Issue 36 of Ag Mag by THEAGMAG

Michelle Martin

Owner/Editor michelle@theagmag.org (956) 330-8870

Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Al Benavides

Graphic Designer (956) 492-6407

In This Issue: 6. Great News, But There’s Still Work To Be Done!

A Letter from the Editor

What a crazy time we are in ! I wonder what it looks like from the outside looking in. I would imagine it would look like a bunch of little ants scurrying around. Have you ever stepped on an ant pile and seen the ants run everywhere? Yeah, that’s how I would imagine we look during this time of chaos. This time in our world is like nothing I’ve ever seen. Granted, I’m only 34, but it’s so strange. I feel like one of those ants running around. I’m trying to treat life like normal, but it’s almost impossible. Almost all aspects of my life had been affected by these times. My child is being stripped of his education; I’m being told what to wear, when I can and cannot be out on the roads, my business is being affected. It’s almost hard not to scurry. I’m a lost ant in a place I call home. I look back to the times of the Bible and remember Moses and his journey to the Promised Land. Think of all the people that felt lost, confused and troubled. It’s almost as if history is repeating itself. The Israelites had what I like to call a wilderness mentality. We have two choices. We can either have the wilderness mentality or we can have the faithful mentality. By wilderness mentality I mean we live every day confused and in bondage of our own thoughts. We can live angry, in constant strife, a prisoner to ourselves and ignore God’s strong message he is sending to our world. The other option is that we can live faithfully and know God has a promise and a blessing at the end of all this.

8. USDA Expands Farmers.gov Features to Help Manage Conservation Activities 9. Urban Horticulture and COVID-19 10. Big AG Issues Bow To Weather Markets For Now 12. Lighthizer’s Crystal Ball 16. Cattle Fever Tick Numbers On The Rise 18. Top 2 Video Conferencing Apps to Use In 2020 20. DIRECT FROM TEXAS 22. Dicamba Availability Critical to Cotton Production Stability 26. Fall Fertilizer Applications for the 2021 Crop 28. Miracles of Balanced Plant Nutrition 30. Faith and Farming 32. Life Lessons Learned on a Cattle Farm 38. The Impact of a Powerful Teacher 44. FEATURED FARMER: Like Father, Like Son 46. Field Work - Season 2 50. Land That I Love 56. You Got This 70. New Texas A&M AgriLife Report Provides Details On Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

We must remain faithful. If the Israelites had lived faithfully and not with a wilderness mentality they would have made it to the promised land in 11 days; instead, it took them 40 years. Can you imagine what will happen if we all just stop and listen to what message God has for us. Are we going to be prisoners to ourselves, or will we listen faithfully to what God is trying to tell us! It’s a time where we need to come together and really get back to the basics! What is important? Owner/Creator of AG MAG

Cover Photo taken by Michelle Martin Year 6, Issue 36 July/August 2020. 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 ©2020. To advertise in Ag Mag, call (956) 330-8870 or email michelle@theagmag.org

Great News, but there’s still work to be done! BY PATRICK DUDLEY

(or Keep the Cotton Blooming!) The Lower Rio Grande Valley has a rich history of growing cotton. That history has been celebrated since the early fifties, with the Algodon Club auctioning the first bale of cotton produced in the United States each year. The proceeds of each first bale benefits local future scholars seeking to earn degrees in the agricultural field in the form of scholarships. Cotton seems to have always had a longstanding presence in the Valley. According to John Norman (retired AgriLife Extension entomologist in Weslaco), “cotton was probably first produced in the Valley in the mid 1800’s and at its peak reaching upward to 1 million acres in the mid-1900s.” (Agriculture tells the history of the Rio Grande Valley, 1/3/2017, Rod Santa Anna) As the cotton industry has flourished in the Valley, its farmers along with the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation (Foundation) continue to work diligently to eliminate the boll weevil. This pest has been devastating to cotton producers in this region and across the nation until boll weevil eradication became possible. Among the cotton producing states in the U.S., the Lower Rio Grande Valley is the only area still battling infestations of boll weevil. Since 1993, the Foundation has worked diligently to rid the state of the ever-elusive boll weevil, a pest that has caused more than $23 billion in economic losses to the U.S. cotton industry since its arrival in the 1890’s. (Office of Inspector General, Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation Cooperative Agreement Audit Report 33099-0001-23, Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, 2018), 1.). Foundation staff work hard to detect and eradicate boll weevils throughout the state to benefit the cotton industry and its producers, not only here at home but across the nation’s cotton belt. There is a reason the Valley is still battling boll weevils today; this region in Texas is essentially the defensive line for the rest of the cotton producing industry in the entire United States. Cotton producers in the Valley and the Foundation are not only protecting their own crops, they are working to keep the rest of the nation’s cotton secure as well. It is extremely important all producers recognize the importance of completing the eradication process and work together to keep boll weevils from regaining a foothold in the U.S. cotton producing states. The Foundation works in a collaborative effort with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) to generate policies and monitor efforts to best serve cotton producers. Recently, another milestone in the eradication program has been reached in Texas. Two zones in the northern part of the East Texas Maintenance Area (ETMA) were declared eradicated. The ETMA consists of four eradication zones, the Northern Blacklands (NBL), Southern Blacklands (SBL), Upper Coastal Bend (UCB) and the South Texas Winter Garden (STWG). After consultation with the producer steering committees in all four of those zones, the Foundation submitted the proposed change in quarantine status to the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The TAC reviewed trapping data and scouting reports from the Foundation and recommended to the Foundation Board of Directors the proposed change. The Foundation’s Board of Directors approved the quarantine status change to TDA and TDA adopted the necessary rule change to move the SBL

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and NBL zones from functionally eradicated to eradicated. What is the difference? The state of Texas has four different area status designations for the boll weevil. Listed below are the four status designations and the qualifications for a zone to move to a new designation. Zones having active boll weevil populations that include areas of reproduction along with trap captures indicating populations too high to make a status change are quarantined. Currently the only zone Texas that is quarantined is the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

TDA Boll Weevil Status Designations Quarantined Area An area not declared as suppressed, functionally eradicated, or eradi-cated and have active boll weevil populations.

Suppressed Area An area in which some boll weevil reproduction may be present in the area or a portion thereof, and in which the movement of regulated articles presents a threat to the success of the boll weevil eradication program The boll weevil population must be equal to or less than 0.025 boll weevils per trap per week for the cotton-growing season as measured by boll weevil pheromone traps operated by the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation or other governmental agency.

Functionally Eradicated Area An area meeting the trapping criteria for a suppressed area with no confirmed evidence of boll weevil reproduction occurring in the area and no oviposition in squares, and in which the movement of regulated articles presents a threat to the success of the boll weevil eradication program. The boll weevil population must be equal to or less than an average of 0.001 boll weevils per trap per week for the cotton growing season as measured by boll weevil pheromone traps operated by the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation or other governmental agency.

Eradicated Area An area apparently free of boll weevil or, for which scientific documentation acceptable to the department has been provided that indicates that no boll weevils were captured for a period of at least one cotton growing season by weevil pheromone traps operated by the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation or other governmental agency. These adopted amendments changing the quarantine status are necessary to prevent re-infestations of boll weevil. TDA regulates the movement of articles that could potentially transport boll weevil. The map provided by the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission illustrates the current quarantine status of each zone in the state of Texas. Producers in the Lower Rio Grande Valley already are required to clean and have cotton equipment inspected before leaving the LRGV eradication area. However now, with the change in the quarantine status for the NBL and SBL zones, anyone moving cotton equipment from the UCB or the STWG eradication zone (the southern area of the East Texas Maintenance Area) into the NBL or SBL or WTMA must have a certificate of inspection or a compliance agreement with TDA certifying the equipment is free of hostable material, seed cotton, and boll weevils. Title 4, Part 1, Chapter 20 Subchapter B Rule 20.15 and 20.16 illustrates what articles are prohibited from entering into a functionally eradicated area or eradicated area as well as the restrictions and the treatment methods necessary to clean the equipment. Congratulations to all cotton producers and the Foundation for the hard work and dedication to eradicating the boll weevil in the NBL and SBL eradication zones. While this is great news there is still work to be done. It takes everyone to keep the cotton industry in full bloom. With everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s help we can continue to make progress in this fight to eradicate the boll weevil from all areas in Texas. Anyone needing a certificate of inspection to move regulated articles can contact the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation at (800) 687-1212. Producers wishing to receive more information regarding a compliance agreement may contact TDA by email at Cotton@TexasAgriculture.gov.

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Reprint from NRCS

USDA Expands Farmers.gov Features to Help Manage Conservation Activities Temple, Texas, June 26, 2020 — New self-service features on farmers.gov will help farmers and ranchers manage their conservation activities online and request assistance from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). “These conservation features join a number of others already available through farmers.gov, including the ability to view farm loan information,” said Clint Evans, acting state conservationist in Texas. “As more content and capabilities are added, farmers.gov is quickly becoming the online hub for producers to find resources, submit applications and assistance requests and make connections. Now, amid this pandemic, we recognize the importance of online options for producers to manage their USDA business.” Producers can access these conservation features by desktop computer, tablet or phone. They can now:

• • • • •

View, download and e-sign documents; Request conservation assistance; Reference technical terms and submit questions; Access information on current and past conservation practices; and View detailed information on all previous and ongoing contracts, including the amount of planned and received cost-share assistance.

The new conservation features enhance the request process with a customer-friendly unified mapping tool that allows farmers to locate areas of interest in minutes, with high-resolution aerial imagery and multi-layered display functionality. The new features include the most popular functionalities from NRCS’s Conservation Client Gateway while providing enhanced functionality and an improved user experience. Client Gateway is the NRCS portal for producers, but now these functionalities are being moved to farmers.gov to give producers one place to do business with NRCS, the Farm Service Agency and other USDA agencies.

Managing Conservation Online To access their information, producers will need a USDA eAuth account to login into farmers.gov. After obtaining an eAuth account, producers should visit farmers.gov and sign into the site’s authenticated portal via the “Sign In / Sign Up” link at the top right of the website. Current Client Gateway users can use their existing login and password to access the conservation features on farmers.gov. It will continue to be actively maintained and supported until all core components have been migrated to farmers.gov later this year. Currently, only producers doing business as individuals can view information. Entities, such as an LLC or Trust, or producers doing business on behalf of another customer cannot access the portal at this time, but access is being planned. Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge are the recommended browsers to access the feature.

More Information USDA is building farmers.gov for farmers, by farmers. Future self-service features available through the farmers.gov portal include: authority for FSA and NRCS customers to work in the portal and act on behalf of their active power-ofattorney entitlements and their current authorities for business entities, updated e-sign capabilities to enhance the single and multi-signer functionalities and a robust document management system that enables customers to download, upload and interact with their important conservation practice and contract documents.

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Urban Horticulture and COVID19 BY HEIDI LÓPEZ, M.S.

In the last 2 months many of us had to work from home or we just decided to self-quarantine due to Coronavirus. During this pandemic we faced a little bit of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. Not knowing a lot about the virus and needing to feed families we have been surprised by the food shortage at stores. Even though shortages appear temporary, this uncertainty about food raises the importance of having a vegetable garden at home. Having a vegetable garden at home gives us direct access to fresh fruits and vegetables. With a garden we tend to eat more vegetables and this means better health and much needed support for a good immune system. Gardening at home or participating in a community garden helps us save money by allowing us to enjoy harvesting our own vegetables and keep most of our grocery budget for other items. We can grow vegetables year round in the Rio Grande Valley yet few people take advantage of our climate and rich soils. Half of the Rio Grande Valley is considered to be a “food desert.” This is an area where the availability of affordable, healthy, fresh food is limited. With the shutdown of businesses and the loss of pay, along with the closure of schools due to COVID19, many people, are risking their health due to the lack of proper nutrition. School meals, all too often, were the only meals providing complete nutrition. The lack of nutritious meals puts our health at risk. A vegetable garden is not only a good source of vitamins and minerals, the actual gardening helps you exercise, according to the publication “Gardening as Exercise,” by Texas A&M University Aggie Horticulture Department. In this article, experts say even the less strenuous exercise forms, like gardening, can help you burn off 300 calories just by weeding, trimming, and raking. Cleaning a garden can also help you tone your muscles and they recommend using manual equipment instead of power equipment, whenever you can, to boost your garden workout. Being outdoors helps people relax and feel happy while isolated or self-quarantined. Many people garden for their well-being, gardening can help your emotional stability; pulling weeds can help you release stress and smelling herbs can lift spirits, not to mention that a successful garden gives you a great sense of achievement and money savings. Gardening can be especially fun with family. Children get excited about growing food. Gardens support their capacity for wonder, admiration for growing plants and they develop a since of environment and our planet. Gardening at home or at community gardens can help save money at the grocery stores, improve physical fitness, uplift our spirits, and provide enjoyable time with family. Growing our own

food leads to healthier meals and improved health for everyone. For all of these reasons, I encourage you to start your vegetable garden at home. For more information about gardening classes or questions to help you start your garden, contact Starr County’s Better Living for Texans Agent, Heidi López, M.S. at heidi.lopez@ag.tamu.edu.

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BIG AG ISSUES BOW TO WEATHER MARKETS FOR NOW

t is difficult to look back and try to understand the full impact of recently felt outside forces on agri culture markets in the short time since we entered 2020. It is true that the wide-ranging trade dispute between the US and China has been ongoing for some time. However, China’s overall progress on ag purchases agreed to under a ‘Phase One’ portion of a broader trade deal has become hotly debated since the start of this year. And it was about that same time that we began to hear about a previously unknown and highly contagious virus that become knows as Covid19. There is no question that these two issues, and the broader implications, greatly overshadowed the supply, demand and macroeconomic factors that largely affect agricultural markets on a day-to-day basis. As you can see from the December corn futures chart, by late April, the price had dropped to multi-year lows for this time of year. The December cotton futures chart shows a similar path, trading down to a lowly 55 cents per pound at about that same time. The US-China trade dispute, and our ability to overcome Covid19 remain the key issues of 2020. But has these two charts show, the months of June and July are the most volatile time for commodity futures. A lowered acreage adjustment for corn (down 5 million to 92 million acres) and cotton (down 1 million to 12 million acres) coupled with a hot and dry US weather forecast reminds us that the traditional worries over weather and ultimate production can still rule commodity markets during the summer.

There is no question that Covid19 carries with it the greatest point of uncertainty for agricultural markets, and commerce in general, for 2020 and perhaps well into 2021. Until a vaccine is found, it seems almost impossible to understand the nature and duration of policies being implemented to try and reduce exposures. The CDC daily caseload chart shows that we are seeing up to 50,000 new cases

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BY JOHN MILLER

across the US each day. Barely measurable until early March, this disease has been begun to accelerate after what seemed to be a ‘bending’ of the curve in early June. The CDC suggest that this data shows a continued acceleration of the first wave of the pandemic, and not a second wave, although increased testing probably plays a role. This information is critical to agriculture since government policies limiting travel and commerce has a swift and direct impact on agricultural businesses with employees, transportation of agricultural products and services, and over demand from consumers that themselves are limited in their ability to maintain travel and other purchases. Apart from our opinion of the need for broad restrictions, it is the political uncertainty of future government action that will keep agricultural markets on edge. For Valley farmers, corn and grain sorghum are vital crops. The Valley has a long history of using corn and grain sorghum as a key annual rotation with cotton. In addition, a lot of commerce has developed around the handling and export of these commodities to feeding operations throughout Mexico. It would be hard to calculate the size and scope of cross-border business created by this trade. There are a lot of jobs associated with production support services, handling, transportation and brokering Valley farm products into Mexico. To sell at profitable prices, Valley farmers need help from the futures market which builds in information from around the world to determine daily values. To better understand the impact of Covid19 on agriculture, one only needs to look at the US Fuel Ethanal Production chart. This shows where the annualized production of ethanal across the US dropped by half from almost 17 billion gallons to 8.5 billion gallons over this past spring as Covid19 related travel and work restrictions took effect. This was the direct result from a decline in gasoline demand over that same period. Fortunately, you see where ethanal demand has clawed its way back to 13.5 billion gallons annualized as some restrictions on work and travel have been lifted. We now have to wonder if the acceleration in Covid19 cases will see a return to more restriction and again foster reduced ethanol demand which would likely be bearish corn prices. The corn export chart shows a similar affect. You can see from the US Corn Export Sales Progress chart that a combination of Covid19 affects worldwide coupled with a challenging agricultural trade environment has kept US corn exports far behind year-ago levels, and below the seasonal

pace needed to meet prior government projections. Ethanol production and exports are key profitable corn and sorghum prices.

Fortunately for Valley farmers, grain sorghum exports have been on the uptick lately. You can see from the Chinese Sorghum Imports chart that China all but left this commodity by 2019. Tariffs associated with the US-China trade dispute had all but stopped all US to China grain sorghum trade. You can see from this same chart that China has returned to purchasing grain sorghum from the US and this has had a direct positive impact on Valley prices since Gulf port locations like Houston and Corpus Christi have found more value for now. Looking at the overall US Milo Export Sales Progress chart, you can see that sales began to increase rapidly after the first of year as trade restrictions into China and associated tariffs began to be relaxed. Notice the abrupt increase over year-ago levels, and greatly improved prospects of catching up to prior USDA projections. This is very good news for the Valley farmer, and this has already helped them to achieve better prices than anticipated just a few months ago. The increased values for grain sorghum have also helped corn prices as these two crops compliment each other to local buyers and shippers.

The NOAA, like all other weather services, provides a forecast. And in Texas we understand that forecast often donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t materialize. If good rains materialize soon, and Covid19 and China trade talks worsen, we could be back to springtime lows. But it is almost as important to have the perception of hot and dry as it is to have those conditions materialize. The beauty of the futures market is that farmers can capitalize on the uncertainty associated with unknowns such as weather regardless if the worried over event occurs. For now, speculation about weather, and the ultimate yields outcomes for corn and cotton are the talking points. The US Corn Yield History and Trend chart tells a huge story of the end game. Will US corn farmers achieve the 175.1 trendline prediction? If adverse weather takes this yield down even 5 bushels per acre nationwide, futures price prospects improve dramatically and may even help us find profitable opportunities for the 2021 crop. Even with cotton, the story is similar. While Valley cotton looks tremendous, the crop across the Texas Panhandle is suffering under extreme hot and dry conditions that has led to the loss of considerable acres. With corn and cotton, we need to see consistent improvements in demand, but good old-fashioned weather forecast has at least temporarily helped keep lower prices at bay, and perhaps set us up for better pricing down the road.

Now that we have reviewed two major outside forces that are affecting farmers in a way not seen before, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talk old school market movers. As mentioned above, the USDA has recently lowered its estimates for acres of corn and cotton which instigated a sharp increase in futures prices as you saw in the price charts above. This move by the USDA was very much welcomed by farmers since the until that time, the negative effects of Covid19 and the China trade dispute were ruling the day. Suddenly, the pump was primed for a classic July weather market that often sees futures prices peak for the season. As if on cue, the early NOAA long term weather forecast for July indicated well above normal temperatures across the US, and no more that normal to below normal rainfall for the major US corn growing areas. The NOAA forecast maps shown here are heavily followed by speculators and hedgers throughout the summer and have suddenly grabbed everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention.

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Lighthizer’s Crystal Ball: U.S. Trade Policy Chief Outlines Agricultural Trade Agenda BY PATRICK WADE Policy Director, Texas Grain Sorghum Producers

I doubt I am the only one whose perception of time is increasingly distorted these days. Without the routine of conferences, visiting our members, and board meetings my days have blurred into weeks and my weeks have blurred into months. At a time when so many of us are feeling unmoored, a little perspective can go a long way towards achieving greater clarity about the future. On June 17, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer proffered that perspective for agricultural trade policy with a marathon testimony to Congress about the Trump administration’s trade agenda. Between the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, Ambassador Lighthizer spoke for over seven hours regarding the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) past achievements, current activities, and future priorities. Naturally, this agenda is predicated on the assumption that President Trump is reelected in November. Through this dialogue, American agricultural producers can glean a clearer picture of what is to come with respect to trade agreements and international market access. Concerning the immediate future, Lighthizer spoke to Congress in part about how enforcement of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which entered into effect on July 1, would commence. From a big-picture perspective, the tariff-free flow of U.S. agricultural goods into Mexico and Canada will continue as it has for the past two decades. However, Lighthizer indicated that some of the new provisions secured in the renegotiation may need to be utilized almost immediately. USMCA is the first trade agreement the U.S. has been party to that contains a chapter dedicated to the resolution of agricultural biotechnology disputes. It has been over two years since Mexico last approved a biotechnology

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product and there are presently 18 approvals still pending in the country. On top of this, Mexico’s Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Victor Manuel Toledo Manzur, recently announced that Mexico soon intends to phase out its use of glyphosate. In his testimony to Congress, Lighthizer suggested that the U.S. may begin consultation – and possibly enter the state-to-state dispute settlement process – with Mexico on these issues immediately upon USMCA entering into force. This will be an important test of the mechanisms established by USMCA to resolve non-tariff agricultural trade barriers. In attempting to justify these actions, Mexico has drawn from the European Union’s “precautionary principle,” which essentially replaces science-based thresholds with an outright rejection of agricultural goods when any level of pesticides or biotechnologies are detected. In his testimony, Lighthizer claimed that the EU has turned the practice of disguising agricultural protectionism as nonscience-based consumer preferences into a “high art.” This tension between the EU and U.S. on agricultural trade policy is permeating multiple upcoming negotiations. Following its withdrawal from the EU, the United Kingdom is currently engaged in negotiations with the U.S. for a trade deal. While the UK has been more amenable to modern agricultural practices – the country frequently voted in the minority to approve biotechnologies while still a member of the EU – there is growing domestic pressure for the UK to protect its farmers and ranchers. Concurrent with our negotiations, the UK is also negotiating its trading terms with the EU, and Lighthizer noted that USTR will be closely monitoring those proceedings. While the UK’s initial proposals related to agricultural tariff schedules have been well-received by U.S. negotiators, the closer the UK mirrors the EU’s agricultural trade policies, the less inclined Lighthizer said he is to grant the UK access to American markets. This philosophical difference – science-based thresholds versus the precautionary principle – will guide the flow of agricultural goods to international markets for years to come, and Mexico is far from the only country to which these ideas have spread from the EU. The U.S. is also set to formally begin negotiations with Kenya this summer, marking our first robust, bilateral free trade agreement with a sub-Saharan African country. Kenya, however, is also part of an Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU, which affords them duty- and quota-free access to each other’s markets. Although Kenya conducts its own research and approval of biotechnology products, it maintains a strict ban on their import. Removing this barrier, and many other tariff and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) barriers, will be a major focus of the agricultural provisions in this negotiation. Kenya has long been a consumer of U.S. Food Aid deliveries of U.S. sorghum, which is a historical staple food in the region. Lighthizer confirmed that the free trade agreement with Kenya is an effort to set a precedent for future agreements with the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, a region whose population is projected to double to over two billion by 2050. Kenya is an economic leader in the region and the U.S., per Lighthizer’s comments, looks forward to complementing Kenya’s economic growth and helping the country develop a robust infrastructure for free, science-based trade.

Looming over all of Ambassador Lighthizer’s testimony in mid-June was China. Lighthizer repeatedly defended China’s progress in the Phase One agreement, reaffirming his confidence that the historically-precedented uptick in agricultural sales after fall harvests will help China meet the purchasing goals set out in the agreement. He said that Chinese officials have reiterated their commitment in every conversation he has had with them, and that China’s Premier Li Keqiang made a similar guarantee when speaking to the National People’s Congress earlier in June. Some commodities, such as sorghum, cotton, and pork, are already on track to meet their Phase One sales obligations. In fact, as Lighthizer noted and as I wrote about in my previous contribution to this publication, sorghum sales to China in 2020 are currently outpacing sales from the agreement’s base year of 2017. While much of his testimony spoke to the progress made in future free trade agreements, Lighthizer threw cold water on suggestions of some potential trade partners. Despite rumors, he said that a deal with Brazil was unlikely at this time. Negotiations with India, also, were at a stalemate, although the Indian ambassador to the U.S. still maintains optimism in achieving a limited deal in 2020. Little clarity was offered about progress towards second phases of agreements with China or Japan, either. In the case of the latter, the U.S.’s approach to Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP, formally known as TPP) members like Japan is critical for the future of the U.S. grain industry. Southeast Asia is one of the fastest growing regions in the world, with a burgeoning middle class and significant feed grain deficits. When commending the non-FTA accomplishments of USTR under his leadership, Lighthizer cited the recent phytosanitary approval of U.S. sorghum exports to Vietnam. While clearing this capricious hurdle was important, there is still a 5% tariff on U.S. sorghum and corn going into Vietnam, as well as numerous other SPS and non-tariff barriers. Vietnam’s fellow CPTPP members are not subject to any of these barriers, and with every day that passes American farmers grow increasingly disadvantaged with respect to these critical markets. The United Sorghum Checkoff Program and the U.S. Grains Council recently completed an aquaculture study in Vietnam and learned that U.S. sorghum would fit well into its catfish industry. In 2019, the U.S. was able to ink an agricultural trade deal with Japan in record time because we essentially applied the same provisions we had already agreed to in TPP negotiations. Any future trade policy agenda for U.S. agriculture should prioritize free trade agreements with all other CPTPP members in Southeast Asia, as well. As we stand a crossroads of sorts – three and a half years into this administration’s agricultural trade policy agenda, four more potentially to come – it is important to take this time to reflect on both the successes and shortcomings in order to prepare for the future. Ambassador Lighthizer’s testimony in June was clarifying for a number of reasons, and Texas Grain Sorghum Producers will continue to do all we can to support the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in meeting the challenges to come and guiding our trade policy towards opportunities yet unrealized.

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AgriLife experts warn of ticks’ potential negative economic impact

Cattle fever tick numbers on the rise BY PAUL SCHATTENBERG

A cattle fever tick close up. (AgriLife photo)

Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are working to help thwart the spread of cattle fever. An announcement from the Texas Animal Health Commission, TAHC, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program, USDA-CFTEP, that cattle fever tick infestations have spread outside the permanent quarantine zone prompted concern from AgriLife experts, who last dealt with a large outbreak in 2017. “The discovery of more fever tick infestations, particularly outside of the permanent quarantine zone, is significant,” said Pete Teel, Ph.D., AgriLife Research entomologist, College Station. “At risk is the economy of the Texas cattle industry and the more than 400,000 cattle producers throughout the southern region of the U.S.”

So far, ticks have been found on cattle outside of the permanent quarantine zone in Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Wells, Jim Hogg and Willacy counties. Traditionally, the southern counties of Texas bordering Mexico tend to have the biggest problem with fever tick disease. Both cattle fever ticks and bovine babesiosis are endemic in the neighboring states of Mexico.

Cattle fever ticks, known scientifically as Rhipicephalus annulatus and Rhipicephalus microplus, can carry the microscopic parasites that cause bovine babesiosis or cattle fever. These are the only two tick species that can transmit the disease. Once an animal is infected, these parasites attack red blood cells resulting in acute anemia, enlargement of the liver and spleen, and a high fever. TAHC and USDA-CFTEP are currently working to determine the extent of the spread of the ticks and to trace the source.

An area of a half million acres, stretching from the Gulf of Mexico near Brownsville to north of Del Rio, makes up the permanent quarantine zone. There are now over a million acres quarantined outside of the permanent zone. “One of the outcomes that often comes back to AgriLife from concerned citizens is the impact of trace-outs from these infestations and how that affects producers, livestock owners and land managers who may be temporarily quarantined until it can be determined that fever ticks have not spread,” said Teel.

Tracking tick locations

AgriLife Research has a long history of dedicated joint research efforts in support of the U.S. cattle industry and the regulatory agencies responsible for the USDA-CFTEP. AgriLife researchers and specialists have formed a support group and all of the agency’s county agents in infected areas are up to date on the latest information.

“When producers observe ticks on their livestock, it is imperative they contact their local TAHC livestock inspector or region office, USDA inspector, private veterinarian or local 16

AgriLife Extension office to arrange for collection and submission of tick samples to the TAHC laboratory in Austin,” said Andy Schwartz, DVM, TAHC executive director, in a recent press release. “This extra surveillance protects the Texas cattle industry.”

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Anyone with questions or concerns may reach out to their local AgriLife Extension office. The TAMU TickApp for smartphones is also an informative tool.

Exposure to Cattle Fever “More than one-third of the U.S. fed cattle are produced in this region of Texas,” Teel said. “U.S. cattle are naive to bovine babesiosis and mortality is estimated to exceed 70% in naive cattle. There are no protective vaccines or approved drugs. Our focus is to prevent the only vector, cattle fever ticks, from spreading further across Texas.” Cattle fever eradication efforts began in the U.S. in 1906 and were declared successful in the 1940s. Periodic incursions have been occurring in Texas since the 1970s. Teel said the expansion of native and exotic game, diversification of animal enterprises, changes in land-use, brush encroachment and variation in climatic cycles have all contributed to the challenge of warding off incursions.

their cattle to be treated before returning home.” Horses, deer and exotic livestock may also host cattle fever ticks. Transportation of any of these hosts can spread cattle fever ticks. Once the ticks are discovered on a location, it is quarantined. Once under quarantine, the cattle and other susceptible animals are prescribed a treatment program until the ticks can be eradicated from the area. “AgriLife is fully engaged in research projects directly focused on improving technologies, tactics and strategies to prevent these ticks from becoming re-established in the U.S. and thus preventing outbreaks of bovine babesiosis,” said Teel. AgriLife Research, 4Ry and the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service are also currently working on collaborative research projects to develop additional means to more efficiently and effectively kill cattle fever ticks on cattle, other livestock and wildlife

“We ask that livestock producers help us in protecting the nation from fever ticks by being proactive when purchasing cattle from counties with known fever tick infestations,” said Schwartz. “The TAHC and USDA-CFTEP operate public dipping vats along the Texas-Mexico border and in a few South Texas counties where producers can voluntarily take

A million acres beyond the permanent quarantine zone is now quarantined due to cattle fever. (AgriLife photo)

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Top 2 Video Conferencing Apps to use in BY HECTOR GARZA

2020

Since the start of the pandemic, the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) team has relied on video conferencing to hold committee and board meetings, share ideas, and check in with each other. TIPA has tried a couple video conferencing apps, so I can share some helpful information that could potentially save you time and money on deciding which video apps your team (or farm) should consider. So gather around y’all, for the best video conferencing apps in town. There are many features in a great video conferencing app and it has to do with more than showing your face to the world. Creating a meeting link or dial-in number and sharing it with others should be the basics. Turning face-time into collaboration time, such as screen sharing, annotating or white boarding and live chat are must have features to make your virtual meetings as productive as they would be in person. Otherwise, you might as well be using the phone. In considering which apps will help you accomplish these essential functions, I have chosen two that will help you do exactly that. If you’re part of a committee, then you’ve probably heard of Zoom. It’s one of the most popular video conference apps mainly because it just works. Once you install the Zoom app on your computer or on your phone, you can host a 1-to-1 video call with no time limit and group calls with up to 100 people for a max time of 40 minutes. If you purchase the paid plan, the time limit is removed and you can have up to 1,000 people at one time. Even if your internet connection is not the best, Zoom will keep your video going at a lower quality level, but at least you are not disconnected completely. Everyone is able to chat with each other, either as a group or with individuals through private message features during the video conference. And you can share your screen, which is probably the best feature when interacting with the group. Just select what part of your screen you wish to share, whether it is the whole screen or a single window. If you want to try Zoom, visit https://www.zoom.us for the free plan, or there is the Pro plan starting at $14.99/month which will allows you to record the video and audio of the conference. ( TIP: If you are recording, be sure to select the option to save it on your local computer.) Another favorite is Google Meet. If you have Gmail as your primary email, then you probably saw this feature added to the side panel of your inbox. Google Meet automatically adds a link from your scheduled video conference calls to your Google Calendar whenever you create a meeting, and your meeting attendees can click to instantly join a call. No need to worry if your coworkers, clients, or customers have the right accounts or software. Google Meet works entirely on the browser (the icon you use to surf the web, i.e. Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge) so there’s no download or adding programs issues. If you want to use your phone, download the Meet app from Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. In the middle of a call, you are able to share files from Google Drive and share them in the chat portion. Live captioning is a great feature already included which works fairly well in English but is not able to detect when another language is spoken. Google Meet is free for up to 100 participants and a max of 60 minutes; and $6/month to extend the limits as part of the G Suite for business teams. For more information visit https://meet.google.com With many more video conferencing apps out there, and not enough space and time to speak about them all, I’ll mention these additional note-worthy three: GoToMeeting has a lot of professional features and is $14/month (https://www. gotomeeting.com). Join.me is from the same software family as GoToMeeting, but much sleeker, starting at $10/month (https://www.join.me). Lastly, Cisco’s Webex is famously known in the business realm and focused for large-scale collaborations, starting at $13.50/month (https://www.webex.com). Communication in business and family is critical, and using video conferencing apps helps bridge the gap created during social distancing. So stop texting and emailing. Try some of these apps, close that gap, and remember what it’s like to see someone’s face when you’re talking with them. 18

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e’re now more than half way through 2020. To say it’s been an interesting year would be a massive understatement! We’re all living through history and watching new habits and trends unfold that are, in some cases, very different than what we took as “normal” in our pre-COVID-19 days. Our daily routines are a bit different. Whether that means you now get 2 weeks to the gallon because you aren’t driving to work/school/run errands or you’re getting really creative when cooking multiple meals per day at home, life has shifted in ways big and small. Yet, in some ways, life in agriculture carries on as it always has. Crops and livestock have a way of

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reminding us that there are some things that have to be done no matter what, and that even a global pandemic doesn’t stop nature … or our farmers and ranchers! At the Texas Department of Agriculture, we continue to look for ways to help support the families who produce the food, fiber, and fuel that sustains us and drives our communities. Right now, this includes challenging ourselves to get creative about how we can connect Texas agribusinesses – from farms and ranches selling directly to the public to value-added companies across the full spectrum of the agriculture industry – to customers who are looking for local ways to shop and engage. With that challenge in mind, we created the “Direct From Texas” initiative. As more people turn to digital resources to find what is available around them, we wanted to provide platforms that make it easy to

Helping agribusinesses connect with consumers across Texas connect customers with local companies providing food, beverages, plants/landscaping materials, and other agricultural products. On the Department’s GO TEXAN website (gotexan. org), you can find a link that reads “Support Local Farmers and Ranchers.” This is where you can find Texas farms and ranches who are selling directly to consumers (or, Direct From Texas!). Using this directory is a great way to identify and support your Lone Star neighbors and start your own new shopping habits. Expanding on the idea behind the website, we created a Facebook group called Direct From Texas. Our goal was to provide a space that gave consumers the ability to go online and ask about specific products or find producers in a certain region of Texas, while also enabling Texas agribusinesses of all sorts to promote

their products and services directly to potential customers. This free service is a great way to identify new Texas products to try, make connections with agribusinesses in your area, and even set up some road trips for the future. In addition to these two online tools, you can also always look for the GO TEXAN mark to help you support your neighbors in the agriculture and food industry. There is no doubt the first half of 2020 brought about a lot of changes to how we shop and explore. We hope using the Direct From Texas resources is a change we can all get excited about – and one that helps keep the trend of buying local going strong!

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Dicamba Availability Critical to Cotton Production Stability BY COTTON NELSON

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he National Cotton Council (NCC) is grateful for EPA’s quick action enabling cotton producers to use existing stocks of three dicamba formulations this season following the recent court decision to vacate the products’ registrations.

The EPA’s cancellation order issued on Monday (see https://bit.ly/2AnjlaH), and further noted in the agency’s press statement (see https://bit.ly/3hayywg), allows the distribution or sale by commercial applicators of existing stocks (those in hand as of June 3) of Xtendimax, Engenia, and FeXapan that were already in the commercial applicator’s possession. The cancellation order prohibits all other sale or distribution of existing stocks except to facilitate return to the manufacturer or for proper disposal. In a subsequent clarification, EPA stated that it “is permissible for a certified applicator (including a farmer who is a certified applicator) personally to retrieve or pick up Xtendimax, Engenia, or FeXapan that is temporarily stored by a retailer, distributor, or cooperative for use consistent with the requirements of the label, if the certified applicator (including a farmer who is a certified applicator) purchased the product on or before June 3.” The cancellation order was issued in light of last week’s U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacatur of the products’ registrations. NCC President/CEO Gary Adams said EPA’s order to permit use of these dicamba formulations will be a tremendous help to U.S. cotton producers’ weed control efforts. He said the majority of cotton acres are planted to varieties that are tolerant to over-thetop applications of these herbicides -- which are vital for controlling pigweed and other weeds that have demonstrated resistance to other herbicides.

Prior to EPA’s order, Adams had conveyed to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler the critical need for access to the dicamba herbicides. “With crops having already emerged along with the emergence of multiple weed species, timely herbicide applications would have been seriously jeopardized,” Adams stated in his letter. “Producers also were facing additional financial costs and uncertainty in terms of implementing a different weed management plan.” Prior to EPA’s cancellation order, the NCC advised the agency that research conducted prior to availability of dicamba-tolerant varieties reported a minimum 50 percent yield-loss in fields with resistant pigweed. The NCC also provided EPA with a preliminary analysis that estimates a direct loss of at least $400 million in U.S. cotton production value in 2020 without access to the three dicamba herbicides. “The economic damage that would result from not being able to use these dicamba herbicides,” Adams said, “would exacerbate an already tenuous economic situation for cotton farmers who are already facing depressed market prices due to ongoing trade tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic.” Going forward, the NCC will work with EPA on a new registration for 2021 and beyond for these important herbicides so that cotton producers can rely on these necessary weed control technologies. As the unifying force of the U.S. cotton industry, the Memphis-based NCC has a mission of ensuring the ability of all industry segments to compete effectively and profitably in the raw cotton, oilseed and U.S.-manufactured product markets at home and abroad.

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Fall Fertilizer Applications for the 2021 Crop BY DEREK EMERINE

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The 2020 growing season has come to an end or the end is in sight. Shortly, decisions will be made on a fertilizer program for the 2021 crop year. The importance 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. South 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. The top two most deficient nutrients in South Texas soil tests are phosphorus and zinc. However, potassium and sulfur are not very far behind. In the current agricultural climate, it is very important to prioritize fertility needs based on the goal of achieving a return on investment. If soil tests from the farm identify phosphorus, zinc, potassium, and sulfur as the most deficient nutrients but the pocketbook dictates that only two of nutrients can be addressed, how should that decision be made? Focusing on the historical issue of low phosphorus may

not always give the largest return on investment. In cotton specifically, potassium and zinc are the top two deficient nutrients in plant tissue samples collected at early and mid-bloom. At early bloom, potassium and zinc deficiency in the plant are ~3.5 times more prevalent than phosphorus deficiency. At mid-bloom, potassium and zinc deficiency in the plant are ~9 times more prevalent than phosphorus deficiency. This does not necessarily mean there needs to be a drastic increase in fertilizer spending or any increase at all. It does indicate the potential to shift some fertilizer dollars from phosphorus to potassium and zinc. With relatively low and static commodity prices that bring along low margins, it makes sense to revisit how fertilizer dollars are being spent. By attaining an up to date soil sample and looking at your own or regional plant tissue samples, there may be an opportunity to make some changes. In many cases, small adjustments can bring positive results. This can be as simple as reducing phosphorus spending 15-25% and using those dollars for an additional foliar application of potassium and zinc in season. In some situations, there is an opportunity to reduce larger amounts of phosphorus and replace it with potassium fertilizer. The key is that there is no silver bullet and every grower, farm, or field may be in different situation. Hence the importance of having up to date soil samples and access to plant tissue sample data to aid in the fertilizer decision process.

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Miracles of Balanced Plant Nutrition BY NOEL GARCIA CCA/COO Senior Consultant, TPS Lab

Most growers typically take an early spring soil tests and then apply a pre-plant fertilizer to last for the entire season (sometimes supplementing Nitrogen, later on). They base this application on the recommendations of the soil report and assume that the one application will supply the crop’s nutritional requirements for the remainder of the season.

There are several problems with this approach: • Much can happen to your fertilizer after it hits the ground, making it unavailable to the crop: • Your native soil chemistry can rapidly tie-up fertilizer components into chemical compounds that the plant is unable to absorb. • Irrigation water high in mineral salts not only changes your soil’s chemistry and damages its structure, but also neutralizes plant-absorbability of many fertilizers by changing their chemistries into plantunavailable compounds. Water quality is critical if you fertigate.”What’s In Your Water Becomes Part Of Your Soil.”™ • Chemical interactions between the fertilizer components themselves can render them unavailable to the plant. • Loss due to the weather – leaching due to heavy rain, high soil temperatures, etc. • Volatilization of Nitrogen into the atmosphere. A pre-season soil test provides a starting point for determining what the soil needs to get the crop off to a good start. But the soil may have several issues that need to be dealt with in a coordinated manner to ensure the critical early part of the growing season is managed for the best results. • Crop nutritional demands typically vary widely throughout the growing season. The wrong fertilizer applied in incorrect amounts at the wrong time is simply wasted – often leaching into nearby waterways. But worse – your crop ends up malnourished, resulting in yields and quality often far below your crop’s potential. Worse yet, crop malnourishment can stress crops, making them vulnerable to diseases and insects requiring insecticides and fungicides, more water, making susceptible to drought, heat, and cold (late frosts). “Nature always eats the weakest with bugs and disease.” So, you end up spending a whole lot more to get a lot less. • Standard soil testing methods used (Mehlich III and others) by most labs, measure nutrient compounds that are both plant-available and unavailable. Both are counted in subsequent recommendations to you. (Sidebar: Reports on some soils often show Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium or Magnesium as being consistently adequate or high.) This means that the lab has to estimate (guess) what is available to your crop based upon its experience with your soil and general fertilization rates based on crop nutrition standards published in the early 1950s. Standard soil testing methods are highly dependent on the many soil types growers may have. Because of this variability, calibrating soil nutrient levels against actual plant uptake can be impractical, by using

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an extraction method that mimics roots in the soil; on the other hand, makes calibration possible. And the problem with relying on 70-yearold standards is that they do not account for new varieties, discoveries in plant nutrition, and deteriorated soil quality (high salts, low organic matter content, and collapsed structure). Now you can understand why your soil test reports show pretty much the same results and recommendations, year-after-year, even as your yields and quality stay flat or decline while your costs go up.

Balanced and Complete Plant Nutrition Goes Way Beyond N-P-K Nineteen elements have been identified as being necessary to plants – the number of which depends upon the plant. It’s only recently that the importance of micronutrients (Iron, Copper, Zinc, and Manganese) to plant health and quality have started being talked about. With ongoing research, discoveries are being made almost daily about the importance of heretofore ignored trace elements – most recently, SILICON. A few years back, Silicon was acknowledged as being “beneficial” to mostly small grains, as it helps prevent lodging by hardening cell walls. However, ongoing research reveals that the benefits to very many crops and soils go far beyond that: • Chewing and sucking insects, and disease are discouraged by hard cell walls. • Research suggests that a thin physical barrier forms on root hairs, thus discouraging nematodes and disease. • Improves nutrient uptake • Improves drought resistance • Improves soil permeability • Many, many other benefits – and more to be discovered But there’s more: A nutritionally balanced crop is better able to withstand stress caused by adverse growing conditions (cold or hot, dark or bright, wet or dry, etc., weather). And – as we’ve experienced in the field, maturation time can be shortened by as much as three weeks! When we encounter a field suffering from disease or insect problems, the first thing we should ask is what’s the nutritional status of the crop. Correcting nutritional problems alone won’t necessarily fix a field already in distress. Still, it is crucial to address underline nutritional deficiencies to better the odds of eliminating disease and insect pressures.

More Than Just The Elements There are a variety of products such as biological inoculants, sugars, hormones, humates, organic acids, which are game-changers and need to be an integral part of your fertility program, especially biological inoculants. Biological inoculants in both soil and plant – do a lot: • Converts plant-unavailable soil nutrients into plant-available

• Controls soil and plant pathogens • Conditions soil, regenerating structure • Helps remediate salty soil physical and nutritional qualities that release plant-available nutrients during the process (Good levels of humus are essential for thriving plants) • And a whole lot more Soil microbiology is an exciting part of today’s agricultural research with newly-discovered benefits and characteristics happening often. Sugars stimulate biological activity and reduce the excessive vegetative growth of plants caused by too much Nitrogen. Hormones and Organic Acids are essential components of accelerating plant development – and are especially useful when dealing with crop damage (due to hail, etc.) and assist in establishing crops during cold springs. We often see that these products, in addition to balanced nutrition, can restore a hailed-out crop within two or three weeks and rapidly (usually, in one season) turn worn-out fields from disasters into successes!

Plant Tests Plant tests provide you with feedback about your crop’s nutritional condition. It is impossible to know about how much of your expensive fertilizer has been absorbed by the crop and what the crop’s immediate needs are. Plant tests are tissue tests from leaves, petioles (leaf stems - plant sap), or the whole plant. What leaves/petioles are sampled, the stage of growth, when they are collected and the nutritional standards used are critical to how lab results are interpreted and reported. The primary differences between labs are how the results are interpreted and what recommendations are made.

Does your lab include these nutrients in its reports – and does it have plant tests for your specific crop, which include specific nutritional requirements?

Plant Tests Are The Cornerstone …for maximizing your crop’s potential and solving serious crop problems – especially when dealing with diseases and insects. Your lab should be able to provide you with recommendations for each stage of plant development for a successful season-long fertilization program. Providing your crop with balanced nutrition throughout the season is the most crucial factor in-field performance – and your bottom-line!

What To Take Away From This Paper: • If your lab’s soil reports and recommendations are pretty much the same, year-after-year, there’s something wrong. • If you follow your lab’s plant test recommendations and things still aren’t working well, there’s something wrong. • If you have a disease or insect problem, there’s something wrong. • If your yields and quality are flat, mediocre, or are generally declining, there’s something wrong. • If the quality of your soil isn’t improving with each year, there’s something wrong. • The Devil is always in the details – especially the smallest ones.

Leaf or Petiole? Very generally speaking, leaves contain the historic nutrient record of the plant. Petioles contain the nutrients flowing within the plant at the moment the sample is taken.

When should you test? Many farmers only act after there are visual signs of damage in the field. The problem is, by the time problems are visible, yields and quality have already been lost. At this point, it’s more about damage control – to hopefully prevent further loss. Frequent plant testing allows you to correct nutritional problems seven to 21 days before they can be seen. Testing is done at specific stages of crop development, ranging from weekly or biweekly for fast-growing or high-value crops and less often for others. It is critical, however, that your lab knows what the nutrient content is supposed to be at the stage of growth when the samples are taken.

More To It Than Nitrogen Some farmers are only interested in Nitrogen content. Even though N-compound tests are cheap and N is undoubtedly essential, N-only tests are a waste of money and effort because they don’t account for other critical nutrients. Consider “von Liebig’s Law of the Minimum.”

Does Your Plant Test Include Essential Nutrients? We’ve already seen that there are a lot of nutrients required for proper and balanced plant nutrition – only a few of which have been mentioned here. For a complete picture of your crop’s nutritional status, you need to know about secondary nutrients, micronutrients, and trace elements. Plants have different and unique nutritional requirements, especially for trace elements. J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 2 0

Faith and Farming:

BY KATHRYN BRADY

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hat do you see when you look out in the countryside and see a farmer with a tractor in a field? What comes to mind?

Do you recollect your grand father plowing his fields to make ends meet and food for his family? Does it evoke images of someone with the tenacity to work long, hot, dirty days in the sunshine and rain? Do you imagine someone from bygone days still clinging to a past way of life? Do you see an ignorant county bumpkin; who is not willing to learn another way of life? Does your mind’s eye conjure up images of a misguided person who is destroying the earth by planting crops year after year? Or do you see someone of great love, character and faith who cares for the land and animals that God gave him.

That’s what I see:

To me farmers are people of great faith. The definition for cultivation is to prepare and work on land in order to raise crops, to develop or improve, to promote growth or development, to devote oneself. Some synonyms are to manage, prepare, tend, labor, work, to enrich, cherish, encourage, nourish, to have discipline. And the definition of faith is the confidence or trust in a person or thing; belief not necessarily based on proof. And synonyms are: conviction, hope, assurance certainty, constancy, credit, dependence, fidelity, principle, communion, creed, profession, worship. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:1 that “Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you cannot see”.

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If I were going to create my definition of a farmer; it would be a person engaged in admirable work on the land that promotes the growth of life to supply and feed the present culture by enriching lives through

Psalmsnd 14 a 147 1, 8is-e to9 our God…He sprtheadasnd

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a the ear to sing pr s rain for e als id It is good v o r p , sky ives anim e g i th H r e . v ls o il clouds s you on the h d satisfie nts grow n a la p fe s a e s k u a m s yo . He keep at. nest whe their food fi e th h it w ion Bible Vers Good News

Deuterono my 28 1-6 If you obey the Lord

your God a His comm nd faithfull ands… He y keep all w ill make yo blessings w u great and ill be yours all these : The Lord and your fi will bless y elds. The our towns Lord will b crops, catt less you w le and shee it h … abundant p. The Lord crops and will bless y the food yo our corn u prepare The Lord w from them Good News il l bless ever y . Bible Versi on thing you d o.

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encouragement and nourishment. With the discipline to tend and labor- day in and day out based on the assurance and conviction through the communion with nature and God that they will be able to sustain themselves, the earth and the community now and for years to come. A farmer’s livelihood is ever dependent on things outside [his] control- weather, disease, pests, the market, equipment, etc. And that’s what I’m learning about faith these days. Faith is the resilience to keep going and to believe that good things are going to happen, if you believe even when everything is seemingly outside your control. I grew up with a ranching background and observed from my father the love of the land and respect for nature and it’s variabilities, but not until I began working with dry-land farmers did I really understand the faith that it takes to be a farmer. Year after year it seems like some contingency happens that makes the crop come extremely close to being failure. Yet year after year the farmer goes back out and plants another crop with the hope that this could be the year of the bumper crop. The farmer doesn’t just do this to make a profit, they do it because they love the ground, the soil, the plants, nature, the sky, and humankind. We can’t survive without the farmer. If it was never evident to our highly industrialized society before, then it should be now with the evident tenuousness of our food-supply chain that COVID-19 brought before or eyes. A farmer is a person of great faith.

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Life Lessons Learned on a Cattle Farm BY CALLIE BURNETT

I grew up on a farm in the southeast and I wouldn’t trade the guts or the glory of my way of life for the most glamorous life anywhere else. I prefer dirt roads versus hardtop ones, an old farm truck versus a new one, and watching sunrises and sunsets with clear views of the horizon - unobstructed by skyscrapers, office buildings, or flashing billboard signs. It’s who I am. It’s in my DNA. It’s the farm girl in me. The older I get, the more I find myself reflecting back to my childhood years and thinking about the lessons I’ve learned between then and now. Why? I don’t know for sure. Maybe it’s because I’ve got a milestone birthday this year and I don’t want to forget the good old days. Maybe it’s because I’m learning more lessons now from the school of hard knocks and the resounding ring is a bit louder and more tangible. Or, maybe it’s a combination of both. The lessons? They’re far too many to number at once, of course. Many I learned from Papa, a kind and quiet steward of the land with an old soul who was strong-willed, intelligent, and wise beyond his years. Others I’ve learned from my dad – my favorite farmer and someone I really look up to and am blessed to still be learning from. And several I’ve learned from being around cattle. From early morning bottle feedings before heading off to school to unexpected late-night fence repairs, there isn’t much of the cattle farm life that I haven’t experienced. I’ve cherished the good, dealt with the bad, and waded through the ugly – sometimes all at the same time. I’ve witnessed the miracle of birth, grieved the loss of a sick animal,

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and ‘stuck to my guns’ when times got tough. But the lessons I’ve learned from cattle and the ways in which I’ve learned them have been some of my most memorable and valued lessons thus far.

Lesson #1: Mind Your Own Business If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of the ultimate side-eye from a protective mama cow standing by her newborn calf, you know that it’s oftentimes a not-so-gentle warning for you to leave them alone and mind your business. I’ve had my fair share of these moments over the years. And when I’m a little too nosey by hanging around for a while to make sure everyone’s healthy and doing well, I sometimes find myself wishing I had heeded the warning and left well enough alone. We could all use a lesson in minding our own business. Think about how much better and more peaceful life would be if we stayed out of everyone else’s.

Lesson #2: Speak Up If You Want to Be Heard The cows are hungry and you’re three minutes late feeding. A cow is separated from her calf because the bull used the gate as a scratching post and closed it just enough to block traffic. Lightning fried the fence box and half of the herd is grazing grass that is (literally) greener on the other side. I’ll bet you heard the different tones of “moo” inside your head as you read each scenario. The “You’re late!” and “Where have you been?” kind of moos. You know, the loud and

incessant ones like those of a cohort of grandmas berating you, in sync, for not being right on time. Or the short and sweet, sometimes nervous and raspy moo of a mama cow-turned-GPS giving directions and attempting to guide her calf to a gate that’s open so they can be reunited again. You get the picture. Speak up if you want to be heard, but be mindful of your tone and make sure it fits the situation.

Lesson #3: Be A Leader There’s one in every herd - a brave and courageous leader unafraid of being the first one to walk through the gate or load onto the trailer. Is what lies on the other side of the gate scary? Maybe. Is a ride on the trailer going to end at the market? Possibly. But sometimes, the other side of the gate and the ride on the trailer lead to fuller, bigger, and greener pastures. You never know where courage and bravery may take you until you step outside of your comfort zone.

Lesson #4: Be Resilient If you’ve been around cattle for any length of time, you know how thick their skin is. In winter, especially, the combination of thick skin and a longer and thicker hair coat acts as a natural insulator, protecting cattle from harsh elements. When it snows, the hair “catches” that snow and forms a blanket of sorts along the top of the back. Upon first glance, you may think that a cow covered in snow is cold and vulnerable, but what you can’t see is the space that’s been formed between the blanket of snow and the cow’s skin. The snow is not touching the skin and the animal isn’t cold. The skin, in fact, is being maintained at the cow’s normal body temperature. It’s a lot less affected by the snow than one may think.

Thick skin – it’s resilient. May we have it and may it help be our shield from harsh and hurtful times, people, and words. May we, too, form a space between our thick skin and the cruel and insensitive elements of this world so that we do not become cold and vulnerable ourselves.

Lesson #5: Take No Bull It’s a crisp and early morning at the feed bunk in the dead of winter and everyone’s behaving; it’s a peaceful coexistence. Nobody’s jumping into the bunk and breaking the bottom out of it and no one’s jumping over it to get the perfect eating spot on the opposite side. Everyone has the same agenda…except for one. Running up the hill is a lone straggler who, as he gets closer, realizes his tardiness. Instead of finding a place at the bunk among the others, he pushes and shoves and head-butts and grunts his way into the spot he wants, disrupting and scattering everyone else with no care as to what he’s just done. It’s all about him and what he wants, and he’ll kick, step on, or push aside whomever he needs to in order to get to where he wants to be. Some will walk away hurt while others leave hungry or timid, but a few stay behind to put him in his place. It’s a lesson in living life by the Golden Rule. Treat others the way you’d like to be treated in return, but don’t tolerate their bad behavior. If we tolerate bad behavior, we accept it. And if we accept it, that bad behavior becomes acceptable in the mind of the wrongdoer. Stand up for yourself, confront that which should be confronted, and take no bull.

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STATEMENT FROM TEXAS AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER SID MILLER ON

USMCA

AUSTIN – Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller released the following response to USMCA taking effect July 1, 2020.

“USMCA is a homerun for American farmers and ranchers and President Donald Trump, Secretary Perdue and Ambassador Lighthizer knocked it out of the park. I applaud their commitment to replacing NAFTA with the USMCA and congratulate them on this significant accomplishment. The promise of a brighter economic future offered by USMCA certainly comes when agriculture producers need it the most. While reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to whiplash our economy, with USMCA farmers and ranchers can look forward to more trade, fairer trade and new opportunities for economic recovery. With key achievements in expanded market access, biotechnology and increased transparency, American workers, farmers, ranchers and their families are getting much needed certainty. This is a huge step for American agriculture and our North American trading partners.” 34

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Texas farmers, ranchers answer the call during COVID-19 outbreak BY RUSSELL BOENING Texas Farm Bureau President

Texas farmers and ranchers are in a unique position in regard to the COVID-19 outbreak and our nation’s response. Each of us is battling the impacts of the pandemic on our own farm or ranch, while at the same time, committing ourselves to feeding our country at a time when food security matters most. The hardships created by the virus add to an already difficult year for Texas agriculture. But one thing is certain. Americans do not have to fear a decrease in the safety and security of the U.S. food supply. Agriculture was named a critical industry by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security amid the coronavirus outbreak. The announcement allows those in the food and agriculture supply chain to continue operating to meet the demand across the nation. The declaration covers farmers, food processors and producers, distributors and retailers. Farm Bureau has been actively engaged on issues associated with COVID-19 in an effort to minimize its impacts to agriculture. We’re concerned about the number of companies adopting social distancing policies, per health directives, that could significantly impact processing plants and supply chains. Meat packing plants, dairy processors, ethanol plants and other processing facilities all play roles in delivering the food and fuel consumers depend on, especially now during this pandemic. Disruptions in supply chains could also mean less access to seed, fertilizer and crop protection tools that we, as farmers and ranchers, rely on to grow crops and feed livestock. Farm Bureau asked for livestock haulers and other trucks carrying food to receive emergency waivers for hours of service, so those folks can get food and supplies where it’s needed, as quickly as possible.

and are urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to monitor the situation. I have visited with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and other top USDA officials about this concern, and they are fully aware of the issue. TFB recently joined 25 other state Farm Bureaus asking Secretary Perdue to explore all options within his authority to provide relief to cattle ranchers impacted by pandemic. Growers of fresh produce are worried about possible dumping of products from other countries. USDA and other federal agencies should assist farmers and ranchers by taking measures to maintain stable and fair markets during this time. Price forecasts for most agricultural products are bleak. Dairy prices have dropped 26-36 percent, corn futures have dropped by 14 percent and cotton futures have plummeted 31 percent. Despite a rise in retail beef prices in some areas, the prices paid to cattle ranchers have fallen 25 percent. Texas Farm Bureau members are concerned about labor, especially since the U.S.-Mexico border was impacted. We are working with members of Congress and the U.S. State Department to address labor issues that are critical to farm and ranch families. We’re pleased the U.S. State Department has announced a commitment to processing H-2A program applications to ensure an agricultural workforce. Add impacts from the virus to trade, farmer and rancher health and federal inspections to the list, and the scale and scope of the problem become evident. The impacts are real and serious for those of us producing food, fiber and fuel. Times like this remind all of us of the importance of ensuring our nation’s food security. We must protect it. And I know our Texas farmers and ranchers are committed to doing so.

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2315 W. Expressway 83 #102, San Benito, Texas 78586 www.cropguardinsurance.com

956-688-8485 Thanks for 11 Years!

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MADE YOU

A Letter from the Editor Psalm 27:14

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Waiting is the Name of the Game One thing I am not good at is waiting! I am no winner when it comes to patience. I feel like a hypocrite teaching my son about patience because I’m so terrible at it. Although, through the years, I am getting better at it — or so I’ll tell myself. Have you ever found it hard to wait for something? The biggest test of patience that I’ve recently had is waiting for the world to go back to normal. But, is that ever going to happen? The answer is yes, but it just might be a new normal. Let’s travel back to the biblical times. How many times did God make his people wait before a blessing was received? Moses has to wait 40 years for the promised land. Noah had 40 days and nights in an ark before the waters were gone. Sarah and Aaron waited almost a 100 years before she could bear children. We waited 3 days before Jesus rose. You get the point. There are plenty of times where people had to wait, but in every instance of waiting there was a blessing. I know many of us are waiting for our kids to go back to school, waiting until we don’t have to wear masks, waiting for the markets to return to normal, waiting for life to resume to what we are used to! So waiting is what we will do. We have no choice. I somewhat feel like David in the Lion’s Den. Remember that story? But, during this time of waiting, We need to re-evaluate ourselves and our lives. Are we being the best person we can be? Are we helping those who need help? Are we spending enough time with loved ones? Trust me, I am no fan of waiting and I feel like my patience is wearing thin, but I keep reminding myself that God is always faithful and He will follow through and we all will be in a better place and all be better people with a new respect. Until then, we need to wait. Know that God’s plan and timing is better than our own. As we wait, I challenge you to write down the things that are important to you and all the good things in your life, even during this hard time. The good will outweigh the bad. Let’s take this waiting time to become better people! J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 2 0

The Impact of a Powerful Teacher Tell us some history about yourself. Where you grew up , etc. I was born and raised in Edinburg, Texas and I graduated from Edinburg High School in 1973. I was very involved in sports while in high school and an active FFA member for 4 years. I attended Sam Houston State University and graduated in 1977 with a degree in Ag Education. I received a master’s degree from Pan American University in School Administration. I married my beautiful high school sweetheart, Judy Kurzon and we are celebrating our 43rd wedding anniversary. I found success and fulfillment in my career because of her endless love and support over the years. We are blessed with three children and four grandchildren.

How and why did you choose the Ag Field? My mother worked for the Agriculture office in Edinburg and my father worked as a Probation Officer and had a small cattle herd. My older brother showed steers in FFA and I followed in his footsteps. I developed a love and appreciation for agriculture and chose to pursue a degree in Ag education in college.

Who was your mentor and what did they teach you ? My mentor was Mr. Angel Vela. He set a great example for me as a young ag teacher. In my early years, I was also fortunate to work with two great Ag Teachers, Rene Vela and Bobby Ledbetter. I am grateful for their mentorship, guidance, and friendship throughout my life and career.

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Why did you choose to become an Ag teacher ? I began my college career as an Ag Economics major. The summer after my freshman year of college, I helped my high school ag teacher at his ranch while his son was away at Texas A&M. His ranch was at La Reforma, which was several miles away from home. During long rides to his ranch, he eventually convinced me to change my major to ag education. To this day I am very grateful for his influence on my long and rewarding career.

What is one lesson you try to teach your students ? I aim to teach my students citizenship and to build strong character. These skills should continuously improve and evolve over a lifetime. I also aimed to instill work ethic, responsibility, and taking pride in one’s work.

How long have you been an Ag teacher ? I’m retired now but was an ag teacher for 39 1⁄2 years.

The hardest part about being an Ag teacher ? There were never enough hours in the day to get everything accomplished. I was often away from home and my family. The most difficult part would be retiring and stepping away from my students and ag colleagues in the RGV.

What is the advice you would give to a person who is looking to become an Ag teacher ? Don’t go home at 4pm. Immerse yourself in the community. Work hard. Take care of your students like they were your own kids and your FFA parents and community will take care of you. Show interest in all of your students’ extra-curricular activities, not just ag.

Daniel De La Viña

What is the most rewarding part of being an ag teacher ? Watching my students become successful leaders high school, college and in the community.

What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind to your students and the community ? “The most important things in life are not what we have but what we leave behind.” I hope that I have left behind a legacy at Edinburg North High School, with the FFA and local 4-H chapters. I hope that I have positively impacted the thousands of students that I served over the years and have developed leaders in the community. I had the opportunity to teach kids who grew up, became parents and had kids that entered the FFA program. These generations of students, parents, and families have made a lasting impact on my life and I hope to have done the same for them.

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 2 0

MORE THAN JUST INSURANCE! H We award $8,500 scholarships a year

to graduating seniors that are Cameron County Farm Bureau members.

We spent over $11,000 at the Livestock Show on animal bids

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H We donate to Sunny Glen Children’s Home in San Benito.

H Your Farm Bureau membership provides a

County Fair & Livestock Show to build a new barn.

Anyone can become a member and take advantage of all these services for only

$49.00 a year

lot of services to youth and community

Why you should join your Cameron County Farm Bureau Membership Discounts:

Farm Bureau promotes today’s farmers and ranchers!

Support us today!

Cameron Co. Farm Bureau

335 N. Oscar Williams Rd. San Benito, TX 78586 (956) 399-8183

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National voice of agriculture, working through our grassroots organizations to enhance and strengthen the lives of rural Americans and to build strong, prosperous agricultural communities.

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w ww.te xa s f ar m bur eau. c o m J A N U A RY / F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 9

Ag Mag Featured Farmer

r e h t a F Son LIKE

eau Burns is in his third year farming on his own. He has 25 acres that he pays rent for and, like all farmers on their own, pays for rent, seed, fertilizer and other necessities.

He also decides what he’s going to grow each year and “pray like heck I’ve made a good decision,” he said. He’s also had to face the scare of the COVID-19 pandemic and how that affects him and his family’s farms. Unlike most farmers though, Beau is a teenager – a just-recently-turned teenager. He’s 13. Beau and his dad, Levi, live in Harlingen and when Beau was in fourth grade, he said his dad trusted him enough to

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give him his own field. And why not? Farming is part of the Burns’ DNA makeup. “On my mother’s side I am a fourth-generation farmer making Beau the fifth, and on my father’s side I am a fifth-generation farmer, making Beau the sixth,” said Levi, who was born and raised in Harlingen. “Both grandfather’s were lifelong farmers and also did a lot of custom work from harvesting wheat, soybeans and picking cotton in other states to planting grass and doing anything to subsidize farming during the tough times. “My dad, uncle and cousin all farm together in the same area - our heritage runs deep in the Rio Grande Valley,” he said.

The bond between father and son can be seen, and heard, immediately once they start discussing farming. Both are passionate about what they do, wanting to do nothing else since their earliest memories. “I have wanted to be a farmer since I can remember,” Levi said. “I have been playing in dirt since I was old enough to sit. I’m in my 28th year of farming and have yet to “go to work.”

Beau echoes his father’s sentiments. “I’m 13 years old and I love to either be on a tractor in a field or playing in the mud with tractors,” he said. “I love to help my dad and grandpa with whatever they need. It’s a family farm that I want to continue and I believe in working hard and one day want to run my own farm for my own family.” The COVID-19 virus that has swept the globe has put strains on many people and changed everyday living. That goes for the farming industry as well, from raising livestock to growing and harvesting crops. Interestingly, Levi and Beau have been impacted in completely different ways, but both remain upbeat. “With COVID, the demand for vegetables stopped and I ended up plowing up half my acreage in onions,” Levi said. “Other than that, we’ve been working every single day and grateful to be out on a tractor in the middle of fields away from everything.” The impact on Beau, however, has been on the other end of the spectrum.

“Because of COVID, I‘ve gotten to farm a lot more,” said Beau, who like all other South Texas students, has been distance learning. “Doing school online lets me work almost every afternoon/evening, and I’ve loved it.” Beau plans on going off to college in five years, gaining more experience while working on other farms during college. His long-term goal is to come back home and become partners with his dad. He also wants to earn his pilot’s license. “In five years I’ll be down an employee,” Levi said about Beau heading off to college. “I look forward to him working under other farmers while getting his degree. We have plans to be partners once he has graduated and comes back home. “Being on the farm with my son is a dream come true. Making sure to teach Beau how to balance the farm and family is very important to me. Beau and I are very like minded so we got a long great -- so far,” Levi added. Beau, who is currently growing DP1646 cotton, “and it’s looking pretty dang good,” he said. He learns daily from his dad, who he described as “hands on with everything.” “I love getting to tag team with my dad in the same field,” Beau said. “My dad is very successful and I learn daily from him. He does everything from getting the machines ready first thing in the morning, to the mechanics, to running each and every machine and that’s what I want to do. “My dad has taught me that you have to have a strong faith in God to be a happy farmer, and to work hard.,” he added. “I don’t ever want to disappoint my dad.”

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 2 0

Ag Mag Questions & answers

What got you to do this podcast ? When the producers of Field Work contacted me about being a host on the show, I knew it was a good opportunity to not only talk to other farmers about different management practices, but also to learn for myself about other options when it comes to managing my farm. We have a lot of important discussions with people who have real experiences with a lot of different methods. I think it’s important for farmers to hear from other farmers about their successes and failures with alternative practices.

How did you come up with the name ? I remember having a “brain storming session” where we discussed a few options, and I honestly 46

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don’t even remember the other options, but I remember when Amy (one of the producers) mentioned the idea of “Field Work.” It seemed like everyone, including myself really liked that name. If I remember correctly, there wasn’t a lot of other discussion. That was it!

What is your vision with this podcast ? I think ultimately the goal of the show is really to give producers some ideas about other practices that have been successful for other producers. Anytime we can stir up some ideas through conversation, I think it’s a great thing. I know I have had a lot of ideas come to mind myself just because of my involvement with the

show. I’m still learning, like most farmers always are. For me personally, that’s the vision. I just enjoy being involved in the conversations that create ideas and innovation.

achieved unique accomplishments and are working on really cool things within the industry.

Why is spreading awareness of Ag so important in your opinion ? Agriculture is the industry that provides the food, fiber, and fuel for this world. Unfortunately a lot of people have become so disconnected from the process because of the efficient, specialized world we now live in. I fully understand that most people are busy and have their own things to worry about, but I think it’s important to spread the message of ag so that hopefully a lot of people can feel somewhat connected. If a few people are still connected in some way, then we can be more successful at staying connected to consumers. Like any other industry, ag has moved forward and evolved with modern technology. Some of that technology is really good for farmers, consumers, and the environment and we need to take advantage of it. I hope consumers begin to understand that more.

What is your experience with Agriculture ? I’m a 5th generation family farmer in Minnesota. A lot of the land we farm today is still the same ground that my family homesteaded in the 1870s when they came from Sweden to start a new life here. Today, my Dad and myself are the only 2 full time people on our 2,600 acre farm when we currently grow corn and soybeans. When I was young, we had cattle and hogs, but Dad quit those when I was fairly young.

What topics are you covering and whAT TYPES OF GUESTS DO YOU HAVE ON THE SHOW? We focus mostly on new management practices on the farms and also a lot of different marketing opportunities for farmers. One of the big messages we focus on is the fact that there are many, many ways to farm and it isn’t an industry where “one size fits all” because everyone’s situation is different. People have different soil, different weather, different markets, etc. Real innovation starts with unique ideas, and I think that’s what makes this podcast so great. Being involved with Minnesota Public Radio, we have access to some “high level” guests, which makes it all that much more enjoyable. We have the opportunities to really connect with some people who have

Where can people listen ? You can listen to us wherever you get your podcasts and at fieldworktalk.org. We are also on Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram at “Field Work Talk”.

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 2 0

Land That I Love BY CALLIE BURNETT

love the farm. I was born and raised there. My family and I live there. I got a lot of my practical education there. My heart beats there. It’s home; and the old saying couldn’t be truer – home really is where the heart is. In many ways for me, it’s the love of place – where humidity smothers in the summer months like a grandmother hugging her grandchildren with no intentions of letting go. It’s the pungent smell of cow manure on a hot and sunny June day, the soothing sound of raindrops on a tin barn roof from a pop-up raincloud in late August, the sticky-sweet fragrance of tobacco curing in late September, and the sheer exhaustion felt at the end of a strenuous harvest season. It’s the mouth-watering aroma of Gramma’s legendary apple pie, the perfume of my great-grandmother’s century-old peonies blooming in spring, the tacky texture of clay soil between my fingers, and the familiar hum of an old Ford truck in need of a new muffler. Home – it’s where I feel the most tangible sense of pride. It’s where farming successes and failures are so palpable that I can physically reach out and touch them. It’s where I’ve witnessed with my own two eyes, sometimes teary and other times in awe, the abundance of God’s handiwork – sunrises, sunsets, births, deaths, plantings, harvests, beginnings, and ends. It’s where I’ve watched my family dream, think, plan, grow, invent, improvise, sweat, and work. It’s where traditions are made and kept, livelihoods and legacies are built, and life’s greatest and most valuable lessons are learned. It’s green John Deere tractors, red Farmall 140s, double-decker Moonpies at snack time, and ice-cold well water from a Woodford hydrant. Home - it’s where we fly the Stars and Stripes high because we’re proud to be American and take pride in our American roots and products. It’s where we have a genuine and passionate love and respect for the Red, White, and Blue… despite the aggression, ridicule, and scorn we receive from those who are misinformed or know nothing about farming…or our way of life. It’s where we till our land, grow our crops and livestock, and harvest our commodities with faith

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and a persistent and fierce determination - even during economic hardship and when we’re at the mercy of Mother Nature and fluctuating market values. America – it really is “the beautiful”, as the song goes. And I think we as farmers, ranchers, and farm families get the most unique front row seat when it comes to America’s true beauty because we play such a large role in making America the great place that is it. It’s been said by lots of people over the course of many years that we are the backbone of this great nation. And I wholeheartedly agree. The “spacious skies” that stretch as far as the eye can see, the “amber waves of grain” that rustle in the gentle breeze – God really did “shed His grace on thee”, and America as we know it would not be what it is today if we didn’t have our farmers and ranchers. Now I’m not saying that farming and ranching is always beautiful, because I think we’d all agree that it’s not – especially as of late. We are living, working, raising our families, and continuing to feed and clothe America in some really tough times that, in many ways, are getting tougher as the days and years go by. But I do think that even when times are at their toughest, there is always beauty to be found. Something I have always found to be true is that we all have at least one thing in common. And that is, regardless of the situation or circumstance, we press on. We’re resilient in the face of adversity, much like this great nation. And the last few months, especially, have really shown our grit and resolve. We’re Americans. We’re stewards of the land. It’s what we do. It’s in our nature. We’ve devoted our lives to providing for our families and fellow Americans, and we go to great lengths to do just that. So let’s raise our flags to this great land that we’re blessed to call home, salute those who fought and continue to fight for our freedoms, and hold our nation’s leaders and military in our thoughts and prayers so that we may keep the liberties we enjoy today. May God truly bless America. May God bless the American farmer and rancher. And may we never forget that the freedoms we enjoy here at home are not free.

Reprint from NRCS news release

Texas NRCS

Seeks Ag Producers to Serve as

Mentors

Temple, Texas, June 23, 2020 -- The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has a new mentoring initiative called the Conservation Agricultural Mentoring Program and is looking for agricultural producers to serve as mentors. The program is aimed at ensuring new NRCS employees are properly trained and mentored about the local production agriculture where they work. A key component is having expert producers who are passionate about conservation and teaching serve as mentors. The goal is to deepen new employees’ relationship with producers in their local communities while enhancing their expertise related to production agriculture. “Through a mentee/mentor relationship, the program offers new employees and newly relocated employees an exciting opportunity to grow relationships with local producers and elevate their expertise of production agriculture in their local communities,” said Clint Evans, acting NRCS state conservationist in Texas. Producers will be asked to share their knowledge of common agricultural practices, equipment, inputs and other agricultural factors with the new employee(s). The level of engagement will be determined solely by a producers’ availability and will be done on their farming operation. If you are interested in serving as a mentor or would like to receive additional information, contact your local NRCS district conservationist or assistant state conservationist for field operations. USDA Service Center locations can be found at www.farmers.gov/connect. Those interested can also contact the Texas NRCS Conservation Agricultural Mentoring Program coordinator, Hani Nguyen, at 254-742-9984 or hani.nguyen@usda.gov.

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 2 0

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t o G u Yo

S I TH CANO BY ANDREW

To the graduating seniors, we are amidst a time that we have certainly never experienced before. A lot is left to uncertainty, and the anxiety that ran through my body during this time in 2017 would have been turned up to eleven. For some of you, masks are the only thing you have to worry about. Unfortunately, some of you will find more adversities. Do not dread them though, in my experience, the moments when I lost all assurance in myself were the times I rose to the occasion and powered forward. “I know. I am certainly out of my mind.”

i everyone, my name is Andrew Cano and I am a senior Animal Science major attending Texas A&M University. I am graduating this December with my Bache lor’s Degree and a Meat Science Certifi cate. Although I was quite nervous to start my undergraduate degree, I was ready to make new friends and begin studying something that I was truly passionate about. As a first-generation Aggie, I was unsure how I would navigate College Station. As most Aggies can agree, it is definitely a different kind of college town. Living at Texas A&M has definitely been… hmm… memorable, to say the least. My experience has definitely been rocky, but I figured that I was the only one that had the ability to fix it, and I did so by meat judging. Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Meat Judging? Why would anyone want to do that?” My response is:

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I remember at my new student conference, my mom and I were introduced to the idea of judging teams. In good ol’ mom fashion, she believed that I had the talent and determination in order to try out, take a spot, and represent TAMU across the country. Meanwhile, in skeptical teenage son fashion, I rolled my eyes and did not pay it much mind, as judging wasn’t my forté in 4-H. As I started my first semester of college, I quickly realized that she was correct. Not about me being talented, but about needing to make friends and getting involved. However, due to the overwhelming pressure that the first year of college can put on a student, I wasn’t really thinking about organizations or judging teams. I was more concerned with my plummeting grades and the awful roommate situation that I was dealing with behind closed doors. Nonetheless, I was pretty frightened throughout the semester and began to not believe in myself. I lost every semblance of confidence and questioned if I even belonged at TAMU at all. I tried attending the wool judging team’s practices in hopes to make the team; however, I realized that I did not have the necessary time to commit to judging. My first semester is not

something I am usually proud of, but it is where I turned everything around. It took a month but at the beginning of the spring semester, I moved out of the disgusting dorm I was previously living in and into another one. Just my luck. With the determination to never go back home, I persevered and moved on. Saying goodbye to the wool judging team so early made me feel like a quitter, so I got busy. I was introduced to Dr. Leslie Frenzel when she stood in for Dr. Ramsey’s general animal science class and when she came to speak to my wool evaluation class. Dr. Frenzel wore many hats at the time. Aside from being an advisor, she taught her own general animal science course among other classes and is the Coordinator of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Meat Judging Program.

family. The fighting was ended with apologies, the work was met with complaining, and the memories are filled with laughs. I realize that I put in the hard work; however, I would be negligent to not thank Dr. Leslie Frenzel, Ciarra Gawlik, Kyle Caldwell, Jenna Hunt, Bo Garcia, and the 2019 Fightin’ Texas Aggie Meat Judging Team. Thank you for such an incredible, life-changing year. As well as my parents, thank you for always believing in me even when I frequently do not believe in myself.

I had decided to contact Dr. Frenzel after I had left the prospective wool judgers, in order to put my hat in the ring early for the meat judging team. She eventually asked me to come in and sit down with her, in a meeting that I thought would take less than fifteen minutes, turned into an hour and a half. This included a deep discussion about my time at A&M and what I had to do to make it better. Dr. Frenzel gave it to me straight. Truth be told I was a little intimidated by her, but I understood that she was passionate and was only grilling me so I could figure out for myself if I belonged here. When she met my parents this past November, she explained how she thought I would never return to her for advising and my interest in meat judging was out of the question. She was proven wrong when I came back for a follow-up meeting that spring semester and registered for her meat judging course that following fall. At the time it was just an email to a faculty member in hopes to feel like I belonged. I never could have imagined what I was getting myself into. ANSC 317, the meat evaluation course taught by Dr. Frenzel, was quite a workload for only 2 credits and is required for all students trying out for the judging team. The class is designed to prepare students for collegiate meat judging contests, which consist of learning how to evaluate beef, pork, and lamb, quality and yield grading in beef, and specifications. Practice for the 2019 team started very soon after the semester began, with students dropping out left and right. That November, I was informed that I was going to continue on and be able to represent Texas A&M University across the country as a member of the 2019 Fightin’ Texas Aggie Meat Judging Team. To say I was ecstatic is an understatement. For a whole semester, I stood in freezing coolers just to be granted a spot to con-tinue evaluating meat competitively with some of the most determined and talented people I have met in my life. Led by Ciarra Gawlik and Kyle Caldwell, the 2019 team took the American Royal Championship Team title in Omaha, Nebraska, and never left the top three the whole year. To be part of such a successful team was such a fulfilling experience, and exactly what I needed in order to break out of my comfort zone. During 2019, this team and I became J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 2 0

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Texas specialty crop sector hit hard by COVID-19

Pandemic created ‘perfect storm’ for many vegetable, fruit producers

he specialty crop sector in Texas — con sisting primarily of fruits and vegetables — has been one of the hardest hit sectors of agriculture due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to agricultural economists, indus try groups and agricultural producers. “Most fruits and vegetables are consumed when fresh and are highly perishable com modities,” said Joe Outlaw, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agricultural economist and codirector of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center, AFPC, at Texas A&M University, College Station. “As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the closure of most restaurants and schools has caused a major reduction in demand for produce. The pandemic has also caused significant disruptions to the supply chain and agricultural systems.”

tancing restrictions, labor shortages and other factors that have kept them from getting their products from the farm to the table,” he said. Leskovar noted while growing conditions in the state’s Winter Garden area bode well for most specialty crops already in the ground, these factors will likely continue to affect producer profitability for some time to come.

Outlaw said while some of that reduction in demand from restaurants and other food-service outlets has translated to higher demand at grocery stores, different packaging requirements, changes in volume needed, other factors are affecting fresh produce prices, mainly at the farmgate level. A recent report by the AFPC on how the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected Texas agricultural production indicates if the pandemic persists, Texas fruit and vegetable producers could be left without outlets for their highly perishable products and ultimately lose more than $397 million. Fruit and vegetable producers in South Texas have experienced anywhere between a 20% to 50% reduction in sales. Additionally, imports of fruits and vegetables from Mexico went down 18% in April, so the demand is still low for both domestic and imported produce. Many producers are struggling to find outlets for their produce and many grocery stores have significantly reduced the variety of items they stock, both of which have had a serious impact on Texas specialty crop producers.

A major shift in marketing direction

Components of the ‘perfect storm’ “Overall, due to COVID-19, the short-run outlook for specialty crop producers in Texas is complicated,” Outlaw explained. “The sudden loss of most food-service outlets for highly perishable products along with good winter production of fruits and vegetables in the state is causing low prices across most fresh produce commodities. Changing consumer purchasing habits at the grocery store, demand uncertainty and labor shortages have created the perfect storm for specialty crop producers in Texas and throughout the U.S.” The COVID-19 situation has had an impact on almost all aspects of agricultural production systems, including those affecting specialty crop producers,” said Daniel Leskovar, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research vegetable physiologist and director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Uvalde. “In the Texas Winter Garden, specialty crop producers have had to deal with supply chain disruptions, lower demand, social dis-

BY PAUL SCHATTENBERG

Ag Mag THEAGMAG.ORG

“Right now, we’re down to about 50% production,” said Brandon Laffere, co-owner of L&L Farms in Batesville, which produces lettuce, cabbage, spinach, broccoli and other specialty crops. “We took the biggest hit with lettuce since that is more perishable and our food service outlets weren’t ordering it.” Now, Laffere said, they are growing summer crops, including squash and watermelon, but are still uncertain as to how much of those they will be able to sell once harvested. “Our biggest challenge is the unknown, but we’re optimistic things will get better,” he said.

“Practically overnight, producers lost 40% of their outlets, and many producers had to destroy their crops because there was no place to sell them. Now producers are waiting to see how much of their current crop they may be able to salvage and how much they may have to plow under.” – Dante Galeazzi, CEO and president of Texas International Produce Association

Reduced demand combined with good domestic winter fruit and vegetable production have driven down specialty crop prices in South Texas. “We’re seeing less competition from Mexico on fruits and vegetables due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which would normally be considered good news for specialty crop growers in the Valley,” said Juan Landivar, Ph.D., director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco. “But lower demand, a lack of labor and logistical issues have negated most positive outcomes for a majority of growers.” Typically, a large fruit and vegetable producer would sell about 40% of its production to retail grocers, about 40% to restaurants and other food-service outlets, and about 20% to other outlets. “Practically overnight, producers lost 40% of their outlets, and many producers had to destroy their crops because there was no place to sell them,” said Dante Galeazzi, CEO and president of Texas International Produce Association, Mission.

“Now producers are waiting to see how much of their current crop they may be able to salvage and how much they may have to plow under. They also have to decide if they should plant, what they should plant and how much they should plant under changing and uncertain conditions.”

additional cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing. And while this is all necessary, it has kept available labor from performing other essential tasks, such as harvesting the produce.” Bassetti also noted during the pandemic J&B made produce donations to all local food banks, but even that sometimes had its challenges. “At the outset, many of the food banks were understaffed and were unable to get our products unloaded and into their system for distribution,” he said. “But the community rallied, and after a while there were enough people hired or volunteering, so they were able to handle the increased volume of produce and other food donations being made.”

Unwanted fruits of their labor Dale Murden, CEO and president of Texas Citrus Mutual in Mission, said while most citrus production in South Texas is now complete, there are still effects from the COVID-19 pandemic. “Some citrus producers, including myself, even though we have finished the grapefruit growing season, were hampered by reduced food service sales and difficulties in getting our product onto store shelves,” he said. “Many of us have had to take more of our grapefruit to tank farms where it can be processed into juice, bottled and delivered.” Galeazzi said while many Winter Garden and South Texas producers were able to cut short the harvest season for leafy greens such as kale, lettuce, parsley and celery — getting most of those products to food service outlets before they closed – new crops will have an even less certain future. “Some producers are hoping to stretch out the season in hopes they will be able to sell to food service outlets once again,” he said. “While grocery stores may be purchasing greater amounts of smaller onions and heads of cabbage, for example, it’s restaurants and other food service outlets that buy the larger sizes. Unfortunately, the increase in retail sales to grocery stores doesn’t come close to offsetting the food-service outlet losses.” J&B Produce in Edinburgh is now in the process of completing its melon and onion harvest. “We were fortunate in that we were finished growing and harvesting most of what we produce here in South Texas before the COVID-19 pandemic hit,” said Trent Bishop, vice president of sales and marketing. “But overall, our sales dropped about 20% because the sales we made to high-end restaurants, hotels and even cruise ships suddenly came to a screeching halt. It was even necessary to disc under a few crops, but it could have been worse.” Bishop said the operation has taken measures to ensure a safe work environment for packing plant workers by having them wear aprons, gloves and face masks, as well as asking them to adhere to social distancing guidelines. “We have also alternated their breaks to minimize the amount of potential congregating among workers,” he said. “Our administrative staff was able to work from home and just recently returned to the office. We’re all wearing face masks and practicing social distancing.”

“There has always been a shortage of labor in this area and the pandemic has just made it worse. We have had to divert a lot of our labor toward additional cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing. And while this is all necessary, it has kept available labor from performing other essential tasks, such as harvesting the produce.” – Jimmy Bassetti, co-owner J&B Produce

Jimmy Bassetti, co-owner of J&B Produce, said demand for certain specialty crops they grow - including Swiss chard, parsley, dandelion greens and honeydew melons - has fallen dramatically. “We’re also facing a labor shortage,” he said. “There has always been a shortage of labor in this area and the pandemic has just made it worse. We have had to divert a lot of our labor toward

Jim Kamas, AgriLife Extension fruit specialist based in Fredericksburg, said with peaches and blackberries now being harvested, producers will have to find different ways to market their product. “There likely won’t be the large numbers of people we’re used to coming to the Hill Country and other fruit-producing parts of the state,” Kamas said. “The loss of this foot traffic and previously dependable outlets will affect producers for some time. He noted the warm January counteracted the number of chill hours the peaches needed, so the crop likely will not be as strong. “Producers who have stayed on top of things and used growth regulators to compensate say they expect to have 75% to 80% of their normal crop,” he said. Kamas also noted the COVID-19 pandemic has been especially hard on Texas wineries. “Wineries and tasting rooms have had to close and many are struggling to stay afloat,” he said. “And the grape growers throughout the state are having to deal with losing that outlet for their product, as well as wondering what future demand might be.” Strawberry growers have been affected as well. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the popular Poteet Strawberry Festival was postponed from April to Oct. 30-Nov. 1. “The pick-your-own strawberry operations have seen a significant reduction in traffic and are adjusting by picking the strawberries themselves and selling them in containers,” he said. “But with fewer people and fewer dependable outlets to buy them, they are also facing uncertainty.”

Labor and market uncertainty A labor shortage mixed with market uncertainty has also kept specialty crop producers guessing, said Luis Ribera, AgriLife Extension agricultural economist, College Station. “Some producers have experienced up to a 50% reduction in harvesting crews,” he said. “There is also uncertainty regarding the processing of new H-2A nonimmigrant temporary or seasonal job applicants, which means uncertainty about the future availability of H-2A workers.” Payments under the Payment Protection Program of the U.S. Small Business Administration do not cover H-2A workers. “The specialty crop situation in Texas is a complicated, one and producers are having to do the best they can to adapt to and try to overcome a number of challenges on multiple fronts,” Ribera said.

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 2 0

a reprint from Farm Progress

Old crop residue and a cover crop help improve soil health and water infiltration says Matt Griggs, Humboldt, Tenn.

Cover crops are crucial to sustainability on Griggs farm

M BY KELLY GRIGGS

att Griggs’ cover crops improve soil health, increase water infiltration and boost yields. Cover crops have made a significant difference for Matt Griggs’ Humboldt, Tenn., farm.

“It’s been impressive,” says Matt, 38, who farms with his wife Kelley, 41, on a cotton, corn, soybean and wheat farm that goes back five generations. “I can trace it back to 1882,” Matt says, to when his great, great grandfather bought a cotton gin in what was once the bustling village of Mason Grove. Both the railroad and the prosperity that would have come with it bypassed Mason Grove, leaving a farming community that endures. Griggs intends that the farm endures as well and has put in place a philosophy of sustainable production to make that happen.

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“We are big on cover crops,” Griggs says, explaining that the lynchpin of his stewardship efforts is improving soil health, increasing water infiltration and boosting yields. “We plant everything into green cover,” he says, “because we want to let the cover get as big as possible to produce more biomass and add more nitrogen to the soil.” His cover crop mix includes legumes — crimson clover, vetch and winter pea. “We went to cover crops on a large scale in 2015, so this is the fourth year planting into green.” Except for cotton, he plants through the mature biomass. “We don’t terminate until the day we plant,” he says. “We spray, come back with a roller and then plant.”

Planting cotton He had issues planting cotton into that thick cover. “Seed-tosoil contact was not what we needed,” he explains. “Last year, we found a way. We sprayed herbicide to kill the cover on a

narrow band and planted into that. We got a perfect stand of cotton and we made the best cotton ever, 1,100 pounds per acre.” That’s dryland production. He says in the last four years he’s “seen some of the best yields ever.”

They say timing is important on the back end, too. “We have one basket cotton picker and one combine,” Griggs says. “We want to get cotton picked in two to three weeks because we have other crops to harvest.”

He does recall, however, that one of the best crops he ever made was in 2014, the year before he converted to no-till cover. “Net profit that year was $50 an acre,” he says. “I was farming out of a jug. The next year, with the first cover crop, yields were less but profit was up, $100 per acre.”

They say cover crops work well in dryland farming. “We can’t irrigate here,” Griggs says, “so a cover crop is one way to drought-proof the crops. We conserve moisture with green plants.”

Lower weed control cost made possible with cover crops, made a difference, Griggs says. “I cut my herbicide costs in half.” Palmer amaranth has been an issue, but keeping cover on the fields year-round reduces weed germination. “We have zero tolerance for pigweed,” he says. Kelley adds that it’s not unusual for Matt to stop his truck, walk out into a field to pull up one pigweed. “They can produce up to 1 million seeds,” Griggs says.

Soil health

A devastating drought in 2007 drove home the importance of moisture management. “We lost $100,000 that year,” he says. The cover crop experiment began in 2010 with tillage radishes. “Those were baby steps, just learning,” Griggs says. “We have learned that no-till alone is not sustainable.” Matt and Kelley agree that conversion to full rotation and no-till cover crop agriculture requires a new mindset. “We had to change our thinking on production,” he says. “If you don’t change the way you do things, you will not survive,” Kelley says.

He’s also using cover crops to build soil health. “Organic matter has improved from 1.5 percent to 3 percent,” he says. Water infiltration rate changed significantly. “With no-till but no cover crop, the maximum water infiltration rate is about 2 inches per hour. I’ve documented infiltration on cover crop fields at 62 inches an hour.” He explains that infiltration rate was 62 inches per hour for the first inch of rainfall and 12 inches per hour for the second inch. “On the no-till, it was 2 inches per hour for the first inch and the second inch would not infiltrate. This was on long-term, 15-year no-till. The cover crop plot beside it was on its third year with a cover.” For years, Griggs says, agriculture has paid too little attention to soil health. “We have degraded soil. Now, we know we have to build it back up. Soil and sun are the basis for growing plants and soil is the world’s most valuable resource.” Rotation plays a role in preserving and improving that resource. Griggs says it is more than rare to plant the same crop in a field two years in a row. “We plant equal 25 percent acreage to each crop,” he says. Soybeans may follow wheat in a double-cropping system. “Not all of our land is good wheat land,” he says. As the wheat edges toward maturity, they are preparing to plant corn, soybeans and cotton. “I’ll probably plant cotton the first of May,” Griggs says, “depending on the weather.”

Timing important In early April, they were waiting on conditions to improve enough to plant corn and soybeans. Timing is important. “It’s not always good to be the first in the field with a planter,” Kelley says. “Patience is a good thing. It’s not the calendar but the weather and the soil temperature that matter.”

Matt and Kelley Griggs check the yellowing bands of vegetation where they will plant cotton next month. The terminated bands, Matt says, improve seed-to-soil contact and improves germination.

The Griggs Farm commitment to sustainable production is currently featured on a History Channel documentary, The American Farm. It airs Thursday evenings at 10.

Chapters of BY KYLE WILSON

his chapter of my life could be called “there’s crap everywhere and most of it is broken.” If I could harness my children’s capacity for losing and destroying tools, for example, the world would never have an energy problem again. They are both resourceful and ambitious at obtaining the very things that I wish they would leave alone most. But as much it frustrates me, I secretly love it. I know you love it, too. On average a farmer gets about 600 fewer hours of sleep every year than most Americans. The average parent loses about 1,000 hours of sleep the first year of a baby’s life alone. So with those numbers, I figure we all should have died some time last week. We’re still here, though. Do you think that’s what our kids will see and internalize from watching us? That we didn’t get beat? Do you think they’ll see that excellence means our heads are bloody but unbowed? Let’s be honest, most of our heads are bloodied

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LIFE right now. Recently when a friend of mine was asked why, in the midst of the turmoil, he was still farming, he smiled and said, “because foreclosures take time.” I think you have to have ice in your veins to make a joke about that. I’m sure most of you do.

Why in the world do we keep going? Even if you’re a 4th, 5th. Or 6th generation outfit, it’s bigger than your heritage. Maybe we’re doing it for theirs. The kids. Not out of tradition, guilt, or even duty, but because we really want them to be able to experience the satisfaction of going to sleep when they’re tired and not just because it’s bedtime. We want them to see that sometimes, little failures are ok, too. Failing is not the end, and that’s not the worst thing that can happen. That they can dust off and move on when something doesn’t work out. Not least of all, I want them to see that they can laugh. Last winter I had one pretty bad day. On my way to work in the morning a strap broke and my load came off the trailer. Shortly thereafter a

seal in the front end of my tractor failed and with only the rear wheels spinning I sunk it in mud up to the frame. After spending some time getting the machine out, it began to snow. Before I left for home I prayed to be able to make it there without incident. I wasn’t sure I could handle another obstacle. Approaching one of the last passes before home, the snow got too deep and the truck slid off onto the shoulder. I’ve heard it said that God writes great comedy, He just has so many bad actors. I sat there and laughed in the snow on the shoulder that day. God has a good sense of humor. I want my kids to see that sometimes, when things go wrong, it’s ok to laugh it off. I want the kids to see what it means to make something out of nearly nothing. I want them to see a pile of bar stock become an implement. I want them to see what it’s like to build a life and a family with little more than the idea that we could.

Ultimately, I want to show the kids that whatever they are, that’s all they have to be. And that when they finally settle on the part they’ll play, they can start to become good at it. That’s my hope for you, just the same. I hope you go to bed so tired that your thoughts can’t race. I hope that you give yourself grace. I hope that when your brow is beaten your head is still high. I hope you can find humor when things aren’t so happy. I hope that whatever you have to work with is enough. It doesn’t matter if you pump water or pray for rain. If you plough 5 acres or plant 50,000. There are little ones looking at you and wondering what to do next. You matter. You’re just who they need to see. You’re doing great. See you around.

I’d love for my kids to see that we don’t have all the answers, we don’t know what’s going to happen, and we keep moving forward in spite of the uncertainty. That progress means not digging in our heels, but marching on.

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New Texas A&M AgriLife report provides details on Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Much-needed aid announced for agricultural producers greatly affected by COVID-19 BY PAUL SCHATTENBERG The Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University in College Station has released a new report providing details and insights into the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. “Overview of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, CFAP,” was produced by center co-directors Bart Fischer, Ph.D., and Joe Outlaw, Ph.D., along with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agricultural economists David Anderson, Ph.D., College Station, and Justin Benavidez, Ph.D., Amarillo. Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released details on CFAP and announced that sign-up for the program will be from May 26 to Aug. 28. In providing direct support to farmers and ranchers, USDA is drawing on two separate funding authorities: $9.5 billion from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES Act, and $6.5 billion from the Commodity Credit Corporation, or CCC. “Given the scope of the challenges facing the agricultural industry, more assistance will undoubtedly be needed as the impact of the pandemic continues to unfold,” Fischer said. “This report is based on our review of available information, but eligibility for the new program will ultimately be determined by USDA.” Fischer said the CFAP’s $19 billion package contains two primary components: • First, the USDA’s commitment to partner with regional and local distributors to purchase $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy and meat, beginning with the procurement of an estimated $100 million per month in fresh fruits and vegetables, $100 million per month in a variety of dairy products and $100 million per month in meat products. • Second, the USDA’s commitment to provide $16 billion in direct support to agricultural producers where prices and market supply chains have been impacted and to assist producers with additional adjustment and marketing costs resulting from lost demand and short-term oversupply for the 2020 marketing year caused by COVID-19. “This report provides an update on both components of CFAP,” Fischer said. The CFAP provides much-needed aid for producers who have been significantly affected by COVID-19, Outlaw noted. Despite the fact the coronavirus relief bill provided a $14 billion replenishment for the CCC, the funding is not available until after June 2020. As a result, they are drawing on existing CCC funding to operate the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. According to the report, commodities eligible for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program include: • Livestock: cattle, hogs and sheep (lambs and yearlings only). • Dairy • Wool • Non-specialty crops: malting barley, canola, corn, upland cotton, millet, oats, soybeans, sorghum, sunflowers, durum wheat and hard red spring wheat. • Specialty Crops — Fruits: apples, avocados, blueberries, cantaloupe, grapefruit, kiwifruit, lemons, oranges, papaya, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, tangerines, tomatoes and watermelons. • Specialty Crops — Vegetables: artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers,

70 Ag Mag

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has committed to partner with others to purchase $3 billion in agricultural products, including dairy. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Kay Ledbetter)

Many producers are have planted cotton and hope the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program will help them through a struggling market. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Kay Ledbetter) Specialty crops are among the commodities eligible for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Kay Ledbetter)

eggplant, garlic, iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, dry onions, green onions, peppers, potatoes, rhubarb, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes and taro. • Nuts: almonds, pecans and walnuts. • Other: beans and mushrooms. In relation to the $16 billion in direct payments to agricultural producers, the report provides clarification on payment rates and eligible commodities, payment limits and income tests, and payment reductions. It also provides payment calculations and examples by commodity. While CFAP provides a significant amount of aid, there are several losses not covered, Fischer said. “As noted in another recent report by the Agricultural and Food Policy Center, losses to Texas agriculture alone could exceed $8 billion,” he said. “As Congress continues to debate the next steps, there remain some ongoing items of concern for those involved in production agriculture.” He identified some of those additional items of concern as: • 2020 Row Crops: CFAP only provides assistance for crops held in inventory as of Jan. 15. In other words, it provides no assistance for the 2020 crop year. • Livestock: While livestock producers in general and cattle producers in particular are the biggest recipients of assistance from CFAP, the estimated support for cattle is still significantly less than half of the damages estimated by industry. While animals marketed between Jan. 15 and April 15 and held in inventory from April 16 to May 14 will be eligible for a CFAP payment, there likely will be calls for additional assistance. Also, those producing poultry on contract and paid by pounds produced may accrue significant additional losses. • Others in the Supply Chain: CFAP provides no direct benefits to anyone in the supply chain after leaving the farm gate. For example, ethanol producers are under tremendous strain. Also, the merchandising supply chain for cotton has incurred significant carrying charges, logistical costsand market disruptions not currently addressed by CFAP. “We hope this information on CFAP will be of use to producers as they sign up for the program,” Fischer said.

exas A & M AgriLife Extension recently added a new Agent position in Starr County to oversee the Better Living for Texans Program. Heidi C. Lopez, a contributor to Ag Mag, was promoted from Program Coordinator to Agent, overseeing the educational efforts of two nutrition educators, in support of healthy lifestyle management education for low income, SNAP-benefit eligible families. This program, available in 44 Texas counties, offers education for adults and seniors, youth, and pre-school children on healthy lifestyles. It includes classes and workshops on vegetable gardening, food safety, nutrition, the importance of exercising and saving money at the grocery store and food resource management. Lopez also oversees several community gardens in Starr County. Lopez grew up in Mission, Texas and graduated from the University of Texas – Pan American, with degrees in Biology and in Spanish. Additionally, she has a Master of Science in Plant and Soil Science from Texas A & M University at Kingsville. Lopez began her career with Texas A & M AgriLife Extension, in 2013, as a Program Coordinator for a multi-county educational program on citrus greening disease, working with Extension staff, USDA and Texas Department of Agriculture staff and scientists at the Texas A & M Kingsville Citrus Center, as well as, with local growers. She joined the staff at the Starr County office of Texas A & M AgriLife Extension in 2016 as an Extension Assistant with the Better Living for Texans Program. She provides educational articles for Ag Mag, several area newspapers and has provided programs on local Spanish television. Her office is in Rio Grande City and she can be reached at (956) 487-2306 or by email: heidi.lopez@ ag.tamu.edu.

HEIDIz

Lope

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 2 0

Issue 36 of Ag Mag

Articles inside

Land That I Love

You Got This

New Texas A&M AgriLife Report Provides Details On Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

Faith and Farming

Miracles of Balanced Plant Nutrition

Dicamba Availability Critical to Cotton Production

Lighthizer’s Crystal Ball

Fall Fertilizer Applications for the 2021 Crop

Top 2 Video Conferencing Apps to Use In 2020

Manage Conservation Activities Urban Horticulture and COVID-19

Cattle Fever Tick Numbers On The Rise

DIRECT FROM TEXAS

Big AG Issues Bow To Weather Markets For Now