The Answer To Fire Ant Control In Your Yard

Fire Ants are everywhere.  We usually see most of our fire ant problems in the spring and early summer, but this year fire ants are doing very well this fall.  The warm weather and fall rains have caused them to flourish.

Treat your yards and neighborhood this fall for fire ant relief where needed and be prepared to hit them hard this coming spring and summer. Fire ants love to nest in home lawns, parks and ornamental turf grass areas. At certain times of the year, freshly worked mounds are noticeable and can be unsightly. During the winter months, there’s very little ant mounding activity and it is easy to forget they are there.

However, after all of the early fall rainfall, fire ant activity has increased.  It is during these times when the ants are very active and can cause more problems especially when everyone wants to be outside after being indoors all winter long.  The last thing you want at your outdoor activity is a colony of angry fire ants ready to take over and turn your happy occasion into a miserable one.  Did you know that the fire ant is a native of Brazil, and was imported from this country through Mobile, Alabama in the 1930’s?

Don’t wait until you have serious ant problems. Keep those problems from happening by maintaining a good control program throughout the year.  Fire ants travel from yard to yard (they could care less about property lines) and are easily dispersed due to periodic mating flights.  Did you know that the fire ant queen lives for 2-5 years and can produce up to 800 eggs per day?  Also, remember a high percentage of the mounds in Texas have multiple queens, meaning there is no territorial behavior, resulting in excessive numbers of fire ant mounds per acre or in the homeowners case, per yard!  Because most of our mounds have multiple queens, and may be spread over larger areas than we actually see, just sprinkling a product over the top of the mound may not reduce the entire population.  In areas where fire ants produce more mounds than you care to treat one at a time (usually more than 4 in a normal yard), or where you spend more time and money on insecticides than you would like to, there is an approach that is less labor-intensive, less toxic and more environmentally friendly.  It is called the Two-Step Method, Do-It-Yourself Fire Ant Control method. It is advocated by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. You can obtain a copy of the most recent fire ant management brochure (ENTO-034) by visiting the Texas A&M AgriLife Bookstore and download a copy. http://www.agrilifebookstore.org/Two-Step-Method-and-Other-Approaches-to-Fire-Ant-p/ento-034.htm.

The Two-Step Method goes like this:

The first step is to make a semi-annual, spring and fall, broadcast application of a fire ant bait insecticide. There are several fire ant baits available for use in urban areas such as hydramethylnon (Amdro), methoprene (Extinguish), hydramethylnon + methoprene (Extinguish Plus or Amdro Yard Treatment), pyriproxifen (Distance or Esteem), and spinosad (Ferti-Loam “Come and Get It” or Payback fire ant bait).  Other products can be found on the official Texas A&M Fire Ant web page, http://fireant.tamu.edu/controlmethods/products/.

Please consult the product label and read thoroughly for the broadcast instructions!

Periodic broadcast applications of fire ant baits provide roughly 90 percent suppression of fire ants when properly applied.  Baits can be broadcast over small to large areas using suitable hand-held, vehicle-mounted or aerial applicators. Apply a fresh bait product, when ants are foraging, to dry ground when no rain is expected for 24 to 48 hours after treatment.  Temperature should be between 65 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.  Speed and duration of ant suppression differs with the product selected.  For instance, broadcast applications of the hydramethylnon + methoprene fire ant bait provides maximum control two to four after application while methoprene fire ant bait (an insect growth regulator product) provides maximum suppression four to nine months after treatment, depending on environmental conditions.  Rarely are all colonies eliminated following treatment. Bi-annual applications of the bait product keeps pressure on the fire ant population so each subsequent baiting event is much more effective since less ants are present.

          

About one week to 10 days after bait application, apply individual mound treatments to “nuisance” ant colonies, such as those in sensitive or high traffic areas. Otherwise, be patient and wait for the bait treatments to work. Even though some bait products are relatively fast-acting, colonies remaining active after six weeks or so have “escaped” the effects of the bait treatment and should be treated with an individual mound treatment. Ant mound treatment products are available as liquid drenches, injectable aerosols, dusts, or granules that are watered in to the mound. Ants are killed only if the insecticide contacts them, so proper application is essential.  Colonies migrating into treated areas should be treated as needed.  Hundreds of effective individual mound treatment products are available to choose from, and a number of them are considered to be “organic.” 

For a two-step program that uses only natural products, broadcast a spinosad bait and then treat mounds with d-limonene or products containing unsynergized pyrethrins or drench with a spinosad liquid product solution.  On small properties where a high degree of control is needed, consider using the “Ant Elimination” method (described in ENTO-034) utilizing a granular fipronil product such as Top Choice®, or Taurus G®.  These are restricted pesticide products and can only be applied by a licensed pesticide applicator. Only one application is allowed per year preferably early spring.

None of the methods of fire ant control available today eliminate fire ants forever.  The bait application may be repeated, if environmental conditions are favorable, whenever sufficient re-invasion occurs.  Between these baiting treatments, nuisance mounds should be treated individually. These areas can be re-infested by colonies migrating in from surrounding areas or by newly-mated queens seeking to start new colonies. The rate of re-infestation depends on many factors such as weather, soil type and moisture, but ant populations can be expected to fully recover within 18 months of the last treatment.

Controlling the fire ant situation will be successful only if communities get involved. Your neighborhood association can coordinate a “Community-Wide Fire Ant Management Program” resulting in the treatment of your entire neighborhood each year, usually once in the fall (Late September through October) and once in the spring (Late April through early June), or contracting with a local commercial applicator to perform the treatment(s). Treatment of the entire area is important as re-infestation from nearby untreated areas generally occur.

Creep Feeding Your Calves

Some decisions are easier than others where your beef cattle operation is concerned.  The decision to creep feed or not creep feed is not an easy one for most producers.  Like most aspects of the beef business it’s a complex decision that should be analyzed each year since there are a lot of variables involved.  Each producer should weigh their variables when making the decision if creep feeding is financially feasible for them. 

            Creep feeding simply put is a way to supplement forage and milk for unweaned calves with a feed source not available to the mother.  Creeping is usually done in free choice feeders with feeds in the 10-15% range.  A 14% protein pellet is the most popular.  Nutritionists say forage quality is the dominant factor in selecting the protein level needed for creeping a set of calves.  Therefore, if you are creeping or considering creeping, it would be wise to know the nutritional content of the hay you are feeding. 

            Work at Virginia Tech reveals that milk from a lactating beef cow furnishes only about 50 per cent of the nutrients that a three to four month old calf needs for maximum growth.  The remaining nutrients must come from another source if the calf is to realize its genetic potential for growth.

            Calves full-fed a creep ration will usually weigh 40-70 pounds more than non-creep fed calves at 7-8 months of age.  Four years of research at the University of Missouri showed creep feeding increased the weaning weight of spring calves by 57 pounds and fall calves by 74 pounds.  On average it takes about 900 pounds of creep to put on each 100 pounds of extra wearing weight.  Good creep feeds are available locally for about 15 to 20 cents a pound, which translates to $135.00 - $180.00 to put on that extra 100 pounds.  Each producer should determine what their price expectations are at weaning, get out the calculator and see if the cost is feasible for their program.

            While advantages are obvious, there are also some disadvantages to creeping.  Creeping requires some additional labor.  It can also produce fleshy calves that are discounted at the market and may even impair future milk production on replacement heifers.

            If you have questions about creep feeding and whether it will benefit your operation, please call the Wise County Extension office at 940-627-3341.

Weight Loss Diets - Which One is the Best for You?

Was your New Year’s resolution to find a diet plan that will work for you?  As you consider diet plans, be careful not to choose a fad diet.  Most people go on and off fad diets numerous times in their lives and fall into the yo-yo syndrome of dropping weight followed by gaining weight.  The consequence of yo-yo dieting is that you lower your metabolism and end up at a heavier weight than when you started.  Fad diets don’t really teach you anything about behavior or lifestyle change that can lead to lasting weight loss.

Losing weight is a simple formula: Calories in minus calories out equals weight loss, weight gain, or maintenance.  Diet pills, detox plans, or supplements cannot change that formula.  In order to lose weight, you have to eat fewer calories and be more active. Just how do you know if an eating plan is healthy and sustainable?  Experts say a sound weight loss diet plan should:

• Include physical activity
• Allow a variety of foods from all the food groups
• Promote slow and steady weight loss
• Include portion control
• Allow snacks between meals
• Not rely heavily on supplements or special foods
• Include small portions of your favorite foods and beverages
• Recommend drinking plenty of water
• Be a plan that you can stick with for a lifetime

Once you know how to determine whether a weight loss eating plan is healthy, you'll need to narrow your choice down to one that suits your own lifestyle.  Evaluate the plan to be sure it matches the way you like to eat and exercise.  Is this an eating or physical activity plan that you think you can stay on for several months to achieve your weight loss goal?  Look for plans that promote foods that are fiber-rich, like soups, and have adequate protein, fruits, and vegetables.  These foods fill you up and reduce food cravings to help you stick to your eating plan without feeling deprived.

Some people prefer a diet plan that calls for specific foods and portion sizes to help them stay on track. Others like the flexibility of making their own food choices. As long as the diet plan includes a variety of healthy food ─ fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean protein ─ either type can work.

And finally, make sure the eating plan allows you enough food and calories: women should not generally go below 1,200 calories/day, and men should not go below 1,500 calories/day.

For additional information on weight loss diets, contact the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Wise County office at 940/627-3341.

Soups and Stews - A to Z

Do you have a kinder, more adaptable friend in the food world than soup? Who soothes you when you are ill? Who warms you in the winter and cools you in the summer? Soup does its loyal best. You don’t catch steak hanging around when you’re poor and sick, do you?  This quote comes from Judith Martin, better known as Miss Manners and directs us to think about soup and its benefits.

Soup is warmth and comfort, security and strength, ease and good flavor. With contemporary accessories like food processors, blenders and slow cookers, soups are beginning to qualify not only as down home cooking, but as practical, fast foods. The aroma of a simmering soup or stew can restore your spirits. And soups and stews are great when made ahead because their flavor improves overnight.

To make good soups, you need more taste than skill. The recipes you follow are only guides. Even if you follow a recipe slavishly and it is painstakingly detailed, the soup will never be exactly the same twice. The moral of this story is you must taste what you are cooking often. Don’t forget the food safety issue, always use a clean spoon.

Adjust the dish by adding more salt, pepper, spices, or herbs. Mustard, sugar, Worcestershire or soy sauce, red wine, bouillon cubes, drippings from a roast or a tiny bit of ground cloves to improve broths.

Stews and chilies typically have a tomato base and lots of meat. The pieces of meat and vegetables in a stew are generally larger than in a soup and the mixture is considerably thicker, Don’t cheat on the simmering time on stews-the long, slow simmer helps extract maximum flavor and ensures fork tender results.

Make sure the spoonful you taste is relatively cool. If it’s very hot, you won’t be aware of its real flavor. Sometimes just letting a soup sit for half an hour can improve it, so when you aren’t happy with your dish, walk away from it; then come back and taste again.

Many soups take on a richer taste if refrigerated for a day to give the flavors time to blend and develop. You can store soup in the refrigerator up to three days. Most soups freeze well, especially thick gumbos, chilies, and stews. Be sure and place soups and stews in small enough containers so that it will chill promptly in the center of the mixture. Package soups and stews in pint or quart plastic freezer containers or heavy-duty zip top freezer bags. Be sure to label them with the recipe name, date, and amount. Freeze soups up to three months.

For more information on Soups and Stews from A to Z, contact the Wise County Extension office at 940/627-3341.

Black-Eyed Pea Soup

4 bacon strips, diced                                                              
1 medium green pepper, chopped

1 small onion, chopped                                                          
2 garlic cloves, minced

2- 3 cans black eye peas (depending on preference)             
2 cans (15½ ounces each) diced         

1 cup water                                                                             
 1½ teaspoons salt                               

1 to 1 ¼ teaspoon ground cumin                                           
1 to 1 ¼ teaspoons ground mustard  

1 teaspoon chili powder                                                          
½ teaspoon curry powder               

½ teaspoon pepper                                                                 

¼ to ½ teaspoon sugar, optional Minced fresh parsley

Shredded Colby-Monterey Jack Cheese

In a large saucepan cook bacon over medium heat until crisp; remove to paper towels. Drain drippings, sauté the green pepper, onion and garlic until tender. Add peas, tomatoes, water and seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 -20 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese, parsley and bacon. Yield: 8 servings (2 quarts)