San Patricio Agriculture “Agriculture Affects Everyone”

San Patricio Agriculture “Agriculture Affects Everyone”

Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status.

The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

Volume 3, Issue 4 August, 2014

If you would prefer to receive this newsletter by email instead of by U.S. Postal Service, please contact the Extension Office at 361/364-6234 or by email - sanpatri@ag.tamu.edu

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SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:

August 19, 2014 Texas Well Owner Network, Robstown, TX

September 19, 2014 Beef Quality Assurance Training, Refugio, TX

Beef Cattle Browsing

Master Marketer Newsletter

Proposed Agricultural (WPS)

Texas Animal Health Commission-Update

Hello again,

It looks like the grain sorghum harvest is all but completed, and what started as a very promising crop has had unique twists and turns during this growing season. There have been reports all over the board, with regards to the milo yields. Lapses of moisture, sugarcane aphids and lodging, have all had an impact on this year’s yields. On the Western side of the County yields for the most part have remained steady. Yields of 3500 to near 6000 lbs have been reported. The eastern side of the County did not receive the timely rains and lodging issues decreased the yield potential. It is also believed that the sugarcane aphid had an effect on some of the lodging problems. The effects of the sugarcane aphid are continuing to be studied and more data will be available in the coming months.

Initial yields for corn have been reported at 50 to 120 bushels. Several producers are just beginning to harvest their corn. Cotton defoliation is taking place in some fields and we should see cotton bales showing up in the fields this week.

The Texas Well Owners Network will be holding a training on August 19, 2014 from 8:30 to 3:30, at the Johnny Calderon Building in Robstown. This training is open to the public and attendees are encouraged to bring their well water samples to be tested at a cost of $15 per sample. Samples will be tested for nitrates, total dissolved solids and bacteria. Participants do not have to bring water samples to the program, but if you want your sample analyzed you must attend the training. Drew Gholson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension program specialist said “this program was established to help well owners become familiar with Texas ground water resources, septic system maintenance, well maintenance, well maintenance and construction, and water quality and treatment”. This training will also be held at the Refugio County Community Center, 305 Swift Street, Refugio, on August 20, 2014 from 8:30-3:30. Two sample containers are needed and can be picked up at San Patricio, Nueces or Refugio County Extension Office.

Area beef cattle producers have an opportunity to attend a Texas Beef Quality Assurance training to be held at the Refugio County Fairgrounds on Friday, September 19, 2014 from 9:30-3:00pm. This program was developed to assist cattleman in producing a safer and more wholesome food product. This TBQP program is built upon a proven system of best management practices and allows a producer to become BQA trained. If interested feel free to call the office for more information.

It has been brought to my attention; any producers impacted by the 2014 Farm Bill, who do not currently have an email account need to acquire one. Dr. Joe Outlaw, recently stated communication with regards to the farm bill decision aid and other pertinent farm bill information from him or the Agricultural and Food, Policy Center would be done via email. He also stated that some producers may be uncomfortable saving their information on the website. One does have the option of deleting after analyzing their decisions, but cautions, if rule changes occur data will have to be re-entered. The Decision Aid is now available at www.afpc.tamu.edu. Nueces and San Patricio AgriLife Extensions are planning a Farm Bill Decision Aid Workshop to be held October 28.

I have also included links for anyone wishing to comment on proposed EPA regulations regarding Definitions of Waters of the United States and Workers Protection Standards. WPS comments will be accepted on or before August 18, 2014. See attached insert. Comments on Definitions of Waters will be accepted on or before October 20, 2014, at www.regulations.gov, docket ID#EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0880.

Till next time,

San Patricio Agriculture “Agriculture Affects Everyone”

BEEF CATTLE BROWSING Dr. Stephen Hammack, Professor & Extension Beef Cattle Specialist Emeritus

What Do Consumers Think About Production Practices?

The Consumer Image Index, funded by the beef check-off, is a national survey of consumers thoughts about beef. Part of the most recent survey examined what consumers think about how beef is produced, and also how chicken is produced. Some Findings: chicken product was viewed slightly more favorably than beef but attitudes toward production practices were about

the same for both; beef consumers are most concerned with antibiotics/hormones, diseased/sick cattle, inhumane treatment/crowding,

slaughtering methods, and feed rations; chicken consumers are most concerned with overcrowding in production “factories”, salmonella/sickness,

unsanitary processing, and antibiotic/hormones; more consumers now acquire and are sharing information on meat production and are more active in taking action

based on information; favorability among the general public toward cattle ranchers is becoming closer to the high favorability of primary

beef consumers; mention of “feedyards” reduces favorability; for information on production practices, ranchers have higher credibility than dietitians; the beef industry is seen as stronger and more stable than chicken for “ongoing programs to produce the most

nutritious meat possible”; positive perceptions result from messages conveying that beef can decrease cholesterol, contains vital minerals, is

protein rich, helps preserve wildlife space, and is now leaner; most consumers are comfortable with treating sick cattle with antibiotics when supervised by a veterinarian under

prescribed guidelines. (http://beefissuesquarterly.com; April, 2014)

Master Marketer Newsletter http://mastermarketer.tamu.edu; Volume 14Issue 2June 2014

Feed Grains USDA made no changes to the U.S. corn or sorghum supply and demand balance sheets in the June WASDE Report. Ending stocks of corn at the end of the 2014/2015 marketing year are still expected to be 1.726 billion bushels, a 50% increase over last year’s 1.146 billion bushels. Revisions were made to world corn numbers; supply is up 2.7 mmt on increased production estimates from Europe and the FSU-12; consumption is up 1.8 mmt on higher feed use; ending stocks are up about 1 mmt.

Cotton

The June WASDE Report for new crop cotton included mildly bearish numbers for both the U.S. and world. Given the rains over Texas in late May and early June, USDA increased their forecast of 2014 U.S. cotton by 500,000 bales. The end result was a moderate increase in forecasted ending stocks, which would suggest that our price outlook be adjusted lower. As a result, we are looking for Dec’14 futures to trade between about 72 and 82 cents per pound. The foreign and world cotton numbers form USDA paint yet another picture of excess production over consumption, and record ending stocks in excess of 100 million bales.

San Patricio Agriculture “Agriculture Affects Everyone”

PROPOSED NEW PROTECTIONS CURRENT PROTECTIONS

Pesticide Safety Training Train workers and handlers every year. Stricter qualification for trainers of workers.

Train workers and handlers every 5 years.

Expand training content to include information on reducing take-home exposure. Workers and handlers would be trained on reducing take-home exposure, the hazards from residues on clothing, and warned not to take containers home.

No training provided on reducing take-home exposure. Workers and handlers are trained on hazards from residues on clothing and warned not to take containers home.

Reduce “grace period” to 2 days before full WPS training is required, expand the content of the abbreviated, pre-“grace period” training, and require distribution of information sheet listing training points.

Grace period is 5 days and there is less content to the abbreviated training, and no information sheet.

Require recordkeeping of training for 2 years. Recordkeeping of training is not required.

Mandatory Posting of No Entry Signs Require posting of treated areas when Restricted-Entry Interval (REI) is greater than 48 hours. The REI is the interval after application during which worker entry is generally prohibited, except as allowed under the early entry exceptions.

Either oral or posted notification is acceptable for REIs of any length, unless the pesticide labeling requires both.

Minimum Age Require posting handlers and early-entry workers to be 16 years old.

No minimum age.

Members of owner’s immediate family are exempt from this (and most other) requirements of the WPS.

No minimum age requirement.

Proposed Agricultural Worker Protection Standard Comments ~ EPA Seeking Input

On February 20, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency announced proposed changes to the agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS) to increase protections from pesticide exposure for the nation’s 2 million agricultural workers and their families. This is an important milestone for the farm workers who plant, tend, and harvest the food that we put on our tables each day.

EPA is seeking your input on the proposed changes and rationale in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which published in the Federal Register on March 19, 2014. Comments must be received on or before August 18, 2014. Comments must be submitted to http://www.regulations.gov identified by docket number EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0184. Your comments will help EPA determine the final version of this regulation.

San Patricio Agriculture “Agriculture Affects Everyone”

PROPOSED NEW PROTECTIONS CURRENT PROTECTIONS

No Entry Buffer Areas Adjacent to Areas being treated on Farms and Forests

Prohibit entry into 25-100 foot buffer areas around the field during pesticide application on farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses to protect persons from pesticide overspray and fumes. The buffer size depends on the type of application.

Applies only in nurseries and greenhouses.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Respirators and Closed Systems

Adopt the OSHA standard for respirators: fit test, medical evaluation, and training. Require recordkeeping to document completion of these requirements.

Employer must provide the respirator listed on the pesticide labeling and ensure it fits. Recordkeeping is not required.

Add specific performance standard requirements for closed systems based on California (CA) standard to permit PPE exceptions. Does not include the CA requirement to use closed systems for certain types of pesticides.

The closed system definition fails to provide specific criteria for the PPE exception.

Hazard Communications Require employer to maintain and make available to workers, handlers, or their authorized representatives application-specific information, labeling and Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Retain this information for 2 years. Remove burdensome requirement to post application-specific information at central display.

No requirement to make safety information available to authorized representative. Record keeping is not required, except, application-specific information must be posted at a central display until 30 days after the REI expires.

Notification for Early-Entry Workers

In rare circumstances, early-entry workers can enter while REI is in effect. For these situations, provide notification of the pesticide application (what was applied, when and where), specific task to be performed, and amount of time the worker is allowed to remain in the treated area, along with the pesticide hazard information from the labeling.

Early-entry workers must be informed only of hazards written on pesticide labeling.

Require recordkeeping for 2 years of the notifications that are provided to early-entry workers.

Recordkeeping is not required.

Definitions

Expand the definition of “immediate family” to more accurately reflect farm families that qualify for the exemption from most WPS requirements.

Currently the definition does not include family members such as grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws.

Continued ~ Agricultural WPS Comparison of the Major New Proposed Protections to the Existing Protections

San Patricio Agriculture “Agriculture Affects Everyone”

San Patricio Agriculture “Agriculture Affects Everyone”

San Patricio Agriculture “Agriculture Affects Everyone”

Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) in Texas UpdateJuly 25, 2014

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) received confirmation of eight new cases of Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) in horses in Central Texas. Five new premises are located in Travis County and three new premises are in Bastrop County.

One premises is located 4 miles east of Webberville in Bastrop County One premises is located 6 miles southeast of Spicewood in Travis County One premises is located 8 miles northwest of Bastrop in Bastrop County One premises is located 4 miles east of Webberville in Bastrop County One premises is located 4 miles northwest of Webberville in Travis County One premises is located 2 miles south of Garfield in Travis County One premises is located 3.5 miles northwest of Webberville in Travis County One premises is located 2.5 miles northwest of Webberville in Travis County

To date, 21 premises in eight Texas counties have been confirmed with VS. Affected counties include(d): Kinney, Hidalgo, San Patricio, Nueces, Jim Wells, Bastrop, Travis and Guadalupe counties. Four premises have been released from quarantine: 1 in Kinney county, 2 in Nueces county and 1 in San Patricio county. *Case=A premises; a location* The newly identified infected premises are currently under quarantine by the TAHC. Affected horses will be monitored by regulatory veterinarians while under quarantine. Premises are eligible for quarantine release 21 days after all lesions have healed. There is no known exposure to other horses around the state, or at any equine events. History: (In reverse chronological order)

On July 18, the TAHC received confirmation of three new cases of Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) in horses in Central Texas. One premises is located 4 miles east of Webberville, TX in Bastrop County, one premises is located 1 mile northwest of Webberville in Travis County, and one premises is located 8 miles southeast of Seguin in Guadalupe County.

On July 11, two cases of VS in horses in Bastrop and Travis counties (Central Texas) were announced. One premises is located 2 miles east of Webberville, TX in Travis County. The other premise is located 4 miles east of Webberville in Bastrop County.

On July 8, the first VS case in Texas cattle was announced. It was detected in two head of cattle in South Texas, approximately 6 miles southwest of Mathis, TX.

On July 3, a case of VS was announced in a horse in Nueces County in South Texas. The premises is located approximately 10 miles south of Mathis, TX.

On June 20, a case of VS was announced in Nueces County. The premises is located 10 miles south of Mathis, TX.

On June 17, two cases of VS were confirmed in horses in San Patricio County in South Texas. One premises is located approximately 7 1/2 miles southeast of Mathis. The other premises is located approximately 7 miles southeast of Mathis.

Two cases of VS in horses in Hidalgo County in South Texas were announced on June 5th and 9th. One premises is located approximately 24 miles northwest of Edinburg. The other premises is located three miles northwest of Edinburg.

On May 28, the TAHC announced confirmation on the nation’s first case of VS this year in horses in Kinney County, TX (southeast of Del Rio.)

San Patricio Agriculture “Agriculture Affects Everyone”

Bobby R. McCool San Patricio County Extension Agent Agriculture/Natural Resources 219 N. Vineyard Sinton, TX 78387

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Bobby R. McCool County Extension Agent Agriculture/Natural Resources Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, San Patricio County

Disclaimer - the information herein is for informational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is implied. Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status. Individuals with disabilities who require an auxiliary aid, service, or accommodation in order to participate in any Extension event are encouraged to contact their County Extension Office at 361-364-6234 at least one week in advance of the program in order for proper arrangements to be made.

In the event of a name, address or phone number change please contact the office at:

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

219 N. Vineyard Attn: Ag/NR

Sinton, Texas 78387 (361) 364-6234

Visit us online! http://sanpatricio.agrilife.org