Issue 34 of Ag Mag by THEAGMAG

Michelle Martin

Owner/Editor michelle@theagmag.org (956) 330-8870

Al Benavides

Graphic Designer (956) 492-6407

Galatians 1:10

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ

A Letter from the Editor Nothing to Prove I think today the world has filled us with a sense of needing to prove something. How many of you have ever felt the need the prove yourself? From an early age we are taught to prove ourselves. In school, we have to prove that we can make the grades to move up to the next. In sports or extracurricular activities, we are taught to prove we are good enough to make the team or advance to the next level. Fast forward to adulthood and we must prove that we are capable of getting the job done, we prove we are responsible adults when go to buy things and they look at our credit, we prove we are good citizens by obeying the law. Always proving. But in the end, the one approval we should care most about is God’s. In a social media-driven world, the need for acceptance and approval is more prevalent than ever. Not only for the younger generation, but the older as well. The majority of posts are of happy times and successes. When a failure is posted, it is deemed as a pity post - I don’t agree. I think social media has set up a framework for people to post what they want people to see. It’s almost as if we must prove ourselves to the Internet. How many lines, how many followers, how many views. But for what? What are we trying to prove? Why are we trying to constantly prove ourselves to others? What benefit do we get from it aside from short-term gratification? It’s so easy to get caught up in trying to please and prove our worth to others that sometimes we lose ourselves in the equation. We forget our morals, our truths. We start living for others instead of God. Social media can allow us to paint pictures of what we want people to believe. For example, I can post a really beautiful picture of me and my son, and get hundreds of comments and likes. But what people didn’t see was the crying, the arguing, the hundreds of bad pictures it took to get the good one. No one will ever see that because we want to show the world the “perfect picture.” There is no perfect picture. The only thing true and perfect is God. I get caught up in trying to be a people pleaser, and sometimes I neglect what God wants me to do, and instead I focus on what people want to see and what people want me to do. Remember, God made each and every one of us uniquely. We each have special characteristics. Be true to yourself and embrace the person God made you to be and wants you to be. You don’t need acceptance from others to accept yourself. God loves you for you and remember you have nothing to prove to anyone but God. God will always love you no matter what flaws you have, no matter how many times you mess up, and he will love you for just being you! So always be true to yourself and don’t let the world tell you otherwise. Owner/Creator of AG MAG

In This Issue: 6. The Equation For Elevating U.S. Cotton 8. Coronavirus: Human strain causes fear 10. The Mexican Fruit Fly’s Effect on the Texas Citrus Industry 12. NCC Survey Suggests U.S. Producers to Plant 13.0 Million Acres of Cotton in 2020 16. ‘Path to Plate’ 20. A Disastrous Year for the Commercial Shrimping Industry 22. Texas A&M University System cooking up its own brand of Oysters 26. Q&A with Morgan Thomas 28. Mauricio Garcia from McAllen completes Syngenta Ad Leadership Development Program 30. 2020 4-H Rally Photography Winners 32. Coronavirus Unleashes A Black Swan 38. 2F Akaushi BEEF 44. FFA & 4-H Calendar of Events 46. Hidalgo County student wins TFB Free Enterprise Speech Contest 50. FEATURED FARMER: Home is where the Farm is 52. 2020 Star Gala 54. 2020 World Cotton Outlook 57. RECIPE: Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread 62. Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus 70. Estate Planning In Five Steps 73. Using Plant Tissue Testing to Identify Problems and Improve Yields 76. Fishing Is For Everyone 78. A Letter from the Editor - Comfortably Uncomfortable Cover Photo taken by Aaron Treviño Year 6, Issue 34 March/April 2020. No part of this publication can be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ag Mag reserves the right to edit, rewrite or refuse editorial materials and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors, omissions or consequence arising from it. All correspondence to the publication become the property of Ag Mag. Ag Mag is published bi-monthly ©2020. To advertise in Ag Mag, call (956) 330-8870 or email michelle@theagmag.org

The Equation for Elevating

U.S. Cotton BY GARY ADAMS, president/chief executive officer National Cotton Council of America

QUALITY + TIMELINESS + SUSTAINABILITY = MARKETABILITY That very well could be the equation that will define the extent of U.S. cotton’s future success in the global business environment. U.S. cotton has long been recognized as a fast and reliable supplier of clean, quality fiber to the global marketplace. The National Cotton Council (NCC) is working to enhance that reputation. Examples of past and ongoing effective efforts are 1) advocating to get federal policies in place that reduce miscommunication between warehouses and merchants -- so U.S. cotton bale delivery time is enhanced and 2) educational programs aimed at helping U.S. cotton producers reduce contaminants in seed cotton and lint. With a goal of zero contamination, the NCC strongly urges cotton producers, ginners and their employees to view the NCC’s “Prevention of Plastic Contamination” video.

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That video is on the NCC’s website at www.cotton.org/tech/quality/contamfree.cfm. Major topics include: 1) picking up debris in the field; 2) reviewing key maintenance and component adjustments on round module harvesters to ensure proper operation and to prevent plastic wrap pinching, gathering, or tearing; 3) best practices for transporting and staging round modules in the field and at the gin yard; and 4) best practices on unwrapping and feeding round modules into the gin. New topics in the updated video address what to do with round module wrap cores once they are empty and proper synchronization of module truck bed-chain speed with the ground when picking up round modules, which is different for rectangular modules. Proper handling of round modules in the field while being transported to the gin yard and from the yard into the gin is critical to prevent contamination from module wrap.

While quality has been an important promotional component for U.S. cotton, our ability to remain competitive in every market will depend on conveying the sustainable and responsible production practices U.S. farmers use every day. Why? Consumers are demanding more information about where products originate, how they are produced and what environmental impact they make. That’s why our industry must assure the brands and retailers and the entire textile supply chain that U.S. cotton is sustainable. Fortunately, U.S. cotton has a good story to tell, we just need to tell it more. So, in late 2018 the NCC began developing the voluntary U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol – a program that will enable our industry to formally document and communicate common elements of best management practices – which most American cotton producers already have been doing since the 1970s. A Trust Protocol pilot phase that involved some 200 U.S. cotton producers is approaching a successful completion. Beginning this April, the NCC will be reaching out to all producers across the Cotton Belt urging them to participate in the Trust Protocol. The NCC hopes to see between 500 and 750 producers enrolled by this fall but the NCC will be pushing for even stronger participation. Strong producer participation will serve as a catalyst to drive the continuous improvements necessary to help our industry achieve by 2025 these six national sustainability goals: 13% increase in productivity (i.e. reduced land use per pound of fiber); 18% increase in irrigation efficiency; 39% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions; 15% reduction in energy expenditures; 50% reduction in soil loss; and 30% increase in soil carbon. Working toward and achieving these goals through the Trust Protocol will help us achieve the overall goal -- ensuring that textile manufacturers, major brands and retailers will accept that U.S. cotton is responsibly produced and that we are working continuously to shrink our environmental footprint. Enrollment in this program, which is governed by the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol board, is not complicated. Enrollees are asked to spend approximately 45 minutes to complete a self-assessment containing about 100 questions. The questionnaire covers: soil health, nutrient management, water management, crop protection, harvest preparation, wildlife habitat, fiber quality/traceability, farm management and worker relations. Enrollees’ answers will be confidential and subject to individual review to ensure the Trust Protocol requirements are being met. Participants will be able to monitor their sustainability progress, including comparing their data with that of their geographic region and/or the entire Cotton Belt.

Enrolled producers also must agree to use the FieldPrint Calculator or other qualified data products to monitor their farming practices on a percentage of their fields. The final step is completing a “statement of commitment” to: 1) responsible production practices aimed at safety/environmental awareness; and 2) continuous improvement. This formal documentation of best management practices such as precision farming, no-till, buffer strips and cover crops which U.S. cotton producers have been doing for the past 40 years, will add confidence and transparency throughout the textile supply chain. Ted Schneider, a Louisiana producer and Trust Protocol board member stated at the recent Beltwide Cotton Conferences in Austin, Texas that, “There are three legs to sustainability: environmental sustainability; social sustainability, which is treating your workers, your community and your neighbors correctly; and economic sustainability. If you don’t have all three of those, you’re not sustainable.” Ted is right. In fact, that’s the Trust Protocol’s aim – to promote our cotton producers’ economic livelihood, environmental stewardship, caring of people and community, and personal and corporate integrity. To be clear, the Trust Protocol isn’t about one producer being more sustainable than another or one bale being more sustainably produced than another bale. It’s about transparency and accountability and ensuring that all U.S. cotton producers can compete in every market and not lose market access because of a perceived lack of sustainability. We will not see sustainability go away, and frankly, that is a plus for our industry. U.S. cotton has a strong case to make for sustainability. I strongly urge all U.S. cotton producers to enroll at www. trustUScotton.org.

MARCH/APRIL 2020

Coronavirus: BY KAY LEDBETTER

Human strain causes fear, but domestic livestock strains are routine while wildlife may be source of China outbreak, livestock coronaviruses are common worldwide Many people are hearing about coronavirus for the first time as the China strain, COVID-19, affecting humans causes concern all across the world. But coronaviruses are not new to livestock and poultry producers, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife veterinary epidemiologist. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common human coronaviruses usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold. Most people get infected with one or more of these viruses at some point in their lives. But the CDC is now responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel or new coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. “Coronavirus is a common virus in livestock herds and poultry flocks seen routinely worldwide,” said Heather Simmons, DVM, Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases, IIAD, associate director as well as Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s associate department head and extension program leader for Veterinary Medical Extension. IIAD is a member of the Texas A&M University System and Texas A&M AgriLife Research.

Wildlife in China may be human strain carriers “In wildlife, bats are known to carry over 100 different strains of coronavirus, and wild civets are the source of the coronavirus that causes SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), first reported in China in 2002-2003,” Simmons said. “Although our understanding is still limited, wild pangolins (a scaly anteater) sold at live markets may be associated with the recently reported coronavirus outbreak in China.” Bats, civets and pangolins are all commonly sold at live markets in China, she said. Coronaviruses from wildlife are dangerous since they have the potential to mutate, adapt and spill over to new species, including humans. “That is the concern now, this new strain of coronavirus has emerged to cause disease in humans,” Simmons said. “It is important to create an understanding of the difference between coronaviruses occurring in domestic livestock and poultry compared to coronaviruses that spill over from wildlife to humans.”

Coronavirus in domestic livestock doesn’t jump to humans Simmons said, to date, the coronaviruses in livestock are not considered reportable diseases because their main effect is as an economic burden to livestock producers. They are known to occur worldwide annually, with some of the most common coronaviruses found in production animals to include the scours and winter dysentery in beef and dairy cattle, porcine respiratory coronavirus in swine and avian infectious bronchitis in poultry. The World Health Organization has reported that while another coronavirus, MERS-CoV, is known to be transmitted from dromedary camels to humans, other coronaviruses circulating in domestic animals have not yet infected humans. “That’s what is very important to understand at this time,” Simmons said. “We have been dealing with these diseases for a long time but as of yet, we have not seen cases worldwide transmitted from livestock to humans or vice versa.”

Strains of coronavirus can occur annually in domestic cattle herds. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Kay Ledbetter)

What does coronavirus look like in livestock? While coronaviruses have a high morbidity, or rate of illness, in livestock and poultry they are generally considered to have low mortality, rate of death, Simmons said. Coronaviruses will affect either the respiratory system or the gastrointestinal system, depending on the species and the age of the animal.

Coronavirus in cattle In calves, diarrhea commonly occurs in animals under three weeks of age due to a lack of obtaining antibodies when the calf does not get enough colostrum from the mother in order to build up immunity. Clinical signs include severe dehydration and diarrhea. The severity of the clinical signs depends on the age of the calf and their immune status. This is often seen by producers in the winter months as the virus is more stable in cold weather. The second clinical syndrome, winter dysentery is found in adult cattle. Clinical signs include bloody diarrhea with decreased mild production, loss of appetite with some respiratory signs. Bovine coronaviruses can also cause mild respiratory disease or pneumonia in calves up to six months. The virus is shed in the environment through nasal secretions and through feces.

Coronavirus in swine There are multiple coronaviruses that affect swine. Like cattle, they affect the respiratory or gastrointestinal tract. In sows and piglets, porcine respiratory coronavirus usually presents with no clinical signs. If clinical signs do occur, it may be a transient cough within the herd and spread of this disease occurs through aerosolized methods.

Coronavirus in poultry Infectious bronchitis virus, or IBV, is a rapidly spreading respiratory disease in young chicks. Clinical signs in laying hens include reduced production, eggshell abnormalities and decreased internal egg quality.

How to treat Livestock producers should consult with a veterinarian for treatment, Simmons said. Treatment in livestock herds and poultry flocks typically includes supportive therapy of fluids. Antibiotics are not indicated for viral infections but may be used if a secondary bacterial infection occurs. More information can be found through the Texas &M AgriLife Extension Disaster Education Network.

The Mexican Fruit Fly’s Effect on the Texas Citrus Industry

BY ELISHA ENSIGN

he citrus industry has a long list of dis eases that are a constant battle for citrus growers. Citrus greening, citrus canker, greasy spot, sooty mold, laprosis…and the list goes on. And yet, the Mexican Fruit Fly is causing the most havoc to the citrus industry this season. As of February 21st, there have been 119 flies found and there are two quarantines in place. Currently, 3,335 acres are quarantined in the Harlingen/Brownsville area and 774 acres in La Sara. Unfortunately, these finds are increasing daily and the potential for expanded quarantines is on the horizon. First, let’s take a look at what the Mexican Fruit fly is, then we can go into the effects on growers and steps for growers and residents to take in general and when within a quarantine.

What is the Mexican Fruit Fly? The Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens), commonly known as Mexfly, is a serious pest to various fruits, particularly citrus. Mexican fruit fly was first found in Central Mexico in 1863, and by the early 1950’s flies were found along the California-Mexico border. The pest has since been detected in Arizona, California and Texas. More than 50 commercially grown crops, including avocado, grapefruit, orange, peach, papaya, lime, tangerine, pomegranate, plum and pear are host plants for the Mexican Fruit Fly. Female fruit flies lay their eggs in ripening fruit. The eggs hatch into larvae that eat the flesh of the fruit, causing it 10

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to rot. Fruit that has been attacked may be unfit to eat. Larvae feed while tunneling through the interior of infested fruits. Microscopic organisms invade these injured areas causing internal decay of the fleshy portions of the fruit. Also, it is important to note that the Mexican fruit fly is not harmful to humans or pets. The Texas Citrus Industry along with The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) have been working on a suppression program since 1986. This program releases sterile fruit flies in an effort to eradicate the Mexican fruit fly from South Texas. This program is certainly important and helpful, and yet this season we are dealing with an overwhelming number of fly finds.

How a Quarantine Effects Growers A Mexican Fruit Fly quarantine is put into place by USDA when: • 5 flies are found within 3 miles of each other and within a time period equal to one life cycle of the fly • 1 mated female is found (known or suspected to have mated to a wild male) • Larvae or pupae are found Once the quarantine is in place, this greatly effects commercial citrus growers within that quarantine and specifically within the core of the quarantine. Growers are given three options. To send their fruit to juice, which is a great financial loss. To Fumigate. Or to bait certify, which can also be a very expensive process which reduces profits for that effected grove. Overall, a Mexican Fruit Fly Quarantine is a great financial loss for any commercial grove that is located within that quarantine.

What can be done? Oftentimes, Mexican fruit flies are found in residential trees. This could be because residents aren’t properly caring for their tree(s) or they are leaving unused fruit hanging on the tree or fallen on the ground, which is a haven for the Mexican Fruit Fly. In order to help reduce the Mexican Fruit Fly population, growers and residents must work together. • It is very important to remove all RIPE citrus fruit from the tree at the end of the season to reduce the Mexfly population. Either eat the fruit or dispose of it, double bagged in the trash. If you have fruit that you do not intend to eat, such as Sour Oranges, it is best to remove that fruit as soon as possible to avoid your tree harboring the Mexican Fruit Fly. • Residents can help by not bringing or mailing fruit into Texas unless they are cleared by agricultural inspectors beforehand. Mexican Fruit Fly and other pests can hitch a ride in or on prohibited produce. • Residents can cooperate with any quarantine restriction or rules that might be imposed because of a Mexican fruit fly find in the area – keep homegrown produce on your own property. • Residents should cooperate to allow authorized agricultural workers access to their property to inspect fruit, place traps and treat trees • If residents must move fruit from a Mexican fruit fly quarantine area, make sure the fruit is canned, frozen or juiced. No fresh fruit should be moved from a property in a Mexican fruit fly quarantine zone. For the latest Mexican Fruit Fly quarantine maps, you can download the free app, Explorer for ArcGIS. Open the app and go to maps and search for MXFF. Touch on the latest map by date or quarantine area to see up to date information about the Mexican Fruit Fly Quarantine.

MARCH/APRIL 2020

NCC Survey Suggests U.S. Producers to Plant 13.0 Million Acres of Cotton in 2020

info provided by National Cotton Council

U.S. cotton producers intend to plant 13.0 million cotton acres this spring, down 5.5 percent from 2019 (based on USDA’s February 2020 estimate), according to the National Cotton Council’s 39th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey. (see table attached) Upland cotton intentions are 12.8 million acres, down 5.6 percent from 2019, while extra-long staple (ELS) intentions of 224,000 acres represent a 2.7 percent decline. The survey results were announced today at the NCC’s 2020 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. Jody Campiche, the NCC’s vice president, Economics & Policy Analysis, said, “Planted acreage is just one of the factors that will determine supplies of cotton and cottonseed. Ultimately, weather, insect pressures and agronomic conditions play a significant role in determining crop size.” She said that with abandonment assumed at 13.8 percent for the United States, Cotton Belt harvested area totals 11.2 million acres. Using an average U.S. yield per harvested acre of 848 pounds generates a cotton crop of 19.8 million bales, with 19.1 million upland bales and 675,000 ELS bales. The NCC questionnaire, mailed in mid-December 2019 to producers across the 17-state Cotton Belt, asked producers for the number of acres devoted to cotton and other crops in 2019 and the acres planned for the coming season. Survey responses were collected through mid-January.

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Campiche noted, “History has shown that U.S. farmers respond to relative prices when making planting decisions. The cotton-to-corn and cotton-to-soybean price ratios are lower than in 2019 due to lower cotton prices and higher corn and soybean prices. A price ratio decrease generally indicates a decline in cotton acreage. For the 2020 crop year, corn, soybeans, and wheat are expected to provide modestly more competition for cotton acres.” Southeast respondents indicate a 9.3 percent decrease in the region’s upland area to 2.7 million acres. All states in the Southeast show a decline in acreage. In Alabama, the survey responses indicate a 4.9 percent decrease in cotton acreage. In Florida, respondents indicated slightly less cotton due to a shift to corn. In Georgia, cotton acreage is expected to decline by 11.9 percent as growers expect to plant more corn and peanuts. In North Carolina, an 8.4 percent decline is expected. In South Carolina, cotton acreage is expected to decline by 10.7 percent while acreage of corn and soybeans is expected in increase. Cotton acreage is expected to decline by 3.6 percent in Virginia. Mid-South growers intend to plant 2.2 million acres, a decline of 6.5 percent from the previous year. Across the region, all states intend to decrease cotton acreage. Arkansas producers intend to plant 3.0 percent less cotton acreage and increase corn acres. Louisiana producers expect to plant 6.4 percent less cotton acreage in 2020 and plant more corn and soybeans. In Mississippi, cotton acreage is expected to decrease by 8.9 percent due to a shift to corn and soybeans.

Missouri growers expect to decrease cotton acres by 2.1 percent and plant more corn. In Tennessee, cotton acreage is expected to decline by 11.8 percent percent as land shifts to corn and soybeans.

upland cotton acres â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a 20.5 percent decrease from 2019. Cotton acreage is expected to decrease in Arizona and California and increase slightly in New Mexico.

Southwest growers intend to plant 7.6 million cotton acres, a 3.4 percent decline. Increases in cotton area are expected in Kansas and Oklahoma, while a decrease is expected in Texas. In Kansas, producers intend to plant 5.1 percent more cotton acres and reduce corn and soybean acreage. In Oklahoma, a 3.3 percent increase in cotton acreage is expected. Texas acreage is expected to decline by 4.2 percent while corn and wheat acreage is expected to increase. Far West producers are expecting to plant 221,000

At current prices, many producers could continue to face difficult economic conditions in 2020. Production costs remain high, and unless producers have good yields, current prices may not be enough to cover all production expenses.

NCC delegates were reminded the expectations are a snapshot of intentions based on market conditions at survey time with actual plantings influenced by changing market conditions/weather.

Prospective 2020Â U.S. Cotton Area

2019 Actual (Thou.) 1/

2020 Intended (Thou.) 2/

Percent Change

SOUTHEAST Alabama Florida Georgia North Carolina South Carolina Virginia

2,965 540 112 1,400 510 300 103

2,690 513 110 1,233 467 268 99

-9.3% -4.9% -2.2% -11.9% -8.4% -10.7% -3.6%

MID-SOUTH Arkansas Louisiana Mississippi Missouri Tennessee

2,400 620 280 710 380 410

2,244 601 262 647 372 362

-6.5% -3.0% -6.4% -8.9% -2.1% -11.8%

SOUTHWEST Kansas Oklahoma Texas

7,865 175 640 7,050

7,598 184 661 6,753

-3.4% 5.1% 3.3% -4.2%

WEST Arizona California New Mexico

278 160 55 63

221 119 38 64

-20.5% -25.7% -30.9% 1.7%

TOTAL UPLAND

13,508

12,753

-5.6%

TOTAL ELS Arizona California New Mexico Texas

230 8 205 5 12

224 7 197 5 14

-2.7% -1.8% -3.9% 0.0% 15.5%

ALL COTTON

13,738

12,977

1/ USDA-NASS February Estimate

-5.5%

2/ National Cotton Council

MARCH/APRIL 2020

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‘Path to Plate’

Texas AgrLife Extension has a new program called ‘Path to Plate. BY KATHRYN BRADY

According to the website it an unbiased look at how agriculture and the food that consumers eat affects their health. The program is designed to provide relevant, current and factual information that consumers can use to make informed decisions about agriculture and their health. In the ever growing and urbanizing society, where the average American is three generations removed from the farm it is important for consumers to make a connection between agriculture and health. Therefore the ‘Path to Plate’ program is an examination of agriculture, the food we eat and the connection to our health. In a world of the internet where information is quick and short, misinformation is on e of the main threats to human society according to the World Economic Forum and this is why the ‘Path to Plate’ was developed; to help consumer understand more food and food labels and how its grown and what all that means

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for your family. It is a central location to find accurate information on these topics. They have youth education programs and adult education program. as well as articles on the website to learn about individual crops, how they are grown, the varieties how to cook them and store them.

For example:

Grapefruit:

Grapefruit has been a popular Texas crop for over 100 years. Grapefruit makes up 80% of all citrus grown in Texas and is produced in the Rio Grande Valley. The Rio Grande Valley provides the perfect subtropical growing conditions for grapefruit trees to thrive. It takes at least three years for grapefruit trees to produce fruit, but as the trees age, yields increase. In fact, a 10-year-old tree can produce up to 250 lbs. of fruit annually! Grapefruit can be enjoyed fresh, frozen, or canned, and can be utilized in a number of ways. Grapefruit juice can be extracted from the fruit and frozen, grapefruit peel can be candied and used as a source of pectin for the preservation of other fruits, and grapefruit peel oil is commonly used as a soft- drink flavoring. Even grapefruit byproducts are incredibly useful! The waste from grapefruit packing plants is converted to molasses for cattle, and grapefruit seed hulls can be used for soil conditioning or combined with dried pulp and used as cattle feed. Not only is grapefruit a versatile multipurpose product, it is also very nutritious. As a citrus fruit, grapefruit is high in Vitamin A and Vitamin C, and is sodium free, cholesterol free, and nearly fat free. Just one half of a grapefruit can provide up to 70 percent of the daily recommended amount of Vitamin C. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Path to Plate seems to be great example of a positive way to get good and correct information about foods into the minds of consumers. I would encourage you to check it out and tell your friends.

Website where the program can be found and source for article: https://pathtotheplate.tamu.edu/

MARCH/APRIL 2020

BY KALAN ROYAL

The American farmer and rancher has always been resilient, however, I have realized that in spite of their resiliency they have a point where they can no longer keep moving forward.Â Traveling the Southeastern United States working with farmers on a daily basis over the last four years I have seen too many farmers leave behind generations of farming heritage as they cannot continueÂ to profitably remain in the industry. Seeing the struggles of these customers and friends has led me to agvocate for the American farmer and rancher by encouraging consumers to buy American grown and raised products. American farmers and ranchers pour their heart and soul into feeding this country and the world while also supporting their local community and economy. The impact of the struggles they are facing is being felt across the American economy as they are cutting costs and spending less in their communities and with equipment and product suppliers. As agriculturalists we must connect and engage with consumers to educate them about agriculutre and encourage them to support American farmers and ranchers. We can do this in face to face conversations, speaking to local clubs and schools and via social media. As consumers we must shop with knowledge and understanding and most importantly ask for, buy and demand American grown.

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A Disastrous year for the Commercial Shrimping Industry

hrimp is the prize of the Gulf Coast. It’s one of the most commercially lucrative fisheries in the United States and for good reason, too. According to NOAA, in 2017, fishers along the Gulf Coast caught over 225 million pounds of shrimp, valued at 440 million USD. Texan shrimpers account for 45% of the total shrimp harvested and is the most valuable shrimp harvested in the United States. Unfortunately the 2019 season ended disastrously for most involved with the Gulf seafood industry. Shrimp harvests were reported down 30% - 70% across the entire gulf. According to NOAA fisheries, although local environmental factors (temperature, rainfall amounts, and tidal heights) should have contributed to favorable conditions for brown shrimp recruitment and growth in Texas, freshwater inflow into Galveston Bay (on which the forecast model is based) from the Trinity River watershed resulted in salinities near zero in much of the bay. Subsequently, the availability of suitable nursery habitat was limited to West and Lower Galveston Bay. Likewise, growth may have been affected by the lower salinities. Adding to this issue, the 2019 Mississippi River flood is the longest lasting flood on record since 1900. The Bonnet Carré Spillway opened for an unprecedented two times in 2019, for a total of 123 days with marine Biologists suggesting a direct correlation between the salinity level and the drastic decline in the shrimp harvested.

forced to compete at a severe disadvantage. Texas was the only gulf state to allocate B.P monies (specifically to market our seafood) to other state projects –this was also the case for the 14 million dollars recently awarded to Texas, specifically to assist our industry after Hurricane Harvey. Although our industry contributes approximately $750,000,000 to the states economy- providing thousands of jobs, is home to the largest number of gulf fishing vessels, and is the most valuable shrimp in the U.S. – the lack of support simply defies all logic. Meanwhile, TSA will continue to fight for any type of industry assistance and hopefully provide enough support to save this industry. If you would like to support the Texas Shrimping Industry – a non-profit organization, please consider a small donate by visiting their website. (www.TexasShrimpAssociation.org).

Sediment diversions are a new and largely untested method of channeling river water rich in silt, sand and other sediments into estuaries that have been cut off from these land-building and land-restoring inputs. The Mississippi’s extensive levee system has, for more than a century, severely limited the flow of sediments into its delta, exacerbating the state’s land loss crisis. As much as 50% of the shrimp landed in Texas are harvested outside of Texas waters, therefore any impact to fisheries in Louisiana and Mississippi has a direct and pronounced impact on our industry, says Andrea Hance, Executive Director of the Texas Shrimp Association. Earlier this year, Congress passed an emergency disaster relief package that included $150 million to mitigate the effects of commercial fishery failures as a result of the diverted levels of fresh water along the Mississippi river. The Declaration would allow the federal government to supplement the flood fight costs for state and local agencies along with damages incurred. Unfortunately Mrs. Hance’s efforts to persuade Texas law makers, including our Governor to join the other Gulf states by requesting a disaster declaration has fallen on deaf ears - which doesn’t surprise Mrs. Hance. For years, we’ve been

MARCH/APRIL 2020

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reprint from agrilifetoday

Texas A&M University System cooking up its own brand of oysters

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We could even make a maroon one if we wanted to.

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Joe Fox

esearchers at the Texas A&M University System soon could be developing a Texas A&Mbranded oyster you’ll be able to order on the half-shell at your favorite seafood restaurant.

“We could even make a maroon one, if we wanted to,” said Joe Fox, Ph.D., HRI Chair of Marine Resource Development at Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi’s Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies and a jointly appointed research scientist with Texas A&M AgriLife Research. “By spawning oysters in the lab from different bays, we can produce seed stock that are ultimately grown out in cages, yielding a consistently attractive and high-quality oyster for you to enjoy at the raw bar,” Fox said. “From there on, it’s all about the branding.” Farming oysters in off-bottom cages allows for their harvest without destroying ecologically valuable oyster reefs. Overfishing, freshwater intrusion and hurricanes — which cover oyster reefs in sand and mud — have reduced traditional oyster harvests off the Texas coast by 43 percent over the past four years. Meanwhile, oyster aquaculture off the coasts of Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and other states brings more than $200 million each year. “Practical research with real-world impact is the hallmark of The Texas A&M University System,” said Chancellor John Sharp. “Dr. Fox’s research is creating an entirely new and sustainable industry for the Texas Coast, producing jobs and improving the quality of Texas oysters.” See a video about the oysters at https://www.youtube.com/user/tamusystem?sub_confirmation=1. Fox worked with state Rep. Todd Hunter and Corpus Christi restaurant owner Brad Lomax to make oyster farming legal in Texas — the last state along the Gulf Coast to do so. By Sept. 2020, tens of thousands of acres of shallow water along the Texas Coast will be available for commercial oyster aquiculture. Fox’s work was funded, in part, by a Chancellor’s Research Initiative Grant through The Texas A&M University System. Fox and his team are working to

develop a breeding program for Texas oysters to improve salinity tolerance, disease resistance and other desirable traits. They will also provide oyster hatchery and farm training for those willing to invest in the new industry. Spawning oysters in the lab will be key to providing consistent seed stock for future oyster farmers. Hugo Magaña, Ph.D., an AgriLife Research associate research scientist working at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Mariculture Laboratory in Flour Bluff, recently succeeded in spawning oysters for the first time in 27 years in Texas. Magaña started with about 200 oysters from Copano Bay, selected for their appearance.

Hugo Magaña

About The Texas A&M University System The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a budget of $6.3 billion. Through a statewide network of 11 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, and the RELLIS Campus, the Texas A&M System educates more than 153,000 students and makes more than 22 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. System-wide, research and development expenditures exceeded $996 million in fiscal year 2017 and helped drive the state’s economy. This story was originally published by the Texas A&M University System.

MARCH/APRIL 2020

Ag Mag Questions & answers

Q&A Morgan Thomas

Tell us about yourself… • I’m a Senior Agriculture Communications and Journalism Major at Texas A&M University. • I grew up actively involved in 4-H and FFA serving on state 4-H council in 2014-2015 and showing cattle, sheep, and goats competitively across the country. • My family owns and operates Thomas Charolais Inc. in Raymondville, TX where we have raised and marketed purebred charolais cattle all over the world since 1936.

Tell me about your achievement... I was a 2019 Intercollegiate Livestock Judging All-American Team Member • The All-American program recognizes students who have made a personal commitment to livestock judging and have excelled in academics, university and industry activities, and community service. • I am the first person from TAMU to get award 26

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since 2013 • 34 total aggies have gotten this award (I’m the 34th)

History and past with Livestock judging... • I grew up being involved on State Qualifying 4-H and FFA Livestock Judging Teams • FFA Coach- Mando Correa 4-H Coach- Mitch Thomas • Went to Texas A&M and made the TAMU Wool Judging Team which went on to win the title of Reserve National Champions in 2017 • Was an assistant coach for the Texas A&M Wool Judging Team in 2018 • Was on the 2019 Texas A&M Livestock Judging Team that claimed championship honors at the San Antonio Livestock Show Exposition and the State Fair of Texas

What leader4ship skills do you assess? Being involved in the Livestock Judging Program at Texas A&M has equipped me with skills such as public speaking, decision making, and confidence in defending your findings. However, the most valuable asset that I have gained through this program is the connections I have made with not only my teammates and coaches, but students and industry professionals from across the nation. There is a unique bond between livestock

judgers, regardless of your school affiliation and that is something that I will forever be thankful for. My coaches have instilled in me a work ethic that is second to none and I am certain that this will help me in all of my future endeavors. You see, what is special about this program is the connections and lessons learned through your time in the van go way beyond the day you mark your last card. Livestock Judging is a family, and I am truly blessed to be involved in the tradition and legacy that is the Texas A&M Livestock Judging Team.

What inspired to you reach this goal ? My dad, Mitch Thomas, was a member of a very competitive livestock judging team at Texas A&M in 1990. Seeing what he was able to accomplish and what the livestock judging program has done for him is what drove me to want to judge for Texas A&M. I can remember growing up watching my dad sort shows and all I could think about was when was it going to be my turn to sort shows? To this day, I still love to watch my dad judge and learn a little bit more from the man who taught me how to judge, show, speak and most of all be confident in myself. My dad was my “coach” for a lot of things, but most of all he was my biggest supporter and that is something I am forever grateful for.

You are the first one in the Valley? Yes or no? I don’t know. Honestly, I think so MARCH/APRIL 2020

Mauricio Garcia, from McAllen, Completes Syngenta Ag Leadership Development Program 28

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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., U.S.A., Jan. 31, 2020 – Mauricio Garcia, with the American Soybean Association (ASA), has successfully completed Leadership At Its Best (LAIB), a Syngenta professional development program helping future U.S. agriculture leaders improve their skills to more effectively advocate for American agriculture. The industry-recognized program was held Jan. 27-31, 2020, at the Syngenta Innovation Center in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina and in Washington, D.C.

hrough LAIB, Syngenta has been training future leaders in agriculture for more than 30 years — with over 4,500 people trained so far, and counting,” said Mary Kay Thatcher, who leads federal govern ment relations for Syngenta in the U.S. “Agriculture faces complex challenges and our program helps farmers learn skills to answer the call and stand up for our industry.” Each year, a diverse class, which includes dozens of farmers, processors and agriculture retailers, attends LAIB to develop skill sets needed to be confident ambassadors of agriculture. LAIB alumni have gone on to become leaders in their organizations, spokespersons for American agriculture and government officials. “LAIB is a great program that dives in-depth to all the pertinent issues affecting agriculture across the country, and trains participants to become effective advocates for their community,” Garcia said. This annual training program promotes cross-organizational exchange with various commodity and trade associations. The Syngenta curriculum model enables participants to begin their learning experience prior to arrival and continue after they depart, with online engagement following the formal program. “LAIB participants experienced learning modules based on today’s leading thoughts, ideas and techniques,” said Thatcher. “Our program focuses on key aspects of leadership training and priority issues facing agriculture, with the goal of empowering today’s leaders for tomorrow’s future challenges and opportunities across the industry.”

Syngenta is working with the following organizations this year to provide LAIB participants a robust and accelerated professional development experience:

• Agricultural Retailers Association • American Agri-Women • American Farm Bureau Federation Women • American Soybean Association • Independent Professional Seed Association • National Agricultural Aviation Association • National Association of Wheat Growers • National Association of Conservation Districts • National Cotton Council • National Corn Growers Association • National Potato Council • National Sorghum Producers About Syngenta Syngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through world class science and innovative crop solutions, our 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown. We are committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more visit syngenta.com and goodgrowthplan.com. PAUL MINEHART 202-347-8913 PAUL.MINEHART@SYNGENTA.COM Access this release online at SoyGrowers.com.

MARCH/APRIL 2020

2020 4â&#x20AC;&#x201C;H Rally Photography Winners

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MARCH/APRIL 2020

Coronavirus Unleashes A Black Swan BY JOHN MILLER

ou only need to look at almost any commodity chart starting on or near January 23rd of this year to see that something abruptly affected the entire marketplace in an adverse way. This was the day that Chinese officials publicly recognized the problems surrounding a Coronavirus outbreak in humans; but still suggested that it was premature to declare an emergency. The chart below show the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIH20 in black), March Cotton (ETH20 in pink), March corn futures (ECH20 in blue), and crude oil (ECLJ20 in purple) since January 1st. You can see the DJIA tumbled from just short of the fables 30,000 level to just above 25,000, a record decline in that short of a timeframe. For our valley farmers, it was hard not to notice cotton prices falling from approximately 70 cents per pound to 62 cents, the difference between a tight profit and a clear loss. Corn behaved similarly, falling from $3.90 to $3.60 per bushel. Even the energy providers took a big hit as crude oil dropped from $65 to $45 per barrel. This has been a falloff of commodity prices rarely seen in one’s career. With China now exceeding 80,000 cases and roughly 2,800 deaths, the government there can no longer pretend this is anything less than a public health disaster for their country. With more than 89,000 cases and 3,100 deaths worldwide, according to John Hopkins and as illustrated by the heat map below, governments around the globe are taking serious action to ward off a larger public impact.

As if the recent African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak causing massive extermination of China’s hogs was not enough, the market disruptions associated with the Coro-

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navirus has only added to the headwinds being faced by the freshly signed US-China Phase One trade agreement. The unforeseen arrival and spread of the Coronavirus worldwide, and subsequent uncertainty this news created in markets, almost immediately began to have this phenomenon labeled a Black Swan event. Made famous in the book The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable by Nassim Nicholas Talib written in 2007, this term has become synonymous with key unforeseen events that result in major market disruption. Some might argue that the Coronavirus outbreak does not rise to the level of a Black Swan event, but those of us in agriculture that are depending on more fair and open access to world markets check that box. Taleb, a former options trader and risk analyst specializing in probability and randomness became concerned that generally accepted and widely used economic models had an inherent weakness when it came to the occurrence of low probability events such as we are facing with Coronavirus. The Black Swan concept can actually be traced back to the middle ages when it was thought that no Black Swan (the actual bird) existed. This term, then, became to be used when thinking of an event that was impossible. When in the late 1600’s in Australia, an actual Black Swan (the bird) was observed, this term began to be associated with an event that shattered the notion that it could never occur. From Taleb’s book, he emphasizes that Black Swan events are ones that are unpredictable and have far-reaching implications. Perhaps the most interesting commonality is that when these events happen, there seems to be a strong feeling in the marketplace that in hindsight it seems almost obvious it would occur. Some

of us can recall the sudden collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, and agree that this event was a Black Swan. Historians tell us that the sudden outbreak of WWI was at the time a Black Swan event. But shelves of books now suggest that these events were telegraphed to the extreme. Just in my 20 or so years working in risk management, I can recall several major events which I like to call â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;outliersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that have happened and greatly affected how I proceeded with a marketing plan. For those that trade cattle, who can forget the first cases of Foot and Mouth disease that hit the UK in 2001, and the market effects of even a few cases in North American in subsequent years.

Again in 2001, the 9/11 terrorists attack on the World Trade Center in New York. Or the financial market meltdown surrounding Lehman Brothers, AIG, etc, in 2008. How about the original Brexit vote back in 2016 that rattled financial markets for some time? And there are quite a few more events like this in the 2000â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

ing large amounts of time trying to predict Black Swan events? Since these evenat are all but impossible to predict, the answer is no. But that is not to say that a farmers, or anyone in business, should not use consistent values in an effort to guard against unforeseen events during key periods of price risk for your farm or non-farm business. While we want to spend time trying protecting downside price risk in the chance of a negative event, we also should keep in mind that we want to try and be positioned to capitalize on market positive impacts. It does seem that outliers, or black swan events, are more far reaching that in years past. Or is it more a reflection of the changing nature of markets with respect to the globalization of commodities? For now, this global nature of the commodity markets seems like a permanent feature, and a condi tion to always be mindful of. The Coronavirus will run its course. In the US, the Center for Disease Control and other medical oversight will work around the clock to insure public safety as best possible.

Over time, reassurances will work its way into the market. But this does not take away from the fact that these events are hurtful in short term. The key is to understand that these events will happen from time-to-time, and that contingency funds whether in reserve equity or cash, or in the form of insurance is important to consider every crop season.

Given that these low probability events are so difficult if not impossible to see coming, should we be spend-

MARCH/APRIL 2020

NRCS Announces 2020 Deadline for Conservation Assistance Funding Temple, Texas, March 2, 2020 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Texas has announced the first funding application deadline of April 3, 2020, for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). If additional financial assistance funds are still available, a second funding application deadline will be scheduled for May 15, 2020. Applications are taken year around for NRCS programs, but deadlines are announced to rank and fund eligible conservation projects. Producers interested in signing up for EQIP should submit applications to their local USDA service center. If already a USDA client, a producer can submit applications online via Conservation Client Gateway. EQIP is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers. Technical assistance is provided without a fee from NRCS specialists to help landowners and land managers plan and implement conservation practices to help them meet their land management goals, address natural resource concerns and improve soil, water, plant, animal, air, and related resources on agricultural land and non-industrial private forestland. For additional information visit the NRCS Texas website at www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov. Applications for EQIP are accepted on a continuous basis. Producers interested in EQIP can contact their local USDA service center or visit our NRCS EQIP web page.

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NRCS Announces Greater South Texas Conference for Women in Agriculture on March 24 Carrizo Springs – Feb. 27, 2020 — In celebration of Women in History and National Ag Day in March, the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in partnership with the Texas/Mexico Border Coalition (TMBC) will host the Greater South Texas Conference for Women in Agriculture. The event will be held on March 24, 2020, at the Dimmit County Arena and Conference Center, 539 Industrial Blvd. in Carrizo Springs, Texas. Keynote speaker for the event is Tina Yturria Buford of the H. Yturria Land and Cattle Company in Harlingen. Listen to exciting speakers from South Texas who are entrepreneurs in their field discuss a wide range of topics of interest to women, including conservation, financing, marketing, animal health and personal health. See on-site demonstrations, visit booths and participate in the networking opportunity. Men are also encouraged to attend. On-site check-in will be 8 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. To pre-register, visit the TMBC website at www.tm-bc.org/. A lunch of locally raised and harvested, grassfed Native American bison will be provided. There is no charge for the event and lunch; however, those not registered by March 17th may not be able to join the catered lunch. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact Bertha Venegas at (830) 249-3508 ext. 103 or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

MARCH/APRIL 2020

Ranch Name

Group

Breed

RGVBIA Index *

Award

Mendietta Beefmasters

Calf

Beefmaster

112.60

Champion

Peña Farms Beefmasters

Calf

Beefmaster

109.78

Res. Champion

La Campana Ranch

Calf

Santa Gertrudis

107.95

Champion

Lazy JV Ranch

Calf

Santa Gertrudis

104.73

Res. Champion

La Muñeca Cattle Co.

Calf

Simbrah

113.49

Champion

Nieschwietz 7N Ranch

Calf

Simbrah

109.02

Res. Champion

Junior

Beefmaster

104.81

Champion

Peña Farms Beefmasters La Muñeca Cattle Co.

Junior

Brahman

112.31

Champion

SRS Land & Cattle Co.

Junior

Brahman

106.25

Res. Champion

Lazy JV Ranch

Junior

Santa Gertrudis

103.29

Champion

La Campana Ranch

Junior

Santa Gertrudis

101.43

Res. Champion

La Muñeca Cattle Co.

Junior

Simbrah

107.20

Champion

Salazar Beefmasters

Intermediate Beefmaster

105.60

Champion

Intermediate Santa Gertrudis

101.93

Champion

Senior

Brahman

103.23

Champion

Senior

Braunvieh

108.91

Champion

April M. Salinas SRS Land & Cattle Co. J Bar Braunvieh Circle C Ranch

Senior

Braunvieh

101.05

Res. Champion

Lazy JV Ranch

Senior

Santa Gertrudis

107.10

Champion

There are 22 bulls that will sell on Cattle In Motion (insert link - www.cattleinmotion.com/) from March 21-24, 2020. The breeds represented in this sale are: Santa Gertrudis, Simbrah, Simmental, Angus, Brahman and Braunvieh. The bulls selling on Cattle In Motion were the highest indexing bulls in the test. There are many other bulls for sale at private treaty. For details, contact Vidal Saenz at (956) 383-1026. *The RGVBIA Index is the ratios of the following computed within each age group: 30% Average daily gain, 20% Ribeye area/cwt., 20% Weight per day of age, 20% Marbling and 10% Scrotal circumference.

2315 W. Expressway 83 #102, San Benito, Texas 78586 www.cropguardinsurance.com

956-688-8485 Thanks for 11 Years!

LOOK!

MADE YOU

2F AKAUSHI BEEF

elcome to Rancho Santa Fe, home of Felo and Stephanie Martinez. Rancho Santa Fe was established in 1927 by our Grandfather, Felix Flores Martinez. For the past 30 years, we have preserved the legacy of the 2F Brand by sustaining who we are and what we stand for. We pride our operation on self - reliance, integrity, authenticity, and true grit. Our livelihood is rooted in the raising of cattle and horses as we tend to Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s land. After many years of studying maternal longevity, carcass merit, calving ease and growth, we discovered the Akaushi breed had all these characteristics and more. They have superior confirmation and structure and genetically can increase the intramuscular fat in their meat through a corn based feed program. Not only does this wagyu breed grade out mainly prime and top choice it has the hIghest concentration of monounsaturated fat than any other breed in the U.S. It is Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Healthy Beef. In 2014 we switched our breeding program over to Akaushi Bloodlines and 2F Akaushi Beef was established in 2018. The foundation Wagyu bloodlines of our Akaushi herd traces back to the 1994 importation of several Akaushi cattle from Kumamoto Japan. The American Akaushi Association was later established to maintain and verify the purity of the breed by starting a DNA

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program where all certified Akaushi are registered with the Association. Our goal is to produce and raise the highest quality, healthy beef and to offer our product to local restaurants and households in the Rio Grande Valley. Here at Ranch Santa Fe we carefully manage and monitor every stage of our cattle’s life. By retaining the legacy of our Ancestors we take pride in caring for our cattle everyday by riding through our herds on horseback to check them in the most natural habitat possible. Horses are a big part of our Heritage and will always be a way of life here. Using our expertise judgement we can maximize our cattle performance to produce the highest quality beef available. Our intense feed program starts right when our calves are weaned and hand selected for our beef program. We retain these selected calves in small grass pastures to roam freely starting them on a corn based growing ration, all hormone, additive, and preservative free. This is the most critical stage in a calf’s life, not only are they separated and weaned from their mothers but they have to learn to eat independently on their

own. We monitor them daily making sure that each of them are getting all the nutrition that they need to keep them healthy and stress free. After 6 months in our highly monitored feed program we sonogram their ribeye area to measure the intramuscular marbling and then decide which cattle will be transferred to a local feedlot to prepare them for the finished product. After harvesting our premium carcasses they are hung and dry aged 14- 21 days to maximize their rich buttery flavor and tenderness. These carcasses are then transferred to our USDA Grant inspected processing center where they are custom cut and package by Felito’s Finest LLC, our distributing company named in memory after our first son, Felix Tadeo Martinez, Jr., who was a true Genuine Cowboy! We work closely together with our daughter and husband, Alyssa and Jason Hind, who share in producing, raising, and marketing the 2F Brand. It is then with Pride that we can share our life long ranch expertise by offering to you our 2F Premium Beef From our Ranch to Your Table!

MARCH/APRIL 2020

FFA&4-H C 2 0 2 0

RGV

D I S T R I C T

C A L E N

2020 FFA EVENTS CALENDAR

March 13-19, 2020 Houston Barrow Show RGVLS Mercedes, TX

Boeing Bro. Floresville, TX

March 24, 2020 Citrus Valley District Meeting

April 15, 2020 Area 10 CDEs,

Robstown, TX Fairgrounds

March 26, 2020 Palm Valley AST Meeting

April 18, 2020 Area X FFA Scholarship Review and AREA X Officer Selection Interviews

Time: 5:30am - 8:30am Donna North H.S.

Time: TBA Redgate

April 1, 2020 TX FFA Scholarship Deadline To Jerome Tymrak

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April 3, 2020 Area 10 Dairy Cattle Inv. CDEs,

Time: 9:00am - 2:00pm Calallen H.S.

April 25, 2020 STATE CDEs, Texas Tech

Calendar DA R

O F

AC T I V I T I E S

2020 HIDALGO COUNTY 4-H EVENTS CALENDAR

March 7 – 17, 2020 Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show RGVLS Grounds

March 24, 2020 County Council Meeting/ Adult Leaders Meeting Time: 7pm Extension Office

April 3–9, 2020 District 12 Photography Contest (Open to all Members) Time: TBA Virtual

April 3– 4, 2020 District 12 Fashion Sensation Time: TBA Alice, TX

Sponsored by:

April 6, 2020 District 12 Roundup – Educational Presentations, Speaking Contests Time: TBA Kingsville, TX

April 18, 2020 District 12 Roundup – Livestock Judging

Time: TBA Fredricksburg, TX

April 25, 2020 District 12 Shooting Sports Rifle (3-P & Silhouette) Time: TBA Benavides, TX

April 28, 2020 County Council Meeting (Officer Position Declarations)/ Adult Leaders Meeting Time: 7pm Extension Office

For upcoming events: hidalgo.agrilife.org/4-h-youth-development/4-h-times-newsletters/

MARCH/APRIL 2020

reprint from Farm Bureau

Hidalgo County student wins TFB Free Enterprise Speech Contest

high school junior from Hidalgo County took first place and a $6,000 scholarship as winner of the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Free Enterprise Speech Con test. Cooper Ford, son of Cleve and Miriam Ford of Weslaco, topped 12 other speakers from across Texas in the annual contest. At Weslaco High School, Ford is a member of the National Honor Society and Weslaco FFA Chapter, where he serves as an officer and competes in speaking events. He is also a member of the Texas 4-H Council. Ford exhibits market steers and market and breeding swine at local and major livestock shows through 4-H and FFA. Ford leads community service efforts at the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show. He plans to attend Texas A&M University and major in agricultural business or agricultural economics. Runner-up in the competition and winner of a $3,000 scholarship was Morgan McKinzie, a high school senior from Stephenville. She is the daughter of Marty and Kelli McKinzie. At Stephenville High School, she is involved in several organizations, including the National Honor Society, Workforce in Technology and serves as the Student Council vice president. She is also an active member of Stephenville FFA, where she participates in speaking contests, meats judging, Agriscience Fair, chapter conducting contests and is the Area IV vice president. McKinzie also assists with community activities, visits nursing homes and works in the concession stands. She plans to attend Texas A&M University or Texas Tech University and major in animal science. Four other finalists and winners of $2,000 scholarships were Bethany Martinek of Grayson County, Carter Neil of Carson County, Elijah Russell of Cherokee County and Cole Wheeler of Lampasas County.

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Cooper Ford of Hidalgo County (left) and Morgan McKinzie of Erath County were named winner and runner-up, respectively, of Texas Farm Bureau’s Free Enterprise Speech Contest. TFB President Russell Boening presented the awards. The winner, runner-up and four finalists will receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to visit elected officials, observe Congress in session and visit historical sites. Other contestants and winners of $1,500 scholarships were Kathryn Gwosdz of Dewitt County, Ryan Heitschmidt of Swisher County, Jett Henefey of Medina County, John Dain Copeland of Coke County, Kyndal King of Harrison County, Gabby Eskew of Austin County and Aaron Harmonson of Jack County. “These students successfully delivered speeches detailing what the free enterprise system means to them and how it benefits our country,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “It’s inspiring to see young people passionate about our economy, our government and our organization.” To compete in the Free Enterprise Speech Contest, contestants must have attended the 2019 Texas Farm Bureau Youth Leadership Conference. More details about the contest and other youth opportunities are available online at https://texasfarmbureau.org/youth/ youth-opportunities.

MORE THAN JUST INSURANCE! H We award $8,500 scholarships a year

to graduating seniors that are Cameron County Farm Bureau members.

We spent over $11,000 at the Livestock Show on animal bids

H We donated $7,500 to the Cameron

H Texas Farm Bureau has a mobile learning barn.

H We donate to Sunny Glen Children’s Home in San Benito.

H Your Farm Bureau membership provides a

County Fair & Livestock Show to build a new barn.

Anyone can become a member and take advantage of all these services for only

$49.00 a year

lot of services to youth and community

Why you should join your Cameron County Farm Bureau Membership Discounts:

Farm Bureau promotes today’s farmers and ranchers!

Support us today!

Cameron Co. Farm Bureau

335 N. Oscar Williams Rd. San Benito, TX 78586 (956) 399-8183

ADT Home Monitoring System Hotel Discounts Grainger Industrial Supply Discounts CAT and John Deere Amusement Park Tickets Insurance Services Defensive Driving Course Discounts on Polaris, ATV and UTV $500 Discount on new 2016,2017,2018 Ford Vehicles Case IH Discounts

National voice of agriculture, working through our grassroots organizations to enhance and strengthen the lives of rural Americans and to build strong, prosperous agricultural communities.

Meeting your needs as they grow

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS!

GarcÃa Grain Trading 956-464-6000

SERVING THE VALLEY FOR OVER 20 YEARS ALAMO, TX MCCOOK, TX

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EDCOUCH, TX SANTA ROSA, TX

e m o H

Ag Mag Featured Farmer

oomer Klostermann left farming for about a year to go out and explore what else the world may have for him. The grass is definitely not always greener on the other side of the pasture’s fence. That’s all he needed to do to realize that farming would be his life. “Growing up on a farm and being all around it my whole life; it’s like I was just born to do it,” said the fourth-generation farmer, who is in his first full year as

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IS WHERE

a Klostermann Farms partner along with his dad and an uncle. “But there was a time when I didn’t know if I’d want to be a farmer but I looked into it and got away from it for a year and I quickly realized that anything else was not for me and I got serious about it and came back to farm.” Klostermann farms began in the 1920s when Boomer’s great grandfather Fritz came to the United States from Germany and moved to Robstown.

THE

Farm

“That’s where we started for just a few years,” Boomer said. “We ended up moving to Willacy County in 1940 and started farming here.” Fritz’s two sons, Fred and Elroy Klostermann, continued with the farming operation, harvesting “basically sorghum and cotton – those were the two big things at the time out there in the middle of nowhere,” said Boomer, who was born in Harlingen but lived in Raymondville of his life, except times like when he was in college at Texas A&M or at Kingsville.

Upon finishing school he returned to the farm, then being run by his day Dan and his two uncles, Russell and Jack. Russell recently retired, opening up the spot for Boomer to become partner. As a young farmer, Boomer said there is so much technology and other areas that have been major changes from the time his great grandfather – or even his dad – started farming. “There are a lot more tools that you have at fingertips. You have social media and the Internet in your hand on your phone. If you need to know anything, you can just look it up,” he said “But it’s a double edged sword. There’s so much out there you need to realize when something might not fit into your operation. You’re just trying to implement new stuff but you also need to stay true to what works for you and your operation.” Of course prices have risen for equipment while they’ve stayed fairly steady on the Ag market and with commodities. Those are two other crucial areas Boomer said farmers need to keep a steady watch on. Gone are the days of owning five or six tractors, he said. “Ag market and commodities are more volatile than they used to be; those prices can change a lot over a tweet and we’ve seen that happen a lot,” he said. “But when you’ve grown up on a farm and that what you do, you realize it’s just another thing to keep an eye on, it’s part of what you do.” Boomer actually met his future wife, Kim, at a New

Year’s Even party. He came to McAllen with a friend from college. She quickly caught his eye. The couple have a young daughter who may or not be part of the farm operation as she gets older. It will be pretty much her decision. For now, however, she’s learning a lot while growing up on the farm. “I’m not going to force family to farm,” Boomer said. “The main thing for her is learning about the farm and to learn the hard work ethic that comes from being raised on a farm.” Boomer fondly recalled summers on the farm. “It’s the busiest time and summers don’t consist of what normal kids do. You’re on a tractor or moving a truck or shoveling grain that spilled out of a semi,” he said. “But being able to work with family and having something to put so much work into and see it pay off – I’ve always like harvest in the summer when you see your hard work come through. That has always been the coolest thing for me.”

MARCH/APRIL 2020

2020

Star Gala

2020 World Cotton Outlook: U.S.-CHINA PHASE 1 IMPLEMENTATION AND CORONAVIRUS BRING NEW UNCERTAINTIES

ational Cotton Council economists point to a few key factors that will shape the U.S. cotton industry’s 2020 economic outlook. This past year can be characterized as a year with significant uncertainty and volatility in the global economy and the world cotton market. On January 15, 2020, Trump signed the Phase 1 trade agreement with China. As part of the agreement, China has agreed to purchase an average of $40 billion in U.S. agricultural commodities, including cotton, over the next two years. However, the overall impact for cotton remains uncertain as commodity specific details have not been released. While the Phase 1 trade agreement provided some cautious optimism for an improvement in the cotton economic situation, the China coronavirus outbreak in the early weeks of 2020 could delay China’s ability to increase purchases in the near-term. As a result, the potential impacts of the coronavirus represent a significant wildcard in the outlook for the world cotton market in the 2020 crop year. In her analysis of the NCC Annual Planting Intentions survey results, Campiche said the NCC projects 2020 U.S. cotton acreage to be 13.0 million acres, 5.5 percent less than 2019. The expected drop in acreage is the result of slightly weaker cotton prices relative to corn and soybeans. With abandonment assumed at 13.8 percent for the United States, Cotton Belt harvested area totals 11.2 million acres. Using an average 2020 U.S. yield per harvested acre of 848 pounds generates a cotton crop of 19.8 million bales, with 19.1 million upland bales and 675,000 extra-long staple bales. U.S. cottonseed production is projected to decrease to 6.1 million tons in 2020.

BY EDDIE GARCIA

Pakistan, and Turkey has led to higher U.S. export sales. As a result, the United States will remain the largest exporter of cotton in 2019 with 16.5 million bales. Prior to the implementation of tariffs, the United States was in a prime position to capitalize on the increase in Chinese cotton imports. With the imposition of the 25.0 percent tariff, China has turned to other suppliers during the 2018 and 2019 marketing years, allowing Brazil, Australia, and other countries to gain market share. Vietnam is currently the top export market for U.S. cotton in the 2019 crop year, followed by China and Pakistan. U.S. exports are projected to drop slightly to 16.4 million bales in the 2020 marketing year. For this outlook, the U.S. is assumed to export 2.5 million bales to China in the 2020 crop year as compared to an estimated 2.0 million bales in the 2019 crop year. However, with record stocks outside of China, increased production in Brazil, and a partial recovery in Australia’s production, the U.S. will continue to face strong export competition in 2020. When combined with U.S. mill use, total offtake falls short of expected production, and ending stocks are projected at 5.9 million bales. Campiche said world production is estimated to decline by 2.4 million bales in 2020 to 118.9 million as a result of lower cotton acreage. World mill use is projected to increase to 121.7 million bales in 2020. Ending stocks are projected to decline by 2.0 million bales in the 2020 marketing year to 80.1 million bales, resulting in a stocks-to-use ratio of 66.4 percent. Stocks outside of China are projected to increase to a record level in 2020.

Regarding domestic mill cotton use, the NCC is projecting a slight decline in U.S. mill use to 2.85 million bales in the 2020 crop year. As one of largest markets for U.S. cotton, U.S. mills continue to be critically important to the health of the cotton industry. In the face of rising textile imports from Asian suppliers, the U.S. textile industry has focused on new investment and technology adoption in order to remain competitive. The recently passed U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) includes some important provisions that should help boost the U.S. textile industry.

Based on the underlying assumptions and resulting cotton balance sheet, stable stocks outside of China, increased export competition from Brazil, recovery in Australia’s production, and low manmade fiber prices will have a bearish influence on cotton prices.

Campiche noted that export markets continue to be U.S. raw fiber’s primary outlet. World trade is estimated to be higher in the 2019 marketing year, but the retaliatory tariffs and increased competition from other major exporting countries has led to a sharp decline in the U.S. trade share in China. Despite the continued U.S.-China trade disruptions, U.S. export sales to other markets have been very strong for the current crop year.

Additional details of the 2020 Cotton Economic Outlook are on the NCC’s website at:

Sales reached the highest level in the marketing year during the week ending on February 6. While export competition from Brazil remains strong, the U.S. has had increased opportunities for export sales to other markets in the 2019 crop year. Lower production in Australia,

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A quick containment of the coronavirus and a successful implementation of the Phase 1 trade agreement would provide support to prices. As with any projections, there are uncertainties and unknowns that can change the outcome.

http://www.cotton.org/econ/reports/ annual-outlook.cfm.

Thank You S.T.A.R. Thank you for letting Swing City Auction Company be your Auction Company of choice for the past six years during the STAR Show and Sale. I would like to personally thank all involved, the STAR BOD for your stewardship to see that this show is always growing, your leadership is appreciated. The Schools, AgTeachers, and Parents for leading by example and showing your students and children a better way through the FFA. The students who work so hard to be able to show and to walk through the auction ring, thank you for the respect you have shown to your community and thank you for letting me be the one to sell your livestock, you are the future. Thank you to the sponsors and buyers, without your help and dedication a big part of this would not be possible. I appreciate each one of you. To those who house and feed me and make sure my stay is the best, to all the friends and family I have made, I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell you how truly grateful I am. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; THANK YOU

Que Dios bendiga a cada uno de ustedes y su familia,

Phillip Pierceall

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Ag Mag RECIPE

CAST IRON SKILLET

CORNBREAD Ingredients 1 cup House Autry White Self-Rising Corn Meal Mix (Substitute: 3/4 cup regular cornmeal, 3 TBSP flour, 1 TBSP baking powder) 1 cup buttermilk 1 tbsp canola oil (optional) 1 egg 3/4 - 1 stick butter (I err on the side of the more butter the better.)

InSTRUCTIONS 1 Preheat oven to 425 o and melt stick of butter in 10” or 12” skillet in oven while it is heating. The larger the skillet, the thinner the cornbread will be. Remove skillet from oven once butter is melted. (Don’t forget the hot pad. I learned the hard way.) 2 Mix cornmeal mix (or flour/cornmeal substitute), buttermilk, 1 tbsp oil and 1 egg together in bowl. 3 Pour batter over melted butter and cook 18-25 minutes or until golden brown. 4 Remove from oven. Serve with more butter spread on the top (...because butter. You’ll thank me.) Find Meredith online at

thisfarmwife.com

MARCH/APRIL 2020

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TOMATO BROWN RUGOSE FRUIT VIRUS: what we know and how to avoid an outbreak in the Texas Rio Grande Valley BY DR. OLUFEMI J. ALABI, Associate Prof. & Extension Specialist, Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Texas A&M University AgriLife Research & Extension Center Weslaco, TX 78596, (956) 969-5624; alabi@tamu.edu

What is ToBRFV, where is it present currently and why should I care? Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (TBRFV) is an economically damaging viral pathogen of tomatoes and peppers and a new threat to the tomato and pepper industry. The virus was first discovered in in 2014 and its occurrence has since then been reported in several countries including China, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom, according to the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO). More recently, ToBRFV was also detected in isolated outbreaks in greenhouse tomato crops in California and Germany and the virus has been eradicated in both cases. Over the years, scientists have developed improved varieties of tomatoes and peppers with genetic resistance to tobamoviruses. Unfortunately, these improved varieties are susceptible to infection by ToBRFV, indicating that the virus can overcome the resistance.

What do disease symptoms look like? Like its other tobamovirus relatives such as tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), leaf symptoms of TBRFV on tomato include chlorosis, mosaic and mottling with occasional leaf narrowing (Figures 1A-1C). The leaf petiole, fruit peduncles and calyx may also show necrotic (dead) spots (Figures 1D-1E). Perhaps more importantly are symptoms induced by the ToBRFV infection on the fruits of disease-affected plants (Figures 1F-1I). Such symptoms include yellow and/or brown spots or blotchiness, uneven ripening, and rugosity (deformed or corrugated surface) (Figures 1F-1I) from which the virus derives its name. Disease symptoms on peppers include leaf deformation, yellowing and mosaic. Affected pepper fruits may also become deformed, with yellow or brown areas or green stripes. Though ToBRFV does not pose a health risk to people or animals, symptomatic tomato and pepper fruits are rendered unmarketable, resulting in severe economic losses.

How is it transmitted? ToBRFV and other tobamoviruses are mechanically transmitted, which means that they can be transmitted through contact including via contaminated tools, hands, clothing, and direct plant-to-plant contact. The virus can also be transmitted through grafting or spread through movement of infected plant materials such as transplants and via fruits from infected plants. Contaminated seeds are also primary means through which the spread of tobamoviruses occur. Thus, movement of infected plant materials (transplants and seeds) by humans constitutes a major pathway for the spread of tobamoviruses across local, national and international boundaries. Though not vectored by an insect, insects such as pollinators may facilitate mechanical spread of ToBRFV as they forage between infected and healthy plants. The virus can remain viable in seeds, plants debris and contaminated soil for months.

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How can the virus be detected? It is difficult to distinguish between foliar and fruit symptoms due to ToBRFV infection and those due to other tobamoviruses based on visual observation. With seeds, it is impracticable to determine their health status based on visual inspection. In addition, asymptomatic virus infections are not unusual, with the infected but symptomless plants serving as continuous source of virus spread. Consequently, accurate and reliable detection of the virus can only be performed by trained personnel using approved antibody- or DNA-based techniques. There are antibody-based tests such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and ImmunoStrips that can detect tobamoviruses in infected plant samples. Unfortunately, these tests cannot distinguish between the different tobamovirus species conclusively. The definitive identification of ToBRFV relies on DNAbased tests such as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, complemented by DNA sequencing. Such assays can only be performed in a well-equipped diagnostic laboratory.

What is being done to prevent ToBRFV spread in the U.S. Due to its economically damaging nature, and to safeguard the United States against the introduction of this virus while facilitating the safe trade of healthy tomatoes, the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has put in place a ToBRFV Federal Import Order effective November 22, 2019. The Federal Order applies to imports of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and pepper (Capsicum spp.) seed lots and transplants from all countries and imports of tomato and pepper fruit entering the United States from Mexico, Canada, Israel, and the Netherlands. The Order requires that all tomato and pepper seed lots and transplants imported from countries where the virus exists should be officially tested and certified free of the disease. That all tomato and pepper fruit imported from Mexico, Israel, and the Netherlands should be inspected at the point of origin to ensure it is free of disease symptoms. And that Canada should inspect all tomato and pepper fruit prior to export to the United States to ensure it is free of disease symptoms. Obscured seeds (seeds that are coated, pelleted, or embedded in tape or another substrate that obscures visibility) and small seed lots are also subject to the Federal Import Order. In addition, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will increase inspections of tomato and pepper seed, plant, and fruit imports from countries where the virus is known to occur and will take action to keep any infected products out of the country. Further information about the Federal Order can be found at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/ import-information/federal-import-orders/tobrfv/tomato-brown-rugose-fruit-virus

Is there a cure for ToBRFV? There is no chemical cure for ToBRFV. Also, there are no currently known tomato and pepper varieties with resistance to the virus.

Figure 1. Naturally infected tomato plants with tomato brown rugose fruit virus.

However, there are steps that can be implemented to prevent spread of ToBRFV. In addition to complying with federal and state regulations on the safe movement of plants and plant materials, ToBRFV spread can be limited through proper sanitation such as the use of disinfectants to sanitize surfaces and implements. It is recommended that farm workers should wash their hands regularly during the day, ensure their clothing are disinfected daily, and wear disposable shoe covers when entering greenhouses where the risk of contact spread is extremely high. Farm tools and implements should also be disinfected regularly. Some of the recommended disinfectants include household bleach (10% chlorox), VirkonÂŽ S (2%), and nonfat (skimmed) milk (3.5% protein). Direct seeding or transplanting of plants into soils with debris from previous tomato and pepper crops should be avoided. In general, it is a good practice to practice rotation with non-host crops in-between season.

(A-C). Symptomatic mosaic pattern on leaves of cluster tomato plants cv. Mose. (C) Narrowing leaves of cluster tomato plants. (D) Dried peduncles and calyces on cherry tomato plants cv. Shiran leading to fruit abscission. (E) Necrotic symptoms on pedicle, calyces and petioles cv. Ikram. (F) Typical fruit symptoms with yellow spots cv. Mose. (G-I) Variable symptoms of tomato fruits cv. Odelia. (G) The typical disease symptoms. (H) Symptoms of mixed infections by the abundant TSWV and the new tobamovirus isolate. (I) Unique symptoms of the new tobamovirus isolate found at a single location at Sde-Nitzan village. Photos: Neta Luria et al./ PLOS https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

provide guidance on how to notify the relevant agencies to contain further spread of ToBRFV. In the event of positive ToBRFV detection, affected plants and plant parts should be destroyed by burying or incineration.

What can I do to avoid ToBRFV spread? It is important to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations on the safe movement of plants and plant materials, including transplants, seeds and fruits. These measures are meant to safeguard our agriculture because once an infected plant material is introduced into an area, it could serve as source of virus spread. If you suspect an infected plant based on its appearance, check to see if the symptoms match which those described for tobamoviruses. Immediately isolate the suspect plant from others, taking precautions to avoid mechanically contact between it and other host plants. Although inconclusive for diagnosis, the observation of the described symptoms on a tomato or pepper varieties that carry known tobamovirus resistance genes heightens the likelihood of ToBRFV infection. While keeping the suspect plant isolated, contact the nearest diagnostic laboratory for guidance on how to send a sample for testing and confirmation of ToBRFV infection. The lab would also

Sources

Levitzky N, Smith E, Lachman O, Luria N, Mizrahi Y, Bakelman H, et al. (2019) The bumblebee Bombus terrestris carries a primary inoculum of Tomato brown rugose fruit virus contributing to disease spread in tomatoes. PLoS ONE 14(1): e0210871. https://doi. org/10.1371/journal.pone.0210871 Luria N, Smith E, Reingold V, Bekelman I, Lapidot M, Levin I, Elad N, Tam Y, Sela N, Abu-Ras A, Ezra N, Haberman A, Yitzhak L, Lachman O, Dombrovsky A (2017) A new Israeli Tobamovirus isolate infects tomato plants harboring Tm-22resistance genes. PLOS One 12:e0170429. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170429 Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV): Q&A on the new Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV). American Seed Trade Association; https://www.betterseed.org/wp-content/ uploads/ToBRFV-QA.pdf. Assessed on March 02, 2020. Tomato brown rugose fruit virus Federal Import Order; United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/import-information/federal-import-orders/tobrfv/tomato-brown-rugose-fruit-virus-faqs. Assessed on March 02, 2020. Tomato brown rugose fruit virus. Agronomic Spotlight, Seminis; https:// seminis-us.com/resources/agronomic-spotlights/tomato-brown-rugose-fruit-virus/. Assessed on March 02, 2020.

MARCH/APRIL 2020

on Wheels

God has blessed us with you! Because of you, AG MAG is now expanding to TV! Do not worry, the magazine is still continuing, but we want to make AG MAG available for everyone to see!

Tune in the first two Sundays of every month at 5am on KRGV channel 5 for new episodes. Last two Sundays are re-runs. Check our social media for full episodes as well. (DVR it if you are a late sleeper) you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to miss it! MARCH/APRIL 2020

1836 IS PROUD TO BE A 100% WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS, FOUNDED BY ENTREPRENEUR KERRY THORNHILL HOUSTON.

erry was born and raised in the great state of Texas. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BA in communications, and built a successful career in investment banking and corporate communications for NYSE and NASDAQlisted oil and gas companies. Once Kerry realized that the olive oil business was her true passion, she chose to leave the business world and focus on a different kind of oil instead. Her family’s ranch in Asherton, Texas inspired her to first consider the idea of producing and creating her own brand of olive oil. Asherton is a town that has an abundance of history for her family; her grandparents had owned the town’s first general store as far back as 1923, and it seemed to be the ideal spot to continue her family’s local legacy. Eventually, the perfect plot of land was purchased in 2012, and Kerry’s journey began. She now lives on her ranch full time, managing the orchard and advocating for the Texas olive industry. In her efforts to support and educate growers, Kerry holds active leadership roles in the Texas agricultural community, including Secretary of the Texas Association of Olive Oil (TXAOO). In 2018, she was nominated and voted in as the first female Director to the Soil and Water Conservation District Board (Dimmit County, TX) , Subdivision 1.

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Irrigation Conservation Insight:

BY LUCAS GREGORY

Citrus Production

ater is always on the mind in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. It seems like there is either too much or not enough. This spring, factors are pointing more toward the latter for the coming growing season.

“Over the last month, drought conditions have crept into the Lower Rio Grande Valley. In mid-January, only the western extent of Hidalgo County was in moderate drought,” said Dr. Lucas Gregory, senior research scientist at the Texas Water Resources Institute, College Station. “Now moderate and severe drought conditions cover most of Hidalgo County and

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parts of Cameron and Willacy counties.” As of mid-February, Amistad and Falcon reservoirs sat at a combined storage capacity of about 54 percent, about 10 percent less than this time last year. According to an early-February Associated Press news release by Mark Stevenson, “Mexican farmers take over dams to stop water payments to U.S.,” farmers in Mexico attempted to take control of two dams west of Big Bend to prevent water releases to meet water delivery requirements outlined in the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty. Pair this with the dryer than normal conditions currently in place and the National Weather Service (NWS) outlook for warmer than normal temperatures forecasted for the coming year, and the water supply situa-

tion could look better. “In times when water supplies are tight, irrigation conservation pays off,” Gregory said. “In these types of situations, water that is available needs to be better used and more effectively delivered to the crop where and when it is needed.” Dr. Shad Nelson, dean of the Dick & Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Texas A&M UniversityKingsville, said a number of planting and irrigation practices have been developed and are being implemented across the citrus industry that conserve water.

Board are cohosting the free program. Registration and light breakfast begin at 8 a.m. with the program starting at 8:30 a.m. Presentations that focus on water conservation practices in mature orchards, novel field planting designs for new orchards and sustainable water reuse options in agriculture and cities will begin the day. The program will then shift locations to Lance Neuhaus’ property (formerly Pawlik Farms) for further discussion on these topics with researchers and growers. Content also includes discussion on pest and fertility manage-

In mid-January, only western Hidalgo County was in moderate drought. Now moderate and severe drought cover most of Hidalgo County and parts of Cameron and Willacy counties. Photo by U.S. Drought Monitor.

“In existing groves, converting traditional pan flood irrigation to narrow-border flood, drip or micro-spray applications have all been shown to save water. In newly planted groves, raised beds paired with drip irrigation and plastic mulch not only save water, but have also proven effective in managing certain pests,” Nelson said.

ment allowing Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator license holders to secure three continuing education units. This program is being hosted as a part of the “Lower Rio Grande Valley Irrigation Education and Outreach” project funded by the Texas Water Development Board through an Agricultural Water Conservation Grant to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.

These practices and more will all be discussed at the “Novel Citrus Management Practices for Sustainable Water Use” workshop and field day being held Wednesday, March 25 in Mission. The program will be 8 a.m.–noon at Texas Citrus Mutual, 901 Business Park Drive #300. The Texas A&M University-Kingsville Citrus Center, the Texas Water Resources Institute and the Texas Water Development MARCH/APRIL 2020

ESTATE PLANNING IN FIVE STEPS

AgriLife Extension agricultural law specialist offers a five step plan to estate planning

BY: PAUL SCHATTENBERG

state planning can be overwhelming, but a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist offers a guide to estate planning in five steps to help make the process man ageable and ensure family legacies can be passed on as intended. “Unless you have been through it, most people just don’t realize what kind of issues can come up and what all can go wrong if you don’t have a plan in place,” said Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, AgriLife Extension agricultural law specialist, Amarillo. Lashmet told the crowd at the recent Southwest Beef Symposium in Amarillo the primary reason to get an estate plan is: “If you do it right, the next generation can keep on operating.” While an attorney will be necessary through some of the process, she said, many things can be done in advance, at your own pace and for free. This estate planning in five steps is the best place to start.

Step 1: Create a Flight Plan for documents Lashmet said it is important to start by establishing one location where all the documents someone might need are gathered if something should happen. This folder of documents should include: estate planning documents, information on IRA/401(K), pension or retirement plans, life insurance policies, bank account numbers, safety deposit box information including who has access, credit card and debt information/payment schedules, health insurance policies, birth certificates, marriage licenses, major personal property and business asset lists, burial plot information, funeral instructions, email and computer passwords, deeds and titles, livestock and stored crops lists, government contracts and business relationships such as attorneys. “Put this somewhere safe and tell someone about it,” she said. “Don’t lock it away and where nobody knows where it is or how to access it.”

Step 2: Communicate with interested persons “It only leads to extra problems if you don’t communicate with your family and potential heirs to determine what their interest in the agricultural operation may be,” Lashmet said. “I recommend you have a sit-down discussion. This allows you to gauge their interest and determine who wants what, what level of involvement they might be interested in, and what their goals and values are.” Include all stakeholders in this conversation, she advised, including spouse, children, parents, siblings, anyone who might have an

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interest. Another key consideration is to determine the main goals for the particular person, family and business. “Perhaps the goal is to keep the ranch in the family, or perhaps the goal is to minimize capital gains taxes when the land will be sold or to ensure qualification for Medicaid,” Lashmet said. “Understanding the goal is key because that will instruct the best plan for the individual. There is no plan that fits everyone because everyone’s goals are going to be different,” Lashmet said.

Step 3: Develop a business succession plan “We talk a lot about who will own the land, but rarely do we talk about who will be making the management decisions and who is taking over operations,” Lashmet said. “Determine what training or experience they might need and make a plan for it. Make sure that someday when it is their job, they are not starting from scratch.” How will new roles be created, or existing roles be changed? Rarely can one person step into the shoes of the person who has been running an operation for many years, she said.

Step 4: Develop an estate plan An estate plan should include a will, a durable power of attorney, a medical power of attorney and an advanced healthcare directive. “Of these, I don’t advise you go buy a fill-in-the-blank will,” Lashmet said. “It is best to work with an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction to draft a will.” But there are free statutory forms available online at Texas Health

and Human Services for the other three documents, she said. Lashmet said some assets pass through probate and others that pass outside of a will or probate. It is important to think about any non-probate assets and make sure beneficiaries are up to date and aligned with intended recipients. Common non-probate assets that pass via beneficiary designation include life insurance policies, certain retirement plans, pay-ondeath accounts, and property subject to a Transfer on Death Deed. “Even if you think you have done everything by beneficiary, you should still consider having a will just to cover any assets that may not have been accounted for,” she said. “As most people know, a will is simply a document that states how your property is to be distributed upon death. In Texas, it must be handwritten or typed with two witnesses. And don’t forget to revise your will and your beneficiaries when you have life changes.”

By taking time to gather all of the necessary information and drafting a complete estate plan, the transition process should be much easier and less expensive for those who are left behind, she said.

For more information, Lashmet offers several extended episodes of her Ag Law in the Field podcast, which cover this topic more extensively: Elder Law, Transition Planning, and Transition Planning and Lessons from the S Lazy H.

For example, Lashmet said, a Dallas case outlined where a man took out a life insurance policy and designated his girlfriend as the beneficiary. He later married another person and upon his death, his wife went to cash in the life insurance. But he never updated his beneficiary, so the ex-girlfriend collected the money, even though that is not what he intended.

Step 5: Draft and implement the plan

xt generait right, the ne do u yo If : ife photo by e planning as A&M AgriL Pic 1 : Estat ex (T g. in at er on op tion can keep Lashmet) l el ow D Tiffany est at the Southw shmet speaks sier La ea l el ng ow ni D an pl ny Pic 2 : Tiffa make estate to w ho t ou um ab by Beef Symposi griLife photo (Texas A&M A s. ep st e fiv with r) Kay Ledbette ch member of what roles ea ow kn to nt porta your estate. Pic 3 : It’s im when planning ke ta ill et) w n tio ra Dowell Lashm the next gene oto by Tiffany ph ife iL gr A (Texas A&M

“This is where I really do recommend you consult with an attorney to help analyze the best approach and draft documents,” Lashmet said. “This is important enough that it is worth the expense. It may also be prudent to include your accountant or other tax professionals in this process.” MARCH/APRIL 2020

Using Plant Tissue Testing to Identify Problems and Improve Yields BY DEREK EMERINE

he 2020 crop is well under way. Depending on the environmental conditions and fertilization practices, there could potentially be some nutrient deficiency symptoms showing up. Historically supplemental nitrogen applications have been the “go to” solution. It is also important to understand that many other plant nutrients may be deficient in season. Using visual symptomology to identify these deficiencies can be very difficult. This is especially true if there are multiple deficiencies. The best way to identify these deficiencies is by acquiring plant tissue samples. In South Texas, nitrogen deficiency may be present. However in many situations nutrients like potassium, sulfur, zinc, and manganese are also showing up as deficient. Although nutrients like sulfur, zinc, and manganese are not macronutrients, they can definitely impact yield if they are deficient. Having realistic expectations is very important when pulling tissue samples in problem areas. There may already be yield loss and the later in the plants life cycle the deficiency is identified the chance of improving the problem in this growing season lessens. There is still value in plant tissue testing though because the information can be used the following year to change fertility management. It is also very important to always pull two plant tissue samples. One from the problem area and one from an area of the field that looks better. Sometimes both samples may come back “sufficient” but there may be significant differences between the “good” and “bad” sample that will illustrate clearly what is causing the problem. Proactively pulling tissue samples can also be very important to improve yields. This does not mean getting on a weekly tissue sampling program. Planning out 2-3 sampling dates for your crop around strategic growth stages will suffice. In cotton, most nutrients are taken up in great quantities from early to midbloom. Pulling a tissue sample just after first square makes a lot of sense. If nutrient levels are not optimum or greater at this

stage, the crop will most likely have deficiencies during peak nutrient uptake. Plant tissue testing prior to flowering in grain sorghum and at around V5-V8 in corn would be the best time to identify if future problems are a possibility. The subsequent samples can come at early and mid-bloom in cotton, bloom stage in grain sorghum, and just prior to tasseling and R1 in corn. Once a deficiency is identified, a debate can be had on how to correct the deficiency. Deficiencies found very early in the season will benefit more from dry or liquid fertilizer applications. Deficiencies found mid or late season can be alleviated from foliar applications. Foliar applications are not a silver bullet. They will never replace dry or liquid fertilizer applications, but they can be great supplements and improve yields if deficiencies are present. Collecting the correct plant part and proper care of the sample are extremely important to ensure accurate results. Pulling samples from the wrong part of the plant or not handling the samples correctly will lead to erroneous results. Lastly, if there is confusion about the sample results get input from an agronomist or input provider that you trust.

MARCH/APRIL 2020

Fishing is for Everyone BY ERICA HIRSCH

ot everyone will catch fish. Just the other day an acquaintance wanted to book a charter with Twilight Charters. He expressed that he had taken his young sons a few times with a friend, but they didn’t really catch anything. He asked me “What is your trick to finding fish?”. That is a difficult question to answer, as there is no easy explanation. Just like most things in life, you can get lucky a few times but to catch fish consistently depends entirely on an angler’s ability to read the conditions, make decisions based on them and put in the work to get the results. The casual angler is often under the impression that you can return to the same spots multiple times and there will be fish. This can be true as we all know how “sacred” fishing sports can be to a fisherman. However, it is not realistic that it will remain consistent in one area for long periods of time. Fish move in and out of areas and feed based on numerous variables relating to weather, tides and barometric pressure. We know all of these elements are intertwined and should be considered when determining prime locations and feeding times. The more time spent on the water, the better suited you are to analyze the conditions and determine if your favorite fishing hole will actually contain fish that day.

active. Changes in air pressure can be good as it can cause fish to become more active, therefore increasing the bite. Fish have been known to feed heavily before a pressure drop (before a cold front) but stabilized pressure can also make fish more comfortable to feed.

Without getting too scientific, your best bet for a causal weekend of fishing is to do a little research on the weather. If the water temperature is colder, fish will be deeper and more lethargic. If the water is warmer, it has the adverse effect so look shallower and for fish to be more

If you are looking for quality, personal best fish, my advice would be to take up wade fishing. When it comes to my proclivity to wading over drifting it hasn’t always been this way. Drift fishing from a boat can yield great results without a doubt. For me, personally though, I feel

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Lastly, tides affect water levels so if the tides are low, your normal fishing area might be shallower than normal meaning it will hold less bait, or food, for fish. Tide movement is a good thing in that bait is constantly moving through an area drawing in feeding fish. If you are still not confident in your fish-finding capabilities, book a guide. I know a pretty good one!

the season, this one coming in at just over 7-pounds. It was a unique and joyous experience watching her fly up from the bottom just a few feet away and strike my lure so hard she flew out of the water like a silver missile. I set out this winter to catch a trophy trout and although I haven’t broken the 8-pound mark, I feel a huge sense of accomplishment. I have been studying my fellow seasoned anglers for weeks now to try to learn their tactics. I’ve spent countless hours, sometimes 10 hours a day, targeting these big trout. I think that’s why this is so special to me. Four years ago, I knew nothing about saltwater fishing. Despite the short amount of time I’ve been fishing, I have been eager to learn and done my best to listen to those around me while taking in every experience I can. It just goes to show that fishing really can be for everyone if you put in the time , put forth the effort and apply the knowledge you pick up along the way. If you’re interested in learning more about my fishing adventures or booking a charter, please visit twilightcharters.com and texaswomenanglers.com. much more connected to the elements and in charge of my own fishing destiny while trying to move stealthily through the water. Some could say it is a bit more hazardous than fishing from the boat, but that only heightens my sense of accomplishment when I land a big one. I enjoy the physical exertion, giving it my all while walking miles through unseen water in search of something special. Being in the water brings you up close and personal to the conditions the fish are living in and you can literally feel the water temperature changes, see the type of bait clearly and determine the conditions and terrain of the bay floor. You are metaphorically “becoming one with the fish”. I have been very fortunate to have some of the most productive and knowledgeable guides mentoring me. One of the most exciting things about fishing is you never know when that big heart-stopping fish is going to strike. Persistence tends to pay off and some days things just fall into place. On a warmer day a few weeks ago, trout had moved to sandy shallow bottoms hoping to warm up in the colder water temperatures. For an angler fishing the bays in the Laguna Madre there is nothing like seeing a big trout on the end of your line. As the sun rose higher in the sky, I landed my biggest trout of the day at 6-pounds. My feelings of accomplishment were strong after grinding for several hours and executing to achieve the end goal. Imagine my surprise when not 30 minutes later I landed my biggest trout of MARCH/APRIL 2020

A Letter from the Editor Isaiah 42:16

And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.

Comfortably uncomfortable Have you ever been uncomfortable that even thinking about it makes you cringe? Ever worn a pair of shoes or a shirt/pants that makes you uncomfortable all day, and you can’t wait to get home and change. What are some things that make you uncomfortable? Conversations, situations? Throughout our lives, we are put in uncomfortable situations on numerous occasions. For instance, have you ever had to get up in front of a group of people and give a speech when you hate public speaking? Have you ever had to sit bedside and watch someone die? What about losing your job and wondering how you will make ends meet? Been in the middle of a conversation you want no part of? The list of uncomfortable situations are endless. How do you deal with being uncomfortable? We are all different and all handle the feeling differently, but one thing I have learned about being uncomfortable is to be comfortable. Makes sense right? I am no stranger to uncomfortable situations. But the older I get, the more I embrace being uncomfortable; in fact, I invite it. I have learned that through being uncomfortable I am actually growing into the person I need and want to be. If things were easy, I do not think I would have an understanding of what it means to be in need, nor would I know how to speak as well, listen as well, or just be me. These uncomfortable situations have shaped me. They have taught me things about myself. Being in an uncomfortable stage in life is not always fun. But once the stage is over is when the reflection comes and I see areas in my life where I need to improve and areas where I excel. I always say when God feels we have become comfortably complacent is when the “shake” of uncomfortable comes. It is time for growing. Just as your crops go through stages of growth, so do we. God likes to use us for His good, but we can’t fulfill that if we are not ready. God gives us these uncomfortable stages to prepare for something great. Had I started my magazine when I first had the idea, I don’t think I would have had it for 7 years. I was not mentally ready for it. But let me tell you, those three years I waited, I was terribly uncomfortable. I learned a lot that prepared me for this. Same goes for the TV show where I am still in an uncomfortable stage now. I know, however, it will be worth it in the end, and I am excited for the future to look back and see the lessons learned. When evolving, you must get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Know that discomfort is a sign of growth. Sometimes we are forced into situations that are less than desirable. No matter how uncomfortable you might feel, don’t shrink back from those difficulties or challenges. Instead, stand strong knowing that God is taking you to new levels in every area of your life.

Issue 34 of Ag Mag

Articles inside

and Improve Yields Fishing Is For Everyone

Estate Planning In Five Steps

Using Plant Tissue Testing to Identify Problems

Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus

RECIPE: Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread

Coronavirus Unleashes A Black Swan

2020 World Cotton Outlook

2F Akaushi BEEF

Mauricio Garcia from McAllen completes

FEATURED FARMER: Home is where the Farm is

Hidalgo County student wins TFB Free

A Disastrous Year for the Commercial

The Mexican Fruit Fly’s Effect on the Texas

Coronavirus: Human strain causes fear

The Equation For Elevating U.S. Cotton

NCC Survey Suggests U.S. Producers to

Q&A with Morgan Thomas

Path to Plate

Texas A&M University System cooking up its