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Hey... It’s hay! By Jean Riggs Review Correspondent
hat a sight for sore eyes! Hay fields full of fresh hay. There are even songs written about the smell of new-mown hay. Round bales and square bales of all sizes are in abundance, thanks to the drought-breaking rains we have had this year. In fact, the rains hampered the scheduled first cutting for many. It was just too wet! In a good year, a farmer may get three or four cuttings on the same field. It’s all about return on investment for both the producer and the consumer. As the drought years dragged on, hay production was down, causing hay prices to rise. Many times hay was not available locally at any cost. Hay Hot Lines were established to assist ranchers in locating hay for their herds. Huge shipments were coming in from
all over the country and at premium prices. In many instances, if you were not already an established customer, purchasing was almost impossible. Glynda Wolf said she literally became a hay stalker. I would follow a truck or trailer, and ask them where they got their hay. We were desperate, and until we could get established, we had to settle for chasing down a bale or two. Fortunately, we were only trying to feed a few horses, and not a pasture full of cattle. The Law of Supply and Demand kicked in and ranchers were selling off their livestock in record numbers. They simply could not afford to feed them during the winter without good quality, reasonably priced hay. According to Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association the number of cattle being raised in the United States hit its lowest level ever in 2012. Whether they went to the local sale barn, or were shipped out by the trailer load to out-
of-state buyers. Cattle were leaving Texas by the droves. It seems like it’s either feast or famine. Cattle production is down, and the hay harvest plentiful. Again, here comes the law of supply and demand. Hay prices are down, and some of the larger producers are shipping their hay out-of-state this year. Such is the life of the farmer and rancher. If you are a novice hay buyer, there is a difference in cow hay and horse hay. There are many different types of hay, including alfalfa, Bermuda, Timothy, wheat, peanut, coastal, prairie, and the list goes on and on. • Did it get rained on while waiting to be bailed? • How is it stored (barn or field)? • Was it bailed wet? • What is the quality? Many farmers will test their hay for protein content, but the most important factor to be tested is the energy the hay will supply to the animal. Dr. Jason Banta of Texas A&M says the most important thing to test for is TDN,
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Total Digestible Nutrients. Core samples can be taken from round bales, and is the most efficient way to test for TDN. Large round bales usually weigh over a thousand pounds, and large square bales run about 80 pounds. Baling hay is hot hard work, whether you have state-of-the-art equipment, or you are bucking square bales from the field. And, after all the work and expense, if it is not property stacked and stored, it may mildew and become unusable. Then there is the unscrupulous hay seller that does not deliver what they promise. During the drought, it was very disturbing to find bay bales with huge limbs, tin cans, ink cartridges and other roadside trash rolled up inside. These folks were baling ditches, not hay fields. Unfortunately, it does happen. In the meantime, enjoy the smell of the new mown hay, it is all around us, and hopefully you are not suffering from allergies.
Same Song... Second Verse! B
listering heat, lack of rainfall and worries about making more hay weighs heavily on the mind of our farmers. Cattle prices are also rocky, with calf prices falling $8 to $12 a hundred pounds in the last few weeks. A welcome event would be widespread rain over Texas and give calf buyers a place to go with our younger cattle not going to the feedlot. With July nearly gone, this month may go on record as one of the driest since rainfall records have been kept. What a change from earlier this year when gully-washing, lake filling rains came almost constantly. The folks at the Texas A & M Research and Extension Center at Overton are planning a winter pasture program for Friday, August 14. It’s an all day affair from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. The topics covered will answer just about all the questions about winter pastures for East and Central Texas. Cost is $60 before August 5
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East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
and $75 till August 11. County agents have all the information on the big event—or go online to: https/agriliferegister.tamu.edu. Then enter PASTURE in the search window. This is one meeting that offers a lot for our cattle producers who are planning for the upcoming winter season. Another politician has come out against oil and gas production—saying wind and solar power is the key to energizing American homes and businesses. Her “plan” would cost taxpayers multi-billions of dollars in subsidies. Democrat Hillary Clinton is telling voters that she is the brains and the hope of the future. Unfortunately too many voters will believe her story! Franklin Graham, preacher son of world renowned evangelist Billy Graham, is saying it all when it comes to religious freedom and liberty. Graham is taking the pulpit to condemn Muslims and their threat to Christianity. “During World War II we didn’t allow Japanese or Germans to im-
migrate to America—we were at war with both nations”, he said. “Why are we allowing Muslims now”, he asks. Graham continued by saying there are lots of good Muslims— but too many, he said, are a threat to our religious freedom. Agree or disagree—he hasn’t backed down from his statements against the radicals who want to destroy the free world! If you miss going to the grocery store and stocking up with Blue Bell ice cream that may be possible soon. Sid Bass, a billionaire businessman from Fort Worth, has invested as a partner with the Blue Bell owners providing the company the money to get production restarted. The Alabama Blue Bell plant is expected to be making and selling ice cream in the next few days. Hopefully, the Brenham, Texas plant will be churning out ice cream within the next month. Boy, I am ready for “Cookies and Cream”. That’s –30—Horace@valornet.com
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July-August 2015
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The sole of Athens Long-standing shoe repair business a rarity By Meaghan Morton Intern
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n the corner of the downtown square in its own little niche, sits a shop that has been owned and operated by Jimmy Pope for over 33 years. Jimmy’s Shoe and Boot Repair is a nostalgic step back in time to the early 1980s and is a unique part of Athens. Being unique also comes with a set of benefits, such as a demand that only one shop can supply, and in that case, can call for interesting customers and service. Pope said he has serviced customers across the Henderson County area and further. “We get customers from Corsicana, even the other side of Corsicana, Fairfield, Canton, and some from Tyler even though they’ve got two shops over there,” Pope said. “Stuff like this, you never know where you get work from.” While Pope usually gets requests to fix damaged boots, he said he works on a little bit of everything. “I don’t like to just work on one thing all of the time. It’s kind of like being an assembly line. You get other things,” Pope said. “An elderly lady one time brought lawn furniture in here and she had some straps, you know, they were just straps and I thought I could
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sew those on, but I had to end up hand-sewing them on. Just to break the monotony you know.” In the 33 years that he has been working in Athens, Pope has never advertised his services. “It’s word of mouth, I do not advertise. If my customers don’t do it I just need to go home, we’re not doing a good job,” he said. Before becoming a shoe repairman, Pope was a teacher in West Texas, and eventually moved to Henderson County. “I taught students at Kermit, Texas for eight years, then I moved and taught two years in Kemp,” Pope said. “We taught welding, electricity and machines. Stuff like that and metal shop, and out here in Kemp I taught woodworking.” After the diminishing of the programs, Pope got into the business of repairing shoes. Pope said he started working on shoes around the time that he was 42 years old. He is now 76. After 34 years of working in the shoe repair business, he has gained reputation and friendships with residents of Henderson County. “I’ve got customers that their sons and daughters come in that have sons and daughters now. They tell me that. But we’ve been here that long,” he said.
A few of the customers he has gotten to know over the years are known community leaders Judge Dan Moore and Judge Richard Sanders. “I would agree that it’s unique. I never have seen another one like it. I’d say it’s kind of a reflection of who Jimmy is,” Moore said. “That’s why it’s unique.” Moore said Jimmy is excellent in his service and as a person. “Jimmy, you can’t do business with him without knowing him personally, and it’s a pleasure to know him personally,” Moore said. Moore said it was like Jimmy keeps all things going. “For one thing, it’s hard to find a shoe repair place anymore. It smells like leather and things like that. There used to be more places like that than there are now,” he said. Moore compared Jimmy’s shop to the very item Jimmy works on. “I think that Jimmy’s shop is like an old pair of shoes, you know? He keeps it going and makes it work, patches it up and never needs a new one,” he said. Sanders said Pope is a hard working guy that is very serious about his craft. “I think he’s an example of the American way in life. I think that if you work hard and do a good job you’re always going to have business, you’re always going to be successful,” Sanders said. “He’s a perfect example of someone that has taken on a business and used his craft in order to provide for him and his family.” According to community members, Pope values every customer that takes a step into his shop, gives great service, and is a special part of the county. In a way, Jimmy’s Shoe and Boot Repair is the “sole” of Athens. “I just think there’s not a lot of Jimmy’s left. The workmanship, the quality, his work, he’s a great guy,” Sanders said. “He’s had a great business for many years and I hope he stays in business for a long time, because believe me, it doesn’t take me long to wear out a pair of boots.”
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East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
The Stockdog Demonstration
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ete was invited to put on a working stockdog demonstration at the agricultural fair in the nearby town of Perdue, Saskatchewan. He could have brought his own lambs that were ‘dog wise’ but his hosts offered to furnish the sheep. On arrival in Perdue that morning Pete peeked into the dark trailer at the sheep. Six big black-headed Suffolk ewes glared back at him malevolently. It was like looking into a cave full of bank examiners! He stationed his wife Pam and his dog Jock at the back and opened the tailgate. The ewes charged in a flying wedge and bowled over the defense! They made straight for the show barn then turned at the last second for a windbreak of willers. Jock was on ‘em, snapping at their noses! In the melee an abscess broke on one of the ewes! The ewes holed up in the windbreak...all save one who started down the highway to town! Pete sent Jock ‘away to me!’ to fetch’er back. The two met three times on the centerline before she turned back for the bunch. She arrived with a bloody snoot and led the others down the road in the opposite direction! Assuming control, Pete, Pam and Jock aimed for the intersection leading back to the fairgrounds. It was fenced on both sides except for one driveway that led to a nice country
home set back on a beautifully landscaped lawn. The ewes took a hard right and made for the house! As the flock rounded the corner of the house Pete caught a glimpse of a well-dressed lady peeking through the curtain. They made twelve passes around the house trampling shrubs, lawn and manicured flowerbeds. They mangled four bicycles and knocked over six flowerpots before panting to a slippery stop on the front porch. The porch floor looked like the bottom of a dumpster! The enraged homeowner opened the door to register her displeasure. The lead ewe broke for the living room! Pete followed, slamming the door behind him! They raced over sofas, coffee tables, potted plants, under the kitchen table, through the hall and back to the living room where the ewe paused to squat on the shag carpet (beige, of course) in front of the television set! Pete caught a hind leg and drug her across the rug toward the door. The helpful homeowner jerked open the door admitting Ewe Number 2! In small towns like Perdue news travels fast. It was standing room only for the working stockdog demonstration that afternoon! www.baxterblack.com
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Suave businesswoman turned rancher By PennyLynn Webb community@palestineherald.com
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n ranching there is no down time, no holiday breaks, no weekends off. It’s a 24 hour-aday, seven day-a-week, 365 daya-year job. The days are long and hard, especially with unpredictable Texas weather and extreme
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summer heat. It’s not just rounding up cattle, cutting hay, feeding livestock and fixing fence. There is an endless amount of work that is not only physical labor; it requires math, science and the use of today’s technologies. Ranching is about knowing books, accounting, land value, the day-to-day prices of cattle, feed and fuel. In ranching, especially on a
legacy ranch, you stand to lose a life’s work with every highrolling decision you make, so it pays to know all of the inner workings of your operation from top to bottom. While women in today’s society have taken over the boardrooms of multi-million dollar business, the ranching industry is still very much man’s world. However in Anderson County one woman
running a 2,500-acre cow/calf operation is proving that women can also take the bull by the horns. Before taking over her father’s ranch, Linda Jordens Galayda worked in New York for over 25 years making her way to the top of the fashion industry as the vice president of Foley’s (todays Macy’s) working with the likes of Ralph Lauren, Gloria Vander-
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bilt, Diane von Furstenberg, Carl Lagerfeld, etc. On the weekends however, she was a world away working cattle on her father’s ranch the Seven Bar Seven Ranch, just outside of Slocum. Today, Galayda owns and operates this ranch, a legacy that she hopes to one day pass on to her own children. “My father always discounted my career,” Galayda said. “I’d tell him about the things I was doing and the interesting celebrities I had met and he would say, “I don’t care if you had lunch with Gloria Vanderbilt, we’ve got cows to work. “I was always involved in someway.” As her father’s health began to decline, Galayda began to take on more and more responsibilities on the ranch and spent less time in New York, eventually taking over the complete operation. A suave businesswoman, Galayda has always tried stay ahead of the game, like trying to purchase hay when prices are reasonable, sometimes storing hay longer than she would like, but making sure to test that hay and adjust supplements as necessary. She also keeps track of the prices of supplements to get the best bang for her buck. And now she is trying to corner the market of online and satellite video marketing. According to Galayda, she has been working with Matt Anderson at Superior Livestock Auction. Her calves were recently run in the “Week of the Rockies Sale” in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. During that week, Jordens Cattle Co. sold three truck loads, two loads of streets and one load of heifers. “One sale lasted on 45 seconds,
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so in approximately three minutes all of our calves had sold,” reported Galayda. She noted, “The cattle market is definitely up this year, but with Superior Livestock Auction, we got more money per pound than I had calculated. I was very pleased.” According to Galayda, “Superior Livestock Auction is one of the largest livestock auctions in the United States, marketing well over two million head of cattle annually. With over 380 representatives located throughout the United States, they provide a complete national marketing network that serves both buyer and seller.” She noted, “Through this program, livestock are sold on contract for immediateto-future delivery using the most accurate form of price discovery available and competitive bidding. “And we don’t have to haul cattle anywhere. They send a truck and pick them up and give me a check. It’s better on the owner and the cattle. If I don’t like the prices I have the opportunity to PO the sale. Of course, I’ll have to pay a little penalty for that.” Another way that Galayda is trying to corner the beef industry is by making her operation “all natural” with “grass fed cattle” and “no steroids.” “While steroids help to beef up cattle and make them more hearty, the consumer is wanting steroid free beef,” Galayda said. “So, theoretically, it could cost us some in pounds. However, the consumer will be happier.” Of the changes in her legacy operation, Galayda said, “My father was pretty progressive. He knew about the video auction program and he tried to stay in tune with the consumer and make changes when the consumer began to change.” While there are some men that may try to discount Galayda because she is a woman, they quickly realize the mistake that they have made. Tough as nails, she knows her operation inside and out and knows the cost of production and the areas where she can and cannot make adjustments. She is not the “little wife” cooking, cleaning, only doing the accounting and never really getting her hands dirty. She is the operations manager and is in complete control of her ranch. There is a routine and schedule for every part of Galayda’s cow/calf operation. She is constantly studying the markets. She knows prices for hay, feed and nutrients as well as the going price of cattle and can quickly do
East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
the math to recognize where the profit margin lies. Before the sun is up, Galayda has already started her day and will work into the night. She keeps records on every one of her cows and knows each one as a mother knows her children. She talks to them and nurtures them, building them up to produce some of the best breed stock in the state. Galayda, and her husband Gary work the ranch on a day-today basis, they also have local cowboys that help with working their cattle including Brandon Richburg and Carl Murphy. “I’m out there working alongside them. Out working cows with my father, I was never given any special treatment. I was expected to saddle up and ride and take care of myself like everyone else. You have to study everything, all the time and know that there is a constant change in variables. No day is ever going to be the same.” Galayda has also found her voice as a rancher in her blog “Texas Rancher Girl.” Through this blog, Galadya shares her experiences in ranching, celebrates historical figures and educates others on polictics effecting the ranching industry. To learn more about Linda Jordens Galayda log onto www.texasranchergirl.com.
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July-August 2015
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Gone Fishing with Jerry Miller
Slow down your presentation in Summer
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o you remember the song written several years ago that stated, “Slow down, you move too fast, you’ve got to make the morning last”? The song was entitled, “Feeling Groovy,” by Simon & Garfunkel. July has arrived and so has the heat. Surface temperatures in our lakes are slowly climbing into the higher 80s. When this happens, fishermen need to slow down their presentation, especially if you want to catch the larger bass. It’s possible to fish through an area loaded with bass and have very little success if you don’t slow down your presentation. I was reminded of this during this past week on Lake Athens as Robert Sadler and I began fishing at the crack of dawn. You do need to start very early this time of year because your best bite normally comes in the first three to four hours especially if you’re fishing a lake with an abundance of aquatic vegeta-
tion. We mainly targeted points. When we stopped at a grassy point Sadler cast out a chugger and immediately caught a bass. His bait was motionless when the bass struck. Knowing this, I too slowed down my presentation and immediately caught a bass. A nice breeze was blowing into our area so I picked up my spinner bait rod, cast out a Rick Clum 1/2 oz. Sexy Shad spinner and hung, but lost, both bass. I soon discovered that my trailer hook was missing. Bass often short strike spinners at this time of year, so it’s important to use a trailer hook attached to the main hook. We then moved a short distance to a flat covered with scattered grass out to about 8 feet deep. We there switched to a Texas rig, black and blue Sienko. We soon discovered that the bass preferred the bait sitting motionless. We would cast the bait out, let it sink and then stop
and wait for several seconds before beginning our stop and go retrieve. All of our big bass, including three bass that weighed four pounds, succumbed to a dead stick presentation. Later we moved to a steeper point where we changed lures and our approach. We both switched to a 1/8 oz. Shakey Head with a Zoom red shad worm. Sadler scored first with a 4.57 pound bass. This bass struck as the bait sat motionless almost directly under the boat in 10 feet of water. To catch these bass which were on a steeper drop off, you had to make your cast parallel to the very edge of the heavy vegetation which ended in 10 feet deep. We caught 15 or 16 bass that day. Sadler had five bass that weighed about 20 pounds. Not bad for about four hours of fishing! We did see a few scattered schooling bass, but they were hard to catch. We only hung one on a white
weighted Fluke as it sank through the school. Always let bass tell you how they want the bait presented. A lot of the time you simply need to be patient, slow way down, leave your bait in the strike zone longer, and give them time to react. Jerry Miller may be contacted at: gonefishing2@suddenlink.net
UPCOMING EVENTS crockett: • August 14th: Moe Bandy Concert / Moore & Moore Twins Time: 8:00 PM - 11:55 PM CDT For more info: http://www.loveladyoldgym.com
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Palestine: • August 15th: Dogwood Jamboree presents “All American Country” Branson Style “Classic Country Music”. Good clean “Comedy” family style! Questions or ticket purchase, please contact us at 903-7297080 or danmanuel@dogwoodjamboree.com • August 28 & 29: Moonlight Special Dinner Train at the Texas State Railroad; The special dinner train departs the Palestine Depot at 6:30 p.m. on August 28th for an enjoyable ride through beautiful East Texas countryside to Maydelle and back on the night of a full moon. This is truly a unique experience. Reservations must be booked by five p.m. Wednesday the 26th. Call For Tickets 877-726-7245
nacogdoches: • Now through October: Self-Guided Walking Tour Visit 15 points of interest in the downtown historic district. Brochures available at the Visitors’ Center, 200 E. Main Street in historic downtown. Guided tours are offered each Saturday during the months of May and October from the Visitors’ Center on the square in historic downtown.
Neches: • September 4-7: Labor Day Mudd Bash - River Run ATV Park is located on the beautiful Neches River, west of Jacksonville and southeast of Frankston. The guests of River Run enjoy playing on over 2,000 acres of private land. Many people enjoy riding their ATV, 4 x 4 trucks, horses, and other off-road vehicles. This park offers many fun activities for the entire family such as, extreme mud riding, dry trail riding, oil field roads, mud pits, and scenic views of the Neches River. Call for details about the Labor Day Mudd Bash: 903-724-4100
athens: • September 28th: The 2015 Uncle Fletch Hamburger Festival will be here September 26th.. Not only will 1st, 2nd & 3rd place winners take home a trophy, they’ll also walk away with prize money!! For information, please check out our website: unclefletchfestival.com
East Texas Livestock 3x5 #01290017801
EAST TEXAS ANDERSON CO. LIVESTOCK Updated: 7/22/2015 Head Count: 305 Buyers: 25 Sellers: 46
STOCK PRICES EAST TEXAS LIVESTOCK INC. Updated: 7/21/2015 Cows: 250 Bulls: 17 Buyers: 57 Sellers: 156
STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $2.65-$3.45 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $2.43-$3.23 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $2.25-$2.89 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $2.05-$2.49 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.95-$2.20 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $1.60-$2.01 lb
STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $390-$415 305 lbs - 400 lbs: $315-$345 405 lbs - 500 lbs: $275-$300 505 lbs - 600 lbs: $225-$246 605 lbs - 800 lbs: $200-$230
HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $2.45-$3.20 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $2.30-$2.85 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $2.15-$2.75 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.95-$3.35 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.80-$2.23 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $1.55-$1.91 lb
HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $320-$375 305 lbs - 400 lbs: $280-$305 405 lbs - 500 lbs: $245-$280 505 lbs - 600 lbs: $215-$238 605 lbs - 800 lbs: $180-$204
Livestock Market Report
SLAUGHTER Cows: $89-$120 Bulls: $122-$135
SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.75 - $1.21 lb Bulls: $1.10 - $1.35 lb PAIRS $1275 - $3150
PAIRS $2000 - $2850 BRED COWS $1650 - $2450/hd
Stocker Cows: $1125 - $2300 hd Goats: $40 - $150 hd TRI-COUNTY LIVESTOCK MARKET Updated: 7/25/2015 Head Count: 883 STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.90-$3.65 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.85-$3.45 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.80-$2.95 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.75-$2.45 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.70-$2.24 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $1.60-$1.90 lb HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.85-$3.50 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.75-$3.35 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.65-$2.35 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.60-$2.25 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.55-$1.75 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $1.50-$1.50 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.80 - $1.16 Heavy Bulls: $1.10 - $1.43 PAIRS Stocker Cows: $1300 - $2650 Baby Calves - $350 - $600
NACOGDOCHES LIVESTOCK EX. Updated: 7/23/2015 Head Count: 625 Buyers: 53 Sellers: 120 STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $2.75-$3.90 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $2.52-$3.40 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $2.25-$2.90 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.80-$2.50 lb HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $2.45-$3.40 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $2.20-$3.35 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $2.05-$2.60 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.65-$2.85 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.75 - $1.17 lb Bulls: $1.15 - $1.47 lb PAIRS $1250 - $3200 Stocker Cows: $975-$2800 hd Baby Calves: $75 - $500 hd Horses: $0.25 - $0.40 Goats: $45 - $150 hd
HUNTS LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE Updated: 7/20/2015 Head Count: 506 huntlivestockexchange.com STEERS 200 lbs - 299 lbs $1.95-$4.30 lb 300 lbs - 399 lbs: $1.85-$3.45 lb 400 lbs - 499 lbs: $1.85-$3.07 lb 500 lbs - 599 lbs: $1.71-$2.51 lb 600 lbs - 699 lbs: $1.57-$2.27 lb 700 lbs - 799 lbs: $1.61-$1.91 lb 800 lbs - 899 lbs: $1.60-$1.89 lb HEIFERS 200 lbs - 299 lbs $2.00-$4.00 lb 300 lbs - 399 lbs: $1.80-$3.75 lb 400 lbs - 499 lbs: $1.70-$2.60 lb 500 lbs - 599 lbs: $1.53-$2.40 lb 600 lbs - 699 lbs: $1.91-$2.40 lb 700 lbs - 799 lbs: $1.60-$2.05 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.75 - $1.25 lb Bulls: $1.07 - $1.35 lb PAIRS $1500 - $3000 Stocker Cows: $800-$2500 Baby Calves: $190-$425
ATHENS COMMISSION CO. Updated: 7/24/2015 Head Count: 1200 Sellers: 200 Sale EVERY Friday At 11am STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $2.00-$4.40 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.90-$4.00 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.80-$3.25 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.70-$2.70 lb HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $2.00-$4.00 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.90-$3.75 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.80-$3.00 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.70-$2.80 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.60 - $1.21 lb Heavy Bulls: $1.10-$1.41 lb PAIRS Top: $2000 - $3450 Low Middle: $1000 - $2000 Stocker Cows: $1.25 - $2.40 lb Baby calves: $100 - $700 hd Horses: $100 - $650 hd Goats: $35 - $240 hd
This report is a GUIDE only. It is provided to show market trends and is NOT INFLATED to deceive producers or the general public.
Winner’s circle in the world of rodeo
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he winner’s circle at the National Cutting Horse Association Summer Spectacular is a familiar place for Alice Walton. Over the past 16 years, Walton, daughter of the late Walmart founder Sam Walton, has walked into the winner’s circle six times as a horse owner. Her latest trip to the victory ceremony was on Friday, July 17, with a mare named Boon San Spoon and rider Jesse Lennox. The duo clinched the Classic/Challenge open division title after turning in a score of 225 at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum in Fort Worth. Walton, who owns a ranch near the North Texas town of Millsap, earned $30,584 for the victory. Walton said Boon San Spoon thrived on her determination, intelligence and athleticism. “She has a heart bigger than Dallas,” Walton said. “She’s super, super cow smart. She’s such a powerful mare and she’s so sound — she’s never taken a lame step in her life. She’s never been sore, and that’s hard to believe for a horse who does what she does.” Walton’s first Summer Spectacular victory came in 2000, when rider/trainer Eddie Flynn clinched the Derby open title aboard BR Instant Replay. Flynn also won the Derby open title in 2006 on Stylish Baby Doll. Flynn and Boon San Kitty clinched the Classic/Challenge open titles in 2005 and 2006, and Lennox tied for first in the 2013 Classic Challenge Limited open division title race aboard Sally Cats Hot. The 2015 Summer Spectacular runs through Aug. 1. The show will conclude with the Derby finals, which is the third jewel of the sport’s Triple Crown Series. Crawley riding tough After missing out on the Wrangler
East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
National Finals Rodeo last year, Stephenville saddle bronc rider Sterling Crawley is on pace to earn a berth this season. Crawley moved a step closer to qualifying for the NFR by winning the renowned California Rodeo Salinas last weekend in Salinas, Calif. He finished No. 1 in the title race after turning in a two-ride score of 164. Crawley won the first round in Salinas with a score of 84 aboard a Rafter G Rodeo Co bronc named Sundance. When the title was at stake in the final round on Sunday, July 19, Crawley clinched the victory with an 80-point ride aboard a bronc named Rounder — owned by the Four Star Rodeo Co. Crawley earned $7,288 for winning the Salinas title. He is ranked 15th in the world title race with $39,297 in regular-season earnings. In order to qualify for the Dec. 3-12 NFR in Las Vegas, Crawley must finish in the top 15 when the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s regular season concludes Sept. 30. Crawley qualified for the NFR in 2012 and 2013. Cooper roping tough Team roper Jake Cooper of Monument, N.M., has qualified for the National Finals once. It was in 2007 when he and his twin brother, Jim Ross, partnered at the Las Vegas championships. But this season, Cooper is making big strides in his attempt to return to the NFR. Last weekend , he and his partner, Tyler McKnight clinched the team roping title at the Salinas rodeo. When the title was at stake during the final round, Cooper and McKnight turned in a time of 8.6 seconds. They finished No. 1 in the average title race with a five run-run aggregate time of 43.9. Cooper and McKnight each earned
$9,141. After clinching the title at the renowned rodeo, Cooper is ranked ninth in the PRCA’s 2015 team roping heading world standings with $45,858 in regular season earnings. Cooper is the son of 1981 world allaround champion and 2005 ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee Jimmie Cooper Brazile watch At the 100th Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho, 21-time PRCA world champion Trevor Brazile of Decatur pocketed $8,654 after tying for third in tie-down roping. The Nampa rodeo was July 14-18. Brazile also pocketed $4,933 in Salinas to bring his weekend total to $13,587. He is ranked No. 1 in the 2015 world all-around race with $138,552 — $62,834 ahead of second-ranked Tuf Cooper.
Brett Hoffman, a Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame member, has written a rodeo column for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram over the past quarter-century. Email him at bchoffman777@earthlink.net.
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July-August 2015 11
Cooking Wisely
STRAWBERRY FIG PR
Last Saturday morning I made a couple batches of these mouthwatering preserves. They’re are good, they do not last long. Your guests will not be able to tell they are eating figs. This recipe i simple, even if this is your first time canning you could do this one. I even ventured out and m batch of peach flavored fig preserves.
Ingredients 4 Cups Fresh Ripe Figs 3 Cups Granulated Sugar 1 Box Strawberry Jello (3oz.) 5 Half Pint Jars with Lids 1. Mix figs and sugar together in a large saucepan, place over medium heat, and cook, stirring often, until sugar has dissolved. Mix in strawberry gelatin; bring the mixture to a boil and boil for 7 minutes. Mash preserves with a potato masher if desired. ( You can also quarter them first before placing them in the sauce pan. This will make it
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much easier to mash if you choose to do so. On the second batch I made, I did not do this step). 2. Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack the fig preserves into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids and screw on rings. 3. Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with
water. Bring to a boil and l jars into the boiling water holder. Leave a 2-inch spac tween the jars. Pour in mo ing water if necessary to br water level to at least 1 inch the tops of the jars. Bring t to a rolling boil, cover the process for 10 minutes. 4. Remove the jars from th pot and place onto a clothor wood surface, several in apart, until cool. Once coo the top of each lid with a fi ensuring that the seal is tig does not move up or down Store in a cool, dark area.
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Hidden gem offers western art By JENNIFER SHERIDAN reporter@palestineherald.com
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hidden gem in the downtown area of Palestine is the western art sold through the Texas Art Depot, located in the Granny Muffin’s Winery. Owner April Johnston said the store has been locally owned for over 30 years. She purchased the business from her motherin-law, who started the business. The store has been located in the downtown area for 14 years. The business was previously located at 1305 N. Queen St., also known as the John Walk Sammon Homestead. Johnston’s mother-inlaw owned the business until she retired and sold it. Five years later, Johnston moved to the store on Oak Street. “We moved down here to help the downtown area,” Johnston said. “We expanded everything by going with gifts, wind chimes, and the wine, which was a hobby gone wild. But we have been doing art for a long time.” Johnston said the store offers art from most of the major artists and publishers nationally and internationally. She said if a customer wants a piece of art, the store can probably find it if they do not already have. The store also offers art other than western including abstract, figurative, and modern. “I know most people would like my cows,” Johnston said. “The cows are by Paul James, a British artist, who lives in Ireland. We’ve
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had him over a couple of times for shows. So we are his distributor for his art in the U.S.” Anderson County deceased artists’ work can be found in the store. Pieces from a Neches artist, Nelson Rhodes, can be found among the western art collection. Johnston said she purchased the art from a Houston company, and came back to put on a show in his memory. Her mother-in-law painted floral scenes, but has since retired. Ancel Young, a deceased artist, is still displayed on the walls of the art store. Johnston said the business focuses on Internet sales for art. She says it allows people to find pieces and the store can contact the artist to send them or ship them from the store. “It seems if you are not on the Internet, you’re going to die on the vine,” Johnston commented jokingly. “So it helps us to ship out art. It also gives us the ability not to have to keep everything. So just having the relationship with the publishers, if I don’t have the art, I can get them to send it to the customers. I don’t have to keep a huge onsite inventory. Plus, the whole wide world can shop and I don’t have to rely on someone walking down the street.” Artists are chosen by consideration of what people want to buy, Johnston said. She said the art business has slowed down lately. “Art is like diamonds and pearls,” Johnston said. “When money gets tight nobody buys diamonds and pearls but when it goes up again... Woohoo! ‘I’m in the money...’ (she
sings.)” The store carries copies of artists’ paintings that are signed and numbered giving the lay person an affordable piece of art to hang in their home. Original paintings average from $5,000 to $20,000, but copies can be purchased from $300. “that makes it more affordable for the average person to buy the picture for their wall,” Johnston said. “So that’s what we do a lot of.” In addition to the paintings, the store offers framing. Johnston said she frames anything and has done several shadow boxes or memorabilia framings. Johnston said that when the art business began to slow down she started bottling wine. The juice comes from producers that she can use. She said the store offers around 50 different varieties of wines. The wine is served when art shows are held in the building or during the monthly painting class the store offers. The next paint class will be offered on Aug. 13. “What’s better than wine and cheese and art!” Johnston laughingly said. “See here in Palestine, Texas, we have class. We even hold our pinky up.” For those enjoying the gentle breezes of the East Texas area might be interested in the variety of wind chimes at the store. The wind chimes are all made in Austin, and come in several sizes. More information is available on the website. For more information about the art or paint-
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ing classes, visit www.texasartdepot.com or call 903-729-1262.
East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
Old Reliable Plastic worms a hot commodity with summertime bass by Matt Williams Outdoors Writer ’ve read a number stories in the past where well-known bass pros were asked to name the one lure they would prefer to have their pocket if they were dropped off in a remote place with no other means of survival other catching a few bass to eat. Not surprisingly, the plastic worm almost always gets the bid. That’s because old reliable will produce strikes on any lake with a reputable bass population, under any condition imaginable, at any depth. It can be hopped across bottom, snaked through brush or dropped vertically into thick muck such as hydrilla, lily pads and milfoil. Furthermore, you can swim it on the surface or rig it so it will suspend a foot or two off bottom around vegetation or wood. Plastic worms have rich history of fooling big bass when it is hot outside. What follows is a glance at some of the more popular worm rigs for getting at bass when they are on or near the bottom. Keep in mind, the rigs will work in combination with a wide variety of plastics, not just worms: * Texas Rig: When Nick Creme invented the first plastic worm in 1949, he fashioned a bait that bass anglers would eventually find endless way to put on a hook. One of the earliest worm rigs evolved right here in Texas. Fittingly called the “Texas rig,” the set-up consists of a bullet-shaped sinker, hook and worm. The slip sinker slides on the line, ahead of the hook and worm. You can hold the sinker in place at the head of the worm using a bobber stop or rubber peg, or allow it to glide freely. The mechanics of the bait make it snag free, so it can be tossed into
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thick cover with little concern. To rig the worm, insert the point of hook into the head of the worm and pull it through until the eye is countersunk in the head. Next, turn the point of the hook back into the worm and bury it in the body cavity. The worm should hang straight, with no humps or curves in its body. Hook size should vary in accordance with the length and diameter of the worm. A 1/0 or 2/0 hook is a good match with a four-inch worm, whereas a 3/0 or 4/0 is preferred for use with 7-8 inch worms. A 5/0 hook might be necessary to penetrate bigger worms. Hooks with an offset shank will help hold the bait in place. Slip sinker size is personal choice. Most anglers like to use the lightest weight they can get away with in shallow or open water, or when fishing around scattered grass or brush. Heavier weights work best in thick or matted cover. Learning to detect strikes on the Texas rig takes some practice. Most bites result in a single tap, but not always. Sometimes bass inhale the bait undetected and try to swim off with the goods. It is a good idea to become “line watcher” when fishing the Texas rig. Watch the line right where it enters the water and be ready if it twitches or moves to one side. The strike usually will occur as the worm is falling. Reel down to take up any slack and set the hook the moment the strike occurs. * Carolina rig: The Carolina rig originated in North Carolina years ago. It was popularized in Texas during the early 1990s, when several tournament pros “dragged” their way to top finishes on East Texas lakes. Perhaps the most noteworthy was Jim Nolan’s Bassmaster Top 100 victory on Sam Rayburn March
East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
1991. In four days Nolan sacked up 86 pounds of bass and won the tournament by more than 13 1/2 pounds. His bait of choice wasn’t a worm. It was a Zoom lizard, which has been selling like hotcakes ever since. What makes the Carolina-rig so effective is the bait is not restricted by weight. Instead, the weight is staged a couple of feet ahead of the bait using a swivel, glass beads and a leader of varied lengths to divide the two. This allows the plastic to remain unrestricted and fall very slowly. Bass feel no resistance when they grab it. Detecting a strike on the Carolinarig is somewhat different than a Texas-rig. Often times you will not feel a bite until the fish tries to run off with the bait. The mechanics of the Carolina rig are different than the Texas rig. The key is to drag the bait across bottom using sideways sweeps of the rod, not to hop it. * Drop Shot: The drop shot rig was popularized out West on the clear water lakes of California and Arizona, but has since become a hit on Texas lakes, as well. It works best in combination with small-diameter line and little baits when the bass are reluctant to bite. A drop-shot rig closely resembles an inverted Carolina rig.The weight is placed below the bait rather than ahead of it. Building a drop-shot rig is simple: 1.) Tie on a 1/0 hook using a palomar knot. Make sure to leave a long tag end, about 14-18 inches. 2.) Attach a 1/4-ounce weight to the tag. A traditional bell sinker will work, or you can use a specially designed drop-shot weight. 3.) Complete the drop-shot rig by Texas rigging a plastic on the hook. Small finesse worms, Senkos and Flukes are ideal.
The plastic worm has a rich history in Texas bass fishing. It is the “goto” choice of many anglers during the heat of summer. Go against the grain and you could be made to look like a monkey by someone
who follows it. Matt Williams is a freelance writer based in Nacogdoches. He can be reached by e-mail at mattwillwrite4u@yahoo.com.
Photo by Matt Williams
Plastic worms come in varied sizes and just about every color under the sun. Worms that are 7-12 inches long usually won’t produce as many bites as smaller ones, but the takers are generally larger.
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July-August 2015 15
Shoo fly! Experts say horn flies create problems for cattle producers By Jo Anne Embleton jembleton@ jacksonvilleprogress.com
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imilar in looks to house and stable flies, the smaller horn fly – with its piercing mouthpart – can create a lot of damage for cattle producers. “Mainly, they’re a nuisance to cattle,” explained Cherokee County agriculture extension agent Aaron Low, who explained that livestock expend a lot of energy swishing their tails and moving their bodies to flick away the insects. “And anytime cattle are stressed like this, they’re going to decrease in efficiency, and
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they’re not going to gain weight.” According to horn fly control research done by Low and partner Sonja Swiger, a horn fly lays its eggs in fresh manure and can grow from egg to adult in seven days when temperatures are above 85 degrees Fahrenheit. These insects feed off cattle, “generally consuming 30 to 40 blood meals from a cow, which also causes weight decrease,” he said. Various types of control methods are used by producers battling the pesky critter: Biological, cultural and chemical. This past year, Low and Swiger partnered in researching the efficacy of ear tags as a means of controlling horn flies. From May 16 to October 24, 2014, the duo
recorded the number of horn flies buzzing about four different groups of cattle used in their trial – one group served as a control, while the other three were outfitted with three different brands of ear tags, with no other deterrent used. Fly counts were conducted from one side of 10 randomly selected cattle in each group, with data tabulated from 16 different counties taking part in the demonstration, including nearby Smith County, according to trial results. “We monitored the efficacy and the length of time that the different fly tag treatments work throughout the summer months, because that when we worry most about horn
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flies,” Low said. “In Cherokee County, we tested three different tags with slow-release pesticide that gets into to the cattle’s bloodstream through their skin, serving as a deterrent to the horn flies,” he said. While the product XP2820 worked best among the trial specimens, what researchers learned from the trials was that producers would not be able to rely on the same product year after year, because “the cattle build up resistance to a pesticide, as do the flies,” Low said. Bottom line? “You have to rotate pesticide families every year for them to remain effective,” he said.
East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
Perfecting ‘the look’ H
i Y’all, Well looks like summer’s half over and that suits me just fine. I know we’re supposed to enjoy each day as it comes, but these hot, humid ones take a toll on me. I am wearing a fur coat after all. Course I’m very thankful that I live indoors with AC, but I do have to work out in this heat some. There’s not much cattle work to do when it’s this hot so my main job is ride along with Daddy and check on things daily. I ride some and run some and make sure I jump in every pond and creek possible. Sure feels good, too. My folks finally got things back in order after that wind storm a while back. They sure were glad for things to get back to some kind of normal again. What with all the work and repair guys around it’s been kind of busy up on this hill. I think they’re looking forward to another trip to the cool mountains pretty soon. I know I am. We did get away to Ruidoso,NM for a few days in between repair work. That’s a trip
East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
I always look forward to and I’m sure you know that golf was a part of the trip plans. My folks haven’t gotten to play much this spring and early summer so they were ready to hit the links. And riding along in a supervisory capacity is sure nicer in that cool air. We also stopped by a Brangus ranch on the way out and enjoyed the visit. Daddy loves to look at good cattle and Tate, the manager, loves to show them off. Mama and I enjoyed seeing the cattle and ranch too and the mountain scenery in the distance topped it off. This place used to be a sheep ranch a long time ago and Tate said that when he came there to start the cattle operation those sheep herders had lots of little dogs like me to help them with their work. Course he also said they weren’t quite as pretty as me and definitely not as well groomed. Course when I’ve been out working sometimes I come back looking kind of disheveled too. But most of the time I try to look my best since I am representing the Clem Brangus Ranch. The other day I was resting my eyes while listening to tv and a news story came on that made my ears perk up. Seems like this teenage kid got home and realized he had left his keys in the house and was stranded outside. It would have been a while before anyone else got home so he decided to get on the roof and slide down inside the chimney to get inside. You guess it, he got stuck and had to yell for help. The firemen who came to his rescue actually had to tear down some of the chimney to get him out. I laughed and thought what a dumb idea that kid had had and then I remembered an incident last summer when I got stuck in the hay barn. Mama had gone outside to do some yard work and I followed out the door right behind her. But I headed off to the barn to check on the stray cat I knew was hanging out there. I went into the tunnel between all those rolls of hay and the side of the barn and got all the way to the back , turned to go back out when an evil eyed, yellow monster, aka THE CAT, had gotten down and was blocking my path. I stopped in my tracks cause the evil one was growling and hissing in a not too friendly way. I was trapped to say the least and couldn’t go out the back due to the panels cover-
ing that area. I heard Mama calling my name to come and go back inside where it was cool, but no matter how many times I heard my name called I couldn’t let her know what was in my way. She called and called and looked, but couldn’t seem to see me. I even heard Daddy’s voice as he joined in the search. Finally Mama crawled up the tunnel a ways and saw me and then the evil one and it even hissed at her. So Daddy had to go the back and pry some panels loose so I could make my escape. What a relief. It was hot in there and I was concerned the evil one might rearrange my face with it’s claws. So I guess the moral to this story is that we all do stupid things from time to time and hopefully live another day to tell about it. I guess I learned not to jump to judgement about things someone else does when I hear a tv story. Oh and let’s keep this incident of me getting stuck in the barn by A CAT on the quiet. If ‘my girls’ heard about this they would laugh me out of the pasture the next time I told them to do something. Even though that ‘thing’ was an evil eyed, yellow monster. Oh yea, I managed to do it again without getting caught and I’m not talking about
being trapped. I mean I got on the bed in the spare room, messed up all the covers and pillows, took a nap and got off without ever being seen. Course the evidence pointed directly at me since I was the only one in the house at that time. Usually when my folks go out for a bit without me, the doors to the bedrooms are closed, but now and then they forget and the ‘mysterious bed-messer-upper’ strikes. All is ok till I hear my name called in that certain way. But I manage to look sad and act all sorry like and that usually takes care of the situation. After 6 years I have ‘the look’ pretty much perfected. Guess I’d better sign off for now. It’s been a long, hot day and I’m ready for some down time. That means AC, tile floor or couch and ceiling fan. Maybe I’ll hear some other story on tv about a dumb thing someone did that I can tell you about later. Oh, I hope you had a ‘bang up’ 4th of July to celebrate the good ol USA’s 239th birthday. That’s a lot of candles to put on a cake. That many lit up might even set the cake on fire. Now that would be a story for sure. Later, Kodi
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July-August 2015 17
Producers prepare for annual hay show By April Barbe editor@jacksonvilleprogress.com
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ay! A break in this year’s heavy rainfall finally allowed many Cherokee County farmers to bail hay across the area a few weeks ago. Cherokee County Extension Agent Aaron Low and his staff are also preparing for the Annual Hay Show and Sale held in October, he said. “A great and easy way to get your hay tested for free is to enter either a square bale or a large trash bag full of hay in our annual Hay Show and Sale,” Low said. “You will be provided with a detailed analysis of your hay crop. Hay samples must be produced in Cherokee County.” Testing results will be given during the Annual Hay Show & Sale held on Oct. 20 at the Cherokee County Exposition Center in Jacksonville. A BBQ dinner will begin at 6 p.m. with the auction following at 7 p.m. The Grand Champion and Reserve Champion hay along with the blue ribbon hay will be auctioned during this event. All proceeds of this event will go to benefit the youth of Cherokee County. The money will be used to support the scholarship program by benefiting the youth associated with the Soil Conservation District and the Cherokee County Jr. Livestock Show. Low said hay entry drop off locations are at the Extension Office in Rusk, Hicks Farm & Ranch in Alto, Farm & Ranch Feed in Jacksonville, Southland Feed in Jacksonville, Steele’s Feed & Seed in Troup and Tri County Sale Barn in New Summerfield. The deadline for entering hay samples is September 11. For more information you may contact Low at (903) 683-5416. Meanwhile, www.agriculture.com offers these tips for salvaging swathed alfalfa af-
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ter rain: Make sure your mower/conditioner is adjusted correctly. If you’re using a roller conditioner, make sure roller clearance and pressure are both where they need to be. On an impeller conditioner, both impeller speed and clearance are important. Check your machine’s owner’s manual for the right adjustments. “Heavier crops, such as first-cut, require more roll pressure (spring tension). Too much pressure can cause excessive leaf loss. Alfalfa stems should be crimped or broken every 3-4 inches to allow moisture to escape,” according to agriculture experts. “At least 90% of the stems should be cracked or crimped, with less than 5% of legume leaves bruised or blackened.” Widen your windrow. If you’re facing challenging drying conditions, laying your hay in as wide of swaths possible is best. A wider swath will help expose more of the cut hay to sun and wind. “University of Wisconsin research indicates that a 12 foot haybine laid into a 9-foot swath will reduce drying time by 35% versus a 6-foot swath,” according to OMAFRA. “Wind speed and humidity are the most influential weather factors affecting drying time.” Consider cutting higher. You may lose some yield, but cutting higher helps air move more freely around the windrow, promoting better and quicker drying. Time your cutting right. The right time of day for cutting depends a lot on your location. If you’re in a higher-humidity area, morning (after dew has dried) is better, while in western areas where the air’s typically drier, later in the day’s better. “Cutting hay in the morning, after the dew is off, maximizes daylight hours for drying and minimizes respiration losses,” according to OMAFRA. “Research that suggests delaying cutting until late in the day to maximize sugar content, is based
on the dry environment of the American west, and does not typically apply to the high humidity conditions of the Great Lakes area.” Rake only when you have to. If your hay gets rained on after you’ve swathed, raking my be inevitable. But, time it right so you both keep moisture down and limit alfalfa leaf loss. “The drier the hay is at raking, the greater the leaf loss. If possible, raking alfalfa at moistures between 30% to 40% is often a good compromise between low leaf loss and good drying,” according to OMAFRA. “Leaf loss can be extremely high if
raking at 20% moisture. Hay that is almost dry is less likely to shatter when raked in the early morning when the dew is still on.” Consider using propionic acid. If you’ve raked your hay already and there’s rain in the forecast, applying a propionic acid product can help prevent moisture damage. “The use of propionic acid over a wide range of moistures to avoid moldy dry hay is well researched and effective,” according to OMAFRA. “This is particularly the case with higher density bales, such as large squares, that need to be drier at baling to avoid mold growth.”
Courtesy photo With heavy rains the first half of this year in Texas, many hay producers only recently were able to bail hay. Now, that summer has allowed for drier conditions, Cherokee County producers are gearing-up for the Annual Hay Show & Sale.
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East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
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East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
YMCA works to find ‘roots’ for children By HALEY HOAR news@palestineherald.com
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ehind the Palestine YMCA building, in an area known as the “backyard,” lays a box filled with mulch and dirt that is worked by small hands to produce a sense of accomplishment to the children there. The YMCA is known for it’s many amenities available to the children that attend, including sports and recreation, but the garden has become home to many students who have worked to grow produce and flowers for the organization. Virginia West, sports director for the Y, has worked with the YMCA garden for
East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
over eight years bringing new experiences to the children that attend the program. The garden, which is currently in a transition phase due to flooding, has been a staple for the children at the YMCA. “The garden is such a big thing for some of these kids,” West said. “We have a lot of kids that are from broken homes or they would just never have the opportunity to have a garden. We also have kids that have major discipline and anger issues, and when I started this garden I started noticing that a lot of these kids that were having these problems, when they were working in the garden, it was going away. That was helping with their anger issues, just feeling the pride of being apart of
something, accomplishing something.” West said that the garden was run by the children with little influence from herself of other adults other than supervision. Vegetables such as tomatoes, cabbage, cucumbers and others have been planted, harvested and eaten by children working on the project. “It’s really not about the garden for me, for them it is, but for me it’s all about spending time with them and teaching them things that they would never, ever do,” West said. “It’s a dying art. No one really has the time to do a garden anymore, or they don’t have the space.” West said that many of the parents were surprised at the impact the garden had on
the children. With all of the different produce grown, many of the students have developed a taste for different vegetables they may not have eaten prior. Nine-year-old Carter Graham said he enjoyed planting the vegetables and eating the onions that came out of the garden. Other students, such as nine year old John Jimenez, enjoyed making the rows and growing the plants. Jimenez said his favorite vegetables were the tomatoes they grew. For 12-year-old John Canaan working with the tools, especially the hoe, was the best part of gardening. The produce harvested from the garden has been given to students to eat, but some has been used to help gain donations. West said that one year the garden produced enough cucumbers to pickle and give away to members. “It was fun,” Michael Talley, 10, said when describing his experience in pickling the cucumbers. Talley said they used vinegar and salt to pickle and he enjoyed eating them as much as pickling them. West said she hopes to restore the garden this fall after the flooding damage and add wire to help with climbing plants. Students have helped come up with ideas to improve their garden including adding flowers to the front, and even writing down ideas of how to use the produce once it’s harvested. Currently, West said she is looking for volunteers, gardeners that would be able to teach and share with the students. “Tons of times people come by and say ‘oh your garden looks great,’ but I don’t really do anything out there,” West said. “I just totally instruct them and the kids do everything, down to reminding me when we need to water. They’re the ones that pick and decide what goes in the row. We let it be whatever they want to do. It’s all about them.”
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July-August 2015 21
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To advertise here, contact Lezlie Hoover at 903-729-0281 or email lhoover@palestineherald.com
FARM & RANCH CLASSIFIEDS
July-August 2015
How healthy is your soil? By Jo Anne Embleton jembleton@ jacksonvilleprogress.com SMITH COUNTY – Much like diagnostic tests done by a doctor to monitor our health, unless a producer orders a test of his or her soil, there’s no way to know if crops are getting the nutrients they need, pointed out Smith County extension agent Ashley Pellerin. “It’s kind of the same thing as us going to the doctor – we don’t know how healthy we are unless we go,” she said. “A soil test is performed to see how healthy your soil is.” Earlier this month, Prairie View A&M University College of Agriculture and Human Sciences’ Cooperative Extension Program and the 100 Ranchers Inc. began offering a free Soil Health Workshops to help producers attain optimum yield from their properties. “These groups believe in outreach programs, and one of the things that they noticed was that a lot of producers weren’t doing soil tests regularly, every three to five years. And (producers) have been seeing a lot of problems with soil fertility, especially with the floods and rains we’ve experienced in Texas,” Pellerin said. The two groups “want to see everybody start on the right foot, so they are letting producers know about soil testing, about how to start, because we can help them learn how to amend the soil so they can have a better chance (at crop yield),” she said. According to a release from Prairie View, “soil testing is critical to making proper application of nutrients to ensure healthy crops as well as maximum yields and profits for the land manager. Fertilizer prices are very high, so over-application is a waste of money and also potentially harmful to the environment. On the other hand, under application is an inefficient use of money and time.” Soil testing looks at the content of nutrients available in soil that will be used to grow crops, Pellerin said. “The most simple test costs about
$10, and is sent to A&M, where they look at the soil’s pH level and look for nitrogen, phosphate and potassium, which are the main things, but there are other micronutrients that will show up on tests,” she said. From there, results are sent to the producer, with advice on what nutrients need to be supplemented – or how to attain a proper pH balance – in their soil. “You want to know where you stand, whether you have too much of one thing or not enough of another, and you want to know about the pH. Because you can have all the nutrients in the world, but if the pH isn’t right, you’re not going to get anything to grow,” Pellerin pointed out. Some county extension offices offer soil sample kits for producers (even gardeners, she said, pointing out, “we’re all farmers, regardless of what we’re growing”) to use, which entail collection bags and forms to fill out, while other also may have a soil probe on loan to use for collecting soil samples. But, a producer can also collect samples in quart-sized Zip-lock bags (double-bagged
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to ensure the specimen isn’t ruined) and print forms available through the A&M website, http://soiltesting.tamu.edu/webpages/ forms.html In Smith County, 19-year-old farmer and Tyler Junior College student Terren Moore, who operates Moore Peas Co., will host a July 30 Soil Health program at his Tylerarea farm. The event is free and open to interested producers, even those outside the area. In fact, she said, if a producer cannot attend an event in his or her area, he or she is welcome to attend any of the other workshops, just register to give organizers a better idea of a number to prepare for. They include those held July 23 in Pattison (Waller County), Aug. 6 in Oakwood (Leon County), Aug. 13 in Liberty (Liberty County), Aug. 21 in Huntsville (Walker County) and Aug. 28 in Bryan (Brazos County). To register for a workshop, contact kratcliff@100ranchers.org or call 214-6763357. Or, contact Billy Lawton, bclawton@ pvamu.edu or call 936-261-5117.
East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
AgriLife hosting food demo date night
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hether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a ďŹ rst date or an anniversary surprise for your bride, going on dates doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always have to mean draining your wallet at fancy restaurants. There are plenty of affordable and entertaining dates you can go on with your beloved. After all, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really the time you spend with your sweetheart that matters and not how much youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re spending on the dates. But dating for long-term couples comes with its own new his and her matching set of pressures, especially when kids are in the picture. You no longer have the time to make sure you have ďŹ ve minutes together without interruption, let alone set aside an entire evening to dote on each other. So when the stars are ďŹ nally aligned â&#x20AC;&#x201D; youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve cleared your calendars, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve found someone not featured on Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Most Wanted to look after the kids â&#x20AC;&#x201D; you want the evening to be perfect, which practically begs for a Murphyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Law moment. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sweat it! Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done the work for you. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Sabor a Pasion are hosting â&#x20AC;&#x153;Date Night with Dinner Tonightâ&#x20AC;? that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to miss! This event will be held Friday, August 7 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Nacogdoches County Annex Building in Nacogdoches Texas located on 203 W. Main S.. The evening will include food demonstrations prepared by Stephen F. Austinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very own chef Todd Barrios, Executive Chef Simon Web-
ster of Sabor a Pasion, and Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Agent Mandy Patrick. Food demonstrations will highlight recipes that are easy to prepare and ďŹ t into a healthy meal plan with a few surprises from our chefs as well. Samples of the recipes will be available for tasting by the entire audience. Each participant will receive a ďŹ&#x201A;ash drive copy of the 52 page Dinner Tonight Cookbook and door prizes will be given throughout the evening. Jessica Theimer, RDN, LD Program Coordinator for Dinner Tonight will be on hand to demonstrate new and innovative kitchen gadgets that are sure to make a couples dinner more fun. Tickets can be purchased from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the County Extension OfďŹ ce located on 203 W. Main St. in the Courthouse Annex Building in Nacogdoches. For additional information, contact Nacogdoches County Extension Agent Claudann M. Jones at 936- 560-7711- email cmjones@ ag.tamu.edu, Holly Black, Anderson County at 903-723-3735 -email hdblack@ag.tamu.edu, Jheri-Lynn McSwain, Shelby County 936-598-7744, Carolyn Tyler, Henderson County Carolyn. Tyler@ag.tamu.edu 903-675-6130, Mandy Patrick Houston County, mkpatrick@ag.tamu.edu 936-5447502. You can also view recorded food demonstrations on our Dinner Tonight Website at http:// healthyliving.tamu.edu with recipes that are easy to download.
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