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Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Friday, January 14, 2011
Chute N The Bull (LAST RUN)
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15, A Time for Everything
"There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven ~
A time to give birth, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build up.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace.
For the past five years I have been given the opportunity to serve as the county agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Leon County. In this position I have worked with incredible adult volunteers and young people. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you that have helped make our programs great! As the Bible states there is a time for everything. I have recently taken a job with Luminant who is the largest Power provider in the state of Texas. So the time has come for me to move on and I am certain that Extension in Leon County will prosper in the coming years. This will be the last article of Chute N The Bull and I thank you for reading and the papers for including our message each week for the past five years. An unusual taste, odor or appearance of drinking water is an obvious indication of its lack of quality. However, how do you know if what you are drinking is safe if these signs are not so obvious? A glass of water may contain dissolved minerals, organic compounds or even live organisms. said. Some of these materials, if present in very small amounts, are no problem for drinking water. Other materials, however, may be serious health risks. While the Environmental Protection Agency has rules in place for vigorous testing and disinfecting for public water supplies, these regulations hold no weight with private wells. If you get your water from a private well, it’s your own responsibility to monitor its quality. There are some tests that you need to have done on an annual basis. Many of the health-related water quality problems for well owners comes from chemical use or waste disposal near the well, poor well construction and maintenance, proximity of septic tanks and severe drought or flooding. You need to protect the well and well head from contamination. Don’t store any fertilizers, chemicals, paints or agricultural products near it. Even placing flowers or plants around a well head to cover it up can cause problems because not only will the fertilizers contaminate the water supply, but it will be difficult to make monthly inspections to look for cracks and broken areas of the well head. The only way to be certain your water supply is safe is to test it regularly for the most likely contaminants and conduct additional tests if you suspect a particular contaminant. There are many reasons that one would choose to have their drinking water supply tested, with just as many recommended tests for those reasons. Contact your local Extension office for sample bottles and details on drawing the water sample and getting it to the laboratory. It is essential to closely follow the directions provided within in the kit. The water sample that you submit to the lab is only as good as you make it. Also, make sure to label the sample. . You can find this and past articles on the web at http://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 Cooperating 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
"There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven ~
A time to give birth, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build up.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace.
For the past five years I have been given the opportunity to serve as the county agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Leon County. In this position I have worked with incredible adult volunteers and young people. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you that have helped make our programs great! As the Bible states there is a time for everything. I have recently taken a job with Luminant who is the largest Power provider in the state of Texas. So the time has come for me to move on and I am certain that Extension in Leon County will prosper in the coming years. This will be the last article of Chute N The Bull and I thank you for reading and the papers for including our message each week for the past five years. An unusual taste, odor or appearance of drinking water is an obvious indication of its lack of quality. However, how do you know if what you are drinking is safe if these signs are not so obvious? A glass of water may contain dissolved minerals, organic compounds or even live organisms. said. Some of these materials, if present in very small amounts, are no problem for drinking water. Other materials, however, may be serious health risks. While the Environmental Protection Agency has rules in place for vigorous testing and disinfecting for public water supplies, these regulations hold no weight with private wells. If you get your water from a private well, it’s your own responsibility to monitor its quality. There are some tests that you need to have done on an annual basis. Many of the health-related water quality problems for well owners comes from chemical use or waste disposal near the well, poor well construction and maintenance, proximity of septic tanks and severe drought or flooding. You need to protect the well and well head from contamination. Don’t store any fertilizers, chemicals, paints or agricultural products near it. Even placing flowers or plants around a well head to cover it up can cause problems because not only will the fertilizers contaminate the water supply, but it will be difficult to make monthly inspections to look for cracks and broken areas of the well head. The only way to be certain your water supply is safe is to test it regularly for the most likely contaminants and conduct additional tests if you suspect a particular contaminant. There are many reasons that one would choose to have their drinking water supply tested, with just as many recommended tests for those reasons. Contact your local Extension office for sample bottles and details on drawing the water sample and getting it to the laboratory. It is essential to closely follow the directions provided within in the kit. The water sample that you submit to the lab is only as good as you make it. Also, make sure to label the sample. . You can find this and past articles on the web at http://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 Cooperating 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
Monday, January 10, 2011
Chute N The Bull 1-21-11
Cattle rustling can conjure up different thoughts depending on who you are. Some imagine a scene from an old western where bandana-wearing cowboys gather up a herd of cows and drive them to a distant and secret location. Others might think this is something from the past and doesn't happen now. Unfortunately, cattle rustling is still a serious issue. Recently, there have been increasing reports of cattle rustling across the country. It seems that when the economy gets tough, crime rates increase. Unfortunately, ranchers are not immune to crime. In many cases, those who live in the country are targeted because criminals know there are fewer people to watch for suspicious activity. As a farm or ranch owner, you must be observant to protect your property from those who would steal it from you. Here are a few tips to reduce the potential of becoming a victim of theft. Permanently identify your cows. A cow that has some form of brand is not attractive to a potential thief. Make sure your brand is registered in the state or county your ranch is in and make sure that local law enforcement authorities know your brand. Don't feed at the gate or in your pens. Don't get your cows used to being fed near the pasture gate or in the working pens. This only trains the cows to come to a place where it is easier for a criminal to catch them. Lock your gates. Criminals are inherently lazy. If they have to work very hard, they'll move on to an easier target. Additionally, a locked gate will slow down a thief; they want to be able to move quickly into and out of an area. Don't give out combinations or keys to your locks. Don't locate working pens near pasture entrances. I call these "thieving pens." If your cows are accustomed to coming to a horn or siren and being fed in the working pens, you have made a thief's job much easier. Feed or check cows at different times of the day. Don't get into a set pattern that will make it easy for a crook to know when you will be around. Make sure you have an accurate head count each time you go out. Be vigilant. If you see a suspicious vehicle on your county road that you have not seen before, take time to write down their license plate number. Or, better yet, stop and chat with the driver. A thief is less likely to steal cattle in the area if he knows people can describe him. Cattle are not the only things that can be stolen. Other popular items are tractors, trailers, saddles, horses and farm equipment. Here are a few tips to reduce the potential for theft of these items. Park trailers and equipment out of view from the road and take your keys. Lock saddle compartments on trailers and tack/equipment rooms. Photograph and brand your horses. A photo can help investigators locate your horse more quickly. Horses that are branded are easily identifiable and less likely to be stolen. Put identifying marks such as a registered brand or driver's license number on valuable equipment and saddles. Photograph those items and the markings. Record serial and model numbers, as well as other distinguishing characteristics of equipment. This will not prevent theft, but can make recovery easier. Put padlocks on and lower the tongue of a trailer so that it has to be raised before connecting to it. This will slow down a thief and make it less attractive. In general, most thieves are opportunists. If we do a few things to slow them down, make it harder on them or readily identify items of interest, they will move on down the road. You work hard for your assets; don't let them become someone else's. You can find this and past articles on the web at http://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 Cooperating 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
Chute N The Bull 1-5-11
Although the weather has cooled off considerably, gardeners can still find plenty to keep them busy. Grass such as fescue should be fertilized at one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Continue to mow fescue as needed at two inches. Remember to water during dry conditions, too.Now is a good time to control broadleaf winter weeds such as dandelions. When it comes to tree and shrub care, prune deciduous trees early in the winter, but prune only for structural and safety purposes. Do not prune spring flowering plants until after they have flowered this spring. Fruit trees should be pruned in February or March before bud break. Young, thin-barked trees should be wrapped with a commercial protective material to prevent winter sunscald. You can continue to plant balled and burlapped trees, and watch for arborvitae aphids, which tolerate cooler temperatures in evergreen shrubs. Leftover garden seeds can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer until next planting season. However, seeds more than three years old should be discarded. Leaves should be raked and shredded and added to compost, used as mulch or tilled into garden plots. Now is a great time to clean, repair and store garden and landscape tools. Coat metal surfaces with a light application of oil to prevent rusting. Drain the fuel tanks of all power equipment, as well as irrigation lines and garden hoses. Coil water hoses and store them indoors. Although the wintery weather may not be what you consider the typical gardening season, there are plenty of opportunities for gardeners to get their gardening fix. The things you do to your gardens and landscapes at this time of year will give you a head start on the next gardening season. You can find this and past articles on the web at http://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 Cooperating 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
Chute N The Bull 1-3-11
It is a hot topic of discussion in the U.S. cattle industry: How can operations increase or even maintain beef production if the cow herd continues to shrink?
I suspect that carcass weights will show little or no upward trend in the next decade compared to the last 20 years. Thus much of the compensation for a declining inventory that was offset by increasing carcass weights in the past will not be available going forward.
However, a number of factors will affect the ability or inability of the U.S. beef industry to continue current levels of production without rebuilding the herd, which may be getting lost in some of the conversations, even among expert analysts.
It has been appropriately and correctly noted that some of the superlatives used by myself and others, such as the fact that the current beef cow herd is the smallest since 1963, are relevant only in a broad historical context.
A more relevant time period is the last 20 years. The beef cow herd in 2010 was about 1 million head smaller at 31.4 million head than it was in 1990, when it was 32.5 million head.”
In the intervening years, the cow herd increased to a cyclical peak of 35.2 million head in 1996 to an apparent cyclical low of 32.9 million head in 2004, before the market shocks since 2007 pushed the herd down to current levels.
Beef production in 2010 is projected at 26.03 billion pounds, 15 percent higher than 1990’s larger beef cow herd, about equal to the level in 1996 at the recent cyclical peak in cattle numbers and within 3 percent of the all-time annual beef production record of 26.8 billion pounds in 2000.
Beef and cattle trade plays a role as well, However, the relative importance of beef and cattle trade, in terms of overall production levels, has not changed much in the past 20 years.”
Net beef imports have accounted for roughly 4 percent of total beef production since 1990 and have, in fact, been smaller at roughly 2 percent of total annual production in the last three years. Net live cattle imports have averaged less than 6 percent of total slaughter since 1990 and will be slightly higher than that in 2010.
While beef and cattle continue to grow in importance in terms of industry value, it does not explain our ability to maintain beef production in the face of declining U.S. cattle inventories. The fact is that we have culled an average of more than 11 percent of the beef cow herd each of the past three years.
Beef cow slaughter as a percent of the beef cow inventory has averaged 9.3 percent since 1990. Since 1990, it has only been higher than 11 percent once, in 1996. Measured another way, beef cow slaughter has represented more than 10 percent of total cattle slaughter each of the past three years.
Another rough measure of slaughter intensity in the U.S. beef industry is that total slaughter will represent more than 94 percent of the 2010 calf crop. This value has averaged 88.3 percent since 1990 and the estimate for 2010 is the highest level over the 20-year period.
The bottom line is that it will not be possible to maintain beef production in coming years if we do not rebuild the cow herd. It’s also true that we will not be able to rebuild the cow herd without reducing slaughter and beef production for at least a two- or three-year period.
Prices seem to be approaching levels that will entice cow-calf producers into some level of herd expansion in the next couple of years. Smaller beef production will support higher beef and cattle prices.
Consumers, who have for the most part not seen any impacts of this situation, will experience higher beef prices in the coming years. This will provide a critical test of beef demand to see how consumers react to generally higher beef prices. You can find this and past articles on the web at http://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 Cooperating 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
I suspect that carcass weights will show little or no upward trend in the next decade compared to the last 20 years. Thus much of the compensation for a declining inventory that was offset by increasing carcass weights in the past will not be available going forward.
However, a number of factors will affect the ability or inability of the U.S. beef industry to continue current levels of production without rebuilding the herd, which may be getting lost in some of the conversations, even among expert analysts.
It has been appropriately and correctly noted that some of the superlatives used by myself and others, such as the fact that the current beef cow herd is the smallest since 1963, are relevant only in a broad historical context.
A more relevant time period is the last 20 years. The beef cow herd in 2010 was about 1 million head smaller at 31.4 million head than it was in 1990, when it was 32.5 million head.”
In the intervening years, the cow herd increased to a cyclical peak of 35.2 million head in 1996 to an apparent cyclical low of 32.9 million head in 2004, before the market shocks since 2007 pushed the herd down to current levels.
Beef production in 2010 is projected at 26.03 billion pounds, 15 percent higher than 1990’s larger beef cow herd, about equal to the level in 1996 at the recent cyclical peak in cattle numbers and within 3 percent of the all-time annual beef production record of 26.8 billion pounds in 2000.
Beef and cattle trade plays a role as well, However, the relative importance of beef and cattle trade, in terms of overall production levels, has not changed much in the past 20 years.”
Net beef imports have accounted for roughly 4 percent of total beef production since 1990 and have, in fact, been smaller at roughly 2 percent of total annual production in the last three years. Net live cattle imports have averaged less than 6 percent of total slaughter since 1990 and will be slightly higher than that in 2010.
While beef and cattle continue to grow in importance in terms of industry value, it does not explain our ability to maintain beef production in the face of declining U.S. cattle inventories. The fact is that we have culled an average of more than 11 percent of the beef cow herd each of the past three years.
Beef cow slaughter as a percent of the beef cow inventory has averaged 9.3 percent since 1990. Since 1990, it has only been higher than 11 percent once, in 1996. Measured another way, beef cow slaughter has represented more than 10 percent of total cattle slaughter each of the past three years.
Another rough measure of slaughter intensity in the U.S. beef industry is that total slaughter will represent more than 94 percent of the 2010 calf crop. This value has averaged 88.3 percent since 1990 and the estimate for 2010 is the highest level over the 20-year period.
The bottom line is that it will not be possible to maintain beef production in coming years if we do not rebuild the cow herd. It’s also true that we will not be able to rebuild the cow herd without reducing slaughter and beef production for at least a two- or three-year period.
Prices seem to be approaching levels that will entice cow-calf producers into some level of herd expansion in the next couple of years. Smaller beef production will support higher beef and cattle prices.
Consumers, who have for the most part not seen any impacts of this situation, will experience higher beef prices in the coming years. This will provide a critical test of beef demand to see how consumers react to generally higher beef prices. You can find this and past articles on the web at http://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 Cooperating 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
CEU Program Jan 27
CENTERVILLE - Pesticide applicators will receive seven Texas Department
of Agriculture continuing education units toward the renewal of their
licenses at the "Beef CEU Update," to be held Jan. 27 at the First
United Methodist Church, 245 South Commerce Street, Centerville.
"This is an annual event that we provide to producers to help keep their
CEU (continuing education units) credits up to date," said Tommy
Neyland, Texas AgriLife Extension Service agent in Leon County. "I am
really excited about the lineup of speakers this year. Our region of the
state has not had the opportunity to hear from folks like Guy Powers ."
Powers, who will speak, is the Environmental Manager for Terra. Terra
Renewal is a company that provides Sewage sludge. Sewage sludge has
the potential to boost production for certain crops while addressing the
increase in the amount of waste and the growing scarcity of landfills,
according to scientists at the University of Florida.
Using organic waste as fertilizer is not a new concept. Before the
1940s, when synthetic nitrogen fertilizer became widely available,
animal manure and human waste were commonly used for improving crop
yields around the world. This technique is receiving renewed interest as
municipalities face increasing waste disposal challenges.
William Hatler , who will speak on weed and brush control, is a weed and
brush specialist with Texas Agrilife Extension Service. Hatler will be
discussing a Result Demonstration that he has been studying along with
Agent Tommy Neyland here in Leon County.
Other speakers and topics will include:
-Don Renchie, Assistant Professor, Extension Specialist & Extension
Program Leader will be discussing Laws and Regulations
– Dr. Floron “Buddy” Faries, AgriLife Extension program leader forveterinary medicine at College Station, who will discuss how to
recognize and manage common health problems of cattle.
– Dr. Barron Rector, AgriLife Extension range ecology specialist, who
will talk about grazing management and stocking rates.
– Dr. Vanessa Corriher, AgriLife Extension forage specialist, who will
talk about pesticide applications on coastal Bermuda grass fields.
Registration for the event is $35 per person and includes lunch. Sign-in
will begin at 8 a.m., with presentations beginning at 8:30 a.m. The
program will conclude at 3:30 p.m.. The continuing education units will
be comprised of one in laws and regulations, one in integrated pest
management and five in the general category.
To register, call or e-mail the Texas AgriLife Extension office in Leon
County at 903-536-2531, or email lloden@ag.tamu.edu or
ctroller@ag.tamu.edu by Jan. 25. To reserve your seat we must receive
payment before Jan 25, 2011. 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
Cooperating 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
of Agriculture continuing education units toward the renewal of their
licenses at the "Beef CEU Update," to be held Jan. 27 at the First
United Methodist Church, 245 South Commerce Street, Centerville.
"This is an annual event that we provide to producers to help keep their
CEU (continuing education units) credits up to date," said Tommy
Neyland, Texas AgriLife Extension Service agent in Leon County. "I am
really excited about the lineup of speakers this year. Our region of the
state has not had the opportunity to hear from folks like Guy Powers ."
Powers, who will speak, is the Environmental Manager for Terra. Terra
Renewal is a company that provides Sewage sludge. Sewage sludge has
the potential to boost production for certain crops while addressing the
increase in the amount of waste and the growing scarcity of landfills,
according to scientists at the University of Florida.
Using organic waste as fertilizer is not a new concept. Before the
1940s, when synthetic nitrogen fertilizer became widely available,
animal manure and human waste were commonly used for improving crop
yields around the world. This technique is receiving renewed interest as
municipalities face increasing waste disposal challenges.
William Hatler , who will speak on weed and brush control, is a weed and
brush specialist with Texas Agrilife Extension Service. Hatler will be
discussing a Result Demonstration that he has been studying along with
Agent Tommy Neyland here in Leon County.
Other speakers and topics will include:
-Don Renchie, Assistant Professor, Extension Specialist & Extension
Program Leader will be discussing Laws and Regulations
– Dr. Floron “Buddy” Faries, AgriLife Extension program leader forveterinary medicine at College Station, who will discuss how to
recognize and manage common health problems of cattle.
– Dr. Barron Rector, AgriLife Extension range ecology specialist, who
will talk about grazing management and stocking rates.
– Dr. Vanessa Corriher, AgriLife Extension forage specialist, who will
talk about pesticide applications on coastal Bermuda grass fields.
Registration for the event is $35 per person and includes lunch. Sign-in
will begin at 8 a.m., with presentations beginning at 8:30 a.m. The
program will conclude at 3:30 p.m.. The continuing education units will
be comprised of one in laws and regulations, one in integrated pest
management and five in the general category.
To register, call or e-mail the Texas AgriLife Extension office in Leon
County at 903-536-2531, or email lloden@ag.tamu.edu or
ctroller@ag.tamu.edu by Jan. 25. To reserve your seat we must receive
payment before Jan 25, 2011. 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
Cooperating 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
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Chute N The Bull 12-10
Cattle rustling can conjure up different thoughts depending on who you are. Some imagine a scene from an old western where bandana-wearing cowboys gather up a herd of cows and drive them to a distant and secret location. Others might think this is something from the past and doesn't happen now. Unfortunately, cattle rustling is still a serious issue. Recently, there have been increasing reports of cattle rustling across the country. It seems that when the economy gets tough, crime rates increase. Unfortunately, ranchers are not immune to crime. In many cases, those who live in the country are targeted because criminals know there are fewer people to watch for suspicious activity. As a farm or ranch owner, you must be observant to protect your property from those who would steal it from you. Here are a few tips to reduce the potential of becoming a victim of theft. Permanently identify your cows. A cow that has some form of brand is not attractive to a potential thief. Make sure your brand is registered in the state or county your ranch is in and make sure that local law enforcement authorities know your brand. Don't feed at the gate or in your pens. Don't get your cows used to being fed near the pasture gate or in the working pens. This only trains the cows to come to a place where it is easier for a criminal to catch them. Lock your gates. Criminals are inherently lazy. If they have to work very hard, they'll move on to an easier target. Additionally, a locked gate will slow down a thief; they want to be able to move quickly into and out of an area. Don't give out combinations or keys to your locks. Don't locate working pens near pasture entrances. I call these "thieving pens." If your cows are accustomed to coming to a horn or siren and being fed in the working pens, you have made a thief's job much easier. Feed or check cows at different times of the day. Don't get into a set pattern that will make it easy for a crook to know when you will be around. Make sure you have an accurate head count each time you go out. Be vigilant. If you see a suspicious vehicle on your county road that you have not seen before, take time to write down their license plate number. Or, better yet, stop and chat with the driver. A thief is less likely to steal cattle in the area if he knows people can describe him. Cattle are not the only things that can be stolen. Other popular items are tractors, trailers, saddles, horses and farm equipment. Here are a few tips to reduce the potential for theft of these items. Park trailers and equipment out of view from the road and take your keys. Lock saddle compartments on trailers and tack/equipment rooms. Photograph and brand your horses. A photo can help investigators locate your horse more quickly. Horses that are branded are easily identifiable and less likely to be stolen. Put identifying marks such as a registered brand or driver's license number on valuable equipment and saddles. Photograph those items and the markings. Record serial and model numbers, as well as other distinguishing characteristics of equipment. This will not prevent theft, but can make recovery easier. Put padlocks on and lower the tongue of a trailer so that it has to be raised before connecting to it. This will slow down a thief and make it less attractive. In general, most thieves are opportunists. If we do a few things to slow them down, make it harder on them or readily identify items of interest, they will move on down the road. You work hard for your assets; don't let them become someone else's. You can find this and past articles on the web at http://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 Cooperating 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
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