Issue 47 of the Ag Mag by THEAGMAG

Michelle Martin

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

Proverbs 3:5 “ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” Al Benavides

A Letter from the Editor

Graphic Designer (956) 492-6407

God is not in a hurry. You are. It’s why you are tired, its why you are anxious, and stressed, and disappointed. Trust that what was and is meant to be yours, will be. Have you ever heard the saying, “If it is meant to be it will be.” There are so many things in life we think we need or things we think we want, and in the end it is not for us. Think about a time where there was something you really wanted and you put all your energy and thoughts into getting that thing you want, to only never get it. I bet now you look back and think, gosh I am glad that didn’t happen, or thank goodness I didn’t buy that, or man I am glad I didn’t take that job. As human beings we tend to become hyper focused on the things we want and don’t have, but at the end of the day, that thing doesn’t fit into our lives like we think it will. I can speak personally, about this. I can think of more times than not, when I have wanted something so bad I would have gone to the ends of the world to get it, when all along the thing(s) I actually needed was standing right in front of me, and by the time I realized the thing I needed was in front of me the whole time is no longer there. Don’t become so obsessed with achieving something that things pass us by. We are presented with opportunities all the time that will fit well into our lives, but we choose not to take them because we are so hyper focused on the things we want and maybe don’t necessarily need. A lot of times that thing we want occupies the majority of our minds. It is all we think about, we think about how we can get it, how we can make it permanent in our lives, and when we become fixated on these things we tend to neglect the opportunities and things of importance in our lives that we already have. We become less grateful for the things we have and have worked for. Sometimes, when we don’t get what we have been striving for we feel like we are going though tough times, and we might, but that thing we were striving for maybe was going to cause us destruction, and God used it for our elevation. Well, my friends, we may think we know it all, and we may think we know what we need to make us happy, but the truth is God is the only one that truly knows what we need and will better us. We just try to override Gods plan more times than not. We need much less than what we think we need, in all honesty. We really don’t need much, but the way the world has been changing it seems to me that materialism has taken a much bigger space in the “need” department when in all actuality it is just a temporary want. I am not saying it is wrong to want things, or to want situations to go a certain way, but ultimately it is out of our control. The pieces will always fall the way they are intended to. Don’t try to force certain outcomes, don’t try to buy something you can’t afford at the time, don’t let situations and materialistic objects take a toll on your mind that you tend to forget the real meaning of life. Be thankful for how far you have come and where you are going. There is a lot of beauty to life if we take the time to notice it, who knows you might find something you truly want that you didn’t even know you needed. I know its hard to do and easier to say, but God always knows what we need when we need it. You may not always end up where you thought you were going, but you will always end up where you were meant to be. Always. Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be with the guidance of the good Lord. God will give it to you at the best time and at the best moment. All it takes is patience.

Owner/Creator of AG MAG

In This Issue: 6. Border Demand Steps in to Keep Valley Corn and Milo Prices Steady to Improved 10. Generation Next 12. Insurgence of Mozena Bug Concerns Crop Producers, Homeowners Alike 17. Cattle Inventory Report Came Out and it Confirmed the Current Constricting 18. Shrinking Cattle Herd Could Equal High Calf, Beef Prices 22. FEATURED FARMER: Following Your Heart 32. Water Issues Loom Large For Growers 36. Farm Bureau Comments on Fertilizer Concerns 40. Texas Farm Credit Holds Grand Opening at New Weslaco Office 56. Texas County Agricultural Agents Association 60. Battleground to Breaking Ground Cohort 12 Applications Deadline Extended 64. Students Reflect On 44 Farms International Beef Cattle Academy 68. Texas Hunting Dates Released for 2022-23 Cover photo by: Aaron Treviño Year 8, Issue 47

July/August 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

Border Demand Steps In To Keep Valley Corn and Milo Prices Steady To Improved BY JOHN MILLER

At this time last year China had already been a very active player in the Corpus Christi milo export market. The quality losses due to untimely mid-summer rains that sprouted and/or spoiled some milo in 2021 slowed that business down temporarily, but for the most part the ocean vessel market drove local prices for the better part of the summer and fall. The early summer of 2021 saw the corn futures market at levels of a dollar or more lower than the same time for the current crop. However, it was the strong Chinese demand at Corpus Christi that lifted basis levels that provided a strong port price, especially for good quality milo. This season has been quite the reverse for milo. Current vessel demand at Corpus Christi for milo harvested during June and July has to this point been low compared to recent years which has been directly reflected in the prices there. Fortunately for this year for Valley farmers, the demand for trucked milo by feeders in Mexico has offset the lack of June/July export demand at Corpus Christi at least for that part of the crop that needed to be moved during the harvest season. During harvest milo prices ran anywhere from one to two dollars per hundredweight better than last year, a much-needed boost given the higher costs for most supplies farmers use. For corn, this season was very similar to last year as local truck demand remained strong throughout harvest. It has been the case that truck demand for corn at the border has been increasing in recent years. Several factors are at play. Changing cultivation practices, improved corn varieties, increased animal feeding in Texas and Mexico

changing feeding rations, port-centric domestic milo demand and other factors have contributed to a rise in corn acres across Central and South Texas over the past decade or more. This has coincided with increased corn demand versus milo even at some feeder-based truck markets in Mexico. This is not to say that what milo grown in not used. In fact, quite the reverse is true depending on the price relationship. It is just that handlers and resellers in the Valley have become very skilled at sourcing and moving corn cross-border with the same efficiency as milo. The powerful fact for the Valley farmer is that when the right planting conditions exists, corn and milo are both viable rotations to cotton with respect to marketability. We know for sure that in agriculture every year is slightly different whether thinking weather, crop response to practices, or the marketplace. Let’s consider some the reasons why the border demand for corn and milo was so important to Valley farmers this year. From Figure 1 below, you can see the December corn futures price represented by the black line and understand the importance of timing as the higher price during June and early July coincided well with our corn and milo harvest. Uncertainty about the condition of the just planted Midwest corn and soybean crop was at its peak about that time. Had we seen weak demand from both the Port of Corpus Christi and Mexico however, prices here could have been a lot different. Figure 2 shows the basis level for corn and milo since this time last year. Without the strong pull from the export market a current corn basis of 80 cents over December futures and a milo basis of 30 over December

Figure 1: December Corn Futures (ZC22) vs. August Diesel (EHOQ22).

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Texas Rio Grande Valley Country Elevator Basis

Figure 2: Valley Corn and Milo Basis July 2021 to July 2022

futures is practically equal to last year when China was the primary market. Figure 3 shows the cash prices for corn and milo over that same period reported on a per bushel basis; and keep in mind that these are tracking numbers and one may have found trades outside these ranges. Looking at the chart during harvest, cash corn trading between $7 and $8 dollars per bushel translated to roughly $12.50 to $14 per hundredweight. Sorghum during that time traded between $6 and $7 per bushel which translates to the $10.75 to $12.50 range. Outside of corn futures volatility, how is it that corn and milo prices outperformed 2021 without the benefit of strong Chinese demand at Port? As mentioned, tight supplies of corn nationally coming out of last year played a roll. As did ongoing uncertainty about whether the current US crop can adequately bring national supplies to comfortable levels. Strong global demand for feedgrains along with a rebounding economy that has used more corn-based ethanol have not allowed stockpiles to build. But we also have serious logistical issues at play. Back to Figure 1 you can see the futures price for Heating Oil (diesel) in blue and the extremely high prices read on the left margin since early spring. The high cost of diesel has raised the cost of rail transportation for corn out of the Midwest that gets shipped to Texas and

Texas and Mexico. The railroads have other challenges similar to most US businesses that provide or use transportation. Rail track and equipment maintenance cost and parts availability, increased cost of rail and related labor, labor interruptions due to Covid and labor competition are just a few. All these cost factors alongside the increased risk of shipment delays drive up the cost of getting corn or milo from the US interior to Mexico and even Texas which like Mexico is a deficit state for feed ingredients. While Northern Mexico made a respectable milo crop, the Northern corn crop was very weak and the corn across Mexico’s Central Highlands is some way off. As a result, Valley farmers were able to take advantage of a demand window for their corn and milo that lessened the impact of the lack of early vessel sales at Corpus Christi. It is very likely that Mexico will continue to be an important milo market while also maintaining their position as the US number one buyer of exported corn. And farmers understand every day that timing is everything. As slow moving as it may seem, it is very hard to anticipate which corn or milo users will be most active during the harvest season. The key is preserving flexibility and understanding that every year can bring different circumstances.

Texas Rio Grande Valley Country Elevator Price

Figure 3: Valley Cash Corn and Milo Prices vs. December Futures July 2021 to July 2022

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Generation Next:

OUR TURN TO RANCH COURSE STARTS AUG. 15 ONLINE PROGRAM FOR NEW AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS

he Generation Next: Our Turn to Ranch online course is now open for registration. The 12-week program is offered by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and runs from Aug. 15 - Nov. 6.

Our Turn to Ranch is an online school in which participants work toward developing a business plan with the support of professionals who specialize in each field and topic. The program costs $300 and is limited to the first 100 registrants. Participants should register as soon as possible at https://tx.ag/GenNextOurTurntoRanch. The program requires approximately two hours of participation per week, but participants can complete the lessons and activities at any time. A computer with internet access is required. At the end of the series, participants will receive a certificate of completion and a Generation Next T-shirt.

Who is Generation Next? “The Generation Next curriculum targets new landowners, those who are inheriting land or those who are looking to start a new agricultural operation on an existing ranch,” said Megan Clayton, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension range specialist, Corpus Christi, who organizes the series with Annette Cayard, Generation Next program coordinator, Corpus Christi. Attendees will hear from experts who will cover land management techniques and identifying their natural resources, alternative ranching, ecotourism opportunities and direct marketing. 10

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“Not everyone who becomes a landowner in Texas is immersed in its history or involved in agriculture production,” said Clayton. “We’ve developed this Generation Next curriculum with the understanding that land throughout Texas is changing hands all the time.”

Course topics The online course will cover a wide range of topics including: • How to start an agricultural business. • Understanding business taxes. • Insurance needs for your ranch. • Tracking your finances. • Evaluating your land resources. • How to set up grazing and wildlife management leases. • Basic ranch laws – fencing, water, etc. • Land management techniques. • Alternative operations to add to your business. • Setting goals with measurable objectives for success. For more information, contact Clayton at 830-988-6123 or Megan.Clayton@ag.tamu.edu.

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Reprint from Agri-Life

Insurgence of Mozena bug concerns crop producers, homeowners alike AGRILIFE EXTENSION EXPERTS OFFER ADVICE

“They are crawling all over my 10 acres. There are thousands, probably hundreds of thousands of them invading my property. They are killing my vegetation, my trees, my plants. What are they, where are they coming from, and how do I treat and control to keep what trees they have not killed alive?”

rop producers, ranchers and homeowners are reaching out to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts across the South Plains as above-average num bers of the Mozena obtusa Uhler plant bugs are being seen. Pat Porter, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension entomologist, Lubbock, and Kerry Siders, AgriLife Extension integrated pest management agent in Hockley, Cochran and Lamb counties, said their phones have been busy with resident reports, questions and concerns.

About the Mozena bug Literature and research is limited on the insect, so there is still much to be learned about the bug and how much harm, and to what, it might do if the infestation is large enough. The Mozena bug was last an issue for the South Plains in August 2014. The bug is in the family Coreidae, a group of insects given the common name of leaf-footed bugs. “The common thread from 2014 to 2022 is our drought conditions,” said Siders. While they can be quite annoying, they are not harmful to humans, pets or most homeowner plants unless the infestation levels are very high. The insects’ primary host is mesquite, a legume. They also feed on peas and beans. Both Porter and Siders documented them feeding on

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Two Mozena bug nymphs on a cotton leaf. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Suhas Vyavhare)

corn and cotton in 2014. “I noted them in cotton back in 2014, but not the sheer numbers I am seeing now, and it is a month earlier,” Siders said. “We are getting reports from the Midland and Odessa area indicating high populations there as well.” Porter said he got the first identification requests this year on July 1 for immature Mozena in their nymph stage. He’s received requests for bug identification as far south as Odessa. “The requests this week are still for nymphs — adults yet to come,” he said. “The small landowners, like 5-10

acres with mesquite, say they are covered up — plants, grass, houses.”

Why the concern? Siders said he has seen as many as 20-plus nymphs per cotton plant, which is a concern. “In a particular field I scout weekly, square set was perfect at 100% last week after the first 12 days of squaring,” he said. “Then this week it dropped to 79%. No other insects, drip cotton, good moisture, no environmental event to point a finger at, and yet squares were missing. Nothing was left to dissect to determine a possible cause of death.”

on the efficacy of insecticide products against them and assess pest damage potential in cotton. “Currently, we do not know how damaging this bug is to cotton and where the treatment threshold should be,” Vyavhare said. “Our preliminary data from the research trial will be available as early as Friday. Insecticides being tested include imidacloprid, bifenthrin, cypermethrin, sulfoxaflor, dicrotophos, acephate and oxamyl.” Siders said even for homeowners calling about this insect, he is telling them the most effective insecticides are the pyrethroid-based products. Some examples of pyrethroid active ingredients include bifenthrin, lambdacyhalothrin, permethrin, cypermethrin and cyfluthrin. Insecticides, including organic products, work best against the nymphal stages, so frequent scouting of host plants is recommended to detect the early stages of an infestation. As more is learned, information will be posted to https://focusonagriculture.

blogspot.com/.

“And as always, when using an insecticide, read and follow label directions for safety precautions, rates and preharvest intervals,” he cautioned.

More than 20 Mozena bugs infest a mesquite branch. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Brooke Vasquez)

Siders said he has not found egg masses in cotton and is unsure if the nymphs hatched in the cotton field or crawled in because immatures do not have functioning wings. They can move quickly on the ground, though. The leaf-footed bug is often treated like a stink bug; however, stink bugs typically do not feed on cotton squares but on bolls. Siders said treatment considerations might more closely resemble the Lygus when present at five-plus per plant, although they are not as damaging as a Lygus would be at these numbers. Porter said seeing low numbers of the bugs is typical, and on a wide variety of plants, but they will only damage mesquite, peas, beans and now, apparently, cotton. They could be seen on all different kinds of crops and home plants.

A nymph and adult Mozena obtusa Uhler plant bug on a cotton plant in Cochran County. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Suhas Vyavhare)

Treating to prevent damage Suhas Vyavhare, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension cotton entomologist, Lubbock, began an insecticide trial July 12 to learn more about treatment options for Mozena bugs. The objective of the trial is to gather preliminary data

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Photos by Robert Salas

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Cattle inventory report came out and it confirmed the current constricting… BY EDDIE GARCIA

attle inventory report came out and it con firmed the current constricting cattle cycle. Now everybody thinks they have to have one, like they’ll never make another. Wearing the futures market like a comfy sweater, makes ‘em feel all warm inside. If we just add a little water to the powder, it’ll stir the market up like a wooden spoon. Going back to the cattle inventory report, as a barn owner you see first hand why the herd is shrinking. Interacting with so many hardworking producers gives you an insight to the problems facing our industry. It wears on you when a man has to sell his herd cause he can’t afford to feed em, or cause of drought, volatile markets, inflation, or the land was divided, widowed, maybe old age, or the owners passed and the kids are on the phone. Those conversations are real, and we take them very seriously. There are so many opinions to be formed but all I wish is the markets worked properly when there were abundant quality cattle, not when people were forced out. I know all about supply and demand but cmon man, I know the industry is cyclical but it shouldn’t have to be cynical. I respect the independent cattle feeder/grower, the guys who have their own cattle on feed. That steady order in the barn that gets them bought and placed . They compete against the corporate buyers, and assume a lot of the risk. This sector will be most affected on the buyer side pending proposed legislation. We need em in the barns flipping those cards. They add volume to the music. We’ve been having our fall runs in the summer right now due to the drought, Prices are still better now than in the autumn, I’m speaking to market tendencies identifying themselves due to adverse market

factors like drought, volume, or falling futures. It’s like a wad of bubble gum, you can blow a bubble but it always pops. Don’t get me wrong, prices on quality calves is still respectable, but you just get tired of the ups and downs. It’s so disheartening to have to split a pair or weigh a bred cow that is only there cause of the drought. It weighs on you seeing the desperate look in the producers faces, trying to source hay, making tough decisions on cows they love, paying out of pocket to sustain the herd. The only thing green is the mesquite trees, hay rings in the pasture look like divots on a driving range, and just about every cow you see is getting supplemental feed. Is it the start of an epic one, or is it almost done, pray for the latter... Packer cows and bulls pretty much covered their tracks from a week ago, after falling hard after the Fourth of July holiday, still about a 4 day drive to the west and about the same to the north. Plenty of cows around like Corb said, look for cows to hopefully be steady and bulls be higher. Good Stocker cows are tougher sale considering the conditions. Our cattle as a whole should be worth more in relation to what the beef is worth. Cattle and Beef are synonymous, but the profit margin between the two is egregious. There is no profit sharing for the producers unless it comes from some sort of disaster payment. Beef promotion is important but it’s about time we promote the Cattle Producer, not the processor. Not the end product but the origin of the product, get back to when the calf hits the ground, not the other way around. J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 2 2

Shrinking cattle herd could equal high calf, beef prices Reprint from Agri-Life

The shrinking Texas cattle herd is likely to translate into higher calf and beef prices years beyond a break in the 2022 drought, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. David Anderson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension economist, BryanCollege Station, said Texas cattle producers have culled earlier and deeper than normal this year due to drought. He suspects the number of culls, and the small number of replacement heifers could mean post-drought herd recovery could be longer than the years following record drought in 2011. It could also drive calf prices toward records set in 2014. “It’s clearly bad out there based on the number of culls we’ve seen,” he said. “Drought is forcing the issue. Whether it is zero grazing, low forage stocks, high feed and hay prices, or running low on water, Texas ranchers are facing tough decisions right now.”

Texas drought shrinking cattle herd Historically, Texas accounts for a big chunk of the U.S. beef cattle herd. Mother Nature’s impact on Texas ranchers is likely to ripple into sale barns and grocery stores around the country years beyond the drought. The U.S. herd has been shrinking in recent years, and the Texas drought is further reducing cattle numbers. The U.S. beef cow herd was just over 30 million head in January, down 2% compared to last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The total estimated inventory of Texas cows that had calved and heifers was 5.1 million head, down 3% compared to 2020. Anderson said this weather-related contraction is impacting producers negatively. There are no estimates available that quantify the economic hardship Texas’ ranchers have endured so far in 2022, but livestock losses during the 2011 drought were estimated to be $3.23 billion. Losses included the increased cost of feeding livestock due to the lack of pastures and ranges and market losses. Market losses included the impact of fewer pounds sold per calf and any impact on market prices due to above-normal cattle sale volumes over a short time. The 2011 drought was a bad time for ranchers, but the years following included historic cow/calf prices as the Texas and U.S. herd numbers recovered. Anderson said nominal prices are higher now than in 2011 as the drought was taking hold and forcing widespread herd consolidation and liquidations. The weekly weighted average price for 500-600-pound steers at auctions across Texas in 2011 was $139.73 per hundredweight compared to $181.12 per hundredweight so far this year. Record prices occurred as the beef cattle herd recovered, and the same weight class steers rose to a weighted average of $236

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Cattle receiving supplemental feed at the Diamond K Ranch in Hempstead, Texas. Many producers have been providing supplemental rations, including hay, grain and cubes all summer due to poor grazing conditions. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Courtney Sacco)

per hundredweight in 2014. Calf prices peaked in late October 2014 at around $283 per hundredweight. “The beef cattle market isn’t something that turns on a dime,” he said. “It takes time. Cattle are a long-term cycle, and I suspect this will all play out similarly to the years following the 2011 drought.”

Record low number of replacement heifers Anderson’s concern about the Texas herd this time compared to 2011 is that replacement heifers – the young, future calf-producing cows – are at their lowest point nationally since USDA began keeping numbers in 1973. The number of beef replacement heifers fell to 4.15 million in July, which represents around 13.7% of the national cattle herd, Anderson said. There were more replacement heifers available in 2011, but heifers made up 13.4% of the herd at the time. “That means we are going to see tight supplies of replacement heifers, and were it to rain and break the drought and pastures recover, we’ll see higher replacement heifer prices,” he said. “The absolute numbers of heifers in 2011 through 2014 are interesting because it indicates a lot of Texas heifers were shipped elsewhere. But this year, we’re already looking at the bottom in terms of estimated numbers.” Anderson said rainfall spurring winter forages and good spring growth could trigger a reversal, but that a fall and winter with below-average rainfall could make conditions even uglier for Texas

cattle producers going into the spring calving season. Despite the relatively good prices cattle producers are seeing at sale barns now, they are also dealing with much higher input and feed costs compared to a decade ago. Corn and hay prices will continue to weigh on calf prices. AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialists are warning producers to calculate stockpiled forages, hay rations and potential feed costs against calf sale potential. Feeding cows for extended periods could exceed expected price increases on calves. “If there is any way to keep young cows and hold on to some replacement heifers, we’re going to see record-high calf prices,” he said. “I think that’s an opportunity, but that’s also easier said than done.” The 68th annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course, BCSC, Aug. 1-3 in Bryan-College Station will focus on guiding beef cattle producers through many drought-related management decisions. To register, go to https://beefcattleshortcourse.com/. The cost is $240 for in-person attendance and $160 for online if registered by July 27. A $40 late registration fee will be charged after that date.

there has been no activity to date.

ROLLING PLAINS

Conditions continued to be extremely hot and dry, but some areas reported improvement following recent rains. Cotton still looked rough with most still not over a foot tall. Sorghum looked fair with some fields starting to head out. The corn crop failed, and some fields were baled as salvage forage. Some sorghum fields were likely to be baled soon. Rangeland and pasture conditions improved some, and tanks received some runoff water. Some farmers cleaned up wheat fields for fall planting. Large numbers of grasshoppers were reported. Large volumes of hay bales were changing hands and prices ranged from $110-$150 for round bales.

COASTAL BEND

Conditions remained extremely hot and dry. Producers harvested corn and grain sorghum and were nearing completion with yields well below average from both crops. Cotton was being defoliated and some was harvested. Rice was nearly all headed out and harvest has begun in areas. Rangeland and pastures continued to decline, and livestock producers were feeding hay to try and extend their grazing. Hay yields were short, bale inventories were low, and prices were higher. There was some baling of grain sorghum and corn stubble. Producers were increasing heavy culling and early weaning as resources were depleted.

EAST

Drought conditions worsened despite a few popup showers. Subsoil and topsoil conditions were very short. Burn bans were implemented across the district. Producers were finding it very difficult to find hay for purchase. Crops, pastures and stock ponds continued to dry up. Pasture and rangeland conditions were very poor to poor. Livestock were in fair condition with supplemental feeding taking place. Producers reported issues with gophers and moles.

SOUTH PLAINS

Calf prices could trend upward due to herd contraction from the drought. They hit record levels in 2014 following the 2011 drought. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Laura McKenzie)

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries: CENTRAL

The district reported no precipitation and record-setting high temperatures. Soil moisture levels were very short and severe drought conditions continued. Pasture conditions were very poor and declining, and stock tanks were dropping with some already dry. Ranchers were reducing livestock numbers due to hay shortages and escalating hay prices. Corn harvest was in full swing with below average yields reported. Few reported corn yields were exceeding 100 bushels per acre, with most acres yielding 50-70 bushels and some yielding below 50 bushels per acre. Sorghum was being harvested as well with decent yields reported. Some specialty crops like double-crop sesame looked surprisingly good. Cotton fields were declining and were developing large areas of chlorosis with patchy necrosis. Crop scouts were actively looking for mites, but no significant infestations were reported so far. At this time, growers typically begin securing winter wheat seed for September/October plantings, but

A small portion of the district received trace amounts up to 1.25 inches of rain. Rain fell hard and created some runoff that helped stock tank levels some. The rain should help pasture conditions. Cotton ranged from nine true leaves with two first position squares to five nodes above white flower. Square set continued to be above 90%. Producers were fertilizing and continuing to water. Only irrigated cotton was squaring, and some dryland farmers were plowing what came up because stands were so sparse. Banks grass mites were seen in grain crops, but not yet at economic threshold. Reports of increased moth pressure turned out to be garden webworms and smartweed borers. Integrated pest management agents indicated little concern for cotton but more for gardeners. Cattle were in good condition.

PANHANDLE

Producers were running pivots hard and fast to help crops survive. Soil moisture levels were very short to short. Triple-digit temperatures were taking a toll. The hot, dry weather continued to reduce pasture, corn and sorghum conditions. Overall crop conditions were poor to fair, and rangeland and pasture conditions were very poor to poor.

NORTH

Topsoil moisture throughout the district was very short. Some counties reported a few sporadic rains but not enough to make a difference to pasture and crop conditions. Cattle were being sold due to a lack of grass and hay. Hay bales were difficult to find, and some soybean fields were baled up as forage. Corn was doing well and close to harvest. Cotton and sunflowers were doing well. Grain sorghum maturity stalled, and many producers were harvesting grain sorghum for livestock forage. No insect or disease pressure was reported. Grasshopper populations were steadily increasing but not causing major damages. Calves were being weaned early, and culls cows were being shipped.

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Ag Mag Featured Farmer

Following your

1. Tell me a little about yourself and where you were raised. Family history etc

Heart

I am a proud sixth generation Texas rancher and Tarleton State University Texan Alumni that had the glorious opportunity to be employed at Sharyland ISD in 1993 as an Agriculture Science Teacher. I was born and raised in Kingsville, Texas. I was an active member of the Kingsville FFA and extremely blessed to have had a wonderful Ag Teacher, Chris Cernosek, who inspired me to succeed in all my endeavors. I was extremely lucky to have very supportive parents who allowed me to venture into activities that would better me as a human & become a productive member of society. My paternal side of the family was involved in production Agriculture through farming and harvesting fruit and vegetables. My maternal side of my family have always been ranchers that raised sheep, donkeys, goats, horses, and cattle. My great-great-great grandfather was Antonio López who established Rancho San Jose in the community of San Jose located southwest of Benavides, Texas. Antonio López obtained land grants from the municipality of Mier in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. He and his family crossed the Wild Horse Desert, known as Desierto Muerto, into present-day Duval County and settled there in the 1850s. 2. What made you interested in Agriculture? I was reared at the ranch with my father and my maternal grandfather. I assisted them with ranch chores and cattle work that I grew to love and appreciate. I have treasured memories with my father and both my grandfathers at the ranch.

4. When was your first year teaching and where…. Did you stay there the whole time? I started my teaching career in July of 1993. I was fortunate to spend my entire 29 years of my career at Sharyland Independent School District.

5. What has been your most memorable moment as an Ag teacher? I have so many treasured memories and memorable moments in my career, but what I am the most proud of is the fact that I inspired & impacted students to pursue a major in Agriculture Education and enter the classroom as an Agriculture Science Teacher. I currently have 8 former students teaching Agriculture Science and serving as FFA Advisors. This past year I was able to see 5 of those former students at the State FFA Leadership Development Event in Huntsville with teams that they trained and qualified for the event. 6. Although you taught students what was one thing students taught you? Over the years, I have received notes and letters from my students imploring me to remain the same person and never change. That always made me smile knowing that my character impacted them tremendously. 7. What was one life lesson you tried to instill in your students year after year, or piece of advice?

3. When did you know you wanted to be an Ag teacher and who inspired you?

I have always instilled in my students that: “When you work hard, good things happen.”

I was inspired by my Ag Teacher, Mr. Chris Cernosek, and when I arrived at Tarleton State University. I was inspired by two great professors: Dr. Johnny Johnson & Dr. Ted Ford. I knew that I wanted to become an Ag Teacher during my sophomore year at Tarleton State.

8. What was the most challenging thing about your profession?

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Time management and balancing my livelihood and my family time was the most challenging. When my own children started

as junior FFA members as 3rd graders, they were able to spend more time with me and create treasured memories.

13. If you could do it again would you change anything?

9. What are you plans now? I am currently consulting families all across South Texas with their livestock projects, working for two different cattle operations, serving as the South Texas Representative for Black Gold Supplements, and in January, I will become a sales representative for Seitz Fundraising out of Fredericksburg, Tx.

I would not change a thing….God has his plan for me and it has been a phenomenal one. I was introduced to this scripture a year ago this July: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

10. What advice would you give a young ag teacher entering into the profession?

14. If you want to include anything else, just type it below.

Rome wasn’t built in a day….take your time but work diligently to build a successful program. Try to become as well rounded an Agriculture Science Teacher as one can.

I have been extremely lucky to have a supportive network of friends, family, teachers, and students who have inspired me to do my very best. I want to personally thank my parents, Sebero & Anna Maria Barrientes, for all their support and sacrifices. My parents were extremely supportive of my sister and me during our FFA careers, as well as during my career as an Ag Science Teacher/FFA Advisor. Mom and Dad attended 23 RGVLS and 12 STAR shows to support not only their grandchildren but all of my FFA kids. Mom always asked about our success in LDEs, CDEs, and SDEs...Mom loved all of my FFA kids and she would often ask about them by name or visit with them when she saw them at stock shows or conventions. Mom truly believed in the value of a post-secondary education. She and Dad made tremendous sacrifices so that we could acquire a solid education so that we could each attend universities. I would not be the person that I am today without my parents. Thank you Miss Annie & Dad! Love you very much!

11. What were some changes in the students you saw over the years as our generations have changed? Is it better or worse? Unfortunately, I believe the pandemic made our students lazy. I kept due diligence to make sure I motivated my students to continue to achieve success. I was not going to allow the pandemic to affect the success of our program or our students. 12. Most rewarding thing about your job? The most rewarding thing about being an Ag Science Teacher is the successes that your students achieve in and out of the classroom.

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MAN OF THE YEAR IN TEXAS AGRICULTURE

he “Man of the Year in Texas Agriculture” Awards program has been proudly sponsored by the Texas County Agricul tural Agents Association since 1962. The members, directors and officers of the TCAAA are priviledged to bestow this award to a small

number of individuals in recognition of their outstanding leadership in agriculture, agribusiness and their support of educational program efforts of the County Extension Agents of Texas. Their unselfish service has contributed to improving the economic well-being and quality of life in their community, our state, and our nation.

Congratulations

to the boss man Carlos X. Guerra Sr. on being selected as the Texas County Agriculture Agents Association Man of the Year for District 12. We appreciate all those associated with this award that supported his nomination. Congratulations to the fellow honorees as well, it was a great night in South Padre Island cele-

brating the life long accomplishments of these distinguished individuals who have fervently served our industry for many years. We appreciate the county agents for all that they do for us Texas agriculturalists and look forward to continuing to work along side y’all to improve agriculture.

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FSA Program

Unauthorized Disposition of Grain Results in Financial Penalties If loan grain has been disposed of through feeding, selling or any other form of disposal without prior written authorization from the county office staff, it is considered unauthorized disposition. The financial penalties for unauthorized dispositions are severe and your name will be placed on a loan violation list for a two-year period. Always call before you haul any grain under loan.

Maintaining the Quality of Farm-Stored Loan Grain Bins are ideally designed to hold a level volume of grain. When bins are overfilled and grain is heaped up, airflow is hindered and the chance of spoilage increases. If you take out marketing assistance loans and use the farm-stored grain as collateral, remember that you are responsible for maintaining the quality of the grain through the term of the loan.

Applying for Farm Storage Facility Loans The Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program provides low-interest financing to help you build or upgrade storage facilities and to purchase portable (new or used) structures, equipment and storage and handling trucks. Eligible commodities include corn, grain sorghum, rice, soybeans, oats, peanuts, wheat, barley, minor oilseeds harvested as whole grain, pulse crops (lentils, chickpeas and dry peas), hay, honey, renewable biomass, fruits, nuts and vegetables for cold storage facilities, floriculture, hops, maple sap, rye, milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, meat and poultry (unprocessed), eggs, and aquaculture (excluding systems that maintain live animals through uptake and discharge of water). Qualified facilities include grain bins, hay barns and cold storage facilities for eligible commodities. Loans up to $50,000 can be secured by a promissory note/ security agreement, loans between $50,000 and $100,000 may require additional security, and loans exceeding $100,000 require additional security. You do not need to demonstrate the lack of commercial credit availability to apply. The loans are designed to assist a diverse range of farming operations, including small and mid-sized businesses, new farmers, operations supplying local food and farmers markets, non-traditional farm products, and underserved producers. For more information, contact your local USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov/pricesupport. J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 2 2

WATER ISSUES LOOM LARGE FOR GROWERS Reprint from The Packer

ater is a non-nego tiable requirement for crop production, and almost half of growers responding to The Packer’s 2022 Sustainability Insights Survey show concern about sufficient water for crop production. Answering the question, “How

concerned are you, if at all, about access to sufficient water for crop production? ”

growers said:

• Extremely concerned: 28% • Very concerned: 20% • Not at all concerned: 16% In a follow-up question about the timetable for negative consequences of reduced water availability, approximately one-quarter report being negatively impacted by lack of avail-

Ag Mag THEAGMAG.ORG

able water now.

Steps to save water Steps to preserve water are being widely employed by growers, according to The Packer’s survey. If fact, close to 40% reported using a drip irrigation system, according to the survey. Asked, “What are you doing to

address concerns about water availability?” growers responded:

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U.S. Cotton’s Sustainability Efforts Recognized Through U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Initiative BY COTTON NELSON

Two years ago, I shared in this publication about the completion of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol’s pilot phase. Today, most cotton producers are aware of the Trust Protocol -- a farm level, science-based program that is 1) setting a new standard in sustainable U.S. cotton production via continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics: land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency and 2) making increased transparency a reality by providing aggregated and verified environmental metrics from Trust Protocol producer participants to brands/retailers in the fashion/textile industries – which helps those firms satisfy their customers’ desire for sustainable products. In fact, after some 200 U.S. cotton producers stepped up to participate in the pilot, producer enrollment in the Trust Protocol has grown steadily over the past two years. This past April 30, the Trust Protocol closed enrollment for 2021 crop cotton – and cele-

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brated the fact that more than 600 producer members representing more than 1.2 million cotton acres had enrolled. In addition, Trust Protocol membership now includes more than 100 U.S. gins and more than 750 brand, retailer, mill and manufacturer members. Among those are J. Crew, Madewell, Levi Strauss & Co. and, Gap Inc. as well as global apparel manufacturer Gildan. Simultaneously, to ease the demands on a producer’s time, steps were taken to streamline the Trust Protocol enrollment process by allowing producers to commit to enroll their 2022 through 2024 crops. Now, producers are only required to: 1) review/ sign their privacy statement; 2) select their gin, marketer, and crop consultant (if applicable); 3) complete their farming profile; 4) complete their self-assessment questionnaire for their 2022 farming operation; 5) commit to strive for continuous improvements; and 6) complete their “Fieldprint Analysis” on fields that constituted at least 10% of their previous year’s cotton fields and

harvest data (i.e. from 2021 harvest). Completing these steps makes them a Trust Protocol member and eligible to market their 2022 crop as Trust Protocol cotton. Producers who have completed enrollment for the 2021 crop only need to update steps 2, 3 and 4. Along with the three-year enrollment feature, producers now can authorize account access for their crop consultant who can enter information on their behalf at www.TrustUSCotton.org. Additional enrollment enhancements are being developed. Enrollment and other questions can be directed to the Grower Help Desk at growers@trustuscotton.org. Another potential benefit of enrolling in the Trust Protocol is that producers who complete their data entry in the program will be eligible for a potential redistribution of program revenue. In addition, the Trust Protocol has submitted a proposal for producer participation in USDA’s new Partnerships for ClimateSmart Commodities program, whereby USDA could finance partnerships to support the production/marketing of climate-smart commodities via a set of pilot projects lasting one to five years. Pilots will provide technical and financial assistance to producers who: 1) implement climate-smart practices on a voluntary basis on working lands; 2) pilot innovative and cost-effective methods for quantification, monitoring, reporting, and verification of greenhouse gas benefits; and 3) market the resulting climate-smart commodities. Strong producer participation in the Trust Protocol will serve as a catalyst to drive the continuous improvements necessary to help our industry achieve by 2025 these six national sustainability goals: 13% increase in productivity (i.e., reduced land use per pound of fiber); 18% increase in irrigation efficiency; 39% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions; 15% reduction in energy expenditures; 50% reduction in soil loss; and 30% increase in soil carbon.

Working toward and achieving these goals through the Trust Protocol will help us achieve the overall goal -- ensuring that textile manufacturers and major brands and retailers will accept that U.S. cotton is responsibly produced and that we are working continuously to shrink our environmental footprint. Almost all the top 100 global brands/retailers have created lists of sustainable raw materials (including cotton) and have committed to sourcing 100% from those lists over the next 5-10 years. As I noted my previous article, sustainability is not going away, and frankly, that is a plus for our industry. Another plus is that the Trust Protocol is continually being recognized internationally for its authenticity. For example, the program is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, recognized by Textile Exchange and Forum for the Future, and part of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cotton 2025 Sustainable Cotton Challenge, Cotton 2040 and Cotton Up initiatives. The program also has been recognized and published in the International Trade Centre Standards Map, recognized by the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, and accepted as an International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance Community member following a rigorous and meticulous approval process. I strongly urge all U.S. cotton producers to enroll at www. trustUScotton.org so they can begin formally documenting and communicating common elements of best management practices they have been doing since the 1970s -- and be fully recognized for their unmatched sustainability. Strong producer participation in the Trust Protocol also will ensure that the United States not only remains a leading producer of sustainable cotton but that our industry can meet the growing worldwide demand for our raw fiber and finished products.

Gary Adams serves as president/chief executive officer of the National Cotton Council of America and as president of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol ®

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FARM BUREAU COMMENTS ON FERTILIZER CONCERNS Publication credit: Texas Farm Bureau

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American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take steps to ensure America’s farmers continue to have access to crucial fertilizer supplies. AFBF submitted comments on USDA’s “Request for Information on Access to Fertilizer: Competition and Supply Chain Concerns.” In the filed comments, AFBF lists several factors that have combined to create shortages and drive up fertilizer costs, including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, rising inflation, labor shortages, regulatory hurdles and increased transportation costs. “America’s farmers are being called on to feed both America’s families and families abroad as war and shortages take their toll on our international neighbors,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “Farmers and ranchers have answered the call before, and they stand ready to do it again, but they need access to necessary supplies in a timely manner. Supply chain issues and inflation aren’t short-term problems, so we need long-term solutions, partnerships with USDA, and action across the federal government to ensure we can continue to meet growing demands of a hungry world.” AFBF’s recommendations include:

• Providing assistance to farmers to expand on-site farm fertilizer storage compacity to help them manage costs throughout the year; • Urging EPA to seek reforms to review processes that create barriers for domestic fertilizer production; • Modernize weight restrictions for trucks to reduce the number of trucks needed to transport goods; • Enact rail reforms to promote rail competition, fair rates and reliable service. “Farmers are extremely concerned with the price pressures facing them in 2022 and beyond as our world supply of the critical components needed to produce fertilizer becomes more challenging and costly to obtain,” AFBF said. “Considering the myriad of factors outside of the purview of the U.S. government impacting fertilizer supply, it is imperative all federal agencies examine ways regulations can be altered to incentivize domestic fertilizer production while enabling farmers to proactively minimize their price risk through storage. As USDA considers its role in mitigating fertilizer supply chain shortages, USDA must serve as an advocate for farmers in removing barriers that stand in the way of improved access to fertilizer.”

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By Will Stafford, CHS Washington, D.C., representative

(https://www.chsinc.com/about-chs/news/news/2022/05/24/farm-bill-2023) Agriculture policy in Washington, D.C., tends to be thought of in five-year intervals — that’s how often Congress is tasked with passing a piece of legislation that touches almost every aspect of agriculture and nutrition policy: the farm bill. First passed in 1933 as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, farm bills authorize policies on commodities, conservation, crop insurance, nutrition, rural development and more. The most recent farm bill was signed into law in 2018 and is due to expire in September 2023. While that may still seem a long way away, Congress has begun the process of creating the next farm bill, which will impact CHS owners well into the latter part of the decade. Hearings by the House and Senate agriculture committees are already happening in Washington and around the country to examine the agricultural economy and determine what needs to be included in the next farm bill. Your representatives in Washington, D.C., are looking for input from their ag constituents and, through CHS and its government affairs team, cooperative owners will have a voice in the process. Here are three things to watch as the next farm bill works its way through Congress.

Midterms will dictate direction of the farm bill The midterm election in November 2022 has the potential to change the party in control in both chambers of Congress, which could have a drastic impact on elements of the next farm bill. Agriculture committees in both the House and Senate are tasked with crafting the bill, with a member from the majority party chairing each committee. Democrats now control both the House and Senate, with Representative David Scott (D-Ga.) and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) as chairs of each committee, respectively. With current polling suggesting Republicans will likely win back the House and possibly the Senate, control of each committee could change before a new farm bill is signed into law. If either the House or Senate flips to Republican control, the new chairs would likely be Representative G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) for the House and Senator John Boozman (R-Ark.) for the Senate. A shift in power could mean major changes for where funding within the bill is directed, such as agriculture versus nutrition policy. Geography could also play a role, with members of Congress from different regions of

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the country having different farm policy priorities due to key commodities in their respective states or districts. It is also important to note that in the House, a simple majority can pass legislation. However, in the Senate 60 votes are needed to pass legislation. Bottom line: No matter which party controls the Senate, bipartisan support will likely be needed to pass a new farm bill.

It will be evolutionary, not revolutionary New farm bills are intended to be written every five years for good reason — the agricultural economy can change a lot in five years! Our economy certainly looks different now than it did in 2018. In some farm bills, we see large policy shifts that can have a dramatic impact on farmers, ranchers and consumers. Consider the 1938 Farm Bill that established the Federal Crop Insurance Program; the 1973 Farm Bill, which was the first to combine agriculture and nutrition programs; and the 2014 Farm Bill, which ended direct payments and introduced the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. Other farm bills focus on making small improvements to established programs. The current version of the farm bill made improvements to programs like ARC and PLC, allowing farmers to reelect which program they wanted to enroll in during the life of the bill. Early discussions regarding the 2023 Farm Bill seem to point to it being evolutionary, not revolutionary.

Conservation and sustainability will matter Conservation and sustainability seem to be buzzwords in almost every aspect of life these days and could play a role in the next farm bill. Congressional Democrats have tried to increase funding for agriculture conservation programs through other legislation, such as the stalled Build Back Better Bill. That bill’s funding would include direct payments for farmers who plant cover crops. It is possible there may be additional efforts to increase conservation funding prior to passage of the next farm bill, but whether or not that happens, it is evident the conservation title of the 2023 Farm Bill will be debated. CHS has urged members of Congress to make sure that any new conservation or sustainability programs are voluntary for farmers and ranchers and equitable across regions and crops, and that farmers and ranchers who already employ these practices are rewarded for early adoption, not left out of new programs.

Offer your input on the farm bill now As Congress begins to craft the new farm bill, make sure your voice is heard by talking to your local cooperative, commodity organizations and members of Congress. Tell them which farm programs are important to you, which work and which aren’t meeting your needs. It is much easier to enact changes to legislation early in the process than waiting until decisions are made. You have a voice in Washington, D.C., through the CHS government affairs team. We are working every day to represent our owners.

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Holds Grand Opening at New Weslaco Office

Ag Mag THEAGMAG.ORG

exas Farm Credit Services celebrated the grand opening of its newly remodeled Weslaco office on May 26 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house for customers, members of the local business community, and the public.

“We want to thank our Board of Directors and Senior Management for making the remodel a reality, along with the talented contractors, architects and managers for a job well done,” said Weslaco branch manager Bruce Kroeker. “The City of Weslaco makes us feel so welcome, and it is easy to say that we are proud to serve the ag community of the Rio Grande Valley.” The building located at 555 South International Boulevard was originally built in 1980 and has been occupied by Farm Credit since 2001. Texas Farm Credit occupies three of the seven thousand square feet. From construction to the opening ceremony, the building and grounds involved the efforts of :

• Interior Décor: Della Gates Texas Farm Credit is an agricultural lending cooperative that provides competitive rates, flexible terms, and personal service to farmers, ranchers, rural residents, and agribusiness firms from the Red River to the Rio Grande Valley. Not only does Texas Farm Credit finance a wide range of farming and ranching operations, it also offers home and rural real estate mortgage loans, as well as provides a variety of insurance services to its members. Headquartered in Robstown, Texas, the lending co-op serves 100 Texas counties and is part of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of rural lending co-ops established in 1916. For more information, visit www.TexasFarmCredit.com

• General Contractor: Haraway Construction of Harlingen, Texas • Architect: SZH Architecture of Bryan, Texas

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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

2022 - 2023 DISTRICT 12 4 - H E

Event Code

Event Title/Description

Event Committee Chairperson

Event Date

Food Show

TBD

11/12/22

Food Challenge

TBD

11/12/22

RU-CDM

Roundup - Consumer Decision Making

TBD

11/13/22

SS-A

Shooting Sports Modified 600 & 3-D Archery Match

TBD

12/3/22

Fashion Sensation - Fashion Storyboard

TBD

1/12/23

RU-HJ

Roundup - Horse Judging

TBD

2/13/23

SS-P

Shooting Sports - Postal League

TBD

3/1/23

SS-S

Shooting Sports Trap, Skeet & WhizBang Shoot

TBD

3/25/23

Photography

TBD

4/1–10/23

Fashion Sensation - Fashion Show, Duds-to-Dazzle, Natural Fiber

TBD

4/1/23

RU-EP

Roundup - Educational Presentations +

TBD

4/1/23

RU-LI

Roundup - Livestock Judging

TBD

4/13/23

SS-R

Shooting Sports 3-P & Silhouette Rifle Match

TBD

4/22/23

Leadership Lab

TBD

6/13–16/23

Election Convention Candidacy, Voter Registration & Election

TBD

6/16/23

Record Book Judging

TBD

7/11/23

Council Officers’ Retreat

TBD

7/28–30/23

Ag Mag THEAGMAG.ORG

VENT PLANNING CALENDAR Event Registration Dates

Event MSTeams Briefing

Location

Information Letter Release Date

TBD

9/5/22

Open: 10/11/22 Close: 11/1/22

11/8/22 @ 10am

TBD

9/5/22

Open: 10/11/22 Close: 11/1/22

11/8/22 @ 11am

TBD

9/5/22

Open: 10/11/22 Close: 11/1/22

11/8/22 @ 2pm

Benavides

10/25/22

Open: 10/31/22 Close: 11/22/22

11/29/22 @ 10am

--- Virtual ---

10/25/22

Open: 12/21/22 Close: 1/10/23

1/12/23 @ 10am

San Antonio

10/25/22

Open: 11/1/22 Close: 12/1/22

2/9/23 @ 10am

--- Local ---

12/15/22

Open: 2/1/23 Close: 2/21/23

2/28/23 @ 10am

TBD

1/25/23

Open: 2/21/23 Close: 3/14/23

3/22/23 @ 10am

--- Virtual ---

1/25/23

Open: 2/28/23 Close: 3/21/23

3/27/23 @ 2pm

TBD

1/25/23

Open: 2/28/23 Close: 3/21/23

3/28/23 @ 10am

TBD

1/25/23

Open: 2/28/23 Close: 3/21/23

3/28/23 @ 11am

TBD

2/25/23

Open: 3/14/23 Close: 4/4/23

4/10/23 @ 2pm

Benavides

2/25/23

Open: 3/21/23 Close: 4/11/23

4/18/23 @ 10am

TBD

4/25/23

Open: 5/1/23 Close: 5/31/23

6/1/23 @ 10am

TBD

4/15/23

Open: 5/16/23 Close: 6/6/23

6/1/23 @ 10am

--- Virtual ---

5/25/23

Open: 6/13/23 Close: 7/6/23

7/7/23 @ 10am

TBD

7/1/23

Open: 6/28/23 Close: 7/14/23

7/25/23 @ 10am

4-H Online

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Want to Advertise Contact Michelle Martin at the Ag Mag

(956) 330-8870

michelle@theagmag.org

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!

Support us today!

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

TEXAS AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER SID MILLER ANNOUNCES PESTICIDE COLLECTION EVENT IN DUMAS

Ag Mag THEAGMAG.ORG

oday, Texas Agricul ture Commis sioner Sid Miller ann ounced a free agricultural pesticide waste collection event that will take place in Moore County on Wednesday, August 3rd. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has partnered with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to bring this free service to ag producers. The event will run from 8 a.m. to noon at the Moore County Gin in Dumas. “TDA has partnered with AgriLife to hold these events throughout Texas to help farmers and ranchers dispose of these hazardous materials. They’ve been enormously successful and I’m glad we’re able to bring this event to the High Plains. I encourage our ag partners to take advantage of this free service to dispose of unwanted agricultural pesticides and herbicides safely and properly,” said Commissioner Sid Miller. “This is a great opportunity to get rid of these products as we go into the new agricultural season.” The collection is a drive-up service, and those dropping off can remain inside their vehicle. Pesticides need to be in their original containers, even if the label is not present. Unknown pesticides will be tested onsite. Accepted items include outdated, discontinued or unwanted agricultural pesticides; insecticides; herbicides; fungicides; rodenticides; nematicides; growth regulators; empty, triple-rinsed plastic pesticide containers no more than 55 gallons; and empty or partial metal

drums. Items not accepted include explosive ordinances and ammunition; petroleum-based products; paints; medical wastes; radioactive substances; household pesticides, chemicals and waste; tires; fertilizers; propane or butane cylinders; chlorinated hydrocarbons; fumigant canisters; used motor oil and other automobile fluids; auto batteries; empty totes; methyl-bromide cylinders and dioxins. Pesticide dealers and commercial businesses are not allowed to participate.

Event location:

Moore County Gin, LP 11800 US HWY 287 East Dumas, TX 79029

Event contact:

Moore County AgriLife Extension Office at (806) 935-2594 Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Austin Headquarters at (512) 463-7622 TDA Lubbock Regional Office at (806) 799-8555

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Ag Mag THEAGMAG.ORG

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reprint from The Packer

STATEMENT BY TFB PRESIDENT RUSSELL BOENING ON CATTLE PRICE DISCOVERY AND TRANSPARENCY ACT The following statement may be attributed to Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening following today’s U.S. Senate committee passage of the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act. Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) is extremely disappointed the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act passed the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry today, despite an overwhelming amount of analysis proving a government mandate in the cattle market will only hurt cattle ranchers. We encourage leaders of Congress to continue opposing this bill as long as the mandate language remains intact. TFB is committed to working towards solutions to increase transparency and price discovery for cattle ranchers. However, it is important to ensure legislation is well thought out before being enacted. Failure to do so can hurt the very producers it is intended to help.

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Texas County Agricultural Agents Association State Conference to be held at South Padre Island on July 24-27

TEXAS COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AGENTS ASSOCIATION SUBMITTED BY ROGELIO MERCADO County Extension Agent - Ag. Jim Wells County President Elect – TCAAA

The Texas County Agricultural Agents Association (TCAAA) is set to host their Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference at South Padre Island on July 24-27, 2022. TCAAA is a professional improvement organization which provides its members with an opportunity to gain knowledge of agriculture in Texas as each year the conference is hosted by one of 12 districts across the state on a rotational basis. This year, South District 12 Agents have been busy preparing for this annual event which will headquarter out of the South Padre Island Convention Center. Some of the highlights of the conference will include a Friends and Family Night on Sunday Evening at the Cameron County Events Center and Amphitheater. The general session on Monday morning will kickoff with an inspirational speaker which will be recently retired Agriculture Science Teacher, Mr. Jim Harris from Tilden. Members will also learn about agriculture in South Texas from our District Administrator, Dr. Ruben Saldaña and various commodity representatives. At noon, an awards luncheon is planned to recognize the outstanding achievements of our agents throughout the state. District 12 Agents will also be recognizing Dr. Josh McGinty, Extension Agronomist from Corpus Christi as their Specialist of the Year Award Recipient. That afternoon, members will have an opportunity to visit with leaders from the various Texas Major Livestock Shows and receive updates for the upcoming show season. Monday evening will be at Clayton’s where

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a silent and live auction will be held to raise money to support youth and members pursuing a college degree. Tuesday will feature professional improvement tours focused on beef cattle and row crop production, horticulture and various other agricultural interests in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. A border security seminar will also be held at the convention center that morning for those interested in learning about the issues facing producers along the Rio Grande River. Tuesday evening will begin to wind down the conference with our Man/Woman of the Year Banquet which will recognize seven individuals from across the state for their contributions to agriculture and support of Extension programs. This year, District 12 will be recognizing long-time rancher, Mr. Carlos Guerra from Linn, Texas for his commitment to the beef cattle industry and our youth involved in agriculture. The conference will return to a general business session on Wednesday morning, which will include a report from Mr. Brian Beer, Southern Region Director for the National Association of County Agricultural Agents. Brian is an Area Livestock and Forage Agent from Lancaster, South Carolina. Officer installations will also be conducted, and the conference will adjourn at noon that day.

For more information, please contact :

Rogelio Mercado

County Extension Agent-Agriculture Jim Wells County PO Box 1370 Alice, Texas 78333 361-668-5705 – Office HYPERLINK “mailto:Rx-mercado@tamu.edu” Rx-mercado@tamu.edu

2 0 2 1 - 2 0 2 2 Stephen Zoeller President 210 E San Antonio Ste 9 Boerne, TX 78006

O f f i c e r s

Rogelio Mercado President-Elect P.O. Box 1370 Alice, TX 78333

Tommy Phillips Secretary P.O. 712 Canton, TX 75103

HYPERLINK “mailto:szoeller@ag.tamu.edu” szoeller@ag.tamu.edu rx-mercado@tamu.edu tommy.phillips@ag.tamu.edu

Jay Kingston Jamie Sugg Vice-President Treasurer 604 N. Main St. Ste 200 113 E Fordall St Weatherford, TX 76086 Henderson, TX 75652 jay.kingston@ag.tamu.edu jamie.sugg@ag.tamu.edu

J.R. Sprague Past President P.O. Box 119 Lipscomb, TX 79056

HYPERLINK “mailto:JR.Sprague@ag.tamu.edu” JR.Sprague@ag.tamu.edu

2 0 2 1 - 2 0 2 2

D i r e c t o r s

District 1 District 5 District 9 J.D. Ragland Aaron Low Chadd Caperton Megan Eikner Shaniqua Davis Allen Homann District 2 District 6 District 10 Early Career Wes Utley Dena Floyd Troy Luepke Justin Hale Gary Roschetzky Cody Trimble Samantha Shannon TJ Cummings District 3 District 7 District 11 Life Members Josh Kouns Michael Palmer Adrian Arredondo Brian Cummins Justin Hansard Josh Blanek Corrie Bowen Brad Cowan District 4 District 8 District 12 Janet Laminack Floyd Ingram Warren Kopplin Callie Zoeller Erin Davis Nikolo Guerra

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USDA Reminds Livestock Producers of Available Drought Assistance USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds droughtimpacted producers that they may be eligible for financial assistance through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) to cover above normal expenses for hauling water or feed to livestock or hauling livestock to forage or grazing acres. For eligible producers in qualifying counties, ELAP provides financial assistance for: • the transportation of water to livestock; • the above normal cost of mileage for transporting feed to livestock, • the above normal cost of transporting livestock to forage/grazing acres.* * Hauling livestock one-way, one haul per animal reimbursement and no payment for “empty miles.”

Eligible livestock include cattle, bison, goats and sheep, among others, that are maintained for commercial use and located in a county where qualifying drought conditions occur. A county must have had D2 severe drought intensity on the U.S. Drought Monitor for eight consecutive weeks during the normal grazing period, or D3 or D4 drought intensity at any time during the normal grazing period. Producers must have risk in both eligible livestock and eligible grazing land in an eligible county to qualify for ELAP assistance.

Transporting Water For ELAP water transportation assistance, producers must be transporting water to eligible livestock on eligible grazing land where adequate livestock watering systems or facilities were in place before the drought occurred and where water transportation is not normally required. ELAP covers costs associated with personal labor, equipment, hired labor, and contracted water transportation fees. Cost of the water itself is not covered. The ELAP payment formula uses a national average price per gallon.

Transporting Feed ELAP provides financial assistance to livestock producers who incur above normal expenses for transporting feed to livestock during drought. The payment formula excludes the first 25 miles and any mileage over 1,000 miles. The reimbursement rate is 60% of the costs above what would normally have been incurred during the same time period in a normal (non-drought) year.

Transporting Livestock ELAP provides financial assistance to livestock producers who are hauling livestock to a new location for feed

or grazing in drought-impacted areas. As with transporting feed, the payment formula for transporting livestock excludes the first 25 miles and any mileage over 1,000 miles. The reimbursement rate is 60% of the costs above what would normally have been incurred during the same time period in a normal (non-drought) year. An online tool is now available to help ranchers document and estimate payments to cover feed and livestock transportation costs caused by drought. Download the tool and view the demonstration video.

Reporting Losses For calendar year 2022 forward, producers must submit a notice of loss to their local FSA office within 30 calendar days of when the loss is apparent. Producers should contact FSA as soon as the loss of water or feed resources are known. For ELAP eligibility, documentation of expenses is critical. Producers should maintain records and receipts associated with the costs of transporting water to eligible livestock, the costs of transporting feed to eligible livestock, and the costs of transporting eligible livestock to forage or other grazing acres.

Additional Drought Assistance ELAP assistance is also available to producers impacted by wildfire. Contact the local FSA office for more information on ELAP resources for wildfire losses. Additionally, beekeepers can benefit from ELAP provisions and should contact their county FSA office within 15 calendar days of when a loss occurs or is apparent. FSA is now accepting applications for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) to provide financial assistance to eligible producers for 2022 grazing losses due to a qualifying drought or fire. The deadline to apply for 2022 LFP assistance is Jan. 30, 2023. More than 200 Texas counties have met the drought severity levels that trigger LFP eligibility for the 2022 program year. For LFP, qualifying drought triggers are determined using the U.S. Drought Monitor. A list of LFP eligible counties and grazing crops can be found on the FSA Texas webpage.

More Information Additional disaster assistance information can be found on farmers.gov, including the Farmers.gov Drought Webpage, Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster-at-aGlance fact sheet, and Farm Loan Discovery Tool.

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BATTLEGROUND TO BREAKING GROUND COHORT 12 APPLICATIONS DEADLINE EXTENDED 60

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The BattleGround to Breaking Ground Cohort 12 application deadline has been extended to August 1st. The BattleGround to Breaking Ground program offers online business planning courses, hands-on training, and online agriculture production courses. It is available in two ways.

Tuition Waived Option (Application Required)

Through various USDA funded grants, the BGBG program is able to provide 10 tuition waived spots per cohort for veterans, active military, and 5 for other beginning farmers and ranchers. Applications for a tuition waiver are now open on a rolling basis.

Key things to note for this program track are:

• Competitive process: Online application and 3 letters of support required • In-person attendance to Basic Training & Graduation required; $125 registration fee • 100 hours of hands-on training required • Only waives tuition for Phase 2; tuition waiver for Phase 3 based on performance in Phase 2

Tuition Paid Option • 30 spots per cohort available • Tuition is required; Phase 2 $600 & Phase 3 $900 • Available for veterans, active-duty military, and all other farmers/ranchers • No application process • In-person attendance at Basic Training & Graduation is optional

Important Dates Applications are open on a rolling basis. • Fall cohort due Monday, August 1st, 2022, at 5:00 pm CST. • Spring cohort due Monday, December 5, 2022, at 5:00 pm CST

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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

STUDENTS REFLECT ON 44 FARMS INTERNATIONAL BEEF CATTLE ACADEMY Members of the 2021-2022 class reflect on the program’s value to their beef operations. For cattle producers enrolled in the 44 Farms International Beef Cattle Academy (IBCA), learning is a lifelong pursuit. Participants from Romania and Australia explain the impacts the program has had on their cattle operations and what experiences they took away from the course.

Expanding the network in Australia

Students listen to a feedmill operator as he discusses the processes and procedures as feed travels through each milling process.

3R Livestock Director Geoff Birchnell applied for IBCA to expand his knowledge of the industry while expanding his network of beef producers across the globe. “There was a lot of great information throughout the course,” said Birchnell. “I especially gravitated towards the production lectures, which provided a lot of applicable information.” The Forage Production and Nutritional Management courses stood out to Birchnell because he considers adding feeder cattle to his seedstock herd. The information from those sessions benefited him with development of feed rations and how to monitor cattle through the finishing process. “The speakers in each course offered an excellent source of knowledge and insight that was very comprehensive and informative,” Birchnell said. “All the lectures are recorded, so no matter what time zone you are in, you can listen to the courses on your own time.” Even though Birchnell already had a working knowledge of the beef industry, he concedes the academy was extremely insightful for all facets of beef curriculum. “The lectures are still available upon conclusion of each course, so we can go back and watch the lectures again to continue to digest the information,” said Birchnell. “The accessibility to the information even after the courses are completed helped me get the most out of the lectures and absorb the information as much as possible.” “Overall, the program is great and full of information. What IBCA has put together is the real deal,” Birchnell concluded.

Gaining an understanding in Romania As a ruminant nutritionist specialized mostly in dairy animals, Ioana Boldea didn’t have first-hand experience dealing with beef cattle, but she learned more thanks to IBCA. After participating in the program, she can bring new ideas to her organization. “The IBCA has given me the foundational knowledge I needed to continue learning independently. It has helped me identify reliable sources of information,” Boldea said. The Nutritional Management Course and Cattle Welfare and Behavior Course were two that stood out for Boldea, as she learned new concepts to improve animal care and nutritional efficiency. The new relationships Boldea was able to cultivate with classmates and professors alone made the investment worthwhile. That, in combination with the outcome and efficiency of the courses, she would participate IBCA again. “IBCA allows students to continue to reach out to professors after the conclusion of the class after they go home and want to apply their learnings to their operations at home. This makes it easier to share those learnings with my organization in Romania,” shared Boldea. “I think it is really important to take part in educational opportunities and IBCA embraced the bigger picture of the industry,” Boldea said. “The course information can also be easily applied to your country and climate.” Boldea commented that she will share the information with her coworkers and highlight its importance. “The course structure was easy to work with and the schedule was easy to follow. It was also beneficial that students can take all their notes and

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Students work cattle as a group and learn about animal welfare and quality assurance during processing.

PowerPoints home while still having access to the professors if anyone has questions,” commented Boldea. “I’m very glad I participated and am excited to bring it back to my country as I continue to learn.”

Apply now for classes starting in September Like Birchnell and Boldea, anyone involved in the beef cattle industry is eligible to apply for IBCA. An ideal student candidate is eager to learn and is passionate about driving the industry forward. Applications for the 2022-2023 class are open now and close on August 13, 2022. Scholarships covering up to 70% of tuition costs are available for interested individuals. To be considered for a scholarship, complete the IBCA application and provide the information required for a scholarship request. Scholarships are limited and will be awarded based on student profile and potential contribution to the IBCA goal: advancing knowledge to enhance beef production and quality across the globe.

The next academy begins in September and continues through August 2023. Apply today at animalscience.tamu. edu/ibca/ or email ibca@tamu.edu for more information. Texas A&M, established in 1876 as the first public university in Texas, is one of the nation’s largest universities with more than 66,000 students and more than 440,000 living alumni residing in over 150 countries around the world. A tier-one university, Texas A&M holds the rare triple land-, sea- and space-grant designation. Research conducted at Texas A&M represented annual expenditures of more than $905.4 million in fiscal year 2017. Texas A&M’s research creates new knowledge that provides basic, fundamental and applied contributions resulting, in many cases, in economic benefits to the state, nation and world. The school’s Lead by Example campaign is a comprehensive effort to raise $4 billion by the year 2020, making it the largest higher education campaign in Texas history and the second largest conducted nationally by a public university. Aggies are known for their deep commitment to the success of each other and their strong desire to serve. Courtesy of Texas A&M University Dept of Animal Science. To schedule interviews, contact: Allison Hahn, Filament ahahn@filamentag.com 608-720-1774

WE ARE EAGER TO SHARE OUR PASSION WITH YOU! WRITTEN BY: CHRISTOPHER WEBB, CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF CANNON REPUBLIC, INC.

Many of us might not remember our science class days, where an “eclectic” teacher tried to explain to a room full of kids that “dirt” is not a thing, but “Soil” is, and that Soil is something truly special. Soil is the most valuable limited resource on the planet and it doesn’t take long to realize that vibrant soils of that type are disappearing from the earth at an alarming and ever accelerating rate.

shale, that requires mechanical grinding, heat, and chemicals to process the material into a usable medium. These processes take large amounts of hydrocarbon fuel thus lowering their environmentally “Green” status - plus these processes can alter the chemical makeup of the basic Humate. Unlike leonardite that has little to no active biology, Cannon Republic Foundation-SB is a living material!

Our Company, Cannon Republic, is here to make a difference. We strive to educate and mitigate the negative effects human development and expansion have had on the health and wellness of our soils. Healthy soils create a healthy herd, the global herd of all life on the planet.

Laboratory tests show Cannon Republic Foundation-SB dry has a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 25.63 to 1 (25.63/1), a pH of 4.97, it is 94.89% carbon, and 5.11% mineral matter. Laboratory tests also verify that Cannon Republic Foundation-SB Dry contains over 67% Humic Acid, 1.76% nitrogen as well as small amounts of phosphorous and potassium. It has 72 trace elements such as boron, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, molybdenum, and sulfur all needed for plant life. These elements are organic & naturally occurring and, in a plant - available form.

Certain Farmers and Ranchers that have historically found success pursuing “Regenerative Agriculture” methods, are finding themselves ahead of the curve now that imported soil amendments are becoming increasingly more expensive, and harder to source. In our search for solutions to this global problem, we were blessed to discover a domestic deposit that holds the keys to the future success of Regenerative Farmers and Ranchers across the United States. The deposit is a unique, natural blend of organic matter deposited in a bowl-shaped depression thousands of years ago. The deposit has never been covered with overburden, so the material has never hardened throughout the ages. This “Ancient Humus” resource produces the Cannon Republic Foundation-SB products. It is 100% Organic, contains beneficial soil biology, plant available trace elements, Lignin, and a full spectrum of Humic Acid Compounds. Through a patented process of Cold-Water Extraction, the material is liquified in a manner safe to the critical ingredients found in the raw dry material. The natural Humate is not altered in any way. The process does not require heat or chemicals of any kind, leaving all the live beneficial soil biology intact and ready to be used. Cannon Republic Foundation-SB, (Liquid and Dry) for agriculture, is the only Humic product on the market that is naturally a soil inoculant, soil amendment and a soil conditioner, containing high concentrations of beneficial soil microbes (40 billion+/gal). The Humic substances in Cannon Republic Foundation-SB contain naturally occurring humic, fulvic, and ulmic acid of the highest quality and have not been altered or degraded by heat or chemicals. Almost all other humate products on the market are derived from leonardite, a strata found in close proximity to coal or 66

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Humic acid is a fraction of overall humic substances that is not soluble in water under acidic conditions (below pH 2), but is soluble at a higher pH. A substantial fraction of the mass of humic acids is in carboxylic acid functional groups, which endow these molecules with the ability to chelate positively charged multivalent ions (Mg++, Ca++ and Fe++). The chelating of ions is probably the most important role of humic acids with respect to living systems. By chelating ions, the Humic Acids facilitate the uptake of ions through beneficial fungi and root systems. Fulvic acid is the fraction of humic substances that is soluble under all pH conditions. Fulvic acid works biologically as a food source to establish a desirable environment for microorganism growth and development. As a growth stimulant, it increases seed germination, viability and root respiration and the formation of plant growth, thus increasing crops’ yield and quality. It is a micro-molecule which delivers mineral Ions directly to the plants’ cells for food and energy. Fulvic acid also helps detoxify pollutants in the soil and absorb many poisons (reducing soil-life damage) and catalyzes the rapid breakdown of toxins. Ulmic acid is the acid radical found in humic matter which is soluble in alkali. It, like humic and fulvic acid, has properties for nutrient release and cation absorption. The other major contributor to Cannon Republic Foundation-SB not found in humates derived from Leonardite/Coal is lignin. Lignin is originally found as an integral part of the secondary cell walls of plants and some algae. It’s water

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binding qualities allow lignin to retain as much as seven times its own weight in water, making plants more drought resistant, helping reduce water usage and plant damage. Lignin is also a high-level food source for the good fungi in your soil, helping keep it alive while soils regain health. The lignin found in Cannon Republic Foundation-SB binds metal ions, thus preventing them from reacting with other compounds and becoming soluble. Metal ions sequestered with lignosulfonates stay dissolved while in solution keeping them available to plants. In the case of pesticide residue, lignin locks it up and holds it until soil biology can break the residue down into harmless compounds, thus protecting groundwater. Critical differentiators of Cannon Republic Foundation-SB from other humates derived from sub-surface strata are the high concentration and diversity of living natural soil biology it contains. One of the microorganisms indigenous to the site is nitrobacillus georgiensis, identified

as a never-before-seen bacillus; a natural nitrogen fixing agent. Some of the microbes and fungi found in Cannon Republic Foundation-SB extend the reach of plants roots, some fungi attaching to and become part of the plant root system, improving the ability to find nutrients and water and sending it back to the plant. Other microbes help plants naturally fight off pests and diseases while building the plant’s natural immune system. Others inhibit pathogens naturally found in soils such as Fusarium oxysporum, Phytophthora sp., Collectotrichum sp., Helminthosporium sp., Sclerotium rolfsii, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and others. We at Cannon Republic have made it our mission to aid the American Farmer and Rancher, and we are honored to provide not only our products, but complete soil, water, and plant testing, as well as regenerative agriculture consulting to all wanting to see the betterment of the soil environment firsthand.

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TEXAS HUNTING DATES RELEASED FOR 2022-23

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) published the hunting dates for 2022-23 GAME ANIMALS Javelina North Zone: Oct. 1 – Feb. 26

South Zone: Sept. 1 – Aug. 31

MULE DEER General Season

EASTERN TURKEY Spring Season East Texas: April 22 – May 14, 2023

Panhandle: Nov. 19, 2022 – Dec. 4, 2022 Trans-Pecos: Nov. 25, 2022 – Dec. 11, 2022

MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS Dove

Archery Season

Sept. 1—Nov. 13, 2022 and Dec. 17, 2022 – Jan. 1, 2023

59 of 254 counties: Oct. 1, 2022 – Nov. 4, 2022

PRONGHORN

41 of 254 counties: Oct. 1-16, 2022

SQUIRREL

North Zone

Central Zone

Sept. 1 – Oct. 30, 2022 and Dec. 17, 2022 – Jan. 15, 2023

South Zone

Sept. 14 – Oct. 30, 2022 and Dec. 17, 2022 – Jan. 22, 2023

Additional days for Special White-winged Dove season:

East Texas: Oct. 1, 2022 – Feb. 26, 2023 and May 1-31, 2023 Other open counties: Sept. 1, 2022 – Aug. 31, 2022 Youth Only East Texas: Sept. 24 – 25, 2022

Sept. 2-4, 2022 and Sept. 9-11, 2022 (special regulations apply)

WHITE-TAILED DEER General Season

DUCK Regular Season

North Zone: Nov. 5, 2022 – Jan. 1, 2023 South Zone: Nov. 5, 2022 – Jan. 15, 2023

Special Late Season

North Zone: Jan. 2 – 15, 2023

South Zone: Jan. 16 – 29, 2023

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Oct. 29-30, 2022 and Nov. 4, 2022 – Jan. 29, 2023 North: Nov. 12 – 27, 2022 and Dec. 3, 2022 – Jan 29, 2023 South: Nov. 5-27, 2022 and Dec. 10, 2022 – Jan. 29, 2023

Youth-Only Seasons

Youth and Veterans

Archery Season

GOOSE Early Canada Goose

North Zone: Oct 29-30, 2022 and Jan. 2-15, 2023 South Zone: Oct. 29-30, 2022 and Jan. 2-15, 2023 Oct. 1 – Nov. 4, 2022

Muzzleloader-Only Season Jan. 2-15, 2023

UPLAND GAME BIRDS Chachalaca Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties: Oct. 29, 2022 – Feb. 26, 2023

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Oct. 22-23, 2022 North: Nov. 5–6, 2022 South: Oct. 29-30, 2022 East Zone: Sept. 10-25, 2022

Light and Dark Geese

East Zone: Nov. 5, 2022 – Jan. 29, 2023 West Zone: Nov. 5, 2022 – Feb. 5, 2023

Light Goose Conservation Order

Pheasant

East Zone: Jan. 30 – March 12, 2023 West Zone: Feb. 6 – March 12, 2023

Quail

Rails, Gallinules and Moorhens

RIO GRANDE TURKEY Fall

Sandhill Cranes

Panhandle: Dec. 3, 2022 – Jan. 1, 2023 Oct. 29, 2022 – Feb. 26, 2023 North Zone: Nov. 5, 2022 – Jan. 1, 2023 South Zone: Nov. 5, 2022 – Jan. 15, 2023 Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg and Willacy counties: Nov. 5, 2022 – Feb. 26, 2023 Archery-Only: Oct. 1, – Nov. 4, 2022

Fall Youth-Only

North: Oct. 29-30, 2022 and Jan. 2-15, 2023 South: Oct. 29-30, 2022 and Jan. 16-29, 2023

Sept. 10-25, 2022 and Nov. 5 – Dec. 28, 2022 Zone A: Oct. 29, 2022 – Jan. 29, 2023 Zone B: Nov. 25, 2022 – Jan. 29, 2023 Zone C: Dec. 17, 2022 – Jan. 22, 2023

Snipe

Nov. 5, 2022 – Feb. 19, 2023

Teal

Sept. 10-25, 2022

Spring

Woodcock

Spring Youth-Only:

OTHER ANIMALS Alligator

North: April 1 – May 14, 2023 South: March 18 – April 30, 2023 One-turkey counties: April 1-30, 2023 North: March 25-26, 2023 and May 20-21, 2023 South: March 11-12, 2023 and May 6-7, 2023 68

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Dec. 18, 2022 – Jan. 31, 2023

22 Counties and Special Properties: Sept. 10-30, 2022 All other Counties: April 1 – June 30, 2023

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Issue 47 of the Ag Mag

Articles inside

Texas Hunting Dates Released for 2022-23

Students Reflect On 44 Farms International Beef

Shrinking Cattle Herd Could Equal High Calf, Beef Prices

Border Demand Steps in to Keep Valley Corn and Milo Prices Steady to Improved

Cattle Inventory Report Came Out and it Confirmed

Texas County Agricultural Agents Association

Farm Bureau Comments on Fertilizer Concerns

FEATURED FARMER: Following Your Heart

Water Issues Loom Large For Growers

Insurgence of Mozena Bug Concerns Crop Producers, Homeowners Alike