Chute N The Bull 8-30-10

Whether you raise crops, forages or animals, there seems to be a constant flow of new products into the agricultural marketplace. You see advertisements in trade publications, at stores and farm shows, and on the Internet and television. How do you know if these new products really work? Do they really make your other inputs work better or give you greater yields or better quality in your end product or anything else that they promise?


Marketing of these new products will often include pictures, testimonials and some form of numerical data. Naturally, the numerical data will show an advantage to using the new product. However, it is very important to know some things about the numbers. The most important thing to know is whether or not the numbers are statistically significant. I won't go into an in-depth lesson on statistics, but here are some basics that need to be considered.

Was the study replicated? We all know there is variability in biological systems. Replication allows an experiment to be conducted in a way that accounts for natural variability. This way we can have a certain degree of assurance the difference observed is real and not just due to natural variability.

Was the study conducted one year or over multiple years? Again, there is variability from year to year. We want some degree of assurance that the product will work every year and not just once in a while when conditions are just right.

Was the study done in an environment similar to yours? Even if it was properly replicated over multiple years, results may be completely different in a field or laboratory far from your location. What works in the Panhandle of Oklahoma may not work on the Gulf Coast of Texas and vice versa.

Was the study statistically analyzed? If so, look for a least significant difference (LSD) value. This is, as the name implies, the least numerical difference between any two treatments that is significant. Differences between product A and product B that are less than the LSD are not significant, and we cannot say with confidence that A and B are truly different from each other. Likewise, differences between product A and product B that are greater than the LSD are significant, and we can say with a degree of confidence that A and B are truly different from each other.

Whether you are looking at different wormers, pesticides or any other input, look for replicated data from multiple locations and multiple years in environments similar to yours that show they have been statistically analyzed. Only then can you be confident that the new product will work for you. . 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.

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 8-23-10

I recently went on a consultation visit to a producer's farm. The last time I had been on his property was 2005. Some of his bermudagrass pastures were infested with threeawn, but for the most part, they were in fair to good condition. At that time, we assisted him with fine tuning his fertilizer applications through soil testing and recommending the appropriate nutrients to apply for his production goals. We also recommended he rotate between haying and grazing on these pastures. His native grass pastures were only in fair condition, and he wanted to improve them. We recommended he rest his better native grass pastures for at least half the growing season and rest those in the poorest condition for the entire growing season, and only graze them from frost until May 1.


What a difference a few years has made. His bermudagrass pastures are in excellent condition with little evidence of threeawn. They are still being managed for both bermudagrass and ryegrass for haying and grazing. The native grass pastures are in good to excellent condition and are now dominated by Indiangrass, switchgrass, big bluestem and little bluestem. Overall, his total forage production has increased significantly from 2005 to 2010.

Introduced pastures, such as bermudagrass, can be rapidly improved through proper fertility, weed control and grazing management. However, native grass pastures are a different beast altogether. When I see a native grass pasture in poor condition, I typically ask producers if it was previously used as cropland, how long it has been in its current state, what is the current stocking rate and grazing management practice, and what it has been in the past. I evaluate the resource to see if there is still any evidence of desirable plants. All of these facts are key to developing a plan to improve one's pastures and can be the difference between success and failure. However, the proper stocking rate is always first and foremost in any system of livestock management.

When our stocking rate is too high, we are destined to fail in the long run. The longer we have overgrazed a pasture, the longer it will take to recover. If a pasture has been in cropland for many years and is now being managed for grazing, there may be little seed left in the soil to produce desirable plants, and it may be necessary to add seed to the system. If the pasture has not been cropped and there is evidence of desirable plants, simply incorporating periodic rest may be sufficient to improve the condition of the range.

For a simple review of management guidelines to assist you with improving pasture condition and optimizing forage utilization, please see Management Guidelines Can Help Improve Pasture Condition, Optimize Forage Utilization. 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

Go Texan Winner

GO TEXAN WINNER DONATES $5000.00 BACK TO LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS!!!


John Tuma owner of KDR Construction and winner of the Area Go Texan Steak Dinner this weekend donated his winnings back to the organization for local scholarships. The Leon County Area Go Texan Committee has made a commitment to the youth of Leon County. They provide a $1000.00 scholarship to one student from each school in Leon County. In addition to the local money, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has made available a $15,000.00 scholarship to one student from Leon County.

Chute N The Bull 8-16-10

A railroad claims official once said that trains have done more harm to the genetic quality of America's cow herds than anything else. He said every cow that ever met her doom on a rural track was invariably the best, most productive cow in the plaintiff's herd. Often, the deceased cow was "nursing twins and close to calving again" just before her demise. It makes you wonder how much better our industry would be today if it hadn't been for this accidental culling over the last century and a half. I guess we're still making up for this lost genetic ground in our breeding and selection programs.


Seriously, commercial cow-calf producers often ask about culling protocols for their cow herds. Selection is the process of deciding which animals stay in the herd another year and is based on defined criteria for reproduction, functionality and production within the herd. Culling is simply passing out the pink slips or removing cows that no longer have a place in an operation. Routine criteria vary from ranch to ranch, depending on producers' goals and objectives, and from year to year, depending on economic factors.

One culling criterion that I consider etched in stone addresses the most important economic trait in a cow herd: reproduction (fertility). Assuming you have given the cow an adequate environment (such as for health, reproduction and nutrition), you should demand that she conceive a calf every 365 days. If she is open at pregnancy check, she should be culled. The only decision to be made is when to sell her.

Then there are those cows that are pregnant, but failed to raise a calf to weaning. Most of the time, these calves die within 14 days of birth. From a long-term, hard-nosed production perspective, this loss usually reflects a lack of mothering ability, and these cows should be removed. At certain points in the cattle cycle, agricultural economists may suggest that you relax this criterion, especially for those cows that are historically good producers and are bred to calve early in the next calving season. If you do allow any of these cows to stay in the herd, they should be identified and given only one reprieve. Note: If calf losses are excessive, you should evaluate your management practices for potential problems.

Another culling criterion I consider imperative is poor disposition, a subjective evaluation. For some, a couple of crazy cows just make things more interesting. For my money, a cow not only has to breed on schedule, but also has to act civilly. In any situation, a wild animal can harm the attitude of the herd around her and can hurt herself, other cattle or the working crew. When you have the chance to get her in a trailer, ship her.

At culling time, cows should be examined for functionality. As a rule of thumb, if a physical problem interferes with a cow's production potential, she should be culled. Permanent lameness, bad udders, so-called hardware disease and blindness are just a few of these problems. Cow age is in this category. Badly worn or missing teeth can reduce a cow's production and even her ability to survive. Longevity in a cow herd is a desirable trait, but consider culling a cow while she still has acceptable salvage value.

Besides culling for reproduction and functionality, many operations have set production criteria for their cows. The most common culling criterion in these herds is based on the weaning weight of the calves. Weaning weight is a measure of mothering ability of the cow and growth potential of the calf. Actual weaning weights for all calves can be standardized to 205 days of age and adjusted for the age of the dam. The adjusted 205-day weight of each calf is compared with the average weight of its sex and contemporary group. This ratio yields a relative comparison of production between cows for that calf crop. Using adjusted 205s, a producer can identify cows with high, average and low production capability, and make accurate culling decisions on cow performance.

Whether you call it culling or selection, the result should be the same. The cows that meet your criteria get to stay. Those that don't, go to town.

And whatever you do, keep the railroad right-of-way fences mended. You can find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.blogspot.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

What is the Death Tax?

The death tax (a.k.a., the federal estate tax) is a tax applied to the transfer of a person’s assets at death. It is defined by the Internal Revenue Service as “a tax on your right to transfer property at your death.”[1]


Under current law, the estate tax was repealed for one year on January 1, 2010. On January 1, 2011 the estate tax is set to return at a rate of 55 percent on all assets above a $1 million exemption amount.

The estate tax is imposed on any and all life-savings. This includes:

• personal property (such as a home, cars, furniture, artwork)

• business assets (property, machinery and inventory)

• investments (stocks, bonds and real estate)

The estate tax is paid by the recipients of an inheritance – most often family heirs – and is due within 9 months of the decedent’s death. If the heirs do not have sufficient cash, personal property and business assets must be sold to pay the tax.

In the case of family business owners and farmers, the tax often exceeds the ability of the family to pay. These heirs are consequently forced to sell off part, if not all, of their enterprise in order to pay the tax.

To learn more on the subject The Texas Agrilife Extension Service and Leon County Farm Bureau will be providing an educational program on September 10, 2010 at 12:00noon in the First United Methodist Church in Centerville. To register for this program call 903.536.2531. 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 8-9-10

A will. Once the inventory is complete, one will then have a rough estimate of the gross value of the estate and the options available to transfer certain assets. This will be important in determining if the estate will be subject to an estate tax. In addition, preparation will greatly improve the efficiency of time spent with an attorney.
Federal estate tax laws are in a stage of uncertainty. For 2010, there is no federal estate tax on estates of decedents who pass during 2010. On Jan. 1, 2011, the federal estate tax will become 55 percent on the amount of an estate that exceeds $1 million. There is speculation that Congress will pass legislation before the end of 2010 that will change the federal estate tax law. Depending on the prediction one reads, the exemption could increase from $1 million to somewhere between $3.5 and $5 million, and the estate tax rate could be lowered to 35 or 45 percent. Do not let uncertainty of future laws cause you to delay planning. Plan for the worst and hope for the best. Reputable estate attorneys will know the latest developments on estate tax legislation.

Hiring an attorney is an important step in the planning process. Seek an attorney who is competent in estate planning and preferably one who also has knowledge of production agriculture. Your perseverance in finding the right attorney will be worth the effort.

Often there are multiple objectives in planning an estate. Objectives could include such things as reducing estate taxes, minimizing probate costs and transferring assets to those of one's choosing. Caution should be exercised because certain objectives could take priority over providing sufficient income for the owner(s) of the estate.

Once a plan starts to develop and a draft has been completed, it is wise to schedule a time to communicate with potential heirs. Heirs should have an opportunity to respond in case a bequest The time will eventually come when each one's estate will be transferred to another person or persons. No one knows exactly when that time will be, but it is often assumed that it will be later rather than sooner. Therefore, many postpone estate planning because it is thought there will be plenty of time to attend to it later. This is a mistake.

Planning one's estate often requires making some difficult decisions. Making these tough decisions can lead to delay in the planning process. However, if a person fails to make the decisions about the transfer of their estate, then the state will make those decisions for them according to statutes under the laws of descent. Even though planning for the estate transfer is not easy, most will want to determine who receives their estate instead of leaving that decision to the state government.

Planning generally starts by compiling an inventory of one's estate. The inventory would include how title is held for certain assets along with an approximate value of each asset. How the title is held will impact the options for transferring the asset. For example, if title is held as joint tenancy with right of survivorship, the surviving tenant will receive that asset. The asset cannot be bequeathed by will to anyone else. If title of an asset is held as tenancy in common, each tenant or owner's share can pass to an heir or heirs under is actually a liability rather than a blessing. Communication will also ease possible surprise and stress later and give one's heir(s) time to make appropriate plans themselves.

Start planning today if you have not already done so. You can find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.blogspot.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 7-30-10

Outbreak of armyworms and/or grasshoppers. If you have lush green pasture – or any pasture, for that matter – it may be a prime target.


The first step to combating these pests is to properly scout for them. I usually recommend scouting every two to three days, but, this year, it may be worth looking every day for the first two to three weeks after small grain emergence. For both pests, I prefer to scout first thing in the morning when the insects are moving more slowly from the cooler temperatures. This also gives me the rest of the day to get the field sprayed, if needed.



For grasshoppers, start by looking around field edges, fences, ditches and weedy areas. Count the number of grasshoppers you see in a one-square-foot area. Move about 50 feet and count again. Do this 18 times and divide by two to get the number of grasshoppers per square yard. Typically, the treatment threshold is three per square yard in wheat and seven to 10 per square yard in the vegetation next to a wheat field. However, this is calculated based on the average value of the wheat. This year, the fall wheat forage is probably worth much more considering the shortage of forage and hay in many areas. Therefore, the treatment threshold may be lower.

Some general-use chemicals for grasshopper control in wheat are dimethoate, malathion and carbaryl. Restricted-use pesticides include, but are not limited to, lambda-cyhalothrin, chlorpyrifos, zeta-cypermethrin, methyl parathion and gamma-cyhalothrin. Best control will occur when grasshoppers are small, before they have wings.

For fall armyworms, start by watching for moth flights. You know when this occurs by the severity of gray moths that cover your windshield when driving at night. This is the time when the moths are laying eggs. Two to 10 days later, the eggs hatch and larvae begin feeding in hoards. Young larvae are slightly greenish and have black heads. Mature larvae vary from greenish to grayish brown, have stripes running lengthwise down their sides and have a light tan or yellow inverted "Y" on their brown heads. Count the number of larvae found in a square foot or per foot of row. Do this in 10 places around the field and average the number. Typically, the treatment threshold is three to four larvae per foot of row or square foot with feeding damage evident. Again, that threshold may need to be lower this year.

Some general-use chemicals for fall armyworm control in wheat are carbaryl and spinosad. Restricted-use pesticides include, but are not limited to, lambda-cyhalothrin, methomyl, methyl parathion, zeta-cypermethrin and gamma-cyhalothrin.

There are also other armyworms, including beet armyworms. Scouting will be similar, but the chemical selection is narrower. For beet armyworms, try zeta-cypermethrin.

Whatever chemical you use, be sure to read and follow all label directions, including grazing restrictions. You can find this and past articles on the web at www.mycountrytractor.blogspot.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