Land and Livestock Post

April 2019 – Issue II

WEED WEAPONS Controlling weeds in pastures and hay meadows critical to success PAGE 11

EATING WELL

Health of your herd depends on the quality of your hay.

PAGE 4

FUTURE TRADES

International trade issues worry Texas producers.

PAGE 8

GETTING DOWN AND DIRTY

The health of the soil matters to your operation.

PAGE 10

LIFETIME OF SERVICE Charles and Carolyn Brown live agriculture, education.

PAGE 16

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April 2019 — Issue II



The Land & Livestock Post

News From the General Manager

I

t is the time of year here in Texas where the roadsides are awash in the reds and blues of wildflowers. It is also the time of year when parents brave the fire ants, speeding highway traffic, rattlesnakes and litter of all kinds, to plop their children in a bluebonnet patch and get the perfect picture. I am not judging, my parents made me do it, and we have quite a few pictures of our kids among a roadside backdrop of our state flower.

I don’t think most kids these days have the respect for the bluebonnet that my generation had. My son brazenly informed me the other day that he picked a bluebonnet in the park. I was shocked, and immediately looked around franticly, fully expecting to see squad cars and maybe even a police helicopter swooping in on our house.

When I was my son’s age, there was a reverence almost for bluebonnets.

I wasn’t sure what the Texas Rangers did back then, but I was pretty sure part of their detail was to protect the Texas state flower at all costs. Sure there were some kids who would pick bluebonnets and even brag about it.

Those were the days before social media, so I haven’t kept up with any of those flowerJESSE WRIGHT picking ne’er-do-wells, but if I had to guess, they are probably in prison or long since met their fate in a bar-ditch somewhere — probably a bluebonnet-covered bar-ditch at

that.

When my son told me of his actions, I started to lecture him on his choices and the path he was going down. He quickly recanted, and said he didn’t really pick a bluebonnet, he was just kidding.

So that gives me some hope, that the fear of bluebonnet harvesting is alive and well in today’s youth.

If you have bluebonnets in your pasture, you may have trouble with the random family photographer or rogue elementary school kid trespassing on your place to get to the goods. But, if you have weeds in your pasture, which I’m guessing you do, you have bigger problems.

In our cover story, we look at weed control and examine different methods you can practice to keep your pas-

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In this issue we also have information about upcoming events and programs, as well as news from around the ag industry.

Hope you enjoy it and, as always, thanks for reading. ’Til next time.

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April 2019 — Issue II

3

News Hay quality and the health of your herd

By Brandon J. dominguez Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science

C

attle, other ruminants and horses require roughage through grazing or provision of hay.

In an ideal world, there would always be green fields of grass to graze. More often than not, producers require hay to provide the necessary roughage and nutrition.

In many parts of Texas, rains have been plentiful this winter and spring, leading to lots of grass, wet pastures and narrow windows to cut, rake and bale.

Hay shortages may cause producers to dig deep into lower- quality stores of hay.

Once pastures and weather forecasts give way to harvesting pastures for hay, the maturity of the plants may lead to further reduced quality. It is recommended to test the nutritive value of the hay each cutting, season, or load.

Knowing the value of the nutrition provided by the hay provides good insight into balancing the diet your livestock needs. Quality of the hay should also be assessed in terms of the health

4

risk that it may bring. Unwanted plants, toxins and molds can impact the value of the hay.

Mature plants have tougher, thicker stems that can cause scrapes and abrasions in the animal’s mouth. Incomplete chewing of rougher forages can cause impactions further down the digestive tract.

Some aberrant plants in the field such as needle grasses and spearhead grasses may cause severe lacerations in the mouth.

Nitrate toxicity is a common concern of livestock producers. Typically, it is an increased concern when fields are fertilized heavily and when weather conditions don’t allow for plant growth to utilize the nitrogen provided. As they say, timing is everything, while plants are growing well with plenty of water, nutrients, and warming conditions, some fields may be at risk, though conditions are good for properly applied fertilizer to be utilized well by the plants for growth.

Prussic acid — also known as cyanide — poisoning is another common concern, particularly with sorghum type grasses such as Johnsongrass. The recent cool/ warm/cool cycle of weather with young plants may pose

See HAY, Page 15

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Most producers have the notion that blends revert back to Common Bermudagrass. This is misleading because most blends have Common Bermudagrass in them. It is not that the other varieties turn into Common, it’s that Common exists in the blend or in the field and gradually replaces the other varieties.

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April 2019 — Issue II

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News The Most V ersatile Cow in the Industry Certified E6 & Purebred Beefmaster Replacement Female Sale SUNDAY • 12 NOON APRIL 28, 2019

Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Kay Ledbetter New calves and mother cows gather around the watering hole.A Multi-County Beef Conference in Dumas onApril 17 will discuss issues important to Panhandle beef producers.

Columbus Livestock Commission, Inc., Columbus, TX

Multi-county beef conference to be held April 17 in Dumas

By Kay LedBetter Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

DUMAS — A multi-countybeef conference will be hosted April 17 by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service at the Moore County Community Building, 1600 S. Maddox Ave. in Dumas.

This is a joint program involving the AgriLife Extension offices in Moore, Dallam, Hartley, Oldham, Potter and Sherman counties.

Registration will begin at 9 a.m.

The event is free, and lunch will be provided.

“We’ve joined together to bring in speakers who will address a number of key issues facing the beef-producing industry up in this region of the Panhandle,” said Marcel Fischbacher, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Moore County.

Morning topics and speakers will be: • Cattle Price Outlook — Justin Benavidez, AgriLife Extension economist in Amarillo.

• Landowner Liabilities — Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, AgriLife Extension agricultural law

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• Adaptation of Cattle to Grazing Systems — Tim Steffens, AgriLife Extension range specialist in Canyon.

• Corral Adjustments to Reduce Stress in Cattle — Ron Gill, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist and associate department head for animal science at Texas A&M University in College Station.

Following the noon lunch, the program will move to the Blue Ranch, where Mike Turner, ranch and resource manager, will discuss how he moves cattle through the ranch.

Joining Turner on the afternoon program are Juan Pineiro, AgriLife Extension dairy specialist in Amarillo, discussing “Aids of Cattle Movement,” and Gill providing cattle handling and loading safety demonstrations.

The Land & Livestock Post

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April 2019 — Issue II

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AgriLife Extension photo by Kay Ledbetter Feral hogs are just one of the many invasive species that can be problematic for Texas farmers and ranchers.

Invasive species workshop set April 17 in Sutton County

By SuSan HimeS Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

SONORA — The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offices in Sutton and Crockett counties will present a Texas invasive species workshop on April 17 at the Sutton County Civic Center, 1700 N. Crockett Ave. in Sonora.

Onsite registration is at 8 a.m., and the program will begin at 8:30 a.m. Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units — one general, one laws and regulations, and one integrated pest management — are available for those with a pesticide applicators license.

The cost of the workshop is $25.

The fee covers program materials, refreshments and lunch.

Checks should be made out to Sutton Ag Program Fund and mailed to P.O. Box 1047, Sonora, TX 76950. For more information or to register, call the AgriLife Extension office in Sutton County at 325-387-3101.

“Invasive species impact our ecosystems and consequently our management of rangelands,” said Pascual Hernandez, AgriLife Extension agent for Sutton County. “With this workshop, we hope to heighten awareness of some of the invasive species that we encounter in the Edwards

6

Plateau. We will take a look at both plant and animal, as well as native and non-native, invasive species.”

Topics and speakers include: • Feral Hog Impact on Native Plant Communities/Update on Feral Hog Abatement Efforts — John Tomecek, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist in College Station.

• Invasive Plants in the Edwards Plateau — Barron Rector, AgriLife Extension range specialist in College Station.

• Axis Deer Biology, Behavior, Ecological Impact — Matt Buchholz, doctoral student/ research assistant, Texas Tech University department of natural resources management in Lubbock.

• Pesticide Laws and Regulations — Corey Pence, Texas Department of Agriculture.

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April 2019 — Issue II

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The Land & Livestock Post

News LIVESTOCK MARKET REPORT Anderson Results of the Mid-Tex Livestock’s March 28 sale.

Head: 1,126.

Steers: 200-300 lbs., $165$230; 300-400 lbs., $160-$223; 400-500 lbs., $150-$190; 500600 lbs., $130-$180; 600-700 lbs., $120-$150; 700-800 lbs., $120-$143.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $140$213; 300-400 lbs., $140-$195; 400-500 lbs., $130-$170; 500600 lbs., $130-$160; 600700 lbs.,$115-$150; 700-800 lbs.,$100-$135.

Slaughter bulls: $60-$82 Slaughter cows: $30-$70.

Bred cows: $500-$1,200.

Cow/calf pairs: $400-$1,100.

Brazos Valley Results of the Brazos Valley Livestock’s March 26 sale.

Head: 1785 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $180$220; 300-400 lbs., $170-$210; 400-500 lbs., $165-$195; 500600 lbs., $145-$180; 600-700 lbs., $130-$150; 700-800 lbs., $128-$132 Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $155$192; 300-400 lbs., $140-$168; 400-500 lbs., $135-$163; 500600 lbs., $130-$148; 600700 lbs.,$120-$137; 700-800 lbs.,$123-$128.

Slaughter bulls: $62-$78 Slaughter cows: $40-$58.50.

Bred cows: $675-$1,235.

Cow/calf pairs: $925-$1,200.

Brenham Results of the Brenham Livestock Auction’s March 22 sale.

Head: 726.

Steers: 200-300 lbs., $135-$207; 300-400 lbs., $130-$202; 400-500 lbs., $128-$185; 500-600 lbs., $123-$163; 600-700 lbs., $111$160; 700-800 lbs., $105-$135.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $115$195; 300-400 lbs., $120-$171; 400-500 lbs., $118-$170; 500600 lbs., $110-$153; 600-700

lbs.,$100-$162; 700-800 lbs.,$90$147.

Slaughter bulls: $32-$57.

Slaughter cows: $50-$79.

Bred cows: $400-$1,250.

Cow/calf pairs: $600-$1,400

Buffalo Results of the Buffalo Livestock Commission’s March 23 sale.

Head: 1,661.

Steers: 200-300 lbs., $140$225; 300-400 lbs., $135-$217; 400-500 lbs., $130-$200; 500600 lbs., $125-$175; 600-700 lbs., $120-$152; 700-800 lbs., $110-$139.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $125$190; 300-400 lbs., $120$200; 400-500 lbs., $110-$172; 500-600 lbs., $95-$165; 600700 lbs.,$95-$152; 700-800 lbs.,$85-$134.

Slaughter bulls: $57-$81.

Slaughter cows: $15-$62.

Bred cows: $750-$1,500.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,150$2,000

tion and Livestock Company’s March 28 sale.

Head: 593.

Steers: 300-400 lbs., $165$212; 400-500 lbs., $150-$207; 500-600 lbs., $135-$177; 600700 lbs., $125-$160 Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $140$200; 400-500 lbs., $130-$170; 500-600 lbs., $110-$160; 600700 lbs., $95-$150.

Slaughter bulls: $70-$80.

Slaughter cows: $37-$60.

Bred cows: $600-$1,300.

Cow/calf pairs: N/A

Jordan Results of the Jordan C a t t l e A u c t i o n ’s M a r c h 2 8 sale.

Head: 4,133.

Steers: 200-300 lbs., $175$200; 300-400 lbs., $170-$195;

400-500 lbs., $155-$194; 500600 lbs., $145-$178; 600-700 lbs., $135-$162; 700-800 lbs., $125-$147.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $150$175; 300-400 lbs., $150-$173; 400-500 lbs., $143-$170; 500600 lbs., $135-$154; 600-700 lbs., $125-$145; 700-800 lbs., $110-$131.

Slaughter bulls: $60-$72.

Slaughter cows: $40-$56.

Bred cows: $600-$1,800 Cow/calf pairs: $860-$2,575

Navasota Results of the Navasota Livestock Commission’s March 23

sale.

Head: 1,559.

Steers: 200-300 lbs., $125$265; 300-400 lbs., $125$217.50; 400-500 lbs., $125$210; 500-600 lbs., $125-$182; 600-700 lbs., $115-$162.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $125$210; 300-400 lbs., $125$172.50; 400-500 lbs., $125$167; 500-600 lbs., $120$157.50; 600-700 lbs., $115$142.

Slaughter bulls: $60-$87.

Slaughter cows: $35-$67.

Bred cows: $550-$1,025.

Cow/calf pairs: $750-$1,150 — Special to The Post

Caldwell Results of the Caldwell Livestock Commission’s March 27 sale.

Head: 704.

Steers: 200-300 lbs., $180$220; 300-400 lbs., $180-$220; 400-500 lbs., $168-$190; 500600 lbs., $149-$170; 600-700 lbs., $149-$170; 700-800 lbs., $120-$137 Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $170$215; 300-400 lbs., $160-$202; 400-500 lbs., $155-$187; 500600 lbs., $137-$165; 600-700 lbs., $130-$135; 700-800 lbs., $117-$126 Slaughter bulls: $60-$77.

Slaughter cows: $30-$65.

Bred cows: $575-$1,100.

Cow/calf pairs: $1,000$1,225.

Groesbeck Results of the Groesbeck Auc-

The Land & Livestock Post

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April 2019 — Issue II

7

News Trade uncertainty, commodity prices weigh on outlook for Texas

By Blair Fannin Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

AUSTIN — It’s not as dire as the farm crisis seen in the 1980s, but ongoing trade uncertainty coupled with low commodity prices and rising interest rates has created challenging times for agricultural producers across Texas and the entire the United States, according to experts.

A room full of who’s who in Texas agriculture, including farmers and those representing commodity associations, attending the 2019 Texas Ag Forum in Austin, heard recurring talk of the importance of agricultural trade with China and the reliance on export shipments of everything from beef to soybeans.

“There’s a layer of uncertainty that’s very real,” said Pat Westhoff, Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute director at the University of Missouri.

“There are more issues with late payments, more borrowing of money other than for operating expenses. It’s not the 1980s, but things are not going in the right direction. Things are not going to come crashing down tomorrow, but it’s not getting any better either.”

Interest in long-term trade

“Attendees at this year’s Ag Forum are really interested in the sensitivities of commodity prices to changes in exports, both short and long-term views on trade and outlook for U.S. meats, grains and fibers,” said Joe Outlaw, Ag Forum secretary and director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University as well as Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, opened the forum discussing the importance of agriculture on rural communities.

“If you care about rural America, you want farmers and ranchers to perform better in the businesses they support,”

8

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, left, and Tom Sell of Combest, Sell and Associates at the 2019 Ag Forum in Austin.

Moran said. “I support farmers and ranchers because they determine whether or not my community has a future.

“Agriculture is one of few places left that sons and daughters work side by side with their moms and dads.”

Regarding trade and exports, Moran said, “if we are not exporting, we are not living.”

Moran encouraged members of Congress to support the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement “and not to leave us with no agreement.”

He also supports key infrastructure in rural communities with access to health care. More importantly, Moran said he wants farming families to continue their legacy.

“Every time we lose a son or daughter to the city, a job that has a 401k and insurance plan ,they don’t tend to come back to rural areas. “ I’m an optimist, I think things will get better. But when the time comes, will we be able to convince them that it’s better than in Dallas or Houston and get them to come back to the farm?”

Beef, pork trade outlook

Meanwhile, demand for meats such as beef continues to climb at a steady clip, according to economists at the forum.

“Overall, global beef trade is up and overall volume is up,” said Erin Borror, U.S. Meat Export Federation economist in Denver.

“Beef exports to China are now double the volume imported from the U.S.” Beef exports accounted for $8.3 billion last year, a 15% increase.

Beef export value stands at $323 per head on U.S.-produced cattle.

In addition to continued demand for red meat, the China market

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April 2019 — Issue II

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Trade, from Page 8 continues to be lucrative for tongue and hides. With Australia beef production on the decline due to drought, Borror said the U.S. is well positioned to continue to capitalize on export demand of beef.

“The U.S. is well positioned to maintain its supply advantage,” she said.

Borror said global pork trade set a record this year as strong demand for pork continues throughout the world.

African Swine Fever has contributed to a 15% drop in production from China and Vietnam, which translates to a 7% decrease globally.

Borror said the U.S. can capitalize on the gap, providing the retaliatory tariffs levied by China are eliminated.

This year’s forum featured nearly 100 attendees representing all major Texas agricultural commodities and U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency and National Agricultural Statistics Service.

“For more than 31 years, the Texas Ag Forum has increased

stakeholder knowledge of policy and market issues important to Texas agricultural produce

Honoring James Richardson, Farm Simulation Modeler During the program, Outlaw honored James Richardson, who recently retired as co-director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M. Among Richardson’s innovations included FLIPSIM, or Farm Level Income Policy Simulator. The simulation model he developed has been used by Congress to evaluate countless farm bill proposals to determine both the good and bad financial outcomes for U.S. farmers.

The Ag Forum is sponsored by the Agricultural and Food Policy Center and AgriLife Extension.

The forum is an association of agricultural leaders and representatives from across the Texas food and fiber system.

It provides a forum for discussion of problems and emerging issues in agriculture.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin Marc Raulston of the Texas A&M Agricultural and Food Policy Center atTexas A&M University in College Station,left,and Matt Huie, farmer and rancher in Beeville.

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Metal Roofing • Metal Building Supply Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin At the 2019 Ag Forum reception was Joe Outlaw, left,Texas Ag Forum secretary and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist, Patrick Stover, vice chancellor and dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University and director of Texas A&MAgriLife Research,and Denise Stover,associate research scientist in nutrition and food science forTexasA&MAgriLife Research.

The Land & Livestock Post

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April 2019 — Issue II

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News

5 reasons why soil biology matters on the farm

By Jeff Goodwin Noble Research Institute

Success and long-term viability for most agricultural enterprises ultimately hinges on the health of their soil. This is true for beef operations in the Southern Great Plains to row crop farms in the Midwest.

For decades, the agriculture industry has focused, studied and ultimately understood the physical and chemical characteristics of our soil resource (e.g., soil texture, soil pH, etc.). However, until the past few years, little emphasis has been placed on the biological constituents and their importance in a healthy, functional soil.

Soil is alive and active Soil is not simply a medium to grow plants. It is a living ecosystem, and it puts on a show if you know where and what to look for.

A living soil is a complex and dynamic environment with as much drama and suspense as a Hollywood movie. A living soil features predator-prey conflicts, high-speed action and even mutual partnerships. The trouble is seeing the picture.

These activities are happening everyday on the soils we stand on, only at the microscopic scale. We often hear of the cast of characters: bacteria, fungi, protozoa, arthropods, even earthworms. So what’s the storyline? What do they do and why does it matter?

Decompositon of organic matter and material Soil organic matter stores energy and nutrients that are used by both plants and soil microbes. Organic matter is a primary food source for soil microbes and is a product of biological decomposition.

One class of bacteria and fungi are decomposers, meaning they have the ability to break down organic material releasing useful nutrients. While bacteria generally utilize carbon sources that are easy to break down (like fresh plant material and plant exudates, which are sugars and other metabolites leaked from the roots), decomposing soil fungi generally can break down tougher sources such as cel-

10

lulose and lignin. Organic matter is a primary driver of soil productivity and is the foundation of functional soil biology. As goes soil organic matter, so goes the soil.

Nutrient cycling Soil biology is a primary driver of nutrient cycling in our soils. Soil bacteria utilize active carbon, the fraction directly available for use by microbes. Much of this active carbon begins as plant exudates.

These exudates excreted from plant roots are a primary food source and are utilized by soil bacteria directly along the plant roots.

As the bacteria die, they mineralize and release nitrogen contained in their bodies, thus cycling nutrients.

The microbes themselves constitute a considerable amount of nutrient cycling in their own biomass. The microbial biomass or the amount of microbes a soil sustains can be 2% to 5% of the total organic matter in a soil. However, this fraction is self-motivated and living. This fraction also contains considerable amounts of essential plant nutrients. Biologically significant amounts of nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus are mineralized into plant available forms and released for uptake when microbes expire.

Protozoa also play a key role in nutrient cycling by just doing what they do.

Protozoa are predators. They feed on soil bacteria. Soil bacteria have a carbon-tonitrogen ratio of about 5:1 while protozoa have a ratio closer to 10:1. As the protozoa feed on the bacteria, they consume more nitrogen than they need. The excess is excreted and utilized by plants, and the cycling process continues.

Soil aggregation Soil aggregation refers to a soil’s ability to hold particles together. Soil biology aids in this process by simply decomposing organic material and developing organic matter.

As organic matter increases in soil, the ability to form soil aggregates increases.

Soil fungi aid in this process by helping the soil physically hold particles together.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi coat their hyphae with a compound called glomalin.

Noble Research Institute photos Above, soil is not simply a medium to grow plants, it is a living ecosystem. Right, the presence of earthworms is an indicator of soil health. Earthworms help improve water dynamics in the soil by burrowing through the earth, creating tunnels for water and roots to travel.

Glomalin serves as a protective coating to prevent nutrient and water loss as they are transported to the plant. Glomalin also serves as a soil glue and helps stabilize soil aggregates. These processes, along with many others, improve soil structure and help soil resist disruptions like wind and water.

Nutrient availability Nutrient availability is also positively impacted by microbial activity. Soil fungi plays a large role. Soil fungi form long strands called hyphae. These hyphae extend through the soil between soil aggregates, particles and rocks. Mycorrhizal fungi form mutualistic relationships with plants. Mycorrhizal fungi utilize carbon from plant roots. In exchange, the fungi helps solubilize phosphorus and other nutrients, making them available for plant use. This process essentially extends the reach of plant roots, increasing their ability to tap nutrients.

Some soil bacteria form symbiotic relationships with plants to increase nutrient availability. Rhizobium bacteria infect the root hairs of specific legume species. In exchange for carbon, this bacteria fixes atmospheric nitrogen. This nitrogen is available for the plant itself to use. However, once the plant dies, the excess nitrogen is released and available for subsequent

April 2019 — Issue II

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plant use.

Water dynamics Through the processes outlined above, soil biology ultimately aids in soil water dynamics such as infiltration and water holding capacity. As organic matter increases, soil aggregation follows. As soils aggregate their particles, the pore space and porosity increases. Earthworms also aid in this process by burrowing through the soil, creating tunnels for water and roots to travel.

As pore space increases, the amount of water that can effectively infiltrate into the soil profile generally increases. The goal is to get the water in the ground and to minimize run off. Soil biology aids in that process. A soil’s available water-holding capacity is also aided by soil biology. Organic matter is very efficient at holding water.

As biologically active soils increase organic matter, their capacity to hold water can increase.

This process tends to be more effective on coarser soils. Clay substrate soils may have a lesser impact as the clay itself is the driver for its capacity to hold water.

The Land & Livestock Post

News

In the weeds

Get control in pastures and hay meadows

S

By RoBeRt FeaRs Special to The Post

pring is arriving after a fairly wet winter, a perfect environment for bumper weed crops.

Now is the time to plan a weed control program that will provide results, not failures. In the following discussion, a weed is considered a plant out of place. In that context, a weed is a broad-leaf herbaceous plant, tree or brush, grass or sedge depending on where it is located.

The following discussion is patterned after a presentation at the 2018 Beef Cattle Short Course by Vanessa Corriher-Olson of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. The title of her presentation was “Control of Weeds in Pastures & Hay Meadows.”

Three basic ways to control weeds are good pasture management, mowing and herbicides. There is no better weed control agent than plant competition. When pastures are managed for maximum production, desired grasses usually crowd out weeds.

Good pasture management requires maintenance of proper soil pH and fertility and the right grazing pressure.

Mowing or shredding is the least economical and efficient method of weed control. An economical comparison between mowing and herbicide applications is presented in Table 1.

The example in Table 1 shows a $3.79 per acre savings by using herbicides instead of mowing. Each producer should use his or her own cost figures in determining which method is the

The Land & Livestock Post

Photo by Robert Fears Shredders are normally less economical than herbicides for weed control, although each producer should decide which is better for his or her operation.

most economical.

Why herbicides fail

In weed control, there are many reasons herbicide applications fail,



April 2019 — Issue II

but the primary one is timing. Most pasture and hay meadow herbicides depend upon foliar absorption to be effective and don’t have enough soil residual activity to kill emerging plants. For good results, it is neces-

sary to time applications after most of the target weed population has appeared.

Most pasture herbicides are plant

See WEEDS, Page 12

11

News Weeds, from Page 13 -species specific, therefore it is important for managers to have good plant identification skills so the right herbicide is selected. It takes practice and dedication to develop plant identification skills, but accomplishing this ability is rewarding and beneficial.

There are excellent identification guides available that contain color photographs of plants with written descriptions. These guides serve as important training materials.

When you can’t identify a plant using a guide, pull it up with the roots and take it to the local county agricultural agent or Natural Resources Conservation Service office for identification.

“Bad environmental or

Photo by Robert Fears Choice of a weed control method depends on the individual situation.

weather conditions, such as drought, can cause herbicide to fail,” Corriher-Olson said.

“Spraying during bad environmental conditions can also lead to herbicide damage to desired forage.

“If the desired forage is stressed by drought, low soil fertility or frost, it may be more sensitive to herbicides than it would under more favorable conditions.

“Product labels contain recommended temperature ranges and wind velocities for successful applications.”

Spraying at the wrong growth stage of the weed also causes failures. Again, this in-

See HERBICIDE, Page 13

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Herbicide, from Page 12 formation is on the product label. Always look at the weed species listed on the label. If your problem weed isn’t listed, then that particular herbicide probably won’t control it.

A common cause of ineffective herbicide treatments is failure to calibrate the sprayer. Calibration is a simple, easy task and should be executed at the beginning of every spray day. Fact sheets are available that describe how to calibrate sprayers. Mistakes often are made because of failure to read the product label. Product labels contain a large amount of “how-to” information and can provide an education on herbicide application.

Methods of herbicide application Herbicides are applied in many dif-

ferent ways, depending on the situation. Broadcast applications are recommended for large infestations of herbaceous weeds and woody plants in densities of 350 to 400 stems per

acre. This method of application is accomplished through spray booms or cluster nozzles attached to ground sprayers, fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters.

Small areas of herbaceous plants economically are spot treated with foliar sprays applied through a hand-

See TREAT, Page 14

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April 2019 — Issue II

13

News Treat, from Page 13 gun. Individual plant treatments are used to control woody plants with densities of less than 350 stems per acre and when individual plants are removed from populations of desirable plants. Types of individual plant treatments include high volume foliar, basal stem, and basal cut stump.

“High volume sprays, also referred to as leaf spray methods, are the most effective on plants that are less than 8 feet tall and contain a lot of leaf material. All foliage of each plant is sprayed until the leaves are almost to the point of dripping,” said James Jackson of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

“Handheld sprayers, backpack sprayers, cattle sprayers or sprayers mounted on 4-wheel all-terrain vehicles are suitable application equipment. Handheld sprayers work well in small areas, whereas backpack spray-

APRIL Apr. 6 Apr. 6 Apr. 13 Apr. 13 Apr. 13 Apr. 13 Apr. 18 Apr. 20 Apr. 27 Apr. 27

ers are usually more efficient in dense stands of brush. [All-terrain vehicle] sprayers are better on large acreages or where plants are far apart. The spray gun attached to the [all-terrain vehicle] sprayer should have an adjustable cone nozzle, such as a Conejet 5500-X6 or -X8 capable of delivering a coarse spray to the top of an 8-foot tree.”

“Basal stem sprays are very effective on plants with stems less than 4 inches in diameter. This type of treatment is also most effective on woody plants with smooth bark,” CorriherOlson said.

“Basal stem sprays can be effectively applied anytime during the year, but applications are easier during the dormant period when there is better access to the stems.”

The most efficient way to apply basal sprays is with a backpack sprayer, although a garden pump sprayer or any type of hand sprayer will work

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as well.

A nozzle with a small orifice, such as Conjet 5500-X1 delivers the right amount and pattern of spray. Adjust the nozzle tip to deliver a narrow, cone-shaped mist and apply the mixture lightly and evenly to each basal stem from the ground line up to about 1 foot high. Make sure that the spray mixture wraps completely around each stem.

Basal cut stump sprays are used for treating stumps to prevent resprouting after trees or other woody plants have been removed mechanically.

Spray sides of the stump, including any above-ground roots, and the outer portion of the cut surface, including the cambium layer along the inner bark. Thoroughly wet the stem and root collar area, but not to the point of run-off.

Treat any time of the year, as long as water or snow doesn’t prevent a good application.

Control of specific problem sedges and grasses

Nutsedge is a problem in some low, wet areas of pastures and hayfields.

If feasible, provide drainage to these areas so the soil doesn’t stay wet for long periods of time. Plateau herbicide is labeled for control of yellow and purple nutsedge as well as sedge in permanent grass pastures and established grass crops. It requires a postemergence application after 100% bermudagrass green-up. Expect bermudagrass growth suppression after treatment.

Bahiagrass is a weed when it grows unwanted in a bermudagrass pasture or hayfield. Control options are Cimarron Plus, Pastora or Chaparral. Apply one of the three listed herbicides early in the spring prior to seedhead formation. Neither of the three herbicides

See APPLY, Page 15

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April 2019 — Issue II

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Apply, from Page 14 have grazing restrictions.

Crabgrass is a summer annual and considered a forage by many producers. In bermudagrass, it is considered a weed.

Roundup is labeled for crabgrass control with applications immediately after the first cutting of bermudagrass hay.

Pastora also is labeled for crabgrass control.

“Johnsongrass is a perennial and can be controlled with Roundup, Outrider or Pastora. Grassburs, also referred to as sandburs, is a warm-season perennial,” Corriher-Olson said.

“The weed has a negative effect on hay quality and reduces its value.

“Grassburs take advantage

Hay, from Page 4 a risk factor; however, for those plants baled into hay,

Published by Bryan-College Station Communications, Inc. (979) 776-4444 or (800) 299-7355

President - Crystal Dupré .....................................................Ext. 4613 Publisher and Editor- Darren Benson ....................................Ext. 4653 Advertising manager - Linda Brinkman ................................ Ext. 4719 Advertising Sales/General Manager - Jesse Wright ...............Ext. 4721 Finance Director - Kathy Brewer...........................................Ext. 4605 Production Director - Jerry Buck...........................................Ext. 4671 Circulation Director - Greg Parker ........................................Ext. 4752

Published by Bryan-College Station Communications, Inc., P.O. Box 3000, Bryan,Texas 77805.

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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Eagle, P.O. Box 3000, Bryan,Texas 77805-3000 The Post is printed in part on recycled paper and is fully recyclable.

of weak stands of forage, so proper forage management is an important control method.

Chemical control options are postemergence applications of Roundup or Pastora or preemergence applications of PROWL H2O.” Problem herbaceous broadleaf plants include thistles (bull, field, musk and yellow), blackberry, greenbriar and Carolina horsenettle. Woody plants include honey locust, eastern red cedar and mesquite. Prickly pear cactus is a problem in many pastures as well.

County agricultural agents can provide Texas A&M AgriLife weed control recommendations.

For successful herbicide apPhoto courtesy of North Star Helicopters plications, read and follow the Broadcast foliar sprays can be applied product label and correctly with ground equipment,fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. calibrate the sprayer. proper raking and drying should dissipate most of the toxin. As an aside, those grazing pastures at risk of prussic acid poisoning can visit with their veterinarian or local Extension personnel for strategies to utilize the pasture. More cattle benefit from the nutrition available in those pastures than those that are at risk.

Wet conditions during baling predispose the hay to mold growth. Aspergillus is fungus commonly found in rotting vegetation. Wet hay warms inside the bale creating an ideal environment for Aspergillus growth. As cattle eat into the bale, they are exposed to the mold. Affected cattle develop a respiratory syndrome.

Hay, namely alfalfa hay, that is fed to horses should

The Land & Livestock Post



be screened carefully for blister beetles that contain cantharadin, which can cause colic-like symptoms, increased urination, recumbency and death.

Hay conditions may make for challenges for livestock producers.

Beyond the nutritive value, being aware of other risks may help keep livestock healthy.

April 2019 — Issue II

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News Charles and Carolyn Brown

Longtime fixtures in education and agriculture that he’s coached who are now in agriculture and very active,” Mazurkiewicz said. “Regardless of what ethnic group we’re talking about, we all need mentors and role models in our lives. He has my highest respect and admiration.”

Carolyn’s farm and ranch experience originates from early in

By KENNY WILEY kenny.wiley@theeagle.com

In 2014, on a fall Friday night under the lights, Carolyn and Charles Brown stood on the Buddy Moorhead Memorial Stadium turf in Conroe, wearing purple jerseys to represent the 1960 and 1965 state champions from Conroe’s Booker T. Washington High School.

That night, the Browns said, was one of celebration: Charles Brown coached the pre-integration Bulldogs and brought home two Prairie View Interscholastic League state titles. The league was the governing body for black schools. According to reporting from the Houston Chronicle, members of both squads from the 1960s received state championship rings from Conroe High’s principal between quarters that night nearly five years ago.

In his 2017 book Thursday Night Lights: The Story of Black High School Football in Texas, Michael Hurd describes the 2014 ceremony as “an evening of remembrance, recognition and healing facilitated by high school football.”

Today, Carolyn and Charles Brown live well, north of Downtown Bryan on Lazy B-5 Ranch in southern Robertson County, which the couple has owned and operated since its 1977 beginning. They run the Brahman cattle ranch on Sadberry Farm — land that has been in Carolyn’s family since 1895. Her grandfather, John Riley Sadberry, was a former slave and bought 3,000 acres of land for 12 cents an acre after working as a sharecropper post-enslavement, according to Carolyn.

The Browns have been married since 1955. They met in the early 1950s and were married on the Sadberry Farm. Charles coached and Carolyn taught students pre- and post-integration throughout their respective

16

her life. Her parents and grandparents owned and operated the Sadberry Farm, which was an extensive farm and ranch operation that included cattle, cotton, pecans, fruit orchards, sheep, goats, hay and produce.

Born Carolyn Joyce Sadberry,

See Browns, Page 17

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Eagle photo by Laura McKenzie Charles “Coach” Brown and his wife, Carolyn, live on Lazy B-5 Ranch in southern Robertson County and run the Brahman cattle ranch on Sadberry Farm — land that has been in Carolyn’s family since 1895. careers. Charles began coaching in 1950, and Carolyn began teaching in 1951, and they have shaped thousands of students’ lives. Their careers culminated with positions at Texas A&M University in the 1980s.

Jim Mazurkiewicz, a former AgriLife Extension agent for Brazos County, praised the Browns for their work in numerous aspects of the agriculture world.

The Browns have worked over the years, they said, with Texas A&M Extension, The A&M Beef Cattle Short Course and the Texas Department of Agriculture.

Mazurkiewicz said he first met “Coach Brown,” as many call him, in October 1986 in Brenham.

He asked Charles to serve on the Brazos County Extension Beef Committee that year.

Mazurkiewicz said it is important for advisory committees to

mirror the industries they serve and represent in terms of race, gender and more — a consideration that led to his initial invitation.

“I was initially star-struck by his passion and knowledge in our industry,” Mazurkiewicz said.

At a ceremony earlier this month, Texas A&M’s Animal Science department established the Charles Brown Endowed Fellowship, designed to support graduate students and research projects in the beef cattle industry.

The endowment’s supporters include former A&M head coaches R.C. Slocum and Jackie Sherrill.

Coach Brown, who said he served as a recruiter under Sherrill, has rings from A&M’s Cotton Bowl victories following the 1985 and 1987 seasons. “ I h ave m e t s eve r a l o f Charles’s past football players

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The land & livestock Post

News Browns, from Page 16 she graduated from Prairie View A&M in 1951. She also has graduate degrees from Prairie View, the University of Houston and from Colorado A&M, which today is Colorado State University.

She became a teacher and worked for six different Texas school districts. After living apart in the initial years of their marriage, the two were able to find jobs in the same school district beginning in Conroe in the 1960s.

Her career in education culminated with a position at Texas A&M’s College of Education supervising student teachers.

Beyond being an active presence in schools and with her husband’s football programs, Carolyn’s community work has ranged widely, she said. She has endeavored to bring water to rural areas in central Texas through the OSR Water Supply Corporation board. She has also spent time on the board of the Landowners Association of Texas. Carolyn has committed to years of work on road preservation and improving rural maintenance and signage, preservation of mineral right ownership for oil leases and preservation of the Wilson Chapel Cemetery.

Her father, she said, died in a car accident when she was 3.

“My older sister told me I was just like my father used to be. She said, ‘You’re always working on something.’ I guess I got that from him — enjoying working on the roads, working with commissioners. It’s something I’ve always done,” Carolyn said.

Wayne Sadberry, a cousin of Carolyn’s and curator at the Brazos Valley African American Museum since 2006, described his cousin as intelligent, thoughtful and “a fine person.”

“In a segregated society, which is what we all grew up in, we had to depend on each other and focus on each other,” Sadberry said.

“Teachers like Carolyn went beyond just being a teacher. They cared about you as a person, and that’s the kind of thing you’d see in those communities.”

Charles Brown, who grew up near Lake Conroe in Montgom-

We started with this...

ery County, began his coaching career in 1950 in Shepherd, just after he graduated from Texas College.

“I was the one coach, and I coached everything, every sport — boys, girls, everything,” he said.

He coached at Shepherd’s Dixon High for three years before entering the U.S. Army. Brown served as player-coach on a football team in the 1954 Armed Forces Europe championship, then returned to Texas and coached at Livingston’s all-black Dunbar High.

“I was working in Livingston, and she was working in Navasota,” Charles said. “We would only see each other on weekends.

There weren’t apartments then — not for black people, anyway — so she was living with a family there and I was living with a family in Livingston. There weren’t black motels in a lot of those towns, and so I would come to where she stayed or vice versa.”

Charles said that though Deep Southern states such as Alabama and Mississippi had the highestprofile Jim Crow conditions, he described Texas’ culture of segregation and white supremacy as “no different.”

“There were black water fountains and white ones, you had separate restrooms and we had to go to the back of a white café.

They didn’t have restrooms for Negroes, to use the terms they used then. The schools were separate, and we had to get secondhand books,” he said.

“The white schools played on Friday nights, and we had to play on Thursday or Saturday,” he added. Brown said he would not accept hand-me-down pads, helmets or other equipment from Conroe High School, which was entirely white before integration.

Both Browns helped raise funds with boosters to be able to purchase new equipment.

“I enjoyed coaching because I was doing something I knew something about,” he said. “I love sports. As a coach, you liked to see a raw talent come to you and then look at them a month later,

See FIXTURES, Page 19

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Fixtures, from Page 17 a season later. It was great to see them develop,” he said.

In 1960, after both Browns moved to Conroe, Coach Brown’s Washington Bulldogs prepared to host Midland Carver for the Prairie View Interscholastic League 2A title game.

Black people were not allowed in Conroe’s main stadium. “You could peek in through the fence,” Coach Brown said, “but we couldn’t go in.”

The school district eventually allowed Washington High and its team to host the title game in Conroe’s stadium. “The night before the game,” Brown told Hurd, “they let my daddy in because he was a preacher. He walked around the track, and I found out later that he had been praying for us.”

In Thursday Night Lights, Hurd described the Browns as “a formidable force,” positively influencing students at Washington High.

He wrote that Carolyn cooked for the team before every home

game and fed the players at the Browns’ home. She also repaired uniforms and practice jerseys.

“Since the school district didn’t provide a washing machine,” Hurd wrote, “Carolyn stepped in as laundress. ... It was not unusual to pass the Browns’ house and see freshly washed football uniforms hanging from the family fence.”

“We lost nine games in six years,” Charles Brown told the Chronicle in 2014 of his time at Conroe Washington.

“Four of those were in the playoffs. We didn’t have many problems with discipline.

“I’ve seen a lot of these guys over the years, and it’s great to stay in touch.”

His 36-year career ended with an overall record of 203 wins, 101 losses and one tie.

Sadberry described the longtime couple as invaluable to the community.

“They’re positive images and people. People who know them respect them.

“They’re genuine and they’re real solid people.”

S ’ N T A O M P E L C T U T T A C

REPLACEMENT FEMALE SALE

MAY 18, 2019 • NOON Mid-Tex Livestock Auction, LLC (4 miles east of Navasota, TX on Hwy 90)

1,200 Head of Quality Replacement Females Including Pairs, Bred Cows, Bred & Open Heifers These cattle have all been screened to ensure you only the best quality commercial cattle will be offered.

Cattle will be palpated and sold in uniformly sorted groups to fit any cattleman’s needs.

Cypress Creek focus of April 25 training Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

HOUSTON — A Texas Watershed Steward workshop related to water quality in Cypress Creek will be held from 12:30-4:30 p.m.

April 25.

The workshop will be at the Prairie View A&M Northwest Educational Building, 9449 Grant Road in Houston. It is presented by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board in cooperation with the Houston-Galveston Area Council.

The workshop is free and open to anyone interested in improving water quality in the region.

“This workshop is designed to help watershed residents improve and protect their water resources by becoming involved in local watershed protection and management activities,” said Michael Kuitu, AgriLife Extension program specialist and coordina-

tor for the Texas Watershed Steward program in College Station.

“The workshop will provide an overview of water quality and watershed management in Texas, but will primarily focus on area water quality, including current efforts to improve and protect Cypress Creek,” said Shannon Dietz, AgriLife Extension agent for Harris County. “It will address issues related to local water resources but will be applicable to all waters in the region.”

Doors will open at noon, and a free lunch will be provided by the AgriLife Extension office in Harris County for those who preregister for the workshop by April 22. Preregister at the Texas Watershed Steward website at tws. tamu.edu.

For more information on the Texas Watershed Steward program and to preregister, go to the website or contact Kuitu at 979-862-4457, mkuitu@tamu.edu; or Shannon Dietz at 713-274-0950 orshannon.dietz@ag.tamu.edu.

The Land & Livestock Post

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J

n

ohnso CaTTle MarkeTing Tom Johnson

440 FM 246 • Wortham, TX 76693 903-599-2403 • Mobile 817-291-5121 Find us on Facebook!

Motel accommodations (navasota): Best Western (936) 870-4100 Super 8 (936) 825-7775 Comfort inn & Suites (936) 825-9461

On Friday, May 10th, all sale cattle with photos will be featured at www.JohnsonCattleMarketing.com

April 2019 — Issue II

19

Springtime in Texas Beefmaster Sale

APRIL 27, 2019

10:30 A.M. BRENHAM, TEXAS Washington County Fairgrounds

★ 80 Lots ★

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: Friday, April 26: View Cattle all Day 6 pm - Social and Supper Saturday, April 27: 10:30 a.m. - Sale

Also featuring the dispersal of

H. G. & Jill Griffin’s Red Herd and the complete dispersal of

John Phillips Flying P Ranch Hwy. 36 Washington County Fairgrounds

Hwy. 105

★

Hwy. 290 Hwy. 36

to Austin

HOTELS: LaQuinta 979/836-5551 Holiday Inn 979/836-4590 Comfort 979/421-8100 Ramada 979/836-1300 Best Western 979/251-7791 Days Inn 979/830-1110

Hwy. 577 Horton Street

Hwy. 290 to Houston

EARLY CONSIGNORS INCLUDE: Rick Seeker J.C. Thompson Mackie Bounds H. G. Griffin Carl & Fran Ditta John Phillips Curt Karisch Hans Wittenburg

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Barney & Margie Lowery Tony Psencik Justin Rhodes Channarock Farm Mike Wrobleski Neal Hiatt Panther Creek Bradley Cattle Services

SALE MANAGER: Three G Sales & Service Mike Green

PO Box 304, Franklin, GA 30217 979/229-6563 Mobile threeg1990@yahoo.com Find us on Facebook @ 3G Sales & Service

Auctioneer: Anthony Mihalski 210/415-0888

April 2019 — Issue II

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The Land & Livestock Post