June 2015 - High Plains Ag

High Plains Ag

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FARMING ON THE HIGH PLAINS OF TEXAS • JUNE 2015 • ISSUE 8, VOLUME 1 HIGHPLAINSAG.COM

GROW A VICTORY GARDEN COTTON USA VISITS ASIA SUCCEEDING WITH SORGHUM HERBICIDE DRIFT LASTING EFFECTS

Hamilton Farms

A Family Tradition

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INSIDE: HIGH PLAINS AG MAGAZINE

WHEN IT COMES TO TRAILERS

Cotton

6

Page

JOHN ROLEY

A Family Tradition

8

Page

L OFFERS YOU MORE L Gardening

Corn

Grapes

Sorghum

10

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12

Page

11

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14

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ABOUT HIGH PLAINS AG MAGAZINE High Plains Ag Magazine, based in Lubbock, Texas, is proud to feature local articles about farming and ranching on the High Plains of Texas. For more information, please contact one of the representatives below:

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Rowdy Bolen - Publisher, 806-687-4814, rowdy@texasautoguide.com Anthony Maye - Sales, 806-687-4814, anthony@highplainsag.com Elaine Witherspoon - Sales, 806-687-4814, elaine@texasautoguide.com High Plains Ag Magazine Po Box 16381 Lubbock, Texas 79490 http://www.HighPlainsAg.com

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COTTON

ROPESVILLE’S HANCOCK REPRESENTS U.S. COTTON AT “COTTON DAYS” IN ASIA Ropesville cotton producer Dahlen Hancock recently returned from a tour of Asia as part of the COTTON USA “Cotton Days” in Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Thailand. Hancock, who serves as President of Cotton Council International, represented the U.S. cotton industry in each city. CCI is the export promotion arm of the National Cotton Council.

“Experiencing Cotton Days first hand, you truly feel the energy, enthusiasm, support and trust in superior U.S. cotton,” Hancock said. “It’s our reputation built up over the years in these important markets that sets us apart and makes us the fiber of choice.”

Cotton Day festivities kicked off in Korea with a fashion event directed by Korean fashion icons Mack & Logan. U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert attended the COTTON USA event and made a congratulatory speech to COTTON USA and the success of the Korean textile and fashion industry. Through cooperation with the Spinners and Weavers Association of Korea, COTTON USA provided the opportunity for young Korean designers to showcase their creativity through the “Cotton T-Shirt Design Contest.”

In Japan, CCI provided opportunities for designers to showcase their creativity through a T-shirt design contest, in cooperation with the Japan Spinners’ Association, Japan Cotton Promotion Institute and Cotton Incorporated. More than 400 industry and media representatives celebrated Cotton Day in Japan. COTTON USA spokesperson Miss Tomoe Shinohara recognized three leading Japanese actors and celebrities (Miss Ann Nakamura, Mr. Tsuyoshi Ihara and Mrs. Miki Fujimoto) as COTTON USA’s brand ambassadors for its key audiences.

The celebrations continued in Taiwan with a live music concert by new COTTON USA ambassador group Cosmos People. The band created a COTTON USA theme song “And You” to link with ”I Love My Cotton,” which its record company will promote with a music video. Eelin top models presented a fashion show featuring the women’s fashion brand Chaber, a COTTON USA licensee, as well as Stefanel and Carnival brands. CCI President Hancock

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Dahlen Hancock (left) with U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert

presented COTTON USA licensee certificates to its spinner partners Far Eastern New Century Corp., Tah Tong Textiles, Tai Yuen Textiles, Chia Her Group and Tah Yao Textile. More than 160 representatives from the press and COTTON USA licensees and consumers participated. The radio station “Voice of Taipei” interviewed Hancock and COTTON USA representatives about Cotton Day, increasing consumer awareness of the event.

Cotton Days concluded the tour of Asia in Bangkok, Thailand, with an exciting “I Love My Cotton” fashion show. Taking COTTON USA’s three essential promises of “purity,” “quality” and “responsibility,” CCI selected three top Thai designers and challenged them to craft new garment designs made with 100% cotton fabrics supplied by COTTON USA-licensed fabric mills in Thailand. A second fashion show featuring COTTON USA garments supplied by 34 COTTON USA licensees in Thailand capped off the show, illustrating the versatility and importance of cotton for the entire family.

CCI President Hancock thanked the Thai textile and garment industries for their loyal and continued support of high quality U.S. cotton. Another Texas native, U.S. Agricultural Counselor Bobby Richey, rounded off the event with his reflections of growing up in Lubbock, Texas, where his family still operates a cotton farm. More than 500 participants from the Thai fashion and consumer media covered the show for broadcast across Thailand.

Hancock is a fourth generation farmer following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather, who also chose farming as their professions. Hancock served for 12 years as chairman of New Home Co-op Gin. He is a delegate and marketing pool representative at Plains Cotton Cooperative Association in Lubbock and serves as secretary for Cotton Incorporated.

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www.HighPlainsAg.com / December

2014 / Page 7

Hamilton Farms

A Family Tradition Photos by: Belinda Maye

The Hamilton family has been farming on the High Plains for over 50 years. Cole Hamilton is a third generation farmer at Hamilton Farms.

Cole said his grandfather settled in Slide, Texas in 1951. He said, that there was even some family farming before that in this area. Cole said his grandmother’s grandfather farmed in West Texas, which would mean five or six generations have all farmed right here in West Texas.

Cole and his wife, Kyla, have three children. Clara is six years old, Hannah is four years old, and Collier is two years old. In August, there will be a fourth addition to their family—a girl, to be named Hunter.

Hamilton Farms has two employees, Cole and his dad, Gary. Even though they are a small labor force, Cole and Gary successfully harvest corn, cotton, sorghum, wheat, and vegetables from a small-acreage garden.

“We’ve really diversified in the last six years,” Cole said. “When we started to have water issues in 2009, we decided to try some different things— different rotations, different crops.”

Trying new and different options was one of the only choices the Hamiltons had to make in response to the drought, which has been devastatingly effecting farmers across the state since 2011.

“The four year drought obviously turned everything on its ear,” Cole said.

“It changed our operation.”

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The Hamilton family tried growing different kinds of crops in an effort to produce during the dry spell. They also tried different methods of production. In an effort to prevent wind erosion, Cole said they tried “strip-tilling,” but decided to go with “no-till” in 2012. In 2014, the team abandoned no-till due to resistance issues.

looking to find their niche.

With two employees and 2,300 acres, Cole, and his father, Gary, have stayed humble and positive through the years.

The Hamilton harvest provides for Gary and his wife, Suzanne, Cole, Kyla, and their soon to be four children. Furthermore, their harvest helps provide for the world.

“We decided we weren’t going to be just mono-cultured cotton farmers,” Cole said.

The Hamiltons have tried growing and harvesting several different crops, as well as different methods for producing crops.

“We’ve kind of gone one direction and then come back,” Cole explained. “We’ve tried 10 different directions since 2009. I think we’re deciding now, of the directions we’ve tried, which one is going to be a long term fit for us.”

“We’ve chased a lot of markets and we’ve had the opportunity to chase a lot of markets and to diversify,” Cole said. “Now we’re trying to decide, of those markets, which one gives us the best opportunity for growth—which one fits our equipment and our employees.” _______________________ Peyton Waldrip, Agricultural Communications Student Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas

In addition to the many crops the Hamiltons have grown, they keep a small herd of cattle.

“We’ve added more cattle to our herd,” Cole said. The Hamiltons have always kept cattle, but they’re looking into raising cattle on a larger scale; another area where they’re www.HighPlainsAg.com / June 2015 / Page 9

GARDENING

GROW A GARDEN...

“FOR YOU AND YOUR COUNTRY!”

Most would agree that nothing beats a home grown vegetable; fullness of a tomato or a freshly cut baby squash. What a great liberty it is to be able to have that delicacy from your yard.

And now with urban gardening on the rise, you can grow great vegetables from wood pallets, small raised beds and old boots and hanging baskets.

But, what if that was more of a necessity, than a hobby. We all know that early pioneers would grow gardens for necessity, to help feed their families that had moved to the area to start developing the land, but to take it a step further, what if you grew a garden “for your country?”

In 1917, Charles Pack created the US National War Garden Commission, a directive for Americans to help the growing price of food caused by the war, to grow gardens in their yards, schools and urban areas. “Food will win the war,” is the quote from President Woodrow Wilson.

In World War II, it was again established with the promoted idea that lowering the food costs would help lower the cost to feed soldiers and help the war effort. During this time, Americans took the call very seriously to help. Twenty million Americans answered the call to plant Victory Gardens during World War II, producing 41 percent of the fruit and vegetables consumed.

Page 10 \ June 2015 \ www.HighPlainsAg.com

As war faded, the USDA recognized that the effort had helped save millions of dollars helping the war, and that the overall experience indicated that people felt good about contributing, saved money, got healthier and enjoyed gardening with their families and communities.

It really is not that long ago, when Americans were asked to grow their own vegetables and help their country, and it imparted a sense of community and sustainability. Evidence of this still exists with the small gardens all across the High Plains. Locals growing vegetables that are sold, exchanged or given freely from the back of pickup trucks, in local groceries and to neighbors are part of the same type of spirit exhibited by our “greatest generation.” ________________________________________________ ______________________________ Anthony Maye, High Plains Ag Magazine

CORN

FARMER SUPPORT IN THE GOVERNMENT “Agvocacy” is a term coined by America’s farmers and ranchers describing advocating for the agricultural industry. This is an important task as agriculture faces more and more scrutiny and skepticism. One of the ways students and emerging leaders can learn about “agvocacy” is through a congressional internship.

Toward the end of every semester, new Congressional Interns are selected as representatives of Texas Tech University and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources in Washington, D.C. or Austin, Texas.

Interns are placed into offices of representatives, senators, and committees for the semester. In those offices, students have a hands on experience with the government workings and opportunities for professional development through communication with constituents, hearing attendance and capitol tours.

Not only are the interns working for government officials in the success of the office, CASNR interns are also on the internship to better understand their roles in advocating for the agricultural industry to staff members in the office and the government officials making the laws for the country.

Most importantly, these students return home with a better knowledge of how to be the best “agvocate” for the farmers who supported and funded them to experience this internship in the first place.

Adeline Fox, a former congressional intern now working in education and outreach at High Plains Underground Water Conservation District, recalls her experience and advocating for agriculture.

“I was there because of agriculture,” Fox says, “But I left D.C. with a broader sense of the many issues in public policy. These students can educate constituents and even their fellow staff members about agriculture.”

Through checkoff funds, Texas Corn Producers Board is one of the sponsors for the scholarship for interns. As students complete the internship and graduate from college, former interns reconnect with commodity groups and help build a stronger bond with offices and agencies in D.C. and Austin.

Pictured are (l-r) TCP Board Member Dee Vaughan of Dumas, Texas; TCP Board Member Robert Gordon of Dalhart, Texas; TCP Executive Vice President David Gibson; Congressman Filemon Vela of the 34th District of Texas; and TCP Industry Relations Angie Martin at 2014 National Corn Growers Association Corn Congress.

“Many students return to work in D.C. after completing their internship,” Fox says. “Farmers develop a network through the people they know who are working in legislators’ offices.”

Not only are these students great networks and “agvocates” for farmers and commodity groups, students build themselves into better professionals and workers for the future.

“The life skills and professional expertise I gained through my congressional internship have made me a better employee,” Fox says. “It helped me realize my full potential as an agriculturalist and an American citizen.”

Congressional internship sponsorship is one way TCP works to further the education and promotion of the industry and make an impact in people’s lives. TCP has supported such internships for agricultural students through Texas Tech and Texas A&M University for a number of years. Chairman of the board and Waxahachie corn farmer Scott Averhoff is a full supporter of the internship.

“Texas Corn Producers works to increase the profitability of Texas corn farmers,” Averhoff says. “One way of doing that is by supporting the ag congressional intern programs and shape those students into dynamic advocates for agriculture.”

Do you want to find out more information about the checkoff ’s role in supporting the congressional interns in D.C. or Austin? Visit the TCP website for information on this program and many others at www.TexasCorn.org.

_______________________________________________ Submitted by Jessica Corder, Communications Clerk, Texas Corn Producers Board • Corn Producers Association of Texas

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WINE GRAPES

HERBICIDE DRIFT HAS LASTING EFFECT ON GRAPES

Two months into the wine grape growing season and almost every vineyard on the High Plains is overloaded with fruit! We are so thankful and blessed to have an amazing crop load after two consecutive years of crop losses due to late spring freezes.

Now, another threat hangs in the balance...chemical drift.

Most farmers spray herbicides to rid the weeds of their fields.

We grape growers do the same. We spray a product similar to Liberty that burns the weeds but doesn’t kill the plants. These herbicides when used properly are very effective and help reduce weeds as well as insects who could use the weeds as a temporary home.

What a grape leaf shouldn’t look like.

This photo was taken in 2011 from a vineyard in Hockley County.

Chemical drift to wine grape vineyards can cause damage of up to $10,000 per acre in lost fruit per year and up to 5 years to revive the plants back to full maturity from drifting of herbicides.

Every year, I hear a grape grower tell me they’ve been hit with drift from another farm. I recently received a call from a very well known grower in the Brownfield area who had been hit with 2,4-D damage. He was asking for advice on the protocols necessary to file a report with TDA. This situation happens all too often. Farms have been spraying fields for years and not giving much thought to other farms around them. My vineyard has been hit with 2,4-D and Roundup every year since we planted in 2010.

I was chastized last year when I complained to a farmer about him spraying my vineyard 100 yards deep with Roundup. His Page 12 \ June 2015 \ www.HighPlainsAg.com

words were, “How will I have a crop if I can’t spray Roundup whenever I need to?” I feel his sympathy but at the same time, if I sprayed his field with a product that damaged his crop, he’d be at my door asking for a payment in damages. My visit was to educate and ask for thoughfullness when spraying. I didn’t tell him that I spent about about $125/ac revitalizing my plants with foliar and drip fertilizers to get them growing again.

The last few growing seasons, we’ve made a point to visit with our neighbors and ask them to spray when conditions were favorable to not drift our direction. It’s early in the growing season, but thankfully, we’ve not been hit with any drift this year.

Having a relationship with our neighbors is the most important thing we grape growers can do to minimize damage from chemical drift.

My suggestion from one farmer to another is to be considerate of your actions when spraying chemicals. Whether it be two different herbicide tolerant varieties of cotton side by side, a vineyard spraying a fungicide that could hurt an apple orchard crop or a hay field spraying a 2,4D herbicide that potentially could kill a cotton field.

What are grape growers doing in June?

1. Spraying Fungicides. With all the rain, we are trying to remove powdery mildew. (One fungicide I sprayed recently said do not spray near apples, like 5 times. Read the label peeps.)

2. Training vines. We are teaching the young plants to grow up the training stake and laying down new cordons.

3. Weed control. Spraying Liberty “like” herbicides to remove weeds under the wires.

4. Spraying foliar fertilizer. We recently took tissue samples to see what nutrients we are deficient in. We will spray a custom mix to give the plant optimal nutrients for fruit maturation. __________________________________________________ Rowdy Bolen is Publisher of High Plains Ag magazine and grows wine grapes in Smyer. He is also on the board of the High Plains Winegrowers association. Visit www.highplainswinegrowers.org to learn more about growing wine grapes

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SORGHUM

WEATHER WOES, FARMERS DEBATE NEXT MOVE

Mother Nature has turned loose amazing rains on West Texas.

Records have been broken. Fields have standing water. Playas are full. And farmers, experiencing a new extreme opposite conditions in 2011, are left debating their next move.

As farmers in the heart the of the Cotton Belt face the reality that many fields may or did not get planted by the crop insurance final plant date, there are many questions on their minds. Of all the questions, a seemingly new concept for this territory is at the top of the list—prevented planting (PP).

If a farmer takes PP on his cotton, then he has two options regarding that land. The first option is to plant a crop for harvest then take only 35 percent of the PP payment and only pay 35 percent of the cotton insurance premium. In this option, the producer will have a 2015 APH entry for the cotton unit equal to 60 percent of this year’s approved cotton yield for that unit. If the second crop is on a farmer’s policy, then it must be insured.

The second option is to plant a cover crop and not harvest, hay or graze this cover crop until Nov. 1. The farmer would not suffer any reduction in the PP cotton payment and could still hay or graze the cover crop, beginning Nov. 1. With this option, no entry is established in the APH cotton database for 2015.

In all cases, if a producer wants to plant a crop after taking cotton PP, the second crop must be planted after the end of the 7-day late planting period (LPP) of cotton. If the second crop is planted during the LPP, there will not be any PP payment.

Opportunity for Success with Sorghum

Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) programs, depending on how the producer enrolled in the 2014 Farm Bill, if the sorghum is planted on generic base acres. Farmers who chose PLC would also be eligible for the $3.95 grain sorghum reference price guarantee, which National Sorghum Producers helped secure in the 2014 Farm Bill. Forage sorghum can also be planted even later than June 30, and, if not hayed or grazed until Nov. 1, will not reduce the cotton PP payment.

With a full moisture profile and summer sun, farmers can be sure sorghum crops have a prime opportunity for success later this summer. If you have any questions regarding your specific situation, do not hesitate to contact the National Sorghum Producers in Lubbock at 800-658-9808.

What is Prevented Planting?

Prevented planting (PP) is a particular coverage with multi-peril crop insurance policies addressing the failure to plant an insured crop with the proper equipment by the final planting date or during the late planting period. You must be prevented from planting by an insured cause of loss that is general to the surrounding area and that prevents other producers from planting acreage with similar characteristics.

The PP guarantee for most crops is 60 percent (50 percent for cotton) of the guarantee for timely planted acreage. Thus, with a 400 pound cotton APH, $0.64 cent price and 65 percent policy, the total guarantee would be $166.40; the PP indemnity would be 50 percent or $83.20. If a producer chooses to plant a second crop to harvest, the indemnity would be reduced to 35 percent or $29.12. Producers must notify their insurance agent within 72 hours after the final plant date if they wish to claim PP and not plant in the late plant period.

Even when the final planting date for cotton passes, there is still time to plant grain sorghum. Strong local and international demand is providing solid market opportunities for grain sorghum. As all commodity prices continue to drop, this is a very important factor to remember when farmers consider their bottom line profit potential.

More information on prevented planting can be found at www.rma. usda.gov/pubs/rme/ppflood.pdf or from your local crop insurance agent. ________________________________________________ ______________________________

Sorghum can be planted up until June 30 and be fully insured.

This sorghum is eligible for the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) or

National Sorghum Producers Staff United Sorghum Checkoff Program, Lubbock, Texas

Page 14 \ June 2015 \ www.HighPlainsAg.com

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