Issue 45 of AG MAG by THEAGMAG

Michelle Martin

1 Peter 3: 8-9 “ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some under stand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

A Letter from the Editor If you know me... you know I LOVE the beach- mostly because it makes me feel connected to my mom who is happy in heaven... But here’s a story that shows GOD answers prayers.. maybe not at our time, and the way we want - but he does! My mom and I always searched for sand dollars when at the beach - which was always. Since she’s been gone I try to do some of the things she did with me, with Knox. Searching for sand dollars was one. So yesterday Knox and I walked the beach in the cold. We spread some of my moms ashes and I said under my breath - “mom send me a sand dollar so I can show Knox.” Knox and I said a little prayer shortly after and began the search. We have searched on and off for almost a year to come up empty handed. His faith was starting to wear, but I’ve always taught him - prayers are answered in the right time. Sadly we walked off the beach yesterday, and were sand dollarless. Later that night, I hear Clayton Martin yelling at our dog to release what she had in her mouth. Knox quickly goes to the dog and says, “she has a Sand dollar in her mouth!” I thought he was lying, we don’t even have many shells in our place. But sure enough… IT WAS A SAND DOLLAR! Where it came from I HAVE NO idea! My little prayer was answered by the big man upstairs, and my mom sent a sign she’s still here. Just goes to show you, you’re prayer may not be answered in the time you want - or how you want - but they are always heard and answered! And if you don’t know.. the sand dollar is meant to be a religious symbol. When you open them up they have little pieces that look like a dove and are said to be the “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”. So whatever it is you’re wanting and haven’t yet received, just know God will give it to you in a better way than you could have imagined.

Owner/Creator of AG MAG

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

Al Benavides Graphic Designer (956) 492-6407

In This Issue: 6. Russia-Ukrine Conflict Adds To Marketplace Uncertainty 8. Honey Creek Spring Ranch 12. Exploding Costs Require Farmers To Grow Smarter 16. FEATURED FARMER: Flying C Ranch 18. Getting To The Root Of The Problem 22. Toxic Plants on the Range 26. Getting To Know Frank Schultz 28. Medical Breakthrough Could Help Produce More Beef 30. Queen Citriana 84th & Royal Court 32. Conflict In Ukraine Fuels Uncertainty For Agriculture 36. Garcia Grain Through The Years 40. Rios Of Mercedes 48. Farming Around The World Photos 50. Moon Dog Farms 53. U.S. Suspends Mexican Avocado Imports 60. CULTURE AND AGRICULTURE: Celebrating Texas Agriculture in the Middle East 62. Getting The Most Return On Investment From Your Fertilizers 65. STAR STUDENT Zachary Warren Gray 66. Stepping Away From Social Media

Cover photo by: Christopher Davis Year 8, Issue 45 March/April 2022. 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 © 2022. To advertise in Ag Mag, call (956) 330-8870 or email michelle@theagmag.org

Russia-Ukraine Conflict Adds To Marketplace Uncertainty

ommodity futures prices such as corn and cotton and crude oil had already been steadily rising over the past year as users of these products found it increasingly difficult to keep pace with a demand boom that came as economies recovered from the pandemic. Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine only worked to drive commodity markets higher as exports from that region began to dry up. You can see this demonstrated in the corn chart below where an already increasing corn futures price bounced significantly starting in early March. According to professionals in the trading community, this recent sharp price increase was due almost entirely to the Russia-Ukraine situation as past concerns about topics such as the health of the South American soybean harvest quickly faded into the background.

BY JOHN MILLER

The bottom line is that Russia is a power very powerful player in the world supply of energy products, metals, and crops. In addition, the Ukraine is a top exporter in grains, particularly wheat and corn. The politics of this situation will likely continue to impact commodity prices for some time which unfortunately will work back to increase food and gas prices for American families. This past week, the US banned the importation of Russian oil, gas and other energy products as Russia simultaneously began to restrict the export of selected goods and materials to “ensure the security of the Russian Federation”. The exact list of is not yet know but is expected to include wheat and fertilizer. The fact that Russia is a major exporter of fertilizer to the US places more uncertainty about famers getting some relief from the already high input prices. The Ukrainian ports remain inactive due to the invasion but are largely in working condition. The commodity trading community will be closely watching to see when the Ukrainian and Russian ports return to loading since these ports represent approximately 30 percent of the world’s wheat exports and up to 15 percent of the world corn exports. Much like US farmers at this time, the Ukraine farmers would normally be preparing to plant their crops which is vital to restoring the export potential for wheat and corn from that part of the world. Unfortunately, a great number of Ukraine farmers do not have supplies of seed or fertilizer to plant corn with the chances of getting them in time are fading since the ports are closed under Russia attacks. Supply logistics are further complicated since the rail system is busy getting people out of the war zone and giving top priority to move in military and food

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security supplies. It does not help that Russia is aiming to destroy as much Ukrainian port and rail infrastructure as possible to cripple that nation. The few farmers who had their supplies are trying to make the decision if it would be worth it to plant in the middle of a war. Given the complicated nature of farming there, most analysts have not surprisingly greatly lowered their Ukraine grain production estimates for the coming season by as much as 30% percent. To give you an idea of how farmers are caught in the middle, see the map below showing the concentration of wheat production in the Ukraine overlaid with the location of nuclear plants there. In recent weeks, Russian troops shelled and occupied the Europe’s largest nuclear power plant located in southern Ukraine. This is the second Ukrainian nuclear facility to fall under Russian control which helps one draw the conclusion that Putin has no plans to back down. The second map is an interesting way to look at the region since it shows the Ethno-Linguistic dynamic of this region and helps one understand that so much of this area has people with a common language and culture fighting each other. The trading community will continue to contemplate the risk to global trade flows created by the production uncertainties of this vitally important wheat and corn region, and overall supply chain disruptions as the war situation appears to be headed down longer term path. Imagine the human aspect of daily life and just going to work each day. Ukrainian officials recently announced that key employees in agriculture will be granted a military deferment to ensure timely planting and crop production proceeds. Ukraine has also found it necessary to ban the export of essential goods such as small grains and meats for food security purposes. Meanwhile, the commodity marketplace will continue to try and factor in all the uncertainty, which at this time is running rampant. As calls grow louder for more countries impose direct sanctions on Russia’s oil and gas exports market prices are clearly responding as crude oil has recently topped $125 per barrel and the national average price of a gallon of gasoline has topped the dreaded $4.00 mark. With oil and gas revenues making up about 50 percent of Russia’s budget, world powers hope that sanctioning Russian energy exports will starve the Kremlin of money being used to attack Ukraine. The unintended consequence of doing that however will be continued high energy prices that will throttle our own economic activity to some degree. For the US, Russia represents about 18 percent of our oil imports, so not insignificant. All of this uncertainly has created a sudden influx of cash from investors on concerns about red-hot inflation which would affect us all. The com-

modity markets are viewed by investors to be a hedge against rising consumer costs. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine only exacerbated fears the already ongoing fear of shortages for raw materials at a time when inventories across commodity markets were already tight. The final chart shows the Bloomberg Commodity Spot Index, highlighting where it touched a fresh record high in early March. Farmers across the Valley will likely continue to pay higher than normal prices for fertilizer and other inputs throughout this season. And consumers in general will continue to see food and gasoline prices at unwanted levels until we see some relief in the trade and movement of commodities.

(John Miller is the founder and owner of Southwest Ag Consulting that provides individualized risk management consulting services to farmers and ranchers across the south plains.)

MARCH/APRIL 2022

HONEY CREEK SPRING RANCH BECOMES LATEST CONSERVATION ACHIEVEMENT IN CENTRAL TEXAS BY THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

ew conservation protections are being added in Comal County thanks to the combined efforts of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to safeguard Honey Creek Spring Ranch from future development. Along with a significant bargain sale from the landowners, the Honey Creek Spring Ranch project was funded by the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Council in 2019 and is one of the most recent properties benefiting from the protections of TPWD’s Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program (TFRLCP) and NRCS’s Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). TNC worked with the landowners to apply for this funding and complete the transaction. “The Agriculture Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) is a valuable tool to protect the agricultural use and conservation values of the land,” said Kristy Oates, NRCS state conservationist for Texas. “Some of the many benefits of ACEP include keeping agricultural land in the family, protecting our nation’s best agricultural soils or grasslands, preserving wildlife habitat and protecting biodiversity while sequestering carbon and reducing greenhouse gases. This program helps keep working lands working, especially in areas experiencing development pressure.” The newly conserved Honey Creek Spring Ranch builds on a history of collaborative conservation efforts in the region. In 1981, TNC acquired 1,825 acres in Comal County, which were transferred in 1985 to TPWD to create the 2,294-acre Honey Creek State Natural Area. This easement at Honey Creek Spring Ranch, which will remain privately owned and managed, now

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adds an additional 621 acres to these protected lands. “Honey Creek Spring Ranch is home to critical wildlife species and unspoiled ecological features which are quickly disappearing from Texas. Six generations of my family have called this special place home,” said co-landowner Joyce Moore. “And after 150 years, our stewardship efforts have always included leaving the land in a healthier state. With rampant development now occurring throughout the area, it is even more critical for my family to continue this legacy of conservation into the future.” Owned and operated by Moore’s family since its inception in 1871, Honey Creek Spring Ranch has long served as a site of ecological importance. The property is home to endangered golden-cheeked warblers and to black-capped vireos and a number of other species in decline. Honey Creek Cave, the largest cave system in Texas, runs underneath the property—with several miles of underground river emerging from the ranch’s namesake spring as the primary source of Honey Creek, an important tributary of the Guadalupe River. The cave is in a drainage area for the Edwards Aquifer, which supplies drinking water to nearly two million Texans and the City of San Antonio. It contains nu-

species living in the Texas Hill Country. The efforts put forward by the landowners and our partner agencies to conserve this and many other properties in Texas are truly a testament toward the importance of conserving our wild places for the people of Texas.” Since the legislature created the TFRLCP in 2005, more than 27,000 acres of working lands have been protected. These properties produce $2.9 million in agricultural commodities, provided $170,000 in wildlife value, and $7.3 million in water replacement costs annually.

For more information about the TFRLCP, visit the TPWD website or email TexasFarmandRanch@ tpwd.texas.gov Adding these 621 acres of Honey Creek

Spring Ranch will boost connectivity and resilience for the entire region.

merous native and threatened species, including the Comal blind salamander and at least six invertebrates found in only a few caves in central Texas. While the conservation easement does not allow for public access, the property’s significant natural resources will be permanently protected from future development. “This latest land protection win helps create a more resilient and connected Central Texas,” said Suzanne Scott, state director for TNC in Texas. “The Honey Creek Spring Ranch easement illustrates how landowners and agencies can collaborate to protect land, safeguard water, and protect native and threatened species—critical work in rapidly growing areas like ours.” The ACEP and TFRLCP complements the work of these conservation partners to preserve natural resources by protecting working lands from fragmentation and development. The two programs maintain and enhance the ecological and agricultural productivity of these lands through Agricultural Conservation Easements. NRCS, TNC and TPWD, along with other land trusts in Texas, have partnered to preserve tens of thousands of acres of farm and ranches across Texas utilizing these programs. “The preservation of the Honey Creek Spring Ranch is a critically important piece of the broader efforts to conserve Honey Creek and the surrounding watershed,” said Carter Smith, Executive Director of TPWD. “This property, which has been well stewarded by the landowners for many generations, is located near two of our state parks and provides essential habitat for many MARCH/APRIL 2022

y name is Chris topher Bueno. I considered myself a Texan even though I was born in Ohio and raised partially in California and Texas. My parents were migrant workers so wherever work went, we followed. My earliest personal experience with agriculture was in the fields of Hatch, New Mexico at the age of 13. My brothers and I would spend our summer days picking Hatch chiles under the New Mexico hot sun. I am currently the farmer at Rio fresh for the organic program. I met the Schuster Farm family at an annual fundraiser for a small farm operation at my previous job, Food Bank RGV. At Gem Valley Farm, an educational organic farm at the food bank, our primary goal was to educate the community on ways that they could provide fresh naturally grown vegetables for their families. We worked with seniors, schools, daycares, healthcare agencies, religious organizations and anyone willing to learn how to grow your own food. The program had garden clubs and even hosted a weekly farmers market for home schooled kids from produce they grew themselves. Gem Valley Farm was such a gem for

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the valley that the First Lady of Texas, Cecilia Abbott paid a visit in 2016. Before moving to the valley, I was working at the food bank in El Paso as the Agency Relations Manager. All food banks usually get food donations from retails stores and I would occasionally see the word ORGANIC on some of the fruits and vegetables. I truly didn’t have any interest in knowing what the difference was between organic and conventional. After I moved to the valley and started my first garden, I quickly became engulfed in agriculture and I learned that organically grown food had a different set of standards. To me, organic means that everything is biological. In organic farming we have the same issues with plant disease and pest but they are treated very differently. The products

we use in organic are derived from the earth, properties found on earth can be used to control certain insects. Minerals that can be crushed to produce nitrogen, strains of bacteria that live in the soil can be used to control worms on organic crops. Products that are 100% plant based used to deter other pest. Organic farming has its challenges, but if you love what you do and you do what you love….then it all makes perfect sense to grow organically. If it was easy everyone would be doing it. At Rio Fresh farms, I’ve learned so much from people who have been farming for centuries and we have so much room to improve. If you truly want to get involved in organic ag, contact your local extension office or visit my good friends at UTRGV Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Advancement.

MARCH/APRIL 2022

Exploding Costs Require Farmers to Grow Smarter BY NOEL GARCIA, CCA – Chief Operating Officer & Senior Consultant, TPS Lab

hile farmers have always had to carefully manage input costs, 2020 ushered in a new era of even more daunting problems of which every farmer is now painfully aware. And indications are that all costs and other problems will continue to escalate for the foreseeable future. Farmers had already been trimming seed and chemical expenses since 2016, now they must determine where there may be some more room to cut further. Unfortunately, many start cutting in areas that affect overall production such as fertilizer, chemicals, consultants, and testing. This will undoubtedly lead to a decrease in yields with the current high expenses resulting in a poor return on investment. Cutting input costs that lower yields is a very poor choice when trying to solve the cost price squeeze. Maximum Economic Yields (MEY) come from spreading fixed costs over high yields to lower the unit costs of production. As fertilizer prices increase, increasing crop yields offers more opportunities than reducing traditional methods of fertilizer applications to increase profits. Fertilizer prices are skyrocketing, slamming farmers already buckling under the strain of rising costs. Monoammonium Phosphate (MAP) and Diammonium phosphate (DAP) increased from $250/Ton in June 2020 to over $700/Ton in October 2021. Urea was averaging $250/Ton in January 2019 to over $600/Ton in October 2021.

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More than any time before, farmers can’t afford to guess about fertilizer use. TPS Lab’s Ask The Plant® program including Plant Natural® Soil test and Ask The Plant® Sap Analysis provide precision answers. These tests can net out huge savings in fertilizer costs by using only the amounts needed by the crop. Following the “4 ‘R’s” of Nutrient Stewardship provides a framework to achieve cropping systems goals, such as increased production, increased profitability, enhanced environmental protection and improved sustainability. To achieve these goals farmers must apply the Right Fertilizer source at the Right Rate, at the Right Time and in the Right Place. The implementation of Best Management Practices (BMP) that optimize the efficiency of fertilizer use is also a requirement. Fertilizer BMP must match nutrient supply with crop targets to minimize nutrient losses from fields. Efficiency of fertilizer recovery (how much of the nutrient applied did the plant actually take up?) can be greatly improved by balanced soil fertility and use of biological inoculants, bio-stimulants such as organic acids and hormones that improve physiological actions of plants. TPS Lab’s Ask The Plant® fertility program can dramatically improve the applied fertilizer efficiency while decreasing input costs (Range from 15 – 40% reduction in this time of high fertilizer costs), improving yields and return on investment. Sustainable long-term profitability starts with topsoil and subsoil analysis (Plant Natural® Soil Test) that is truly calibrated to actual plant uptake.

age. This allows maximizing the plant genetic potential by beginning the sap testing as early as the 3-4 leaf stage unlike “traditional” sampling programs that don’t begin until late vegetative or early reproductive stage. By that time, you have limited your potential production by missing key essential physiological triggers (micronutrients and stress) that enhance yield and quality early in the vegetative stage of growth. More money lost at harvest.

Some key physiological principles to key in mind: Plants eat and drink every day

The recommendations will set a nutrient budget for the season that will be tweaked in-season with Ask The Plant® Sap Analysis that allows the crop to make the final decisions on its needs. Otherwise, how are we to know what the plant requirements are at each stage of growth with so many factors that influence the plant nutrient utilization (biotic and abiotic stresses)?

Normal recovery of fertilizer applied: Nitrogen (N) 60 – 80% Phosphorous (P2O5) 15 – 30% Potassium (K2O) 55 – 70% TPS Lab’s Ask The Plant® fertility program can improve recovery to: Nitrogen (N) 90 – 95% Phosphorous (P2O5) 50 – 70% Potassium (K2O) 75 – 90% Timing Is Everything! Example: We most often see farmers applying high-N “pop-up” starter fertilizers at planting – or especially in the Midwest, with its high organic matter and cool, damp soils, applying N as either Urea or Anhydrous in the Fall to “warehouse” it to the Spring. But Soil makes a very inefficient and leaky warehouse!. So, at least some N is lost during the Winter for what’s left to be available to the crop at sprouting – when it needs that N the least, to be finally be depleted by the time the crop needs it the most – same as when it is used as part of a pop-up. Money lost in inefficient and unnecessary use of Nitrogen! That money would have been much better spent on P and K to build roots at pre-plant! Correcting soil nutrients for balanced nutrient supply is essential for a healthy crops and soil. Maintain with balanced fertilizer (Macro and Micronutrients) plus adjuvants to increase uptake efficiency for best return on costs. Feeding the crop what, when and how much it needs for maximum returns of yield and quality is critical for healthy plants that require less herbicides, fungicides and pesticides. Only TPS Lab adjusts plant sufficiency standards to fit needs according to crop physiology that change with

Nitrogen and Potash utilize about 1 pound per day of each nutrient and 1/5 to 1/3 as much Phosphate balanced with other minerals and micronutrients – varies among crops The soil is a poor and expensive store house for N, P & Micronutrients (Zn, Fe. Mn, Cu, B, Mo, Co, Se, Si) – apply only as needed for best cost effectiveness! Only Ask The Plant® Sap Analysis can tell you what, when and how much nutrients are needed to maximize genetic potential Proper adjuvants improve performance: Amino Acids, Humic Acids, Fulvic Acids, Phytohormones, Soil Inoculants, etc. Soil Health compromised of a diverse population of bacteria and fungi is vital for nutrient recycling and disease suppression There are no “Absolutes in Nature” – constantly changing every season. No magic formulas or miracle cures! Maintaining balanced nutrition and vigorous soil life at every stage of your plants’ life cycle will ensure that no matter what challenge Mother Nature sends, your crops will have the best chance of making you money. Soil, Water and Sap testing is one of the best investments a grower can make, especially during these times of uncertainty with exorbitant fertilizer prices. These tools will help you understand where you need to focus your energy and resources. The goal is to provide the best possible environment for your crops. When we correct our soil’s nutritional imbalances, we facilitate maintaining adequate levels of nutrients in our plants as they develop. As crops grow, their nutritional needs change and meeting those needs will greatly reduce the harmful stresses that prevent the plant from reaching is maximum genetic potential. Simultaneously, we reduce the need for insecticides and fungicides that reduce overall profit. The use of consultants willing to council you about your plans and goals is advisable. Plan and prepare for a successful crop by learning what your soil needs to be healthy and what you need to restore that health. Include soil inoculants and cover crops in your plan and you will ensure vital relationships are maintained in the plant root environment for the entire season which will ensure your best bottom line.

MARCH/APRIL 2022

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Ag Mag Featured Farmer

Flying C Ranch:

A Profile of Determination and Conservation

ith the help of NRCS, rancher and former pilot Carla Payne is taking conservation to new heights.

Carla Payne ranches near the north central Texas town of Slidell. Whether from a bird’s eye view high up in the blue skies of Texas or with feet planted firmly on the ground, Carla Payne is no stranger to taking care of the land she loves and the cattle that rely on that land—and on Payne for that matter. An innovator, groundbreaker, and risk taker, this female cattle producer, award-winning Longhorn rancher, and conservationist has been involved in the agribusiness in one way or another for more than 30 years. “My favorite part about farming and ranching is that it’s not an 8 to 5 job,” says, Payne. “Every day is a new challenge.” Payne is no stranger to challenges. Carla Payne has worked with NRCS for over a decade to improve the natural resources on her ranch. She has implemented practices such as rotational grazing, livestock water development, cross fencing, cover crop plant and more. Before turning to ranching, she was drawn to the sky and spent some time in the cockpit. She began flying at the early age of 16— driven by a passion that led her to become a licensed pilot in the agricultural aviation industry by 25. She and her husband, Air Force veteran and fellow pilot, Carl, owned Payne Flying service at that time, an agricultural aviation operation out of Katy, Texas. Together, they seeded, fertilized, and applied crop protection chemicals to area crops with the strong belief that agricultural aviation played a role in contributing food and fiber to improve people’s quality of life. The Payne’s also performed agricultural flying contract work for forestry efforts nationwide, including aerial firefighting in support of Texas Forest Service wildfire responses. Tragically, Carl died in 2000 in a plane crash while helping battle the Cook Branch wildfire in Fort Stockton, Texas. Shortly after, Payne retired from that lifestyle and turned to her love of the Longhorn and ranching full-time. While it is not unusual for Payne to take life by the horns, it is unusual for someone to decide to start a ranch from the ground up without having inherited it from generations of family. However, that is exactly what she did.

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“Instead of staying in the flying business, I knew enough about cattle and ranching that I decided I’d make a go at it,” she says. She explains that she started showing Longhorns as far back as 1986 after receiving her first two as a wedding present. In April 2002, Payne made the four-hour inland move from Katy to Slidell, Texas, just outside of Decatur. Along with some friends, she purchased the land now known as Flying C Ranch. Her friends, who are airline pilots, fly aerobatic planes over the farmland while she runs cattle on it. Today, she not only runs the one-woman ranch that specializes in Longhorn, Wagyu, and stocker feeding cattle, but manages 122 acres of surrounding farmland on which she primarily grows wheat, using some of the acreage for grazing purposes. With some help from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Payne works hard to make sure her land has a major focus on conservation.

Cultivating a Conservation Partnership Payne loves what she does, and she puts passion and care into every decision she makes. It is no surprise then that she was willing and open to partner with NRCS for guidance and support to advance her goals for Flying C Ranch. “At the beginning, when we were first new to each other it could feel kind of intimidating, but once you figure it out, it feels natural. You understand they’re there to help you to make it the best possible,” Payne recalls when first working with the NRCS. Carla has been working with NRCS District Conservationist Steven Ray for over a decade now. The pair’s joint efforts in conservation planning have earned Carla’s Flying C Ranch several land stewardship awards.

These days, she works closely with the NRCS on everything from maintaining native, healthy grasses to rotating her cattle and keeping pastures healthy. Cattle rotation allows for better groundcover growth and improves the land for wildlife. Payne wants to see wildlife on her land, not just cattle, so she works closely with the NRCS to make sure her operation also is tailored to the health of local animals. This includes keeping her cattle out of certain pastures during part of the year so burrowing owls can safely nest without the threat of being trampled by her Longhorns. “NRCS has been very beneficial to me. I’m so glad that I had a neighbor introduce me to my NRCS group. I can’t say enough about using them as a service to help you. Especially if you are new in agriculture.” NRCS staff can help agriculture producers understand their natural resources better with services like plant identification and soil health assessments. She credits the NRCS for helping with things like grass seeding, planning, and building interior fencing and cross-fencing, building ponds, prescribed burning, and implementing a rotational grazing strategy through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). EQIP provides agricultural producers and non-industrial forest managers with financial resources and one-on-one help to plan and implement conservation practices. “Don’t be intimated because they’re in a government office. They’re there to help you. And they have the knowledge.” Denton County District Conservationist Steven Ray recalls meeting Payne in 2009 and writing a conservation plan with her in 2010. “She’s done quite an array of conservation practices on the ranch,” he says. According to Ray, Payne’s latest project involves devoting part of her cropland fields to grass planting, including pasture and hay land planting to improve the forage (or plant material) for her livestock. The ranch boast this stands of forage thanks to Carla’s well managed prescribed grazing program.

Cattle Calling Payne has more than 50 head of registered Longhorns that are often used in shows, including 11 Longhorn bulls. She has about 75 head of angus cattle, used primarily as feed cattle that are not registered. Also in the mix are two Wagyu bulls, used to breed the stocker cattle. While the outdoors is filled with grazing cattle, her house is filled with trophies, plaques, and medals from many years of competitions and shows. Carla Payne scratches the neck of one of her favorite Longhorn bulls, a 2 year old that has already racked up impressive wins in the show ring. She explains the difference between running the commercial herd compared to the registered Longhorn herd comes down to sale vs. show. The commercial herd process tends to be more of a whole group effort. “At the end of the year, all the calves are shipped off except two or three or four that I might keep up here in my own lots to feed out for some personal customers,” she says, whereas “the registered Longhorns are raised for show cows and we’re breeding year-round.” The latter process involves constantly checking cows, writing down birth dates, giving names, and deciding which ones will be bulls or steers, then promoting and trying to sell them to kids to compete with at the shows.

Home on the Range “I want the best pastures for my cattle to graze on,” says Payne. Growing up in West Texas, she says that she saw way too many short pastures or overgrazed areas. “I wanted a place where I could have tall grasses and not run out of grass during our drought time while enjoying the wildlife that it brings in.” “It all coincides together. If you have a good passion for raising good cattle you need to be a good grass grower,” she says. Like her cattle, Payne’s puts a lot of attention and work into the health of her range. By balancing her stocking grade and rotating

her livestock, she has improved her plant health and productivity. Additional conservation practices like cross fencing, building a livestock water pond, and introducing prescribed burning all helped to facilitate rotational grazing. Despite her busy schedule, Carla feels it is important to share her knowledsge and experience with others, sitting on several boards relating to conservation and property management. “Carla’s been good to work with. She is always seeking out opportunities to help and spread the word about conservation,” confirms Derzapf. Not only has NRCS held field days on her property, but Payne has hosted many of her own—not just to talk about her successes—but to help others learn from any mistakes she has made along the way. “My passion for the conservation practices that we do out here is the same reason I’m as passionate about raising the best Longhorn show animal I can or the best Wagyu calf I can for beef,” says Payne. “To me, I like my place to be a showcase as much as my cattle are.”

MARCH/APRIL 2022

Reprint AgriLife

Getting to the Root of the Problem BY KEVIN PINEDA

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ot all evidence of a plant pathogen can be seen above the surface. Phytophthora root rot caused by Phytophthora sp. is the most common cause of root rot. This rot of the root system hinders the ability of the host plant to take up water and nutrients. Below the surface, it can be observed as discoloration and decay of the roots. Phytophthora has a cell wall made of cellulose and is classified as an oomycete, also known as a water mold. Oomycetes are capable of producing self-motile spores called zoospores. These spores have flagella that allow them to swim. A cool and wet climate allows for excessive water is a conducive environment for a Phytophthora infection. However, any excessive amount of water can create an environment for Phytophthora spores to move and infect plant tissue. With motile spores and a broad host range, Phytophthora causes a great amount of plant and subsequently economic damage worldwide.

around plants to prevent foliage contact with spores. As well as avoiding contaminated land. These practices allow a grower to have the most control over a Phytophthora infection.

Symptoms of Phytophthora are often generalized. Many symptoms can appear similar to drought symptoms because of the host’s inability to take up water and nutrients. Mild root rot symptoms caused by the pathogen can be seen as abnormal foliage growth. A more severe case of root rot that prevents new shoot development and promotes death can cause a host plant to wilt, stunt, and can even cause premature death. A host will also show yellowing, chlorosis, and necrosis of foliage due to the lack of nutrients and water. As mentioned previously, excessive amounts of water create a conducive environment for Phytophthora. Fungicides can reduce severity, but chemical control will not completely eradicate the pathogen. Due to this, drainage is a key practice to manage. Proper drainage management and other cultural practices can prevent and help eradicate Phytophthora if an infection does take place. There are a few cultural practices that have been proven to be the most beneficial when preventing Phytophthora. These practices include using plants that have disease resistance, increasing spacing between plants, proper sterilization of equipment and containers between plants, and appropriate mulching

MARCH/APRIL 2022

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Toxic Plants on the Range BY MEGAN CLAYTON, Professor & Extension Range Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

wning livestock is not for the faint of heart. A living invest ment, prone to mishaps like pneumonia, calving trouble, getting stuck in the mud, and internal parasites, is enough to make a manager worried. Add in the art and science behind determining what grazing system is best to protect the long-term health of the soils and grazing forages, and then watch all these plans slowly change as drought sets in. Livestock producers are no doubt a tough breed! Toxic plants are one concern that often surfaces when managing pastures for livestock. Livestock may be more inclined to eat toxic plants during drought because less of their preferred foods are available. Additionally, slowing plant growth causes some plants to become more toxic than usual. The National Weather Service is predicting South Texas will likely develop drought conditions through May. While this is a ‘best guess’, intermittent droughts are a part of our climate, and understanding what potential toxicities to look out for can make management easier, no matter the weather. Less than four percent of plants in Texas are considered toxic to livestock, with only 80 out of approximately 5,000 plant species thought to cause economic loss to livestock producers (Rangeland Risk Management for Texas: Toxic Plants by Charles Hart). Keep in mind that some stages of plants can

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be more toxic than others. For example, broadleaf milkweeds are more toxic when young and silverleaf nightshades are more toxic when mature. Certain plant parts, like coyotillo seeds, are more toxic and even some environmental extremes like drought or the first frost can cause toxicities to build up in plants, such as in Johnsongrass. In general, livestock learn to avoid toxic plants, usually from their mother. Like an unsupervised child in the store candy aisle, what would drive an animal to consume toxic plants in large enough quantities to produce harm? Let’s review the main situations where poisonous plants may cause issues:

• Most livestock losses from toxic plants can be attributed to overgrazing or lack of adequate forage resources available. Consequently, drought often limits the amount of forage available and increases bare ground, promoting toxic plant growth. Consider running low to moderate stocking rates to prevent overuse of the better grazing grasses and follow proper range management practices to better range condition. • When penning livestock, make sure good forage is available and

toxic plants are not present in high amounts. This can also apply to moving livestock to a new pasture. Always scout for potential weed issues and ensure the forage grasses are adequate to support the herd. Evaluate the need for a supplemental feeding program. • Toxicities can occur when naïve livestock are moved to a new location with unfamiliar plants. Be sure new livestock are turned into a pasture on a full belly, so they do not aggressively consume large quantities of the wrong plants. Avoid leaving livestock in pastures with dense infestations of toxic plants, especially if they are new to the area. • Herbicide applications can affect the palatability of toxic plants, where some livestock might graze plants usually avoided. Additionally, as plant growth is slowed after herbicide applications, toxins could build up to dangerous levels. Err on the side of caution and remove livestock from a pasture for a few weeks if you spray dense populations of toxic weeds with herbicides. In general, reducing poisonous plant numbers through chemical control, grazing if appropriate, mechanical control, and prescribed burning helps limit toxic plant issues longterm. For more detailed information about toxic plants and their identification, go to RangePlants.tamu. edu or order the Toxic Plants of Texas book by Hart et al.

MARCH/APRIL 2022

Reprint AgriLife

GETTING TO KNOW

FRANK SHULTZ

BY MISTY CONTRERAS Texas Hemp Reporter

ow did you begin in the field of soil testing, can you give us a bit of your origin story? The lab was established in 1938 by Dr. George Schulz (no relation). Please see attached history which was compiled years ago. I am the third-generation president and conservator of an 80-plus year-old institution, starting as client in the early 2000s. You have clients all over the globe, but here in Texas, what would you say is the single, biggest challenge a farmer will face in terms of crop health? Education. We often get calls from people who say they are interested in growing hemp but it obtains during the conversation that they have done little of no research into the plant, its unique requirements, possible markets or the industry in general. Unfortunately, we have seen and heard firsthand accounts of millions of dollars simply lost by people who lacked experience or hadn’t done their research. Some “bet the farm” and lost it. Even experienced growers, from gardeners to wellestablished farmers often do not appreciate the costs, infrastructure required and especially the labor-intensive nature of growing CBD industrial hemp. (We saw a reduction in hemp acres grown with our clients in 2020 from 2019, largely due to the realization of the labor required.) Additionally, experienced growers of other crops are accustomed to few changes in plant varieties and genetics year after year. However, new hemp genetics are being developed continuously to enhance oil percentages and characteristics, and suitability for specific growing conditions and regions. This means that a grower must constantly be on the lookout for new varieties to better suit his growing conditions and accommodate dynamic market demands for the latest desired CBD isolates.

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A BIG MISTAKE some of our clients made was in retaining Marihuana consultants to advise them on growing industrial hemp. With the understanding that genetics is where it all starts and is key to the capacity of cannabinoid production and composition (or lack thereof), the growing practices for each are quite opposite in several ways: ● With Marihuana, the varietal genesis is typically C. indica L., due to its penchant for producing high levels of THC. Plant stress is purposely induced during the middle and latter stages of development to further stimulate the production of THC. This is done by limiting fertilization, water, light or causing any other factor to induce stress. ● C. sativa L. is the varietal genesis of industrial hemp and typically has a lesser penchant for producing THC. However, THC production is still stimulated by plant stress. Accordingly, it is essential to limit stress in order to limit THC content to 0.3% or less to have expectations of a harvestable crop – even for sativa. The good news is that we can do much to limit stress and encourage production of CBD by providing balanced nutrition at critical times during plant development and to at an extent, managing water. We can even compensate, to degrees, for other stressful conditions such as weather. With Marihuana, stress is encouraged. But there’s more: Because you get a harvestable crop does not mean that you get a merchantable crop! Over the several years, we’ve seen processor’s demands increase for percentage of CBD and even for particular isolates of CBD (CBG, CBN, etc.) – and now, ∆-8 THC (in Texas). The appropriate genetics, stress management, cultivation practice, and correct, timed nutrition and water are the answer. Can you describe your operation in Edinburg? We are a consulting agronomic laboratory, being in the same location for decades and have current technology

analytical instruments. We are are open to the public and encourage growers large and small to bring in their samples or visit with one of our consultants to get answers to their toughest questions.

sandstorm or hail) or sudden manifestations of insects, disease or nematodes. We have had remarkable success in guiding our clients past these and on to doing well by the end of the season.

The main and unique feature of the lab is its proprietary methods of soil and compost testing, emulating the way plants take up nutrients in any soil type and calibrated against actual plant uptake (Plant Natural® Soil & Compost Tests); its Ask The Plant ® plant sap analysis based on proprietary plant nutrition standards and its What’s In Your Water Becomes Part Of Your Soil ® irrigation and spray water analysis for quality management.

By the way, HEMPlan ® is a comprehensive, specialized and extended version of ATP, exclusively for industrial hemp growers, based, in part, upon a decade of experience with Canadian growers, plus decades-long experience in other exotic and high-value crops around the world. Again, HEMPlan®, as is ATP, is intended to be a pre-season-to-harvest program, but as with ATP, we get calls from growers sometime into the season about problems they’re having. Unhappily, some call us too late for us to be able to salvage them.

Test results alone have little meaning to most growers, so our main product is the experience and ability to interpret lab data and provide our clients with specific interpretations and recommendations for their specific crop and their particular growing circumstances. Accordingly, every test and recommendation is custom and written by a senior consultant – no “shotgun” approach. Is Plant Natural Innovations your company as well? Did you formulate the CSL+ Organic Fertilizer? Plant NaturalTM Innovations was established as an independent company to provide formulations of some recently-available and highly-beneficial products which are not generally recognized by growers. The lab’s most senior consultants proposed, developed and designed CSL+ and other organically- based products based upon their decades-long experience in soil health and plant nutrition. Product lines will expand as development continues. Can you tell us about your “Ask the Plant” program? The lab began testing plant sap (petioles) in 1964, making it an early pioneer in private-lab plant testing. One of my predecessors, Dr. Albin Lengyel of Phoenix, Arizona, started testing plant sap in cotton in the late ‘40s and later extended it to many other crops around the country. Another legacy from Dr. Lengyel is the Plant Natural® Soil & Compost Tests. Originally, Ask The Plant ® (ATP) was intended to be a season-long “dynamic” nutrition program for growers to allow them to apply appropriate nutrients in appropriate amounts at critical stages of crop development for best ROI by periodic in-season testing, based upon the physiology of the crop. However, we get many calls sometime during the season from growers who are having serious problems and need help immediately. Accordingly, much of ATP has evolved into “911” calls concerning physical crop damage (such as by wind,

Do you have a success story you’d like to share of a farm you’ve been able to help? Yes. Some years ago, we were working with sugar beet, potato and mustard (plus other) growers in the Pacific Northwest – fairly high-value crops, at the time. They had been relying on state extension agents and their local coöps for advice for years. And it had stopped working – to the extent that several generations-old family farms were facing soon bankruptcy. Our VP-Research, formerly a tenured professor at the University of Maine, thence a Senior Research Scientist with the USDA – ARS, Weslaco, went on a field trip, together with our COO, to visit with some of our clients, up there. He told me that as a [cloistered] academic, it was the first time he ever visited with people who were the end-recipients of and directly impacted by his research. One day, he was sitting in the kitchen of a farmer, whose farm was in dire straits, when his wife leaned over and whispered, “Please help us!”. Our VP said that he suddenly realized that what he did seriously impacted real people. Before, it had been simply academic. This farm and one other facing bankruptcy and others did well by the end of the season. It wasn’t magic – it was simply applying long-established agronomic principles combined with recent discoveries which seem to have been ignored or forgotten by the institutions. What do you enjoy most about your work? I really enjoy hearing the success stories and how we help improve the clients’ circumstances – sometimes even to the extent of saving their farms. All considered, it’s not a bad way to live.

MARCH/APRIL 2022

MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGH COULD HELP PRODUCE MORE BEEF Texas A&M researcher applies revolutionary advances in biomedical research to improve beef cattle reproductive efficiency

BY KAY LEDBETTER

recent research breakthrough in human medicine could help a Texas A&M Depart ment of Animal Science researcher find a way to increase beef production to help meet the demands of global population growth. Bos indicus cattle breeds are very important to global beef production due to their adaptability to tropical and sub-tropical climates, including those found in Texas and other southern U.S. states. But a big challenge or disadvantage for Bos indicus, or Brahman, cattle is that their overall reproductive performance is inferior to that of Bos taurus cattle breeds such as Angus and Hereford, which predominate in the Midwest and Northern states. Rodolfo Cardoso, DVM, Ph.D., assistant professor and reproductive physiologist in the Department of Animal Science of the College of

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Bos indicus cattle, such as these, lag in their reproductive efficiency, something researchers are trying to help fix with a recent medical breakthrough. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Rodolfo Cardoso)

Agriculture and Life Sciences, is leading a four-year project funded by a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Among the collaborators are Gary Williams, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research professor emeritus, and graduate students Viviana Garza and Sarah West. Cardoso said revolutionary advances in neuroendocrine research have defined the mechanisms controlling the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, GnRH. The new insights, he believes, can help his team determine neuroendocrine differences between Bos taurus and Bos indicus genotypes of cattle and use that to enhance reproductive efficiency in Bos indicus-influenced cattle.

This project will utilize the recent discoveries to determine whether distinct differences observed in reproductive function in Bos indicus and Bos taurus breeds can be attributed to functional differences in the brain area that controls the secretion of the GnRH hormone.

Predetermined breeding seasons are key to efficiency A predetermined breeding season typically lasts between 45 to 90 days and allows for more efficient management of a beef cattle operation, Cardoso said.

Rodolfo Cardoso, Ph.D., at Texas A&M University Department of Animal Science, is conducting the new research. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Laura McKenzie)

“Very recently, there was an important breakthrough on the understanding of how the secretion of GnRH is regulated in rodents and primates,” he said. “Our preliminary research suggests that similar mechanisms are also important in cattle and could explain the differences in reproductive performance between Bos taurus and Bos indicus animals.” “If confirmed, those findings can have practical implications to reproductive management of Bos indicus cattle. In human medicine, several pharmacological strategies to improve fertility in women have already been developed based on these novel findings.”

Calving timing matters As many as 70% of the world’s cattle are raised in tropical and sub-tropical regions, and approximately 30% of U.S. beef herds have some Bos indicus influence, particularly in the southern and southeastern regions. One major challenge is that Bos indicus and Bos indicus-influenced cattle reach puberty markedly later than Bos taurus breeds. That late puberty essentially means one less calf in a cow’s lifetime and also presents challenges when breeders try to synchronize estrus cycles for the annual breeding season. Cardoso said typically Bos taurus heifers reach puberty at 10-12 months, whereas Bos indicus heifers often won’t reach puberty until 15-17 months. “That five-month delay makes them not reach puberty in time for their first breeding season, and so they have to wait another whole year to be bred and have their first calf,” Cardoso said. With more than 4 million replacement beef heifers entering the U.S. cow herd annually, the difference between having a calf when the heifer is 2 versus 3 years old can make a big difference in beef production. In Texas and Florida, less than 50% of beef heifers reach the goal of calving at 2 years old due to the Bos indicus influence. Cardoso said heifers that calve for the first time at 2 years of age produce approximately 300 more pounds of weaned calf weight in their lifetime, or a $500 difference, compared to heifers that calve at 3 years of age.

“You can have a very uniform calf crop, which makes it much easier to manage those calves — vaccinate and do all the health protocols at the same time,” he said. “You can wean and sell the calves at the same time because you have a uniform group, so it makes management much, much more efficient in a cow-calf operation. It also allows for culling of animals that are not efficient.” In addition to better understanding the cattle’s reproductive function, Cardoso said, a second goal from a pharmacological strategy is to develop synchronization protocols for artificial insemination tailored to Bos indicus heifers. Most protocols currently used in the U.S. were developed specifically for the Bos taurus breeds. “These Bos indicus heifers already have, at 12-14 months of age, the skeletal size and maturity required to support a safe and healthy pregnancy,” he said. “There’s no question about that. They’re just not cycling yet. We don’t want to induce these heifers to reach what we call precocious puberty (puberty before 10 months of age). That’s not desirable, and that’s not what we’re trying to accomplish here.” A key benefit, Cardoso said, of synchronizing the breeding season more efficiently is being able to use artificial insemination more in Bos indicus-influenced cattle. “Artificial insemination is the most powerful tool we have available to improve genetics in beef cattle herds,” he said. “Artificial insemination is a way that a beef cattle producer can, over time, start improving the genetics of the herd.” But currently, breeders’ ability to synchronize estrus of Bos indicus-influenced animals for artificial insemination is not optimal, Cardoso said.

“We hope by the end of this four-year project we will have a very good understanding about the neuroendocrine differences between Bos taurus and Bos indicus-influenced heifers,” he said. “And, more importantly, we think at that point we’ll have some good strategies to pharmacologically control the estrus cycle in Bos indicus-influenced heifers.”

MARCH/APRIL 2022

Queen Citriana

BY ELISHA ENSIGN

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exas Citrus Mutual, The Citrus Foundation and the Kings Association would like to congratulate their Texas Citrus Fiesta scholarship recipients! Queen Citrianna 84th, Kaylee Ann Silva, received $3,000 in scholarships $1,500 each from The Citrus Foundation and the Kings. The Princesses, Jenna Renee Hardison and Daisy Alexandra Ramirez, and the Lady-in-Waiting, Sofia Monik Rodriguez, each received $500 from the Citrus Foundation and $500 from TCM for a total of $1,000 each. These young ladies are well deserving of these scholarships and we wish them the very best in their future pursuits! Queen Citrianna, Kaylee Ann Silva, said, “Receiving the scholarship was an absolute blessing! I am studying Range and Wildlife Management at Texas A&M University Kingsville where I then plan to attain my master’s in marine biology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in hopes of becoming a Marine Rehabilitator! I am grateful for the tremendous amount of love and support from the Kings Association, Texas Citrus Fiesta, and Texas Citrus Mutual!”

In 1932, Paul Ord and the Young Men’s Business League came together to promote and spread word of the world’s sweetest Citrus from the Rio Grande Valley. They created the Texas Citrus Fiesta, an annual celebration of the citrus grown in the RGV. Since that time, The Texas Citrus Fiesta has taken pride in celebrating our world-famous citrus and promoting values of education, leadership and community. There are several events and traditions each year including the Product Costume Show, Parade of Oranges, Fiesta Fun Fair, Coronation of King Citrus and Queen Citrianna, and a Royal Gala. The selection of our King Citrus, Queen Citrianna and her Royal court is a special tradition for the Citrus Fiesta. On coronation night, a new king, queen and young duchesses from around the RGV are crowned. At coronation a new Queen Citrianna is selected and waits one year in preparation for her crowning. Queen Citrianna must be a young lady between the age of 16-19 years old who must have knowledge of Texas Citrus Fiesta history, traditions, the product they are representing, and about the citrus industry as well. She must be a young lady who can express herself professionally, gracefully and intellectually when speaking in public and with her peers. She will represent the citrus industry, its growers, The Citrus Fiesta and The Rio Grande Valley during her time as Queen. Being part of the queen’s court entails the same criteria. In addition, they have the Princess Anna Pageant for 6 year old’s and one Princess Anna is selected and four Princess Blossoms. The Citrus Fiesta travels every year with their king and court to Laredo, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and other areas in Texas to participate in their parades and events to promote the Citrus industry.

MARCH/APRIL 2022

CONFLICT IN UKRAINE FUELS UNCERTAINTY FOR AGRICULTURE reprint from Agri-life

The Russian invasion brought devastation to Ukraine, but uncertainty and volatility fueled by this conflict are rippling through U.S. and Texas agriculture markets. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economists said both Russia and Ukraine do not represent major destinations for U.S. commodities, ranking 56th and 80th, respectively. However, the conflict’s impact on global trade, trade alliances and infrastructure could ripple throughout U.S. sectors in the near- and long-term future. Russia imported between $1.2 billion and $1.6 billion of U.S. agricultural products annually until imports fell to around $200 million to $300 million over the last five years, following its invasion of Crimea. David Anderson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension economist, Bryan-College Station, said this type of conflict creates a “factor of chaos.” The invasion may not directly impact U.S. supply chains, but it will likely disrupt specific sectors, commodities and products as well as create uncertainty, which typically leads to market volatility. For example, Anderson said the invasion and subsequent sanctions against Russia could further complicate U.S. fertilizer supplies and prices. He noted one major fertilizer product component comes from a Russian-based company. Anderson said this type of conflict directly impacts lives in that region, but it also creates worry and uncertainty throughout all sectors and markets that ripple through the U.S. economy and many other countries to varying degrees. “We are blessed to live in a big, diverse nation where we produce an exportable excess of many basic agricultural commodities,” Anderson said. “We do import a lot of fruits and vegetables and coffee, but none of that is coming from Ukraine or Russia.”

Ukraine, Russia conflict and wheat Mark Welch, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension small grains economist, Bryan-College Station, said the futures grain markets, from wheat to grains for livestock feed, will likely be affected most by the invasion. Ukraine and Russia together are expected to account for about 30% of global wheat exports in the current marketing year. On Monday, Kansas City July wheat contracts, which represent harvest contracts for Texas producers, fluctuated wildly but were expected to trend higher, Welch said. Corn and soybean prices were

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Wheat is among commodities that could be impacted by conflict between Ukraine and Russia in the near- and long-term. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo Laura McKenzie)

also trading higher. “We are pretty deep into the current marketing year for wheat, which ends May 31, so I do not know how much more wheat is left to be shipped in the next few months,” he said. “In that respect, the timing of this invasion may limit short-term impacts. Certainly, damage to port infrastructure or shipping restrictions in the Black Sea will slow trade and make it much more expensive.” China announced it is open to grain shipments from Russia. This would provide an outlet for Russian grain sales and help China meet its grain import needs. Much like what happened during the tariff war between the U.S. and China, trade alliances and flows may shift, Welch said. “It’s really tough to say right now because there are more questions than answers,” he said. “Uncertainty fuels volatility, and when commodity supplies tighten, any disruption to the market can make an impact.”

Cattle, poultry and pork Anderson said Ukraine and Russia will have very little direct impact on U.S. protein markets, but the conflict could impact some trade sectors indirectly, including protein production. According to a CME Group’s Daily Livestock Report following the invasion, the impact of restrictions on Russian protein purchases in the world market are likely to have no impact on global trade of those items. Russia once relied on imports for proteins like pork, poultry and beef, but has reduced its dependence by increasing domestic production. In 2010, Russia imported around one-third of its pork, but increased its production by 26% and is now a net exporter of pork. In the early 2000s, more than half of Russia’s chicken was imported, but by 2010 imports dropped to 27%. Last year, Russia imported 5% of the poultry it consumed, but also exported the same amount. Beef has been more difficult to secure because of land requirements, know-how and domestic preference, according to the CME report. Russian beef consumption has fallen 32% since 2010, and much of its beef imports come from neighbor-

ing ally Belarus. AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

A map of the 12 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension districts.

CENTRAL

Conditions were windy, cold and damp with below normal temperatures. Most counties reported short soil moisture levels. The district experienced heavy frosts and some freezing rain. Rainfall amounts were light and soil moisture levels remained dry. Cold temperatures slowed winter wheat development. Winter oat fields have been frequently and heavily frosted since the start of the year. Some fields were mostly killed off or were severely delayed to heading time. Stock tanks held adequate water reserves. Livestock were still being fed supplemental feed and in fair condition overall. Pastures remained dormant but were being sprayed with preemergence herbicides. A warmer trend was forecast for the upcoming week and was expected to trigger corn plantings.

ROLLING PLAINS

Icy weather and low temperatures in the teens were reported. Quarter- to egg-sized hail and up to 2 inches of rainfall was reported in Wise County. The hail damaged roofs, windows, vehicles and some wheat fields. Producers were feeding heavy rations of hay, and supplies were tightening. Moisture from the cold front should help wheat a little. Many wheat fields had not emerged as yet. One county reported the freezing rain amounted to one half of an inch. Weather prevented farmers from shredding stalks and other fieldwork.

COASTAL BEND

Frequent cold fronts disrupted corn planting in many parts of the district, leaving producers to wait on warmer weather or fields to dry out. Where conditions allowed, some corn was planted and several counties in southern areas reported corn was already up. Some fertilizer was applied to fields. Row-crop field preparation continued. A small amount of grain sorghum was planted. Rangeland and pasture conditions continued to deteriorate with livestock showing signs of reduced nutrition. Hay feeding and protein supplements continued. Livestock markets were good.

EAST

Recent rainfall helped relieve some drought stress in most of the district, but counties such as Cherokee, Houston and Smith were still in desperate need of rain. Ponds and creeks remained low. Pasture and rangeland conditions were very poor to fair. Subsoil and topsoil conditions were adequate. Clover planted for winter pastures was starting to produce. Producers fed a tremendous amount of hay and grain during the cold front. Livestock were in fair to good condition with supplemental feeding taking place. Cattle market prices were lower. Producers were scrambling to purchase chicken litter for fertilizer as there seemed to be a shortage. Wild pig activity increased.

SOUTH PLAINS

Counties received a small amount of moisture, but dry conditions continued across the district. Winter wheat was in poor condition. Irrigated wheat was in fair condition. Row-crop fields were needing rain before planting. Cattle were on supplemental feed across the district.

PANHANDLE

Temperatures were low, and dry conditions continued. Overall soil moisture was very short to short. Rangeland and pasture conditions were poor to very poor in most counties. Fieldwork was limited with many producers putting out compost, manure and dry fertilizer for the upcoming year. Winter wheat crops continued to struggle with the lack of moisture. Some producers were beginning to irrigate wheat on warmer days. Cattle were receiving supplemental feed on rangelands and pasture. Wheat pasture cattle were being sold. Conditions remained extremely dry.

NORTH

Soil moisture ranged from very short to adequate. Areas received 0.75-1.25 inches of rainfall. Sleet and hail came with the rainfall. The moisture was helping pastures.

More moisture was needed to bring the soil out of drought conditions. Oats were in fair to good condition. Winter wheat was in fair to good condition. Pasture and rangeland were fair to poor.

FAR WEST

Overnight temperatures were in the 30s-40s with daytime temperatures in the 60s-70s. A mid-week cold front sent temperatures to a low of 20 degrees with daytime temps in the 40s-50s. Precipitation ranged from trace amounts to 1 inch. Dry conditions continued with many counties having issues with visibility due to high winds and blowing sand. Pasture and rangeland conditions were very poor. Winter wheat was also in very poor condition. Cotton ginning was wrapping up for the season. Most growers were trying to get some fieldwork done for the coming planting season. Producers were spraying to keep insects away from crops, but others were waiting for rain before starting. A few producers started irrigating soil but will shut wells off if rain does not come soon. Pastures continued to be bare. Cattle producers were reducing stocking rates and increasing supplemental feed rations. More cattle were being sold. Producers were hanging on to goats and sheep and feeding them. Predators were active as sheep and goats were starting to kid. Feral pigs were causing damage, especially along the Pecos River. El Paso Lower Valley was receiving some effluent water for row crop pre-irrigation, pecan orchards and alfalfa fields. Rows were being listed in some areas. Water levels at Elephant Butte reservoir were low as they were last year. Although Pima cotton prices were very high this year, very little cotton was expected to be planted due to severe drought conditions.

WEST CENTRAL

Scattered showers were reported but all areas needed more rainfall. The weather was cold and icy midweek. Temperatures were expected to warm and could get grasses growing. Wheat was germinating, but this will likely have a negative impact on overall grain production, as late-germinating wheat may not vernalize. Fields were being prepared for spring planting but moisture will be needed before seed goes in the ground. Livestock were being fed and hayed to maintain body condition.

SOUTHEAST

Scattered rainfall was reported, and soil moisture ranged from very poor to surplus. A week of sunshine in the forecast will help dry pastures in some areas for fieldwork to resume. Producers were beginning to work rice fields for planting season. Livestock appeared to be in fair condition. Soil temperatures were slightly above the mid-40s, depending on the location. Producers were considering preparing for warm-season perennial grass establishment activities over the next month. Cool-season forages were still not initiating much growth with the current cool temperatures. Rangeland and pasture conditions were holding between very poor and fair. Pastures were in late winter condition with light frost in the mornings. Some fieldwork preparation for rice planting was done on higher ground. Pond weeds grew and then died back as temperatures dropped.

SOUTHWEST

Conditions were cold and windy with no measurable rainfall reported. Rangelands were extremely dry, and pastures were grazed. Warm-season plants were emerging, but the lack of subsoil moisture was slowing growth for seedlings and warm-season perennials coming out of dormancy. Corn planting began. Winter wheat and oats were in poor condition. Recent freezes allowed fruit trees to get needed chill hours for fruit production. Cattle prices remained steady while goat and sheep prices had risen slightly. Spring lambing and kidding were underway. Livestock were in fair condition. Supplemental feeding of livestock and wildlife continued.

SOUTH

Northern and eastern parts of the district were very short on moisture while western and southern areas received short to adequate moisture. One area reported a soaking drizzle rain. Temperatures reached 30 degrees below normal average. Irrigated food plots of oats looked good, but non-irrigated were no longer growing. Blackbrush plants were blooming. Producers continued to prepare fields for planting. Farmers in some areas were hesitant about planting because soils were powder dry. In other areas, farmers were slowly planting according to the amount of soil moisture available in fields. Cooler temperatures were delaying some plantings in areas with adequate moisture. Sunflowers, corn and sorghum were being planted before a cold front arrived with some precipitation. Warmer weather in the forecast should help those fields emerge. Vegetables, sugarcane and citrus harvests continued. Cool nighttime temperatures were helping vegetable crops. Livestock producers were providing heavy amounts of supplemental feed, marketing calves and culling cows in drier areas. Many pastures have little to no grass. Reports of fires increased, and ungrazed pastures pose a fire danger. Stock tank levels were fair. Areas with more moisture reported mixed pasture conditions with grasses and forbs emerging from dormancy. Bermuda grass remained brown and dormant. Citrus tree farmers were hoping surviving trees will bloom and produce a higher-yielding crop this year.

MARCH/APRIL 2022

Garcia Grain through the years

arcia Grain Trading began its business in the early 90s, mainly exporting Black & Pinto dry-edible beans, corn, as well as milo. That alone kept the family busy. They work year-round as the

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weather allows for more than 1 crop season, but their busiest time is during the big spring / summer harvest season that runs from June to September, that is an “all-hands on deck, 24/7 busy environment” The business’s electric growth, combined with promising Rio Grande Valley weather, has helped keep

the Garcia family busy year round. It’s a good position to be in. “We essentially never stop working, thanks to our weather,” said Mauricio Garcia, one of nine family members who make up part of Garcia Grain Trading, with locations in Donna, Alamo, Edcouch-Elsa, Weslaco, Santa Rosa and Progreso. “We all work with whatever needs to get done, when it needs to get done, not really tied down to a specific role. In the busy season I mostly run around managing elevators and grading, shipping & recieving grain. In the off-season we work mostly on specialty crops like canola, more focus on our livestock, taxes, and occasionally go hunting.” Grain Trading is buying and selling grain in the market (whether it is the physical commodity or a financial instrument such as futures or options). Farmers, elevators, end-users, speculators, hedgers, among others, trade grain. The company has grown ever since the family patriarch Octavio decided to expand his “fledgling business,” as Mauricio said. “It just kept getting bigger and more diversified.” It was a great decision. The company today primarily merchandises grain, corn, milo, soybeans, sesame, canola, sunflowers, cottonseed, Black & Pinto dryedible beans and rice. The company has diversified immensely “with a lot more to offer in terms of products, specs, logistics, and service.” Mauricio said

“Buy now or cry later,” he said. “With fertilizer and chemical prices rising, interest rates rising, gas and oil rising, it seems like in order to avoid pain down the line is to buy as soon as possible.” He also added “Not Financial Advice, Do Your Own Research” Family members who work together at Garcia Grain Trading include Mauricio, his sisters Gaby and Dani, his mother Gabriela and father Octavio, his uncles Ruben and Fernando, his aunt Ana Maria and cousin Americo. “It means a lot to us,” Mauricio said regarding family. “We are very close and live and work and grow together.” Mauricio said he’s biased toward soybeans and sorghum being his favorite product. But there are other factors that make him lean elsewhere at times. “I am biased toward soybeans and sorghum but anything that is profitable for the farmer is my favorite” he said. “But, really, anything that’ll keep the lights on and mouths fed is my favorite.” Garcia Grain strives to promote Soybeans, Sesame, Canola, and Grain and will continue to sell and trade for those involved in Agriculture. If you ever have any questions about any of these commodities Garcia Grain is here to serve you. Simply give them a call at 956-464-6000 they have several locations Valley wide, to accommodate you. Do not hesitate, they are at your beck and call.

“We also sell soybean, canola, forage, and sesame seed for planting, and bagged deer corn and beans.” Mauricio said. “We also have Dorper sheep (a South African breed of domestic sheep), and Brahman and Angus cattle.” One of the newest crops Garcia Grain Trading is working together with farmers to bring to market is soybeans. “Thanks to Andy Scott, University of Missouri, A&M Extension, John Rowland and the farmers that are willing to take a chance to try something new for their rotations, they are spearheading and breaking ground on a crop that previously, did not perform well in the area, now not only does it perform well, it is profitable enough to compete with other traditionally grown crops.,” Mauricio said. “We also have the largest soy processor in Mexico, two hours away in Monterrey, so it’s a good idea to grow them here, as we have a market for them.” As prices dramatically rise in many sectors around the world, Mauricio said now’s not the time to sit and wait – it’s time to do exactly the opposite.

MARCH/APRIL 2022

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

956-688-8485 Thanks for 11 Years!

LOOK!

MADE YOU

RIOS OF MERCEDES

he Rios family first moved to the Rio Grande Valley in 1901 and opened a boot shop. By that time, however, they could already be considered boot experts, having made cavalry boots beginning nearly 50 years earlier for Maximillian’s soldiers in General Teran, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Now, it’s a name etched in the history of Mercedes, the Mid-Valley and beyond as multitudes of cowboys, ranchers, top of the line entertainers and men and women wear Rios of Mercedes Family Brands on their feet and swear by those brands with their hearts. Most things change dramatically over the long course of time, but there’s one thing that hasn’t budged an inch at Rios’, that after 160 years, the craftsmen who still hand make every pair of boots with artist-like devotion and skill, ensure that no boot leaves the workshop until it’s worthy. Eighty different artisans will touch a pair of boots before the seal of perfection is attached and it’s headed out of their 24,000 square ft. distribution center to their family of retailers. Some of the technology may have changed, but the end product is still the best there is.

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That’s a lot of hands, eyes, knowledge and expertise for each pair of boots. In fact, the average number of years that the 180 employees have worked for the brand is 25. One employee of Rios of Mercedes has worked there for 50 years. “At Rios of Mercedes, quality has been a way of life since 1853. That’s over 165 years of creating extraordinary boots,” said Karlee Loch, marketing director for Rios of Mercedes. “If it weren’t for our dedication to quality and durability, we wouldn’t have such legendary consumer retailer loyalty, endorsements by performance horse greats and musicians alike, and collaborations with fine purveyors of the West.” “As Chairman of the board Trainor Evans once said, ‘You get out what you put in.’” In 1989 under the new ownership of Joe and Trainor Evans, who purchased the company from a group of investors that Zeferino Rios sold to, a second brand — Anderson Bean — was launched. The family-inspired name is from the maiden names of Trainor’s mother and grandmother, Helen Anderson and Macie Bean. “My dad, Trainor Evans, did this as a tribute to these women, who were hard-working frontier women,” said _Jode Vaughan, Trainor’s daughter. “Those women kept the family together and embraced

the challenges of early West Texas. He wanted to give some of the credit he thought they deserved but never received.” The brands kept coming with the Olathe Boot Co. joining the Rios family in 2001, HorsePower launching in 2005, Macie Bean in 2007 and starting in 2015. Then, in 2016, the new distribution center opened to create more boot-making room in the existing factories and to improve shipping and distribution to retailers. Evans, Ryan Vaughan are still co-owners, as well as Carlos Rodriguez and Pat Moody, who have recently retired. Ryan Vaughan came on board in 1999, and embraced the vision of Rios of Mercedes and growing the more adaptable Anderson Bean brand. “We did this by listening to partners in the industry (including) retailers and cowboys,” Vaughn said. “The boot line pushed us to be at the forefront of our industry.” The traditions of bookmaking in Mercedes, Texas have expanded far beyond as we adapt our styles to appeal to a large range of men and women that desire to live the Western lifestyle.

“What we do is not easy, but it’s infinitely more rewarding than anything I can think of ever doing. And in the end it’s all about bringing glory to God and, hopefully, everyone at the end of the day that is associated with our business has a better way of life.” Visit riosofmercedes.com to find a retailer near you and more about the Rios of Mercedes Family Brands.

MARCH/APRIL 2022

Crop Marketing Programs Fixed Price Acreage Contract Standard acreage contract with the commodity price fixed at the time the contract is signed. The best option to eliminate both production and market risk. • Price and acres fixed at contracting • No volume guarantee • Producer agrees to sell 100% of production from a specified acreage at a fixed price • Standard Act of God Clauses

Market Price New Acreage Contract NEW Acreage contract with a market price component. The Act of God clause protects against production risk and the flexible price enables the producer to take more control over the timing on when a price is set. When combined with the price boundary option, downside price risk is protected • At producer’s option, price fixed anytime between planting & up to 2 weeks after harvest • Acres fixed at contracting • No volume guarantee • Producer agrees to sell 100% of production from a specified acreage at price to be determined • Standard Act of God Clauses • Price Boundary Option

Cash Bid NEW Modeled after the traditional grain cash bid system, this provides the producer the most flexibility in how and when to market the crop. • Price fixed in accordance with current bid • No acre guarantee • Volume fixed • Producer agrees to deliver fixed volume at fixed price in accordance with fixed delivery period • No Act of God Clause, but possible to extend delivery period or roll- over contract to following crop year for a fee to be determined

Planting Seed Programs Seed Price NEW

With Sesaco Marketing Agreement

Open*

Untreated

$400/bag

$700/bag

Treated

$500/bag

$800/bag

* Producer is free to market the resultant production for consumption. Seed use restrictions (https://sesaco.com/restrictions) remain in effect.

Seed Financing

NEW

50% payment at the time of purchase with the balance carried to harvest & deducted from the settlement. Only applicable for seed purchased with a corresponding Sesaco Marketing Agreement.

Seed Treatment Best in class seed protection featuring 4 combined treatments (Fortenza, Apron XL, Vibrance, and Maxim)

Replant Policy Seed purchased for qualified replant is 1/2 price

A Letter from the Editor

Psalm 32:8

“ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

Wanting what you can’t have… This letter from the editor covers two topics: wanting what you can’t have and wanting what others have. Let’s be honest. We are all guilty of it. So, let’s take a short ride back to memory lane when you were a child. Wanting what you can’t have starts at a young age. As a kid you might have wanted a toy you couldn’t have, or a piece of candy your parents didn’t want you to have. Naturally, as a child I am sure we cried and threw a fit about it. As we got older, the pattern continued, we just may not be aware. For example, maybe applying for a job we didn’t get, or wanting a new car we can’t afford. We might throw a fit mentally, but our disappointment may be less subtle than If we were a child who didn’t get their way. When we don’t get “what we want,” naturally we may start to become jealous of the ones who have what we want. Whether it be a materialistic thing or a non-tangible item like a job. I still find myself wanting what others have, or throwing an “adult fit” when I don’t get what I want. I try to do better, but I think it is only a natural thing. Over the years I have learned that maybe we do not get what we want, because it is not the thing for us. You see, the big man upstairs knows what is best for us, even when we try to take the wheel. The wheel always seems to go back to God’s path, and if we refuse, we typically end at a dead end or a ditch, figuratively speaking. Not getting what we want throughout life can also lead to jealousy. We have all been jealous at one point or another of our peers — whether you admit it or not. Jealousy can lead to awful things, breaking relationships, friendships or lead to depression. Listen, you have what you do because you have worked for it, and what someone has might be right for them and fit into their life, but that doesn’t mean it fits into yours or is right for you. There is a saying, “you can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you’ll find what you need.” I think that stands true in my life. The things I thought I needed actually have no room in my life. To simplify this, if your parents would have given you all the sweets you wanted as a kid (which they may have done) you would be paying for it now with cavities more than likely. If your parents made you do something you didn’t want to do, you probably are grateful now they did because you had the experience. God is our father, and although we may not see it now, he knows what is best for His and our children. Sometimes, God doesn’t give you something you want, not because you don’t deserve it, but because you deserve more. God knows all of our needs and wants. He knows what will help us serve our purpose. We need to focus less on materialistic things and more on non-tangible things. Think of all the things we could do with our life if we focused on doing good instead of thinking about the things we don’t have… Be grateful for what you have. While you are wanting someone else’s things, there is someone out there wanting what you have. Be content, be grateful, and know your heavenly father will give you what you need when the time is right. 44

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Your business is our priority! Locally grown

HANKA SOD 32054 Weaver Road, San Benito, Texas

956-207-9004

Harvesting year ‘round Delivery Available TIFT 419, Bermuda, Floratam & St. Augustine

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

H We donated $7,500 to the Cameron

H Texas Farm Bureau has a mobile learning barn.

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

H Your Farm Bureau membership provides a lot of services to youth and community

County Fair & Livestock Show to build a new barn.

Why you should join your Cameron County Farm Bureau

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

$49.00 a year

Membership Discounts: ADT Home Monitoring System Hotel Discounts Grainger Industrial Supply Discounts CAT and John Deere Amusement Park Tickets Insurance Services Defensive Driving Course Discounts on Polaris, ATV and UTV $500 Discount on new 2016,2017,2018 Ford Vehicles Case IH Discounts

Farm Bureau promotes today’s farmers and ranchers!

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Cameron Co. Farm Bureau

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

Meeting your needs as they grow

w ww.te x as f ar m bur ea u .c o m J A N U A RY / F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 9

Photo by Brad High

Photo by Alexandra Ray

Photo by Todd Westerfeld

FARMING

Around the World

Photo by Andrew Hasenick

Photo by Caitlyn Macrie Photo by Barry Brubaker

Photo by Drusilla Detwiler

Photo by Jacob Kruse

Photo by Jacob Briscoe

Photo by Maddy Christensen Photo by Scott Harms

Photo by Christopher Davis

Photo by Katrina Schwer

Photo by Corey Mclaughlin

Photo by Simply Country Ranch

Photo by Corey Mclaughlin

Photo by Melissa Westerfeld

Photo by Samantha Anderson

Photo by Preston Gapinski

MOON DOG FARMS: FLOWERS, PRODUCE AND CHILDREN ALL NATURALLY BY MELISSA BLAIR

Valentine’s ev en comes to Moon Dog Fa where the to rms mato shaped lik “Valentomat o” in this phot e a heart was dubbed, o sent to Case Alex aka “McF y from armer” as sh e calls him.

NRCS conservation assistance help urban ag producers in growing produce and flowers for Houston and Galveston farmers markets.

oon Dog Farms, in Santa Fe, Texas, is more than just a small, family-operated farm with a delicious assortment of naturally certified grown vegetables and flowers —it’s become a big way of life for co-owners Casey McAuliffe and Alex McPhail. A way to be able to work outdoors. A way to ensure their young daughter, Hazel, can develop a relationship with nature. And a way to give back to the community they care so much about. NRCS District Conservationist, Chris Morgan, presents a NRCS partner sign to Alex and Casey for Moon Dog Farms.

Moon Dog Farms not only sells their flower bouquets at farmers markets, but also delivers to customers in the local area.

After they both graduated from Southwestern University, Alex studied sustainable agriculture in North Carolina, and both Casey and Alex worked for several different farmers around the country, before moving to Texas in 2012. As they each realized their passion for working the land and being outdoors, they were lucky enough to have family land in Galveston County available to them. “We hit the ground running growing radishes,” recalls Casey, who explains in addition to some existing citrus trees on the property, they soon began to sell small-scale crops at the area’s farmers markets in 2013. “We’ve grown a little bit each year ever since,” she says. In addition to the good, healthy eats, Moon Dog Farms also grows a lot of flower crops. “We’ve developed quite a substantial cut flower following here at our local markets and so more and more of our land gets used for our flowers,” explains Casey.

Hazel loves helping her parents pull carrots.

Trial and Error + Helping Hands Leads to Expansion from the Ground Up Through a lot of trial and error, the couple says they have figured out what works well for them on the land and what works well for

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them financially. “We’ve winnowed down the crops that we grow quite a bit,” Casey says, explaining that it took them a few years to get the lay of the land and figure out how to grow in the area.

allowed us to extend that out so that we can grow things over winter and keep things a little more protected in the summer from the big rainy seasons that we get here,” says Alex.

Today, they grow their crops year-round, tending to all kinds of lettuces, greens, carrots, and other root crops. Summer crops include tomatoes, cucumbers, as well as squash okra, eggplant, and peppers. They are able to keep Moon Dog operational all year thanks to some help from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), who has helped with conservation planning and financial assistance on the high tunnels.

“Like Casey said, [the tunnels] give us just a little bit of control over how much water things get and give us a little bit of control over the temperature in the wintertime,” he says.

“We had done most of our farming experience in completely different environments,” explains Casey, who says they’d spent their longest seasons in New York. “When we got down here, it was quite the rude awakening to find that those seasons do not apply.” “There’s this conception about Texas agriculture that it’s always dry and that it’s always in drought— that’s never been the problem for us since we’ve been growing.” Determined to get some measure of control over the land, Casey and Alex did their research, and hearing from farmers in the north who had high tunnels, they learned about the opportunities that NRCS could provide. “We thought ‘why not us?’ and ‘Why not here?’” They reached out to NRCS, Brazoria County district conservationist, Chris Morgan, who came out to assess their needs, and the rest is history. Chris started as the NRCS district conservationist in Brazoria and Galveston counties in 2016. Moon Dog Farms was one of the first producers he worked with when he moved to the area, having previously worked in the Panhandle and further south. “I got to see them pretty much from ground zero. It was a good and interesting introduction,” says Morgan. “We looked at high tunnels, which is what they originally came in looking to improve their plant productivity and health,” Morgan explains. “We started off with just one high tunnel and moved on with three new ones in 2018 and 2019.” “It was really kind of a dream,” recalls Casey who says that NRCS took care of everything. “They walked us through and held our hands and now we have four tunnels,” Casey says. “Without the tunnels, we were really doing the bulk of our production in maybe two and a half months. The tunnels have

Helping Hands Without the NRCS, Casey is certain that Moon Dog Farms would not be where it is today. “We’ve grown so much since our early days. Without the NRCS we wouldn’t be where we are. We’d be in a different place,” says Casey. “The high tunnels just would not have been an option for us for a long time without the support of the NRCS. Not just the financial support through the high tunnel assistance, but it’s a network. We’ve really felt supported, and we’ve had so many questions answered.” Since their first meeting and with the incorporation of the high tunnels to the Moon Dog property, NRCS District Conservationist Chris Morgan adds, that it’ been a changing operation ever since. “I provide advice and technical assistance here and there,” he says. “What’s really helped is they’ve also taken the initiative to learn and adapt to the soil and to the plants that produce best for their operation.” Casey is thankful for the help they have found in NRCS. “Because we’re a small organic farm in an area where there’s not a whole lot of that going on, every ally that we have is very meaningful and the NRCS has been an ally from the very beginning and we appreciate that more than we can say,” says Casey.

Giving Back to the Community Moon Dog Farms is committed to connecting to their local community and giving back. The operation is dedicated to stewardship of the land, reinforcing a healthy community, and producing great food. The farming duo continue to expand their farm, not just within the confines of the soil, but by looking for ways to connect with their community as well. Casey is also the Executive Director for Galveston’s Own Farmers Market (GOFM), a non-profit organization that connects local community members to local foods. Casey at the Moon Dog Farms booth at Galveston’s Own Farmers Market.

Alex agrees that the tunnels have helped them to claim back the “shoulders of the seasons” that tend to be the more productive seasons. High tunnels have extended the growing season for Casey and Alex and also allowed them to control erosion to keep soil from washing away.

MARCH/APRIL 2022

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reprint from The Packer

U.S. Suspends Mexican Avocado Imports, a Nearly $3 Billion Industry BY JENNIFER STRAILEY

Mexico has acknowledged that the U.S. government has suspended all imports of Mexican avocados after a U.S. plant safety inspector in Mexico received a threat, reports the Associated Press. The decision, confirmed late Saturday, could have a major economic impact on the Mexican avocado industry, say some industry insiders. Mexico’s avocado market has nearly $3 billion in annual exports. The U.S. government suspended all imports of Mexican avocados “until further notice” after a U.S. plant safety inspector in Mexico received a threatening message, Mexico’s Agriculture Department said in a statement, according to the AP report. The report named avocado exports and growers as the latest victims of the drug cartel turf battles in the western state of Michoacan, the only state in Mexico fully authorized to export to the U.S. market. “U.S. health authorities … made the decision after one of their officials, who was carrying out inspections in Uruapan, Michoacan, received a threatening message on his official cellphone,” the department wrote. One path to expedited resolution of the suspension may be the implementation of additional security for USDA officials in the face of Mexico’s ongoing security issues, a Michoacan grower, who asked not to be identified, told The Packer. According to AP, many avocado growers in Michoacan — where the Jalisco cartel is fighting turf wars against a collection of local gangs known as the United Cartels — say drug gangs threaten them or their family members with kidnapping or death unless they pay protection money, sometimes amounting to thousands of dollars per acre.

The U.S. Embassy, which said in a social media post that it’s “working with the Mexican government to guarantee security conditions that would allow [its] personnel in Michoacan to resume operations,” has also said that “facilitating the export of Mexican avocados to the U.S. and guaranteeing the safety of our agricultural inspection personnel go hand in hand,” the AP report said. This is not the first time that USDA officials have been threatened with violence in Mexico, said AP, pointing to a direct threat to U.S. inspectors in the town of Ziracuaretiro in August 2019 and the killing of a Mexican employee of the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on Sept. 30, 2020. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service recently released a statement confirming the suspension of avocado export program operations in the state of Michoacan, Mexico, on Feb. 11, 2022, following “a security incident (verbal threat)” involving its employees. “The suspension will remain in place for as long as necessary to ensure the appropriate actions are taken, to secure the safety of APHIS personnel working in Mexico. APHIS is working with Customs and Border Protection of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to allow avocados that were inspected and certified for export on or before February 11, 2022, to continue to be imported,” APHIS stated. Michoacan has been exporting avocados to the U.S. for about 25 years, and commercial shipments of Mexican fresh Hass avocados from the state have been imported since 1997, according to APHIS. Michoacan is the only state currently approved to send avocados to the U.S.

MARCH/APRIL 2022

News release provided by NRCS

USDA TARGETS FUNDS IN TEXAS TO HELP PRODUCERS WITH INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS ALONG SOUTHERN BORDER BY LORI ZIEHR

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he U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conserva tion Service (NRCS) in Texas is offer ing financial assistance to farmers and ranchers along the southern border currently impacted by damage to fields and farming infrastructure, including fencing and water structures. “We understand that the field and farming infrastructure damages along the border are costly and have a negative impact on our natural resources that our farmers and ranchers work hard to conserve,” Kristy Oates, NRCS state conservationist in Texas said. “Our field offices are ready to assist eligible producers with technical and financial assistance.” Eligible counties in Texas include Brewster, Brooks, Cameron, Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, El Paso, Frio, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Live Oak, Maverick, McMullen, Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, Starr, Sutton, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb, Willacy, Zapata, and Zavala.

Funding is available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits. NRCS accepts applications for conservation programs year-round, however, producers and landowners should apply by July 5, 2022 to be considered for this year’s funding. Applications for this enrollment opportunity will be selected for funding by August 5, 2022. NRCS is allowing early start waivers and a shorter enrollment period. Eligible producers can use the funds to implement eligible practices including fencing, watering facility, range planting, livestock pipeline, and more. To apply for EQIP assistance, producers should contact their local USDA Service Center

MARCH/APRIL 2022

Culture and Agriculture:

Celebrating Texas Agriculture in the Middle East BY JEAN LONIE

Inflation

BY TOM KARST

ou never know where you’ll find a fellow Texan. I am coming to believe that there is something in the global cosmos that makes it nearly impossible for Texans to not find each other when out and about in the world. This fledgling theory was put to the test last month in Dubai when 12 producers and agricultural industry leaders went with the Texas Department of Agriculture to participate in Gulfood and host Texas Day and an agricultural roundtable at the USA Pavilion of Expo 2020, the modern day version of the World’s Fair. Within hours of landing in Dubai, I got word of a couple from my husband’s hometown were also

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in the city at the same time. Since our two pecan growers in the group were also from the same town – which has a population of 4,300 or so people – it felt like a really high percentage of townsfolks who were in or connected to Dubai at that moment! When you dig a little deeper and find out how many oil, energy, and engineering jobs are in Dubai (and the entire Middle East region), it becomes far less of a surprise that so many Texans are there. It may be a slight stretch to say Texans are running the world, but they are absolutely building and shaping it! As it turns out, Texans are also feeding the world. It was that role as a leading exporter of food and agri-

For many of our group, this was their first time in the Middle East. While we had the chance to represent Texas, it was also a moment for us to engage with hundreds to thousands of visitors from a myriad of other countries and cultures. Exploring the country pavilions at Expo 2020 was like getting a glimpse at around-the-world travel. The exhibits highlighted the places and people of 190+ countries and let visitors get a sense of the pride their citizens have in their homelands.

cultural products that spurred this journey east. It was a chance for leaders of our state agricultural commodity groups to better understand the opportunities for Texas products in this growing global market, and to take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime moment to promote our state during a world’s fair. What started as a pretty straightforward trade show experience wound up being an incredibly valuable cultural experience. Cramming onto the Dubai metro train together one evening; scaling the world’s tallest building; promoting each other’s commodities as buyers and importers from around the world came by to learn, haggle, and (hopefully!) buy. We went there as beef, sorghum, peanut, pecan, and citrus representatives, but the group left as Team Texas Agriculture, serving as each other’s champions and cheerleaders and global ambassadors for a state that is renowned around the world.

Being part of the end of the day commuter crush on the train during rush hour let us sneak a glimpse of life in a bustling metropolis. Sitting down to eat lunch at a small café off the beaten path showed that in some places the value of the meal is the time together, not the speed of service. These experiences are a big part of what we brought back to Texas. This new knowledge not only of what market opportunities are out there for us, but also the relationships and insight into the people that want to purchase Texas products. There is no doubt the sales we’ll make as a result of this trip are important. Knowing a bit more about the cultures and people we will be selling to is invaluable.

We also found out that our passion for agriculture isn’t unique just to us. We were located in the USA Pavilion of the Gulfood show, but every day we went past the exhibits promoting foods and beverages from Ireland, Mexico, France, Brazil, Australia, Argentina, Ukraine, Italy (where the gelato was fabulous!) …. The energy and excitement everyone had for their products and industries was almost equal to ours. There were also daily reminders of the great global reputation our state enjoys – and how excited our fellow global citizens are to see Texans in cowboy boots and hats. Perhaps most importantly, it was a great reminder for all of us that food is an incredibly unifying force.

MARCH/APRIL 2022

Getting the most return on investment from your fertilizers BY CHRIS ELMS

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ver the past year we have seen significant increases in fertilizer prices. For example, Diam monium Phosphate (DAP) was +/- $357.00 a ton last year and now is closer to +/- $900.00 a ton. Therefore, growers have had to become creative in their approach to applying nutrients that ultimately determine crop yield and performance. Something very positive that we have seen within the industry during these times is information being shared between members within the industry. Illustrate, bermudagrass grown for an athletic field at 2.5-3 lbs. of Nitrogen (N) versus a pasture at 5-6 lbs. of N. The question then becomes: is doubling the rate necessary to achieve a higher yield? Organic Matter (OM) is important, with 5% OM being ideal. Having enough OM is important because of the following: Nutrient supply, soil structure, water infiltration, and decreases in erosion loss. OM absorbs water and nutrients and will release them as needed. It is the key to better soil biology and better crops. For every 1% OM, one can expect roughly 20-30 lbs. N, 4 lbs. of Phosphorus, and 2-3 lbs. of Sulfur. So, if a dime thickness of OM weighs 5 tons, how can anything be applied to improve this by weight within reason? Referring to our bermudagrass example we notice crop nutrient requirement never changed. However, the difference was the vehicle used to get N into the plant. Did the pasture of bermudagrass utilize all 6 lbs. without any N losses? That would be highly unlikely, but we can achieve the same results with less inputs utilizing biostimulants (humic and fulvic acids coupled with cold water seaweed kelp) on lower OM soils.

of course an increase in soil microbial activity. Some additional benefits from the use of humic acid are plants staying greener longer, nutrients chelate, pH is buffered and holds water more efficiently, and most importantly fewer fertilizer inputs for the same result. But how could humic acids increase the organic matter when you’re only using gallons per acre? Well, it starts by stimulating root growth and fungal biomass, which creates a mycelium mass form becoming organic matter. Then, it stimulates activity such as fungi that can break down raw organic matter (plant roots and residues), thus creating a cost savings on fertilizer. Humic Acid also enhances the uptake of major nutrients (N), Nitrogen (P), Phosphorus (K) Potassium, therefore when adequate humic substances are present in soil, NPK fertilizer can be reduced. But let’s be clear, (HA) does not take the of (NPK) but it does allow it to be more efficiently used. What we know is: when our OM is higher it will buffer soil pH, thus making the soil work better. However, overuse of industrially processed fertilizers alone depletes it faster than it can regenerate. As the level of humic substances in soils become depleted, the demand for NPK synthetic fertilizers increase. We can combat this by using low rates of biostimulants like humic acid. In a time of fertilizer price increases, the use of humic could not only increase soil life, soil structure, and healthier plants but save a tremendous amount of money with lower fertilizer inputs with equal results and less money spent. In conclusion, we need to think outside of the box during these times and focus more on soil health.

Humic acid is defined as the alkaline soluble fraction of humus, is a liquid that can be applied to soils as low as 1 gallon/acre and can increase soil microbial activity. Using humic acid can lower rates of (N) and aid in achieving optimal results than higher (N) alone. Let’s take a deeper look at what humic acid is. It is the extraction process through a slow brew technique using raw leonardite as an extraction process. Once we start using humic acids on soils, we begin seeing earthworm activity which is evident by castings present on the soil surface. However, some of the changes aren’t noticed because they are occurring below the soil surface and they include: an increase in root mass, deeper roots, and

MARCH/APRIL 2022

Star Student

y ar h c a Z

Warren Gray

Tell me a little about yourself, where are you from, age, where did you grow up etc… I am Zachary Warren Gray, the proud 18 year old son of Ray and Cynthia Gray. I’ve grown up in Harlingen, and the place I call home lies on the Arroyo Colorado. I live with my parents, two Yorkies, Zoey and Sasha, cats Ghost and Calypso, and my showpigs. My sister is 15 years older than me, married, and I have a precious 4 year old niece and an almost 2 year old nephew.

Tell me how you got involved in Agriculture.. My dad is a farmer and I have gone to the farm every summer with him. Through that time, my experiences at The Science Academy, FFA, and 4-H, I have developed a passion for agriculture.

What inspired you to join the 4H and FFA programs

and farmers.

What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced? The biggest challenge I have faced is overcoming my ADHD. This has made focus and organization a huge problem for me, and I have worked hard to overcome it. My parents and teachers have helped me implement tools and processes that help me be successful.

Biggest accomplishment? I’m most proud of the results of all my efforts over the past ten years. I’ve worked hard at school, in the show barn, with my photography, I’ve taken advantage of internship opportunities and spent hundreds of hours in community service. The reward for this hard work is that I have the opportunity to attend a university of my choosing, with a major that feeds my passion, and I will be able to give back to the industry that grew me. My most profound accomplishment in the show barn was placing 2nd at the San Antonio Junior Market Barrow Show this year. A very special bonus was that the judge recognized my showmanship when he spoke. His words were very kind and I am extremely proud.

I joined 4-H in third grade because I wanted to show pigs and be a part of my family’s tradition. My dad, my aunts, and my sister all showed pigs, while my grandfather showed cattle. One day, I hope my children join 4-H and experience all the 4-H project work available to them, to enjoy the same fun I have with my family. 4-H has turned out to be more rewarding than I expected: I have friends all over the state, made countless memories, learned hundreds of life lessons, and am now a more responsible citizen, fulfilling the 4-H motto “to make the best better.”

If you had one opportunity to spread one message about Agriculture to everyone.. what would it be?

At first, I wasn’t sure just what it was I was getting into, but I have been involved mostly in 4-H, with the end of my 10 year show career coming to a close this June. As a result of my 4-H and FFA projects, I started a swine breeding operation in fifth grade. I have learned much along the way. Photography is another project that is really intriguing for me because there are so many opportunities to express my ideas. I enjoy bird and wildlife photography the most; sitting in a blind waiting to see what will appear is very appealing. This stress reliever will benefit me in the future; I now have a hobby to enjoy forever.

What do you think the biggest misconception about Agriculture is?

Why is agriculture so important to you? My father has farmed his whole life and I have worked alongside my dad every planting and harvesting season since I was eight. As a fourth-generation farmer in the Rio Grande Valley, I believe it is my duty to fight for the preservation and conservation of water and farming water rights. As cities grow more prominent and the population increases, municipalities will continue to claim more and more water, leaving the farmers with only so much water to irrigate their crops and water their livestock. These issues have prompted me to research how farmers can continue evolving to more efficient water irrigation systems such as drip irrigation, pivot irrigation, and no-till techniques to accommodate for the diminishing supply of water with the growing demand for food and fiber.

Are you going to college to pursue an Ag Degree? If so, what are you planning on doing with it. One of the more important things I have learned as a farmer is that the single most significant issue facing agriculture across Texas and the United States is water availability, timeliness, and cleanliness. It can be dry for several months in Texas, allowing fertilizer and other pollutants to build up, and then, when heavy rain hits us, suddenly, there is a big problem as irrigation canals overflow and built-up impurities throughout the natural and modified landscape flow into the ponds, streams, creeks, or rivers. Because of these issues and more, I will double major in Plant, Soil, and Crop Science and Environmental Engineering to solve water problems for ranchers

Agriculture today is more than sows, cows, and plows, and our future depends on production farmers, agriculture engineers, geneticists, and creative marketers. My generation is tasked with feeding the projected world population of nine billion souls, and the trials we will encounter are real. As a future industry leader, I am up for the task to learn as much as I can to help find real-world solutions to these great challenges.

In the age of information, where almost every teen and adult has a literal computer in the palm of their hand, we as an agriculture industry have failed to provide accurate information to consumers. There are many people today who do not truly understand what agriculture is. According to the American Farm Bureau, “the average American is now at least three generations removed from the farm. In fact, farm and ranch families make up less than 2 percent of the US population.” As an industry, we have failed to effectively message consumers that United States farmers and ranchers supply the world with the safest and most reliable food and fiber.

What is your favorite thing about Agriculture? Agriculture gives one a strength that I like to call “farm” strength because it teaches one that you don’t get to sit down every 30 minutes and take a break. You don’t get to go home just because of some time on a clock. Ag teaches you to work until the job is done, until the goal has been achieved.

Who is your biggest mentor and what have they taught you? My biggest mentor is not just my dad, but also my mom. Both have taught me the importance of working first, then playing. It’s always important to do the work necessary to achieve your goals, and then you can hang out or play games outside. But that’s not just where that ends. They have also taught me that hard work ALWAYS pays off and that no matter how hard you work, sometimes you just have to take disappointment in stride when you can’t get what you want. MARCH/APRIL 2022

Stepping Away from Social Media BY ELLY STREMSTERFER

e all know we now live in a world that you can no longer escape from social media. My daughter for example, is 10 and in 5th grade. She does not have a phone or a social media account… yet she is consumed by social media. Why? Because all her friends have it, and she tells me that I need to check other kids’ accounts to see if they posted something bad about her. She is 10! 10! There have been countless times she has ran up to me after school and asked me to check to see if her friends posted this or that, each time…almost in tears. As a mom, I oblige but each time, I cringe. My husband stepped away from all social media 10 months ago. He realized that he was spending more and more time scrolling mindlessly. He just quit, cold turkey. His Facebook account is still active, I mean he is still married to me, but that is it. I am sure if he were to open it up and log in there would be thousands of notifications. They would all be from me! He was able to recognize that social media was having a negative affect on him and his life. He is not alone. Go to any restaurant and look around, there will be at least one person at each table on their phone. So many people can no longer just be present with their family or friends. The way we do as business as a society currently…we can’t NOT do social media. I mean, for us, the only way people will do business with us is if they “know us.” How do they get to know us? Through my social media. Each and every day, I post on my Instagram stories, which also automatically posts to my Facebook stories. I start my day at 4:00 a.m. and bring my followers along while I let all our Jack Russells out and head to the barn. I feed Muffin her first bottle (Jackson’s Clover Kid 4H Bottle Calf) and Cocoa his first bottle of the day (Jackson’s bottle goat). Jackson feeds the P.M. bottles, before school is enough struggle as it is…let alone trying to get him to feed them too. I check all our goats and cattle. I typically share my 4:00 a.m. barn checks. A few weeks ago, Cocoa had a bad eye issue. So, I shared the story each on Instagram. Cocoa ended up getting his eye stitched up and I told my followers. I didn’t post for two days following, my inbox was flooded! Everyone was wondering where I was, how Cocoa was doing and wanted to know if he was recovered. I mean, they were invested! I will tell you though, it is exhausting, tiring, and all out constant. It is hard to stop and separate myself from it at times. I constantly feel like I need to post this or that or share something I read. I don’t HAVE TO…but if I don’t…the social media

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algorithms will put me back at the bottom of the barrel where they don’t show my stories or posts to my followers. Algorithms, how I loathe thee. Growing up, I lived in a small town of 1,200, not on a farm. The farm life is something that I always yearned for but was perfectly content with where I was. Now, my kids are living the farm life and I do my best to share it. It is a life that I didn’t know. But social media allows me to share our story, our way of life, how we care deeply for our livestock and how we put their needs first. It allows for me to show those who follow us to see our Jack Russell Terriers and how we care for our Goats, Cattle and Pigs. To me, that is a huge win, but it also comes with a cost. Me…on my phone. All. The. Time. In the agriculture world. We have this awesome opportunity to utilize social media and our following to share our story. We can let

algorithms will put me back at the bottom of the barrel where they don’t show my stories or posts to my followers. Algorithms, how I loathe thee.

your story & life on social media and maintaining your sanity:

• Do not open any social media within 2 hours of waking up. • If you do use social media for your business take time once a week to plan out your daily posts. • When you post to your stories, just post to your stories and then exit out of the social media app. Do not linger. • Schedule 3-5 times a day where you check your social media notifications and comments. • Set a timer for your time on social media. A quick 5-minute scroll can quickly turn into a 30-minute rabbit hole. • Put your phone down at least 30 minutes prior to bedtime.

Growing up, I lived in a small town of 1,200, not on a farm. The farm life is something that I always yearned for but was perfectly content with where I was. Now, my kids are living the farm life and I do my best to share it. It is a life that I didn’t know. But social media allows me to share our story, our way of life, how we care deeply for our livestock and how we put their needs first. It allows for me to show those who follow us to see our Jack Russell Terriers and how we care for our Goats, Cattle and Pigs. To me, that is a huge win, but it also comes with a cost. Me…on my phone. All. The. Time. In the agriculture world. We have this awesome opportunity to utilize social media and our following to share our story. We can let people into our lives and show them how we care for our animals. We can show them how we balance the rations or wash the cattle to get them ready to show. Last year, I brought my followers along as we embarked on the new journey of showing cattle. It was a whole new experience for me and sharing that with social media opens the door of communication that allows for learning and understand to take place. A few months ago, I established a new routine and some rules for myself that still allowed me to share my story on social media, but it didn’t suck the life out of me. I want to share this with others because sharing your story is so important. Sharing our way of life, the love of the land and livestock is even more important now than ever…but we also must make sure that we take care of our own mental well-being…social media is a rabbit hole that can turn into mindless scrolling for hours. I know we are all guilty of it. Here is my list of how to start finding a balance between sharing

Brenda Schoepp said “My grandfather used to say that once in your life you need a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman, and a preacher. But every day, three times a day, you need a farmer.” If the average person needs a farmer three times a day, the more they know about that person and their way of life, the more they will trust the product they provide. We need to utilize social media to share our stories and way of life, but we need to make sure we find the balance to keep our sanity. MARCH/APRIL 2022

Want to Advertise Contact Michelle Martin at the Ag Mag

(956) 330-8870

michelle@theagmag.org

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

Issue 45 of AG MAG

Articles inside

STAR STUDENT Zachary Warren Gray

Stepping Away From Social Media

Getting The Most Return On Investment From Your Fertilizers

U.S. Suspends Mexican Avocado Imports

Conflict In Ukraine Fuels Uncertainty For Agriculture

CULTURE AND AGRICULTURE: Celebrating Texas Agriculture in the Middle East

Moon Dog Farms

Garcia Grain Through The Years

Queen Citriana 84th & Royal Court

Medical Breakthrough Could Help Produce More Beef

Getting To The Root Of The Problem

Russia-Ukrine Conflict Adds To Marketplace Uncertainty

Getting To Know Frank Schultz

Honey Creek Spring Ranch

Toxic Plants on the Range

Exploding Costs Require Farmers To Grow Smarter

FEATURED FARMER: Flying C Ranch