Smith County Ag News March 2018 

 

 

   

Clint Perkins  Greg Grant County Extension Agent—Ag/NR  County Extension Agent—Horticulture Smith County  Smith County  

http://agrilife.org/smithcountyagriculture/  

Weekly garden column in the Thursday’s edition of the Tyler Morning Telegraph.  The members of Texas A&M AgriLife will provide equal opportunities in programs and activities, education, and employment to all persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity and will strive to achieve full and equal employment opportunity throughout Texas A&M AgriLife. 

 

Forage Website:  Beef Website: http://foragefax.tamu.edu/  http://beeffax.tamu.edu/      

Texas Beef Quality Assurance (TBQA) is a collaborative effort between Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers, Texas Beef Council and Texas A&M AgriLife Animal Science Extension beef group. ANSC Extension faculty develops resources and conducts the educational programming associated with this industry wide effort. The mission of the program is to promote good management practices for cattle producers in an effort to strengthen consumer confidence in beef as a wholesome food product.

ONLINE PRIVATE APPLICATOR TRAINING

For those needing a Private Applicator License, we will continue to offer the classroom style, face to face training opportunities in our office. There now is an online training as well for those interested.

Here is the link to register for the Online Private Applicator Training: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/index.cfm

In the search box type in “Texas Private Applicator”. This training tool walks potential applicators through 11 topics, including Integrated Pest Management, reading and understanding pesticide labels, pesticide record keeping, recognizing pests and pest damage, and an updated pollinator protection module. At the conclusion of the course, after trainees pass a review exam, they will receive a certificate of completion and an electronic version of the D-1411 which they will then submit to TDA. The cost of the online course is $75, which includes the shipping and handling fees for the training manuals.

The State of Texas Agriculture Relief Fund Many of our fellow Texans are in need of a helping hand. Texas Agriculture Farmers, Rancher, producers and agribusiness owners are rebuilding and working towards picking up the pieces after all of these natural disasters. As natural disasters continue to impact Texas farmers and ranchers, the need for donations continues. The STAR Fund (State of Texas Agriculture Relief Fund) was created solely with monetary donations from private individuals and companies. STAR Fund money may be used to assist farmers and ranchers in rebuilding fences, restoring operations and paying for other agricultural disaster relief.

Upcoming Educational Programs: **Friday, March 9 – 2018 Master Gardeners at the Library (see flyer)

**Saturday, March 24 – Canning Workshop (see flyer)

**Tuesday, March 27 – Pesticide Safety Gregg County (see flyer)

**Friday, April 20 – East TX Wild Pig Seminar Overton (see flyer)

**Friday, April 27th – Tri-County Beef & Forage Conference (see flyer)

Beef Loving Texans: https://www.beeflovingtexans.com/

RanchTV Online site: http://ranchtv.org/

BQA Tip-Of-The-Month: Recommended Type and Location of Injections Always follow product labels when giving injections. If the label allows for either intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, then the subcutaneous route should be used regardless of animal age. If the label requires intramuscular use, give all intramuscular injections in the neck. When given in the muscle, all products have the potential to create injection site lesions and impact the tenderness of meat for a few inches around the injection. Give subcutaneous injections in the neck, dewlap, or elbow pocket. When given properly, any knots that result from subcutaneous injections will not impact meat quality and will be removed with the hide. (Composed by Jason Banta, Ph. D., jpbanta@ag.tamu.edu , Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Beef Quality Assurance Coordinator)

Zika Websites and Mosquito Useful Information:

http://preventingzika.org/ http://mosquitosafari.tamu.edu/

https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you http://www.texaszika.org/

Application Now Available for 2018 Young Farmer Grant Are you currently creating or expanding an agricultural business in Texas? Consider applying for the 2018 Young Farmer Grant (YFG) program. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is now accepting applications for these grants, and we hope to hear from you! YFG is administered by TDA under the direction of the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority (TAFA). The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance in the form of dollar-for-dollar matching grant funds to individuals between the age of 18 and 46 years of age who are engaged or will be engaged in creating or expanding an agricultural business in Texas. Additional details, instructions and the 2018 Round 2 application materials can be found here. Applications are due by the close of business (5 p.m. CT) on Thursday, March 22, 2018. Contact the Grants Office at (512) 463-2537 or by email at Grants@TexasAgriculture.gov with questions.

Horticultural Crops Webinars Don’t miss these special educational webinars focusing on Small Acreage Horticultural Crops. The 2018 schedule is as follows: (date – topic) All webinars will be presented by Dr. Joe Masabni

March 9 – Eggshell Expt + Home Composting April 13 – Soil Moisture Meters + Light Measurements May 11 – Hay Bale Gardening June 8 – Tomato Variety Trial July 13 – Soil Depth in a Raised Bed August 10 – Rotation September 7 – Neem Oil Project October 12 – Bio Intensive Planting November 9 – Evaluating Various Soil Types December 7 – Collapsible Beds

Website: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/smallacreage/webinars/ NOTE: The password for all webinar meetings is “online” (without quotes)

Dealing with Calving Difficulties Anyone who's been through even one calving season has most likely dealt with calving difficulties. Dystocia is the fancy word for calving difficulty, and it's the biggest cause of calf death loss at birth. Calving difficulties can be minimized by managing things like genetics and nutrition, but once the calving season starts, those things are in the past. Now it is time to watch closely and intervene if necessary. Being prepared to provide assistance is critical. It's been estimated that timely and appropriate intervention can save up to 70 percent of calves that otherwise would die due to dystocia. It's also just as important to know when not to intervene, and just let the process play out uninterrupted. The key is experience and knowing the normal sequence of events up to and through calving. It will vary tremendously between individual cows. It's also important to know the limits of our abilities and when to call professional help. In fact, part of your preparation should be to develop a plan of action with your veterinarian. This is just a refresher of what to look for during calving. Remember, these signs are extremely variable, and may go completely unnoticed. As calving approaches, two weeks or more out: • udder fills out, "makes a bag." Can be even more gradual in first-calf heifers; • vulva will noticeably relax and enlarge, "springing"; • cervical or mucous plug may dislodge and be excreted. 12 to 24 hours out: • pelvic ligaments will relax, resulting in "lank" appearance around tail and pins. 12 hours out: • possible behavioral changes; trying to isolate herself, not coming to feed, etc. At calving The calving process itself is divided into three stages: Stage one; starts when the cervix begins to dilate in preparation for delivery; may begin to have minor contractions, but often go unnoticed; may isolate herself; and show signs of discomfort like tail switching, licking her side, stomping her feet; may elevate tail; and increased mucous discharge. Although stage one may precede the birth of the calf by four to 24 hours, it's common to check things out when the cow has been in stage one for more than eight hours without progressing to stage two. Stage two; begins when the membranes and fetus move into the birth canal and ends after the calf is born. Contractions provide the force necessary to deliver the calf. In a normal birth, the first water bag appears and/or ruptures, then comes the amnion (fetal sac) or, if it ruptures internally, the front feet (hooves down) followed quickly by the calf's muzzle and head. Any other presentation of the calf is not normal and should be investigated. Contractions grow in intensity and frequency, the rest of the calf is pushed through the pelvic canal, and delivery is complete. A generally accepted length for stage two is two to four hours from when the first water bag appears or breaks; for cows, usually less than two hours; for heifers, less than four hours. Work at Oklahoma State University and the USDA station at Miles City,

Montana, indicates these times should be shortened to 60 to 90 minutes for heifers and 30 to 60 minutes for cows. At the very most, then, intervention should be considered if the calf is not born within two hours after the first water bag appears. After intervening, if no progress is made in 30 minutes, consider calling the veterinarian. Stage 3; expulsion of the afterbirth, usually naturally within eight hours. Given the time frame of a normal birth, the most logical frequency to check the herd during calving to catch most of the potential problems would be at least every three hours. Remember, no cow is going to follow this series of events to the letter. One may "make a bag" six weeks before calving; another may simply come to feed one morning with a newborn calf. The key is being prepared, knowing what is normal and what is abnormal and providing appropriate assistance when necessary. If you have any further questions, please contact the Smith County Extension Office located at 1517 W. Front Street, Suite 116 in Tyler or call 903-590-2980.

March Things To Do

Plant Care Divide fall-blooming perennials. Plant summer-blooming bulbs and tubers, such as gladiolas, crinums, cannas, and lilies Do weed control and refresh mulch in beds to keep spring moisture and diminish weeds After the danger of frost, set out tomato plants and summer vegetables such as eggplant, zucchini

and peppers. Rotate the planting position of the vegetable varieties from previous seasons to decrease disease likelihood.

Begin planting summer bedding plants and perennial salvias after last frost (do not plant periwinkles until June)

Allow spring bulb foliage to die naturally in order to feed the bulb for next year.

Fertilize Apply fertilizer to annual bedding plants and vegetables Do not fertilize lawns until mid-April when nights are warm and you’ve moved the grass (not the

weeds) several times.

Pests Treat pests as they arise. Consider using proven organic remedies for the health of your family and our earth, especially in the vegetable garden. Remember insects can be cured but diseased can only be prevented.

Odds and Ends Canes of climbers should be secured Water gardens should be drained, cleaned, and replanted as needed Apply pre-emergent herbicide ASAP for crabgrass, grassburs, and other annual summerweeds Carefully apply broadleaf herbicide to weeds in lawn (weed and feed fertilizers are not very

effective and not recommended.

Deer Proof Landscape Plants

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/publications/deerbest.html     

The 2018 Calendar and Planning Guide is now available at $7 each. They can be picked up at the Smith County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office at 1517 W Front Street, Suite 116, Tyler, TX

or other locations around town.

Texas Superstars Have you ever shopped at a nursery and noticed a plant with a Texas Superstar® pot or label? If so, that’s a good thing. Texas Superstar® is a marketing assistance program that involves the promotion of outstanding plants that have proven performance in most regions of Texas. From the beginning, this program has represented a partnership between the Texas A&M University Agriculture Program and the nursery industry in Texas. Only the most reliable and best-looking plants are so designated. The criteria for selecting a Texas Superstar® plant include: 1) must be attractive and useful to the gardening public; 2) must be unique and offer desirable and ornamental characteristics (i.e., the ability to perform in the heat of a Texas summer or pest resistance) not usually available in commonly sold plants; 3) must consistently perform well for most Texas consumers regardless of their gardening expertise and growing locations; 4) must be as pest resistant as possible (deer proof an added bonus); 5) must be able to be propagated and mass-produced in sufficient numbers to meet consumer demand; and 6) preferably is attractive in the sales container so that it sells itself to consumers who have never heard of the attributes of the plant.

The Texas Superstar® program grew out of regional marketing promotions coordinated by Dr. Jerry Parsons in the San Antonio region in the 1980s. Lucky for me, I was the county horticulturist in San Antonio (and garden writer for the San Antonio Express News) in the late 80s and got to participate in the program. From the very beginning, these promotions of plants with proven performance were coordinated with the nursery industry to insure an adequate retail supply at the time of the promotion. In 1989, the first statewide marketing promotion was accomplished featuring the Texas bluebonnet, our state flower which was newly available as a bedding plant. By the mid-1990s, the acronym CEMAP (Coordinated Education and Marketing Assistance Program) was coined by Dr. Steve George and used for the program. In 1997, the term Texas Superstar® was coined by the Executive Board of which I’m a member.

Some of the more popular Texas Superstars® are ‘Cora’ periwinkles, ‘Laura Bush’ and ‘Tidlewave’ petunias, ‘New Gold’ lantana, ‘Texas Gold’ columbine, ‘Henry Duelberg’ salvia, Turk’s cap, ‘Flare’ hibiscus, ‘John Fanick’ phlox, Mexican bush sage, ‘Gold Star’ esperanza, variegated tapioca, phalaenopsis orchid, ‘Belinda’s Dream’ and “Nacogdoches” roses, vitex, and possumhaw holly.

If you’d like to learn more about the history of the Texas Superstar® program including my own involvement and plant introductions, plan to join us at Friday’s (February 9) Master Gardeners at the Library where I’ll be presenting “Texas Tough! The History of the Texas Superstar® Program.” The

lecture is from 11:30-12:30 at the Tyler Public Library, 201 S. College, and is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Smith County Master Gardeners. Greg Grant is the Smith County Horticulturist for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. You can follow him on Facebook at Greg Grant Gardens, read his “Greg’s Ramblings” blog at arborgate.com, or read his “In Greg’s Garden” in each issue of Texas Gardener magazine (texasgardener.com). For more information on local educational programming, go to smith.agrilife.org.

 2018 MASTER GARDENERS AT THE LIBRARY

T h e m e m b e r s o f T e x a s A & M A g r i L i f e w i l l p r o v i d e e q u a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s i n p r o g r a m s a n d a c t i v i t i e s , e d u c a t i o n , a n d

e m p l o y m e n t t o a l l p e r s o n s r e g a r d l e s s o f r a c e , c o l o r , s e x , r e l i g i o n , n a t i o n a l o r i g i n , a g e , d i s a b i l i t y , g e n e t i c i n f o r m a t i o n ,

v e t e r a n s t a t u s , s e x u a l o r i e n t a t i o n o r g e n d e r i d e n t i t y a n d w i l l s t r i v e t o a c h i e v e f u l l a n d e q u a l e m p l o y m e n t o p p o r t u n i t y

t h r o u g h o u t T e x a s A & M A g r i L i f e . T h e T e x a s A & M U n i v e r s i t y S y s t e m , U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e , a n d t h e C o u n t y

C o m m i s s i o n e r s C o u r t s o f T e x a s C o o p e r a t i n g

Jan. 12 - "Make No Mistake...Gardening Mistakes. What Not to Do" with Dee Bishop

Feb. 9 - "Texas Tough!...History of Texas Superstar Plant Program" with Greg Grant

March 9 - "Raised Bed Gardening on a Hillside" with Wayne Elliott

April 13 - "Pass Along Plants" with Andie Rathbone May 11 - "Sex in the Garden. All About Propagation" with

Debbie Watkins

Tyler Public Library 201 S College Ave. Tyler, TX 75702 11:30 am - 1:00 PM / FREE and open to the public

LECTURE DATES:

 

CANNING WORKSHOP MARCH 24, 2018

10:00 AM

Cotton Belt Building Suite #116A 1517 West Front Street Tyler, TX 75702

Whether you like Gardening or going to the Farmer’s Market, we can teach you how to ‘Can’ your purchases. Each person will receive printed instructions for different types of canning procedures.

For Registration & Inquiries Phone 903.590.2980 Deadline to Register is March 20th Make checks payable to Smith EEA

ThemembersofTexasA&MAgriLifewillprovideequalopportunitiesinprogramsandactivities,education,andemploymenttoallpersonsregardlessofrace,color,sex,religion,nationalorigin,age,disability,geneticinformation,veteranstatus,sexualorientationorgenderidentityandwillstrivetoachievefullandequalemploymentopportunitythroughoutTexasA&MAgriLife.TheTexasA&MUniversitySystem,U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,andtheCountyCommissionersCourtsofTexasCooperating

Gregg County Extension Office

One CEU Credit Hour!!!

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.

Be sure to call and RSVP for the evening

meal! 903-236-8429 a week before...

Our Meal Sponsor

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.

2 CEU’s

1 L&R-1 IPM

For more information, call

903-236-8429

Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, na-tional 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.