Find the perfect Christmas Tree at MR and MS Trees By PennyLynn Webb community@palestineherald.com
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R and MS Trees has been creating lasting holiday memories for more than 15 years. The local Christ- mas tree farm opens the day after Thanksgiving.
Owner Mike Sparks said, “Come out to our farm for some good family fun. We will take your family on a hayride out to the field of trees for you to choose and cut your own Christmas tree, or you can choose from our precut tree selection. We want to offer you a wonderful day of family togetherness that will create memories to last a lifetime.” “We opened the tree farm because we love and enjoy Christmas. We love to see the children’s excitement over finding and cutting that special tree, searching for ornaments in t h e store and
visiting with Santa,” he said, adding, “Come on out. Enjoy the fresh air and relax during this hectic season. Sit by our fire pit on hay bales to warm up. Enjoy some hot cider. We’ll help you find that perfect tree!” According to Sparks, “We have more than 1,000 trees ready to sell this year, plenty of 10-foot-tall Virginia pines and North Carolina Frazier firs up to 12 feet tall while they last. We have people who can cut your tree for you or you can chop down your own.” MR and MS Trees, located in Tucker, features Virginia pines that you can choose and cut yourself and pre-cut Frazier firs. MR and MS Trees was named the first-place winner for Virginia pine in 2003. MR represents the initials of owners Michaelene and Rick Sparks and MS was for the previous co-owners Mike and Sandra Pell. The farm is located on 60 acres of family farmland. Their first tree planting took place in 1997. Today, there are Virginian pines growing on approximately 20 acres of the property. They are planted in January and harvested after four years, in order to produce trees in 8-foot approximations. MR and MS Trees not only sells trees for the holidays, they also have fresh-made wreaths, a Christmas Store, offer hayrides and have a picnic area. Wifi is also available for your convenience. To order a fresh wreath, call ahead and make pre-arrangements for style, size and pickup. The man in red, Santa, makes an appearance at the tree farm each weekend to greet the good little girls and boys. Bring your camera for pictures of the kids with jolly ol’ St. Nick. You can also drop off your wish list and letters to Santa at his permanent mailbox located at the farm.
Sit a spell on their covered porches, warming up by the fire pit. Stop by the store for a hot cup of coffee, wassail or hot chocolate, and browse through the store for ornaments, stocking stuffers, lights, tree stands, craft items and other fun Christmas items and holiday gifts and décor. They also offer cut firewood. Both the store and one of the trailers used for the hayrides are handicap accessible. Guided tours of the tree farm are available in the off season for $5 per person. Tours take approximately 30 to 45 minutes and include a hayride around the 60-acre farm. MR and MS Trees’ owners ask that you call in advance to book your tour and check for availability. School tours are also available in October and November by reservation only. MR and MS Trees’ hours of operation are Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until dark and Sunday from 1 p.m. until dark. All pets must be on leashes. MR and MS Trees is located at 342 ACR 2908, 12 miles from Palestine off HWY 79 South. Take FM Road 645 in the Tucker community at the blinking yellow light, just past Wal-Mart Warehouse. Travel 2.2 miles, take County Road 2907, which will be the second road on the left after turning off HWY 79. Drive to the end of the road until you see the MR and MS Trees store and sign on the right. For more information, contact Michaelene or Rick Sparks at 903-5380160 or by email at mrandmrstrees@ hotmail.com.
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October-November 2015
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AHS agriculture mechanic students build trailer By Jeff Riggs Athens Review Associate Editor
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thens FFA students in Ag Mechanics classes are currently working on a project with collaboration from the Athens Independent School District Food Services provider. Athens High School CTE Director and Ag Science Teacher Ward Wilbanks and Ag Mechanics Instructor Jeff Jones were approached this summer about working together with food services to create a trailer that could be used as a mobile kitchen to serve AISD students on special occasions. After a planning meeting, ofďŹ cials came up with the plans to build a 16-footlong by 5-foot-wide bumper-pull trailer that will include all of the necessary equipment to serve the student populations at all AISD campuses. The trailer will include a commercial 6-foot griddle, 5-foot grill, two large 2-basket fryers, a heating table, a portable salad bar for condiments and other items, two large ice chests and several food-holding stations, as well as a counter and POS (Point of Sale) station. “We are very excited about this project, because it allows our students to work on something that will be used throughout the district, and it really allows them to take ownership,â€? Wilbanks said. “It will provide food services with many different options for meeting our population’s needs. One of
the ideas that has been mentioned is having hamburger days out in the courtyard when the weather permits.� The project is still in the beginning stages of the build, as the frame of the trailer is completed, and now students have moved on to working on how to mount the many different accessories. Ag Mechanics Instructor Jeff Jones, whose students’ constructing efforts are instrumental to the project’s success, said his six
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mechanics classes expect to have the project completed by Jan. 16, 2016. “We want to have it completed before then if possible, because that’s the date of the Fort Worth Livestock Show, and we are going to enter it there,� Jones said. “We began the project four to six weeks
ago, and the difďŹ cult part, the foundation structure is coming along pretty well.â€? Jones said that’s one of the main purposes for the trailer, beyond local student activities. It will be used to display also at other stock shows this year, including the one in Houston.
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October-November 2015
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Thanksgiving Week Roundup…..some good, some bad!
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nce the rains started, farmers and ranchers breathed sighs of relief. Pastures benefitted from the moisture. But for hay meadows, the rains came too late for forage growth and another good baling. Those folks who seeded ryegrass or other winter pastures are happy with the results. Some cattle are now grazing on the succulent forage that is growing well. If we can maintain some sunny days and temperatures above freezing, the outlook for lots of good grazing days looks promising. Those cattle producers who sold some calves off the cows earlier this year at prices over $1,200 a head and more were lucky. The cattle market has dropped drastically in the last few months. Seems there is no bottom in the price wreck. Some analysts blame the cattle feedlot operators for keeping cattle too long
on feed—and getting them too big. Others say it’s the speculators who don’t own a hoof—and never will— trading on the futures market at the expense of cattle raisers. Probably it’s a combination of all these factors that have influenced the market decline. Some of those calves that sold not long ago for up to $2.50 a pound are now selling for $1.60 a pound or less. That’s quite a shock to farmers who still have cattle to market this year. It’s amazing that so many of our so many conservative servants of the people in elected office claim they have saved us money by their efforts. One claim now being made comes from members of the Texas Legislature. Seems they are upset that “tea party” Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller wants to raise several million dollars in new fees on agriculture. Miller says the
legislature has not appropriated enough dollars for his agency to carry out their agenda of inspections and other duties as required by law. He says his agency is 21 mil-
lion dollars short of what his office needs to carry out their programs. One state representative, Trent Ashby, who serves several East Texas counties—including Houston County—says agriculture has all the tax burdens it can stand. Ashby, backed by many members of the Texas House, has called on Ag Commissioner Miller to stand down and forgo raising fees that would affect Texas agriculture. Seems Ashby, and his fellow members of the Legislature, conveniently forget they passed a bill last year to “tax” Texas cattle producers an additional $11,000,000 a year in beef cattle checkoff fees. This new $1 a head “tax” is piled upon another $1 a head checkoff “tax” that cattlemen have had to pay for several years. That’s a total “tax” of $22,000,000 a year. If Ashby and his legislative buddies want to show their sympa-
thy for agriculture, then either repeal the new $1 a head fee or make it truly voluntary for cattle producers to make the contribution at the sale barn. I read this a few days ago in a cattle magazine. It offers a lot of insight into what we say, versus what we do. “Only in America do many people order double cheeseburgers, large fries and a diet coke. Banks keep their vaults open during working hours—and chain the pens to the desk. Car owners leave $30,000 cars in the driveway—and lock their junk in the garage. Stores sell hot dog buns in packages of eight—and wieners 10 to a package. In a drugstore, healthy people can buy cigarettes and chips up front—but sick people have to go all the way back to the pharmacy.” Food for thought! That’s –30—Horace@valornet.com
Food and Fiber Roundup By Deanna Kirk Corsicana Daily Sun
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griculture traditions in Navarro County run deep, with a 50-plus year Navarro County Youth Exposition that is supported by businesses and individuals every spring, all toward one purpose — advancing the youth through agriculture. Another tradition, though slightly less tenured, is the annual Food and Fiber Roundup, which takes place in the fall, also at the Navarro County Exposition Center. All fourth grade students in the county make their way through “stations” which explain the origins of the food on their tables, in their lunchboxes, the clothes in their closets, and even the balls they use at school in athletics. Texas AgriLife Extension agents put on the program, with volunteers from the community, 4-H students, parents, farmers, ranchers, and people in local agri-business. Roger Hall, a Texas Farm Bureau field representative from Waxahachie, was in charge of one station where he poured water through a contraption containing river rocks, gravel, sand and dirt, in order to simulate rainfall. He also demonstrated at his station the making of thread with
the th use of a minicotton gin. co “The cotton gin the th kids love,” Hall said. “Not so much the rainfall simulator.” Other stations taught kids about dairy, beef, swine, wheat and pizza. Pizza?
“My favorite station is the pizza station, because we get to smell the pizza sauce,” said Carolina Martinez, age 9 of Frost. Several 4-H students shared their knowledge of herbs such as fresh rosemary, thyme, and basil as well as a few pizza and knockknock jokes with the kids, as they discussed how to combine the tomato sauce with the cheese from dairy products with the wheat product crust to make pizza. Southwest Dairy Farmers sent Kayler Campbell and her sidekick Tiny the milk cow with their traveling live milking demonstration. Some “city kids” had never seen a cow being milked before, and certainly not milked by a machine. The children learned that cows also have other uses, and not just for steaks and hamburgers. Casey McGraw from Lone Star Ag
Credit explained at the beef production station how their byproducts also are used to make glue, toothpaste, makeup, insulin and other medicines, as well as the leather that comes from their hides being utilized for use in one great American love — football. The fourth graders were told by older students about Future Farmers of America, and about Junior FFA, and how to join. They were treated to a lunch of pizza, apples and ice cream. Mar’Leigh Davis, FCCLA student at Blooming Grove High School, spent the day in the kitchen of the Fannie May Vernon Room washing apples, bringing in milk, passing out pizza slices and setting places for 800 kids and adults. “It was very hectic,” she said, “But exciting to see all the faces of our future.”
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October-November 2015
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Dare to live the code Code Western... The place to find all things western By PENNYLYNN WEBB community@palestineherald.com
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ode Western is the perfect place to find all things western for the cowboys and cowgirls on your list this Christmas. From the perfect accessories to saddle tack, this store has everything. The store, owned by Jay Woodson and James Pue, opened in June. According Woodson, Code Western is not for someone who wants to just look the part, but for those who are living the cowboy lifestyle. “Code Western has been something we have been working on for a while. Our store is an integration of western apparel and accessories that service the needs of cowboys and cowgirls. We live the cowboys lifestyle. We have horses, cows and land. We wanted a store that would offer a wide variety of products to promote and complement the western way of life.� Woodson added, “We also wanted to have a store that offered good service. Years ago, there were stores that offered not only quality products but friendly service from the time you entered their business until the time you left, we wanted to provide that same kind of great service for our customers. Customers are greeted upon entry to the store and offered
assistance in finding exactly what they are looking for. “ They have a great selection of cowboy boots, hats, belts, accessories, jewelry, cologne, home dĂŠcor and saddle tack, including saddles, collars, reins, blankets and other equestrian essentials. They
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carry known brands like Lucchese, Ariat, Montana Silver, Cinch and Wrangler in menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wear. While they carry many of the known name brands, the store is also developing its own line of clothing and has started with a line of T-shirts and other apparel.
Their shirts carry the motto â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dare to Live the Code,â&#x20AC;? which promotes living the western way of life. You can shop their store or browse their selection online. They also promote their business through vender booths at national rodeo events and have made a strong presence at the Arizona State Fair, Bell County Expo Center for the ACHA Championship Show, the North American Livestock Expo in Louisville, Kent., and will be at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nev., for the National Rodeo Finals in December. Code Western also has their very own team riders whom they sponsor, including Casey Green, Marcus Outlaw Wadley and Maria Gaudette. The store is located at 306 N. Sycamore St. in Palestine in an historic building that has served as a one-time location of JCPenney, as well as an Army surplus store, and a furniture and appliance building. They are open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information log onto codewestern.com or call 903-480-9985.
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October-November 2015
5
The National Insect
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hanksgiving is a time for reflection. Warm memories, overstuffed afternoons and family. Yet rising from this cornucopia of good feelings, like a rubber chicken from a shopping cart full of cut-up fryers, is that runnerup for national bird...The Turkey. Despite its cinder block-like intelligence, gurgling vocals and dangling snood, there is nothing absurd about the turkey being nominated as our national bird. After all, a group of entomologists has tried to convince Congress to name a National Insect. Their suggestion was the Monarch butterfly. I have always assumed that the turkey was passed over for the bald eagle for obvious reasons; beauty, grace, majesty, strength and inspiration. But after watching Congress consider the Monarch butterfly, I realized how it is simply a matter of which special interest group presents the most convincing case. There was considerable rancor stirred amongst the feminist groups when they pressed their case
Producers-the sow bug, carpenters-termites, insomniacs-bed bug, librarians-book lice, Nikemillipede, Republicans-the Sherman tank, Adams County bowling team-bowl weevils, uncle wanted aunts, the A’s wanted the B’s, Volkswagen wanted the beetles, honky-tonkers wanted night crawlers, and the Texans thought the oil derrick would make a nice National Insect! So I can imagine if there is this much interest in a National Insect, the competition must have been double tough for the National Bird! If Ducks Unlimited, the Pelican Farm News, the Kansas Jayhawkers or Chicken of the Sea had been able to nominate candidates for the National The legal profession marshaled its considerable influence behind the scorpion. Civil service em- Bird, our coins might have looked a lot different. However, if the Turkey Growers are still bent ployees thought the humble, diligent ant would be a good choice. Roto Rooter placed the tumble- on installing the turkey as a symbol of something uniquely American...they’d have to go to Washbug into consideration. Suggestions for the National Insect came ington D.C. anyway... www.baxterblack.com pouring in from special interest groups: Pork for a National Insect to represent them. They were divided between the ladybug and the queen bee. Organized religion sprang forth to submit their nominees. The Catholics liked the idea of a preying mantis on the fifty cent piece. The Methodists suggested the water skipper while the Baptists chose the lobster.
The most wonderful time of year Smith County Christmas tree farm builds memories By Jo Anne Embleton jembleton@jacksonvilleprogress.com
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t’s the most wonderful time of the year, and Smith County Christmas tree farm owners hope to help families build a treasure trove of memories when they visit. “It’s a family activity that most people enjoy, especially when they come with their kids, because they’re getting together and doing something that’s a fun and wholesome activity,” said Larry Hatch, whose family owns Trail Creek Farm in Lindale. Added Glenda Watson, whose family operates Watson Christmas Tree Farm in Chapel Hill, “it’s just being with family, especially for the older (members) – when they’ve got children and grandchildren, they realize these are the kinds of memories their families won’t forget.” Smith County is home to three tree farms that open in late November for the holiday season, giving families a fun way to bond as they pick the perfect Christmas tree. “We get a lot of folks from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, who come with their families
and just enjoy being out in the woods,” Hatch said. “One customer told me me he liked being out here, where it’s nice and quiet, and he could just wander through the woods.” The two tree farms, along with Plantation Pines Christmas Tree Farm in Tyler, offer customers a chance to cut their own tree or have a staff member cut one they’ve chosen. Additionally, Plantation Pines offers living trees that can be planted at home. All farms grow Virginia Pines, while Trail Creek and Plantation Pines grow also Leyland Cypress and will have Fraser Firs shipped in from North Carolina. While the Watson tree farm is strictly a come-andcut-your-tree operation, the other two tree farms offer other entertainment for families. Trail Creek Farm “has numerous activities for family fun,” according to their website, www.trailcreekfarmfun. com. “A tire crawl, swings, maze, treasure hunt trails, train ride, hay jump, a new zip line and tours of the farm.” The site also mentions a gift shop and advises visitors to “be sure to check out the large collection of Mr. Larry’s Santa Clauses – they aren’t for sale, but boy are they something fun
Before you visit a Christmas tree farm: • Call ahead to see if the operation is open the day you plan to visit. • Monitor the weather; inclement weather often means tree farms are closed. • Dress comfortably. Fresh cut trees often mean dealing with sticky sap, so wear something you aren’t worried about getting ruined. And wear proper footwear! • Measure your ceiling height, to give you an idea how big of a tree to get. • Bring a camera to capture the memories. • No alcoholic beverages are allowed at many places. • Not all places allow dogs, but those who do – like Trail Creek Farm – have rules: Dogs must be on leashes, and owners are responsible for picking up their pets’ messes. • Visit www.pickyourownchristmastree.org to find tree farms in your area.
and entertaining to look at!” Hatch said the Internet drives a large percentage of their visitors, who come out to experience the joys of cutting their own tree, then return the following year. “The last two years, we’ve asked customers where they found out about us, and probably 90 percent say ‘the website,’ ” he noted. “That and word of mouth – that’s probably our biggest source of advertising. A lot of people talk us up, that’s what helps out.” Like the Lindale farm, Watson Christmas Tree Farm sees many of the same families coming back year after year. “It’s a tradition, more than anything else,” Watson said. “We see children, grandchildren, maybe three or four generations (from a family) – they may skip throughout the years, but they come back.” And they come from all over, she added. “From Houston, Dallas, Shreveport – they’ll come to visit family and stop in on the way home. One lady was visiting from Georgia, and she brought her family back here; one lady from Finland came back to visit. And we’ve had groups visiting Tyler from other countries who have come out,” she said. The memories aren’t just for visitors, though. Watson laughs at the fam-
ily’s early years of operating the tree farm – which they’ve had since 1983 – when she and her daughters would dress up as deer and elves, to the delight of visitors. The people she’s met through out the years also have become dear to her, she said. “What we’ve found is that people had a good time, and they want their children and grandchildren to have that, too, that same enjoyment and thrill of just being together,” Watson said. Hatch agreed, saying the local Christmas tree farms “fill a niche.” “We fulfill something that a lot of people need in their lives, so we try to keep it family-ori-
ented,” he said. Christmas tree farms located in Smith County include: • Trail Creek Farm (www. trailcreekfarmfun.com). Located at 118127 County Road 4108, Lindale, TX 75771. Phone: (903) 882-5746 (farm), or (214) 748-4686. Email: l ar r y @ t r ai l c re e k f ar m f u n . com. Owners Larry and Dana Hatch will open for business on Saturday, Nov. 21 (but will be closed Monday, Nov. 30). Hours are from 9 a.m.to sunset on weekends, and from noon to 5 p.m. on weekdays The farm offers nearly 7,000 trees over three feet tall, and visitors can cut their own or have staff members cut the one they choose. Trail Creek
also offers a variety of events and refreshments for families, as well as school tours and a number of holiday decorations for sale. • Watson Christmas Tree Farm. No website listed, but the farm does have a Facebook page, “Watson Christmas Tree Farm in Tyler, Tx.” Located at 11307 CR 2298, Tyler, TX 75707, the farm is in the Chapel Hill community, just off Texas Highway 64 East, said Glenda Watson, who with her husband Darrell, own the business. Phone: (903) 5661282. The tree farm will open Saturday, Nov. 28, operating weekends only, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through midDecember. Free apple cider is available for visitors. • Plantation Pines Christmas Tree Farm (http:// plantationpinesfarms.com, Facebook: “Plantation Pines Christmas Tree Farm). Located at 10098 CR 429, Tyler, TX 75704, the farm is northwest of Tyler, off U.S. Highway 69 North. Phone: (903) 595-2046. Email: wiggins4him@hotmail. com. Plantation Pines opens at 1 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, and will be open from 1-5:30 p.m. Sunday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. A variety of events are offered, including hay rides, bonfires, farm animals and school tours, along with refreshments.
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October-November 2015
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Saunders leads beef committee By Rich Flowers Athens Review
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ichard Saunders is the chairman of the Henderson County Beef Cattle Committee at a time when cattle raisers face critical issues brought about by weather and fluctuating prices. Saunders lives on Farm-to-Market Road 19 about a mile-and-a-half from Frankston. Saunders grew up in Jacksonville, graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University where he met his wife, Pat, then headed to Dallas for a career at Texas Power & Light. He returned to the home place in 1999. “I’m the fourth generation to live on this property and move into the home my great grandfather moved into after the Civil War,” Saunders said. “It’s like a dream come true to live on this property.” Saunders buys heifers, raises them through the winter, then introduces bulls in April. It’s a practice he learned from his father many years ago. “They’re bred brangus heifers,” Saunders said. “We put up hay to carry them through the winter. We put cover crops, oats and wheat, rye grass and clover to supplement the hay.” Saunders said living on the 700 acre property is like making a home in a state forest. The Texas Forestry Association honored Saunders’ property as the Texas’ Outstanding Tree Farm for 2015. So how did, Saunders, an Anderson County resident, become the chairman of the Henderson County Beef Cattle Committee? “I was attending the programs they hold for your private applicator’s license,” Saunders said. “County Agent Rick Hirsch asked me if I’d be interested in being on the committee. The committee plans four programs a year to bring about solutions to problems facing cattle ranchers. A diverse group of speakers appear at the events to lend their expertise in all areas of the beef cattle industry. “We’re pretty much in the education business,” Saunders said. “I used to work at Lone Star Feed in Nacogdoches after graduation. Then I went to work for Texas Power & Light, which is now Oncor. but I really always wanted to teach. We put on these clinics to educate the producer on what are the
best management practices they can use to develop, grow and market their cattle.” They’ll also look into the cereal crops and grasses best for feeding the herd. “We also push soil testing,” Saunders said. “You know, if you take care of the soil, you take care of the world.” Water management, types of fertilizers and many other subjects impart knowledge useful to the beef cattle producer. “You just can’t seem to know too much about what your passion is,” Saunders said. The committee sponsored a recent cowcalf clinic that dealt with marketing cattle. “We talked about the best places to market them, do you want to use the internet or go though the sale barns,” Saunders said. “We have producers in Henderson County that are selling their calves directly to whole foods services, not going through
sale barns, so you can get a premium for your calves rather than taking what the sale barns what to offer. ” This year is unique in the amount of rain that has fallen in the area. One one hand, the moisture stimulated growth of grasses, but it also slowed the harvest of hay at a critical time. A November program discussed hay quality and hay testing. “All hay is not equal,” Saunders said. “It depends on what kind of grass it is and-ahalf how mature it was when it was cut. This is what hurt us with all of the rain.” Saunders said with the popular coastal bermuda grass, if you cut it, get a good rain, then are able to harvest it within a three to three-and-a-half week window, you can get optimum quality hay. “With the rain, a lot of that was delayed for several weeks, actually,” Saunders said.
“So a lot of people put up hay that may not be the best quality.” That means going to the feed store to supplement it and that cuts into profits. “The hay that you get is like being dealt a hand of cards,” Saunders said. “You don’t know what you have until you have it tested. With cards, you have to turn them over and look at them.” Raising cattle is not the easiest way of making a living, but ranchers either grew up with it, or were somehow drawn to the way of life. “It’s good therapy raising cattle,” Saunders said. “But It’s hard work and needs to be somewhat profitable.” The Henderson County Beef Cattle Committee wants to arm ranchers with all of the information they need to make that possible.
Veterinary Feed Directive Raises Concerns for Cattle Raisers By: Ty Keeling, vice chair, TSCRA Animal Health Committee
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n 1996, the Animal Drug Availability Act (ADAA) was signed into law to provide flexibility for the way the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates animal drugs and medicated feeds. This was enacted to increase the number of approved animal drugs on the market, and it created a new category of drugs used in animal feed referred to as veterinary feed directive drugs (VFD drugs). Under the 1996 ADAA, VFD drugs did not require a prescription from a licensed veterinarian for use. However, this recently changed on Oct. 1, 2015 when the FDA implemented a new rule that expands and further regulates the use of what they refer to as drugs that are “medically important” feed grade antibiotics. This rule immediately takes effect for three VFD drugs: Avilamycin, Florfenicol and Tilmicosin. Only Tilmicosin is used as a feed-grade drug in cattle. By Jan. 1, 2017, the list of VFD drugs will expand to include all medically important antibiotics used in feed and water for disease prevention, control and treatment. The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) believes this is another example of the federal government expanding their authority and attempting to regulate ranchers out of business. They are accomplishing this by requiring producers to receive a VFD form, similar to a prescription, from a licensed veterinarian before they can acquire and use antimicrobial drugs in feed or water. A veterinarian must fill out the VFD form specifying the ranch, group of animals to be treated, drug to be used, feeding rate and the duration of the treatment for the cattle. Additional time and increased costs for cattlemen and women are the only result of these regulations. Further, an unrealistic amount of detailed forms and records must be retained for a minimum of two years by the veterinarian, rancher and feed mill or distributor. This amount of paperwork is unnecessary and arduous just to receive a drug ranchers have used appropriately for years to care for their cattle. The new VFD rule also requires veterinarians to follow what the FDA refers to as state defined veterinarian-client-patient relationships (VCPR). In states where the FDA determines no applicable or appropriate state VCPR requirements exist, veterinarians are required to issue VFDs in compliance with federally defined
VCPR requirements. Texas and Oklahoma already have state VCPR requirements in place; however, the FDA is overlooking the fact that ranchers already have good working relationships with their local veterinarians. The VFD rule is part of FDA’s strategy to promote the judicious use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals. The Administration believes antibiotics are causing resistance in humans who consume beef products; however they have continuously failed to back this claim with proper peer-reviewed sound science. While the rule is not expected to be in full effect until 2017, TSCRA recommends that cattle producers contact their veterinarians to discuss how it could affect them in their daily operations. American ranchers have proved they are the best caretakers of their cattle, and they have continuously provided a safe, healthy and abundant supply of beef worldwide. They have been able to do this by working with their veterinarians and by using antibiotics judiciously to treat sick cattle and maintain healthy herds. The federal government needs to realize that at the end of the day these regulations are actually jeopardizing animal health. TSCRA will continue to work with industry organizations and government officials to ensure cattle raisers’ access and ability to use important animal drugs to care for their cattle are retained. TSCRA will also keep its members informed as the VFD rule continues being implemented throughout the U.S. Ty Keeling is a Boerne, Texas cattle rancher, and he has been the vice chair of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Animal Health Committee since 2013.
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October-November 2015
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Deer season: A Family Affair
Cherokee County couple with three children enjoy hunting together By April Barbe Jacksonville Progress
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s many women become selfdescribed “deer widows” this time of year while the patriarchs of the family become one with their deer stands, Cherokee County native Sheena Sturrock and her family actually spend more time together. Married to Aubrey Sturrock III since 2006, Sheena said she feels blessed to be matched with someone who enjoys hunting as much as she does. “Ultimately, I think that between hunting and fishing, those are the reasons I have such a close bond with him (Aubrey),” Sheena said. Sheena said her husband “has been hunting and trapping since he could walk. His dad, Uncle Tim
and grandpa taught him everything he knows.” Aubrey is what Sheena and others in the area call an expert hunter. “I joke with him and call him an animal whisperer because no matter where or what he’s hunting, he always finds and takes the trophy,” she said. Aubrey’s biggest kill was a few years ago when he killed a 15-point buck near their Cherokee County home in Alto. According to his wife, Aubrey regularly gets phone calls from others in the community to help trap hogs, as well. “If it’s outdoors and wild, he’s the go-to guy around here.” Hunting with her dad since she was 12, Sheena took her biggest deer this year with an 8-point buck. And the rest of the family is doing well this hunting season, too! The Sturrock Family
Courtesy Photo The Sturrock Family. From left, Aubrey, River, Sheena Raymie, and Rand Sturrock
Courtesy Photo Sheena Sturrock kneels beside a dead boar.
includes Rand, 9, Raymie, 7, and River, 5. The oldest, Rand also killed an 8-point buck this year, his biggest so far. Sheena said Rand has had a love of hunting “since he was able to show it.” “He went on his first hog hunting trip when he was around 8-or-9-months-old in a backpack on his Daddy’s back,” she said. “He will tell you that camo is his favorite color, and he knows more about trapping and hunting than most grown men do, already.” The couple’s young daughters are also well on
their way to following in their parent’s tracks. Raymie loves to be outdoors, Sheena said. “She took her first deer (a doe) this year in a stand with me with my .243 rifle and traditionally wore the blood on her face to show it. I think she’s hooked now,” Sheena laughed. And the youngest, River, hasn’t yet killed her first deer, but she is a Daddy’s girl who has already been in a deer stand for training several times, Sheena said. “He and I have taught our kids everything we know about gun safety. They’re still learning all the time and are absolutely not allowed to handle any gun bigger than a pellet gun
without our supervision.” Safety is important to the family, and Aubrey also painted a prayer in a deer stand this season that read: “God please bless this stand and the hunters. Amen!” At the tender age of 5, Sheena added that River has “maybe one more year before she gets to take her first one, but she sure loves to help me cook all the deer the rest of the family takes,” Sheena said The Sturrocks use all of the meat from harvested deer “in some form or fashion,” she added. From fried back strap to roast and sausage, the family has several favorite deer dishes. “We make pan sausage,
summer sausage, link sausage, deer tips, deer jerky and use whatever is left for ground up hamburger deer meat,” Sheena said. So, while other family activities are disrupted during hunting season, the Sturrocks are enjoying bonding in a deer stand and around the dinner table. “I always wanted my kids to get to experience the outdoors the way I did growing, and God blessed me abundantly when he paired me with Aubrey in that aspect,” Sheena said. For more information about hunting season, visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife online at www.tpwd.texas. gov/
Courtesy Photo Nine-year-old Rand Sturrock killed this 8-point buck this year in Cherokee County.
8
October-November 2015
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East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
Beef production in expansion mode Special to the Athens Review
By Rick Hirsch County Extension Agent
T
he nation’s beef cattle producers are in expansion mode and record-high prices have likely seen a top, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service livestock marketing economist. Dr. David Anderson says over the long term, we are continuing to expand and prices are coming down from record highs because we are expanding herds. We are starting to increase supplies and calf prices have been coming down. However, we will still see high prices since it will take some time to build our inventory back up. Beef demand continues to be strong and this has helped during times of record retail prices. There is a huge growth in these specialized burger restaurants. This coincides with one of the fewest supplies of cows in several decades. The second driver is the popularity of Texas style barbecue. We’ve seen huge grown in barbecue restaurants nationwide. This comes at a time when we’ve also got the fewest cows. Overall, this is the strongest demand for beef in 25 years. Through 2017, he has every quarter of the year projected with more beef production than the year before. He says we can continue to look for strong cattle prices and positive-side demand for beef. Recently declines in calf and cattle prices are largely due to record-high cattle weights resulting in more beef production. More imported beef and reduced exports are pressuring prices lower, too. But, as the fed cattle backlog is reduced, then price will rebound higher. Anderson said for the first quarter of 2016 he projects Souther Plains #1 500 600 pound steers at around $216 - $222 per hundredweight. Second quarter
prices in 2016 are projected at $220 $227 per hundredweight, while third quarter prices are projected at $215 $224 per hundredweight. For the fourth quarter, Anderson projects prices to be $207 - $216 per hundredweight. Currently, some estimates of annual cow costs are around $700 per cow. Factoring in an average selling price of $1,100 per head for calves leaves cowcalf producers in a profitable position. Many of the factors important in storing and feeding hay are common sense. Nonetheless, much hay is wasted. Losses are often much more than a producer might think. those resulting from improper storage and poor feeding practices are particularly objectionable because the expense of producing the hay has already been incurred. The amount of hay lost during feeding depends on the feeding system and on the amount allocated per animal per feeding time. An efficient feeding system should keep losses to a practical minimum. Feeding losses are caused mostly be trampling, leaf shatter, chemical and physical deterioration, fecal contamination, over consumption and refusal. To some extent, you can control these losses by proper management. Management decisions include feeding method, intervals between feedings, amount of hay fed at one time, weather conditions and the number of animals fed. The largest hay losses occur when large hay stacks are fed without animal restrictions. The lowest hay losses result from hand feeding livestock the amount they will consume at one time. However, the labor expense for the big hay stack is lower, and hand feeding requires extensive labor. The most economical feeding system is somewhere in between. When feeding large round bales, you must use some restriction barrier to limit animal access. Barriers include electric wires, feeding racks, panels,
wagons, gates and many other items. Feeding racks are now available in various sizes and shapes. Research conducted at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Overton showed that feeding large round bales free choice resulted in a 24 percent hay loss. Feeding identical bales in a feed rack cut the loss to 4 percent. (Standard small bales sustain a 6 percent loss when fed free choice and a 3 percent loss when some type of restricted access is used.) This 24 percent loss from freechoice feeding justifies the use of a feeding rack to conserve feed and money. During the feeding season, hay may be fed in one or more areas. Both systems have advantages and disadvantages. The main disadvantage of feeding in one area is the heavy traffic on sod during wet weather. This can result in soil
compaction and deep ruts throughout the field leading to this area. Feeding in one area destroys the sod excessively and usually involves muddy conditions. Feeding in different spots in the field each time can actually improve soil fertility, but it requires more time and is less convenient. Either system will work, depending on each producer’s particular situation. Under either feeding system where the sod is killed, these areas should be reseeded as soon possible. Scatter the excess hay and manure in surrounding areas. Rick Hirsch is the Henderson County Extension Agent - Agriculture for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Visit our web page at http://henderson. agrilife.org/.
Cooking Wisely
East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
Support Agriculture Businesses... They Are the Heartbeat of Our Economy.
October-November 2015
9
RICE-A-RONI SALAD Ingredients 1 - (6.9-ounce) package RICE-A-RONI® Chicken Flavor 2 - Tablespoons vegetable oil 3/4 - Teaspoon curry powder 2 - (6-ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts,
quartered 1/3 - cup mayonnaise 1/2 - cup chopped green bell pepper 4 - green onions, sliced Ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions 1. In a large skillet, over medium heat, saute rice-vermicelli mix with oil and curry powder until vermicelli is golden brown, stirring frequently. Add 2-1/2 cups water and Special Seasonings; bring to a boil. Cover; reduce heat to low. Simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until rice is tender. Cool. 2. Drain artichoke hearts, reserving marinade from one jar. Combine reserved marinade and mayonnaise. Stir mayonnaise-mixture, artichokes, bell pepper and green onions into cooled RICE-A-RONI; pepper to taste. Cover; chill 1 hour.
T
his is probably my favorite time of the year. The cooler nights, leaves are turning to beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow, and spending a lot of time with the ones I hold dear to my heart. People seem to think that November is when we should tell others why we are so thankful. Why not do it year round? Why should we wait for an excuse to be thankful. The Bible tells us to “In all things give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”. 1 Thessalonians 5:18. I feel like we should live each day to the fullest with no regrets and a clean conscience when we lay our heads down on our pillow each night. Make sure your loved ones know exactly how you feel about them and embrace them with love every chance you get. We are not promised tomorrow. My grandmother made this dish at every family gathering we had. We always looked forward to it. Now that she is no longer with us we still try to make it during the holidays and family reunions. Actually, my sister Paula makes it. She seems to have the special knack for the salad. I hope you enjoy it as much as our family does.
FARM & RANCH CLASSIFIEDS To advertise here, contact Lezlie Hoover at 903-729-0281 or email lhoover@ palestineherald. com
10
October-November 2015
Support Agriculture Businesses... They Are the Heartbeat of Our Economy.
East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
Thermometers H
i Y’all, Hope all is well with you and yours. Looks like it’s that time of the year when we start thinking of all the things we’re thankful for. My list grows day by day starting with my folks. I’m a lucky pup whose much loved and cared for. I kind of figured my life was going to be pretty good the first time I met them and got lots of hugs and kisses. I don’t think my feet were on the ground for quite a while since one of them kept me in their arms. Now I was leaving a world where my brothers and sisters slept and played with me all day to a place where I would be top dog and end up with a big, furry cat for a best friend. Who would’ve thought. Sometimes I wonder if my siblings live the good life, travel all over the place and get to do the work they were destined for. I sure hope so. Course I’m always thankful for PB, popcorn and chewies. And if a little turkey comes my way on that special day, well that’ll be just fine with me. Think of all the things you’re thankful for and I bet your list will be a long one like mine. Had to make my annual trip to the vet the other day and that made me wonder if you like going to your doctor? I’m a healthy pup but still have to go in for checkups now and then. Now I love to see all the folks at the clinic cause they hug and pet on me and tell me how pretty I am,
but when the exam door closes I kind of wish I was somewhere else. That’s where I get checked from stem to stern and when the vet tech checks my temperature, well that’s just wrong on all levels. Now you may get yours checked a different way, but I get a cold thermometer put in a spot where the sun never shines so to speak. Kind of makes me want to say, “Hello”. Wonder why that thing can’t be warmed up some. Anyway then she looks in my ears, mouth and checks me teeth. Course I get my weight checked, but that’s no biggie since I’m so active that I don’t have to worry about the pounds packing on. That’s a good thing too or I might have to cut back on PB in my kong. Finally I get my shots, but my shot giver is real gentle so I hardly feel a thing. Then comes a treat and I’m good for another year. If it weren’t for that thermometer it would be no big deal. I’ve mentioned before that I speak several languages. Of course canine, bovine – had to learn the language of MOOOOO in my line of work, feline – that is if anyone every really understands cats and equine, but I need to learn some rooster. I think they’re called fowls and his crowing sometimes gets ‘foul’ in my book. He’s a free ranging fellow who sometimes ranges into my north pasture. He seems to have forgotten, from what I understand, that he’s supposed to crow to an-
nounce to the world that the sun has come up, but he must like the sound of his own voice cause he goes on and on and on long after daybreak. My folks had some company the other day and they were on the patio visiting when one of them asked what that noise was. I thought,”Oh, you must not have a defective rooster living close by”. Anyway if I spoke his language I would tell him to ‘give it a rest’ cause the sun came up hours ago. Mama commented the other day when we were on our morning walk that I’ve never met a culvert that I didn’t like. I guess she said that cause I’m always sticking my nose in them to see
EAST TEXAS ANDERSON CO. LIVESTOCK Updated: 11/18/2015 Head Count: 186 Buyers: 29 Sellers: 32
what might be lurking in there. That may not always be a good idea, but I just can’t help myself. They’re mysterious, dark places that just call to me. My folks said they sure hope I never disturb a skunk whatever that is. I guess that would be a bad thing cause Mama said with all my hair the terrible odor would linger forever. Recently we headed up to Arkansas for the yearly cattle event at Chimney Rock Cattle Company. That’s where my friends Vegas and Edward live. Now the first time I met them I was a wiggly ball of fur and they were so big that I was leary of them. I hate to admit it but I hid under the truck hoping they wouldn’t see me. But now I know they’re all bark and no bite. Their mama even has that sign posted on the door of The Cow Palace. Edward likes to play some, but he was getting over some surgery on his leg and wasn’t allowed to do any running. That’s probably a good thing anyway since I can run circles around the big guy. I can turn on a dime and give him 9 cents change and he never catches up with me. We stayed at a place we’ve been before and I like it there since there’s plenty of roaming room. There was one downside though. Our cabin had a metal roof and stuff kept falling from a tree and making loud noises that kept me awake some. One night it rained and add to that sound the stuff hitting the roof with loud bangs
STOCK PRICES EAST TEXAS LIVESTOCK INC. Updated: 11/17/2015 Cows: 368 Bulls: 13 Buyers: 47 Sellers: 144
STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.75-$2.45 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.60-$2.35 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.58-$2.05 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.45-$1.91 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.40-$1.63 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $1.30-$1.47 lb
STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $260-$350 305 lbs - 400 lbs: $215-$232.50 405 lbs - 500 lbs: $184-$206 505 lbs - 600 lbs: $165-$198 605 lbs - 800 lbs: $141-$152
HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.65-$2.20 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.50-$2.01 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.45-$1.83 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.30-$1.65 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.28-$1.45 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $1.10-$1.25 lb
HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $225-$310 305 lbs - 400 lbs: $210-$222 405 lbs - 500 lbs: $175-$195 505 lbs - 600 lbs: $155-$172 605 lbs - 800 lbs: $135-$140 SLAUGHTER Cows: $61-$83 Bulls: $80-$90
SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.55 - $0.75 lb Bulls: $0.75 - $0.98 lb
PAIRS NO TEST
PAIRS $1175 - $2100
BRED COWS $1150 - $11375/hd
Stocker Cows: $875 - $2000 hd Goats: $45 - $185 TRI-COUNTY LIVESTOCK MARKET Updated: 11/14/2015 Head Count: 1083 STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.75-$2.82 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.70-$2.19 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.65-$2.03 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.55-$1.91 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.40-$1.64 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $1.35-$1.51 lb HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.70-$1.95 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.65-$1.81 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.60-$1.69 lb 500 lbs - 600 lbs: $1.43-$1.48 lb 600 lbs - 700 lbs: $1.40-$1.60 lb 700 lbs - 800 lbs: $1.25-$1.37 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.10 - $0.86 Heavy Bulls: $0.88 - $0.90 PAIRS Stocker Cows: $900 - $1775
and I began to wonder if the sky was falling. The owner of this place had a little dog that I got to meet and I do mean little. Her name was Lilly and she weighed in at a whopping two pounds. She was an eleven year old Yorkie whose tongue hung out of the side of her mouth. I wondered if she had my problem of not being able to hold her licker, but her person told Mama that she was missing some teeth and that’s why her little tongue wouldn’t stay where it was supposed to. Wonder why he didn’t get her some doggie dentures? Well, guess I’d better sign off for now. I just heard my name called so it’s time for our afternoon check of ‘my girls’. Now that the weather is more to my liking I run more than ride in the Ranger. You know that sometimes I just gotta run. Your friend, Kodi Ps: Oh, I forgot to mention the UFO I saw at the sale we went to out in New Mexico recently. Heard someone call it a drone, whatever that is, but it sure looked like an alien space craft to me. They said it was taking pictures of the ranch, cattle and people at the sale. But we were only an hour or so from Roswell with all those little green men. Coincidence, I don’t think so.
NACOGDOCHES LIVESTOCK EX. Updated: 11/19/2015 Head Count: 574 Buyers: 63 Sellers: 92 STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.70-$2.35 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.58-$2.25 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.40-$1.98 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.20-$1.89 lb HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.60-$2.55 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.45-$2.20 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.25-$1.93 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.05-$1.83 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.50 - $0.75 lb Bulls: $0.70 - $0.90 lb PAIRS $1050 - $2000 Stocker Cows: $750-$2000 hd Baby Calves: $45 - $250 hd Horses: $0.15 - $0.35 Goats: $50 - $200 hd
HUNTS LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE Updated: 11/16/2015 Head Count: 813 huntlivestockexchange.com STEERS 200 lbs - 299 lbs $1.30-$2.65 lb 300 lbs - 399 lbs: $1.40-$2.32 lb 400 lbs - 499 lbs: $1.45-$2.07 lb 500 lbs - 599 lbs: $1.40-$1.83 lb 600 lbs - 699 lbs: $1.05-$1.63 lb 700 lbs - 799 lbs: $1.00-$1.47 lb HEIFERS 200 lbs - 299 lbs $1.16-$2.50 lb 300 lbs - 399 lbs: $0.90-$2.05 lb 400 lbs - 499 lbs: $1.00-$1.85 lb 500 lbs - 599 lbs: $0.90-$1.63 lb 600 lbs - 699 lbs: $1.00-$1.50 lb 700 lbs - 799 lbs: $1.13-$1.30 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.37 - $0.87 lb Bulls: $0.77 - $0.93 lb PAIRS Pairs: $900 Stocker Cows: $335-$1580
ATHENS COMMISSION CO. Updated: 11/20/2015 Head Count: 1009 Sellers: 198 Sale EVERY Friday At 11am STEERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.60-$2.70 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.50-$2.70 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.40-$2.15 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.30-$1.90 lb HEIFERS 300 lbs - DOWN: $1.50-$2.50 lb 300 lbs - 400 lbs: $1.40-$2.20 lb 400 lbs - 500 lbs: $1.30-$1.85 lb 500 lbs - UP: $1.20-$1.75 lb SLAUGHTER Cows: $0.40 - $0.82 lb Heavy Bulls: $0.70-$0.91 lb PAIRS Top: $2000 - $2300 Low Middle: $900 - $2000 Stocker Cows: $0.75 - $1.75 lb Baby calves: $100 - $550 hd Horses: $75 - $610 hd Goats: $35 - $200 hd
Winter Stocker Sale - December 31 @ 4p.m.
This report is a GUIDE only. It is provided to show market trends and is NOT INFLATED to deceive producers or the general public.
Gone Fishing with Jerry Miller
East Texas Farm & Ranch Living
Support Agriculture Businesses... They Are the Heartbeat of Our Economy.
October-November 2015
11
Finding Success on Lake Athens
D
uring the month of October I usually have found success fishing lakes that are closer to home like Lake Jacksonville and Lake Palestine. For some reason these two lakes haven’t produced good quality size bass lately. When this happens it’s time to make a change and target lakes further away like Lake Athens, Nacogdoches or Murvall. Most fishermen are aware that the best fishing lakes often hold the best cover, especially grassy lakes. Lake Athens has an abundance of cover. Athens also has an abundance of quality-size bass ranging from about 1-1/2 pounds and up. I teamed up this week with Frank Lusk to search for schools of bass on Lake Athens. We started our day in the boat launch area. We targeted mostly depths of about 7 to 9 feet deep. This area has scattered grass growing out to these depths, and there are schools of bass roaming around feeding heavily on shad. For some reason these bass didn’t want a fast moving bait, so we settled for fishing a 1/4 oz. Shakey Head with four-
inch green pumpkin Tornado worms and black emerald Trick worms. The way we retrieved these baits was crucial to success. A slow stop and go, crawl retrieve was best. If you got in a hurry or hopped the worm you wouldn’t get bit. A Shakey Head often works best using a slow crawling, pause retrieve. We started fishing about 6:20 a.m., and over the next three hours we caught about 30 bass in the 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 pound range. We chose the perfect day for fishing. The wind was light. The skies were overcast all day, and I noticed that the surface temperature was 68 degrees F. A perfect fall day to catch bass. Later that morning we motored up to the dam area where we caught 8 or 10 more bass on the edge of grass in about the 8-foot range. For some reason the bass didn’t school up on top, so we continued fishing Shakey Heads and Texas rig worms. We caught fish on a variety of worms. After 12 o’clock we decided to check out the shallow north end of the lake. This
area is a lot shallower – mostly one to five feet deep. There were acres of milfoil grass growing here. When we arrived in the back end we saw another boat in our prime area. Another man and his wife were throwing swim baits and catching a lot of bass in the 1-1/2 pound range. We could see bait fish flickering on the surface throughout the area. We watched this couple catch about a dozen bass. Lusk and I managed to catch a few bass on small crank baits and hung a few bass on swim baits, but I think we arrived too late to get in on the best fishing. The other boat was in a prime spot near the creek where the majority of the bass were located. As you can see, it pays to move around the lake, find the best concentration of bait fish and determine what mood the bass are in. On a lake with lots of cover it’s possible to find several schools of bass in a variety of locations. If you’re not sure where to go, try targeting the back end of coves and bays. Look for bait fish near the surface.
Once you locate large schools of bait fish the bass will be nearby. Jerry Miller may be contacted at: gonefishing2@suddenlink.net
Gardening change is in the air By KEITH HANSEN Texas A&M AgriLife (Smith County)
C
hange is in the air with the turning of the seasons. It will not be long before the first killing freeze arrives, ending the growing season for the majority of our garden plants. Our first freeze is typically around November 15. It has come as early as October 20 and as late as January 4 back in 1966. Folks living in low lying areas, and out in the country, will see a frost or freeze before city folks where the heat island effect keeps the temperature a few degrees warmer. But, gardening doesn’t come to an end with cooler weather. Here’s a few gardening tips and ideas for this month to help get your plants through the winter and to prepare for next year’s gardening season. Planting: Just because we expect freezing weather this month does not mean all planting must stop. Actually, this is an excellent time of year to plant trees and shrubs. Roots of plants become established during the winter while the tops remain dormant
until next spring. A frequent question we get concerns timing to dig and move established shrubs, roses and other woody plants. In general, later in the winter dormant season is safest time to transplant these types of plants. When the weather turns consistently cold, plants are at their most dormant state and will suffer less shock during the move. Success will be highest for smaller, younger trees and shrubs. Evergreens should always be dug with an intact ball of soil surrounding the roots. This can be difficult with larger, older plants, and you may want to either have them moved professionally, or start over with new, fresh, vigorous nursery stock. However, right now you can prepare your plants for their eventual move. Use a sharpshooter shovel (with a long, narrow blade), and make several vertical cuts around the perimeter where you will eventually will make your final cuts. This will stimulate roots to grow within the ball of soil you will eventually move, and hopefully improve the success of the move. Camellia sasanqua are fall bloomers, typically escaping
freezes that can cut short the floral display. Late fall and winter is the season when camellias burst into color, cheering up the drab days of winter with large, colorful flowers. Camellia sasanqua blooms in late fall through early winter (a few early varieties are already beginning to bloom), while the largeflowered Camellia japonica varieties bloom in late winter through early spring. Nurseries are stocking camellias and you can select varieties while they are in bloom. Camellias prefer a bright, semishaded location in well-drained soil amended with organic matter. It’s time to replace summer flowers with winter-hardy flowers for seasonal color. Pansies are the top choice for blooming bedding plants at this time of year. Other bedding plants for winter color include snapdragons, calendula, ornamental kale & cabbage, pinks, dianthus, sweet William, candytuft, diascia (twinspur), linaria and erysimum (wallflower). Some spring wildflowers can still be sown from seed in early November, including bluebonnets, Drummond phlox, rudbeckia and coreopis. Sow into a bare, prepared soil, very lightly
cover with soil, and water immediately to initiate germination. If you plan on sowing into an area covered with grass or weeds, first cut the vegetation very short, then rake up as much as you can, so seeds can make intimate contact with the exposed soil. Did you buy some bulbs this fall? Narcissus and daffodils need to get into the ground soon, but tulips should be chilled in the refrigerator for at least 45 to 60 days before planting. Maintenance: As lawn grass slows down in growth, keep it mowed at the same height. Collect the grass clippings along with the fallen leaves for an excellent mix in the compost pile, or just let the clippings fall back to the soil. Tree leaves mulched back into the lawn do not harm the lawn or create thatch. Frequent mowing to mulch leaves into the lawn is the easy way to manage them. There may be a period, however, when leaf fall is too heavily concentrated to effectively mulch in to the grass. Mow and collect these leaves for the compost or use as a light mulch in your shrub, flower and vegetable plantings. Do not get in a hurry to prune woody plants. December through
February or early March is usually the best time to prune most types of plants. If you are uncertain whether or not a tree has died this fall, wait until spring bud break to make the final determination. Late fall and early winter is an ideal time to adjust strongly acidic lawn and garden soils. Most grasses, except centipede, and most vegetable garden plants grow best in a slightly acidic soil pH. Many locations in East Texas have soils which are strongly acidic which limits the potential of plant growth. The only way to know for certain whether your lawn or garden needs an application of agricultural lime, and how much is needed, is to have the soil tested. Most soils, however, do not require yearly applications. Test to be sure. Every county Extension office can provide soil test information for submitting samples to the Texas A&M or Stephen F. Austin State University soil testing labs. Plant annual or perennial ryegrass to cover bare soil areas, if needed, to prevent erosion. Sow Elbon or cereal rye in vegetable garden areas for a cover crop to increase organic matter and to help control nematodes.
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