Chute N The Bull

Most of the weeds that are present in your pastures as we approach
summer will probably be perennials plus some annuals that you missed
with your initial chemical application (if there was one). The
transition from spring to summer is the right time of year for brush
control, as long as the weather is good.
Some of the brush control herbicides we recommend during the late
spring-early summer period can move in the soil during wet conditions,
so keep this in mind when spraying near desired trees and plants. Remedy™
is a brush control herbicide that doesn't have soil activity, so we
don't worry about it moving in the soil. For the weeds in the pastures,
the spring-summer transition is the time to consider herbicide
applications on horsenettle, silverleaf nightshade, bull nettle,
blackberries, Johnsongrass and sericea lespedeza. Sericea lespedeza
should be controlled as soon as you discover it in your pastures.
Oklahoma State University has shown that Remedy™ or Pasturegard™ applied
to actively growing plants in June or early July when soil moisture was
adequate for plant growth provided excellent control. Another option
would be Cimarron™ applied in September during midbloom of the sericea,
again where plants are actively growing. Remember that the blackberries,
horsenettle and silverleaf nightshade should be sprayed when they are in
the bloom stage of development since these are perennial plants. The
highest flow of carbohydrates from the shoots to the roots occurs during
the bloom stage. The goal is to move as much herbicide as possible to
the roots, killing them and preventing them from visiting our pastures
next year. By the beginning of summer, any annuals you have in your
pastures have already done most of their damage for the year and are
likely to be too mature to control.
By June, you've probably missed controlling weeds for the year, except
for those listed above. Take a summer "weed census" of your pasture so
that you know what you'll need to control next spring. You can find
this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.com for your
reference. Extension programs serve of all ages regardless of
socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national
origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperatings
serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex,
religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University
System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners
Courts of Texas Cooperating


Thank you,
Tommy Neyland
County Extension Agent
Texas Agrilife Extension Service
P.O. Box 188
Centerville, Texas 75833
903.536.2531 phone
903.536.3804 fax

Chute N The Bull

Heat stress can greatly impact cattle producers through decreased milk
production and subsequent calf growth, decreased reproductive
performance in cows and bulls, and decreased stocker and feeder
performance. It has been estimated that heat-related events in the
Midwest have cost the cattle industry over $75 million in the past 10
years. As summer approaches, make preparations to reduce the risk of
heat stress in your cattle.
The ideal temperature range for beef cattle is between 41° F and 77° F.
When temperatures exceed this, cattle are at risk of heat stress. Many
environmental factors affect the potential for heat stress, including
relative humidity, wind speed, solar radiation, ground cover, access to
water, diet, shade and nighttime temperatures. In addition, individual
animal characteristics can contribute to heat stress. These include hide
color, breed, health, adaptation, hair coat length and disposition. When
a combination of these factors and ambient temperature cause an animal's
heat load to exceed its ability to dissipate that heat, heat stress
occurs.
Identifying Heat Stress
When heat stressed, cattle exhibit many physical and behavioral changes.
Heat-stressed animals will have increased body temperatures, increased
water consumption, decreased feed consumption and decreased weight
gains. These changes may be subtle and difficult to recognize or
impractical to measure. Fortunately, there are many signs of heat stress
that are easy to recognize. The most obvious are cattle congregating in
shady areas or standing in ponds, and decreased grazing activity. You
may also notice cattle panting. According to the USDA's Agricultural
Research Service, more than 90 breaths per minute is an indication of
heat stress, and a respiration rate over 110 indicates a dangerous heat
stress level.
Tools are available to help producers identify conditions that are
potentially dangerous for cattle. The Livestock Weather Hazard Guide
provides guidelines that indicate the potential of heat stress at
different temperatures and relative humidity.
Another way to monitor heat stress conditions in your area is the Heat
Stress Forecast. The USDA has developed a Web site that reports heat
stress forecasts for the central United States. These forecasts provide
a more accurate prediction because they account for wind speed and solar
radiation in addition to temperature and humidity. This Web site can be
found at: www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=17130.
Managing Heat Stress
Provide fresh, clean water to cattle at all times. Water intake
increases during times of heat stress, so make sure that piped water can
refill tanks fast enough to keep up with cattle demand. If ponds are the
only source of water, monitor water quality throughout hot, dry periods.
Be sure that cattle have adequate shade. If shade is limited, heat
stress can be compounded by animals crowding together.
If possible, avoid working and transporting cattle during periods of
heat stress. If cattle must be worked or rotated to a new pasture, do it
as early as possible in the morning.
Heat stress can also affect the reproductive performance of cows and
bulls so plan your breeding season to avoid the hottest months. Keep in
mind that heat stress can impact semen quality for up to eight weeks.
Be prepared by planning now for heat stress. As hot weather approaches,
monitor the Heat Stress Forecast or use your local conditions with the
Livestock Weather Hazard Guide to determine the potential for heat
stress in your cattle. You can find this and past articles on the web
at www.mycountrytractor.com for your reference. Extension programs
serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex,
religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University
System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners
Courts of Texas Cooperatings serve of all ages regardless of
socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national
origin. The TeAgriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating




Thank you,
Tommy Neyland
County Extension Agent
Texas Agrilife Extension Service
P.O. Box 188
Centerville, Texas 75833
903.536.2531 phone
903.536.3804 fax

Chute N The Bull

Every spring, our thoughts turn from calving season to breeding season, green grass, rainy days and warmer temperatures. But with the growing pastures and pleasant temperatures come some disadvantages as well - fly season is upon us.

Flies will be abundant by the time this News and Views article hits your mailbox. At the time of writing this article in late March, I already have noticed a large number of flies on livestock. If you have not already started a fly control program for this year, you are probably already behind the curve. With the early spring rains, 2008 promises to be favorable for insects.
Cow

Flies are a nuisance for humans, but an even greater nuisance for livestock. Additionally, flies can spread disease, from anaplasmosis to pink eye. They are also responsible for a tremendous amount of lost production in the form of decreased weight gain or lower milk yields. Rather than eating, cattle will spend time stomping and tail-swishing, lying down, standing in groups or in the middle of a stock pond.

It doesn't take a large number of flies to have an impact on your cattle's production. As few as 100 to 200 flies per side is enough to impact stocker gains by 50 pounds during the summer. This is greater than or comparable to the weight gain achieved through a growth implant program. If you can see more than a hand-sized patch of flies on each side, typically behind the shoulders, of your cattle, there are enough to be a problem.

There are many methods of fly control. Some of the more common methods are: pour-on, sprays, rubs or dusters, ear tags, feed-through additives and biological control. Some methods work better than others and each has its place. Using a combination of methods will afford you the most effective control. Also, remember to change the class or family of chemical you use periodically to reduce resistance.
The following are a few thoughts on the various control methods:

Pour-ons and sprays provide a good initial kill with two to six weeks' residual. Sprays will typically wear off faster. Rainfall or cattle lingering in stock tanks reduces the duration of protection.

Rubs and dusters are an effective method of control once the cattle associate the use of the applicator apparatus to a reduced insect load. It is best to place the applicator next to mineral feeders, water sources or an area that will force the cattle to rub up against it. Additionally, the chemical will need to be recharged once every one-two weeks or after a rain.

Ear tags are a very effective season-long treatment, but remember to cut the tags out at the end of the season. Leaving the tags in builds resistance to the chemical. Change the active ingredient from year to year. If you used a synthetic pyrethroid this year, change to an organophosphate or organochlorine tag next year.

Feed additives are effective in stopping the fly life cycle. But one of the biggest obstacles is ensuring consistent and adequate intake of the product to have effective control.
Biological control in the form of fly wasps, sometimes called fly predators, is also effective. Some feedlots have started using this method as the fly wasps are considered a natural, nonchemical method of control. Since they are weak fliers, the wasps must be placed in areas of high manure concentration, i.e., feedlots or horse stables. They do not reproduce so they have to be replenished monthly during the fly season.

Remember to follow label directions and applicable withdrawal times prior to slaughter. Getting in control of your fly problem will make your cattle more comfortable and your wallet happier. You can find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.com for your reference. Extension programs serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperatings serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating


Thank you,
Tommy Neyland
County Extension Agent
Texas Agrilife Extension Service
P.O. Box 188
Centerville, Texas 75833
903.536.2531 phone
903.536.3804 fax

Chute N the Bull

The spring and summer months are critical to the fertility program for
the growth of turfgrass. If you have not fertilized the lawn around your
home, shame on you! How can you expect the turfgrass to hold up during
the summer months, much less the winter months? A weak stand of
turfgrass is an opportunity for a weed community to take over. An
example of this situation is weed seeds germinating in weak stands of
turfgrass; a better example is weeds growing on bare ground. A strong
stand of turfgrass will prevent the weed seeds from germinating
properly. It is the time of year to take advantage of the rainy season
for those warm-season grasses like bermudagrass, St. Augustine,
Zoysiagrass, etc.
Bermudagrass is a commonly used turfgrass in Oklahoma and Texas for
residential and commercial lawns because it has good wear and drought
resistance and responds positively to nitrogen fertility practices in
the spring.
In mid-April to May, the soil temperature begins to rise above 55
degrees F and bermudagrasses begins to break winter dormancy. We can
efficiently use the rainfall we receive during the next 60 days to
rejuvenate the turfgrasses in the lawn, if we properly fertilize.
General fertilizer recommendations are as follows: 1 pound of nitrogen
per 1,000 square feet four to five times during the growing season from
mid-April to September. This can be accomplished by spreading a balanced
fertilizer such as one with an N-P-K ratio of 15-5-10 at the rate of 6
pounds per 1,000 square feet.
If the fertilizer is spread, the mower better be ready and blades better
be sharp. The end of the blade (1 ½-inch tip of the mower blade) does
the largest amount of the cutting action. This part of the blade must be
kept sharp during mowing. It means the difference between slicing the
blade of grass as opposed to whacking it off. This damage to the end of
the leaf blade can be unsightly and is a point of entry for diseases,
which can be the start of the decline of the plant community. When
mowing, it is important not to remove more than two-thirds of the leaf
blade at one time. Instead, take the cutting height down a level in
multiple passes.
Timely application of a fertility program and proper mowing will allow
turfgrass to stand out and be enjoyed by your family and guests. You can
find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.com for
your reference. Extension programs serve of all ages regardless of
socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national
origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperatings
serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex,
religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University
System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners
Courts of Texas Cooperating.



Thank you,
Tommy Neyland
County Extension Agent
Texas Agrilife Extension Service
P.O. Box 188
Centerville, Texas 75833
903.536.2531 phone
903.536.3804 fax

Chute N The Bull

Precipitation drives pasture improvement, so if you improve the condition of your pastures and rangelands when it does rain, it will help you get through those times when it doesn't. One method of pasture improvement is to provide growing season rest.
Rotational grazing is a method to provide growing season rest. Put all your cattle in one pasture while you allow other pastures to rest and accumulate forage. How quickly you rotate through your pastures depends on the growth rate and type of grass. If your grass is in a rapid growth phase, then you would rotate rapidly with a goal to use each pasture once in a 30-day period. As the growth rate slows, so do your rotations. During a slow growth period for an introduced, sod-forming grass like bermudagrass, a common approach is to move through each pasture in a 60-day cycle. Native grasses will need a longer rest period during the slow growth phase. The more pastures you have, the less time you will spend in each, which subsequently allows you to rest each pasture more.
Key Points to Consider:
1. If your stocking rate is too high, any grazing system is doomed to fail.

2. Grazing rotations based on calendar dates are only guidelines. You need to be able to look at your pasture (grass) and determine when it is time to move. A minimum stubble height of 3 inches for an introduced, sod-forming grass like bermudagrass is a signal that it is time to move cattle. On native bunchgrasses, try to leave at least a 6-inch stubble height. The height of the grass when you leave the pasture is more important than the height of the grass when you came into the pasture. Leaving adequate stubble height ensures rapid regrowth when environmental conditions allow.

3. Pasture improvement is realized by allowing forages to accumulate top growth, which helps them maintain a healthy root system. During periods when grasses are no longer growing (drought, winter), you have to "ration" grass that you have been able to stockpile through rotational grazing. Dormant season grazing cycles typically last about 90 days. Rest during a drought or winter (when warm-season plants are not actively growing) does not contribute to pasture improvement, but that doesn't mean that you throw open all the gates!
4. Growing season rest is most important to native warm-season grasses (big bluestem, little bluestem, indiangrass, switchgrass, etc.). However, introduced, warm-season grasses (bermudagrass, plains bluestem, etc.) can also benefit from rotational grazing and the inherent rest this system provides. If you are unhappy with the condition of your native or introduced pastures, incorporate some rest into the growing season to allow the vigor of your grasses and, in turn, your pasture quality to improve.

5. There are "agnostics" who will tell you that you aren't gaining anything in terms of livestock production or pasture improvement by rotational grazing. For every one of them, there are a hundred who are reaping the rewards. Your cattle will have to adjust to more frequent moves when you begin, but don't let them be your master! They will adjust, although it may take two or three years. The long-term benefits far outweigh the initial challenges. You can find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.com for your reference. Extension programs serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperatings serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.



Thank you,
Tommy Neyland
County Extension Agent
Texas Agrilife Extension Service
P.O. Box 188
Centerville, Texas 75833
903.536.2531 phone
903.536.3804 fax

Chute N The Bull

When trying to manage an impoundment to be a productive sport fishery, water quality is one of the most important considerations. The first step in avoiding detrimental water quality problems is to manage a watershed well and keep undesirable fish species, such as common carp or bullheads, out of your pond. However, when problems arise, here are a few ways to diagnose and treat the problems. To diagnose the cause of turbid waters, start by inspecting the watershed and pond edges for large areas of bare soil or thin vegetation. The majority of water quality issues in southern Oklahoma and northern Texas are due to soil erosion and livestock activity in and around ponds. Managing for sufficient grass cover in the watershed solves most problems associated with water quality. Easy ways to prevent turbidity would be to establish vegetation buffers around the pond, reduce cattle stocking rate to prevent overgrazing in the watershed or utilize minimal tillage techniques. By fencing a pond and installing water access points for cattle, you can reduce the impact that cattle will have on the pond (see the March 1996 issue of Ag News and Views for more information on pond fencing). To reduce turbidity caused by wave action, establish vegetation such as rushes and sedges along the shoreline of the pond. When turbidity is due to common carp or bullheads, there are a few options to consider. One is to use rotenone to kill all existing fish in a pond and re-stock with desirable fish species. Other options are to stock adult largemouth bass to slowly reduce bullheads or drain the pond and leave it dry for at least six weeks to kill all the fish. If sufficient grass cover already exists in the watershed, get a clear jar with a lid and fill it with the pond water. Leave the jar undisturbed for a week and see if the mud has settled to the bottom of the jar. If the mud has settled and the water is clearer than it was, then you still have problems with sediment-laden runoff, excessive wave action, livestock disturbance or fish activity. However, if the mud has not settled, then you have a problem with suspended clay particles. If the problem is due to suspended clay particles, there are options to reduce turbidity. Applications of alum or gypsum are the most common methods used to clear turbid waters. Before applying alum, measure alkalinity and collect six 15-quart samples of the turbid pond water in plastic buckets. Add 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 parts per million (ppm) alum (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 ounces of alum, respectively) to the samples and stir for one to two minutes, then let them sit for one hour. The bucket with clear water and the lowest concentration of alum is the rate that should be applied to the pond. However, alum reduces alkalinity of pond water, so never apply alum at a concentration more than 1.5 times the alkalinity in ppm. For applying gypsum, conduct a similar test as for alum. For gypsum, use 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 ppm (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 ounces of gypsum, respectively) as the test concentrations, but let them sit for 24 hours after stirring. Use the lowest concentration that clears the water. Remember, prevention is usually the best cure for problems associated with wildlife and fisheries management, and this is especially true with water quality in ponds. You can find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.com for your reference. Extension programs serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperatings serve of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

Thank you,
Tommy Neyland
County Extension Agent
Texas Agrilife Extension Service
P.O. Box 188
Centerville, Texas 75833
903.536.2531 phone
903.536.3804 fax

Do Well, Be Well Diabetes Classes Offered in Centerville

Texas AgriLife Extension Service Leon County will be hosting Do Well, Be Well with Crown Health Services each Wednesday in May, beginning at 10:00 am until noon, at the First United Methodist Church of Centerville fellowship hall. The program will be free of charge. Classes will be held May 6th, May 13th, May 20th, and May 27th. The last class will include a graduation ceremony for participants.
Do Well, Be Well is a program for people with diabetes. It is a series of classes with quality information on taking care of yourself and eating delicious foods that are good for you. You will learn what you can do to take control of diabetes and to live the kind of life you want to live!
In the Do Well, Be Well class, you will get the facts from professional educators, ask the questions you want answered, make new friends who have the same concerns you do, learn in a supportive environment, take home recipes and references you can share with your friends and family, and get the encouragement you need to make positive changes!
Topics that will be covered will be:
• What is Diabetes?
• Nutrition: First Steps to Diabetes Management
• Managing your Blood Sugar
• Dietary Treatment of Diabetes
• Diabetes and Exercise
• One Diabetes Diet – No Longer the Sole Option
• Foot Care
• Nutrition Labels
• Health Checkups
• For Good Measure
• Diabetes Medicines
• Eating Out
If you are diabetic and feeling concerned about health problems that might develop, afraid you won’t be able to enjoy good food and family gatherings, unsure about making changes in your lifestyle, or just frustrated because you don’t have enough information, then Do Well, Be Well is the class for you. Remember that with good information and a few good changes, you can do well and be well with diabetes!
For more information or to register for these classes, please call Wendy Neyland, County Extension Agent – Family and Consumer Science, at 903-536-2531.