Consider Hay Storage Options Carefully
















Many producers in the county are cutting, raking and baling hay right now. The good spring we have experienced has provided a decent hay crop. It does seem however as if our forages have struggled some due to the hard fall and winter in terms of root storage and recovery and hay yields are a bit lower in terms of biomass than expected. All in all though the hay crop is coming along okay. Now with hay being such a precious and expensive commodity to produce it is important to consider how you will store it in order to minimize losses. A recent University of Tennessee trial compared different methods of storing large round bales of grass hay. The hay was cut and baled in June in Moore County, TN. Bales were weighed at the time of harvest and storage and then weighed again the following January at the time of winter feeding. The following results show the type of storage method used and the percentage hay loss.

• On Ground, No Cover - 37% loss
• On Tires, No Cover - 29% loss
• On Ground, Covered - 29% loss
• Net Wrap, On Ground - 19% loss
• On Tires, Covered - 8% loss
• In Barn - 6% loss

When looking at these percentages lets put them into a little better perspective: 37% loss on a 1,000 pound bale is 370 pounds versus 6% loss which is 60 pounds. That is very significant. Lossess can be significant depending on the type of storage. This information also indicates that storage losses occur from moisture getting into both the top AND bottom of the bales. If hay can't be stored in a barn, the next best option it to at least get the hay off the ground and under a tarp or plastic cover. So as you start to store hay this spring and summer think about storage options and protect your hay investment.

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

ACRE Decision Aid Education Program

A joint program between Navarro and Ellis Counties will be offered to educate producers on the new ACRE program and to show them the recently developed ACRE Decision Aid Program. Dr. Joe Outlaw with the Texas A&M Agricultural and Food Policy Center will be present to present information on the new tool and answer questions. The program will be held on Tuesday, May 19 at the KJT Hall in Ennis, TX (located at 1216 South Paris Street) from 10 am to 12 noon. Lunch will be provided and cost is $5 per person to cover the costs of the facilities and lunch. Please RSVP prior to May 15th at 903-654-3075 or 972-825-5175.

ACRE Decision Aid Program Ready for Use

Texas A&M University's Agricultural and Food Policy Center has developed a web-based decision aid to assist producers in comparing the old CCP program to the new ACRE program. ACRE stands for Average Crop Revenue Election and is an option under the new farm bill. Producers will be faced with a decision to choose one option or the other. According to a recent TAMU AgNews article, "The tool will help producers in deciding whether to continue receiving counter-cyclical payments (CCP) triggered during times of low prices, or opt for a revenue-based payment known as Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) triggered by low prices and/or yields". For the full article go to http://agnews.tamu.edu/showstory.php?id=1142.

For the decision aid program go to http://www.afpc.tamu.edu/models/acre/index.php

Swine Flu: Facts, Avoidance and Considerations for Swine Owners

The recent publicity surrounding cases of swine flu in the U.S. and Mexico has raised the awareness of employees and prompted questions about appropriate workplace cautions. The following information, taken from the Center for Disease Control's website, is provided to address some of these questions and to provide a resource for further investigation by concerned employees. Flu vaccines administered in fall 2008 and winter 2009 do not protect against swine flu so it is important to minimize exposure and practice good health habits to reduce your chances of becoming ill.

Facts - People cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Most influenza viruses, including the swine flu virus, are not spread by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe. No food safety issues have been identified, related to the flu. Preliminary investigations have determined that none of the people infected with the flu had contact with hogs. The virus is spreading by human-to-human transmission.

Here are some examples of steps you can take to manage your risk of infection:

1. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or carry a small-size, alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you and use it often. You can purchase alcohol-based hand sanitizer at any local pharmacy or grocery store.
2. Keep your hands away from your mouth, nose and eyes.
3. Don't eat, drink or smoke after others.
4. Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve so viruses are trapped in the fabric of your clothing and so you do not contaminate your hands. If you cough into a tissue, throw it in a wastebasket immediately. Don't lay it on a surface that others might touch. Wash or sanitize your hands as soon a possible.
5. Avoid close contact with people who are ill and stay home when you are sick.

Simple actions such as these can reduce the chances of you contracting this and other illnesses. Further information specific to swine flu can be found at the following URL's:

If you own swine, consider the following practices to enhance the biosecurity on your farm to prevent the disease from being transmitted to your herd:
1. Workers should shower and change into farm-specific clothes and shoes before entering swine facilities.
2. Establish, implement and enforce strict sick leave policies for workers presenting influenza-like symptoms.
3. Recommend that workers with symptoms be seen by a medical provider immediately.
4. Restrict the entry of people into your facility to only workers and essential service personnel.
5. Prevent international visitors from entering your facilities.
6. Ensure adequate ventilation in facilities to minimize re-circulation of air inside animal housing facilities.
7. Vaccinate pigs against the influenza virus. Vaccination of pigs can reduce the levels of virus shed by infected animals
8. Contact your swine veterinarian if swine exhibit flu-like or respiratory illness, especially if the onset or presentation of the illness is unusual.
9. Notify your Texas Animal Health Commission area office or the Austin headquarters at 800-550-8242, after you have contacted your veterinarian.
The Texas Animal Health Commission is ready to assist with on-farm investigations, if pigs are present where a known human case has occurred, and to assist with epidemiological investigations with any human cases that may have links to swine in Texas.

Resources
· Center for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
· Texas Department of State Health Services: www.dshs.state.tx.us\swineflu
· Texas Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN): http://texashelp.tamu.edu/004-natural/disease-and-epidemic.php

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

Recent Frosts Damage County Wheat Crop

Producers in Navarro County had hopes for the ‘09 wheat crop but the recent frost received around April 7 is starting to reveal its impact. Wheat in this area had come through a very challenging fall and winter as conditions were extremely dry. Timely rains received in March provided the chance to salvage the wheat crop but a late frost may hamper yields on many fields. The extent of the freeze injury in wheat can be highly dependent upon location of the field and associated topography and elevation. The lower lying areas seem to be exhibiting more extensive and severe injury. The stage of growth of the wheat crop can also determine how hard hit the crop was. When evaluating wheat heads for injury here are a few things to look for: Color - healthy heads would normally exhibit a light green color at this time of year; affected heads will be a dull yellow to white color. As things progress it may become more obvious in the field. Typically, kernel development stops immediately after freeze damage and damaged kernels are grayish white, rough and shriveled. Fluid - healthy heads and kernels in the milk to early dough stage will have a whitish fluid that can be squeezed from the kernel while damaged kernels may contain a gray to brownish liquid or no fluid at all. Physical signs may also be apparent in the awns as they may be twisted and bleached white. For more information on freeze injury in wheat go to http://varietytesting.tamu.edu/wheat/docs/mime-4.pdf. Some freeze injury has been seen in corn but it is very limited and not as widespread as the wheat damage. As we move forward many adjusters will be looking at insured wheat fields to further assess the damage from this late frost.