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Wichita County Ag Outlooks

“A local discussion of current science and issues concerning agriculture in Wichita County , Texas”

February 25, 2012 New The Survivors From The Drought Of 2011

Beth Turlington notes that last fall, the Wichita County Master Gardeners began asking homeowners to tell us what survived in their landscapes during the heat and drought.  We also asked about watering practices, if mulch was used, sun exposure, and what soil type plants were growing in.

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February 23, 2012 Does Food Equal Feed?

Dr. Judy Capper, Washington State University wrote and interesting column in the recent Beef Issues Quarterly that questions if livestock really compete with humans for food.

Jonathan Foley at the University of Minnesota’s Institute of the Environment  suggests we can feed up to 10 billion people in 2050 by improving crop yields, reducing deforestation and reducing meat and dairy consumption. These are logical suggestions, yet the proposal that meat and dairy consumption should be reduced is likely to be the most-debated, particularly as livestock industry stakeholders may regard this as yet another attack on animal agriculture.

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February 22, 2012 Canadian Cattle Numbers Continue To Shrink

The CME Daily Livestock Report notes that Canadian cattle supplies have been shrinking since 2005 and, in the short term beef supplies will likely be even tighter as producers try to hold back heifers and rebuild the herd. Probably the most surprising information from the statistics Canada released on Monday was that the number of beef cows on January 1, 2012 was down 1% from the previous year.

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February 21, 2012 2012-2013 Wichita County Horseman’s Directory Now Available

This week the 2012-2013 Wichita County Horseman’s Directory hit the local stores. Nearly 1,500 copies are distributed by the Wichita Extension Horse Committee (WEHC) on a bi-annual basis. The publication is iconic in the area horse community and can be found on pickup dashboards and glove compartments as well as office desks and on the “phonebook” shelf. And maybe the best part is it is free to the public.

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February 14, 2012 Farm Credit Supports Referendum On Grain Idenmity Fund

Farm Credit lending cooperatives in Texas have committed more than $32,000 to assist the state’s grain growers. The donation will help promote and conduct a referendum that, if approved, would establish an indemnity fund to help protect grain producers in the event of financial failure by an elevator or a storage facility.

 

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February 13, 2012 How Will Contining Dry Weather Change The Texas Horse Industry

Pat Raia with the Horse.com noted that some horse rescue operators wonder how the persistent lack of rain in southern and central will affect their missions and the future of the horse industry in that state.

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February 10, 2012 Market Responds Lower To USDA Report

USDA updated yesterday its forecasts for grain and meat supplies 2012. Much of the focus in the grain front remains on the progress of S. American crops and USDA confirmed notable reductions in Argentine corn production and Brazilian soybean output. Grain futures went lower following bearish surprises in the wheat complex.

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February 9, 2012 2012-2013 Horseman’s Directorys Now Available

This week the 2012-2013 Wichita County Horseman’s Directory hit the local stores. Over 2,500 copies are printed by the Wichita Extension Horse Committee (WEHC) on a bi-annual basis. The publication is iconic in the area horse community and can be found on pickup dashboards and glove compartments as well as office desks and on the “phonebook” shelf. And maybe the best part is it is free to the public.

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February 8, 2012 “Newly Minted” Master Gardeners Recognized

The most recent class of Wichita Master Gardener interns advanced to full-fledged Master Gardeners at the association’s regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 7. The Master Gardener training included over 50 hours of classroom training and then 60 hours of volunteer service at Master Gardener projects throughout the county.

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February 6, 2012 Spray Water Quality Matters in Herbicide Efficacy

Effective pesticide application requires attention to factors that influence product performance such as: product selection, label instructions, equipment calibration and application timing. However, one factor that doesn’t get much attention is the quality of the water used to spray the product.

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