Early Weed Control

Early weed control in pastures may be one big key to pasture recovery and acceptable forage production this spring.  We have had an extremely wet fall and winter rains for soil moisture to carry us to spring green up. Thousands of acres of Wise County range and pasture support excessive cover of weeds and brush due to over grazing that use valuable water and reduce grass production.  The result of overgrazing will result in increased soil erosion. These noxious plants must be managed effectively for pastures to reach their production potential. Use of herbicides provides an effective and efficient alternative for controlling weeds to improve pastures and maintain them in a highly productive condition.

Some herbicides provide a high degree of control of certain species; however, seldom is a species eradicated. Consider other potential rangeland uses when developing a brush management program. Many trees, shrubs and forbs are valuable as food and cover for wildlife and may be an important component in livestock diets. Therefore, a brush management program should provide for use of control methods that give optimum benefits to livestock and wildlife.

Herbicide application may increase palatability of poisonous plants. Thus, they are more likely to be consumed by livestock. To prevent losses to toxic plants, herbicide-treated areas with poisonous plants present should not be grazed until the toxic plants dry up and lose their palatability.

Properly used herbicides are effective and safe. Misuse can result in poor brush and weed control and possible hazards associated with herbicidal drift, dangerous residues, or killing desirable plants. Listed below are points to follow for proper herbicide use:

·         Identify the weed or brush species and evaluate the need for control.

·         Consider expected benefits, costs and alternative control practices.

·         Select and purchase the suggested herbicide for the weed or brush species.

·         Read and follow herbicide label directions for allowable uses, application

        rates and special handling or mixing requirements.

·          Provide and require the use of proper safety equipment.

·          Calibrate spray equipment.

·          Mix herbicides in a ventilated area, preferably outside.

·          Spray under conditions that prevent drift to susceptible crops.

·          Apply the herbicides at the suggested rate and time.

·          Keep a record of the herbicide used, the time required to spray, weather

conditions, rate of herbicide in carrier, date, location and the person using

the herbicide.

The sprayer used must apply the correct quantity of herbicide mixture to a specific area. To calibrate spray equipment, see Extension publication L-5465 (available at the Extension office), “Weed Busters: Sprayer Calibration Guide.” 

Suggested herbicides must be registered and labeled for use by the Environmental Protection Agency.  Because the status of herbicide label clearance is subject to change, be certain that the herbicide is currently labeled for the intended use.

The user is always responsible for the effects of herbicide residue on his livestock and crops, as well as for problems that could arise from drift or movement of the herbicide from his property to that of others. Always read and follow carefully the instructions on the container label.

For more information on early weed control, contact the Wise County Texas AgriLife Extension office at 940-627-3341.

Extension Service Offers Volunteer Opportunities

Finding reliable resources on health and wellness information can be a challenge. Since 1906, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has provided Texans with guidance in various health areas and is now training volunteers to provide more communities with the education and tools needed for healthy living.

The Master Wellness Volunteer Initiative is an AgriLife Extension program that provides volunteers with 40 hours of training in health and nutrition education. In return, the volunteers agree to give back 40 hours of service. In 2016 four Wise County residents earned the designation as Master Wellness Volunteers: Sylvia Elenburg, Karen Shawn, Cristina Cantu, and Connie Swain. In 2017 we are looking to train more volunteers so that additional Wise County residents can be reached with high-quality, relevant education that encourages lasting and effective change.

So, what exactly is a Master Wellness Volunteer?  Let’s start by defining wellness. Wellness is a state of health that doesn’t just involve the absence of an illness. It encompasses a person’s physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and financial well-being. It is my job as the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Family and Consumer Sciences agent to promote wellness for our community through teaching others.  Master Wellness Volunteers will have that same opportunity!

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has many programs for everyday folks to deliver to anyone.  Master Wellness Volunteers can help teach classes to any age group about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables.  They can serve as Walk Across Texas site managers.  Love to cook? Master Wellness Volunteers can assist with or provide healthy recipe demonstrations for people at various programs. The opportunities are endless.

Being a Master Wellness Volunteer doesn’t have to mean getting up in front of people and teaching a class. It can also mean helping with administrative tasks, like helping to register people for programming, entering important data into computers that is gathered from AgriLife Extension programs, and designing newsletters or flyers. There is a something for everyone!

What’s in it for you? General H. Norman Schwarzkopf certainly knew about the side of humanity that longs for self-fulfillment when he stated, “you cannot help someone get up a hill without getting closer to the top yourself.” The Master Wellness Volunteer program offers this sense of fulfillment with every hour of service donated.

Volunteer training will be held on the following dates: February 7, 23 and March 7 and 3 days study at home/online. For an application and more information, please contact Wise County’s Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office at 940/627-3341 or e-mail ttdavis@ag.tamu.edu.

Soil & Water Sampling – Why should we do it?

Soil Sampling:

            We are entering into the middle of winter season – leaves have fallen and lawns are going dormant.  What does this mean?  Well, for most of us, it means no more mowing or fertilizing until spring.  With that being said, it’s a perfect time to take advantage of a very important part of turf management – taking a soil sample!

            Unfortunately, most people in Wise County have never taken a soil sample.  It’s a very easy task and the information obtained from the analysis is vital in creating an environmentally safe nutrient management program for your turfgrass.  Without an analysis of your soil, you could be applying nitrates, phosphates, and other constituents into your soil that are not required.  Furthermore, you could be damaging both the turf and the environment if you use inorganic or organic fertilizers inappropriately.

            So, this month, come by the local County Extension office and make the right choice for your turf and your environment – take a soil sample.  It is inexpensive and will pay dividends down the road!

            For more information on “Soil Sampling”, go to the Aggie-Turf web site at http://aggie-turf.tamu.edu and click on “News/Publications”.

Water Sampling:

            Many times, you hear folks talking about taking soil samples in order to apply the correct type and rate of fertilizer for their turfgrass.   But should we analyze our irrigation water as well?  The answer is “yes”!

            Poor quality water from irrigation wells exists throughout Texas.  Some have a high sodium content which can create problems with turf and ornamentals.  Water with high pH values may limit nutrient availability in soils and promote certain turf diseases.  Other waters may have toxic levels of some chemical constituents.  As a result, turfgrass quality can be compromised and additional irrigation from this type of irrigation water will only compound the problem.

            A water analysis provides critical information pertaining to the types and amounts of elements found in your irrigation water.  It also provides the necessary information required to determine how well suited your water is for outdoor irrigation.  So, to put your mind at ease about your water source, take a sample!

            For more information on “Water Sampling”, go to the Aggie-Turf web site at http://aggie-turf.tamu.edu and click on “News/Publications”.

Red River Crops Conference

CHILDRESS – The fourth annual Red River Crops Conference is set for Jan. 24-25 at the Childress Event Center, 1100 N.W. 7th St., Childress.

“Planning for Success – Crop Production Information Designed for Southwest Oklahoma and the Texas Rolling Plains,” will be hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension.

The annual conference alternates between Oklahoma and Texas and addresses special agricultural production circumstances in the Red River region in both states, according to Dr. Emi Kimura, AgriLife Extension agronomist in Vernon.

There will be a $25 per person registration fee, and preregistration is encouraged. Make checks payable to the Red River Crops Conference. For a copy of the registration form, go to http://agrilife.org/redrivercropsconference/ or contact any county Extension office in Texas or Oklahoma.

Registration forms should be mailed to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Childress County Courthouse, Box 9, Childress, Texas 79201.

Continuing education units will be offered, including 12 for certified crop advisors, six for Texas Department of Agriculture private pesticide applicators and four from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.

Both days will begin with registration at 8 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. Cotton will be featured on Jan. 24 and in-season and summer crops will be featured on Jan. 25.

The following are topics and speakers for the Jan. 24 Cotton Day:

– National Cotton Council Update – Dr. Jody Campiche, National Cotton Council director, economics and policy analysis, Memphis, Tennessee.

– Cotton Market Update and Outlook – Dr. John Robinson, AgriLife Extension economist cotton marketing, College Station.

– Cotton Weed Control and Herbicide Update – Dr. Todd Baughman, Oklahoma State University Institute for Agricultural Biosciences program support leader, Ardmore, Oklahoma.

– Bacterial Blight Management – Dr. Jason Woodward, AgriLife Extension/Texas A&M associate department head for plant pathology and microbiology, Lubbock.

– Texas and Oklahoma Cotton Genetic Performance and Variety Update – Dr. Gaylon Morgan AgriLife Extension agronomist-cotton, College Station, and Dr. Randy Boman, Oklahoma State University Southwest Research and Extension Center research director and cotton Extension program leader, Altus, Oklahoma.

– Cotton Insect Management – Dr. David Kerns, Louisiana State University Jack Hamilton Regents Chair in cotton production, Winnsboro, Louisiana.

– Crop Profitability Evaluation and Spreadsheet Analyzer, Dr. Jackie Smith, AgriLife Extension economist-management, Lubbock.

These topics and speakers are scheduled for the Jan. 25                                         In-Season and Summer Crops Day:

– Grain and Livestock Market Update – Dr. Mark Welch, AgriLife Extension economist-grain marketing, College Station.

– Permanent Pasture Production and Management – Dr. Larry Redmon, AgriLife Extension Regents Professor and associate department head for soil and crops sciences, College Station.

– Canola Production and Management – Dr. Josh Lofton, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service assistant professor and cropping systems specialist, Stillwater, Oklahoma.

– Mid-term Review of the 2014 Farm Bill – Dr. Joe Outlaw, AgriLife Extension economist, College Station.

– Annual Forage Production and Management – Kimura and Gary Strickland, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service dryland cropping systems specialist, Altus, Oklahoma.

– Grain Sorghum Production and Management, Dr. Jourdan Bell, AgriLife Extension agronomist, Amarillo.

– Agronomic and Economic Evaluation of Cover Crops, Dr. Paul DeLaune, Texas A&M AgriLife Research environmental soil science, Vernon.

For more information please contact: Dr. Emi Kimura, 940-552-9941 ext. 233, emi.kimura@ag.tamu.edu