October-November 2019
Why pumpkins represent fall By Guy Chapman Corsicana Daily Sun
W
ith the Texas fall now settled in, the weather brings cooler temperatures, a crispness to the air, and familiar images to represent the season. One of the most iconic fall symbols is the pumpkin. While trendy society thinks of spiced lattes when the pumpkin is mentioned, the orange fruit is as common as the changing colors of the leaves, and has a story just as long. Pumpkins have a history that dates back to ancient Mexico and southern United States, where the fruit is thought to have its origins from these areas. Pumpkins are said to date as far back as 7,000 and 5,500 BC, where evidence of pumpkin fragments were found in Mexico. An extremely versatile fruit, pumpkins are found throughout the world, with the exception of Antarctica, the only one of the seven continents that is unable to produce pumpkins. Pumpkins are actually a type of squash known as “winter squash.” Pumpkins are of importance to
the Native American culture, as it is one of the “three sisters” - beans, maize, and squash. Putting these three types of plants together is beneficial as they have a tendency to nourish each other. Because of this, Native Americans cultivated and ate the “three sisters” together. When the first American settlers came to what would eventually become the United States, Native Americans introduced this unique food to the Pilgrims, where it became a regular agricultural staple of their diet. They even learned to craft beer out of it. Due to its early introduction to English American culture, the pumpkin became synonymous with fall, and introduced into celebrations such as the Jacko-Lanterns of Halloween. The American pumpkin is commonly known as the “Connecticut Field” variety. Pumpkins are a symbol of fall harvest, and are a fixture of our American heritage. It’s little wonder that we become nostalgic for them as a part of our autumn stories. See you at the pumpkin patch.
The First Line of Defense Tips to prevent cattle theft and aid recovery
By Joel Harlow
C
Special to the Athens Review
attle rustling and theft have been a part of farm and ranch life for almost two centuries. On the front line of prevention is the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association traces its beginnings to 1877 in Graham. It was formed under an oak tree by 40 cattleman to fight cattle theft in their area under the name “Stock Raisers’ Association of North-West Texas.” Today, TSCRA has more than 17,500 members composed of large and small farming and ranching operations and agricultural businesses throughout the United States. They rely on 30 TSCRA Special Rangers to combat rustling and theft. The Rangers are commissioned by the Texas Department of Public Safety and have enforcement authority throughout Texas. Some Rangers have dual enforcement authority in Texas and Oklahoma. The Rangers work with all branches of law enforcement at the local and state level as well as federal agencies such as the FBI and the Secret Service, and law enforcement in Canada should the need arise. In addition to the Special Rangers, TSCRA has Market Inspectors at every livestock auction in Texas who are the first line of defense in combating cattle theft. Larry Hand is a Special Ranger whose primary area
of operation are 12 East Texas counties, though his profession takes him all over north and east Texas as well as occasionally into adjoining states. Hand was raised on a family farm and graduated with a Master’s Degree in Agriculture Economics from Texas A&M University. He was a Game Warden for 25 years, retiring at the rank of Captain, and immediately began his career with TSCRA upon his retirement as a Game Warden. Hand offered the following tips to farmers and ranchers in preventing theft and increasing chances of recovery should a theft occur: Cattle branding is one of the most important theft prevention practices a rancher can implement. All cattle that go through a livestock auction pass under the watchful eyes of a TSCRA Market Inspector and if a theft has been reported, the brand is key in recovery. All ranchers should have a brand registered with their local County Clerk. TSCRA keeps a database of these registered brands. TSCRA has found that cattle rustlers prefer unbranded cattle, as they are harder to track. Locked gates and the location of loading facilities on a ranch are important as well. All loading facilities and corrals should be located off the road and out of sight if possible. Most professional cattle rustlers look for an operation with no homes nearby and with visible loading facilities on the ranch. All equipment, tack, and machinery should have the owner’s driver’s license number including the “TX” prefix welded or stamped in an inconspicuous place. Also, having a mechanic install an inconspicuous electrical or fuel cutoff on tractors and machinery makes theft difficult. Preparing and maintaining a video of all equipment, livestock, and horses helps in identifying stolen property should theft occur. Varying feeding times to avoid a “routine” that a potential rustler can identify is a practice that is a powerful deterrent, as well as keeping an accurate cattle count. And those well-recognized blue TSCRA signs that are prevalent on TSCRA members’ entryways? These serve as a powerful deterrent. TSCRA has interviewed professional cattle rustlers who state they will pass by a farm with a TSCRA sign, as they know they will have Special Rangers “working the case,” something most wish to avoid at all costs.
USDA Issues Safety-Net and Conservation Payments to Texas Farmers
T
he U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Texas is processing more than $205.7 million in Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) payments for the 2018 crop year. Additionally, Texas FSA will distribute more than $89.1 million in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) rental payments to landowners to support voluntary conservation efforts on private lands. “Our safety net programs help provide certainty and stability to Texas farm families affected by fluctuating market prices,” Gary Six, State Executive Director in Texas said. “When reviewing payments, it’s important to remember that ARC and PLC payments by county can vary because average county yields will differ.” FSA began processing payments for 2018 ARCCounty (ARC-CO) or PLC on covered commodities that triggered payments on enrolled farms in the 2018 crop year. FSA anticipates issuing more payments in November once USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service publishes additional commodity prices for the 2018 crop, which will include seed cotton. In Texas, 218 counties have experienced a drop in price or revenues below the benchmark price established by the ARC or PLC programs and will receive payments. Producers who had 2018 covered commodities enrolled in ARC-CO can visit www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc for payment rates applicable to their county and each covered commodity. For farms and covered commodities enrolled in 2018 PLC, the following crops met payment triggers: wheat, barley, peanuts, corn, grain sorghum, dry peas, lentils and canola. Oats and soybeans did not meet 2018 PLC payment triggers. Also, this week, USDA began issuing 2019 CRP payments to support voluntary conservation efforts on private lands. In Texas, more than 24,300 CRP participants will receive compensation for their efforts to improve water quality, reduce soil erosion and improve wildlife habitat on more than 2.4 million acres enrolled in CRP throughout the state. “Annual rental payments through the Conservation Reserve Program help farmers and landowners who want to take sensitive land out of production in order to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion or create wildlife habitat,” Six said. For more information about USDA programs or to locate your FSA county office, visit www.farmers.gov.