Grassfed Beef Conference Coming to Texas A&M
June 8 and 9

http://animalscience.tamu.edu/images/pdf/beef/Grassfed%20Conference%20Flyer.pdf

Cattle Brand Renewal Starting September 1, 2011 through February 28, 2012, the Navarro County Clerks office will renew brands. If brands are not renewed by February 28, 2012 the brand becomes open to the public. The Navarro County Clerk office is on the first floor of the county courthouse. Questions? Call 903-654-3035.

Agricultural Waste Pesticide Collection Events

Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Texas Department of Agriculture have announced 2010 Agricultural Waste Pesticide Collection Events. These disposal programs allow agricultural producers to properly dispose of unwanted pesticides. According to the TCEQ website:

The free collections, conducted rain or shine, give agricultural producers who use pesticides in Texas an opportunity to dispose of unwanted products that may pose a hazard to them, their families, and their surrounding farming and ranching communities. The program is strictly voluntary and no one is required to participate. All this is done at no expense to them.
The participants do not have to identify themselves. However, there is a short survey in which the participants are asked questions similar to the ones listed below.
- What county are you from?
- How long has your waste been stored?
- How did you hear about today's event?
- What type of material are you bringing today?
The reason for asking the participant the fourth question–regarding the type of material brought in–is to determine how to properly handle it.

The closest event to Navarro County is to be held in Ellis County on Thursday, September 16 at the Ellis County Youth Expo Grounds. For a complete liest of events that will be held this September and October go to http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assets/public/assistance/agwaste/FY_2011_schedule.pdf

Brush Management Field Day Offering 5 CEU’s Set for June 11

Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Navarro County will host a Brush Management Field Day on June 11. The program is designed to assist landowners in making decisions about how and when to apply chemical and mechanical brush management practices. Brush species highlighted will include mesquite, cedar, cactus and others. The program will begin at 9am at the Navarro County Exposition Center. Topics will include: Using Pestman for Brush Control Decisions, Brush Species Ecology and Management, Mechanical Brush Control Options and Assistance from Federal Agencies. After lunch, we will travel to Tree Brand Ranches for a field tour that will include: chemical brush and weed plots, skid-steer demonstration for cut stump applications, three-point hitch grubbing attachment and other mechanical demonstrations. Representatives from Dow AgroSciences and Dupont will be on hand to discuss brush herbicides. Cost is $5 per person to cover the cost of the lunch. Please RSVP by June 8 at 903-654-3075.

Do you need CEU's? - Don't Miss the Multi-County CEU Workshop
December 9, 2009
Fairfield Civic Center @ 839 East Commerce in Fairfield, TX
$35/person
8am – 1pm

5 CEU’s Offered !
(2 IPM, 2 General and 1 Laws & Regs)


TOPICS
- Aquatic Weed Control
- Forage Legume Management
- Weed Management in Pastures
- Insect Management in Pastures
- Reading Pesticide Labels

Call 903-654-3075 to RSVP by December 5, 2009

Grazing Management and Stockmanship Workshop Set for September 25 in Corsicana, TX

When it comes to beef cattle production, reducing animal stress can increase animal performance and the profitability of an operation. With that in mind, a Grazing Management and Stockmanship Workshop will be held in Corsicana at the Navarro County Exposition Center on Friday, September 25. The program will start at 8:30 am and run until 3:30 pm and cost is $10 per person to cover the steak lunch and materials. If you are a ranch owner or manager, day worker, horse owner or have any interest in working cattle and beef production you will want to make plans to attend this program.

Presenters and topics for the day include the following: Dr. Dennis Sigler, Texas AgriLife Extension Service Equine Specialist, will kick the program off by discussing grazing strategies and impacts of horses and the unique nutritional needs of horses. Mark Moseley, Texas State Grazing Land Conservation Initiative Coordinator and Range Management Specialist with USDA-NRCS, will then cover grazing management for beef cattle operations. Stacy Fox, Members Program Managers for Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, will then discuss Trichomoniasis in Texas and regulations that producers need to be aware of. This is a timely issue as this bovine disease may be more prevalent in the state of Texas than previously thought and compliance will be critical. At 11:15am, the program will then break for a Trade Show and a steak lunch cooked by Third Avenue Meat Market - Corsicana.

Following lunch, the program will move to the enclosed livestock arena and receive hands-on instruction from Curt Pate and Dr. Ron Gill on effective stockmanship and low stress cattle handling. Curt Pate is a stockmanship instructor, lifelong rancher and was selected three years in a row as the AQHA Clinician of the year. Dr. Ron Gill serves as a Livestock Specialist with Texas AgriLife Extension Service and is a lifelong cattleman. Demonstrations will be conducted horseback using live cattle. Wrapping up the day we will have a chute side demonstration and focus on tips and methods to reduce stress when working cattle through a chute and headgate.

Sponsors for the program include: Texas AgriLife Extension Service, United States Department of Agriculture - Natural Resource Conservation Service, Texas State Grazing Land Conservation Initiative, Blackland Prairie GLCI, Central Texas Quarter Horse Association, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers, Bluebonnet RC&D and Leon-Bosque RC&D, Purina, Midcontinent Livestock Supplements, Miraco, Merial, Tru-Test, Priefert, AQHA, Livestock Marketing Association, National Cattleman’s Beef Association and the Beef Checkoff. If you are interested please RSVP by 9/21 at 903-654-3075 or jdscasta@ag.tamu.edu. For the full flier, information about presenters and map/directions to the facility go to http://navarro-tx.tamu.edu -> "Grazing & Stockmanship Workshop". More information about Curt Pate and Ron Gill is also available at www.effectivestockmanship.com.

Quail Restoration Workshop Set for September 4th

Have you ever wondered what happened to quail in Texas? It seems like not to long ago there were bobwhite quail all over the central part of the state. What happened and what can we do to improve the current situation? On Friday, September 4 we will discuss just that at a Quail Restoration Workshop held in Navarro County. The program will be located at the Shadow Mountain Ranch, southwest of Blooming Grove, TX. Starting at 8:30 we will hear from the President of the Western Navarro Bobwhite Restoration Initiative or WNBRI, Jimmy Stewart and Sharron Lane, owner of Shadow Mountain Ranch and WNBRI cooperator. Jim Willis from the WW Ranch in southeast Texas will shed some light on his restoration efforts and then Dr. Dale Rollins, Extension Wildlife Specialist from San Angelo, will talk about the demise of quail and quail biology. Sara Robinson from Audubon Society will discuss the Quail and Grassland Bird Iniative, Jay Whiteside with TPWD and WNBRI Advisor will highlight the WNBRI program. Derek Scasta, Navarro County Extension Agent for Agriculture will then discuss Brush Sculpting and we will view a brush sculpting project on the ranch. Then the group will head to a range restoration sight where cropland was converted to native prairie. Jay Whiteside will discuss Rangeland Planting Techniques and plant ID. Finally, Jeff Goodwin, USDA-NRCS Range Management Specialist, will highlight Grazing management to optimize bobwhite habitat. This looks to be a tip-top program that you will not want to miss. To RSVP and reserve your spot and your meal call 903-654-3075 by September 1st. For the flier log on to http://navarro-tx.tamu.edu –>Publications –> Events –> Quail Restoration Workshop.

Navarro County Ranch Tour Planned for June 11, 2009

Come join us for a tour of the Fullerton Ranch located in Corbet, TX. The Fullerton Ranch is a Red Angus operation specializing in replacement heifers. The ranch utilizes rotational grazing and puts emphasis on calving season management. Highlights of the tour will focus on weed control options, heifer development, calving season management and marketing alternatives and strategies. From Corsicana, take Highway 31 west and turn south on FM 2452 and travel 1.7 miles, red gate entrance on the left.

Agenda:
5:00 pm – Registration
5:15 – Hay Pasture Weed Control Demonstration Plots – Tuffy Loftin
5:45 – Heifer Development (Live Cattle) and Calving Season – Dr. Jason Cleere
6:45 – Prickly Pear Control: Individual Plant Treatment – Jeff Goodwin
7:10 - Grazing Pasture Weed Control Demonstration Plots – Tuffy Loftin
7:30 – Dinner and Livestock Marketing Strategies – Dr. David Anderson
8:15 pm – Questions and Adjourn

2 CEU’s offered (1 General and 1 IPM)

Cost: $10/head

Call and RSVP at 903-654-3075 by June 8, 2009

Native Prairie Restoration Workshop Presents a Unique Educational Opportunity on May 29, 2009

Friday, May 29 a workshop focusing on Native Prairie Restoration will be held at the Clymer Meadow Preserve. This will be a unique and inter-active educational program that will provide a broad amount of information that can be used by landowners and managers. Topics of discussion will include: History of the Blackland Prairie, Value of Native Rangeland, Native Grass from a Landowners Perspective, Clymer Grassland Management, Cost Share Programs and Assistance, Restoration Techniques, Follow-Up Management, and Restoration Equipment. Presenters will include landowners, practitioners and educators. For the full flier go to http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/land/private/media/prairie_restoration_workshop_clymer09.pdf

What should my stocking rate be?

One of the most common questions I get is what kind of stocking rate is appropriate for my property. When we consider stocking rates for beef cattle we have to remember that one lactating, thousand pound cow will consume 2.5% to 3% of her body weight or roughly 25 to 30 pounds of air dry forage daily. 1 cow/calf pair is an animal unit (AU). A good rule of thumb is to “take half and leave half” but we have to account for another quarter of the forage that will get trampled, wasted, decompose, etc. So estimate based on 25% of forage production for a conservative stocking rate in an average rainfall year. So a thousand pound cow with a calf at her side will eat approximately 26 pounds of forage daily or 9,490 pounds per year.

Improved pasture differs greatly than native rangeland in terms of stocking rate due to management of fertility, weeds, etc. General stocking rates for Navarro County are 1 AU per 3-5 acres of fertilized improved pasture and 1 AU per 10-12 acres of rangeland BUT depend on location and management.

The only way to truly know what your appropriate stocking rate, is to quantify your forage production (clip and weigh grass or forage plots) and then base a stocking rate on the traditional range management principles and allow for variations in rainfall. A good stocking rate is the first step to good range management and sustainable agriculture. For more information go to the following web address: http://animalscience.tamu.edu/images/pdf/beef/beef-rdmt-stocking-rate.pdf