Fall Forage Workshop Set for October 29 at Fannie Mae Vernon Room
Cattle and hay producers in Navarro County will want to mark October 29 on their calendars for the annual Fall Forage Workshop. The program will begin at 6pm and run until 8:30. Topics for the evening include: Dr. Larry Redmon, Texas AgriLife Extension Service Forage Specialist providing an update on pasture management and soil fertility; Kelly Cross, Fort Dodge Animal Health will then provide an update on Trichomoniasis management and how to integrate a vaccine into your program. We will also have updates on a pasture result demonstration and results from the Hay Testing Drive (which include forage analysis and supplemental feeding recommendations).
2 CEU’s will be offered in (1 General and 1 IPM) for producers with Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator Licenses. Cost is $5 per person for a BBQ meal. Sponsors for the 2009 Hay Testing Drive and Fall Forage Workshop include: Ag Texas Farm Credit Services, Community National Bank, Forrest Green Polled Herefords, JPM Company, Kerens Grain and Elevator, Rosewood Ranches, Texas Land Bank, Vitters Tractor and Williams Gin and Grain. Please call 903-64-3075 to RSVP by October 26.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Navarro County Hay Testing Drive Set for October 1st
Each year brings about its own set of challenges and 2009 has been no different. A dry fall/winter, a late April freeze and sporadic rainfall have presented challenges to producing hay. However, one tool we can use year-in and year-out is testing our hay for quality. Knowing the quality of our hay will enable ranchers to make wise decisions in supplementing their livestock herds this winter. To address this issue the Navarro County Extension Livestock Committee will sponsor the Navarro County Hay Testing Drive and Fall Forage Seminar.
Any livestock producer in the county may submit up to two samples of any type of hay for a crude protein analysis at no charge. Additional samples may be submitted for analysis at a cost of $5.00 per sample for coastal or a legume or $10.00 for sudan, johnsongrass or cool season annuals. Sampling of the hay will be conducted by members of the Extension Livestock Forage subcommittee and sent to the Extension Forage Testing Laboratory in College Station for analysis. Samples will be received at the Precinct 1 County barn located at the intersection of W. Hwy 31 and FM 2555 on Thursday, October 1 from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon. Prior to October 1, samples may be left @ Williams Gin and Grain in Frost, the Kerens Grain and Elevator in Kerens or at JPM Co. in Dawson.
Samples may be submitted from any type of hay or bale. Samples should weigh at least 10-15 pounds whether taken from square bales, large round bales or other types of bales. Samples should be put in large plastic trash bags and tied. Each sample should include the following information: the producer name, sample identification number, mailing address, telephone number, type of hay and which cutting the sample is from. The forms which may be used for your entries are on the back of this letter.
Results of the crude protein analysis and feed value will be on display at the Fall Forage Seminar on Tuesday, October 29, 2009. Speakers and topics for the program will include Dr. Larry Redmon, Texas AgriLife Research Scientist to discuss Nutrient Availability and the Economics of Grazing and Haying Systems and a speaker representing Fort Dodge Animal Health to discuss their Trichomoniasis vaccine. Additional information will be provided on results from a pasture shredding and renovating/harrowing demonstration.
The program will be held in the Fannie Mae Vernon Room of the Navarro County Expo Center beginning at 6:00 p.m. with a chili supper and 2 CEU’s will be offered. This is an excellent opportunity to get your hay tested and design your supplemental feeding system. Please RSVP at 903-654-3075 by Oct 21 so arrangements for meal and seating can be made.
Contact me at 903-654-3075 or jdscasta@ag.tamu.edu.
Each year brings about its own set of challenges and 2009 has been no different. A dry fall/winter, a late April freeze and sporadic rainfall have presented challenges to producing hay. However, one tool we can use year-in and year-out is testing our hay for quality. Knowing the quality of our hay will enable ranchers to make wise decisions in supplementing their livestock herds this winter. To address this issue the Navarro County Extension Livestock Committee will sponsor the Navarro County Hay Testing Drive and Fall Forage Seminar.
Any livestock producer in the county may submit up to two samples of any type of hay for a crude protein analysis at no charge. Additional samples may be submitted for analysis at a cost of $5.00 per sample for coastal or a legume or $10.00 for sudan, johnsongrass or cool season annuals. Sampling of the hay will be conducted by members of the Extension Livestock Forage subcommittee and sent to the Extension Forage Testing Laboratory in College Station for analysis. Samples will be received at the Precinct 1 County barn located at the intersection of W. Hwy 31 and FM 2555 on Thursday, October 1 from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon. Prior to October 1, samples may be left @ Williams Gin and Grain in Frost, the Kerens Grain and Elevator in Kerens or at JPM Co. in Dawson.
Samples may be submitted from any type of hay or bale. Samples should weigh at least 10-15 pounds whether taken from square bales, large round bales or other types of bales. Samples should be put in large plastic trash bags and tied. Each sample should include the following information: the producer name, sample identification number, mailing address, telephone number, type of hay and which cutting the sample is from. The forms which may be used for your entries are on the back of this letter.
Results of the crude protein analysis and feed value will be on display at the Fall Forage Seminar on Tuesday, October 29, 2009. Speakers and topics for the program will include Dr. Larry Redmon, Texas AgriLife Research Scientist to discuss Nutrient Availability and the Economics of Grazing and Haying Systems and a speaker representing Fort Dodge Animal Health to discuss their Trichomoniasis vaccine. Additional information will be provided on results from a pasture shredding and renovating/harrowing demonstration.
The program will be held in the Fannie Mae Vernon Room of the Navarro County Expo Center beginning at 6:00 p.m. with a chili supper and 2 CEU’s will be offered. This is an excellent opportunity to get your hay tested and design your supplemental feeding system. Please RSVP at 903-654-3075 by Oct 21 so arrangements for meal and seating can be made.
Contact me at 903-654-3075 or jdscasta@ag.tamu.edu.
Thursday, September 3, 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.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Considerations for Calving Season Management
Do you have cows calving year round or do you have calves coming during a set time interval during the year? Common practice is to allow the bull to run with the cow herd year round and to not limit breeding (i.e., Year-Round Breeding and Calving). Ultimately, this results in year round calving and has several management implications that can ultimately impact profit margins. The alternative would be to control the breeding period for 60-90 days and have a time-limited calving season (i.e., Controlled Breeding and Calving). Dr. Jason Cleere, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Beef Cattle Specialist gave the following considerations at the 2009 Ranch Tour for calving season management.
In terms of Management (Parasite Control, Vaccination, Castration, Dehorning, Implanting, Weaning, etc) in a Controlled program you would process cattle 2-3 times per year versus a Year-Round program where you would process cattle 3+ times annually and ultimately face increased operating expenses. In terms of Animal Nutrition, in a Controlled program you can manage cattle similarly and can match rebreeding and calving periods to periods of optimum forage production. Conversely, in a Year-Round program you would be managing dry cows and wet cows separately due to different nutritional requirements and calving and rebreeding of some cows would occur when forage production was not optimum and increased supplementation is necessary. In terms of Marketing Opportunities, a Controlled program provides a uniform calf crop in terms of age and provides more marketing power. A Year-Round program would have cattle being marketed at different times due to lighter weights among your later calves. In terms of Reproductive Efficiency, a Controlled program allows a producer to identify cows that do not drop a calf every 365 days versus a Year-Round program which provide limited ability to identify cows with low reproductive performance that aren’t earning their keep.
Ultimately, a controlled calving season allows a producer to maximize the utilization of energy and resources on the ranch. It provides increased marketing advantages and power and can enhance profit margins. Controlled calving season also increases the efficiency of the managers time and labor by managing similar situations during set time periods during the year (examples include: supplemental feeding, trips to the sale barn, calving cows, etc). Controlled calving presents challenges in terms of deciding what to do with the herd bulls when not with the cow herd. Options might include: using electric fencing, sharing/borrowing/leasing bulls, running multiple cow herds with different calving seasons and rotating bulls, etc.
County Wheat and Oat Demonstration Plot Yields Are In!
One of the pillars of Texas AgriLife Extension Service programming is field demonstrations that show results. This goes back to the old adage, “Don’t just tell me, show me!”. One of the types of demonstrations that are regularly conducted in Navarro County are variety trials that provide unbiased yield data on certain crops in order to assist producers in selecting the most productive and disease resistant variety for the following year. Today I want to share information and results on our recently harvested wheat and oat demonstration plots.
The wheat variety demonstration was planted with Caleb and Josh Martin in Frost, TX on October 27, 2008 using a John Deere 8300 drill planting at 95 pounds per acre following corn. Fertilizer applications included 100 pounds of 18-46-0 on October 24, 2008 and later topdressed with 350 pounds of 32-0-0. Pest management was accomplished using Lorsban and 2,4-D. For the hard varieties the plots average 64.3 bushels per acre (bu/ac) with Duster having the highest yield with 78.3 bu/ac followed by Fuller at 75.4 bu/ac and Jackpot at 73.8 bu/ac. TAM401 yielded 65.6 bu/ac followed by TAM203 at 65.3 bu/ac and Coronado at 58.6 bu/ac. The bottom two hard varieties were TAM304 at 39.9 bu/ac and Fannin at 39.9 bu/ac. For the soft varieties the plots averaged 54.7 bu/ac with USD 3295 having the highest yield with 84.0 bu/ac followed by Coker 9553 at 61.8 bu/ac followed by LA841 at 55.4 bu/ac. The three lowest yields were Crawford at 46.3 bu/ac, Coker 9700 at 41.8 bu/ac and Heavy Grazer at 38.7 bu/ac. The location of these plots allowed for avoidance of frost damage that severely affected many wheat acres in the county this year. The yields are not adjusted for moisture due technical difficulties with the moisture tester. Thanks to Caleb and Josh Martin for planting and harvesting the 2009 Navarro County wheat variety demonstration.
The oat variety demonstration was planted with the Reed family in Barry, TX on November 20, 2008 u sing a Great Plains Solid Stand 13 Drill at 95 pounds per acre following soybeans. Fertilizer applications included 200 pounds of 32-0-0 and 50 pounds of 18-46-0. The average yield was 87.5 bu/ac with Horizon 201 having the highest yield of 110.0 bu/ac followed by TAMO406 at 95.9 bu/ac and TX7682 at 93.8 bu/ac. The bottom four yields were TX 7473 at 86.7 bu/ac, Horizon 314 at 84.5 bu/ac, TAMO405 at 74.6 bu/ac and TAMO606 at 67.4 bu/ac. All yields were adjusted to 13% moisture for comparison. Thanks to Joe, Scott, Jacob, Russell and Pat Reed for planting the 2009 Navarro County oat variety demonstration. Also thanks to Brandon and Zane Nicholson of Barry for providing the combine to harvest the oat plots and to Dekalb for the use of the weigh wagon used for both wheat and oat plots.
One of the pillars of Texas AgriLife Extension Service programming is field demonstrations that show results. This goes back to the old adage, “Don’t just tell me, show me!”. One of the types of demonstrations that are regularly conducted in Navarro County are variety trials that provide unbiased yield data on certain crops in order to assist producers in selecting the most productive and disease resistant variety for the following year. Today I want to share information and results on our recently harvested wheat and oat demonstration plots.
The wheat variety demonstration was planted with Caleb and Josh Martin in Frost, TX on October 27, 2008 using a John Deere 8300 drill planting at 95 pounds per acre following corn. Fertilizer applications included 100 pounds of 18-46-0 on October 24, 2008 and later topdressed with 350 pounds of 32-0-0. Pest management was accomplished using Lorsban and 2,4-D. For the hard varieties the plots average 64.3 bushels per acre (bu/ac) with Duster having the highest yield with 78.3 bu/ac followed by Fuller at 75.4 bu/ac and Jackpot at 73.8 bu/ac. TAM401 yielded 65.6 bu/ac followed by TAM203 at 65.3 bu/ac and Coronado at 58.6 bu/ac. The bottom two hard varieties were TAM304 at 39.9 bu/ac and Fannin at 39.9 bu/ac. For the soft varieties the plots averaged 54.7 bu/ac with USD 3295 having the highest yield with 84.0 bu/ac followed by Coker 9553 at 61.8 bu/ac followed by LA841 at 55.4 bu/ac. The three lowest yields were Crawford at 46.3 bu/ac, Coker 9700 at 41.8 bu/ac and Heavy Grazer at 38.7 bu/ac. The location of these plots allowed for avoidance of frost damage that severely affected many wheat acres in the county this year. The yields are not adjusted for moisture due technical difficulties with the moisture tester. Thanks to Caleb and Josh Martin for planting and harvesting the 2009 Navarro County wheat variety demonstration.
The oat variety demonstration was planted with the Reed family in Barry, TX on November 20, 2008 u sing a Great Plains Solid Stand 13 Drill at 95 pounds per acre following soybeans. Fertilizer applications included 200 pounds of 32-0-0 and 50 pounds of 18-46-0. The average yield was 87.5 bu/ac with Horizon 201 having the highest yield of 110.0 bu/ac followed by TAMO406 at 95.9 bu/ac and TX7682 at 93.8 bu/ac. The bottom four yields were TX 7473 at 86.7 bu/ac, Horizon 314 at 84.5 bu/ac, TAMO405 at 74.6 bu/ac and TAMO606 at 67.4 bu/ac. All yields were adjusted to 13% moisture for comparison. Thanks to Joe, Scott, Jacob, Russell and Pat Reed for planting the 2009 Navarro County oat variety demonstration. Also thanks to Brandon and Zane Nicholson of Barry for providing the combine to harvest the oat plots and to Dekalb for the use of the weigh wagon used for both wheat and oat plots.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Economical Considerations for Conservation Tillage
Field trials were conducted from 2003 to 2008 at the Stiles Farm Foundation in Thrall, TX to assess the economics of No-Till, Strip-Till and Conventional Tillage farming practices. These trials evaluated the yields and net profits of each practice for several different crop rotations.
CORN/CORN ROTATION
No-Till - Yield 87.62 bu/ac - Net Profit $73.76
Strip Till - Yield 93.79 bu/ac - Net Profit $80.81
Conventional - Yield 93.70 bu/ac - Net Profit $57.09
COTTON/CORN ROTATION
No-Till - Yield 78.14 bu/ac - Net Profit $37.37
Strip-Till - Yield 85.02 bu/ac - Net Profit $47.31
Conventional - Yield 79.35 bu/ac - Net Profit $(-6.91)
CORN/COTTON ROTATION
No-Till - Yield 574.4 #/ac - Net Profit $13.80
Strip-Till - Yield 629.3 #/ac - Net Profit $36.20
Conventional - Yield 678.0 #/ac - Net Profit $19.04
SORGHUM/COTTON ROTATION
No-Till - Yield 649 #/ac - Net Profit $67.67
Strip-Till - Yield 691 #/ac - Net Profit $73.94
Conventional - Yield 737 #/ac - Net Profit $77.29
COTTON/SORGHUM ROTATION*
No-Till - Yield 4739 #/ac - Net Profit $103.10
Strip-Till - Yield 5025 #/ac - Net Profit $112.17
Conventional - Yield 5228 #/ac - Net Profit $110.67
*5 years data due to sorghum blown down in windstorm in 2005
Field trials were conducted from 2003 to 2008 at the Stiles Farm Foundation in Thrall, TX to assess the economics of No-Till, Strip-Till and Conventional Tillage farming practices. These trials evaluated the yields and net profits of each practice for several different crop rotations.
CORN/CORN ROTATION
No-Till - Yield 87.62 bu/ac - Net Profit $73.76
Strip Till - Yield 93.79 bu/ac - Net Profit $80.81
Conventional - Yield 93.70 bu/ac - Net Profit $57.09
COTTON/CORN ROTATION
No-Till - Yield 78.14 bu/ac - Net Profit $37.37
Strip-Till - Yield 85.02 bu/ac - Net Profit $47.31
Conventional - Yield 79.35 bu/ac - Net Profit $(-6.91)
CORN/COTTON ROTATION
No-Till - Yield 574.4 #/ac - Net Profit $13.80
Strip-Till - Yield 629.3 #/ac - Net Profit $36.20
Conventional - Yield 678.0 #/ac - Net Profit $19.04
SORGHUM/COTTON ROTATION
No-Till - Yield 649 #/ac - Net Profit $67.67
Strip-Till - Yield 691 #/ac - Net Profit $73.94
Conventional - Yield 737 #/ac - Net Profit $77.29
COTTON/SORGHUM ROTATION*
No-Till - Yield 4739 #/ac - Net Profit $103.10
Strip-Till - Yield 5025 #/ac - Net Profit $112.17
Conventional - Yield 5228 #/ac - Net Profit $110.67
*5 years data due to sorghum blown down in windstorm in 2005
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