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Articles by Corrie Bowen
Be on lookout for two-spot cotton leafhopper
A new invasive pest, Cotton Jassid is sweeping through the Southeast United States. We have picked it up on hibiscus plants in retail nurseries throughout much of the state. It has not been detected outside of these retailers. The Texas Department of Agriculture has agreed to work collectively with home improvement stores to scout and destroy infected plants to prevent further spread of the pest.
New pasture, hayfield pest emerges
Many pastures and hayfields are experiencing an unusual insect problem. These fields have areas of various size that turn purple, and then some look entirely brown, or all of the grass is dead or dying. On July 22, Stephen Biles, Extension Agent for IPM in Calhoun and Victoria counties, visited several Bermudagrass hayfields in Victoria County responding to grower calls. The worst of these fields was entirely brown and desiccated.
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USDA prevented planting crop insurance listening sessions set
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently published a request for information, announcing public listening sessions and soliciting public comments on possible changes to prevented planting crop insurance coverage. Coinciding with the public comment period, USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) will hold in-person and virtual listening sessions June through August.
Ground applications of pesticide allowable by permit Sept. 15
The Texas Department of Agriculture has granted the suspension of a rule regarding the application dates of 2,4-D in Wharton County of the special provisions for Wharton County of the Texas Pesticide Laws and Regulations. The suspension allows for the ground application of 2,4-D and 2,4-D containing herbicides by permit on the west side of the Colorado River in Wharton County beginning Thursday, Sept. 15.
The drought and alternative forages for cattle
Many cattle producers are facing low hay supplies and looking for alternative hay sources and ways to stretch limited supplies. When feeding any non-traditional forage, producers are also curious of the nutritional content of forage. In 2011, during the last significant drought, I tested these forages for an idea of their nutritional content. Now, 11 years later, I’m referring to those records as cattlemen are asking the very same questions – what is the nutritional value of these forages?
AgriLife Extension to host turn row meeting
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Wharton County Office, will host a soybean, grain sorghum, and cotton turn row meeting on Thursday, June 23. The soybean turn row meeting will begin at 9 a.m. at the Howard and Dolly Wittig Farm in Lane City. Ron Schnell, Agrilife cropping systems specialist, will address soybean agronomics. Dalton Ludwick will discuss insect management in soybeans. March Welch, extension grain marketing specialist, will give an update on the current soybean market.
Auxin herbicide trainings set for area producers
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will conduct a series of Auxin Trainings for producers in the Wharton County area in February and March. This training that has been required annually for the past three years is for the new dicamba and 2,4-D formulations applied on tolerant cotton and soybean crops.
COLUMN: Bermuda grass stem maggot ID’d in Wharton area hay fields
During the week of June 8, it was brought to my attention that a few hay producers were noticing some changes in their Bermuda grass hay fields. These hay producers describe the changes in that the top one oftwo leaves of Bermuda grass plants turn brown or white and the stem stops growing – looking a lot like the field was exposed to a frost. Fields appear stunted, and hay yield is reduced.
COLUMN: South Texas Ag Symposium online program is April 14
Due to concerns with COVID-19, the 2020 South Texas Agriculture Symposium will be conducted online on Tuesday, April 14. The ag symposium is an annual webinar, broadcasted out of the Research and Extension Center-Corpus Christi, that Wharton County has entertained live audiences for the past several years. The COVID-19 pandemic is preventing us from doing things, normally.
Texas: Upper Gulf Coast Feed Grain, Cotton Conference, Crescent, Jan. 23
Blooming cotton field next to to corn with maturing ears. ©Debra L Ferguson Stock Photography Texas A&M AgriLife Extension in Wharton, Matagorda, Jackson, and Colorado Counties are happy to announce the Upper Gulf Coast Feed Grain and Cotton Conference for Thursday, January 23, 2020. This year’s conference will be held in Crescent Hall at the Wharton County Fairgrounds at 6036 FM 961 Road Wharton, Texas 77488.
COLUMN: Western Rice Belt Conference Jan. 15
The annual Western Rice Belt Production Conference will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020 at the El Campo Civic Center.
Texas: Industrial Hemp Seminar, Wharton, Dec. 10
Industrial hemp growing under irrigation. Photo: Colorado Department of Agriculture Anyone who’s been keeping up with current events in agriculture will know that there’s a growing interest in growing industrial hemp. This new interest began with the enacted 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of no more than 0.3% on a dry-weight basis. Thus, the 2018 Farm Bill allows for expanding cultivation of hemp, but not marijuana.
COLUMN: Industrial hemp seminar Dec. 10
Anyone who’s been keeping up with current events in agriculture will know that there’s a growing interest in growing industrial hemp. This new interest began with the enacted 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of no more than 0.3% on a dry-weight basis. Thus, the 2018 Farm Bill allows for expanding cultivation of hemp, but not marijuana.
Texas: Cotton, Grain Risk Management Workshop, Crescent, Oct. 17
Cotton harvest - row of pink wrapped modules. ©Debra L Ferguson A cotton and grain risk management marketing workshop is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 17 at the Wharton County Fairgrounds in Crescent, Texas. The Wharton County Fairgrounds is located at 6036 FM 961 Rd. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Our first presentation will begin at 8:30 a.m. The workshop is sponsored by the Wharton County AgriLife Extension Office and the Wharton County Row Crops Committee.
USDA report released, WC planted acres
Farm Service Agency policy requires that producers participating in several programs submit an annual report, or certify all cropland use on their farms. These programs include Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC). Reporting also applies to those who receive marketing assistance loans or loan deficiency payments. The deadline to certify planted acres was July 15.
Texas: Small Grains Field Day, Egypt, April 17
Hand full of mature wheat heads. Photo: K-State Research and Extension - Creative Commons Texas A&M Agrilife Extension will be hosting a Wheat Field Day at Krenek Seed near Egypt, Texas on Wednesday, April 17, 2019. The Krenek’s have cooperated this year by providing ground for Dr. Clark Neely, Extension Small Grains Specialist to conduct our Upper Gulf Coast wheat variety trial.
Texas Cotton: Figuring Out Herbicidal Stalk Destruction With New Seed Technologies
Cotton stalk destruction is a topic of research that has been evaluated for a good 20 to 25 years. Herbicides have been applied to conventional and Roundup Ready Cotton, focusing on the traditional active ingredients such as 2,4-D and dicamba. The gold standard has been applying 1 quart/acre of a 4lb/gallon a.i. 2,4-D amine product immediately afterwards through two weeks after shredding stalks. This practice has yielded better than 90% control for decades.
Transitional Sheltering Assistance deadline extended to March 12 - Wharton Journal-Spectator: News
Eligible Hurricane Harvey survivors receiving Transitional Shelter Assistance (TSA) may receive an extension to stay temporarily in hotels while they look for an alternative place to live. Disaster survivors with a continuing need for the hotel sheltering program may be extended to March 12. There will be a mid-term eligibility review on Feb.
Agriculture Producer Disaster Recovery Program to be held Thursday in Wharton - Wharton Journal-Spectator: Life And Leisure
The program will begin with David Daniels, Natural Resource Manager, discussing disaster assistance programs available through the Natural Resource Conservation Service. Chase Tyndell, County Executive Director with the Farm Services Agency, will cover disaster assistance programs available through USDA-FSA. Gail Hoskins, Farm Loan Manager, will follow with information on the USDA Farm Loan Program.
Western Rice Belt Conference and Texas Rice Council Annual Meeting to be held Jan. 18 - Wharton Journal-Spectator: Life And Leisure
The annual Western Rice Belt Production Conference will be held on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at the El Campo Civic Center.
Agri-life extension to host Crop Decision Aid Workshop in El Campo - Wharton Journal-Spectator: Life And Leisure
The tool includes budget templates for irrigated and non-irrigated corn, grain sorghum, cotton, wheat, and sesame produced in the respective regions. Non-specified irrigated and non-irrigated budgets labeled “other crop” are also available for developing other budgets. Each budget template has detailed line items for income, variable costs and fixed costs to allow flexibility for the farmer to develop specific crop budgets to fit their individual operation and needs.
2, 4-D application allowable in county by permit beginning on Thursday - Wharton Journal-Spectator: News
The Texas Department of Agriculture has granted the suspension of a rule regarding the application dates of 2,4-D in Wharton County – Section 7.53(oo)(1) and (2) of the special provisions for Wharton County. The suspension allows for both the ground and aerial application of 2,4-D and 2,4-D containing herbicides by permit on the east and west sides of the Colorado River in Wharton County beginning on Thursday, Sept. 1. kAmkDA2?mp== @E96C 2AA=:423=6 CF=6D 7@C (92CE@? r@F?EJ 4@?E:?F6 :?
2,4-D application allowable in county by permit beginning on Thursday - Wharton Journal-Spectator: Life And Leisure
The Texas Department of Agriculture has granted the suspension of a rule regarding the application dates of 2,4-D in Wharton County – Section 7.53(oo)(1) and (2) of the special provisions for Wharton County. The suspension allows for both the ground and aerial application of 2,4-D and 2,4-D containing herbicides by permit on the east and west sides of the Colorado River in Wharton County beginning on Thursday, Sept. 1. All other applicable rules for Wharton County continue in effect.
A&M Beef Cattle Short Course set for Aug. 1-3
COLLEGE STATION — After a historic run in beef cattle prices, producers are left with many decisions regarding the future of the cattle market, consumer demand and long-term weather projections, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle expert. These topics and more will be discussed at the 62nd Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course Aug. 1-3 at Texas A&M University in College Station.
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