Staff Michelle Martin Thank you everyone for making the Ag Mag successful in completing its second year. We look forward to brining you a bigger better Ag Mag in our third year. Without the good Lord and all of you this would not be possible. This magazine is as much of yours as it is mine. Thank you for everything.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
A Letter from the Editor I wasn’t sure what to write about in this letter from the editor until the other night when I was sitting at the dinner table. Like any other night, my husband, myself and my son all sat down, said our prayer and began our meal. I was telling my husband a story and began shaking my head back and forth while saying no. Before I knew it my son was doing the same. Out of nowhere he began imitating me. My initial reaction was “awwww he is copying me.” Immediately after the cuteness wore off my thoughts shifted to “Oh my gosh! He is watching my every move.” It was there that I thought maybe I should write about reflection. I really started to think about what kind of reflection I was giving to others. What would people say about the kind of person I was reflecting to be? How was my son seeing me? Was he seeing me come home tired every day, complaining about the things I couldn’t change, or was he seeing me enjoying everyday of life, although it may not have been the best. I want him to grow up to appreciate every day even if it’s the worst day he has ever had. I want him to appreciate everyone in his life, the good and the bad, and the way he will learn that is by watching me. It is so easy to get caught up in the everyday routines and methodically go through the motions, but those everyday motions are reflecting on someone else. Have you ever gone somewhere, like a bank, and the teller was rude, or to a restaurant and the waiter was rude, and you thought to yourself, they must be having a bad day. Simple things like that are reminders that our attitude and actions reflect - they create other people’s perceptions of who we are, regardless if those perceptions are accurate. To the farmer and rancher, your bountiful crop and heads of cattle reflect your hard work, to those kiddos, your successful projects and grades reflect your determination. Everything we do has some sort of reflection. We are going to go through slumps, bad years of farming, ranching, showing, working, and good years, but we shouldn’t let our circumstances change who we are and how we are reflecting. It’s simple to let the negative destroy our positive reflections. If you are overwhelmed by life, take comfort in this: You are not the source to the solution. You can’t face these difficulties alone, and you’re not meant to. There is good and bad in everything. Every person is fighting a battle that you may not know about, and everyone is different. That is what makes our world so diverse. We all bring a unique reflection. I encourage you to take a good look on your reflection. Set a good example. Let your reflection be the light in someone else’s darkness. What does yours say about you and others? Owner/Creator of AG MAG
Owner/Editor michelle@theagmag.org (956) 330-8870
Al Benavides
Graphic Designer (956) 492-6407
In This Issue: Page 6 Cotton Gets Interesting Again Page 9 Are you making the Best, Better? Page 10 Toolbox Being Created for South Texas Vegetable Producers Page 13 Urban Horticulture in South Texas Page 14 A Brief History of the Texas Dept. of Agriculture Page 16 Featured Farmer Story
A Career Built By Riding with Grandpa
Page 20 Las Colmenas & Los Charcos Ranch Page 22 Recipe: Shrimp and Sirloin Kabobs Page 27 The Texas I See Page 27 Agriculture...Where the heart is Page 28 Fall Fertilizer Applications for 2017 Crop Page 30 FFA & 4-H Calendar of Activities Page 32 27th Annual 4-H Country Hoedown Page 34 Harvesting ‘Round the RGV Page 40 Aero Ag Drone Farming Page 45 Agriculture Paving the Way Page 48 The Most Wonderfully Confusing Time of the Year Page 52 Oh How Things Have Changed Page 56 Bio Control of the Asian Citrus Psyllid Page 59 Snake Avoidance Training 2016 Page 62 Blessing of the Fleet 2016 Pictorial Page 67 2017 Open Commercial & Purebred Heifer Pen Show Page 68 Get to know more about AgriBility Volume 3, Issue 1. September/October 2016. No part of this publication can be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ag Mag reserves the right to edit, rewrite or refuse editorial materials and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors, omissions or consequence arising from it. All correspondence to the publication become the property of Ag Mag. Ag Mag is published bi-monthly ©2016. To advertise in Ag Mag, call (956) 330-8870 or email michelle@theagmag.org
Lynn Johnson standing in the field.
Cotton Gets Interesting Again bY JOHN MILLER
I
Field photos by Jerry and Charles Chappell
f you were out and about at all this summer, I am sure you noticed the beautiful white fields of cotton that make for great photos like the ones shared here. The valley cotton ended up being maybe the best ever in terms of both yield and quality. As recent as July 4th however, cotton farmers across South Texas were wondering what kind of crop was possible heading into the mid-summer heat. Alternating periods of wet and dry soil conditions delayed strong opinions about yield potential well into summer. Even if the crop were to beat early yield expectations, income prospects were borderline interesting at best since futures prices had languished in the 60 to 65 cent range for some time as can be seen in the price chart provided. Burdensome cotton stocks worldwide, a strong U.S. dollar, competition from man-made fabrics, increased US acres over last year, and uncertainty about consumer demand for apparel have been among the major concerns facing the marketplace. Most observers in the industry agreed that cotton prices would, at best, strive for 68 cents per pound on the December futures market before falling back to 60 cents per pound or less by harvest. Depending on quality, this scenario would likely have seen the farmer price of cotton trading at or below 60 cents per pound; a level that would make it difficult to cover cost under any yield scenario. All of a sudden, things changed. In mid-July at about the time it was becoming apparent that the valley crop had 3 bale dry land yield potential (very good), the cotton futures market began to rally; see the price chart again. A US government report showed that excess cotton supply estimates for China had dropped by 2 million bales, and by 1 million in India. As the World Carryout chart shows, this helped to trim world excess to the lowest level in
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four years. It is true that China had been auctioning off some of their 60 million or more bales excess, but this big of a drop from a month prior was deemed important. In addition, Chinese merchants began to spot purchase from US supplies at a pace not seen in a while. The reduction in India’s stocks estimate came from a fear that a weak monsoon season would hurt the crop there and encourage that country to become an importer of cotton. It did not hurt either that the Texas Panhandle, which often produces half the national crop, was in the middle of a dry weather spell that was taking the crop backwards. This combination of mid-summer cotton market news was enough to spur speculators into aggressively buying cotton, eventually running the market up from 65 cents per pound to just under 78 cents per pound in under four weeks. While speculation is often criticized for adding too much to market volatility, sharp moves at the right time of year can offer farmers opportunities that might not otherwise come about. Fortunately for South Texas cotton farmers, the midsummer rally allowed a crop with great yield potential to become vastly more interesting. As with all of farming, timing is everything in the commodity marketplace. The price rally during harvest allowed farmers the opportunity to set better prices than had been hoped for earlier in the year and greatly improved the chances for having a profitable year. As the costs associated with farming have escalated in recent years, the most skillful farmer appreciates help from both Mother Nature and Markets to ensure a sustainable way of life. As with most markets, however, cotton futures prices have since fallen back to approximately 69 cents per pound. Chinese spot purchases cooled off, India’s monsoon rains ended up leaving average amounts of rain, and the Texas Panhandle started receiving regular rainfall again. Who knows what will grab the attention of speculators next. After a selling off period, the speculative crowd may find the cotton market interesting again. As farmers, we always start looking to next year at about this time of year. Prices for next year have already approached levels that could help farmers make decisions on how much to plant for 2017. For now, we can enjoy what this year has provided and gear up for what we hope will be another interesting year to come.
Jack and Cody Scogin and family.
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Are you
Learning to Do? Doing to Learn? Earning to Live? Living to Serve?
to President. I was also voted FFA Sweetheart my senior year. While showing through my local FFA chapter I had the distinct privilege and honor to show my heifers at major stock shows like San Antonio, Houston and Austin as well as regional jackpot shows. The good Lord knows I had the passion, fire and the drive for all of that. Showing made me come alive! Thankfully I had a great support team including my FFA advisor, my parents and my grandparents. I literally can’t put into words everything that FFA did for me. All I can say is that FFA had an extremely profound influence in my life; and that, alone, is an understatement.
Are you Making
the Best, Better? bY YVONNE (BONNIE) RAMIREZ
SOMEWHERE IN TEXAS – Do you ever take a break from life and stop to think about your past? …Like about what influenced you the most while growing up? I do! When I think about my childhood I’m very grateful for the opportunities I had. I grew up in a small town in South Texas where agriculture is a way of life. Growing up around agriculture yields many opportunities; one of those being around 4-H and FFA “clubs”. To make the best better! Does that sound familiar? How about I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country and my world. These infamous statements are none other than those preached and practiced by America’s Largest Youth Development Organization, 4-H. I started out in 4-H when I was in second grade. I remained in 4-H until I was in 8th grade. I acquired tremendous life skills through my many years of participating in many facets of 4-H. From raising and showing market hogs and breeding heifers to volunteering at our local church, participating in AdoptA-Highways, to serving as a historian to doing the infamous yearly record books to doing arts and crafts; I wouldn’t trade the memories and lessons learned for anything in the world. And the friendships made along the way... priceless! In 7th grade I joined Jr. FFA. FFA used to represent Future Farmers of America. Today it stands for much, much more. “I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds - achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years”…… Don’t those words resonate? To this day, this speaks volume to me! As I type them, they give me chills! “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve!” I mean with a motto like that who can deny what FFA stands for and how influential it has been in my life. It speaks for itself… In high school I continued showing animals and volunteering/doing community service. I also had the opportunity to participate in Quiz and Livestock Judging teams. During my high school FFA involvement I also held different leadership roles ranging from Vice President
I pursued my further education at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville majoring in Animal Science (Agriculture) with a minor in Communications. I was fortunate enough to receive a generous scholarship from my local FFA chapter. During my collegiate career, FFA remained in my heart. I stayed true to my roots and where my heart was. I joined our Collegiate FFA chapter, I was selected as an Ag Ambassador and to top it off, the highlight of my college career was that I was part of our collegiate Jr. and Sr. Livestock Judging teams. 4-H and FFA opened the door to so much greatness for me; memories, experiences, lessons, life skills, friendships, opportunities…. I truly believe that through these extracurricular activities I learned respect, hard work, accountability, leadership, community service, team work, responsibility, and good sportsmanship, to name only a few. I became more confident and passionate through my 4-H and FFA experiences. I gained significant people and public relation skills; skills that are absolutely priceless! Thirty plus years later when I reflect upon my upbringing, I know wholeheartedly that I am where I am and who I am largely in part to what I gained through my 4-H and FFA years. I’m 100% living out my dreams; dreams of a small town 4-H and FFA’er. Thank you 4-H and FFA for what you did for me! You have a very special part of my heart; today, tomorrow, and always! I cannot promote either of these organizations enough. I can talk all day about them and what they taught me. I strongly encourage anyone; parents, children, grandparents, etc. to consider being a part of this phenomenon. There is no price tag on the impact that 4-H and FFA have had on my life. Here’s to Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve! And to Making the Best Better! S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R
2016
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TOOLBOX BEING r o f CREATED SOUTH TEXAS VEGETABLE PRODUCERS bY ROD SANTA ANA Reprint from AgriLife
WESLACO – It’s an imaginary toolbox, but Dr. Ismael E. BadilloVargas wants to create one for South Texas growers to help them revive what was once a thriving vegetable industry in the Rio Grande Valley. It would contain both short- and long-term strategies to once again harvest vast fields of produce in Texas for local, national and international markets.
the weeds back onto the crops. The pathogens they carry also survive.” Those pathogens can be bacteria, fungi or viruses, which require different approaches to control, Badillo-Vargas said.
Badillo-Vargas, a Texas A&M AgriLife Research insect vector entomologist in Weslaco, said insects and the plant diseases they carry represent a formidable barrier to farming lucrative vegetable crops. After decades of being a top producer of vegetables in the country, Texas is now a net importer, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics.
Insecticides can be effective, but because insects have an innate ability to adapt, they can quickly develop resistance to those insecticides. “Suddenly, an insecticide that was highly effective against an insect is no longer effective, so it’s important to develop insecticide rotation programs,” he said. “That helps.”
“Insects, especially those that are vectors of plant pathogens, pose a new challenge for vegetable production in Texas,” he said. “Those insects were not here in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Insects presently in the Rio Grande Valley are constantly changing, and they are carried here not only by changing weather patterns that can disseminate them long distances but also by human and commercial traffic to and from the area that didn’t exist back then.” Badillo-Vargas said Trojan horse-type insects, those that arrive carrying pathogens, pose a double whammy to an area. “Suddenly, an area like the Valley doesn’t have just a new insect pest to deal with, it also has a new plant disease never seen here before,” he said. “It takes a great deal of research to learn the biology of that new insect as well as how the disease works. And sometimes, the pathogen can change the insect or viceversa. It can get very complicated.” Unlike areas that routinely have hard winter freezes, the subtropical climate of South Texas allows insects and pathogens to survive year round, moving among host plants as the seasons change. “In the absence of crops, after a harvest, for example, an insect population can move to weeds in ditches to survive,” he said. “Once crops are planted again, they simply move from
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“And different insect vectors carrying any of these pathogens will also require multiple strategies to control their damaging effects.”
An insecticide rotation program would occupy the short-term strategy segment of the tool box, along with cultural and biological control practices. “Cultural practices would include recommendations on farming methods,” he said. “This could include recommended planting dates or using different types of mulches. Biological control would involve the use of ‘good’ insects controlling the populations of ‘bad’ insects. That’s our goal, to develop new strategies that could be combined into an integrated pest management program to make it more difficult for pests and pathogens to succeed.” Long-term strategies in the toolbox will first require gaining an in-depth understanding of the interactions of vectors and the pathogens they transmit to develop resistant varieties and transgenic plants genetically modified to resist pests and diseases, Badillo-Vargas said. “One example of this is what’s called RNAi, or RNA interference,” he said. “These studies take much longer to develop, but basically involve targeting a gene in the insect’s genetic makeup that plays a key role in reproduction and/or the ability to transmit a pathogen.” “If we can switch off that particular gene, the insect would not be able to reproduce, or it wouldn’t have the ability to infect plants
Dr. Ismael E. Badillo-Vargas, a Texas A&M AgriLife Research insect vector entomologist in Weslaco, is helping create strategies to revive vegetable production in the Rio Grande Valley (AgriLife Communications photo by Rod Santa Ana) with the bacteria or virus it’s carrying. A combination of shortand long-term weapons in the toolbox could allow vegetable growers to produce healthy, profitable crops once again,” Badillo-Vargas said. “But it takes time, even after you’ve developed a new strategy, to determine scientifically that the strategy is effective,” he said. “It takes several seasons of testing to make sure that success in the first, second or third season wasn’t just a fluke.” And during all this time, weather patterns and insects keep changing, and commerce and travelers continue introducing new challenges to an area. “All of these studies take time and a tremendous amount of resources, but Texas A&M AgriLife is determined to make the investment required to revive the state’s vegetable industry,” he said. A native of Puerto Rico, Badillo-Vargas assumed his duties in February at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco. Among his first steps to help growers was to set up a large research field plot of tomatoes and potatoes to monitor the insects currently in play. “We haven’t found anything we weren’t expecting,” BadilloVargas said. “In tomatoes we’ve encountered whiteflies, red mites and thrips. In potatoes, of course, we have the potato
psyllid that transmits zebra chip disease. And there are major and minor aphids affecting both crops, and some insects that can move to other crops, like whiteflies in cotton.” Badillo-Vargas’ colleagues and collaborators at the Weslaco center include Dr. Carlos Avila, an AgriLife Research vegetable breeder, and Dr. Juan Anciso, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service fruit and vegetable specialist, among others. BadilloVargas also administers a statewide program that tracks migration and population patterns of the potato psyllid. “Stakeholders throughout the state of Texas, the nation and even other countries subscribe to our findings because it’s such an insidious vector of zebra chip disease in potatoes,” he said. “Many growers and other stakeholders want to know what they’re up to and where. They use this information to best combat this insect vector and bacterial pathogen in potato growing areas.” Badillo-Vargas said it is difficult to predict but short-term strategies to help Texas growers begin producing profitable vegetable crops could be possible in five years. The long-term strategies that involve in-depth understanding and genetic work would likely take longer.
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Urban Horticulture in South Texas bY HEIDI C. ARTEAGA Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Better Living for Texans Growing and Nourishing Healthy Communities heidi.arteaga@ag.tamu.edu Photo by: Jose Luis Lopez
?
DID YOU KthNeOW within counties of o lg Star r, Hida on, r e m and Ca nt we represe of nearly 10%d Texas foo deser ts?
U
rban Horticulture has a very important role in food security in our communities, especially for those who are living in food deserts.
It’s hard to imagine in the Rio Grande Valley, where we grow so many crops, that people are living in food deserts, areas where fresh food access is nonexistent. When you have a vegetable garden, you can grow almost year round and you have access to fresh vegetables most of the year. The production cycle for most vegetables is 30 to 90 days; however, there is a wide window of planting time for many of the fall vegetables which allows us to begin harvesting in October and go all the way to May. We have a Vegetable Planting Guide available on the web at www.hidalgo.agrilife.org. As you will see from the Planting Guide, it is easy to plant at least 30 different vegetables in a fall garden in South Texas.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Services has 10 community gardens in Hidalgo, 9 in Cameron and 5 in Starr County plus 1 fruit orchard where families can come to learn how to grow their own produce and participate in the gardens and nutrition classes. This program is under the Growing and Nourishing Healthy Communities grant which is funded by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the food stamp program. This program is open to anyone who wants to learn how to grow vegetables and eat healthier. This program also offers volunteer opportunities for those who would like to get involve in the community gardens. For more information about the Growing and Nourishing Healthy Communities program, contact your County Texas A&M Agrilife Extension office. Having a vegetable garden at home or participating at a community garden is a great way to start a healthy life and reduce food insecurity. Urban horticulture is also a great way to help educate your community on becoming sustainable and it brings the community together. S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
bY DAVID G. GLESSNER AND DOUG VAN PELT
BEFORE THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR GETS UNDERWAY, LET’S DIVE INTO A HISTORY LESSON BEHIND TDA AND ITS LEGACY.
Ag Mag Featured Farmer
A Career built by riding with Grandpa
W
hen it comes to the “little things in life,” there are dozens of clichés and sayings that explain the great value those items, or points along our lifespan, can hold.
“Enjoy the little things in life for one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things,” Kurt Vonnegut said. Even former Dallas Cowboys’ great Tony Dorsett chimed in, adding “I’m a strong believer that you practice like you play, little things make big things happen.” Fausto Salinas Jr. can attest to those quotes. Fausto was raised on both farming and ranching roots. One of his fondest memories growing up was something many would consider “a little thing.” “I’ve always been heavy,” said the Sullivan City fifth-generation farmer. “My grandfather always had horses at the ranch. Me being chubby and short, I always had trouble getting on a horse.” Grandfather had a little paint horse that he trained and I would make him lie down and I would get on him. He would get up and I would go help my grandfather with cattle. “That is one of the best parts of my childhood.” Fausto will always hold a special place in his heart for his grandfather and the ranching roots he instilled in his grandson
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that had a big impact on his life. “That little thing he did for me, made a huge difference, because it allowed me to do what I love… raising cattle.” Like most multi-generation farmers, Fausto learned from an early age what it meant to work hard. From childhood until he started running his own farm in 1985 – and after – Fausto had to know how every aspect of the business worked. He started from the bottom and worked his way toward the top. In fact, his advice to anyone interested in taking on a farming career is to do the same. Fausto’s grandfather Octavio Salinas rented 200 acres to Fausto, to help him pursue his dream, while his father allowed him to use the farm equipment. With those two components mixed with hard work, Fausto began to pave his road to success. He started with a little and worked his way to the top. “A lot of times people would ask me ‘how do you know what the workers are supposed to do,’ he said. “I’d tell them because I’ve done it all – irrigation, harvesting, clipping... One time a guy didn’t show up to run the onion loader so I decided to do it. I lasted only two hours but I know what it is to do everything.” As a fifth-generation farmer Fausto has a lot of stories to tell. His grandfather was more of the rancher, as where his father was more into the farming. Fausto’s dad irrigated and farmed
fruits and vegetables. “He always wanted to be the best, to have the biggest onions and the best watermelons,” Fausto said. “He started farming in 1950 and continued until about 10 years ago when he got sick. He favored farming vegetables. He did the whole deal.” Fausto describes his father and grandfather as on different ends of the spectrum when it came to farming and farming philosophy. The grandfather, Octavio Salinas, wanted the job complete. The dad, Fausto Salinas Sr. wanted the job complete – his way.
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“Grandpa would plan things out and say this or that needed to get done,” Fausto said. “He would say do it this way and if I would tell him that I thought it would be better to do it a different way he would say fine, do it your way. Just get it done.” “Dad was more ‘my way or the highway.’ ” But Fausto learned a lot from his two mentors and claims to be “a healthy mix of the two.” After Fausto was well on his way to big things, another person had a big impact on his life. Bruce Kroeker. Bruce was at Texas State Bank, then in the lending department. Kroeker asked him if he was interested in farming on some land they had for sale. “The land was in Starr County and I said I was interested – it was about 1,200 acres,” Fausto said. “Then I asked Bruce
– are you going to lend me money to farm this thing or not?” Needless to say, Bruce agreed and Fausto soon bought a tractor and a planter, and really started to expand his farming operations.Fausto farms corn and grain, but his heart rests with raising cattle. At his peak he owned about 500 head of cattle. Severe drought forced him to sell some and he dropped to as few as 200 head. That number, however, due in part to rains the past two years, has steadily increased and he now counts close to 300 head of cattle. “That’s the real reason I was so close to my grandfather – he had cattle. I don’t mind going and getting up to my eyeballs in dirt and cow manure with the cattle,” Fausto said. “But I hate getting full of grease on a combine or a tractor – even though I love messing with equipment.” And Fausto can work on all sorts of equipment. It’s yet another advantage of starting from the bottom and working toward the top. “The recipe for success in my eyes is always go with your intuition, never second guess yourself, and do what you love,” Fausto said. Fausto will always be grateful to his grandfather for training that little horse to help Fausto, so he could do what he loves.
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Enjoy the little things in life for one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.
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“ Having respect means a lot but it is something that is earned, we might not see eye to eye in some things, but we respect each other based on our work ethic. In this life, you get what you give, and if we receive support we must also give support. Above all else we appreciate our clients for doing business with us and like to show our appreciation with the best service possible.” – Octavio Garcia
García Grain Trading 956-464-6000
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Las Colmenas & Los Charcos Ranch
T
he southernmost tip of Texas from Eagle Pass stretching over the southern gulf coast and down to Brownsville is known as the “Nueces Strip” or “Wild horse Dessert”. It was named this because of the vast amount of wild horses left over from the Spanish Conquistadores. Then during the United States/Mexican War in 1846; a war that was being fought over the true border to the two countries either the Nueces or Rio Grande Rivers, many more horses ran away or were abandoned, thus contributing to the “enormous droves of wild
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bY KATHRYN BRADY
horses that roamed the dry, dusty plains” explains Melissa Guerra in her book Dishes from the Wild Horse Dessert. This “strip” of Texas is also home to many of the historic and famous cattle ranches of the state. One notable ranch are Las Colmenas and Los Charcos Ranches, owned and operated by Mr. Lowry McAllen. Colmenas/Charcos ranches are located in northwest Hidalgo County near the community of McCook about thirty miles north of Edinburg in the Rio Grande Valley. The ranches
have been in the family since the 1790’s, as portion of the Santa Anita Land Grant in what was known at the time as Nuevo Santander. Life in the desolate south Texas plains at this time was “harsh and unrelenting and it required sturdy, dedicated people to survive”, as described by the Hand Book of Texas. During this time the McAllen’s ancestors were raising sheep, there were very few wells and the livestock and crops were sold at local markets, illustrates Mr. McAllen. In a recent discussion with Lowry McAllen, Kathryn Brady, had the opportunity to learn more about the history of the ranches, the current ranching operation, hardships and hopes for the future of Colmenas/Charcos Ranches. Lowry McAllen has been operating the ranches for about twenty-two years now and before that his parents, Robert and Margaret operated the ranches for about thirty-five years. Over the years of ranching on drought prone south Texas one of the aspects of livestock management that McAllen says is most important is rotational grazing. Rotational grazing is based on the premise of giving the pasture time to recover after grazing while taking measures not to over-graze or leave the cattle in one pasture for too long. When over-grazing occurs you have damaged the forage all the way down to the root. McAllen explains that “the timing of the move is based on observation and experience; looking for a good balance between what the cattle are consuming and what they are doing for the grass and soil.” When asked about some of the hardships of ranching in south Texas, McAllen mentions, “the fever tick control program. Outbreaks nearby can affect what I do with the cattle and where I can move them, etc. The inspection of the cattle that are suspected of having the ticks can complicate my plans.” Another aspect that makes ranching in south Texas different from other parts of the state and nation, McAllen references, the frequency of drought in deep south Texas; leading to a greater potential for over-grazing. Which is another reason why it is important to have a good bank of forage. When a severe drought does hit, though, (like the one Texas experienced from 2011 to 2014) you may need to consider de-stocking or liquidating cow herd. He adds that this “area is one of the areas of the nation that is most susceptible to drought according to climatological records. This is due to the irregular rainfall patterns and direct solar radiation. By working to manage our grass and soil, we protect the land.” Protection of the land is what conservation and stewardship are all about. McAllen is keen to state that “it takes only a short time to destroy the land, but a lot longer time to heal.” The loss of healthy ecosystems such as water, nutrients and organic matter in the soil and vegetation to cover the soil contributes to wind and water erosion; which overtime can have a long-term effect. However vibrant wildlife, a healthy water and carbon cycle along with vigorous plants can contribute to a pristine environment for all to enjoy.
expounds on the idea by stating that” good managers improve conservation, but poor land managers can just as quickly destroy the ecosystem.” Colmenas/Charcos Ranches have expanded to other avenues than just cattle raising; the ranches also offer diverse hunting opportunities. “When you are making a living from land that is marginally productive; wildlife management is a good complement to a cattle operation,” says McAllen speaking from experience.
Lowry McAllen and wife, Jessica, live on the ranch with their two boys aged ten and seven and other than the daily ranching activities they are involved in Cub Scouts, school activities and also volunteers with the church. Mr. McAllen says that “ranching and agriculture are a big part of the family heritage- it is our identity.” The ranch and family have made great contributions to the communities of the south Texas and the Rio Grande Valley as well as to the local and state governments. McAllen emphasizes that they see themselves as land stewards. He says that it is important to “learn every aspect of your ranching operation;” from fencing to animal husbandry, economics and finances to rules and regulations.
“Learn something new every year, expand your knowledge and always keep learning,” McAllen adds.
Buffel Grass Lowry McAllen says that he “loves the work he does and is motivated every morning to solve any problems that may arise,” he says that he is “grateful for the opportunity” to live and work on his family ranch and is looking forward to passing on the love of the land to the future generations. McAllen has already started passing on the love of the land to his sons, and he hopes that they will “enjoy the land”, come up with new options and solutions and learn grow with the times as well as with the ranch. S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R
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bY TEXAS SHRIMP MARKETING TEAM
Quick Texas Wild-Caught
Shrimp and Sirloin Kabobs 22
Ag Mag THEAGMAG.ORG
Serves 6
INGREDIENTS 1 pound 12 ounces 1 small 1 small 1 small 6 medium 6 small ½ stick 2 cloves 1 Tablespoon 1 Tablespoon
Texas wild caught shrimp choice boneless beef top sirloin red bell pepper yellow bell pepper red onion, peeled whole crimini mushrooms fresh jalapeno peppers butter fresh garlic, sliced Worcestershire sauce salad oil (for the grill) lemon pepper seasoning
Preparation
• Peel and de-vein the shrimp leaving the tails intact. • Cut sirloin into two inch chunks. • Remove the seeds and stems from the bell peppers and cut into two inch pieces, cut the red onion the same. • Clean the mushrooms and trim off the bottom of the stem. • Take some kabob skewers and begin threading the shrimp onto the skewer alternating the shrimp with pieces of the onions, peppers and mushrooms. • Do the same thing with the sirloin and vegetables on separate skewers. (Keep the shrimp and beef on separate skewers as they have different cooking times, depending on how you like your beef cooked). • In a small sauce pan, melt the butter with the garlic until it simmers, remove from heat and whisk in the Worcestershire sauce. Set aside • Prepare a gas or charcoal, charbroil grill and heat to medium high and brush grill grates with a little oil to keep the food from sticking. • Season kabobs with lemon pepper seasoning and place on the lightly oiled grill. • Cook the shrimp kabobs for about three to four minutes and brush with Worcestershire butter, flip and repeat. The shrimp are done when they have curled a bit, but are no longer translucent in the center. • Cook the beef kabobs until the desired temperature, brushing occasionally with the Worcestershire butter. • Place kabobs on a platter and drizzle with any remaining butter, serve hot. S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R
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THE TEXAS I SEE Rural routes and open skies. Rows of crops swaying in the wind and cattle grazing contentedly.
The people. The sounds. The sights. It’s Texas agriculture, where we are prepared by our past to focus on our future.
Photos by Julie Tomascik, Texas Farm Bureau S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R
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bY Derek Emerine
Southern Business Unit Agronomist
Fall Fertilizer Applications for the 2017 Crop
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he 2016 growing season has come to an end or the end is in sight. Shortly, decisions will be made on a fertilizer program for the 2017 crop year. The impor tance of having an up to date soil sample cannot be stressed enough. At a minimum, a composite soil sample should be collected on each field. Ideally, some sort of precision soil sampling should be done to identify spatial variability and to more clearly determine soil fertility levels across the entire field. In the current economic climate, it is more important than ever to make sure the right nutrient is being applied in the right quantity to ensure higher yields. Making fertilizer decisions based on historical applications rather than actual data opens the door to poor decisions. Texas has a great deal of variability in soil types and inherent fertility levels. The importance of nitrogen and phosphorus applications has been stressed historically. Both nitrogen and phosphorus are extremely important but ignoring other nutrients can significantly reduce yield potential. During the last few growing seasons, tissue data that has been collected has shown increasing numbers of potassium and sulfur deficiency. Around 25 % and 15% of the tissue data collected in South Texas has shown low or deficient potassium and sulfur respectively. At first glance, the potassium data may not make sense. A majority of Texas soils test optimum to high in soil test potassium. However, plants grown in high pH soils that have very high calcium and magnesium levels have a more difficult time taking up the potassium from the soil. Countless university studies have shown that more potassium fertilizer is needed in these types of soils to adequately supply the crop. Soils with a high clay content or high CEC can also influence potassium availability. When clay soils shrink and swell as moisture content changes, a significant amount of available potassium in the soil can become trapped in between those clay layers. Both of these factors play a large role in the increased amount of potassium
deficiency showing up in Texas crops. Another factor is increased production, newer varieties and hybrids that utilize more nutrients, and historical fertilizer practices that concentrate more on phosphorus and nitrogen rather than potassium. Utilizing an up to date soil sample that measures soil test potassium levels and % saturation of potassium, magnesium, and calcium is the best tool to determine if more potassium fertilizer is needed. Sulfur deficiency has also become much more common over the last several years. Sulfur is essential in converting fertilizer nitrogen into a plant protein. If sulfur is deficient, applying high rates of nitrogen will not overcome this issue. Both nitrogen and sulfur deficiency symptoms look very similar. Chlorotic or yellowing plants and stunted growth are the two biggest symptoms. Differentiating between nitrogen and sulfur deficiency can be accomplished by noticing where the symptoms are showing up. Nitrogen is mobile in the plant, so nitrogen deficiency shows up in the older leaves first. Sulfur is immobile in the plant, so sulfur deficiency shows up in newer growth first. Sulfur is also leachable much like nitrogen and should be applied every year. Sulfur deficiency is also much more likely on low organic matter soils that are sandy. There are multiple fertilizer sources of sulfur. The most important fact is that plants only take up sulfur in the sulfate form. Therefore, the best fertilizer sources of sulfur are those that have sulfur in the sulfate form. These include ammonium sulfate, K-Mag, gypsum, potassium sulfate, and ammonium thiosulfate. Utilizing an up to date soil sample is the best tool to take the guess work out of determining what fertilizer program should be used. It also provides valuable data to help prioritize a fertilizer budget to ensure a maximum return on the fertilizer investment.
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FFA&4-H 2 016
RGV
D I S T R I C T
Sept 3, 2016
Brush Country Classic
C A L E N
Sept 20, 2016
Plant & Land ID Contest
RGVLS
RGVLS Time 10:30am
Sept 6, 2016
Oct 1, 2016
RGV District Meeting
La Muñeca Field Day
Weslaco Time 5:30pm
La Muñeca Time 8am
Sept 10, 2016
Oct 8, 2016
STAR Steer Validation
Rattler Diamond Back Showdown
Sept 13, 2016
Oct 11, 2016
Pioneer
Area X Advisory Committee Meeting
RGVLS
RGV District Meeting
TAMUK Time TBA
Palmview Time 5:30pm
Sept 19, 2016
Oct 25, 2016
Hog Tags are due to David Vela
Goat/Lamb Validation
Weslaco Ag Farm Times 9:30 - 11:30/ 1:30 - 5:30pm
Oct 25, 2016
Heifer Validation
Weslaco Ag Farm Time 8 - 11am 30
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Sept 15, 2016
Swine Validation Tag Orders Due
Extension Office
Time 5pm
Sept 24, 2016
Achievement Night
STC Cooper Center Time 6pm
Sept 27, 2016
County Council Meeting
Extension Office
Time 7pm
Oct 8, 2016
One Day 4-H
Location TBA Time TBA
Oct 14, 2016
Oct 20, 2016
Registered Heifer Validation
Weslaco Ag Farm Time 8 - 11pm
Oct 25, 2016
Lamb & Goat Validation
Weslaco Ag. Farm Time 9 - 11:30am, 1:30 - 5:30pm
Oct 27, 2016
County Council
Extension Office Time 7pm
Oct 29, 2016
County Food Show Location TBA Time TBA
Hoedown
Las Palmas Race Park Time 6pm
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J U LY / A U G U S T
2016
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Harvesting
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‘round the All photos were submitted to AgMag by the readers and permission has been given to publish
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38 Ag Mag
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AeroAgDRONE
FARMING
You can fly without motors, but not without knowledge and skill. –Wilbur Wright
AeroAg specializes in providing real time crop health and field imagery for farms or ranches using drones. In less than 24 hours, we can fly, map, and analyze a field to provide a precise GPS based map of the results. With this data, you get a bird’s eye view of what your crop is doing as a whole and can use it to adjust management practices as well as harvest predictions.
Q: What inspired you to start this idea/business? A: AeroAg was started as a means for producers to increase
the efficiency and management of their crops. Two Aggies, Scott Kunkle and Hunter Wilde, began to painstakingly engineer, assemble, and program a drone for agricultural use. Interestingly enough, programming the mechanics and flight testing the drone took weeks of sitting at a computer. Now one of our planes can do 1000+ acres a day. Sometimes, fixing a problem was as simple as switching a 1 to a 0 in the flight computer. Prior to meeting in the field, literally, Texas A&M University offered Masters level course work in remote sensing of plants and animals, and I was lucky enough to enroll at the recommendation of my advisor. “You’ll like it,” she said. Well, I did, and I decided I would pursue it not only because it was new technology in the agriculture sector with a potential billiondollar outlook, but because it was cool. After graduation and taking residency in the Cameron County AgriLife Extension Office, I was talking to a friend from church about drone farming. He mentioned that he had a friend that was just as passionate about the potential of drone farming as I was, Hunter Wilde, and that we should meet. The partnership began almost immediately over lunch in Lyford, and a few gray hairs later, we were flying and mapping Anaqua Farms.
Q: How do you see it helping farmers with their crops and fields?
A: The biggest way it helps farmers is by making and saving them more money. Because of precision agriculture and the advent of GPS guided variable rate sprayers, seeders, and soil mapping, AeroAg now offers the final piece of the puzzle. When you look at crop health, you are able to focus on areas of interest. As farming acres increase, you cannot manage largescale acreage with a blanket approach. AeroAg makes it easier to see and farm the acre. Just like people, plants respond with stress and we can see that stress with our cameras long before the human eye can. Using our maps, you can easily identify problem areas in terms of soil quality, fungus, or insect infestation and treat them before they spread. One of the simplest problems to identify is Cotton root rot. In one map we looked at, over 15 acres of root rot was found on a 60-acre field. That is a 25% loss if untreated or a 25% increase in production with correct management. We are currently talking to King Ranch Cotton producers, and with 30,000 acres, you can see how that adds up. Once these pests begin to develop, plants begin to stress in ways our eyes cannot see (diminished photosynthesis production).
We can see these areas using NIR before you can see visual indications on the ground. Onion and watermelon farming are prime examples where time is money and the delaying of pesticide treatments can severely affect margins, but also, applying pesticides where unnecessary is a loss on margin. Drones are simply the fastest way to know what is going with everything, and let’s be honest, with a 500-acre square of Sugar Cane or Watermelon, there is no way you can see what is going on in the center of that plot. AeroAg can show you. These techniques also apply to irrigation and fertilization. We can now fly a field and tell you exactly when the crop is becoming water-stressed and can detail areas of lower vegetative health for variable rate fertilization. Today, advanced soil mapping can show you deficiencies, but we can tell you if/ when those deficiencies are affecting your crop. In some cases, applying fertilizer will not increase the yield enough to compensate for its cost. Thus, saving money as well.
Q: What makes your services different than others? A: Because of how new the technology is, there is no real
comparison to what we are able to do in the time we are able to do it and for the price we are able to do it. All of the same technology in cellphones (GPS, accelerometer, compass, highres photos, telemetry) is in our plane and, combined with a computer, allows us to fly from the ground. All we need are GPS coordinates of the field, and we can be there. Tractors are able to GPS scan plants and make application adjustments, planes are able to fly and scan NIR imagery of entire fields, but we can do it all in a matter of hours. No compaction, no pilot, not subject to the cost of diesel. Whether it is 5 acres or 5,000, all of our data is on a cloud based format that is accessible anywhere there is Internet. There are complete turnkey drone systems available for use on the market for well over $10,000. Building and programming a plane from scratch after you have crashed it. Priceless.
Q: Do you use techniques and services that others do not?
A: With respect to agriculture, there are some similar and different techniques we use. Like some tractors with GPS capability, we use an autopilot to fly our fields. One of our first drone pilots, who had been building and flying wooden planes since childhood, flew our plane manually and hit the auto pilot button. He said he had never seen a model fly itself before and
that no human could fly as smooth as it did. Everything we do is preprogrammed into the drone. One difference compared to previous drone models is that we are fully electric. Weather permitting, we can fly all day and simply land to switch out batteries if necessary. One final difference is the camera we use. Because of its size and resolution, we use a GoPro4 camera with a modified sensor that is able to pick up NIR as well as RGB. You won’t find it Walmart. There have been talks of going to Mexico and Brazil for producers who could use this service on large scale acreage, but some of the technology we use is monitored by the DoD and DHS, not to mention the FAA.
Q: What is the purpose and mission of AeroAg? A: The purpose and mission of AeroAg is to provide real
time data for producers in order to increase margins, efficiency, and yield.
Q: How can your services help ranchers? A: This is a brand new service we are excited about. I just
had a rancher ask me if we could shoot tranquilizer darts. I said… not yet. But seriously, the FAA frowns upon any projectile coming out of your drone. Our services can most help ranchers by mapping vegetative carrying capacity as well as invasive species management. Cattle ranching and especially hunting ranches are big business in Texas. We can map an entire ranch and give a detailed map including overall vegetative cover and location by the acre. Ranchers spend a lot of money making sure their animals are fed correctly. If you are grazing or managing thousands of acres, there is no way to see your entire grazing capacity whether it is deer or cattle. With our data, we can provide acre calculations for specific plants based on their NIR reflection pattern. Basically, we can show you not only the amount of grazing forage you have available, but also the health of the stock for proper management practices down to the centimeter. With our technology, we are also able to pinpoint invasive species in areas where grazing would be considered paramount. We are currently working on thermal imaging that would allow us to see and map heat-sources (animals), by flying at night, and could even detail migration patterns over multiple flights and time.
Q: Where can we find more info on your services? A: You can find us on the web at: www.AeroAg.net
it. It really comes down to satellites and tractors. Currently, most companies are using satellite imagery from previous years in order make predictions for upcoming yields and best management practices. This is not a surprise since drone technology has appeared in the last few years with satellites coming on-line to the public a decade before. The only problem is that they are using old data. One simple case is the Sugarcane Aphid. The Sugarcane Aphid is a relatively new and very important pest in the South Texas market. Satellite data from the past 5 years may not reflect the damage that can be caused by the pest and in-turn may not be viable for predicting yield and management practices. We can see the aphid actually grow and spread and make decisions based on today, not 5 years ago. Especially in South Texas, a new pest can literally be blown in from Mexico with a strong Southern wind. The other main difference is tractors. Currently Precision Ag relies on tractors scanning and addressing problem spots with variable rate seeder and sprayers as they are out in the field. This increases compaction, costs, and limits your visibility to individual passes. The difference with AeroAg is that we can perform an after-treatment flight to see the results, or even fly before to see if that specific treatment is needed. We can fly it, faster and cheaper.
1. This one shows a nice field with slight cotton root rot beginning in the top right corner (black spots) and center. You can see diminished vegetative health by the color spectrum green indicating the best with red indicating the worst. Around the cotton root rot you can also see diminished health as it spreads. An old water channel ran through this field and in the top left corner you can see diminished soil quality (probably more sand or salt).
2. This field shows severely poor vegetative health with a significant portion of cotton root rot growing rapidly.
Email: info@AeroAg.net Facebook: www.facebook.com/AeroAgTexas Telephone: 979-450-1821
Q: In what ways is this different from precision agriculture?
A: Although Drone Farming is under the precision agriculture umbrella, there are a few ways in which AeroAg is different form precision agriculture, and in fact, is changing
3. This field is a good example of what you want to see. Uniform vegetative health with minimal low quality. You would be able to increase fertilizer rates in red areas to improve yield slightly after running a cost/benefit analysis.
Conservation Efforts Provide Many Benefits to Valley Ranching Family and the Environment bY Melissa Blair, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist
F
or Martin Pena II and his wife Cristal, owners of the 606 Ranch LLC. in Hidalgo County, the hands-on technical assistance provided through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) not only proved to be a time of learning for the young couple, but also yielded positive benefits for them and their ranch. Martin and Cristal didn’t grow up on a farm or ranch, but they wanted horses to ride and enjoy, so they bought a ranch in Donna. They started raising horse quality hay to feed their livestock and to sell. They went through the “school of hard knocks” as Martin put it, learning from others, asking questions and seeking out resources to help with their goals of improving the ranch. Farmers who had come to see Pena about his hay at the ranch, told him about the NRCS and the assistance available through the agency to help agricultural producers with land management issues. Martin, like many Valley producers, was dealing with an inefficient irrigation system, poor land uniformity, and soil erosion, resulting in a lot of time spent in the field trying to make the most of his water supply for his hay production. Martin started working with Raul “Ray” Hinojosa, district conservationist at the Edinburg NRCS office, to develop a voluntary conservation plan to help him address the ranch’s natural resource concerns through an improved efficient irri-gation system. Rolando Miranda, soil technician with NRCS, assisted with the surveying and designing of Pena’s new irrigation system. “Conserving and utilizing water efficiently is continually important within the Rio Grande Valley,” said Hinojosa, “Using conservation practices such as land leveling and irrigation pipelines creates a delivery system that is specific to the location you need water - there’s no waste transporting it from the source to where you need it to go.” Martin said, “Too many times, we see farmers using a trench system or watering ditch and they have water spill over the dirt banks. The water flow tends to erode the very water banks that were created to contain the flow. This leads to hundreds if not thousands of gallons being leaked onto adjacent grounds.” By working with NRCS to install the recommended irrigation system and pipelines, Martin, his wife and By working with NRCS to install the recommended irrigation system and pipelines, Martin, his wife and employees can now water the ranch’s fields without the added worry of water leaking out of the irrigation canals. Thanks to the new efficient irrigation
Cristal and Martin Pena with their children, Celeste, Carolina, and Martin III, who are learning about the importance of conservaMartin Pena shows how easy tion on the ranch. it is to open the new irrigation valve on his hay fields. system, less trips are made to irrigation sites by Martin and his employees. Employees no longer have to sit in vehicles during the heat of the day monitoring the water canal, watering tarps, and inspecting for improper water flow. Martin shared about what he calls the “short term loss opportunity” compared to the long term benefits of installing conservation. The short term loss opportunity of not cutting and selling or using the hay was minor compared to the long term benefits of installing the irrigation system and pipelines. After installing the irrigation pipelines and land leveling the hay field and re-seeding, hay production went from 360 bales to 2,000 bales. Hay quality has improved due to improved water efficiency and soil that wasn’t washed away. “Eliminating the watering canals also means eliminating a stagnant water source,” said Martin. “With the old system, when watering is completed in a pasture, water can remain in the irrigation ditch for weeks. This is a prime breeding ground for mosquitos and rodents. With diseases carried by mosquitos, the positive impact made by irrigation lines is immeasurable.” Cristal sees the benefits of conservation from the family perspective. Now the family is able to spend more time together and even go out of town since they don’t have to worry about the water canals leaking. “Also, Martin doesn’t come in drenched in irrigation water from being in the ditch,” said Cristal. “Martin isn’t as sick as much because he isn’t in the water in all types of weather and stressing about the fields.” Martin and Cristal know the importance of being good land stewards who not only benefit their operation, but the environment and the future of Valley agriculture. Their plans are to pass the ranching operations onto their children, Celeste, Carolina, and Martin Pena III, along with the conservation lessons and values they continue to learn. S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R
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g n i v a p e r u Aggrircicuultlut re pavinegway A h t g n i v a p e r u t y a Agricul w e h t the way N bY KE NDYL SE LL MA
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roduced to ive years ago, I was int England. Brahman cattle by Mike uld spark an Little did I know, this wo ly the breed, immense love for not on ural industry itself. This ult ric ag e th t bu day e into the person I am to industry has molded m aspects. through many different agricultural project, a When I took on my first e ht me how to be a mor Brahman heifer, it taug in not only my cattle, but th wi on rs pe le sib on sp re this is merely the first all of my doings. Though e showing also brought m e, m r Fo . ed rn lea ing th rent organizations such to become active in diffe r Brahman Association as FFA, 4H, Texas Junio tion. ahman and F1 Associa and the RGV Junior Br en ations, I have been giv Through these organiz e people from not only th the opportunity to meet of across the entire state Rio Grande Valley, but olved in these associaTexas. By becoming inv w to become a leader tions, I have learned ho rather than a follower.
District FFA Vice PresiV RG e th as e rv se w no I iman and F1 Assoc. Pres dent, RGV Junior Brah I Queen. Not only have dent, and as the TJBA nity to serve these posibeen given the opportu blessed enough to have tions, I have also been showing career. been successful in my year alone I was able to In the 2015-2016 show d pion Female at TJBA an take home Junior Cham , and Grand Champion Fort Worth Stock Show nio Stock Show. These Female at the San Anto e bled me and showed m experiences have hum pays off. that hard work definitely
ria newfound love for ag This industry gave me ays ed a drive in me to alw culture and has develop ve lie and better things. I be want to work for bigger e es down the path we ar if our generation continu to ural will only continue on, the future of agricult rise up.
S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R
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The Most Wonderfully Confusing Time of the YeaR bY:
Kurt Schuster
AgMag Columnist
W
ell boys and girls it’s that time of year again when your friendly man from up north comes and tells you how nice or naughty you’ve been and hands out your presents. No not St. Nick, but your crop insurance representative come to tell you what coverage you can get, and how much more you can pay for it! Like the famous old Saturday Night Live sketch though, the presents that your representative comes bearing skew much closer to the slacks and socks that Hanukkah Harry brought versus any shiny toys of Santa Claus. This is meant in no way to denigrate our representatives who have been, and I’m sure will continue to be friends of farmers. However, the actuaries have their books and they’ve checked them twice (probably with statistical regression analysis) and soon we’ll all be gifted according to the behavior of us, them, and tempestuous Mother Nature.
Diving Right On In As with most of the things I write in this column I need to first state that I am not a professional in this, and fully licensed and knowledgeable agents are going to have a leg up on me. It should also go without saying, but just in case, you need coverage. Thinking you can skate by on your charm and wit only works if you’re as good looking as me, and I doubt that’s the case. What I am going to help you with is in the small things forgotten that can and will help to make a difference in choosing your proper coverage and in ways to
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evaluate and better choose that coverage. First and foremost, at this date of publication a good majority of options may have already expired! If your policy is typical of most then you’ll retain CAT (or, catastrophic) coverage, and you know what? That’s fine! In most, but not all, cases CAT coverage can be your best option for a variety of things. Like the personal health insurance policies of the same name, it usually has the lowest premium and highest deductible of all your options. This ties into the facts mentioned earlier that picking coverage is a complicated and almost Sisyphean task. Such things as the crop, your county where said crop is grown, FSA number, pervious yields, production, total acres, and then of course your claim and any adverse weather history factor in to how much it costs to insure your crops. As you can see, sometimes it just makes more sense to go for the most basic and pray for the best. When choosing your level of coverage though, sometimes certain variables come up that figure more into future planning than current, a qualitative variable. A good example of this would be your acreage coverage history. For example, if you’ve been growing onions then historically you may be covered up to a certain level of acreage. Trying to increase this for the next year is problematic as insurance companies don’t want someone to go all out on a crop that they mean to dump and then collect all their proceeds. As usual, the bad behavior of a few means this scenario has happened and made it more difficult for honest farmers. If then you’re trying to increase your acreage of onions year after year, do you only increase for that which your covered, or do you swing
for the fences and hope for the best? Oftentimes you can essentially “spread out” your coverage across more acres than for which your covered (i.e. you plant 100 when you’re covered for 50 but you get to spread out the 50 across your total acres) and thus can take your chances in having more product to sell versus put a claim upon. As usual the devil is in the details so check what works best for your operation and remember that it’s hard to gain coverage, but it typically takes you a few years to lose it, so don’t fret if you have a one -off bad year. Another trick is finding out how the various amounts of coverage you’re offered (e.g. often 50%,60%,65%, etc.) differ much in price versus other factors, a quantitative variable. On this part you can get all sorts of mathematical. If you take the first derivative of the premium you get the rate of change, you take the second derivate you get the rate of change of change (I know). How do you interpret this? The first derivate is simply the percent change between two values (i.e. cheapest coverage vs. the most expensive), the second derivate tell you how fast that rate is changing. For example, if you eyeball that the difference between 60% and 65% coverage and it looks more expensive than what you get between 50% and 60% (the rate of change difference between a relative 5% to 10% respectively) the second derivate will tell you yes the actuaries are increasing the costs for little extra coverage and it’s a bad bet to buy, or no they aren’t and you’re good to go. Again this is just an example, but a good way to ferret out what kind of deal you’re getting. Beyond this there ar a number of ways to analyze the data that crop insurance agents give you, typically using multivariate analyses with ideas of covariance, analysis of variance (ANOVA), etc. If that sounds like it’s over your head that’s not a problem because a lot of higher education institutions have helped whip up a number of Excel spreadsheets fully capable of plugging in data and spitting out information you may need. The Texas A&M ag system, the Iowa State system, and the University of California at Davis all have a number of high quality resources available and are usually open to answering questions and helping out farmers as well.
But What Does It All Mean Basil? So did you think I was going to tell you what coverage was the best one to pick? Well if you’ve gotten this far and haven’t skipped over the sections giving you homework then I’m sorry to say that’s not the case. Every farmer’s situation is so different that it’s always an individual choice when it comes to your crop insurance. A general guideline and few tips though are easy enough to go over. FSA farm numbers and units as a general metric don’t help you, however if you can get crops in different counties you can open a whole wide new world of flexibility when it comes to your coverage. It’s possible and probably the one good underutilized tip all farmers can use.
Row crop farmers typically have the easiest job when it comes to crop insurance. Being able to predict fairly accurately yields, acres, market prices, etc. have been long established in this type of farming. As such if you have a good program the best advice is to stick with it! The only other advice I can offer to these types of farmers is to look into Revenue Protection Insurance. I wrote about this in a previous column, but to summarize if you can get to the right levels of yield and price, you are able to hedge against any price losses at a cost that shouldn’t affect materially your free cash. If you’re one of the unlucky souls that has to describe your coverage across a variety of units, then work hard and maybe it’ll be done before the second coming. Vegetable guys, your life is somewhat easier thanks to the government. Trust me that sentence hurt to write. Thanks to NAP coverage, a variety of products that were once uninsurable (e.g. leafy greens) now have coverage! NAP is cheap, your bankers like it, and you should get as much of it as you can. This area is still a bit of the wild west though since it’s so new and there’s such a wide variance in coverage and reporting. The best advice in this situation is make your agent your best friend, you’ll get through this together. Onions, watermelon, and cabbage guys, it seems strange that I would lump you all together. However, I’ve got bad news. There have been so many bad actors in these areas that insurance companies are stricter than that old first grade teacher you used to have that had thirty cats, a bun, and a permanent scowl. Look at what’s best for you, but your options are going to be severely limited to just levels of coverage and not much else. Like I said before, it always takes one or two bad guys to ruin it for everyone.
Aut Iveniam Viam Aut Faciam As with most of these columns I feel like I’m leaving my readers a bit shortchanged. There’s obviously no way to go through every iteration of what coverage you can get, what situation you have, or any of the other thousands of variable that go into making these decisions. What I can do though is make sure that you can find a way to have that conversation with your agent, or find a way to make these numbers work for you. Insurance paperwork reads typically as well as the Latin at the subtitle of this paragraph, but trust when I say it’s not incomprehensible just slightly unapproachable. Tear into this drab gift and make sure you get the best you can so that you’re not left high and dry should the need for insurance rear its ugly head.
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Oh
How Things Have Changed
For those of you who follow my articles written about the Farm Bill, Farm Policy and Crop Insurance I would like to take a minute to thank you. The issues we face in the current marketing arena will affect all of us as move through the near future. Down Prices, record yields, high input costs all result in some potential tuff times ahead in the agricultural world. This arena is resulting in some hard decisions that farmers will be forced to make not only to be successful but also to survive. Today, I want to speak on what I see as coming down the pipe, how complicated some of these decisions may be, so we can prepare for what is around the bend.
Farm Revenue‌. Where does it come from?
Over the last 10 years, pre 2007 Corn Prices were around 2.05/bu. , I know it is hard to believe that things have changed so much in commodity prices so little time. Well, we need to believe it and understand it as we move back into this type of market. No, I do not think we will see $2.00 corn again as the norm, but I did have customers sell corn in 2016 52 Ag Mag
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for as low as 2.78/bu. So the doom and gloom of down prices leads us to try and understand where farm revenue comes from and where to look for it.
PLC payments
Starting in 2016 Farm revenue will come from many different arenas. No longer will it only be grow the crop, take it to the market, sell it, take it to the banker. As of today, there is an estimated $.65/ bu PLC payment coming on Grain Sorghum that producers will see in Oct. This is straight off the FSA web site. There is an estimated $.10/bu PLC payment for Corn. Earlier this year there was a revenue payment on the SCO insurance Product for corn of $40 to $50/ac. As a grower looks at the new programs, it can get extremely convoluted very quickly. With current prices, Growers with Generic Base (Old Cotton FSA Base) will have to look at all programs and estimate what the total revenue can be based on how prices shake out. We have to remember that Generic Base is assigned to what is planted. This means if you plant Sugarcane, or Cotton on a Farm number
that has Generic Base that Generic Base goes Idle for that year and does not generate a PLC payment if one is triggered. So, if the PLC Grain payment on that Farm number is $60, the Farmer has given up that $60/acre PLC payment because they planted a non-program crop. It is not necessarily the wrong decision to plant cotton, but all Growers need to know what they’re giving up, in these low price times, as far as PLC program payments by planting cotton or sugarcane. If the grower can generate more total revenue by planting Cotton, by all means plant cotton. That seems to be the case this year as most growers took advantage of the run up in cotton prices 45 days ago. But remember, Jan 31 the cotton price was 58/lb. which changes everything. Again, hard to know what to do. One strategy is to identify the Generic Base and make sure the farm has enough of a program crop acreage planted so all of the Generic base is allocated to a program crop. This will ensure there is all acres are eligible for a PLC payment should one trigger. Another strategy is to take a Farm by Farm breakdown and look at the value of the Farm as to FSA payments and determine a planting strategy based on potential allocation of Generic base to a program crop.
THE MEETING
Hopefully you have seen the meeting CropGuard Group has put together for Sept 19th. We would like to formally thank our Sponsors for this meeting and we have worked diligently to secure the speakers. Congressman Colin Petersen and Congressman Fil Vela, will be in attendance along with Dr. Joe Outlaw from Texas A&M. This will be very informative meeting on the future of Farm Bill programs and how they are shaping up. RGV growers are encourage to participate in asking questions. These gentlemen want to help, they want what we want, a solid program with a real safety net to protect our country’s food source. Look forward to seeing there…..!
C Casey Clipson
CropGuard Group, Inc. Office 956-688-8485 Cell 956-793-1282
There are numerous strategies, but the point of this article is with low commodity prices and down markets growers have to maximize the output of each acre, by all streams of potential revenue.
Crop Insurance
With the 2014 farm bill came new SCO/STAX Coverages. These coverages do come at a cost, but have shown to pay out indemnity when there are revenue losses especially. As mentioned above there were counties that paid $40 to $50/acre for corn this past season with the costs being around 6$/ac. These SCO programs need to be quoted and evaluated seriously by growers so they understand the potential revenue they can generate when these policies trigger. These payments can add up with little cost. S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R
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Biological Control of the
ASIAN CITRUS PSYLLID in the Urban Environment bY Dan Flores, Rupert Santos & Mayra Reyes
USDA Mission Laboratory, Moore Air Base, Edinburg, TX
C
itrus greening disease, also known as Huan glongbing disease (HLB), and Asian citrus psyllid (ACP)—an invasive insect pest that can transmit the bacteria that causes the disease in citrus trees—have invaded citrus growing areas worldwide. With the arrival of the HLB and ACP in Texas, the USDA Mission Laboratory sought out a biological control measure to attack ACP and thus limit the spread of HLB disease. Biological control is the use of a “good” bug to help control a bad one (ACP in this case). Tamarixia radiata is a microscopic species of wasp imported from Pakistan that has just the right qualities to take on the job of controlling ACP: the tiny wasp is harmless to humans and pets and its only apparent goal in life is to search out and destroy ACP. This wasp is a key tool scientists are using to reduce ACP populations and prevent the further spread of HLB to healthy citrus trees. Since the wasp was first released in the urban environment of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) in 2011, it has become established and even spread out to new areas. Although the use of the wasp cannot eliminate citrus greening, by reducing the ACP population it can help slow the spread of the disease until scientists are able to develop better control methods. However, the abundance of dooryard citrus in residential areas of the LRGV enables ACP to survive year round and provides a path for the pest to easily migrate back into commercial groves. A number of trailer parks in Texas are located in old citrus groves with thousands of citrus trees that go unsprayed. Releasing the ACP-killing wasps in such urban or residential areas—where insecticide applications are not common or always welcome— can prove very beneficial.
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Scientists from USDA’s Mission Laboratory have developed two strategies to mass rear the wasps: they use greenhouses to rear the wasps year-round and also install field insectary cages on citrus trees in community dooryards to produce large quantities of wasps during peak seasons. The lab has shared these rearing methods with the Texas Citrus Pest and Disease Management Corporation (TCPDMC), which also produces large volumes of the parasitoid wasps. USDA survey teams and TCPDMC personnel are in charge of releasing the wasps to areas in the LRGV where HLB has been detected. Mexican officials also release the wasps along Mexico’s side of the border to prevent the movement of ACP in either direction. The Mission Laboratory partners with the TCPDMC, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M Citrus Center, Texas Master Gardeners, and community volunteers from RV parks and elsewhere to install field insectary cages in citrus trees throughout the community. Lemon and lime trees work best as insectaries because they produce more foliage year round. Selected tree are first pruned and hedged to promote the tender new growth that attracts ACP. The new growth draws in hundreds of adult ACP, including egg-laying females. After 3 weeks, installers cage the tree with screening that does not allow any insects to enter or escape. When wasps are introduced inside the caged tree, they attack and parasitize the ACP and rapidly multiply, resulting in an average of 12,000 wasps per tree. Once the tree is uncovered, the wasps fly off in search of more ACP. In 2016, the Mission Laboratory produced over 1.5 million wasps to help control the ACP. Since wasp releases began in 2011, ACP numbers have gradually declined: as of 2016, the ACP population has been reduced by more than 90%. In addition, we are finding wasps in areas where we had not previously made releases, which means that the wasp can thrive in the LRGV and successfully spread. By combining chemical control
Scientists from USDA’s Mission Laboratory have developed two strategies to mass rear the wasps: they use greenhouses to rear the wasps year-round and also install field insectary cages on citrus trees in community dooryards to produce large quantities of wasps during peak seasons. The lab has shared these rearing methods with the Texas Citrus Pest and Disease Management Corporation (TCPDMC), which also produces large volumes of the parasitoid wasps. USDA survey teams and TCPDMC personnel are in charge of releasing the wasps to areas in the LRGV where HLB has been detected. Mexican officials also release the wasps along Mexico’s side of the border to prevent the movement of ACP in either direction. The Mission Laboratory partners with the TCPDMC, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M Citrus Center, Texas Master Gardeners, and community volunteers from RV parks and elsewhere to install field insectary cages in citrus trees throughout the community. Lemon and lime trees work best as insectaries because they produce more foliage year round. Selected tree are first pruned and hedged to promote the tender new growth that attracts ACP. The new growth draws in hun-
dreds of adult ACP, including egg-laying females. After 3 weeks, installers cage the tree with screening that does not allow any insects to enter or escape. When wasps are introduced inside the caged tree, they attack and parasitize the ACP and rapidly multiply, resulting in an average of 12,000 wasps per tree. Once the tree is uncovered, the wasps fly off in search of more ACP. In 2016, the Mission Laboratory produced over 1.5 million wasps to help control the ACP. Since wasp releases began in 2011, ACP numbers have gradually declined: as of 2016, the ACP population has been reduced by more than 90%. In addition, we are finding wasps in areas where we had not previously made releases, which means that the wasp can thrive in the LRGV and successfully spread. By combining chemical control in commercial groves with biological control in urban areas, our cooperative efforts are reducing ACP populations and slowing the spread of HLB in citrus. To learn more, visit
www.citrusalert.com.
USDA Mission Laboratory personnel previously hedged this lemon tree at an RV Park in Mission, TX in order to encourage new foliage growth, which has attracted hundreds of Asian citrus psyllids to come feed and lay thousands of eggs. Because the crew has determined that the ACP eggs have hatched and the insects are at the preferred stage, they are covering the tree with the field insectary cage.
A crew member introduces biological control wasps into the ACP-infested caged tree. About 2 months later, after parasitizing the trapped ACP, the tree will be uncovered to release the enlarged population of approximately 12,000 wasps to search out destroy even more ACP.
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Snake Avoidance Training
2016
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HANKA SOD 32054 Weaver Road, San Benito, Texas
956-207-9004
Harvesting year ‘round Delivery Available
Your business is our priority! Locally grown
TIFT 419, Bermuda, Floratam & St. Augustine
Blessing of the
Fleet 2016 Photos submitted by Texas Shrimp Association
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Want to Advertise
Contact Michelle Martin at the Ag Mag
(956) 330-8870 michelle@theagmag.org S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R
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How can I market my cattle? If you are a South Texas Cattle Breeder, you may want to participate in the
2017 Open Commercial & Purebred Heifer Pen Show March 8th -11th
Who can participate? This is an All-Breed Cattle Show featuring both Purebred and Commercial Cattle from South Texas Cattle Ranchers. Jr. Exhibitors are welcome. Classes will be broken down into ABC or AOB divisions.
Entry Deadline
January 13, 2017
Entry Cost
Contact Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show (956) 565-2456 or
www.rgvls.com
Entry forms on Website! or Ronnie Zamora Committee Chairman (956) 689-2412
$100 per pen
Show Date March 10, 2017 at 6:00 pm
Guidelines
Awards Offered ABC and AOB Heifers Champion Pen of Each Division – Belt Buckle and Prize Money
• One entry is a pen of 2 heifers. • Cattle will be judged on uniformity and productivity. Reserve Champion Pen of • Upon registration entry, pen assignments will be issued to exhibitor. Each Division – Plaque and • Cattle more than 24 months old at the time of the livestock show Prize Money will not be eligible to compete. No cow/calf pairs. • NO HALTERED CATTLE, Cattle must be gentle. Cattle must be exhibited in their natural state (No clipping) or this may lead to disqualification. • No animals that have been exhibited at any Jr. Livestock Show will be allowed. • The Pen Show Committee reserves the right to classify. S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R
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Get to know more about
AgrAbility
Questions answered by Erin Pilosi - Kimbrough
Q: Tell us a little about the program A: Texas AgrAbilityTexas AgrAbility has the
mission of assisting farmer/ranchers, their family members, and their employees impacted by disabling conditions to stay engaged in production agriculture. Texas AgrAbility offers assistance through farm/ranch assessments, program referrals, resources, education, business planning, and technical guidance. Texas AgrAbility also hosts BattleGround to Breaking Ground: Agriculture Workshops for Military Veterans across Texas. The workshop offers education in business planning, rural business ideas, risk management, and agriculture business funding sources. Program partners such as USDA Farm Service Agency, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, USDA Rural Development, Texas Department of Agriculture, Farmer Veteran Coalition, and Capitol Farm Credit educate participants on what programs are available to them.
Q: What is the most rewarding thing about the program?
A: For me, the most rewarding thing about our
program is making people’s dreams come true. Many folks I work with have a dream of owning a farm/ranch but due to barriers such as a disability, lack of funding options, or lack of education think that it is impossible. God has graced us with many great partners over the years which helps us to make things possible that seem surreal. 68 Ag Mag
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For example, one of my favorite stories is still my first tractor delivery. A rancher called when he heard about our program. He was only weeks away from selling their ranch and all of their equipment because cancer had taken a bone in his leg which made it impossible to operate his tractors. This made it impossible to continue their cow/calf operation and haying business. We asked him to wait on selling until our team could come out and do a full ranch assessment. He agreed and our team rushed out. They made recommendations for a tractor lift, hand controls, and a modified seat. The tractor was then taken to Sam Houston State University with our Agriculture Engineer, Dr. Doug Kingman, to work with ag students to modify the tractor. Once the project was complete, we delivered it back to our friend. Our rancher climbed back in his tractor for the first time in over 2 years and drove away with our occupational therapist for over 45 minutes! There was a joy that I got to see in that family that day that will stick with me for a lifetime. Their operation returned to production. Sadly, several years later cancer returned and took our friend’s life. Though we were so saddened to lose our friend, the additional time he received allowed his son to return to the family ranch, learn how to operate it with his father, and the son took over the ranch when his father passed. I have seen
our program save many lives and to give new lives to the men and women who have served our country so faithfully. Many of our servicemembers come from rural areas. When they separate from the military, some want to return home though unemployment can be high in rural areas. Our program offers another option to traditional employment, self-employment in agriculture. This option provides Veterans with a continued mission of serving America by feeding it. One of the greatest joys of my life is helping the men and women who have laid their lives down in defense our our freedoms to regain their hope, purpose, and to find healing in agriculture.
Q: When was the program started, and why was it started?
A: Texas AgrAbility was started in 2009. Texas
AgrAbility is part of National AgrAbility which began in 1991.
Q: How has the program grown over the years?
A: AgrAbility came into existence through the 1990 Farm Bill, and the first eight SRAPs were funded in 1991. At that time, the National AgrAbility Project was led by Purdue University’s Breaking New Ground Resource Center in partnership with Easter Seals (national office). Funding continued to grow, and by 2000, 18 State/Regional AgrAbility Projects (SRAPs) were funded and currently, there are 21 USDA-funded SRAPs providing services in 22 states, plus several unfunded affiliates serving other states via other funding sources.
Q: What is the main goal of the program? A: The main goal of the program is to connect,
assist, and empower individuals with disabilities to stay engaged in production agriculture. With the average age of the American farmer increasing, it is critical to help as many farmer/ranchers start or stay in production agriculture.
Q: How can people apply, and what quali fications are needed?
A: To apply to our programs, all a person needs
to do is call us. All of our services are provided at no cost to the farmers/ranchers. Texas AgrAbility has no funds to distribute to producers to pay for recommendations; however, if a producer has a disability they may be eligible for funding through the state department of rehabilitative services-vocational rehabilitation.
Q: How do you see this program helping agriculture in the now and in the future?
A: Our aging farmer/rancher population
tends to chronic health issues that may impact their ability to perform daily activities. We help people with conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, obesity, heart attacks, strokes, back injuries, joint injuries, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, anxiety, and more. Through helping farmers/ranchers to stay in production agriculture and training new farmer/ranchers, we can help to ensure our country’s food supply.
Q: How have you seen this program affect the lives of farmers who have disabilities?
Q: Can people volunteer for the program? see question 2 About how many families do you assist a A: We have interns that work for Texas year?
AgrAbility, as well as, student workers. Many of these positions develop into employment opportunities. I started as a student worker with Texas AgrAbility and now have been a program coordinator with them on at least 3 projects. When we work with colleges or high schools to do service projects, such as modifying equipment, that is all volunteer-led projects.
A: The BattleGround to Breaking Ground workshops provide education for roughly 100 participants per year. We provide resources and education individually to about another 300 people annually and roughly 50 people become official Texas AgrAbility clients.
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