November 2016 Farm & Ranch Living

Spooktacular Supporting agriculture with fun in Cherokee County, Page 2

Agricultural Jewel TVCC promotes agriculture in Henderson County, Page 5

Love of Bees

Dedicated to Conservation

Buzzing about on LoneSpring Bee Farm in Anderson County, Page 16

Gary Price restoring quail population at 77 Ranch, Page 8

Published October 27, 2016

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

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Support Agriculture Businesses... They are the Heartbeat of Our Economy

October-November 2016

Spooktacular Bull Bash Not just a day of fun, but a way of supporting agriculture

By Jo Anne Embleton jembleton@ jacksonvilleprogress. com

A

popular Championship Bull Riding event may draw bull riders along with those who enjoy the entertainment from near and far each October, but Jacksonville’s Spooktacular Bull Bash has a long-reaching effect on Cherokee County residents. “We’ve done a lot of great things (because of Bull Bash),� said event cofounder Debbie Dyess. “We wanted it to be about the community.�

The idea for Spooktacular took root in 2009, when Dyess and her husband John – a bull rider with a nickname of “Spooky� – attended the PBR finals in Las Vegas. “On the way back home, he said he wanted to bring (something similar) to our community, because it’s such a fun event,�

Dyess recalled. “But when we went out to talk to sponsors, there were three grocery chains who started sharing about how most of our food is imported.

Photo by Alyssa Massingill “My dad was a farmer, and I grew up eating healthy, so it burdened my heart to know that (food being imported),� she said. “If anyone would ever come into conflict with

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our country, they wouldn’t need guns to take us out. “We should never be dependent on another country to feed us,� she said, adding that when she and John began talking about how to invest event proceeds, “we said to ourselves, ‘Let’s put our money into agriculture.’�

For several years, proceeds have been poured into projects by the Lone Star Military Farmers group, in the form of seeds that are part of a “harvest basket� presented to folks whom LSMF members help by plowing land for

gardens.

In recent years, Bull Bash purchased a plow for the group to use in the grass-roots project that allows Cherokee County residents to cultivate fresh, inexpensive food sources.

Jacksonville Garden Club president Sandra Dickerson said that thanks to support from Bull Bash, not only is the club assisted with funds to beautify the community, but also contributes to their scholarship fund. “We ask for scholarship applications and lean toward students who want to further their

education in horticulture or agriculture, because it’s so important (to help) the future farmers and growers of our country,� Dickerson said, adding that her group also participates in “Hope Gardens,� a container gardening project launched a few years ago that gives residents of local senior residential centers and opportunity to exercise their green thumb.

Bull Bash proceeds help fund this innovative project, too. “It’s fun to see the older people put their hands in the dirt again after so many years of not being able to garden,� Dickerson said. “Adding a little beauty for their enjoyment is very rewarding, and we are so thankful for those who help these Hope Gardens.�

Other projects benefitting from Bull Bash’s generosity include funding a garden tended by the county’s Juvenile Probation department, which donates produce to The H.O.P.E. Center to help feed those in need, as well as providing trees for a Girl Scout beautification project at a

local park. “It’s a cycle,� Dyess said, adding, “It’s all a gift to our Lord.�

While figures were not immediately available for this year’s event, held Oct. at the Jacksonville Rodeo Arena grounds, “proceeds were even bigger and better than before,� she said. “I was in awe. And we were so excited, because Bull Bash has a good reputation for helping agriculture.�

Photo by Alyssa Massingill

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October-November 2016

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Support Agriculture Businesses... They are the Heartbeat of Our Economy

Livestock market up; new rules discussed

C

attle buyers have upped their ante on what they are willing to pay for cattle, and it seems to be a day-by-day thing. Some days up $4-$10 a hundred pounds, and a day or so later down again.

At least the past few days it’s been an up market — and folks selling calves and older cattle are a little less sad-faced. One thing for sure, it costs over $600 a cow to operate in our country. Means those calves have to bring that and more in order to put any money into the “rainy day” fund of producers.

Some winter pastures are being overseeded, but for most of our farmers, it’s

too darn dry to make the gamble. Another problem is that many of our pastures, even though dry, have a lot of forage on the ground.

Unless this is mowed, or grazed, ryegrass or clover will have a tough time germinating. Some are running a disk lightly over the pastures to be seeded.

This will create some soil for seed to get a start.

Thursday, Nov. 3, will feature a bull selection seminar in Houston County at Santa Rosa Ranch south of Austonio on Highway 21.Several cattle specialists with Texas A&M will highlight the program.

Starts at 1 p.m. and will conclude at 5:30 p.m. Those

attending are invited to stay for a program and a beef dinner sponsored by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association starting at 6 p.m. Santa Rosa

Ranch leases the Rattlesnake and 7-J Ranches, raising top-notch bulls and females.

When it comes to interference with free enterprise, is anyone really watching? Latest news from the all-powerful Environmental Protection Agency — backed by the incompetents in the White House — is ludicrous. The desk jockeys are planning a new edict that could restrict farmers from rowing up their soil and planting a crop.

The official version is that farmers, by hilling up their rows, are disturbing the “waters of the United States and discharging a pollutant.”

They are suggesting that

eventually landowners must have permits to grow corn and other crops that create “puddles of water” in the row middles between the “mountains of overturned soil.”

The Houston County Commissioners Court has cast a questionable vote — this time at the expense of half the voters in the county. The Court voted — unanimously — to establish a second early voting box in the county. Along with the courthouse in Crockett, the Court added another in Lovelady.

Both early voting boxes opened on Oct. 24 and will be in use until Nov. 4. But what about the voters in the

northern half of the county?

If they early vote, most will have to drive many miles to Crockett to cast their vote.

I asked both County Judge Erin Ford and Commissioner Gary Lovell why they did not establish an early-voting box in Grapeland, since that seems only fair. Both the judge and commissioner said they “didn’t think about it” when they voted on the issue. County Judge Ford and County Commissioner Lovell told me this will “not happen again.”

And I figure they will both be on their toes next time. Ah, politics reigns!

That’s –30— horace7338@live.com

Pitchford family busy in the world of cattle

By Rich Flowers Athens Daily Review

O

n October 19, Darrell Pitchford is loading up and heading for the State Fair of Texas.

It’s a path he knows well, because its one of the most important stops in the cattle showing season.

On Pitchford’s itinerary was showing Santa Gertrudis cattle in the open show. His son Casey and daughter Gracey were were slated to exhibit in the junior show on Sunday.

Darrell Pitchford and his wife Shana have been following the routine for years.

“There’s not many people now that are bringing their kids up through agriculture,” Darrell Pitchford said. “It gives them a chance to keep their kids involved and it keeps them out of trouble at the same time. It helps them get some goals in life.”

Casey is a senior. Pitchford said they’re trying to help him make decisions that will get him started on the right step toward a successful career Darrell Pitchford grew up in Scottsdale, Kentucky, attended Western Kentucky University, majoring in animal science, then took a job in Bellville, Texas.

“I managed a ranch there for three years,” Darrell Pitchford said. “Then I went to Forney, where I met my wife, Shana.”

In 1995, Darrell Pitchford started his own business and started looking for greener pastures.

“Then we moved down to Athens to get out of that black mud in the Kaufman area to this part of the country that has trees, sand and good grass,” Darrell Pitchford said.

Pitchford is a former board member of the national Santa Gertrudis organization. He is now the shows and exhibits committee and the breed standards committee.

“It’s the first breed to originate in the United States,” Darrell Pitchford said.

About two-and-a-half years ago, Pitchford started producing embryos designed to be the top EPT’s in the breed. The ranch currently has 250 embryo calves on the ground and 300 on the way.

“We had our first production sale in August,” Darrell Pitchford said. “We averaged $5,300 on that sale.”

A second sale in October averaged $5,800.

“There was a lot of internet action, so we were really excited about that,” Pitchford said The Corazon-Pitchford Cattle Company is located on County Road 3715 in Athens.

“We try to produce the best. We try to raise them and now we’re trying to create animals to other people to produce as well,” Darrell Pitchford said.

That means there are some excellent animals to take to livestock shows around the state.

Gracey, recently won San Antonio scholarship with red angus. Casey recently won the National Junior Santa Gertrudis show in Tampa, Florida.

“We work, probably, about 12 to 14 hours a day, so you never know,” Darrell Pitchford said. “On a ranch you never know what’s going to come up during the day.

You think you have a set schedule, but things tend to happen.”

This time of year, there’s plenty of work to do and lots of dates on the calendar.

Things ease up around Christmas time, then pick up again in the new year.

“We’re pretty busy starting in August and all the way through to November. Then January through March are busy as well with the stock shows and marketing of animals.

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October-November 2016

Support Agriculture Businesses... They are the Heartbeat of Our Economy

Athens Tractor & Equipment a successful story

By Jeff Riggs Athens Daily Review

W

ith a comparatively short span of life since it was established, Athens Tractor & Equipment has grown to be one of the largest businesses of its kind in Henderson County. It was in January of 2003 that Athens Tractor & Equipment, LLC was established. Burton Ouzts, president, opened with two technicians and a bookkeeper who worked out of a barn on his parents’ ranch in the New York Community. Soon a temporary trailer was set up on the construction site where Athens Tractor is located today at 3245 U.S. Highway 175 East, and a parts person was added. In June 2003, Athens Tractor moved into their new facility. According to their website, Kubota and a couple of implement lines were added to their products. With mentoring from Ouzts’ late father and parttime help from both his father and mother, Jan, Athens Tractor has grown its product line, and entered their fourteenth year serving East Texas.  “Athens Tractor’s product line offers quality and choice to our customers,� said Ouzts. “We

Photo by Jeff Riggs

Burton Ouzts and his mother, Jan Ouzts, owners of Athens Tractor & Equipment stand next to their main line of agriculture equipment, Kubota, at their business location. are proud to represent leading manufacturers of agricultural, lawn and garden, outdoor

hand-held power equipment and construction equipment.

Our product line includes

young sons, Dylan and Steele.

Jan is involved in the business on a part-time basis. Both families live in the New York Community, and are active in their church, Living for the Brand Cowboy Church in Athens. The Ouzts family has made a long-term commitment to serve Henderson County and the East Texas area, including Van Zandt County, Smith County and Cherokee County. Athens Tractor and Equipment is located at 3245 U.S. Highway 175 in Athens. Their hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 903-675-9158 or 800-945-4121.

Kubota, Vermeer, Bad Boy Mowers, Land Pride, Rhino, Kuhn, Husqvarna, Big Tex trailers, Case Knives and Traeger Grills.�

In the third quarter of 2016, the company was awarded the Kubota Construction Equipment line, and is looking forward to building that business by serving their construction equipment customers in East Texas. “We want to be known for providing our customers with a choice of quality products, and providing the best service possible after the sale,� Ouzts said. “Our team of employees is knowledgeable, friendly and wants to put our customers first by providing the best customer experiences.�  Ouzts is married to Shana Rogers Ouzts and they have two

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East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

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Support Agriculture Businesses... They are the Heartbeat of Our Economy

Moderation

ne of the hazards of having educated friends is that they are a frequent source of scientific information. Dr. Ben sent me a scholarly review entitled “WHAT DID OUR ANCESTORS EAT?” by two gentlemen well versed in nutrition and anthropology.

One of the many observations they made was, with the advent of agriculture individuals became smaller in stature. They concluded that agriculture itself was not to blame but rather ‘a departure from a mixed diet derived from a variety of sources.’

Which simply substantiates the Coyote Cowboy Theory that says “Too much of anything is almost as bad for you as not enough of everything!”

For instance, running. Most of us have a

friend or a family member fall prey to this addiction. They disappear for an hour in the morning early. You see them on deserted country roads striding single-minded along the shoulder, oblivious to the weather, the scenery and the traffic. They don’t wave.

Within weeks they become gaunt stringy creatures like wormy coyotes in bicycling underwear. Their conversation revolves around tennis shoes.

Or take those people who breed purebred cattle. New converts very seldom develop the fanatic devotion to the cause that is part of the persona so often seen in a breeder who was born with a silver show halter in his hand. The young child who slept under the painting of the majestic herd sire once asked his dad about crossbreeding, and was given a lecture that began with Genesis 1:28 and concluded with the latest placings at the International Expo in Louisville!

And how ‘bout the nervous, preoccupied person pacing at the edge of the crowd incessantly cleaning his fingernails or fidgeting with his belt loops? He’s gnawing on an endless procession of matches, toothpicks, blades of grass, swizzle sticks, whip poppers or bleeding cuticles! If you

see a grown man buying Juicy Fruit by the case, it’s a safe bet that he just quit chewing tobacco!

Religious fanatics, animal rights activists and political extremists have no sense of humor about their chosen cause.

I admit to being one of those frothing lunatics who has that ALL OR NOTHING personality. It’s a cross that a lot of us bear, unconsciously. I’ve tried to keep my enthusiasm in check so I can be better company for those around me, but it’s hard to see both sides when you’ve got your eyes closed.

Matter of fact, the only thing I can’t do in excess...is moderation! www.baxterblack.com

An agricultural jewel in Henderson County

By Kathi Nailling Athens Daily Review

T

rinity Valley Community College is a jewel in Henderson County.

The college gets many accolades for its athletics, academics, as well as its community involvement. A little know fact about TVCC is the college owns a ranch – TVCC Ranch and Rodeo Arena located seven miles from Athens in the Tri City Community.

According to TVCC website The Ranch Management Program at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens started in1975 when the college was given an opportunity to lease 254 acres. The Amoco Corporation gave the college a 25-year lease and with a $50,000 grant from the Texas Education Agency, the college was able to start the program.

When the college originally leased the property most of it was forest, during the fall of 1975 all but 70 acres were cleared and three stock ponds built. A few years later a metal building was built and a corral was built.

The remaining forested land was cleared, more stock ponds constructed, and other structures added to the property.

The initial cattle herd was donated in September 1976 and consisted of 104 Charolais cows, heifers, and calves.

In the fall of 1977, the college received another donation by Baldwin Associates of Dallas of 54 head, which were incorporated into the first cattle. In September of 1999, TVCC purchased the 254 acres from the Amoco Corporation.

There has been continued efforts to always work on improving the genetics of the herd.

Since 1977, numerous Charolais breeders have donated various individual cattle, semen, and embryos to the program.

TVCC agriculture and ranch management instructors use modern approaches in the genetic improvement of the herd and teach these methods to their students.

Trinity Valley Community College offers

a comprehensive Ranch Management program course of study for the student desiring knowledge in basic ranching principles and practices.

The student will receive training in all phases of agriculture and ranching and be prepared for a position as a ranch manager plus a number of other positions in agriculturally-related fields.” The Agriculture program is a curriculum of introductory agriculture courses and core curricula courses for those students who know they will be continuing their education at a university.

“Our students get hands-on experience, which is something a lot of colleges and universities can’t offer,” said Marc Robinson Ranch Manager. “Just teaching out of a textbook doesn’t always get the job done.”

The TVCC Rodeo team frequently uses the ranch facility.

Along with animal science experience, students also receive experi-

ence with forage tests, forage management, erosion control, and agronomy.

For more information on the Trinity Valley Ranch visit the website at www.tvcc. edu/Agriculture.

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October-November 2016

Proper planting is key to success East Texas gardeners can grow almost year-round

By Michael Kormos Corsicana Daily Sun

F

all is in the air. As the days shorten and grow cooler, cooler many home gardeners have already cooked, preserved or given away ay the last of their th summer bounties.

With a little preparation, however, gardeners can grow almost yearever, East Texas garden

round.

“Timely planting is the key to a successful fall garden,” said Larry Lar Mast, former Smith County Master Gardener. dener. “ “Figure the h number b off days to maturity of your particular crop, crop op, add two weeks and count b backwards from Novembe November ber 15, the average time fo for a killing frost for th the Tyler area.”

Before plantB ingg for fall, gardeners ga sshould cclear aany dead de or d disease eased sed

debris from their summer gardens. Diseased plants should be destroyed and not put into compost bins.

Gardeners will want to prepare the soil by adding a light layer of compost, manure or fertilizer.

“Seeds for cool weather leafy vegetables can be sown now,” said Frieda Parker, former Smith County Master Gardener. “Lettuce, radishes, spinach and turnip greens are popular choices.”

“Shade is needed for newly-sprouted seeds and transplants with adequate watering,” said J.T. McKennon, former Smith County Master Gardener. “Nutrient levels are usually low after your spring garden, so fertilizer and/or manure may be needed.”

Best for Fall According to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the best vegetables to plant for fall are:

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October-November 2016

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

Support Agriculture Businesses... They are the Heartbeat of Our Economy

7

Healthy Delivery Oregon Farm localizes organic groceries

By Jennifer Miller Corsicana Daily Sun

I

t is undisputed that nutrition and an active lifestyle are two keys to good health. For some, it is also undisputed that foods containing no preservatives, pesticides, or hormones are the best forms of nutrition for the body.

The problem?

Many individuals in rural areas are not close to grocery stores which carry products that meet their standards.

“We used to make a three-hour round trip drive to Dallas to shop at Whole Foods,” Suzanne Powers said. “Now our groceries are delivered to a drop spot close to home every five weeks.”

For over five years now, Suzanne and en Drop Coordi husband Jon have been Coordihe nators for Azure — the company that has helped them find a quasi-local source for organic, healthy foods. In fact, its web-ces site refers to its services as “grocery gathering more ng.” than grocery shopping.

The Powers were introduced to the company by a co-op researching friend who lives in Fairbanks, Alaska. And elivers while the company delivers nic groceries to non-GMO and organic ates, customers in many states, east Texas residents have several drop sites to choose from.

Angus, Ennis, Waxahachie, Lancaster, Jacksonville, Tyler, Centerville, Lufkin, and Livingston are all on Azure’s delivery route.

From organic chicken and beef to organic fruits and vegetables, even organic packaged and canned foods, Azure is literally a wholesome grocery store on wheels.

And it’s not just groceries they deliver.

They also carry vitamin supplements, ani-

mal feed, and garden supplies. They even sell all-natural beauty products.

To Azure Founder and CEO David Stelzer, the goal is to help customers achieve success at every place along their journey to health.

“We want to help people align with food that is grown and prepared in the way our Creator meant for it to be …. unadulterated and pure, nutrient-rich and life-giving,” Stelzer said.

Customers like the Powers place orders online every five weeks.

“Currently, our orders are placed on a Monday and arrive the following Tuesday,” Suzanne said.

But for those that are not tech-savy, Azure publishes a sales catalog and customers may also order by phone or fax. She also said Azure has “excellent” customer service and offers credits to customers should anyt anything go wrong with an order. products The organic and non-GMO n affordable too. After doare affor nancial comparison ing a fin on the cost c of shopping in Dallas as a opposed to orderAzure, Suzanne ing through thro found savings of around foun $$100.

Azure customers have a commonality in the desire for organic products, but they are also united in a desire to see more of the local small-town small-tow grocery stores carry quality foods and carr produce. pro “We are starting to nd organic produce fin showing up in a few h stores,” Suzanne said.

“We see that as an encouraging sign that food retailers are becoming aware that people are waking up to the truth that good nutrition is paramount to good health.”

Debbie Pantenburg, chief marketing officer for Azure said in April of this year, the company launched its furthest route to date into the southern tip of Florida sim-

ply because there is a need and customers desire access to healthy foods and products. Pantenburg said most of the company’s customers don’t live in the cities, they are rural.

“Azure is discovered by communities all over the country who value natural foods,” she said. “The reason we are able to do

what we do is because people are asking for it.”

Anyone interested in becoming an Azure customer may visit the company’s website at www.azurestandard.com <http://www.azurestandard.com>or call 971-200-8350.

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10. Fresh produce—yes, it’s organic!

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East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

Support Agriculture Businesses... They are the Heartbeat of Our Economy

October-November 2016

Dedicated to conservation Western Navarro Bobwhite Recovery Initiative works to restore quail populations

By Michael Kormos Corsicana Daily Sun

T

he Western Navarro County bobwhite quail population increased dramatically, literally overnight, thanks to a Texas Parks and Wildlife program which re-introduces trapped animals into suitable habitats.

Technical Guidance Biologist Jay Whiteside and Natural Resource Specialist Taylor Garrison released the quail onto 77 Ranch Oct. 19 in Blooming Grove.

“You don’t see habitat like this everyday,” Whiteside said. “This is the place to get a glimpse of what the tall grass prairie looked like before it was all plowed up.”

The release is the result of years of sustainable ranching methods, including native grass seeding, notill farming and prescribed burns.

“The release went well,” Whiteside said. “We released a total of 39 bobwhites, all banded, with radio transmitters on five of them.”

When Gary and Sue Price bought the first 272 acres of 77 Ranch in 1976, bobwhite quail were plentiful. The Prices even allowed hunters on the property.

Quail hunting was once a way of life in Texas but it’s now hit or miss.

In 1978, statewide surveys were initiated to monitor quail populations. Since 1980, bobwhite populations in Texas have declined at a rate of about 5.6 percent per year, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. These numbers add up to a 75 percent loss in bobwhites.

Many reasons are cited for these declines, but the evidence seems to point to changes in the quantity and quality of habitat as the leading cause.

The quail require brush grasses for shelter and seeds for food. The planting of coastal Bermuda grasses for grazing, lead to the destruction of much of their habitat.

Whiteside returned to the field Oct. 24 to check the numbers.

“So far so good,” he said. “I found them all pretty close to where we released them, they haven’t wandered off yet.”

According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, the 77 Ranch encompasses about 2,160 acres in Navarro County. Almost all of it, about 1,730 acres, is in native range or woodlands, with about 200 acres of cropland and about 90 acres of non-native grass pasture.

“This is a big day,” Price said. “We have worked with Jay for over 15 years on all kinds of wildlife loss of habitat projects. This effort to reintroduce native grasses to our area of the Blackland Prairies has worked but its taken about 10 years.”

Since its start in 2006, the Western Navarro Bobwhite Recovery Initiative has grown to close to 50 members. It offers its members either free or low cost use of materials and equipment necessary for restoring and managing native grassland habitat that is critical for bobwhite production and brood rearing.

If you are interested in becoming a member of WNBRI, please printout and complete the membership form on its website.

—————— On the Net: org/ http://navarroquail.org/

October-November 2016

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

9

Support Agriculture Businesses... They are the Heartbeat of Our Economy

Derrington Family among DIY hay producers Significant advances in equipment increased cost effectiveness

By Jo Anne Embleton jembleton@jacksonvilleprogress.com

A

s local cattle ranchers, Kenny and Amy Derrington can count themselves among the do-ityourself hay producers, carefully nurturing the crop that provides sustenance for their livestock.

“We do both round and square bales,” said Amy, whose daytime job is as the executive director of the Rusk Public Library.

“Square bales make it easier to feed our horses because easier to manage; however, the majority of the hay is baled in larger rounds, which is easier to manage when we’re out feeding livestock. It’s very costeffective this way.”

According to www.myfarmlife.com, this “do it yourself ” practice is becoming more popular across the nation as “significant advances in equipment have made it more cost-effective for many farmers to grow their own as opposed to buying feed or hiring custom harvesters “Even growing hay on plots of land once considered too small to be worth the effort has become an increasingly popular solution for producers looking to squeeze the value out of every dollar, hour and acre,” the site noted.

The Derringtons – Kenny operates a fabrication shop – own a farm in central Cherokee County, of which 65 acres is dedicated to hay growing.

Their preferred variety of hay? “Costal and Alecia, but we grow Jiggs, too,” Kenny said. “When something new comes out, I like to try it. It’s our second year to have it, and we like it, because it’s been good so far.”

Their herd includes approximately 75 head of cattle – Brangus and Angus raised for meat cattle as well as bred heifers – and some horses, so growing their own hay helps ensure the food supply remains constant.

“If it rains periodically, and if we’re not in a drought, we can get four cuttings (during the growing season),” he said, describing how the first cutting is of the rye grass that grows in his hay field, used to make silage.

“It’s a stinking feed,” he laughed. “If you get it on you, you’ll wear (the smell) awhile, but the cows like it. So, it’s actually three cuttings of hay and one of silage

(during a good season).”

A bad season – like the year the whole state was in a drought – makes both hay and cattle production a challenge, he added.

“February 28, 2011, was when I fed my last bale of hay that year. We had some rye grass that was good, but we still had to sell some cows,” he recalled. “But I guess you can say we had just enough hay to feed the ones we had.”

But, “it affected everybody in the state,” Kenny noted. “It took us at least a couple of years to get hay to produce.”

When considering the quality of hay, producers check to see “how much protein you get out of it,” he said. “You go by the amount of nutrients (which is discerned when the hay) gets tasted. You want to find

that out for sure so you get it tested.”

To ensure the best crop possible, the couple says they use herbicide and fertilizer, as well as good old-fashioned detective work to make sure insects are not destroying their crops.

“You’ve got to keep up with army worms, or they will come in and wipe you out,” Amy said. “You’ll see people driving around their (hay) pastures, checking for worms, because you can see them. They’re just about as bad as drought as far as damage can cause.”

While it’s a battle the family wages each year, the good news is that “they come in for one cutting, and then they’re gone,” she said.

Still, “when they’re here, you fill up that

tractor and sprayer and go after them, kill them, because if you don’t they’ll take out your field,” she said.

Kenny said after fertilizing, they try to average cutting every 21 to 28 days.

“Depending on the rain, that could be a gamble,” he said. “Our first cutting – the rye grass – is during the first of May, then the beginning of June, we get our first cutting of hay in.”

While it’s not unusual to see farmers bringing in their final hay cutting at summer’s end, sometimes the growing season stretches further than that.

“Me and my dad used to custom bale, and one year, we baled hay on Thanksgiving Day,” Kenny said. “That was an exceptional year.”

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October-November 2016

Tyler Rose Garden 14-acre garden a delightful draw to East Texas locals and tourists

By Jo Anne Embleton jembleton@jacksonvilleprogress.com

F

luttering about the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden, butterflies and bumblebees weren’t the only creatures interested in flora and fauna featured in the 14-acre garden: There were shutterbugs, too.

The 14-acre garden, filled with more than 600 different varieties of roses of every shade imaginable, is a popular draw with tourists throughout the year.

Former Tyler resident Eric Benson said he remembered the garden from his youth, but never visited then because it was too far from his home.

“We used to live on the north side (of town) and it was a long walk for a kid,” he said, laughing at the memory.

But the Rose Garden immediately sprang to mind when the 1963 Emmett Scott High School graduate received an assignment from his photography teacher to practice shooting a variety of pictures that included close-ups.

“I knew the Rose Festival was held in October, and I figure I’d come see the parade then come to the Rose Garden,” he said, casting his gaze on the colorful floral display surrounding him. “My favorite part is the variety and the beauty of these roses, and seeing how well-kept they are.”

Established in 1952, the Rose Garden includes more than 38,000 rosebushes, along with a reflecting pool, walkways and fountains, and in 2011, was listed in Livability.com’s top 10 most inspiring gardens in the country, according to www.tylertexasonline.com.

The Rose Garden is the back-drop of the annual Texas Rose Festival each October, an event that draws thousands of visitors

from all over.

The site also is a popular one for not just for budding photographers like Benson, but for those who want to utilize the garden’s natural beauty for engagement and wedding shots, group photos or for professional photography, the site added.

The Rose Garden is one of two dozen All American Rose Selection (AARS) test gardens throughout the country; the grounds also include gardens maintained by the Smith County Master Gardeners that offer a wealth of ideas in different types of gardens a property owner can plant, according to www.parksandrec.cityoftyler.org.

“While roses are the main attraction in the garden, there are several other features in the 14-acre complex that compliment the roses,” the site states, describing a IDEA Demonstration garden implemented in 1999 through a grant funded by the East Texas Council of Governments.

“This garden is designed to give visitors gardening ideas to take home and use in their own garden. The IDEA Garden features new and under-utilized plants for East Texas, a water-garden and bog area, an area devoted to teaching composting, displays of various mulching materials, groundcover plants for sloping areas, and water-wise landscaping techniques,” notes the site.

Other special areas include a meditation area with reflecting pools, flowing fountains and a large, rustic wooden gazebo, while on the southern end of the garden is the Vance Burks Memorial Camellia Garden, the site states.

“Here a grove of pine and hardwood trees provide a shaded area ideal for the dozens of large camellias. Nearby, the East Texas Daylily Society maintains several daylily beds with hundreds of labeled daylily varieties which are in full bloom

Photo by Jo Anne Embleton

Eric Benson of Missouri City focuses on a rosebush that is the subject of a homework assignment for a photography class. by early summer,” it states, adding that a Hosta Variety Trail was established in 1997.

“I originally planned to be home by 4 p.m., but I’m thinking that I may just be getting out of here by then,” he laughed, before reverently adding, “there are so many variety of roses that I’ve never seen or even heard about. It’s been educational – you just look out around you, and it’s just beautiful. I love it!”

The Tyler Municipal Rose Garden is located at 420 Rose Park Dr., east of downtown Tyler, of Texas Highway 31. Admission is free, and the gardens are open every day from dawn until dark.

To learn more, visit “Tyler Rose Garden Center” on Facebook, or call 903-5311212.

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Gone Fishing with Jerry Miller

October-November 2016

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

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Key Areas for Fall Bass Fishing I

t’s early fall. Some shad are beginning to migrate up into creeks. Bass are on the move and beginning to feed heavily.

David Capps and I had heard about schooling bass starting to move up into major creek areas, so we headed for Lake Athens last Monday. It was a beautiful fall day. Morning temperatures were in the 50s, and we soon discovered that the surface temperature was hovering around 75°F., perfect conditions.

We began our bass fishing on a grassy secondary point and slowly began to fish our way into a cove. This area had scattered moss in about 8 to 10 feet deep with much heavier hydrilla in the shallows.

The first 40 minutes of fishing we saw no schoolers. But we did observe shad moving throughout the area. We tried a few faster moving baits like

an Underspin Fluke but weren’t successful.

I suggested that we start worm fishing around the scattered patches of hydrilla.

I started throwing a six-inch black and blue Power worm.

On the first cast a 1-1/2 pound black bass struck.

I soon discovered that we had stopped right in the middle of a big group of schooling bass.

In a few minutes the bass began chasing shad on the surface.

For over an hour we caught and released about 20 bass. Most were caught on worms as we hopped the lure through the scattered grass.

After most of the action slowed down we continued to work the area with a variety of worms including Shakey Head Finesse worms.

About 45 minutes later we began to slowly fish our way up into the cove. We found a few scattered bass here and there

which would eagerly strike a worm.

We did locate another small school of bass swirling on shad in about five feet of water. We managed to catch another half dozen bass up to three pounds.

Around noontime we decided to check out a big flat on the main lake and see if we could locate some crappie. I knew an area that had held crappie in the past. That’s where we began our fishing.

As we approached the flat I slowed the boat down to look for crappie on my Lowrance depth finder. I pitched out my buoy into about 18 feet of water.

While I was letting down my trolling motor, David dropped his crappie jig by the buoy and immediately caught a crappie.

As we slowly began to move down the break line I hung a really big fish on my Wimpy crappie rig. The fight was on!

It took me four to five minutes

to land the four-pound channel cat. That was fun. We only caught a few small crappie, so we moved on.

I decided to check out a hump nearby that was about 14 feet on top and dropped rapidly

down to deep water. Again I reverted to my Lowrance graph to locate the fish. On my second pass I spotted a big group of fish feeding on shad in about 18 feet of water. David dropped his crappie jig down to the bottom and caught a sand bass. I drug out my slab rod and began catching black bass.

That fall day we caught four species of fish: black bass, crappie, sand bass and channel cat.

The key to catching early fall bass is to move around and check the backs of creeks, then explore main lake structure like flats and humps. When you spot the bait fish in these areas your chances of catching a variety of fish are greatly enhanced.

------------------------------Jerry Miller may be contacted at: gonefishing2@suddenlink. net

Iron Gate Feed Local feed store gives farmers and ranchers another option

By Michael Maresh news@palestineherald.com

T

When it comes to dog food, Bryant said what it sells is not what one would find at a grocery store.

“We have five types of dog food that have no corn byproducts or preservatives,” he said. “We have feed for all kinds of animals and all of their support products, like medicine and wormers,” he said.

The dog and cat food the store sells is very beneficial to the well being of pets, he said.

The store also carries gardening products, like seed and plants based on the

different climates throughout the year.

Fertilizers and insecticides are also popular items Bryant’s customers have been purchasing the last 38 years.

While one would think ranchers would be the bread and butter for Bryant’s customer base, he said the store sees a variety of people from a housewife to a rancher.

The feed store will still be around when Bryant decides to officially retire, and that is why the next generation is already operating it.

While Bryant has taken a step back to allow his son, John Piersol, to take over more of the day-to-day operations, Bryant’s knowledge of the needs and wants of

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hirty-eight years ago, Joe Bryant wanted to take what the learned on his farm to give residents one more option when looking at feed for cattle and other animals.

Bryant opened the Iron Gate Feed, Inc., store in 1978 at Oak and Spring streets in Palestine.

Bryant did not have to construct a building, because the store he found, which has always been used as a feed store, was built in 1949.

When Bryant moved to East Texas, he first raised horses and cattle, but he then got interested in veterinarian practices on his animals. He has a bachelor of science degree in industrial arts.

“I am just interested in animal (care),” Bryant said.

He realized there was a need for a local feed store, and he is not surprised it is still in operation after 38 years.

“We call it the most convenient feed store in town,” he said.

A hay farm was once on the property, but kids began setting the hay on fire, he said.

Over the years, Iron Gate Feed has grown tremendously in both sales and customers, as more people became aware there was another farm-and-ranch store in town, he said.

While Iron Gate Feed has a lot to offer, feed is its most popular product, Bryant said.

his customers are invaluable. Piersol has a bachelor’s in animal science.

One customer wanted to know what steps he needed to take to remove lime from his property. Bryant knew the exact steps.

“We give a lot of advice, when asked, from garden to animal care,” he said.

About 10 years ago, Bryant started working in the organic section of the master’s garden.

“We have a big organic product here,” he said.

The feed store is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.

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October-November 2016

Deer season just around the corner

By Matt Williams Outdoors Writer

A

nother Texas deer season is just around the corner, and all indications are it is going be a good one.

Of course, every deer season is a good one in Texas, largely because we’ve got more whitetails (about four million) than any other state and an army of deer hunters numbering around 700,000 who love to chase them.

But the upcoming season that gets underway at daylight on Nov. 5 — the first Saturday of the month — has the makings of being better than good. Way better.

That’s because much of the state has enjoyed back-to-back years of abundant rainfall to soak the soil and spur premium forage growth. Texas’ vast deer range is in excellent shape. Good habitat conditions equal plenty of nutritious groceries for deer to eat, which bolsters antler development on bucks and makes everybody butterball fat.

I’ve spoken to hunters and landowners in different parts of the state and some of them are saying the habitat is in the best shape they have seen in years. As a result, all sorts of wildlife is flourishing, not just

deer. Bobwhite quail populations have rebounded to the point that populations are at their highest in 10 years in some parts of the state.

Lendell Martin Jr.’s family owns 15,000 acres near Del Rio, and he says much of the property is so grown up with mesquites, sage and other lush green brush and weeds that you can’t begin to see through it in a lot of places.

“It’s like a jungle out there,” said Martin, who lives in Nacogdoches. “It’s so thick, we’ve been having to clear brush around some of our feeders. We have more water on the place than we’ve had in years.”

Martin’s assessment of his property pretty much summarizes what hunters and land managers all across the state are seeing as the 2016-17 season opener draws near.

That’s the word from Alan Cain, whitetailed deer program leader with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

“The foundation for a great deer season starts with the native habitat that supplies the nutritional resources deer need to maintain excellent body condition, raise their fawns and for bucks to maximize antler growth,” Cain said. “Consistent and timely rains as well as cooler temperatures this year have created a smorgasbord

of lush green forbs and woody browse plants, which comprise the majority of a deer’s diet. As such, deer should be in top body condition this year, and antler quality should be above average. River bottom habitats along portions of major river drainages (Brazos, Trinity, Sabine, Colorado) in eastern Texas that were still inundated with flood waters in early summer likely did not recover soon enough to benefit deer, but those animals displaced by flood waters and forced into upland habitat will not have to search far to find plenty of high-quality forage.”

The downside to the banner range conditions is all the extra cover could add up to some tough hunting prospects. A landscape thick with lush, green brush naturally makes it easier for deer to slip past hunters undetected. It also could slow deer movement, because the animals may not have to move around as much or go far to find food.

The latter can be a big problem in eastern Texas, especially during years when towering oaks and other mast-producing trees are loaded with nutrition-rich goodies that whitetails like to munch way more than corn.

Judging from the field reports I’m

Photo Courtesy of TGBA

Youth hunter Reese Louder (center) with her double drop tine giant from Coleman County.

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hearing, this could turn out to be one of those years where East Texas hunters are going to have to get out and beat the brush rather than watching corn pile up around feeders, especially early in the season.

One factor that always plays into the hands of hunters regardless of food supply is the rut. This is the time period when white-tailed deer and other big game animals breed.

A glassy-eyed mature buck is prone to throw caution to the wind when he’s got girls on his mind. In other words, he might go places he normally wouldn’t go and make mistakes he normally wouldn’t make.

This explains why smart hunters are always sure to be in the woods as much as possible when the scent of hot does is in the air.

So when does the rut take place?

According to extensive deer chronology studies conducted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the timing of the rut varies with the region, but the cycle is fairly predictable from one year to the next. Here are the peak breeding dates in the state’s eight ecological regions * Pineywoods: Nov. 22 in the northern part of the region and around Nov. 12 in southern half. * Post Oak Savannah: Nov. 11 in the central portion, Nov. 12 in the northern portion. * Gulf Prairies and Marshes: Sept. 30 in the northern part; Oct. 31 in the southern half. * Rolling Plains: Dec. 3 in north; Nov. 20 in the south. * Edwards Plateau: Nov. 7 in the eastern part; Nov. 24 in the central part; and Dec. 5 in the western part. * Cross Timbers: Nov. 15 in the northern part; Nov. 17 in the southern part. * Trans-Pecos: Dec. 8 * South Texas Plains: Dec. 16 in the eastern part; Dec. 24 in the western part.

Anytime is a good time to be in the deer woods. But if your vacation time is limited, it would be a good idea to plan those hunting trips around the aforementioned dates to put the best odds in your favor.

East Texas hunter Ben Plunkett is one of those deer hunters who hunts whenever he can. And an early season trip to his 2,500acre lease in Trinity County paid off big time for the rifle hunter from Conroe.

Plunkett’s open-range lease is under a TPWD-approved management plan that allows hunters to begin rifle hunting as early as opening day of the archery-only season.

Plunkett shot an outstanding 15-pointer earlier this month that ranks as the biggest Pineywoods whitetail reported to the Texas Big Game Awards Program thus far this year. Aged at 8 1/2 years old, the buck was officially scored for TBGA by American Forest Management wildlife biologist Matt Taylor. Taylor taped the buck at 168 4/8 gross, 161 3/8 net. He said the hunter had been after the buck for three seasons and finally connected on Oct. 16.

October-November 2016 Youth hunter Reese Loud also experienced some earlyseason magic while hunting on the Tracker Ranch in Coleman County. No details on the buck are available, but judging from the photo on the TBGA website (texasbiggameawards.org), the buck looks to have at least16 scoreable points, including a nasty pair of drop tines measuring 8-10 inches apiece.

Two more outstanding TBGA bucks have been recorded from open-range property in Region 8, including an impressive Kleberg County 13-pointer shot by Robert Buker Jr., on the King Ranch

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Motas Negras Lease. The deer nets 180 4/8.

The other South Texas buck is a 13-pointer arrowed by Wade Friedeck in Webb County. That deer grosses 178 3/8, according to the TBGA website.

We’re on the cusp of what some believe could turn into one of the best seasons for big Texas bucks in recent years. Only time will tell the tale of the tape.

Matt Williams is a freelance writer based in Nacogdoches.

He can be reached by e-mail, mattwillwrite4u@yahoo.com.

Outdoors Briefs 10.15 takes top prize in Fork Berkley event Walter “Junior” Thomas of Alba caught a 10.15 pounder to beat out 1,100-plus anglers for the top prize in the Berkley Big Bass event held Oct. 15-16 at Lake Fork.

Thomas won a fully-rigged Skeeter bass boat and $1,100 in cash.

Joe Todd of Wichita Falls also won a Skeeter for catching the biggest bass under the 16-24 inch slot limit. Todd’s bass weighed 2.95 pounds.

The full field reeled six bass over the slot ranging from 10.15 to 6.16 pounds. Anglers were only allowed to use Berkley baits during the two competition days.

Texas Team Trail 2017 schedule The Cabelas Texas Team Trail recently release its 2017 schedule, including stops at Sam Rayburn on Jan. 28; Toledo Bend, Feb. 18; Lake Belton, April 1; and Lake Texoma, April 29. Entry fee for the four qualifiers is $250 per event. The year-end TTT Championship is set for Lake Livingston, June 3-4.

CWD Rules: Deer carcass restrictions, disease testing take effect this season Deer hunters in certain areas of Texas and those who hunt in other states where chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been detected should familiarize themselves with new carcass movement restrictions and mandatory requirements for testing of harvested deer.

CWD is an infectious and fatal neurological disease that affects many cervid species, including deer and elk.

While there are no known cases of CWD being transmitted to humans, health officials recommend not consuming venison from sick and diseased animals. Since the CWD prions that cause the disease are known to be present in tissues of infected animals (especially brain,

Photo Courtesy of TGBA

Archery hunter Wade Friedeck collected this South Texas beauty in Webb County.

spinal cord and viscera), the new deer carcass movement restrictions establish the conditions under which certain parts of a harvested white-tailed deer or mule deer could be lawfully transported from CWD management zones in Texas or any susceptible cervid species from a state, province or other place outside Texas where CWD has been detected among free-ranging or captive herds.

The rules are part of the state’s comprehensive CWD management plan, which calls for measures to determine the prevalence and geographic extent of the disease where it exists and to reduce the risk of CWD being spread via permitted live deer relocation and movement of harvested deer carcasses.

CWD was first detected in free-ranging mule deer within the Hueco Mountains of far West Texas in 2012.

Last year, the disease showed up in another free-ranging mule deer in Hartley County in the western Panhandle and in several Central Texas captive white-tailed deer breeding operations. An up to date chronology of CWD cases in Texas, maps outlining CWD management zones and check station locations, along with a map depicting locations in other states where the disease has been detected, are available online at www.tpwd.texas.gov/cwd .

Under the new rules adopted this summer by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, hunters transporting carcasses from other CWD states and from CWD management zones in the Trans-Pecos and Panhandle will only be allowed to transport certain animal parts in the following conditions: cut quarters with the brain stem and spinal tissue removed, caped hides with skull not attached, the skull plate with antlers attached and cleaned of all soft tissue or finished taxidermy products. Hunters may also transport boned or packaged venison out of these areas provided the carcasses have been processed in compliance with the regulations governing a commercial

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facility or private cold storage processing facility.

In addition to the carcass movement rules, all deer harvested in the Panhandle and Trans Pecos CWD zones must be reported to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) check stations.

Hunters wishing to preserve a head for mounting can obtain a waiver to transport the skinned or unskinned head of a susceptible species to a taxidermist, provided all brain material, soft tissue, spinal column and any unused portions of the head are disposed of in a landfill in Texas permitted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. These waivers can be obtained at CWD check stations where TPWD staff will collect CWD samples.

Texans hunting out of state can obtain releases online at www.tpwd.texas.gov/cwd .

Last season, TPWD accumulated more than 10,000 CWD samples from hunter harvested and roadkill deer throughout the state. The department is asking hunters and landowners statewide for their help again this year by voluntarily making harvested deer available for sampling at no cost.

A heightened grassroots effort at voluntary sampling is also occurring in portions of Bandera, Medina and Uvalde counties due to the detection of CWD in deer breeding facilities in this area.

A list of collection sites and times is available online at www.tpwd.texas.gov/cwd. In addition to those established collection locations, biologists will also be conducting localized sampling at various sites throughout the season to meet sampling objectives. For additional information regarding localized CWD sampling efforts during this deer season, please contact your local wildlife biologist (http://tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/land/technical_guidance/biologists/ ).

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From Scratch with Love Crock Pot Balsamic Pork Loin Roast Total time: 8 hours.

Here’s an almost effortless recipe that yields luscious, melting slices of long-simmer pork with a lovely dark, rich-tasting sauce or—if you have time to reduce it—glaze. All you do is make a quick brown sugar rub for your pieces of pork loin, then add them to the slow cooker along with chicken stock, balsamic vinegar, and a bit of soy sauce. After 8 hours on low, you’re ready to eat. Be sure to select roasts with as much fat as possible, both on the exterior, as a healthy fat cap, and good internal marbling, so it doesn’t dry out from 8 hours of slow cooking.

Ingredients •

3 tablespoons brown sugar, plus 3 tablespoons more (optional) 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/8 teaspoon chili powder Kosher salt to taste Freshly ground black pepper to taste 2 pounds pork loin 1 cup low sodium chicken broth 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 4 tablespoons soy sauce

• • • • • • • • •

Instructions 1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, cumin, garlic powder, and chili powder with a big pinch of salt and several grinds of black pepper. Add the pork and rub it evenly with the sugar and spice mixture.

2. Place the pork in the crock of your slow cooker along with all of the sugar and spice mixture. Pour in the chicken broth, vinegar, and soy sauce.

3. Set your slow cooker on low. Simmer the pork for 8 hours— it’ll end up really soft and tender. At this point you can serve the pork in slices, with a little of the cooking juices spooned over the meat. Or, for a crisp exterior, drain the cooking liquid into a medium saucepan, add the optional 3 additional tablespoons of brown sugar, and reduce by about half, until it forms a dark, shiny glaze. Place the unsliced pork under a hot broiler until it begins to brown, about 4 to 5 minutes.

Slice the pork and spoon the glaze on top.

4. Serve with mashed potatoes and the vegetable of your choice for a meal that nearly cooks itself.

Recipe courtesy of Coreen Carroll via Chowhound

EAST TEXAS STOCK PRICES ANDERSON COUNTY LIVESTOCK

EAST TEXAS LIVESTOCK INC.

Updated: 10/19/2016 Head Count: 237 Buyers: 32 Sellers: 46

Updated: 10/18/2016 Cows: 278 Bulls: 20 Buyers: 58 Sellers: 200

STEERS

STEERS

200lb - 300lb

0.95

1.65

300-DOWN

$109

$180

300lb - 400lb

0.90

1.31

305lb - 400lb

$105

$140

400lb - 500lb

0.85

1.27

405lb - 500lb

$105

$130

500lb - 600lb

0.80

1.19

505lb - 600lb

$92

$120

600lb - 700lb

0.75

1.05

605lb - 800lb

$89

$111

700lb - 800lb

0.70

0.98

200lb - 300lb

0.85

1.25

300-DOWN

$105

$160

300lb - 400lb

0.80

1.17

305lb - 400lb

$100

$131

400lb - 500lb

0.77

1.10

405lb - 500lb

$92

$123

500lb - 600lb

0.75

1.00

505lb - 600lb

$85

$114

600lb - 700lb

0.70

0.97

605lb - 800lb

$83

$104

700lb - 800lb

0.60

0.93

Cows

0.45

0.60

Cows

$44

$69

Bulls

0.60

0.80

Bulls

$66

$75

$1400

PAIRS

HEIFERS

HEIFERS

SLAUGHTER

PAIRS

SLAUGHTER

$1050

STOCKER COWS

NA

BRED COWS

GOATS

$725hd

$1400hd

$45hd

$150hd

TRI-COUNTY LIVESTOCK MARKET Updated: 10/22/2016 Head Count: 1129

STEERS

NACOGDOCHES LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE

HUNTS LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE

Updated: 10/20/2016 Head Count: 635 Buyers: 55 Sellers: 106

STEERS

NA $1450

ATHENS COMMISSION COMPANY

Updated: 10/17/2016 Head Count: 656

STEERS

$800

Updated: 10/21/2016 Head Count: 1076 Sellers: 160

STEERS

UNDER 300lb

1.30

1.70

UNDER 300lb

0.95

1.65

200lb - 299lb

0.95

1.55

300-DOWN

0.80

2.00

300lb - 400lb

1.20

1.50

300lb - 400lb

0.90

1.47

300lb - 399lb

0.81

1.49

300lb - 400lb

0.80

1.65

400lb - 500lb

1.15

1.35

400lb - 500lb

0.80

1.32

400lb - 499lb

0.70

1.31

400lb - 500lb

0.80

1.40

500lb - 600lb

1.10

1.25

500lb - 600lb

0.65

1.21

500lb - 599lb

0.65

1.20

500lb - UP

0.80

1.20

600lb - 700lb

1.00

1.12

600lb - 700lb

NA

NA

600lb - 699lb

0.73

1.08

HEIFERS

700lb - 800lb

0.98

1.07

HEIFERS

700lb - 899lb

0.70

1.04

300-DOWN

0.80

1.75

300-DOWN

0.85

1.45

HEIFERS

300lb - 400lb

0.80

1.60

UNDER 300lb

1.20

1.45

300lb - 400lb

0.75

1.35

200lb - 299lb

1.10

1.50

400lb - 500lb

0.80

1.20

300lb - 400lb

1.10

1.30

400lb - 500lb

0.70

1.15

300lb - 399lb

0.75

1.27

500lb - UP

0.80

1.10

400lb - 500lb

1.00

1.25

500lb - 600lb

0.60

1.32

400lb - 499lb

0.70

1.15

SLAUGHTER

500lb - 600lb

0.98

1.23

600lb - 700lb

NA

NA

500lb - 599lb

0.70

1.19

Cows

0.30

0.64

600lb - 700lb

0.95

1.17

SLAUGHTER

600lb - 699lb

0.73

1.05

Heavy Bulls

0.60

0.79

700lb - 800lb

0.90

1.25

Cows

0.65

1.00

PAIRS

Cows

0.35

0.64

Heavy Bulls

0.70

0.84

STOCKER COWS

HEIFERS

SLAUGHTER

PAIRS STOCKER COWS BABY CALVES

$1375

0.40

0.60

700lb - 899lb

Bulls

0.60

0.82

SLAUGHTER

$1000

$1400

PAIRS

$850

$1500

Cows

0.37

0.63

Low-Middle

$700

$1000

Bulls

.042

0.71

PAIRS

$550

$1400

STOCKER COWS

0.55lb

1.40lb

GOATS $900hd $125

$750hd $45hd

$1400hd $150hd

$1550hd

BABY CALVES

$45

$150

STOCKER COWS

$290

HORSES

NA

NA

GOATS

Top

GOATS

$20hd

$200hd

$470hd

$1340hd

BABY CALVES

$25hd

$350hd

$99hd

$151hd

HORSES

$50hd

$420hd

October-November 2016

East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

15

Support Agriculture Businesses... They are the Heartbeat of Our Economy

Regulations Appropriate to Manage CWD-Infected Deer Herds

By Richard Thorpe President, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

C

hronic wasting disease was found in an intensively managed whitetailed deer herd, a deer breeder operation, in Medina County in 2015, and was discovered in a free-ranging mule deer population in the Hueco Mountains in far West Texas in 2012.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s testing â&#x20AC;&#x201D; conducted since 2002 on more than 32,000 samples â&#x20AC;&#x201D; indicates that CWD is not in the free-ranging white-tailed deer population.

CWD is to deer what mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE) is to cattle. It is a transmissible disease that causes infected deer to weaken and die.

Like the beef industry response to BSE in cattle, it is reasonable to expect the wildlife management communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s response to CWD in captive white-tailed deer herds to be aggressive, with the goals of containing the disease and protecting the white-tailed deer population.

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association leaders and members support Texas Parks and Wildlife Departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts to manage and control the spread of this serious wildlife disease. We support the wildlife agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collaboration with Texas Animal Health Commission to establish proper testing protocols. We encourage the agencies to communicate these protocols and regulations to landowners, deer breeders

and hunters so each interested party can participate in mitigating the spread of this disease.

This issue is about wildlife and wildlife enthusiasts of Texas. Nearly one million Texas hunters depend on our stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 4.5 million white-tailed deer for recreation and food.

Deer hunting in Texas provides an estimated $4 billion annual economic impact. Income from white-tailed deer hunting leases keeps rural lands intact and provides habitat for all wildlife. The safety of that resource is paramount.

Parks and Wildlife hosted significant discussion among wildlife and landowner groups to develop rules regulating deer breeder operations to mitigate the spread of CWD. The Cattle Raisers Association members and staff observed these discussions and participated when it was appropriate. Parks and wildlife was inclusive and thorough in its discussion process, including members from the stakeholder groups that wanted to participate.

Parks and wildlife is not an animal health agency, so it asked for assistance from the Texas Animal Health Commission, the agency in charge of protecting the health of Texas livestock.

Working together, parks and wild life and the animal commission developed protocols to control the movement of deer from infected herds to contain the spread of the disease and, it is hoped, to manage the disease through ante- and postmortem testing.

If CWD were to get into the free-ranging deer population, it is unlikely that we would be able to eradicate the disease.

Texas is not alone in managing against CWD. According to parks and wildlife, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has monitored an infected mule deer population in southeast Wyoming. In 2001, there were an estimated 14,393 mule deer and a CWD prevalence of 15 percent. Ten years later, the disease prevalence was 57 percent and the population was estimated at less than 7,500 deer.â&#x20AC;?

Texas is the only state to allow deer from breeder herds to be liberated into the wild and co-mingled with free-ranging deer.

In many other states that have â&#x20AC;&#x153;shooting preservesâ&#x20AC;? 100 percent of all deer harvested must be tested.

We went through our own bout of managing this type of disease with the cow that stole Christmas in 2003.

BSE was found in 1 dairy cow imported from Canada into Washington State. U.S. cattle markets and consumer confidence collapsed, beef consumption dropped, export markets were closed, and billions of dollars were lost.

Thankfully, we had national and state plans in place well in advance of this crisis and swift actions were taken to control the spread of this disease. The recovery was long, difficult and expensive, but we were successful in controlling the disease and restoring the confidence of consumers and export markets.

As recently as June of this year, it was reported that BSE is, for the most part, no longer a major issue in the U.S. and around the world. This would not have been possible without tough decisions, advanced planning, financial investment and quick responses.

However, the BSE threat, like many other

diseases, still exists. Therefore, laws and regulations remain in place to help control these diseases.

These laws and regulations are not always easy or cheap, but they are necessary for our future. We have adapted, and continue to look for ways to prevent and control livestock and wildlife diseases in the U.S. and Texas.

Now that the regulations regarding white-tailed deer from CWD-infected herds have been developed, we encourage parks and wildlife and the animal commission to continue their productive communication with landowners and hunters, ensuring that all interested parties know the rules and how to comply with them. As this disease is contained, we hope parks and wildlife will monitor, evaluate and amend these rules to reflect the most current status of CWD in Texas.

The continued effort to control CWD is crucial to prevent devastating losses to deer populations and the private landowners who have voluntarily invested in the conservation and management of these public resources.

Granted, managing a disease in a livestock species is different than managing a disease in a wildlife species, but protocols must be put into place to protect the health of the deer population as a whole.

If we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take swift action when we have a disease outbreak, we wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a herd to manage in the future.

Richard Thorpe, III is the owner and operator of Mesa T Ranch, headquartered in Winters, Texas. Thorpe currently serves as the president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA), and he became a TSCRA director in March 2006.

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East Texas Farm & Ranch Living

16

Support Agriculture Businesses... They are the Heartbeat of Our Economy

October-November 2016

LoneSpring BeeFarm, a place to buzz about

By PennyLynn Webb reporter@palestineherald. com

L

oneSpring BeeFarm opened its doors for the first time with a grand opening on Oct. 1.

“We would like to thank everyone who was able to attend our grand opening. Each of you made our opening a huge success.

We are looking forward to being able to supply everyone with their beekeeping needs,” said owner John Hicks.

Beekeeping for Hicks began as a hobby, he said.

“It’s something I was always interested in and always wanted to do,” said Hicks.

Now he has two colonies of bees making mixed flora honey, one at his home, near the shop and one in a field a short distance away.

The process has been trial and error for Hicks.

“We’ve had a few colonies collapse for unknown reasons,” said Hicks. “Everything is going well and then one day they are just gone.”

The science behind making honey is quite amazing.

“To make one pound of honey, 60,000 bees must visit two million flowers, fly over 55,000 miles to gather enough nectar,” said Hicks.

“A single honeybee will only produce around one and a half teaspoons of honey in its lifetime.”

LoneSpring also offers pollination services to local farmers and individuals, along with bee removal.

In the future, the company plans to host classes for the beginner beekeeper.

Those interested in getting started or the novice beekeeper can find an array of beekeeping

needs and supplies, including the protective gear and smokers in the LoneSpring BeeFarm store.

Beekeeping is more difficult to learn in isolation; beekeeper associations are prime sources of information about books, techniques, workshops and other beekeeping events in the area, Hicks said. “The extension agency is another good source of information.”

There are even state regulations for beekeeping through the Texas Agriculture Code, Chapter 131: Bees and Honey. Additional regulations may be put in place by county administrators. County regulations should be on file with the County Clerk’s office.

There is also a Texas Beekeepers Association, Hicks said.

“I have plans to host meetings for other beekeepers in the area, so we can get together and learn new strategies and

talk about what works and what doesn’t,” said Hicks.

Beyond the honey they are selling, the quaint little shop also features novelty bee-themed items for the home and kitchen, along with seasonal decorations.

Hicks invites everyone to stop

by, to try out their honey or to talk bees.

LoneSpring Bee Farm, LLC is located at Anderson County Road 409 in Palestine. Their hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tues. - Sat. and they can be reached at 903-724-2258.

DID YOU KNOW? • Honey is the only food that includes all the substances necessary to sustain life, including enzymes, vitamins, minerals and water and it is the only food that contains pinocembrin, and antioxidant associated with improved brain functioning.

• The honey bee is the only insect that produces food for man.

• There are more than 300 kinds of honey in the U.S., each with a unique color and flavor that is dependent upon the nectar source.

• Before the use of penicillin, honey was used for fighting infections. It has antibacterial, anti-fungal and antioxidants that make it ideal for treating wounds.

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