AG MAG ISSUE 5

Staff Michelle Martin Vol. 1 Issue 5

Keep the faith.

This too shall pass.

Isaiah 4:6 There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain.

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

Al Benavides

Graphic Designer

In This Issue: Meet Sid Miller - Texas ’ 12th Pg 6 Agriculture Commisioner Back To Our Roots Pg 10 Sugarcane Aphid Tools for the Rio Grande Pg 12 Valley Sorghum Growers in 2015

Feature Story - Keeping It In The Family Pg 16

A Letter from the Editor “Rain Rain go away!”

This seems to be an ongoing saying coming out of almost everyone’s mouths these days.

It feels like summer weather will never make its appearance. The rain this year is like an unwanted house guest that over stays their welcome. It seems to want to make its presence memorable this year to Valley agriculture - mission accomplished!

I think we can all attest to having enough rain already! The rain has been a blessing, but at the same time a nuisance for many. It almost seems that we only get two extremes. An atrocious drought or something completely on the other side of the spectrum getting too much rain; I feel as if I should start building my ark like Noah.

We could spend hours talking about the rain and how it has affected us, but instead we just accepted it and dealt with the cards we were handed. I am sure many times throughout this planting season, many of you wanted to throw your hands up in the air and say I GIVE UP, but you didn’t, and you did not because you love what you do, it’s what you know!

Throughout the years you have come to realize that this is part of it. This is what you live for, the challenge, the long nights, the sudden change of plans, it isn’t easy and not everyone is cut out for it. If it were easy everyone would be doing it. That is what makes agricultural people so important and special. In any job, and life for that matter, challenges and unforeseen circumstances happen. It’s how we handle them that can make us a better and stronger person. Remember, God never gives us more than we can handle.

So from my heart to yours I am thankful for the extra hard work Agricultural has put forth, whether it is with new studies, planting a crop, the fertilizer companies, cattle rancher, to ALL involved. Thank you for your hard work. You are the backbone of America!

One day we all will be able to sing together the song by Johnny Nash, “I can see clearly now the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way. It’s going to be a bright sun shiny day. I can make it now that the rain is gone, all of the bad feelings I have disappeared; here is my rainbow I have been praying for.

Owner/Creator of AG MAG

Spring Planting Update Pg19 Commissioner Miller Seeks Applicants for Program to honor 100-year old Pg 21 Farms and Ranches Texas Animal Health Commission Awarded Outstanding Achievement Award for Pg 22 Horseback Team Dr. Nelson Honored for his work in Efficient Pg 24 Citrus Irrigation AGRICULTURE as a Career Pg 27 Terms of Endearment, Terms of Pg 29 Engagement

SHOW SEASON HIGHLIGHTS Pgs 30-31 What FFA and 4H Mean To Me Pgs 32-33 AGRICULTURE - Paving The Way Pg 34 for my Future LMC $ELLABRATION a Big Success!

Pg 35 Algodon Royal Court 2015 Pg 36 USDA Grant Helps FOOD BANK of the Rio Grande Valley Improve Lives through their Pg 39 Community Garden Smokin’ On The Rio Pg 41 What’s Up With Soil Phosphorus in Pg 42 South Texas?

Rearing Beneficial Insects In Pg 45 Residential Areas in South Texas Despite Recent Rains, Many Farmers Pgs 46-47 Still Dealing with Water Shortage Volume1, Issue 5. May 2015. 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 © 2015.

To advertise in Ag Mag, call (956) 330-8870 or email michelle@theagmag.org

Meet Sid Miller:

Texas’ 12th Agriculture Commissioner W R I T T E N B Y : D O U G V A N P E LT Depar tment of Agriculture

When Texas voters elected their new Agriculture Commissioner last fall, they landed the real deal with Sid Miller. Not only is Commissioner Miller a businessman in the agriculture industry, he’s also a nine-time rodeo champion who still competitively rides.

Commisioner Miller was born and grew up in De Leon, Texas and sat down with us to talk about how his early life prepared him to be the Texas Agriculture Commissioner.

“I grew up on a farm north of town on the Leon River. My parents were farmers and ranchers. We sold that place when I was in the third grade, and our family moved south of town and leased a 6,000-acre ranch in Brown County.

Here, my dad ran sheep, goats and cattle. He also raised horses.

“When I was a high school senior, my dad was involved in a very serious accident. He was actually roping and ended up being in a coma for a year.

Cattle prices crashed at that time, and we lost everything. The bank came and took everything we owned — even my mother’s car. So, there I was as a senior in high school, and I had a decision to make about what I was going to do with the rest of my life. I took the talents I had learned on the ranch of shoeing and breaking horses, and I went on to college doing that. Thank goodness I had a good ag teacher, because he helped me get an academic scholarship that paid for my books and tuition. “ Then I went on to become an ag teacher myself. I taught school and started a business on the side, where I was farming and buying a few cows. I began accumulating more cattle and eventually bought a nursery. It came to the point where I could no longer do a proper job of being a school teacher, so I resigned and went into business for myself. From there, I grew my operation into what it is today.

“

I’d like to be remembered as a man who put God first, his family second and who worked to keep the state of Texas as much like Texas as it can be, because Texas is the last best place.

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“I’m most proud of my wife for her accomplishments. Fifteen years ago, she founded a charter school for at-risk youth. It is a drop-out recovery program, where she is truly making sure that no child is left behind. The school gives these kids a second and third chance at a high school education. So, my sweet-

heart is the hero in our family.

In 2000, I was serving on the local school board and the case came up about prayers in school. I was irate about the situation. I couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact that someone would want to take prayer out of our school football games. I was very active in my hometown, and I was actually recruited to run for state representative after this happened. You could say this launched my political career, and it’s how I got here today.”

Tell us about the crops and animals you raise. I have a commercial cattle operation and raise American quarter horses at the Rocking M Ranch. Several crops are grown on the ranch, including hay for the horse industry. I also have a 120-acre tree farm where we grow shade trees. Basically, when you live out in the country, you have to do a lot of things to make a living.

You were elected to the Texas House of Representatives. What did that job teach you about public service?

What did you learn about Texas through that job that you did not already know? When I was elected to the Legislature, there hadn’t been a Republican elected to that particular district in a long time. So I was actually in the minority. Today, conservatives are in the majority, so it’s a lot different. Back then, it was an uphill fight, and I learned some very valuable skills. It taught me how to be bipartisan, work across the aisle and see the other person’s point of view. Everyone is representing their district, but we still have to work together.

What is one example of a victory for you as a state legislator? On the agriculture side of things, something in particular comes to mind. I passed a bill that allows Texans to hunt wild hogs out of helicopters. That’s just one of the many things I remember. Many of us would like to see less government in our daily lives.

How do you hope to help accomplish that in the state of Texas? Texas is about freedom, individual responsibility and local control. That’s what we want to promote here at TDA. It’s also one of the many reasons why one of the first things

I did as Agriculture Commissioner was to make sure that families, teachers and schools knew that TDA had abolished all rules and guidelines that would stop a parent from bringing cupcakes, cookies or snacks to their child’s school. We believe that decisions are best made by parents and school officials at the local level. We’re going to continue that tradition at TDA. What are your goals and vision for the GO TEXAN program? The GO TEXAN program is a great marketing program. It’s been around for more than 15 years, and I want to take it to the next level. I want to put a new coat of paint on it, refresh it and help increase our marketing presence in Texas. We need to capitalize on the huge marketing potential we have for agricultural products and producers.

How does it feel to be Agriculture Commissioner? It’s a huge responsibility. Agriculture is the second largest industry in the state. It’s a $115 billion industry. TDA has a budget of more than $1 billion, with nearly 700 employees, so it’s a big task. I’m going to do the best job I can. My goal is to be the best Agriculture Commissioner Texas has ever had.

What are your goals and visions for the Texas Department of Agriculture, and how do you hope to accomplish them? I have a lot of goals for TDA. I want people to realize what we do at TDA. Our reach spans far beyond Texas agriculture. We protect Texas consumers. We make sure that organic produce doesn’t contain antibiotics, pesticides or anything else. We make sure that eggs don’t have E.coli or salmonella. We also make sure that gas pumps don’t cheat you, taxicabs don’t cheat you and the people who buy and sell gold don’t cheat you. At TDA, we make sure lottery balls are all weighed and calibrated.

We make sure exterminators who come into your home don’t poison you or your pets. TDA works with young farmers to help them get a leg up. The list goes on and on. TDA is an enormous agency, and we have a great deal of responsibility. I’m so happy to be a part of it.

Why did you run for Agriculture Commisioner? The reason I ran for

Agriculture Commissioner is because I believe I can make a difference. I was actually recruited by agricultural groups, conservative groups, Tea Party groups and my fellow legislators. What finally put me in was when the front-runner in the race, now senator Brandon Creighton, called to tell me he was getting out of the race and I should get in. My wife and I prayed about it. We felt it was what was supposed to happen, so we went all in. That’s how I got here.

What sort of communication would you like to hear from your constituents and why? It’s always good to get feedback from the citizens of Texas.

That’s the only way we know we’re doing a good job. Every good idea I’ve had I got from somebody else. So, if you have any good ideas, send them to me.

We’ll run them up the chain of command and see how well they work. Anybody who has an idea or suggestion on how we can make Texas a better place to live, work and raise a family, I want to hear from you.

Well, there you have it, folks.

Texas agriculture matters, and there’s a good man in Austin working hard to promote this message and make it matter even more — both in the Lone Star State and beyond.

If you’d like to write Commissioner Miller, email him at Sid.Miller@TexasAgriculture.gov or send a letter to: Commissioner Sid Miller, Texas Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 12847, Austin, TX 78711. Don’t forget to watch the video segments of this interview on the TDA Facebook page.

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•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Back to our Roots

W ritten by : K AT H RY N B R A DY

••••••••••••••

Nature provides so much for humanity; it is what keeps us alive and sustains life on earth. Soil is the foundation of that life. In order to make sure that nature continues to be able to provide for us all; mankind has a responsibility to care for the environment; especially the soil.

Farming is the art and science of cultivating the soil in order to produce crops for food, fiber and horticultural products.

Jerry Glover, an Agroecologist for the U.S. Agency for International Development notes that “since the beginning of agricultural production one quarter of the earth’s surface has been converted to agriculture. And of that quarter two-thirds is in cropland that is planted to annual crops and monocultures”. This production is usually accompanied by widespread use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides which alters the soil biology and depletes soil health.

We know from history the cause of the Dust Bowl was a combination of drought and the continuous planting of crops on the same ground year after year, using the new agricultural mechanization of the time, tilling the land deeply, removing the tall prairie grasses that held the soil with their roots. The organic matter destroyed, and soil moisture gone with severe droughts, leading to soil erosion that further destroyed the highly productive soils of the Great Plains.

In order to better conserve soil one can take a lesson from nature. We know from observation that nature utilizes legumes such as alfalfa, vetch and clover to fixate nitrogen into the soil to provide nutrients for the grasses growing on the same ground. We also know that nature prefers a diversity of plant species. Another lesson from nature is that in order to maintain a healthy soil structure, the soil must always have some sort of cover on it to renew organic matter and keep the micro-organisms functioning.

Farmers are recognizing that cover crops used in combination with no-till or minimum tillage can improve the health of the soil on their farmland. Not only does this improve the health of the soil, but it can also improve the on-farm productivity and profitability. Ranchers are in the grass growing business and so soil health helps their forage production too.

According to David Lamm, a soil health expert with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) the “principles of building healthy soils are the same everywhere, but the path to soil health is different on each farm.” So it is important to know your soil composition. You can have a soil sample test conducted on your land to find out the soil 10 Ag Mag

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“The farmer knows just what to do for God has given him understanding.” Isaiah 28:26

condition and nutrient levels to further improve your soil.

For advice on soil testing contact your local Texas AgriLife Extension Service or NRCS office.

Three primary goals for healthier soils and improved yields are to get rid of compaction (improve soil structure), add organic matter and improve microbial activity. You can do this by keeping the soil covered at all times. A covered soil holds water by binding it to organic matter and in turn will keep the field from losing water to runoff and evaporation.

Organic matter increases when it is covered by vegetation and dead plant residue. To further increase soil moisture and decrease compaction consider switching to no-till or minimum tillage. No till soils remain open to the surface, thus water can infiltrate through the pores.

And last, but not least, don’t forget to use crop rotation with at least one high-residue crop, such as grain sorghum, corn or sugar cane every three years. Another consideration is the implementation of cover crops which improve soil structure by building soil aggregates and providing an armor for the soil surface to protect against heat. A covered soil remains much cooler that an un-covered soil, which in turn improves crop health and production. A covered soil also retains more soil moisture.

As the need for crop production increases, it is important for farmers to do their best in protecting the soil while growing the food for the world. Jerry Glover says that “in this new century, farmers will need to produce more from their lands, with fewer chemicals, fetilizers and non-renewable energy sources; all while causing less harm to the soil, water and surrounding environment.”

Plant geneticist and president of The Land Institute, Wes Jackson adds that, “The loss of topsoil is the single greatest threat to our food supply and to our continued existence of civilization.”

le sustainabm t n e e g a n a m soil tter content a soil organic m ely nts wis uses nutrie ted ace vegeta keeps soil surf p rotations promotes cro sion reduces ero

increases

an average to d a le n a c and rease of 58% crop yield inc conser vation ar y soil health s For free volunt ural Resource the USDA - Nat S) plan, contact RC (N Service Conser vation M AY / J U N E

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Sugarcane aphid tools for the

RIO GRANDE VALLEY

SORGHUM GROWERS IN 2015

T

he sugarcane aphid (SCA) has

increased in distribution and is

now found across 12 states in the

southern US and across 12

states in Mexico. Typically, after

two years of observation, the infestations explode with sorghum plants entering the boot to heading stages. Not only is there a reduction in grain yield due to heavy infestations, but harvesting is negatively impacted because harvest

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machinery becomes gummed-up with honeydew and or aphids that cover the plant at the time of harvest. In the Lower Rio Grande Valley the spring of 2015 will be the second year that we will be managing SCA in sorghum. With the SCA being well established this growing season we start the season off very different from spring 2014. However, compared with 2014 in 2015 we have some tools to reduce the impact of this pest.

Host Plant Resistance: Greenbug (GB) resistant grain sorghum has been developed since the 1960’s to combat the different strains, or “biotypes” of GB. Host plant resistance takes various forms.

Host plant resistance is where the aphid, whether it be a greenbug or sugarcane aphid, do not like the plant. This form of resistance is called antibiosis (translated to anti-life or anti-biology). With antibiosis, rates of development and/or reproduction

of the aphid are reduced because of inherent characteristics of the plant. In addition, tolerance has been identified as a form of resistance to GB and SCA, and means the plant keeps growing and is not affected by the aphids. Aphids will remain on a tolerant plant, but the plant will grow and yield despite the infestation. There will be honeydew, which may produce sooty mold, and this has a tendency to make growers think that more damage is being done than really is. Growers sometimes get nervous about tolerance because they can still see the aphids on the plant. But tolerance can be a very good form of resistance because it does not exert selection on the aphid to evolve new, damaging biotypes.

For the last 2 years, entomologists (Dr. Scott Armstrong, USDA ARS Stillwater, OK) and plant breeders Dr. Gary C. Peterson, Texas AgriLife Lubbock, TX, and Dr. William Rooney, Sorghum Breeder, Texas A&M University, Department Crop and Soil Science) screened the GB sources of resistance to SCA that were collected in the Texas Gulf Coast near Bay City, Texas.

Their first findings in the greenhouse were made only 2 months after the SCA was found in Texas 2013, and revealed that there are 2 sources of resistance that were developed for GB that are also resistant to SCA. These GB and SCA sorghum resistant germplasm are called ‘parental lines’ because they have the genetic background for the resistance, and are available to sorghum breeders for free. The resistance sources to the SCA come from PI 550610, and TX 2783, the tolerant form of resistance. These are available in sorghum seed that can be commercially purchased because seed dealers still have GB resistant sorghums that are cross-resistant to SCA. The trick is to get your seed dealer to reveal to you commercial lines that are available that have the background (genetics) from PI 550610 which is resistant to GB biotypes ‘E’, ‘I’, and ‘K’ or TX 2783 which is resistant to GB biotype “E”.

Natural enemies: In order to have effective biological control, we learned that you have to have a timely recruitment of diverse natural enemies. The four primary groups for aphid biocontrol are the Coccinellidae (lady beetles), Syrphidae (hover flies or flower flies), Chrysopidae (green lacewings), and Braconidae (aphidiine wasps). All of these aphid natural enemies have been encountered feeding on SCA in our grain sorghum here in the LRGV and elsewhere, as far north as Kansas (reported by Villanueva and Michaud, respectively). Dr. Michaud declared that early in the season populations of corn leaf aphid can be a good food source for beneficial

populations to start establishing themselves in your sorghum fields, controlling these aphids will affect the natural enemies that will subsequently be important for SCA control. Dr. Michaud said that eventually after 3 to 5 years, natural biological control will evolve and SCA will be a pest of little concern but for the next few years they remain a major threat and that insecticides will need to be applied to help maintain SCA populations below economic threshold. In Kansas, one of the most abundant predators of SCA is the convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergen. This species has high aphid consumption, high reproductive rate, drought tolerance, and is good at overwintering on the High Plains.

Results from Dr. JP Michaud’s lab revealed that SCA was a suitable food source for the development and reproduction of H. convergens, and other aphid predators including green lacewings In the RGV, Dr. Villanueva observed additional ladybug species feeding on SCA, and found that Cycloneda sanguinea can complete its life cycle feeding on this pest during the winter of 2014.

such as sorghum midge and headworms that we will need to treat if they become a problem. It is important to monitor your fields early to check for SCA as this will be key in controlling aphid populations. You are going to want to hold out as long as you can to spray in order to let beneficial populations build up – in some cases they may effective enough that a spray is not required. Monitor your fields weekly.

Insecticides: SCA have already been found in some of the earlier planted commercial sorghum fields and are expected to establish in the early stages of sorghum growth with population outbreaks occurring from boot stage onward. Seed treatments are available for sorghum and will provide control of all aphids on seedling plants up to about 3 weeks post-emergence.

Special Thanks to the Texas Grain Sorghum Board, and United Sorghum Checkoff for their encouragement and support to address this pest. Thanks to all Cotton and Grain Producers of the Lower Rio Grande Valley for inviting us to their fields. Beto Garza and all Texas A&M AgriLife Research who are providing great support for this program. Our colleagues up north: M. Brewer,

Available treatments include Poncho® (clothianidin), Cruiser® (thiamethoxam), and Gaucho® (imidacloprid). This year we have 3 times more moisture and sorghum was planted at very different times throughout the Valley. We expect this year to have problems again with SCA but also to have a combination of other pests

M. Way, B. Rooney, D. Kerns, G. Peterson, R. Bowling and all collaborators in this program. For more information about the sugarcane aphid you can visit:

WRITTEN BY: Raul T. Villanueva, Gabriela Esparza-Diaz, Scott Armstrong, JP Michaud, and Danielle Sekula-Ortiz Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Weslaco Texas, USDA-ARS Stillwater Oklahoma, Kansas State University, Hays Kansas.

Upon finding SCA you should monitor your fields 2 times per week or every 3-4 days.

Randomly select leaves from 20 different sorghum plants in your field when sorghum is at 5 leaf stage or taller. Make sure to grab one leaf below flag leaf and one green leaf on the lowest part of the sorghum plant and check for SCA on the undersides of the leaves. Insecticides available to control SCA are: Transform® (sulfoxaflor), Sivanto® (flupyradifurone), and Lorsban ®/Nufos ® (chlorpyrifos) at 2pints/A. See attached table. In all cases check for rates on insecticide label; the PHI is important for late control of SCA; and in all cases use abundant water for good coverage of plants.

http://agrilife.org/stxborderinsects/ sugarcane-aphids/ http://txscan.blogspot.com/

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Keeping it in the

Family

I

t’s that time of year again! Valley Watermelons are weeks away from the field to your local supermarket.

Farming is a family affair. Mike Helle along with his wife Valerie, sons Michael and Troy have been working hard perfecting their craft to grow the sweetest seedless water melons in the Rio Grande Valley. Michael and Troy upon graduation from Texas A&M University returned home to continue the family legacy. Megan, their daughter, continues her studies at Texas A&M University with dreams of pursuing

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a career in the medical profession. Farming has always been in their blood, and they not known any other way of life.

Although they were no strangers to hard work and sacrifice, their path together farming has not always been an easy one.

Their story began over 3 generations ago. Mike’s family began their journey to the United States from Norway, Ellis Island and eventually settling in Mission, Tx. Valerie’s family traveled from Poland, Galveston and landing in the Panna

“At the end of the season, knowing we have given it our all, the goal is to pay the bank back first, so we can continue to keep working doing what we love to do.”

Maria, Kosciusko, Tx area just southeast of San Antonio before finally growing a long line of roots in McCook, Tx. George Helle, Mike’s father, continued to farm in Mission after Mikes grandfather’s grove suffered a hard freeze that wiped him out. Mike’s father George cleared the grove and started farming. Helle Farms grew to be a large irrigated farming operation that grew over the years with Mike, his brother Tommy and their Father George. A few bad years, hard freezes sadly drove the farm into bankruptcy, shortly after Mike and Valerie married in 1988.

Mike and Valerie continued with Helle Farms, working to bring it back to life, paying back who they could, when they could.

Valerie also worked with her daddy Albert, who dry land farmed cotton, grain sorghum and corn in McCook. March 1993 was a year that stopped her in her tracks. Albert Keller passed away suddenly leaving a crop to finish and another farm to run. Valerie, with Mike by her side, managed to get through that difficult year.

Mike and Valerie eventually merged their respective farms to form Green Gold Farms, Inc. “We felt very blessed to finally make this our own, and with the help and experience of so many of our lifelong employees.” Many of Green Gold Farms success has to be credited to these employees that we call our family.

“Some have been with us for over 40 years” adds Mike as he smiles with pride. They see their ongoing farming legacy continuing in good hands. “We have been dealt some rough cards, as any farming family knows, and as Valerie says “It’s the luxury of those experiences that have made us plan and prepare.”

Planning and preparing are essential in any lifestyle, but when you add Mother Nature into the mix, it throws all kinds of wrench-

es in the gears. However, Mike is a self-proclaimed “weather guru” and is prepared as he can be to face those challenges. ” I watch the weather very closely,” Mike said. “The Farmer’s Almanac has pretty much been on target this year, and it’s been a doozy!”

They see their farming legacy continuing into good hands. “We have 23 different crops, watermelons and onions the favorite, we have been blessed.” Mike said, adding that he likes “ the good stuff ” when it comes to technology and new gadgets such as GPS for farming. Mike and Valerie feel that the strongest contribution to their success was to diversify. Valerie says, “Never put all your eggs in one basket”. “When one area of your operation isn’t planning out the way you intended, you have another to hopefully pull you out of it.”

It is very important for Valerie and Mike to have their kids around to learn. Mike said, “There is a large learning curve, and you have to realize that times are not always good and preparing for those times is important.” “At the end of the season, knowing we have given it our all, the goal is to pay the bank back first, so we can continue to keep working doing what we love to do.”

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www.boggusford.com

Spring Planting Update

2015 has certainly been one of the busiest years to say the least.

From updating FSA yields and base acres, to the determining between ARC and PLC, to facing Prevented Planting situations, has left some growers in very stressful situations. Growers, more than ever in recent years, were forced to change plans, even as much as on daily basis, in order to get this years’ crop planted. After all of that, still there were acres that could not be planted. Prevented Planting is an option for the policy holder however, in most cases it is definitely not the most economical. We will be discussing Prevented Planting along with other issues today.

Rain, Rain Go Away: As you probably already know, the RGV has experienced a large amount of rainfall Jan-March. Yes, this past fall was slightly wetter than the average, but according to the weather. gov website, the bulk of the rain has registered in Jan and again in March, with Feb being right at the normal level. Jan was approximately 200% rainfall against the norm while March registered at over 400% against the Norm put pressure on plantings and caused delays. Approximately 11.5 inches of rain have fallen since Jan 1. Due to this, Prevented Planting soon became a huge topic amongst growers.

How Prevented Planting is Paid: PP (Prevented Planting) is a part of the policy that indemnifies farmers when they incur a loss (Excessive Moisture) and cannot plant their crops within the Planting Period. There is a significant reduction PP acre liability which means growers are paid PP @ 50% of total liability on Cotton and 60% of total liability on Grain and Corn. EX: Avg. APH of 850lbs of cotton @ 65% Coverage @ current years prices would only be insured for around $204/ac - far below what the grower has in the crop at planting time, especially when including fixed cost for most operations. PP grain and corn numbers are even less. So, RGV farmers realized very quickly that PP although available was in most cases not a viable solution to keep the doors open so to speak.

W ritten by : C A S E Y C L I P S O N

crop has different LPP depending on area and county. Growers planting in the LPP allow coverage for the planted crop with a small reduction as the 1%/day applied. This was mostly the case for Grain Sorghum acreage.

There were some cases where growers could not plant in the LPP and were forced to plant uninsured acres by rule of the program. This become much more risky for the farmer and his creditors and can be huge deal if the crop suffers a loss at the end with no coverage due to when it was planted.

Extension of Planting Deadline: There have been a couple of formal requests to extend the planting deadline or relieve the 1% reduction/day for planting during the LPP. I know for a fact that there is a united multidirectional push from several fronts where US Representative Filemon Vela, Dale Murden, Brad Cowen, Cris Perez, Enrique Perez, Brady Taubert, and other local agricultural leaders who have worked with Risk Management Agency on this issue and should commended for their continued efforts. The fact that we have such patrons in the Rio Grande Valley should not go unnoticed. To my understanding, there are still discussion and planned hearings going with this issue with the goal to maintain a sound program that makes sense.

CropGuard Group, Inc. 2315 West Expressway 83 Suite 102 San Benito, TX 78586 956-361-5550

Planting during the LPP (Late Planting Period): Growers could plant a crop in the LPP with a reduction in Coverage of 1%/day during the Late Planting Period (LPP). Each M AY / J U N E

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Commissioner Miller Seeks Applicants for Program to Honor 100-Year-Old Farms and Ranches Publication of Department of Agriculture

“As a longtime rancher myself, I am proud to pay tribute to the men and women who nurture our land, and I encourage future generations to keep the legacy going,” Commissioner

AUSTIN - Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is proud to invite family farmers and ranchers to apply for the Texas Department of Agriculture’s (TDA) Family Land Heritage (FLH) program, which pays tribute to families who have kept their land in continuous agricultural production for at least 100 years. As TDA continues this proud tradition of honoring true Lone Star pioneers, Texas families are asked to submit their applications for recognition in the 2015 FLH registry by Friday, May 15.

Miller said.

“Family farms and ranches are key to our agricultural heritage in Texas and instrumental to our future success,” Commissioner Miller said.

To apply for FLH recognition, visit...

“The Family Land Heritage program gives us the opportunity to recognize Texas families for their enduring commitment, perseverance and hard work, all of which has helped make our state’s agriculture industry the $115 billion powerhouse that it is today.”

To date, TDA has recognized more than 4,800 farms and ranches, including 211 for 150 years of operation. Seven ranches have been honored for 200 years of operation.

There is no cost to apply.

www.TexasAgriculture.gov

and click on the Family Land Heritage icon

Eligible farms and ranches must be owned and operated by the descendants of the founder, either through blood, marriage or adoption. At least 10 acres of the land must have been in continuous agricultural production for the past 100 years or more.

This fall, Commissioner Miller will honor farms and ranches established in 1915 or earlier at the FLH ceremony at the Texas Capitol.

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Texas Animal Health Commission Awarded Outstanding Achievement Award for Horseback Team AUSTIN – The National Hurricane Conference Executive Board presented to the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) an Outstanding Achievement Award on behalf of the Texas Horseback Emergency Response Team. This award recognizes outstanding and innovative achievement in hurricane-related activities which can serve as a model for others.

The Horseback Emergency Response Team is the first and only one of its kind in the United States.

Comprised of TAHC and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) employees, the team is primarily deployed to round up, transport, and hold displaced livestock in the aftermath of natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods and wildfires.

The team was organized in 2013 to help address gaps identified during responses to Hurricane Ike in 2008 and the 2011 Texas wildfires.

The team can be deployed to other states, if requested. Most recently, team members have assisted in the capture of animals that have strayed into Texas from Mexico,

posing disease risks

to the Texas animal

and wildlife indus

tries. The Texas Mexico border is

approximately 1,250

miles long.

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“We are honored to be recognized

by The National Hurricane Board with this award,” Dr. Dee Ellis, TAHC

Executive Director, said.

“We are very proud of our Horseback Emergency Response Team; they truly are one of a kind.”

Founded in 1893, the Texas Animal Health Commission works to protect the health of all Texas livestock, including: cattle, swine, poultry, sheep, goats, equine animals, and exotic livestock.

Dr. Nelson Honored for His Work in Efficient Citrus Irrigation W ritten by : J ohanna A rendt

The ag industry in Texas often gets a bad rap when it comes to water conservation and irrigation efficiency.

But many growers, researchers and irrigation districts in the Rio Grande Valley and around the state are actively conserving through daily decisions, changes in farming practices, and investment in new technologies or infrastructure.

Each year, the Water Conservation Advisory Council recognizes leaders in ag water conservation and efficiency in Texas through their Blue Legacy Award. These annual awards recognize groups or individuals whose work increases water conservation in agriculture.

pared traditional flood irrigation with narrow border flood (NBF). NBFirrigated plots have raised berms between the trees, or down the middle of each citrus row. The study found that NBF allows water to be channeled faster down the citrus row, flowing only underneath the tree canopy, applying water where the tree roots can absorb it more quickly. Water meters were used to determine the total amount of water applied to each plot, and the findings were substantial.

NBF used about 35 percent less water than large-pan flood irrigation.

On March 26, 2015 at the State Capitol, a Blue Legacy Award for Agriculture was awarded to Dr. Shad Nelson of Texas &M University – Kingsville.

While the Valley has seen water supplies stretched thin, Dr. Nelson has been working to help farmers irrigate more efficiently without compromising the yield or quality of their produce.

These results complement previous findings and suggest that NBF irrigation may actually use less water than micro-jet spray and drip irrigation.

In addition, economic analyses of NBF show these practices are not only water-efficient, but also economically sound for citrus producers, generating high-quality yields and higher net cash farm income.

Citrus orchards in the Valley primarily use traditional large-pan flood irrigation, but Dr. Nelson has shown through on-the-ground demonstrations that by restricting the flooding to just the areas where the trees need it most, a significant amount of water can be saved.

His research has focused not only on which irrigation practices are the most efficient, but also which are the easiest to implement and the most cost effective. Testing these methods in the unique South Texas environment on crops commonly grown in the area has allowed him to identify the most helpful techniques for local growers.

Dr. Nelson is a professor of horticulture and soil sciences at Texas A&M University-Kinsgville, where he also serves as the Chair of the Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness and Environmental Sciences. Much of the research described above was done as part of the Texas Project for Ag Water Efficiency (Texas AWE), which is funded by the Texas Water Development Board and has involved the efforts of the Harlingen Irrigation District, South Texas agricultural producers, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, and Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

In one major study, Dr. Nelson com-

Dr. Nelson has also contributed his

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The Water Conservation Advisory Council commended Dr. Nelson’s commitment to finding workable solutions, and to putting these technologies in the hands of farmers who can use them.

His leadership in ag water efficiency is helping to create a blue legacy for the farmers and cities of the Rio Grande Valley, as well as keeping the world fed with delicious RGV citrus.Thank you, Shad!

expertise to outreach efforts in the Lower Rio Grande Valley to promote the adoption of water-saving irrigation practices. He worked with Texas AWE to develop a widely-distributed factsheet on Narrow Border Flood irrigation, and a video on the same topic. Both the factsheet and video are available on Texas AWE’s website

(texasawe.org).

Dr. Nelson has also collaborated with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension to publish and disseminate results in peer-reviewed journals and extension publications, newsletters, and videos. He has presented at professional meetings, invited seminars, field days and tours aimed at current and future agricultural growers and leaders, highlighting the benefits of implementing these irrigation strategies.

Agriculture W r i tte n b y : O n e l i s a G ar z a

“Chocolate milk comes from brown cows”, “People in agriculture abuse animals”, or even “Agriculture has no future”; those are all

phrases that I have actually heard people say. Some common misconceptions of agriculture might be slightly funny and others can be just downright offensive, but in the end it all boils down to society being uninformed about what really goes on in agriculture and it is my goal to help change that.

Being raised in the small farming and ranching community of Linn, Texas with nothing but mesquite trees and cattle to look at, many called it a prison, but I chose to call it my paradise.

At a young age I knew I had a strong passion for agriculture and all that it entails. I grew up with my best friend being a horse and being able to walk to my backyard to grab fresh Ruby Red grapefruits. When I began high school in the neighboring town and started my agricultural science classes, I was in shock when I learned that there were people who had never seen cattle, horses, or even a citrus orchard in person before.

I have been blessed to experience agriculture throughout my life and have learned not only a lot about agriculture itself, but also a lot about myself as an individual. Because of agriculture I learned that I also have a passion for communication. I enjoy public speaking and love the feeling of educating a crowd.

I know that communication in any workplace is important and I am glad to possess that quality.

to prove that I am a qualified individual to work in an office such as the Office of Communication for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or a place along those lines. To be able to use my strengths to convey the messages of the agricultural agencies to the public would be the definition of my dream job. I know that youth is currently a large target audience and I would enjoy working with them. I would especially like to work with inner city youth because agriculture is so foreign to them and I want to be able to create programs for them that they can take back to their families.

Few inner city areas have community or school organizations such as 4-H or FFA because many people believe that agriculture just involves livestock. Agriculture is much more than cows, sows, and plows and I want to be able to go to these communities to explain that. 4-H and FFA helped me learn about horticulture, clothing and textiles, and food nutrition which are all a part of agriculture and many individuals fail to remember that. I would enjoy helping communities start organizations such as or similar to 4-H and FFA. Meeting with them and teaching them about agriculture as someone representing the agricultural realm will help give them a better understanding about the important role that they play agriculture.

“

Throughout the agricultural experiences that I have had, I have seen a common trend in almost every situation; the people who know agriculture, know agriculture and the people who know communication, know communication and that’s it.

I want to be the extrovert that knows and is passionate about both. I am currently a junior at Texas A&M University- Kingsville where I am majoring in Agriculture Science and minoring in Communication. Upon graduation I hope to pursue a graduate degree in Agriculture Communication. I want to use that degree

Agriculture just isn’t about how to produce more yield or how to cost effectively make a product, one of its main goals now is to get society to understand the importance of it. In 1787 Thomas Jefferson was quoted saying....

Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.

“

as a Career

If we could get people to understand what seemed so obvious 227 years ago, then agriculture will have its best future imaginable. It will take a lot work, time, and commitment, but those are all things I am willing and wanting to do.

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Terms of Endearment, Terms of Engagement WRITTEN BY:

G

Kurt Schuster

AgMag Columnist

reetings from the good ship USS Perseverance today

readers as we’ve had so much rain here in the Rio

Grande Valley lately that I’ve practically had to move ship

board to be able to write you this month’s diluvial column.

As I take on agribusiness from the “inside of the office”

perspective, this drenching should serve to remind one and all that we are never as in charge as we think, and we can only try to mitigate as best we can. To desiccate our current situation I’m going to tackle today one of the driest areas out there: Business Terminology. Making sure that the terminology we use in our business dealing reflects correctly not only our intents, but fully vests our legal and personal interests is a fundamental aspect of being in business.

By simply not including or ignoring terms we can shoot ourselves in the foot by abrogating any rights we may want to retain, or by making a move that increases liabilities and terminates good claims.

Show Me the Money First and foremost should be an area in which most everyone has had dealings: terms of payment. Pretty straightforward and incredibly dry material right? That depends on what you’re selling and what you need to protect your business against. It might seem like the commonest of common sense, but do your payment terms state the amount of time in which expect payment? If they do, do you have a signed agreement to that effect delineating the terms of payment and what happens if your customer is past due or short pays? How about in which state legal claims can be presented? You think you can charge interest, do you specify how much and how it will accrue?

All of these issues are items that you must recognize when trying to manage your accounts payable.

As an illustration, I’m acquainted with a business that had to change their invoice format for a different billing method. The terms of PACA prompt payment were displayed, along with relevant information about remittances and legal terminology maintaining PACA rights (more on this later). What did not transfer was any mention of interest chargeable for past due invoices. As you can guess the customer later attempted to short pay the invoices and as the case is winding its way through court that firm is not able to fully charge its 18.5% interest on monies outstanding in the six figures. I don’t care how good your cash position is, that hurts your pocketbook along with your pride.

As usual, consult an attorney when constructing your invoice format, but realize that you need to specify (among things specific to your firm): payment terms, remittance address, date of sale, interest accruable and the rate, account numbers, taxes, total amounts charged, and yes to whom the payment needs to be made. Other area such as itemization, product descriptions, etc. are optional but maybe be useful to you. Believe it or not if you don’t have these terms, and as I keep saying possibly others, present then you may not have a case for prompt and full payment!

To be thorough the flip side is also a necessity as well. Ignorance or ignoring of the legalities of terms of payment is no protection from any legal results that may follow. Did you know that the

terms “Full and Final Payment” on a check mean just that? Seems simple, but if you cash a partial payment containing that phrase you now have a full payment and no legal leg to stand upon.

Simply knowing your terminology is like knowing your enemy, if you have a battle to fight in the invoice you see then knowing what weapons the enemy has and how you can beat them gives a you a huge leg up.

You Can’t Handle the Truth As much as I’m not a fan of attorneys, I can’t reiterate enough you need to consult one, especially in this section. As was mentioned previously with PACA rights, you sometimes need to include terms in your documents that protect your legal rights or prohibit specific legal actions from being taken. To use PACA as an example, the Perishable Agriculture and Commodities Act (PACA) necessitates that you include their terms, usually on the bottom of an invoice or bill of lading, to ensure and inform your customer that any business they do is covered under this act. Without it, any shipper could plausibly get no help from the government trust specifically set up to help in situations such as short or no payment. I personally have been involved in several fights in which the full, bloated weight of the government can be brought to bear on another company with a simple phrase maintaining our PACA rights.

Other companies may need to specify that certain products cannot be used in an other than directed manner, or produce consumed by people, or more specifically that no deductions can be made without authorization. Yes people can and will ignore these terms, but having them clear, present, and acknowledged gives you immense power in any further legal battle. In addition, by having your terms stated can give much greater shielding from any liability that may stem from your business. Did a farmer spray your chemical on a crop that wasn’t on the designated sheet? Did your customer take your dumped produce and resell at a farmer’s market as premium organic produce that has now made people sick? If you don’t have proof that you gave them legal terminology directing them not to do such things you are now party to a costly claim. No that isn’t fair, and no they may not win, but what it will cost you in time, money, and frustration can be greatly diminished by simply getting your legal terminology in place in your documents when doing business.

Drawing up a simple set of legal terminology, whether for payment terms or food consumption or anything else in-between, is usually a straight forward and fairly painless process with your attorney. It should neither cost much nor take up much of your time. In addition, your attorney will probably be able to guide you towards areas in which you didn’t know you might need proper terminology. I hope everyone has managed to stay awake for such a riveting subject, but more so I hope that a discussion of something so basic that most people give it nary a thought has spurred to action a confidence check in one of the most simple yet most important aspects of your business.

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SHOW SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

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M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5 Photos submitted by Parents and www.trappedintimephotography.com

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Photos submitted by Parents and www.trappedintimephotography.com

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A

Agriculture

Paving the way for my future!

W R I T T E N B Y : TO R I B U R N S

s a native South Texan whose family has been involved in production agriculture of the Rio Grande Valley for the past six generations, it was natural for me to be an active member in both 4-H and FFA.

Although some of the activities overlap, there is a very distinct difference between the two organizations. I can honestly say that being a member of both has helped me to have become a better person with an abundance of life skills, such as public speaking and the ability to conduct a meeting in an orderly fashion. This helps to make me a person who you can trust and count on. What these organizations have provided me with is a strong feeling of confidence which has helped shape me and form my understanding of my country and the leadership role that I can be a part of.

As I embark on my college endeavors, I know that I not only have the confidence to succeed but the desire to be more than just a student. I will be active in all aspects of the university I attend i.e. academic and social clubs by taking on leadership roles so that I can have a positive effect on my scholastic career.

My advice so that one can have the best experience possible in these organizations, is that you must be active and participate in the diverse types of competitions that are offered in both. It is important that you step out of your comfort zone and compete in as many different types of competitions that you can. I myself pushed the envelope by adding on a project or event I was unfamiliar with every year.

Even if you don’t win a ribbon, what you come away with is much more rewarding. The experience and competition provide you with skills and lessons that you can use throughout your life. The leadership lessons and skills that I have acquired are only overshadowed by the vast network of friends you meet throughout the state and the closeness it has brought to my family.

These are greatest accomplishments I will take away from being an active member in these fine organizations.

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LMC $ELLABRATION WEEKEND A BIG SUCCESS! Over 250 Brahman, Simbrah and Simbravieh enthusiasts joined together amidst the fields of beautiful Texas Blue Bonnets to enjoy some fine hospitality, great cattle and rewarding junior shows at the LMC $ellabration Weekend on La Muneca Ranch in Linn, Texas. We were blessed as always to have so many solid volunteers come together to make this event run smoothly. With the support of the LMC $ellabration members, over $36,000 was awarded to the juniors in the LMC Jackpot, LMC $ellabration and RGV Brahman & F-1 Association Jr. shows” stated event host Carlos X. Guerra.

The highlight of the weekend once again was the $20,000 awarded in premium money and awards given to the hard working LMC $ellabration junior exhibitors who exhibited their Brahman, Simbrah and Simbravieh cattle successfully. Shelly Sutton from Kingsville, TX put on a very educational Showmanship Clinic on Saturday morning. $10,000 was awarded in the LMC $ellabration Showmanship Show through premiums, buckles and banners to five different age divisions paying ten deep in each division. The top two in each division won belt buckles plus a check. The champions were (8&9 yrs. old) - Matthew Sanchez and Ava Vela; (10&11 yrs. old) – Robert Stavinoha and Lorelai Hill; (12&13 yrs. old) – Dawson Raub and Caleb Fuchs; (14&15 yrs. old) Amelia Stavinoha and Olivia Vela (16-18 yrs. old) Victor Moreno and Josh Evans.

The LMC $ellabration Cattle Show had 41 juniors show 75 entries and was judged by Kolten Thigpen of Wharton, Texas. Caleb Fuchs of Burton, TX led his Boening Bros, La MunecaFlores Calf Champion heifer to Grand Champion PB Simbrah honors winning $3,500, a buckle and a banner. Mia Barba from Alvin,TX led her Senior Champion LMC sponsored cow/calf pair to Reserve Champion Simbrah Female honors winning $1,750 a buckle and a banner as well. Mia also won the $10,000 San Antonio Jr. Show with this pair.

The Reserve Calf Champion Simbrah Female was shown by Ava Vela of Edinburg, TX winning $250 + a banner with her RGV/LMC heifer. The Junior Champion Simbrah Female was shown by Victoria Villanueva from Edinburg, TX who won $250 + a banner with her Santos Escobar heifer.

The Reserve Junior Champion was shown by Olivia Vela with her RGV/ LMC sponosored heifer. The Reserve Senior Champion Simbrah Female was shown by Nicole Stevenson who won $125 + a banner with her LMC heifer.

La Muneca also held their annual LMC Jackpot Show on Friday afternoon.

LMC Jr. Show Team members competed for $10,000 in premiums with the purse split equally between the cattle show and showmanship contest.

The Rio Grande Valley Brahman & F-1 Association hosted their first ever Heifer and Bull Futurity after the LMC $ellabration. They awarded $6,000 in premiums and awards with Shelly Sutton judging the cattle and Kolten Thigpen judging showmanship. Grand and Reserve Showmen in the three age division were as follows: Juniors - Kylie Sellman & Cassandra Flores, Intermediate - Kendyl Sellman & Beth Quintanilla and Seniors - Victor Moreno & John Paul Rodriguez.

The next big Junior Simbrah event will be MAS X & the American Jr. Simbrah Roundup on June 25-27, 2015 in Wharton, Texas. The next big Brahman event will be the RGV Brahman & F-1 Association Field Day on May 2, 2015 at the LPJ Ranch near Linn, Texas. The next La Muneca event will be the LMC GenePLUS Online Sale VIII on May 2-5. For more information please call Carlos X. Guerra at (956) 802 – 1641 or email lamunecacattle@aol.com.

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Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley Improve Lives through their Community Garden USDA Grant Helps

The Chinese proverb says, “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for the rest of his life.” Although the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley isn’t giving fishing lessons, what they are teaching will help feed and improve the lives of Valley residents for a long time to come.

Through the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Food Bank was able to acquire a $2,500 grant that has helped them expand their Valley Community Garden. The funds were used to purchase tools and the supplies needed to add a 50 x 35 foot garden plot to the existing garden. Now, more individuals and families can have their own area to tend while participating in the community garden program.

“The Food Bank RGV’s Community Garden is all about collaborating with public and private partners,” says Terri Drefke, chief executive officer of the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley.

“The collaborating is key in accessing the resources and knowledge necessary to move low income families into a sustainable lifestyle -a healthy lifestyle filled with fresh fruits and vegetables and the possibility of sharing or selling their excess to others in the community.”

rmer’s Market “Plans are for the families to ultimately be able to grow surplus here or at their own home which then can be sold at the Pharrmer’s Market.”

Pharrmer’s Market is located at the Food Bank, 724 N Cage Blvd in Pharr and is held every Thursday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Bertha Venegas, State Outreach Coordinator for NRCS, who assisted the Food Bank with the grant opportunity says, “By engaging these families in learning how to grow their own food and showing them where their food comes from, plus showing them how to take care of the land, we are accomplishing USDA’s vision.”

Felicita Lugo from San Juan, who participates in the Community Garden program, checks radishes to see if they are ready to harvest.

“Knowledge is power. We hope that the families will continue growing and sharing their knowledge with family and friends and that community gardens will expand all over the Rio Grande Valley in neighborhoods and communities,” says Drefke.

For more information on the Food Bank’s community garden or to participate in the Community Garden program, contact Chris Bueno at (956) 904-4525. For information on Strikeforce opportunities, contact Bertha Venegas at (830) 249-3508.

Jessica Benavides-Paredes, NRCS soil conservationist, visits with Chris Bueno, manager of the Food Bank’s Community Garden and the Pharrmer’s Market, among the rows of vegetables in the community garden.

The Food Bank funded and started the garden in May 2014 with the assistance University of Texas-Pan Americans Texas Rural Cooperative Center under the direction of Rick Carrera, director of the Texas Rural Cooperative Center. Training programs on soil health, how to handle pests and take care of the plants, as well as cooking and nutrition classes are part of the community garden program.

“We want to create a self-sustainable circle by educating the families in classes, as well as hands-on in the garden on how they can grow their own food, and how they can eat healthier by teaching them how to prepare the produce they grow,” says Christopher Bueno, manager of the Community Garden and the Phar-

Myriam Gonzalez and Naissa Lopez, who work with the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, sells fresh veggies at the Pharrmer’s Market. Families who are participating in the Community Garden will be able to sell their surplus of produce at the Pharrmer’s Market.

Chris Bueno, manager of the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley’s Community Garden and the Pharrmer’s Market shows Jessica Benavides-Paredes, NRCS soil conservationist, the layout for the community garden.The plans include a storage shed, an outdoor classroom, and more raised garden beds to allow elderly or those who can’t get on the ground, a way to participate in gardening . On the computer is a photo of what the area looked like before the community garden was started.

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Photos taken by www.trappedintimephotography.com

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What’s Up with Soil Phosphorus in South Texas?

Larry Zibilske, Ph.D. Vice-President of Research Texas Plant & Soil Lab

J

ust like nitrogen and potassium, phosphorus (P) problems lead to poor yields and crop quality. Unlike other nutrients, P is more difficult to provide to your crop. Providing heremeans more than making sure there is enough present in the soil for the crop.

It requires that adequate amounts remain available (in solution) for root uptake. As we’ll see, this is a particularly difficult task with P. The chemical form of phosphorus that plants use is orthophosphate, a soluble form which can be moved into the root. It’s necessary for P to be “dissolved” in solution to be of any use to the crop. Anything that reduces the solubility of phosphorus reduces its availability to plants.

the biggest influence is soil pH.

The problem here is that phosphorus easily reacts chemically with other elements in the soil and the result of those reactions often reduces the solubility of P. Several classes of compounds are formed by these reactions.

Some are not so insoluble and become plant available in a few weeks.

South Texas soils were generated from ancient sea floor sediments.

These are naturally high in sodium, calcium, and magnesium. In other climates, those blessed with more rainfall, the excesses of these elements were leached away long ago.

Others are called “fixed” compounds of P that can remain unavailable for a long time, for days—or many years, depending on conditions in the soil.

Soil moisture, temperature, and organic matter content affect P solubility, but 42 Ag Mag

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A chemical snapshot of P availability shows that at very low pH (less than 5.5), P reacts with iron and aluminum to form insoluble compounds. At the other extreme, high soil pH (greater than 7), P reacts with calcium and magnesium to form insoluble compounds. At both extremes, P availability can be dramatically reduced, resulting in P deficiency in the crop.

In South Texas, we are blessed with generally high pH soils, indicating that we probably have P problems in most of those soils. Many South Texas growers can attest to that. Where did these high pH soils come from?

However, the semiarid climate of South Texas was (and still is) too dry to accomplish much leaching, so these basic elements still dominate the chemistry of the soils today. We call such soils calcareous, meaning they contain free carbonate (plant-

unavailable) forms of mainly calcium.

Calcareous soils spell big problems for keeping P in solution long enough to be taken up by plants. Characteristically, South Texas soils contain large amounts of calcium. Interestingly, they can also contain large amounts of P, commonly added in fertilizer that was quickly bound up into insoluble forms by reacting with the excessive levels of calcium.

When a grower gets a soil test run, the report often shows huge amounts of calcium in the soil—many hundreds of pounds per acre. The same thing for P; test results usually show upwards of a hundred pounds of P in the soil.

Yet, we often see crops grown in this soil respond to both added calcium and phosphorus!

Why? Most soil test procedures drastically over-estimate the amounts of calcium and P that are available for crops. These tests are harsh enough to dissolve many of the insoluble compounds, releasing and detecting much calcium and P to which the plant would not normally have access during the growing season. This appears in the test reports as “adequate” or “high” readings and suggests no calcium or P is needed for the crop. We have seen many cases where crops

Additionally, we can have problems when inappropriate soil test procedures are used which report that there is plenty of P and calcium present in the soil. What can be done to lessen these problems?

improve when fertilizer P is added to soils testing “high” in P. Bringing this together, we see that we have problems with P fertility because of the many different chemical reactions that can happen when P is added to the soil.

First, consider your soil management plan. In South Texas, it’s imperative that your management plan include practices that maintain the availability of P during the growing season. A few things can be done to modify those processes that reduce P availability.

Top of the list is to reduce soil pH. The best way to do this is by including sulfur in your fertility plan. Elemental sulfur is available as “wettable” powders or prills, “flowers of sulfur”, a fine dust, and several forms of liquid sulfur are available as well.

Sulfur will reduce soil pH over time and allow more P to remain plantavailable. Several other benefits (outside the scope of our present discussion) occur as soil pH is reduced from an alkaline condition and there are

other important benefits of sulfur, as well. Another tool is to increase soil organic matter content. Its buffering capacity helps keep P available.

Residue management plans, minimum tillage, etc. have positive effects on organic matter retention and help tremendously with P availability. Yet another tool is modifying the chemistry of the plant furrow by using pop-up fertilizers that can neutralize some of the alkalinity around the germinating seed. Adding humate to the furrow during planting also helps buffer and protect seeds. Of the many problems with South Texas agriculture, keeping P plant-available is near the top in importance. These techniques will improve not only P nutrition, but will help with related problems at the same time.

On the second issue, it’s important that appropriate testing procedures be used for your particular soil. Make sure you’re getting recommendations based on your soil pH. Ask questions.

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Rearing beneficial insects in residential areas in South Texas.

WRITTEN BY: DR. Daniel Flores and Heidi C . Arteaga PHOTO BY: DR. Flores and Heidi C . Arteaga

a t a i d a r a i x i r a Tam

Citrus greening, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB) is a bacterial plant disease that affects all citrus trees and its spreading in the Rio Grande Valley.

Citrus greening is spread by a small insect called Asian citrus psyllid. There is no cure for citrus greening so the only thing that we can do is prevent it by killing the vector with chemical control or practicing biological control.

Biological control is the control of a destructive organism by the use of another organism usually its natural enemy. For the control of the Asian citrus psyllid, Tamarixia radiata a beneficial parasitoid has been tested and recommended by scientists at USDA- APHIS as a candidate for reducing the spread of HLB. This beneficial agent is a tiny wasp about 1 mm long that feeds on the Asian citrus psyllid and it lays its eggs in the nymphs, the young stage of the Asian citrus psyllid. So, instead of hatching a new psyllid, we end up with the emergence of a new Tamarixia radiata.

Field insectary cage production The CPHST Mission Lab has also developed a novel approach of using field insectary cages in the urban environment to mass produce T. radiata using lemon or lime trees. Through joint outreach efforts that include the Texas Citrus Pest and Disease Management Corporation, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M Citrus Center, and Texas Master Gardeners, we find volunteers, mainly living in recreational vehicle (RV) parks, in the community that would like to host a field insectary cage.

Mature lemon and lime citrus trees are the preferred host trees because they yield much higher flush (new growth) counts when compared to other varieties of citrus. The selected trees are pruned to induce flush. These varieties of citrus when pruned provide about ~800 cubic feet (9.5’L x 9.5’W x 8.5’H) of flush which on average yields about ~4,200 flush shoots. The flush draws in hundreds of adult ACP that begin the egg laying process. About 3 weeks later the tree is caged with a mesh screen that does not allow any insects to enter or escape.

An average of ~560 T. radiata adults are released into the cage.

Approximately 8 weeks later, 2.5 generations of T. radiata have developed, and the tree is ready to be uncovered so that the existing adults and the 3rd generation about to emerge are able to freely disperse in the environment to search and destroy other Asian citrus psyllids. On average ~12,000 T. radiata can be produced per tree. Between 2013 and 2014, over 555,000 T. radiata have been produced using this approach.

The months for best success using this approach in south Texas is between April thru September. In the past, we have installed about 20 cages per year. Our goal in 2015 will be to install between 80 and 120 field insectary cages to produce approximately 1 million beneficial insects in as many of the 300 RV parks found in south Texas which are suitable locations.

If you have a lemon or lime tree and would like to host a field rearing cage, please call 956-968-8067 or visit

www.citrusalert.com

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Despite Recent Rains, Many Farmers Still Dealing With Water Shortage Issues WRITTEN BY: JOHN MILLER

T

he prolonged wet weather,

and soils, seems surreal. Rain

totals at Santa Rosa indicate

that 22.79 inches fell from

September 1st to the end of

March, with two-thirds of that coming since January 1st! This sevenmonth total is well above the forty-year average of 13.44 inches for that same period and location. From Fort Worth to Harlingen, the timing and quantity of rainfall since last fall prevented normal field preparation and planting. You may have noticed the slow planting pace as farmers have struggled to find dry spots.

This delay has even changed some cropping decisions.

Increased grain acres relative to cotton had been expected due to various market factors, and planting delays shifted even more acres to grain. We are thankful for the moisture that provides potential for great crops, including a much needed boost to pasture and hay conditions. So often when rains return and the ‘drought’ is declared over, however, we forget the broader water issues.

As wet as it has been east of I-35, the Drought Monitor map illustrates a different story on the west side and reminds us that many areas of the country are still very dry.

The Drought Monitor map is most startling for California where restrictions are being applied to all water users. Colorado River water has always been a politically charged topic, and one that dovetails with all U.S.-Mexican water treaties.

As drought spread north into the San Joaquin Valley, the rural versus urban water debate intensified in a way that will

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have national implications. In the daily news, the California drought highlights homeowner issues and increased food prices due to the magnitude of fresh fruit, vegetable and nut production. Behind the scenes, however, the ongoing property rights argument is a political hot potato. To date, agriculture has been able to maintain most past rights, but protests have been building. The gov-

ernor recently decreed that cities must drastically cut water use, and suggested that all water rights need review. I hope our leadership closely watches developments there since in many ways we are not that far removed from the water problems of the far west.

Back in Texas, the darkened areas on the Drought Monitor map foreshadow a potentially tough season for dryland farming. But this is only part of the story since we see drastic cropping changes

on traditionally stable irrigated acreage. In addition, the prolonged period of below average rainfall has prevented reservoirs key to irrigation from rebuilding adequate capacity. Not to mention river systems are delivering weakened flows, and critically important aquifers remain at rationing levels. A more populous and urbanized Texas has intensified the competition for water, and prompted

agricultural groups to work closely with those in leadership. Untold time and effort has been dedicated to put forward water use regulations that ensure a sustainable path for all parties since estimates indicate current population and economic growth trends could continue for some time. Early work by agriculture helped create water boards that had success in keeping much of the rulemaking local, and property rights at the center of the debate. But the magnitude

of the challenge during droughts result in proposed legislation that tips more authority to the state; with U.S. Fish and Game and the EPA circling. Depending on their water district, farmers in some areas must install equipment to measure use to avoid exceeding limits with some areas levying fines for over-pumping annual or multi-year limits. A challenge for Texas is the wide variety of irrigation water sources that lead to different methods of allocation and enforcement that depend on historical precedents, severity of the problem, and method of delivery. Establishing a one size fits all water policy would be a very hard task.

On the high plains for example, irrigation depends on aquifers that have been in decline. The lower Ogallala aquifer has a low recharge and is increasingly scrutinized. There has been dramatic declines in irrigated corn acres in some counties across the panhandle as farmers are changing practices to stretch water supplies. Some counties have seen half of the ground traditionally used for feed corn transition to wheat, sorghum, cotton, or silages.

In some cases, formerly irrigated acres are being converted to dryland so that water can be pooled to the meet a need on adjacent land. The idea of applying whatever water necessary for producing top-end yields is being put to the test by evolving regulations and in some cases weaker performing wells. There are exceptions where farms can still add wells, or reach for the deeper Dakota formation, but the trend is toward alternative crops that require less water. This is particularly true for those farmers located near feedlots or dairies offering attractive silage contracts. One has to wonder what the next sustainable plateau will look like. Irrigating more wheat, cotton, sorghum and silage at the expense of corn seems most probable under our current understanding of plant and irrigation technology. Or will new technologies slow the pace of change?

Along the upper Texas coast, the issues are very different. Municipalities and heavy industry in Houston and Austin directly compete for surface water with farmers along the Brazos and Colorado River systems. Man-made lakes above Austin that are filled by the Colorado

River feed an irrigation system that can manage over 100,000 acres of rice.

For the third year, the river authority has denied the vast majority of rice farmer’s water to grow a crop. While the entire state reservoir system stands at 70 percent capacity, those in the Hill Country that supply irrigation water downstream are still at critical levels.

Lake Buchanan, which can hold 860,000 acre feet, stands at only 311,000 or 36 percent capacity. At the current 400,000 acre feet, Lake Travis is also at 36 percent capacity. Some rice farmers have been able to drill wells to continue, but most have transitioned to other crops regardless of the price relative to rice.

A similar relationship exists between San Antonio and farmers west of the city that depend on the Edwards and Carrizo Springs Aquifers. Below normal rainfall coupled with increased urbanization has created a situation where the right circumstances can quickly drop the aquifer below thresholds that force reductions in pumping. Try planting a crop not knowing if enough water will be allocated to finish the crop. This has led to more wheat at the expense of corn, cotton and vegetables.

The Rio Grande Valley has high stakes situations based on lake levels along the Rio Grande River. This watershed feeds districts supporting sugarcane, vegetables, citrus and row crops. Recent drought had led to reductions in irrigation on row crops as available water was being utilized for the higher value crops.

You can even throw in an international squabble as Mexico and Texas tend to disagree on how much and when their country should deliver on delinquent water obligations to the Rio Grande River. Even when you combine the Texas and Mexican storage capacity of lakes supporting the region, levels are still uncomfortably low.

million, or 35 percent. Falcon’s current 573,000 acre feet is only 22 percent of the combined Texas and Mexico capacity of 2.65 million acre feet. The map below provided by the Texas Water Development Board does a great job highlighting areas that remain short of desired levels. This illustration shows how the Lower Rio Grande Valley conservation storage district is rated at a moderately low level. But take a look just north as the Nueces and San Antonio districts are, respectively, deemed to be severely low and exceptionally low.

Of course Mother Nature could take over and start providing the South Plains with years of ample moisture to help us forget about low-water marks. But the increased competition for water is likely to intensify under any weather scenario as urban and industrial growth across the South Plains is unlikely to ebb anytime soon. And experienced policymakers understand that our geography suggests that periodic drought will always be a part of the Texas lifestyle. While

too much rain in a short period of time has many farmers in Coastal and South Texas struggling to get planted, there is still the prospect of good yields. But wouldn’t it have been great if some of that rain could have moved a little west and put water upstream in the rivers that supply our states reservoir and aquifer system? In either case, water issues will continue to reshape Texas and national agriculture and deserves close attention.

The combined Texas and Mexican water storage capacity at Amistad is 3.28 million acre feed and now sits at 1.15 M AY / J U N E

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!

Texas International Produce Association

TipA’s inaugural Viva Fresh Expo is a Huge Success

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Three years of hard work and planning came to fruition in March when the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) hosted its first ever regional produce expo in Austin, Texas. President & CEO Bret Erickson says, “Viva Fresh exceeded our expectations in every way possible – total participation, total numbers on the show floor, high quality educational sessions and a very favorable response from attendees.” Viva Fresh fills a real niche in the industry by bringing together buyers from throughout North America and grower/shippers and importers from the southwestern U.S. (Texas, Arizona, New Mexico) and Mexico. The new show replaces the former Texas Produce Convention.

Viva Fresh booths (141 total) sold out quickly, leaving a waiting list of more than 20 companies who weren’t able to exhibit due to space constraints. More than 150 buyers attended the show, and the expo floor was bustling from start to finish. A fundraiser golf tournament, which raised money for the Just Keep Living foundation, was also sold out. The tournament raised $10,000 for the charity that focuses on teaching children to increase their consumption of healthy fruits and vegetables to help prevent future health issues.

The expo focused heavily on networking and education. Educational sessions included border crossing issues, a dietician symposium from a retail perspective, new hot commodities coming from Mexico and new technology for growers.

Another innovative session featured two virtual farm tours with J&D Produce and Frontera Produce. The real-time, interactive virtual tours played out with a Wi-Fi-enabled camera in high definition as the growers talked in their fields and the audience enjoyed food samples that related to the farm tours they were watching. Erickson says, “We had an unbelievable response to the sessions, with standing room only in every session. The final registration was close to 1,000 people in attendance. Our keynote speaker, Dr. Katz, received a standing ovation for his inspirational speech on how healthy eating posi- tively impacts people’s lives.”

As was reflected at Viva Fresh, TIPA represents most of the produce grown in Texas or imported from Mexico into Texas. Its member companies include growers, domestic and import shippers, specialty shippers, distributors and material/service providers. TIPA members grow over 50 different fruits and vegetables throughout the year. The largest commodities grown in Texas are citrus, onions, cabbage and greens. According to Sid Miller, Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner, “Texas produce contributes about $1 billion annually to our state’s economy, a valuable part of Texas’ booming industry.”

Exhibitor Limexsicar at VivaFresh.

From Left to Right: Luis Gudino, Limex Sicar & LTD, Co.; Mayra Horta, Limex Sicar & LTD, Co.; Matt Reeves, HEB

With events like Viva Fresh, TIPA has experienced an influx of new members – more than a 100% increase over the last two years. The industry has changed over the last decade, with more fresh produce being brought in from Mexico.

Nearly 3 years ago TIPA created an importer division, the Border Issues Management Program, which specifically addresses the needs of importers. Erickson says, “It has been a natural fit for us. We are the only association in Texas working with importers and custom brokers on import trade issues related to fresh fruits and vegetables.”

The state of Texas has experienced a very serious drought over the last few years. “The drought impacts all of us in a number of ways. It hinders a grower’s ability to determine what to plant, or even if they can plant at all. Very few growers are certain as to whether or not they will have enough water to carry their crops through harvest,” says Erickson.

With the help of Texas Department of Agriculture and USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, TIPA is working with Texas Agrilife Extension in looking at new irrigation methods to conserve water for specialty crops. TIPA is also conducting workshops and hosting more outreach events to educate growers on new irrigation methods.

Ribbon Cutting ceremony at Viva Fresh.

From L to R: Jimmy Garza, Bebo Distributing;Tommy Wilkins, Grow Farm Texas; Dante Galeazzi, Crescent Fruit, Jimmy Bassetti, J&D Produce; Ed Bertaud, CHEP; Bret Erickson,Texas Intl. Produce Association.

While the Texas produce industry faces many challenges, they also realize this is a period of tremendous opportunity.

“Not only have we seen exciting growth within the association, we are seeing unparalleled growth in our industry,” says Erickson. “It’s an exciting time to be involved in the fresh fruit and vegetable business, whether you’re a grower/shipper, an importer, a broker, or in the allied industries.

Every day we are working on something new and exciting.

Our members, our Board of Directors, and staff are enthusiastic and engaged, and we are thrilled to be doing what we’re doing.

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Celebrating Earth Day and National Pollinators Week Earth Day was April 22 and National Pollinator Week is June 15-21, 2015 and since both of these events have significant meaning for all Texans, not just farmers and ranchers! Few facts to ponder:

WRITTEN BY: MELISSA BLAIR

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In the United States, pollination by honey bees and other insects produces nearly $40 billion worth of products annually!

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• Roughly one of three bites of food is dependent on the work of honey bees and other pollinators, mostly wild native bees.

Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which day events worldwide are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network.

For more information, visit www.earthday.org

• •

• Pollinating insects help to increase your crop yields and add money to your bottom line.

• Inadequate pollination will reduce your yields, result in inferior flavor, produce smaller, misshapen fruits with fewer seeds, slow fruit maturation, increase disease in fruit and take money from budget.

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• Despite their crucial importance, pollinators are in trouble. Although research is still being done, it’s thought many are seeing decreasing populations because of habitat loss, disease, parasites and contaminants.

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• When planning farming operations and land management, keep in mind pollinators need two essential components in their habitat: 1) flowers from which to gather nectar and pollen and 2) places to nest. Conservation practices such as field borders, cover crops, conservation cover, filter strips, critical area planting, tree/shrub planting and more can provide food (pollen and nectar) and nesting sites for local native pollinators and honey bees.

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• More than 1 billion people in 192 countries participate annually in Earth Day activities and events, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

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• Teachers can get their free online Climate Education Toolkit for K-12 students, with a week’s worth of curriculum www.earthday.org/climateeducationweek

Pollinator Week was initiated and is managed by the Pollinator Partnership. The Pollinator Partnership is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization-- the largest organization in the world dedicated exclusively to the protection and promotion of pollinators and their ecosystems.

Eight years ago the U.S. Senate’s unanimous approval and designation of a week in June as “National Pollinator Week” marked a necessary step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations.

Pollinator Week has now grown to be an international celebration of the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles. The growing concern for pollinators is a sign of progress, but it is vital that we continue to maximize our collective effort. The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture signs the proclamation every year.

For more information, www.pollinator.org M AY / J U N E

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Important upcoming dates for Ag Producers: Pesticide License Training , Edinburg – May 6 Summer Commodity Conference, Texas Farm Bureau, San Marcos – June 23-24 Contact the County Extension Office for details on any of these events

Brad Cowan, County Extension Agent Agriculture Hidalgo County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 410 North 13th Avenue, Edinburg, TX 78541 b-cowan@tamu.edu http://hidalgo.agrilife.org o) 956-383-1026, m) 956-330-3208 M AY / J U N E

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