperative Extension 4-H specialist.

December 2016 — Issue 1

Cher yl Kocman was recognized as a 2016 Outstanding Volunteer for 4-H during the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Also pictured are Jerod Meurer and Ashley Skinner with the AgriLife Extension Brazos County office.

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News

ACCEPTING QUALITY CONSIGNMENTS FOR:

Honor, from Page 16

39th Annual

Cattleman Bull & Female

SALE

Martha Sanders was recognized as a 2016 Outstanding Volunteer for 4-H.Also pictured are Flora Williams and Lonnie Cammack, chairman, Brazos County Leadership Advisory Board.

Texas A&M AgriLife

Extension Service photos by Blair Fannin

Sonja Bouse was recognized as a 2016 Outstanding Volunteer for 4-H. Also pictured are Jerod Meurer and Ashley Skinner with the AgriLife Extension Brazos County office.

January 21, 2017 12 Noon

El Campo Livestock Market EXPECTING 75 BULLS AND 50 FEMALES

Early Consignors Include:

Bryan Brown was recognized as a 2016 Outstanding Volunteer for 4-H. Also pictured is Dusty Tittle, AgriLife Extension agent for Brazos County.

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December 2016 — Issue 1

Nieveen Farms West Charolais Rocky Bottom Cattle Co. Texas Hill Country Cattle Bayvue Farms Placid Land & Cattle Co. Caney Creek Ranch LaFonda Ranch Piper Simmental Lightning P Charolais

www.cattlemansale.com For More information: Adrian Knight (TX Lic 11102) •903-452-7591 Kelly Conley (TX Lic 9558) •903-857-2594

17

News

Agriculture is a continuing journey to be better

By Terry Wanzek Special to The Post

M

y 2 1/2-year-old grandson recently stayed at our family farm in North Dakota while his parents enjoyed a few days away.

One morning, he and I got up early. Everyone else remained asleep.

“What would you like for breakfast?” I asked.

“Cereal,” he said.

So I put a bowl on the counter and poured from a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Then I waited for him to reach for it.

But he didn’t make a move.

“Grandpa Terry?” he said.

“At our house, we put milk in it.”

I had assumed he was still eating cereal as a finger food.

It goes to show how our grandkids grow up quickly — and how childhood might be described as “a journey to always be better.”

That happens to be the motto of the maker of Cinnamon Toast Crunch: “General Mills cereal is on a journey to always be better.”

That could be the motto of our farm, too.

It explains why we started to plant genetically modified corn and soybeans many years ago: They allow us to grow more food on less land than ever before. This is the very definition of sustainable agriculture — good for the Earth and for the future of our family farm, too.

Yet that’s not the only way we’ve used technology on our journey to always be better. If my farming ancestors could see what we’ve done with data, the dramatic changes would astonish them.

When I was young, we managed our farm field by field, which is to say that we treated each field as a single unit for the purpose of seeds, fertilizer and herbicides. It didn’t matter if the fields were big (a hundred

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acres or more) or small (just a few acres).

Today, we manage our farm with much more precision, using GPS technology and individual recipes of nutrient, seed and pesticide rates. When we plant and protect crops, we consider soil, topography and historical yield data. We even study infrared images on maps made by NASA. These tools allow us to see tremendous variation not just from field to field, but down to nearly the square foot.

For an area with rich soil and a history of excellent production, for example, we might add extra nitrogen and seed so that it matches yield potential, allowing the crops to attain as much protein as possible. On a hilltop with sandy soil, we

Commentary might apply less.

We’re also exacting with the sprays that protect our crops against weeds, pests and disease. Although we have never “drenched” our fields with them, we apply just the right amounts, measuring everything to the drop. Our sprayers even are programmed to shut off when they go over ground they’ve already covered.

We aspire to operate an economically and environmentally sustainable business because we believe it’s the responsible approach. In this era of increased scrutiny of agriculture, however, we really have no choice. Consumers demand it.

Like most farms, after har-

vest we send our crops to grain merchants instead of directly to food companies. Yet it’s more than likely that we’ve supplied a company like General Mills indirectly — and that our highquality wheat is being used in its products.

To borrow from its company motto, we’re partners on a journey to always be better.

I’m excited about how we’ll keep on being better in the future.

On our family farm, we’re on the verge of using drones for additional data collection. Several research projects are now underway in North Dakota.

My neighbors and I are watching them with great interest.

We’ll continue to innovate with our crops as well. Advanc-

GRAHAM

es in seed technology may allow us to grow gluten-free wheat for people who suffer from celiac disease.

Our goal is to help Americans to put the best food possible on their dinner tables — and also on their breakfast counters, where they can fill bowls with cereal made from the crops on my farm.

By the time my grandson grows up, farming will be a lot different and almost certainly better, probably in ways we cannot anticipate. If he takes up a life in agriculture, he’ll continue on the journey, aiming to always be better.

• Terry Wanzek, of Jamestown, North Dakota, is a farmer and a North Dakota state senator. He wrote this for the Star Tribune of Minneapolis.

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December 2016 — Issue 1

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