Texas AgriLife Extension to Offer Food Manager Certification Training Course
The typical American household spends an average of $2,634 on food away from home each year.
To assist area food establishments in providing food that is safe for their customers, Texas AgriLife Extension Service officials from Sherman and Potter counties are offering a two-day food manager certification training course.
“Food Safety: It’s Our Business” will be offered June 3-4 at First State Bank, 500 E. 1st St., Dumas. The deadline for signing up to attend is May 20.
Food establishments are required by law to have one certified food manager employed, said Sue Church, AgriLife Extension family and consumer science agent in Potter County. If successfully completed, this course meets the state requirement.
Included with the training will be materials and the state food manager certification examination. Cost of the course is $89. For those individuals wanting to test only, the cost is $50.
Food-borne illnesses affecting an establishment are estimated to cost thousands of dollars in lost wages, insurance and medical bills, Church said.
By attending the course, foodservice managers will learn about:
- Identifying potentially hazardous foods and common errors in food handling;
- Preventing contamination and cross-contamination of food;
- Teaching and encouraging personal hygiene for employees;
- Complying with government regulations;
- Maintaining clean utensils, equipment and surroundings; and
- Controlling pests.
For more information about the Food Manager Certification Training course, call Susie Spurlock, AgriLife Extension family and consumer science agent in Sherman County at 806-366-2081 or Church at 806-373-0713.
Don’t Forget the Tag When You Move Dairy Cattle in Texas!
Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) cattle tuberculosis (TB) regulations went into effect April 1, 2008, requiring an approved identification device on dairy cattle being moved within the state.
If a calf, steer, heifer, bull or cow looks like a dairy animal, make sure it has an official identification device before it’s moved within the state, stresses Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas’ state veterinarian and head of the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), the state’s livestock and poultry health regulatory agency.
“Dairy producers, calf raisers, feeders, or beef cattle owners who have a few dairy animals must comply with this cattle tuberculosis regulation that will aid in tracing cattle TB, if it is introduced into Texas,” said Dr. Hillman. In October 2007, the TAHC enhanced cattle TB and ID regulations for dairy animals entering from other states.
“USDA ear tags, which have been used in the Brucellosis and cattle TB programs for years, are available from the TAHC area offices at no charge for dairy cattle,” said Dr. Hillman. Cattle owners who use these tags are to maintain a simple log of the animals tagged. Information is to include the date a tag is applied to the animal, the tag number, and the animal’s breed, sex and age. The record keeping can be as simple as listing the tag number, date and the animal’s description, he said. Tag pliers are not provided, but they are available for purchase at most agricultural supply stores. Once applied, the identification is to remain on the animal. Producers not familiar with their TAHC area office can call the agency headquarters in Austin at 800-550-8242 for information.
Alternatively, cattle owners may purchase and use any of the following approved identification devices for dairy cattle:
• Electronic official AIN tags, differentiated by the first three digits of the fifteen-digit number:
* Manufacturer code "900" series RFID (radio frequency identification devices) tags, available from many feed or supply stores.
* USA prefix RFID tags
* Country code "840" series RFID tags. (To use these, producers need to register their premises in the National Animal Identification System. This can be accomplished easily and at no charge by calling the TAHC at 800-550-8242.)
A commercially produced cattle-style clip, flap or button tag that identifies owner and includes a unique animal number in the herd.
Although dairy animals are no more susceptible to cattle TB than beef cattle, their close confinement and movement between herds presents a greater risk of exposure to the bacterial disease, if an infected animal is introduced into the herd.
Dr. Hillman explained that cattle TB has not been eradicated in the U.S. At least 12 infected beef herds have been detected in Minnesota since 2006, a state where infection had not been found since 1971. On April 9, Minnesota was downgraded to modified accredited status, the third lowest rung on the five-tiered cattle TB ranking system. In February, TB infection was detected in a large California dairy, and in 2007, infection was detected in New Mexico, Colorado and Oklahoma. For years, Michigan has battled the disease both in cattle and free-ranging deer. Texas lost cattle TB-free status in 2002, but regained it in fall 2006 after employing a strategic plan that included TB testing of dairies and purebred beef herds, and enhancing slaughter surveillance.
“Preventing the introduction of cattle TB is crucial,” said Dr. Hillman. “But, we must be prepared to deal with infection, if it does slip through. Identifying dairy and dairy-cross animals will enable us to complete epidemiological investigations more quickly, so infection can be eliminated before it spreads to more herds.”
High Wheat Prices Require Planning on Producer's Part
by Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5600,SKledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
For the first time in many years, things are working for wheat producers – the cost of production is being covered by the expected price with some left over, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service specialist.
Depending on yields and how conditions hold up for the next month or so, Stan Bevers, AgriLife Extension economist in Vernon, said the breakeven on wheat to cover all costs this year is expected to be around $4.50 a bushel.
“We’re going to be able to do that this year,” he said. “Even if the price fell some more, we’re talking about making some decent money on the wheat crop.”
Speaking at the Rolling Plains Spring Field Day in Chillicothe recently, Bevers said the problem will be with next year’s crop.
“This has been the most expensive wheat crop we have ever produced – until next year,” he said. With higher input prices due to fuel and fertilizer expected this fall, the breakeven for next year will be anywhere from $5.80 a bushel to $7 a bushel, Bevers said. But the strong prices producers are seeing this year are not expected to hold up.
“I’m squeamish about going out there and hedging this far out, but we need to be thinking about what we need to be doing for next year,” he said.
Bevers said this year a “perfect storm” created the $10-a-bushel wheat situation, including: a reduction in national wheat acreage, two back-to-back droughts in major exporting countries, U.S. and world wheat stocks at extreme lows, a reduction in the value of the dollar, other crops competing for acreage; and index funds pushing commodity prices artificially higher.
“The fact that we have a dollar that is so reduced in value right now benefits agriculture, but from an input cost, the coin is flipped,” he said. “Fuel and fertilizer costs from competitors and other countries is more expensive to us.”
Even with $10-a-bushel wheat, other countries are wanting more U.S. wheat because of the weak dollar, Bevers said, which continues to bring domestic supplies down.
“While wheat production is expected to be up about 4 percent – we expect to harvest about 58 million acres of wheat this year – exports are also up because of the value of the dollar,” he said. “They can buy a lot more wheat cheaper.”
Bevers said right now, it is anticipated the U.S. will have 242 million bushels of wheat in reserve prior to harvest – the lowest amount since WWII. Also, domestically, there is still massive competition for wheat acres, he said. Some acreage will go to corn, soybeans and potentially cotton.
The rest of the world will be planting more wheat later this year because they don’t want to pay $10 a bushel for the U.S. crop, Bevers said. Computing the 58 million acres of harvest expected with a 40-bushel-per-acre projected average, he said a little stronger dollar also could result in a reduction of exports.
“That could be the difference between $10 wheat and about $6 next year,” Bevers said.
As for the rest of this year, Bevers said he would repeat what he said last year: “Sell it across the scales and don’t look back.”
While the price moved higher following harvest last year, he said several things are different this year.
“With short U.S. and world wheat stocks, and corn and other crops adding support, we know the two combined should get us into the $10 range up to harvest,” Bevers said.
He said a best-case scenario would see July futures at $11 a bushel and the worst case would be about $8 per bushel, both well above break-even price this year.
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Wind Power to Help West Texas Town Desalinate Groundwater
State Agency Awards $500,000 Grant to City of Seminole for Project
A pilot project utilizing wind power to desalinate brackish groundwater in West Texas will get a jump-start thanks to a $500,000 grant from the Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA).
Announced today, the grant to the City of Seminole (Gaines County) from ORCA’s Renewable Energy Demonstration Pilot Program will help fund the $1,075,000 project.
The project holds great promise for rural communities in West Texas and the Panhandle needing to develop new sources of drinking water, said Charles S. (Charlie) Stone, ORCA executive director.
“This project could be a roadmap for how our rural communities can use wind power to help meet future water needs,” Stone said.
The project would be the first in the U.S. to use wind power to desalinate drinking water for an inland municipality, as opposed to a town located on a coastline.
Seminole’s proposal to ORCA calls for groundwater to be pumped from the deep, brackish Santa Rosa aquifer.A 50-kilowatt wind turbine will help power a reverse osmosis plant that will make the water drinkable for the town’s residents.
ORCA is partnering with Texas Tech University, which has been working three years with Seminole on the design and economics of wind-driven groundwater desalinization systems.
“This project represents an innovative approach ORCA can take to help rural communities meet basic human needs, such as clean, reliable sources of drinking water,” said. Dr. Wallace Klussmann, chairman of ORCA’s governing board.
Seminole, like many West Texas towns, draws its drinking water from the Ogallala Aquifer, which is rapidly being depleted.The town has no access to surface water supplies.
And the cost of electricity to operate a reverse osmosis plant large enough to meet the town’s water needs was cost prohibitive, said Jamie Chapman of Texas Tech’s Wind Science and Engineering Research Center.
“Seminole can make this project affordable by tapping into the strong wind power resources in West Texas,” Chapman said. “With this ORCA grant, we can get this pilot project underway.”
The wind turbine will provide the electricity for a reverse osmosis plant that, depending on the aquifer characteristics, will produce up to 30,000 gallons per day of drinking water for the city.
If the project is successful, Chapman said Seminole eventually plans to install three megawatts of wind turbines to power a reverse osmosis plant large enough treat a future peak demand of three million gallons of water per day.Seminole currently uses about two million gallons per day on average from the Ogallala aquifer.
In addition to the ORCA grant, the project calls for Seminole to contribute $400,000 in cash, land and in-kind services.Texas Tech will contribute $25,000 in data collection and analysis and Entegrity Wind Systems will donate for two years a wind turbine valued at $150,000. After two years, Entegrity likely would lease the turbine to Seminole, Chapman said.
“We are grateful to ORCA for its leadership on addressing the critical water needs of Seminole and the region,” said Seminole Mayor Mike Carter.
Seminole also has submitted to the Texas Water Development Board a request for additional funds for this project.
The ORCA funds for the two-year project recently were approved by ORCA’s state review committee, a group of 12 local elected officials who are appointed by the Governor to approve grants awarded from community development block grant funds.
Stone said many rural communities have benefitted economically in terms of jobs, tax revenues and landowner royalties from the large wind farms in West Texas and the Panhandle that now produce about 4,500 megawatts of electricity, or about three percent of the state’s electricity.
“The potential now exists for towns such as Seminole and even rural school districts to cut their energy costs by putting up their own wind power projects,” Stone said.
ORCA’s governing body in 2007 approved allocating $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds for a Renewable Energy Demonstration Pilot Program.Another $500,000 for the program has been allocated for fiscal 2009.
As the state agency dedicated solely to rural Texas, ORCA makes the broad resources of state government more accessible to rural communities. ORCA was created by the 77th Legislature to ensure a continuing focus on rural issues, monitor governmental actions affecting rural Texas, research problems and recommend solutions, and administer rural-focused state and federal resources. ORCA is the door to Texas government for rural citizens. For more information, visit ORCA online at www.orca.state.tx.us.
Clear Wind and Chermac Energy Partner on 320 MW of Wind Farms in Texas and Oklahoma
Clear Wind Renewable Power, Inc. announced today the execution of a purchase agreement to acquire four wind energy projects with a total planned capacity of 320 MW from Chermac Energy Corporation. The four wind projects are at various stages of development.
"We are extremely pleased to have closed on this transaction with the team from Chermac Energy.We have been looking to acquire wind projects for a considerable period of time now," said Matt McCabe of Clear Wind. "When we began discussions with Chermac on these projects last year, we were confident we had found a good set of projects and the right team with which to partner on completion of development. In addition, unlike many other structures that we have reviewed, the acquisition structure employed here aligns our interests and Chermac’s over the long term."
"At Chermac, we are pleased that Clear Wind offered capital and, more importantly, the opportunity to become a long term partner in the projects," said Jaime McAlpine, President of Chermac Energy Corporation.
Chermac Energy Corporation is an Oklahoma-based independent energy company that has successfully developed over 214 MW of wind farms through 2007 and is in the development process of an additional 3,000 MW to be constructed primarily in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas by the end of 2014.
Chermac was advised by NorthWinds Advisors of Harrison, N.Y. on the transaction.
Clear Wind Renewable Power, Inc. is an affiliate of Whitebox Advisors, LLC, a Minneapolis-based investment adviser registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
The District is required by the state of Texas to set the DFC for the entire District, which will guide measures to be taken to manage the aquifer and attempt to conserve the groundwater resources of the aquifer into the future.The District must also work with three other Groundwater Conservation Districts in the Panhandle in the development of the DFC for the aquifer. Public input is being sought to ensure that the wishes of the people of the District are taken into consideration in the development of the management plan and the DFC.
The Board of Directors is currently considering setting two different DFC’s for the District, one for the western four counties and one for the eastern four counties, due to the differences in both the amount of groundwater available and differences in the amount of groundwater being pumped.The proposed DFC for the Eastern four counties of Ochiltree, Lipscomb, Hutchinson & Hansford Counties would be to have 60% of the currently available groundwater still available in fifty years.Those counties have a greater saturated thickness of the Ogallala, as well as much less pumping of groundwater for agricultural irrigation.The proposed DFC for the Western four counties of Dallam, Hartley, Sherman and Moore Counties is to have 40% of the currently available groundwater still available in fifty years. These counties currently have less saturated thicknessand are experiencing a much higher rate of groundwater withdrawal for agriculture.Comments received at the stakeholder meetings indicated that some were in favor of the separate management areas idea, and some felt that the DFC should be the same across the District.Also being considered is whether the current allowable annual production rate of 2 acre-feet of water per acre of land surface should be lowered to prolong the useable life of the aquifer.
The District’s Board of Directors is seeking input and ideas from the public about how much water they would like to see left in fifty years and possible measure that could be taken to achieve those goals.
The three public meetings are the first in a series of meetings to be held, with more meetings being tentatively scheduled for August.At that time, the groundwater production information and water well level measurements will have been compiled for 2007, giving an even more accurate picture of the groundwater usage and depletion that are occurring within the District.
Anyone wishing to make comment on the process of deciding the DFC can contact the District’s General Manager, Steve Walthour, at 806-935-6401 or by e-mailing to swalthour@npwd.org.
Students Are Invited to Apply for Texas State Water Camp
The District invites high school students who are interested in learning more about water and water conservation to the Texas State Water Camp held in Monahans, Texas. Texas Agri-life Extension’s 16th annual Texas State Youth Water Camp is set for July 13-17 in the George and Opal Bentley 4-H Center in Monahans. The District will pay for the $150 registration fee and travel expenses for students who live within the District that are accepted to attend the camp.
Derek Scasta, Extension agent in Ward County and the camp's coordinator, said the five-day camp helps older Texas youth learn about water issues. "We strive to build an appreciation among the campers of the implications water management has on agriculture, industry, municipalities and homes," Scasta said. "The camp is an excellent opportunity for high school boys and girls from across the state to learn more about our water resources."
The camp will be conducted by Extension agents and specialists, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service personnel and other water resource experts.
Applications are currently being accepted for the camp. Information about the camp can be found at http://ward-tx.tamu.edu/ or by calling the Extension office in Ward County at (432) 943-2682 or 943-4112. Students who are accepted to the camp should contact Rhonda Artho at North Plains Groundwater Conservation District at 806-935-6401 or by e-mailing to artho@npwd.org to arrange to have their travel and registration paid.
Students Invited to Participate in Annual Water Conservation Artwork Competition
Fourth, Fifth and Sixth grade students who live within the District are invited to enter the annual Water Conservation Artwork Contest. The District will feature the winning artwork in its annual calendar which is free to the public. The first place winner will receive a $50 cash prize, a certificate of recognition and will have their artwork featured on the cover of the calendar. Twelve second place winners will each receive a $25 cash prize, a certificate of recognition, and will have their artwork featured on one month inside the calendar. Children can draw, paint or use any other medium to depict water conservation. The deadline for submission of artwork to the District for the 2009 calendar is May 23, 2008. Artwork should be sent to District with the entry form, which can be downloaded from the District’s website at www.npwd.org/art_contest.htm.
Free Newsletter Keeps Citizens Informed on Groundwater in the Panhandle
With concerns about the future of our groundwater supplies in the public eye right now, there is a way for citizens to stay informed on the activities and services of the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District.
The North Plains Water News is published quarterly, and contains information on District events and programs, current research in groundwater and water conservation, as well as helpful tips to conserve water for home owners and businesses.In addition, information on water legislation at the state level is covered.The newsletter is one program of the District intended to provide timely and useful groundwater information to the citizens of the District.
The newsletter is free to the public, and all interested persons are urged to contact Rhonda Artho at 806-935-6401 or artho@npwd.org to be placed on the mailing list.
Report: Corn Prices Not the Primary Driver of Higher Food Costs
Many are quick to blame high-priced corn for escalating food prices, but the primary catalysts are $100-plus crude and higher overall production costs. Put it all together and it’s hurting the Texas agricultural economy, according to a report by the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University.
Economists with the center, part of Texas AgriLife Research and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, found the underlying force driving change throughout the agricultural industry is more directly related to high energy and production costs – though corn does play a role in some higher food costs.
“Though crop farmers are receiving historically high prices, it’s negative territory for the Texas livestock industry when you factor in how much is being spent by producers to feed those animals and production costs associated with fuel, fertilizer and other inputs,” said Dr. David Anderson, AgriLife Extension economist in College Station.
Farm acreage is receiving pressure as a result of high-energy costs, Anderson said.
“Corn and other commodity prices would have to increase (to offset rising energy costs),” he said.
Substantial increases in fertilizer prices led to a 3 million-acre reduction in U.S. planted corn acres for the 2006-2007 crop year, according to the report, “The Effects of Ethanol on Texas Food and Feed.”
“Higher production costs will continue to pressure acres as producers are faced with expensive fertilizer and diesel prices to plant crops,” Anderson said. “This research also supports the hypothesis that corn prices have had little to do with rising food costs. Higher corn prices do have a small effect on some food items.”
Important food items such as bread, eggs and milk have high prices that are affected by higher corn prices, but “fundamental supply/demand relationships in the world have had a larger effect,” Anderson said.
Speculative fund activities in the futures markets have led to more money in the markets and more volatility, he said.
“That increase in price volatility has encouraged wider daily price move limits,” he said. “The end result has been the loss of the ability to use futures markets for price risk management due to the inability to finance margin requirements.”
The potential exists for even higher corn prices based on historical changes in overall yields, Anderson said.
“Fewer corn acres planted in 2008 leaves production susceptible to weather risks,” he said. “Small yield reductions will result in even higher prices.”
The livestock industry has borne most of the costs of high corn prices, according to the report. The structure of the industry has made it unable to pass costs on, either up or down the supply chain.
“The livestock industry is in the middle of this transition, and prices don’t yet reflect the impact of higher costs,” Anderson said.
- While corn and grain sorghum producers benefit from high prices, the livestock industry faces increasing costs. Because the livestock industry is bigger than the crop industry, the net balance is negative when factoring in feed purchases to produce animals for consumption.
- “Relaxing” the Renewable Fuel Standards would not result in significantly lower corn prices, according to economists with the Agricultural and Food Policy Center. This is due to the ethanol infrastructure already in place and the generally positive economics for the industry. The ethanol industry has grown in excess of the Renewable Fuel Standards, indicating that relaxing the standard would not cause a large contraction in the industry.
Source: Agricultural and Food Policy Center, Texas A&M University, Texas AgriLife Research and Texas AgriLife Extension Service.
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'Surviving High Fertilizer and Fuel Costs' Conference Set April 18 at Overton
High Nitrogen Costs Hammering Forage Producers
The escalating price of nitrogen fertilizer doesn't just have farmers worried; scientists with Texas AgriLife Research and Texas AgriLife Extension Service are also deeply concerned.
So concerned, that they are scheduling an April 18 workshop, "Surviving High Fertilizer and Fuel Costs" in Overton, said Dr. Gerald Evers, AgriLife Research forage management expert.
Nitrogen fertilizer prices have "gone through the roof," because of high natural gas prices, a decrease in the number of fertilizer plants, and increased demand worldwide, he said.
Small grain farmers have seen the price they receive for their crop rise along with fertilizer costs, but cattle producers, who need fertilizer for their pastures and forage crops, have not seen an increase in the price they receive for their product, Evers said.
In East Texas, the cornerstone of beef operations has been improved European varieties such as Coastal Bermudagrass, and more recently, Tifton 85. With proper fertility and soils management, these grasses are capable of supporting more animals per acre and vastly increased hay production compared to native grasses, he said.
But with nitrogen selling for 55 cents a pound last year, and now 70 cents a pound, beef producers are going to have to adjust their pasture fertility programs, Evers said.
"The objective of the conference, which will be held at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton, is to provide information to the producers to help them reduce fertilizer costs," Evers said. "With the increasing fertilizer costs and energy costs we are having to make adjustments in our livestock and pasture management."
What kind of adjustments?
"The main thing, we are going to have to find where our fertilizer dollar will bring back the largest return," he said. "We will be talking about soil fertility and soil fertilizer recommendations as well as soil pH, which is very critical to get good use of our fertilizer.
Producers should be prepared to live with lower forage production and reduced stocking rates, Evers said. But the alternative, to continue to do business as usual, is likely to be a money-losing proposition.
The conference will be held at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton.
Dr. Vince Haby, AgriLife Research soil scientist, will talk about fertilization and liming. Dr. Ray Smith, AgriLife Research legume breeder, will discuss how clovers and other legumes can reduce the amount of commercial nitrogen fertilizer. Dr. Jason Banta, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, will review nutrient supplements needed by a cow herd when forage is of poor quality because of low soil fertility. Dr. Evers will explain how to lengthen the grazing season, thereby shortening the winter feeding period.
Dr. Monte Rouquette will talk about adjusting stocking rates and nutrient recycling.
"Over 90 percent of the nitrogen, phosphorus and potash that’s in the forage – that a cow eats – is actually excreted back on the soil in urine and feces," Evers said. "We need to make most of that and recycle those nutrients.
There are two ways the grazing season can be lengthened: by stockpiling and overseeding, he said.
"One, we can overseed with annual ryegrass and clovers in the fall and begin grazing five to six weeks earlier," he said.
Stockpiling entails growing a fall bermudagrass hay crop but not harvesting it.
"When we would begin to feed hay, instead we graze the standing hay crop," Evers said. Evers noted that AgriLife Researchers and AgriLife Extension specialists have researched all these techniques for years at the center, under actual East Texas conditions.
"All this information presented will be from research conducted here at the center in northeast Texas on our soils and in our climate," he said.
Registration for the conference will be $20 and will include a lunch meal. For more information contact Dr. Charles Long at 903-834-6191 or c-long@tamu.edu.
The Overton center is located one mile from downtown Overton on State Highway 3053.
Maps and more detailed driving instructions can be found on the Internet at http://overton.tamu.edu/maps.htm.
Railroad Commission: Use Portable Gas Appliances Safely
AUSTIN-As outdoor recreation season hits high gear, the Texas Railroad Commission, today issued safety tips for drivers of recreational vehicles (RVs) equipped with full-service propane gas kitchens and for campers who will soon be firing up propane-fueled heaters, lanterns and stoves. The Railroad Commission has been in charge of propane safety in Texas for more than 60 years.
“Safety starts with approved appliances,” said Commission Chairman Michael L. Williams. “Look for a label from a testing laboratory before you buy a gas appliance, and follow all of the manufacturer’s directions carefully during use. Check your propane camping appliances from time to time to make sure they are working properly. And always make sure your shelter or campsite is adequately ventilated. Never turn in for the night with a gas heater, stove or lamp still burning.”
Commissioner Victor G. Carrillo reminded campers who travel by RV that now is a good time to take their vehicles to a qualified propane gas dealer or licensed RV service facility for a pre-season appliance checkup. “Make sure a qualified technician checks the whole propane system for leaks and proper regulator settings,” Carrillo said. “That includes inspecting all the valves and fittings and checking the propane containers for rust and dents.”
“Most propane cylinders should always be stored, moved and used in an upright position,” said Commissioner Elizabeth A. Jones. “The exceptions are certain RV cylinders that are designed and clearly marked for horizontal use. Proper orientation allows the cylinder’s pressure relief valve to do its job, if needed. The relief valve on a typical 20-pound cylinder won’t work properly unless the cylinder is upright.”
RV drivers can find fuel at nearly 1,000 Texas propane outlets online by visiting www.texaspropane.org. For more information on how to travel and camp safely this summer, call the Railroad Commission’s Alternative Fuels Division at (800) 64-CLEAR.
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RAILROAD COMMISSION OFFERS FREE PROPANE SAFETY TRAINING TO TEXAS FIRE DEPARTMENTS
AUSTIN-For the last three years the Texas Railroad Commission has been training both volunteer and full-time firefighters around the state on how to respond to emergencies involving propane. The Railroad Commission- Texas’ chief energy agency-has been in charge of propane safety in the state for more than 50 years and offers free propane training to urban as well as rural fire departments.
Since March 2005 the Commission’s Alternative Fuels Division has held 90 classes from El Paso to Beaumont and Bovina to Harlingen. More than 2,000 firefighters from 300 departments have completed the training. Besides hazard identification and response techniques, each class covers propane safety topics ranging from barbecue cylinders to residential tanks and commercial bulk installations.
The instructor, Thomas Petru, is a nationally recognized expert with 35 years’ experience in propane safety at the Railroad Commission.
Chairman Michael L. Williams said, “The Commission offers these free propane classes for local fire departments statewide. The classes familiarize firefighters with propane’s physical and chemical properties and explain the safety features of propane tanks and equipment. This is specialized training that is often not readily available elsewhere.”
Commissioner Victor G. Carrillo noted that every class is co-sponsored by one or more local propane marketers. “The 93 propane companies that have worked with us so far play a key role in the training,” Carrillo said. “They bring their bobtails and show the firefighters features such as a remote shutoff device that can stop the flow of fuel and shut down a truck’s engine from 150 feet away.”
“Good things happen when agency experts, industry professionals and emergency responders meet to share information,” said Commissioner Elizabeth Jones. “Participating fire departments and propane marketers deserve special recognition for their efforts to learn more about how to handle propane safely.”
No matter if your fire department is in a big city or rural, full-time or volunteer, just call (800) 64-CLEAR to request free propane training.
Superintendents Learn About Clean School Buses
Austin, Texas - When Texas school superintendents open their emails after spring break, they’ll have a message from Railroad Commission Chairman Michael Williams. This continues an effort by Williams to get cleaner school buses on the road.
“Texas has over 1,200 school districts which have a combined total of tens of thousands of buses,” said Williams. “By using alternative fuel school buses, such as propane and natural gas or by retrofitting older buses with technologies that reduce emissions Texas children can get to school and back safely, cleanly while using less foreign oil.”
There are 36,800 school buses in Texas, of which about 1,500 (4 percent) are propane-powered. About 35 Texas districts currently operate propane school buses. There are an additional 40 plus CNG (compressed natural gas) school buses in the state, operated by three districts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
“Incentives are available at the federal, state and local levels that make propane and natural gas buses a common-sense option for school districts,” Williams added.
The federal 50-cents per gallon rebate on propane motor fuel brings in about $1,500 per year per school bus. A typical grant from the Railroad Commission for replacing a 15-year-old diesel bus is around $12,000 per bus. A federal tax credit of up to $30,000 per installation is available for propane refueling infrastructure. And the TCEQ’s Texas Clean School Bus Program provides reimbursements of up to $7,500 per device for filtration systems on existing diesel buses.
Williams has been a consistent advocate for cleaner burning alternative fuel school buses. In 2001, Williams specially recognized Northside ISD in San Antonio for the district’s commitment to air quality through its propane school bus fleet. He gave the keynote address at the 2004 National Clean Cities Conference. In 2006, Williams joined other clean air proponents in securing $895,000 to develop and certify an original equipment manufactured low-emissions propane school bus and proudly hosted the 2007 unveiling of Blue Bird’s Propane “Vision” school bus, the first propane school bus offered by a major manufacturer in the U.S. since 2002.
RAILROAD COMMISSION: PROTECT PROPANE TANKS FROM WILDFIRES
AUSTIN-At this time of year, wildfires fanned by dry winds threaten propane storage tanks in many areas of Texas. The Railroad Commission-the state agency in charge of propane safety-wants Texans whose homes or businesses are fueled by propane gas to know what to do in the event of one of these fast-moving fires.
“Wildfires have burned more than half a million acres in central and west Texas so far this year,” said Railroad Commission Chairman Michael L. Williams. “If you have a propane tank, you need to be prepared to protect your family and property.”
“That means knowing what to do before, during and after a wildfire event,” said Commissioner Victor G. Carrillo. “There are several simple, but important steps that need to be taken to be ready for wildfires.”
“After a fire, if the service valve on your tank was closed, please contact your propane supplier before turning the tank back on,” said Commissioner Elizabeth Jones. “For safety’s sake, suppliers are required by law to inspect and leak-test your propane system before restoring service after any interruption of service, including an emergency.”
Before A Wildfire: Make sure any small propane cylinders are stored outdoors, and check the area around your main propane fuel tank. Clean and clear out vegetation or other items that can burn around the tank. Mow close to the ground, and cut back all growth around tank supports. Trim overhanging trees or shrubs.
Your propane supplier can help by showing you where your service line is buried and how to operate your propane system’s safety features. Have your supplier show you and your family how to turn off the gas at the tank.
Your propane supplier can also put a reflective Railroad Commission tank locator decal on or next to your electric meter or service box. The bright orange decal helps emergency responders find your tank, even if it’s underground or dark outside.
Finally, post emergency phone numbers in an agreed location and make sure all family members know your community's warning signals and how to\ tune into your area’s Emergency Broadcast Network.
During a Wildfire: If it is safe to do so, disconnect small propane cylinders from grills or other appliances and move them away from any structures. Shut the cylinders’ service valves by turning them all the way clockwise. In the event of an evacuation, follow emergency workers’ instructions.
After a Wildfire: Propane storage containers exposed to fire need to be inspected and, if necessary, tested and repaired after an emergency. Contact a licensed propane supplier to inspect the container and system and ensure it is safe for use. Always use caution when re-entering buildings following an evacuation. If you smell gas, do not operate electrical switches, appliances or telephones. These actions could ignite propane vapor. Exit the building quickly and carefully. Go to a neighbor’s phone or use a cell phone outside to call emergency personnel or your propane supplier for help.
For more tips to safeguard your propane-fueled home visit www.propane.tx.gov or call the Railroad Commission’s Alternative Fuels Division at (800) 64-CLEAR.
Texans Have Lowest Residential Gas Rates Among Southern States
AUSTIN- Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Michael L. Williams today said recent data from the U.S. Department of Energy indicates that Texans have the lowest average residential natural gas rates among Southern States, which also includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
DOE’s listing of average residential natural gas rates per mcf (thousand cubic feet) includes both the cost of the natural gas commodity and the average cost of service charge, both of which comprise a typical residential gas bill. Gas use for homes averages about 6 mcf each month.
“Affordable energy is important to Texans. Since 2000, the average residential bill in Texas has consistently been below the national average rate,” Williams said. “The latest data available from 2006 shows Texans pay on average about $13.11 per mcf, compared to an average of $15.97 per mcf paid by residents in other Southern states. Texas’ average cost per mcf is less than Alabama’s by over $5 and less than Florida’s by over $8,” Williams said.
Williams noted that under Texas law, utilities are only allowed to pass on what they pay for natural gas-no more and no less. And, typically, the cost of the commodity makes up about 70 percent of a residential gas bill. Even with the cost of the commodity factored in, Texas continues to have one of the lowest average residential gas rates per mcf in the nation.
“We owe some thanks to the state’s healthy natural gas industry. One reason Texas has such reasonable gas rates is that we produce natural gas here at home and export more than we use,” Williams said. “The industry produces about 6.3 tcf of natural gas each year and exports about half of that production to other states and Mexico,” Williams said.
To view detailed information about average residential gas rates go to www.rrc.state.tx.us and view “Comparison of U.S. Residential Gas Rates (PDF)” under “What’s New.”
Feds Follow RRC Pipeline Safety Actions
AUSTIN - This week the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a series of pipeline recommendations following the lead in public safety set by the Railroad Commission of Texas involving pipeline fittings called compression couplings.
On Tuesday, DOT issued an advisory bulletin to the nation’s gas distribution operators to identify issues with compression couplings, which are fittings that join two pipes together. The federal advisory bulletin comes on the heels of pipeline directives issued last month by the RRC as well as a release of a detailed study of compression couplings in the state.
Railroad Commission Chairman Michael Williams said, “The Railroad Commission is a national leader in pipeline safety, and we appreciate this recognition of our efforts to maintain a vigilant pipeline safety program. We are pleased that other states’ regulatory bodies and utilities will be following our lead.”
Following two incidents that involved compression couplings in very different circumstances, the RRC requested natural gas utilities supply information on installed compression couplings. In the meantime, as a precautionary measure, the RRC adopted a mandatory replacement program for compression couplings in specific circumstances. The RRC issued a report on its findings from an intensive analysis of both historical data and data provided by the utilities on the use of compression couplings statewide.
The DOT advisory addresses failures related to certain mechanical compression couplings and steps that operators can take to resolve the issues. The advisory notes that it is difficult to cite common criteria affecting all failures but urges operators to review their procedures for using mechanical couplings and ensure coupling design, procedures, leak surveys and personnel qualifications meet federal requirements.
Williams noted, “The leading cause of pipeline incidents in Texas is still third-party hits. The RRC and the DOT can direct pipeline operators on general and specific actions, as we’ve done with compression couplings, to improve the safety of pipelines, but the real power for improving pipeline safety is in the hands of homeowners and contractors when they call 811 before they dig.”
RRC PRODUCTION STATISTICS AND ALLOWABLES FOR MARCH 2008
AUSTIN -- The Texas average rig count as of Feb. 15 was 867, representing about 51 percent of all active land rigs in the United States. In the last 12 months, total Texas reported production was 337 million barrels of oil and 6.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Texas natural gas production represents approximately 29 percent of total U.S. natural gas demand.
The Commission’s estimated final production for December 2007 is 28,656,929 barrels of crude oil and 492,006,845 Mcf (thousand cubic feet) of gas well gas.
The Commission derives final production numbers by multiplying the preliminary December 2007 production totals of 27,436,026 barrels of crude oil and 425,795,625 Mcf of gas well gas by a production adjustment factor of 1.0445 for crude oil and 1.1555 for gas well gas. (These production totals do not include casinghead gas or condensate.)
Texas natural gas storage reported by the Commission for January 2008 is 295,721,290 Mcf compared to 308,049,741 Mcf in January 2007. The February 2008 gas storage estimate is 273,062,864 Mcf.
The Texas Railroad Commission’s Oil and Gas Division set initial March 2008 natural gas production allowables for prorated fields in the state to meet market demand of 16,284,379 Mcf (thousand cubic feet). In setting the initial March 2008 allowables, the Commission used historical production figures from previous months, producers’ demand forecasts for the coming month, and adjusted the figures based on well capability. These initial allowables will be adjusted after actual production for March 2008 is reported.
Texas Leads Nation in Pipeline Safety Initiatives Enacted and Proposed
AUSTIN- With directives issued last fall and additional safety initiatives proposed today, the regulatory agency in charge of pipeline safety-the Texas Railroad Commission-continues to lead the nation in pipeline safety.
Accidents involving non-restraint compression couplings, one type of pipeline fitting that joins two pipes together, have occurred around the nation. In Texas, three accidents involving this type of fitting have occurred since October 2006. After the two of these Texas accidents, in March 2007, the Railroad Commission launched an investigation into the use of these components statewide to determine if they may pose a systematic problem. The study’s results were released today.
Of 4,336 accidents since 1971, 84 or 1.9 percent involved compression couplings. The primary causes of these 84 incidents may have been related to third-party damage or other causes not directly attributable to material failures. However, these incidents were included in this tally because a compression coupling was involved. The primary cause of 77 percent of Texas pipeline accidents occurs when someone digs into a pipeline. This is known as third-party damage and happens about 200 times a week. Corrosion and rust account for another 12 percent of pipeline accidents in Texas.
Today’s Commission’s study results do not indicate a systematic safety problem with compression couplings. However, proposals were issued today for the Commissioners’ consideration to add onto previous directives issued last fall involving these fittings and general pipeline safety actions. Along with a November directive to remove known, non-restraint compression couplings at service risers, today’s recommendations include:
· On plastic pipe, remove the compression coupling if it is not a Category 1 coupling (resistant to pull out).
· On steel pipe, non-restraint compression couplings installed prior to 1980 must be phased out and replaced.
· To capture additional data on compression couplings and their performance, leak repair reports filed with the Commission must include the compression coupling manufacturer and model number.
· Have the Commission conduct annual meetings with industry to determine trends or concerns regarding the safety of pipeline systems.
The Commission will review today’s proposals and act on them at the Commission’s Feb. 26 conference.
“No other state regulatory agency and no federal regulatory agency has made the determination that compression couplings are unsafe,” said Chairman Michael L. Williams. “However, as one accident is too many, the Railroad Commission has taken a national lead in safety once again. In an abundance of caution, we have initiated directives that address not only the use of compression couplings in our state, but also, other known pipeline safety concerns. In November, we required the removal of known compression couplings at service risers. At the same time, we began rulemaking that will require more frequent pipeline leak detection and shorter leak repair time frames. Today’s proposals intend to enhance those measures” | TEXAS MONTHLY OIL AND GAS STATISTICS
JANUARY PERMITS TO DRILL
The Commission issued a total of 1,760 original drilling permits in January 2008 compared to 1,360 in January 2007. The January total included 1,544 permits to drill new oil and gas wells, 58 to re-enter existing well bores, and 158 for re-completions. Permits issued in January 2008 included 392 oil, 367 gas, 951 oil and gas, 45 injection, zero service and 5 other permits.
DECEMBER CRUDE OIL PRODUCTION
Texas preliminary December 2007 crude oil production averaged 885,033 barrels daily, up from the 864,217 barrels daily average of December 2006.
The preliminary Texas crude oil production figure for December 2007 is 27,436,026 barrels, a decrease from 26,790,739 barrels reported during December 2006.
JANUARY OIL AND GAS COMPLETIONS
In January 2008, operators reported 536 oil, 876 gas, 57 injection and 19 other completions compared to 639 oil, 753 gas, 53 injection and six other completions during January 2007.
Total well completions for 2007 year to date are 1,488 up from 1,451 recorded during the same period in 2007.
Operators reported 704 holes plugged and five dry holes in January 2008 compared to 691 holes plugged and two dry holes in January 2007.
DECEMBER NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION
Texas oil and gas wells produced 484,734,347 Mcf (thousand cubic feet) of gas based upon preliminary production figures for December 2007, up from the December 2006 preliminary gas production total of 483,211,215 Mcf.
Texas production in December 2007 came from 133,157 oil and 76,436 gas wells.
JANUARY TEXAS OIL AND GAS DRILLING PERMITS AND COMPLETIONS BY DISTRICT
RRC District: (1)SAN ANTONIO AREA
Permits To Drill Oil/Gas Holes: 73
Oil Completions: 18
Gas Completions: 15
RRC District: (2) REFUGIO AREA
Permits To Drill Oil/Gas Holes: 58
Oil Completions: 10
Gas Completions: 61
RRC District: (3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS
Permits To Drill Oil/Gas Holes: 90
Oil Completions: 20
Gas Completions: 31
RRC District: (4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS
Permits To Drill Oil/Gas Holes: 131
Oil Completions: 13
Gas Completions: 83
RRC District: (5) EAST CENTRAL TEXAS
Permits To Drill Oil/Gas Holes: 60
Oil Completions: 14
Gas Completions: 49
RRC District: (6) EAST TEXAS
Permits To Drill Oil/Gas Holes: 187
Oil Completions: 2
Gas Completions: 206
RRC District: (7B) WEST CENTRAL TEXAS
Permits To Drill Oil/Gas Holes: 97
Oil Completions: 27
Gas Completions: 15
RRC District: (7C) SAN ANGELO AREA
Permits To Drill Oil/Gas Holes: 199
Oil Completions: 65
Gas Completions: 111
RRC District: (8) MIDLAND
Permits To Drill Oil/Gas Holes: 272
Oil Completions: 278
Gas Completions: 9
RRC District: (8A) LUBBOCK AREA
Permits To Drill Oil/Gas Holes: 86
Oil Completions: 27
Gas Completions: 0
RRC District: (9) NORTH TEXAS
Permits To Drill Oil/Gas Holes: 352
Oil Completions: 45
Gas Completions: 241
RRC District: (10) PANHANDLE
Permits To Drill Oil/Gas Holes: 155
Oil Completions: 17
Gas Completions: 55
DECEMBER TEXAS TOP TEN OIL PRODUCING COUNTIES RANKED BY PRELIMINARY PRODUCTION
COUNTY - CRUDE OIL (BBLS)
1. GAINES - 2,209,426
2. YOAKUM - 2,043,159
3. ANDREWS - 2,021,916
4. HOCKLEY - 1,533,144
5. ECTOR - 1,504,388
6. SCURRY - 1,165,068
7. UPTON - 1,036,176
8. PECOS - 1,013,030
9. MIDLAND - 912,460
10. CRANE - 773,108
* * * * * *
DECEMBER TEXAS TOP TEN GAS PRODUCING COUNTIES RANKED BY PRELIMINARY PRODUCTION
COUNTY - TOTAL GAS (MCF)
1. PANOLA - 22,177,349
2. ZAPATA - 21,267,418
3. FREESTONE - 20,331,573
4. HIDALGO - 20,002,581
5. PECOS - 19,146,996
6. JOHNSON - 16,762,534
7. TARRANT - 15,748,897
8. WEBB - 14,966,431
9. ROBERTSON- 14,941,077
10. WISE - 13,752,095
For a faxed copy of this news release, contact the RRC Public Information Office at (512) 463-6710.To be removed from this e-mail distribution list, simply reply to this message requesting removal.
RRC news releases are also available on the Commission website: www.rrc.state.tx.us
|
Better Predator Control Comes with Integrated Pest Management Approach
Writer: Kay Ledbetter, (806) 6775608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my.
Area producers and landowners need not worry about these three wild
animals, but feral hogs, coyotes and bobcats are predators in need of
management, a Texas Cooperative Extension wildlife specialist says.
A Predator Awareness Workshop, hosted by Extension, is scheduled from
8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. April 8,2008 at the Gray County Extension annex at 12125
E. Frederic Ave. in Pampa.
Ken Cearley, Extension wildlife specialist, will start the session by
talking about "appreciating predators," as well as interpreting physical
evidence of predation. Cearley also will discuss controlling predators
while managing wildlife.
The meetings are designed to help people realize when they have a
predator problem and when they don't, Cearley said.
"We'll stress the need to use an integrated pest management approach to
any predatorrelated problems that may arise," he said. "That includes
identifying their presence, monitoring population trends and choosing from
an array of tools to address damage problems that may occur."
Feral hogs are of particular interest because their range is expanding
and producers in new areas are requesting information on how to manage
them, Cearley said.
"Also, we'll talk about the role of predators in the ecosystem, the
positive impacts they have, as well as the negative effects in some
situations," Cearley said.
Audience members will preview a DVD on feral hogs and a video on
bobcats. Rick Gilliland, Panhandle district supervisor for Extension's
Wildlife Services, will address the coyote issue.
In the afternoon session, Wildlife Services personnel will demonstrate
control alternatives, including nonlethal approaches, foothold traps and
snares, M44s (a sodium cyanide ejection device) and livestock protection
collars, and aerial gunning and calling.
Dr. James Alexander, regional zoonosis veterinarian with the Texas
Department of Health, will talk about predators as vectors of disease.
Cearley will wrap up the workshop with a review of the "Code of Ethics"
for predator management and show a video entitled "Preventing Illicit Use
of Pesticides in Predator Control Programs."
Each participant can earn up to six continuing education units toward
their pesticide applicator license recertification, including three
general, one laws and regulations, and two integrated pest management.
To register or for more information, contact Brandon McGinty,Texas AgriLife
Extension Agent in Gray County, at (806) 6698033.
| USDA SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT ON CHANGES TO CRP MANAGED HAYING AND GRAZING
COLLEGE
STATION, TX - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that
it will hold public meetings in Texas on April 8-9, 2008 on proposed
changes to managed haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve Program
(CRP) land.
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will hold a meeting
on April 8, 2008 at 9:00 AM at the Regency Inn Suites Hotel in Abilene,
TX. The second meeting will be on April 9, 2008 held at the Fifth
Season Inn in Amarillo, TX beginning at 1:00 PM.
FSA is
proposing rule changes to the frequency that managed haying and grazing
is allowed on land that is enrolled in CRP. Public comments will be
accepted at the meeting and the public may also comment on changes to
primary nesting season dates, during which managed haying and grazing
are not permitted.
FSA will consider public comments when it
prepares state-specific environmental assessments that will evaluate
the effects of the proposed changes. The environmental assessments will
aid USDA decision-makers and the public with an analysis of the
benefits and potential impacts of the proposed changes to managed
haying and grazing on CRP land.
Public comments can be
submitted both electronically and by regular mail. They must be
received by the close of business on May 9, 2008. Direct comments to:
MHG EAs, Geo-Marine Incorporated, 2713 Magruder Blvd., Suite D,
Hampton, Va. 23666-1572 or send them to the Web site:
http://public.geo-marine.com.
These meetings are two (2) of
fourteen (14) public meetings that will be held in 13 states where USDA
is proposing rule changes to the managed haying and grazing program.
More information on meeting dates and locations is available on the
project Web site: http://public.geo-marine.com.
Here are specific details about the public meetings for Texas:
What: CRP Public Meeting What: CRP Public Meeting
When: April 8, 2008 (9:00 AM) When: April 9, 2008 (1:00 PM)
Where: Regency Inn Suites Hotel Where: Fifth Season Inn
3450 S Clack Street 6801 I-40 East
Abilene, TX 79606 Amarillo, TX 79106
Contact: Micky Woodard (979)680-5208 Contact: Micky Woodard (979)680-5208
|
High Commodity Prices Boost U.S. Ag Exports Forecast to Record $101 Billion
by Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259,b-fannin@tamu.edu
U.S. agricultural exports are projected to surpass $101 billion in 2008, with more than two-thirds of the total value attributed to high commodity prices, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service economist.
The projected amount is a significant increase over 2007 when U.S. exports came in at a record $82 billion, said Dr. Parr Rosson.
“That’s a very substantial increase, almost about 25 percent,” he said. “About one-third of that predicted amount for 2008 is also coming from (higher) tonnage to go along with the high commodity prices.”
Corn tonnage is predicted to be up 8 million tons due to increasing ethanol demand, while wheat is projected to increase 2.3 million tons and rice more than half a million tons, he said.
“Corn accounts for 72 percent of that increased tonnage,” Rosson said.
Canada and Mexico are the top export markets for U.S. agricultural products, Rosson said, followed by Japan and the European Union.
“What I think is significant is the stronger growth out of the Asian markets,” he said. “The last several years, there has been growth in exports to China, and that growth is expected to continue at double-digit levels for this current year, then projected to level off at about 8 percent a year over the next three years.”
The substantial increase in U.S. agricultural exports won’t be all profit for farmers, Rosson said. Rising fuel, fertilizer and other input costs will lower profit potential.
“But it certainly helps to have these projections (record exports) during times of high input costs,” he said. “What we hope to see is some leveling off of high fuel costs once we get through the winter period and see natural gas prices level off, to mitigate the rise in fertilizer costs. Even so, natural gas prices are forecast to increase about 3 percent in 2009.
“With regards to fuel, we will have to get through this spring and even then, we won’t see a huge reduction. We’ll likely see a 5 percent to 7 percent decline moving into the summer and fall period.”
Diesel prices are forecast to fall 4 percent in 2009.
Another positive is the depreciation and value of the dollar, Rosson said, which is the lowest since 1973. The cost of products to foreign consumers is not as high as it would be, he said.
“As long as the U.S. dollar remains at a relatively low value, we’ll see exports strong because that low-valued dollar will offset rising commodity prices,” Rosson said. “Particularly if we have a short crop in the Midwest, that will put upward pressure on corn and soybean prices. If the dollar continues to stay where it is or declines further, it will mitigate the effects of higher prices.”
Asia’s demand for U.S. agricultural exports has been a positive for the economy, Rosson said. Japan was the top market until a few years ago when Canada and Mexico surpassed it.
“Japan is still the No. 3 market and still a very good market for commodity exports,” he said. “We hope the beef exports will continue to recover, but they are not nearly back to the levels of the BSE (mad cow disease) outbreak in 2003. We hope to begin to see that recovery in the near term.”
China has emerged as an important market for cotton, Rosson noted.
“We’re very dependent on the Chinese for the cotton market,” he said. “The volume of cotton that moves out of that part of the world as well as the price support for increased demand for our products have been strong factors.”
Japan, China and South Korea also provide capital for the U.S. market, Rosson said.
“If we look at who purchases government securities, stocks and bonds, those three countries play a significant role along with some European countries,” Rosson said. “As a result, we have a symbiotic relationship with Asia in terms of markets for our products, and they supply capital to the U.S. market that keeps our interest rates low, much lower than they otherwise would be.
“That’s important because it provides capital for farmers during times of expansion and other expenditures. So, that relationship is vitally important to our capital-intensive agricultural economy.”
Low-Income Families Should Dig for Bigger Tax Refund
by Kathleen Phillips, 979-845-2872,ka-phillips@tamu.edu
A check for almost $5,000 could be coming to certain low- income families this tax season, but many eligible people may never realize this opportunity, financial experts say.
“People who didn’t earn enough to owe any taxes may choose not to file,” said Dr. Joyce Cavanagh, Texas AgriLife Extension Service family economics specialist. “But if these people file anyway, they may be eligible for an Earned Income Tax Credit of up to $4,716.”
Likewise, some people just scratch the surface of a tax return when doing their own calculations, not realizing that higher refunds are possible for those who dig deep into the oft-confusing tax code, she said.
The Earned Income Tax Credit was created by Congress in 1975 to help reduce poverty, and currently is available for households with incomes up to $38,000, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
Cavanagh said in Texas last tax year, about $4.8 billion in Earned Income Tax Credit went to more than 2 million families. The total nationwide was more than $40 billion.
“Still, there are about 15 percent of the eligible families who don’t receive this credit because they don’t file a tax return,” she said. “For a lot of them, the tax system is intimidating, and people just don’t know how to figure it out.”
But free help is available in many communities through April 15, the tax filing deadline, according to Nancy Granovsky, AgriLife Extension family economist and financial planner. She noted programs such as VITA, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, and AARP Tax-Aide programs, both of which use trained, certified tax preparers to help people file.
“These free programs can help put significant incomes back into the household,” Granovsky said. “They are worthy efforts that put money back into pockets and help state and national economies.”
In addition to preparing a tax return, volunteers may be able to help most people by filing electronically, a method both Granovsky and Cavanagh recommend.
“People who are expecting a big refund may rush to file because they need the money,” Cavanagh said. “By filing electronically through these volunteer programs, a person with a checking or savings account can have the refund deposited directly into their bank account and have it in less than two weeks.”
Granovsky cautioned that some businesses offering advances on refunds are actually making loans with high interest rates. It may make more sense to simply wait for money to be put into one’s bank account and not be faced with owing interest or paying fees, she explained.
She said splitting one’s refund, spending part and saving the rest, could be a big boost for personal finances.
To locate free tax preparation assistance, call 800-829-1040 to find out about VITA; and 800-829-1040 for Tax Counseling for the Elderly. The AARP Tax-Aide site, with a href="http://www.aarp.org/money/taxaide/">http://www.aarp.org/money/taxaide/. The IRS Web site about free preparation is at http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=107626,00.html
The Internal Revenue Service reminds all who seek free tax-preparation assistance to bring the following items to a meeting with volunteer preparers:
• Proof of identification.
• Social Security cards for you, your spouse and dependents and/or a Social Security number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration.
• Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents.
• Current year’s tax package, if you received one.
• Wage and earning statements, forms W-2, W-2G and 1099-R, from all employers.
• Interest and dividend statements from banks (1099).
• A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available.
• Bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit.
• Total paid for day care provider and the day care provider’s tax identifying number, the provider's Social Security number or the provider's business Employer Identification Number.
• To file taxes electronically on a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.
New Ochiltree County Agent Named by Texas AgriLife Extension Service
by Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5600,SKledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
The Texas AgriLife Extension Service has named Katy Williams of Perryton as the new family and consumer sciences agent to serve Ochiltree County, said Dr. Galen Chandler, district AgriLife Extension administrator in Amarillo.
Williams will begin training on Feb. 1 in Hansford County and start in her new position in Ochiltree County on March 1.
“I look forward to working with Katy in her new role as she is excited about her new career as a professional educator with Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Ochiltree County,” said Chandler. She and Scott Strawn, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent, will make a great team, he said.
A native of Bryan, Williams said the job is an exciting opportunity for her because many of the things she will teach to the people in the community are things she is interested in also.
“I’m excited to be working with the community of Ochiltree County,” she said. “There are many educational programs in family and consumer sciences that are beneficial to this area, and I look forward to bringing those into homes throughout the county.”
Williams attended Redlands Community College in El Reno, Okla. and received her bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
Texas Forest Service Windbreak Tree Sales Program In Full Swing
by Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576,s-byrns@tamu.edu
"Mighty oaks from little acorns grow," and to see that they continue to do so, a Tom Green County 4-H club collects drought-hardy seeds whose resulting seedlings are used in windbreaks across Texas.
The project is coordinated by John Begnaud, Texas AgriLife Extension Service horticulturist in Tom Green County.
"The kids have gathered and shipped over 5,000 pounds of oak acorns in the last six years to the Forest Service's Idalou (Texas) nursery," Begnaud said. "The acorn-gather is a fund raising and community service project of the Lone Star 4-H Club here in San Angelo.
"AgriLife Extension programming also assists in providing other drought-hardy windbreak plants like prairie flame-leaf sumac, western soapberry and redbud," he said. "Our genetic source from here in San Angelo represents an area of Texas known for extended drought periods, so the seeds we provide should perform superbly all across Texas."
Every year from January until March, Texas landowners can enjoy the fruits of the 4-H'ers and others' labor by purchasing windbreak trees from the Texas Forest Service's windbreak program.
Cameron Dudley, Texas Forest Service nursery operations coordinator at Idalou, said a variety of seedling oaks, pines and wildlife-friendly varieties are available at prices ranging from $30 to $40 per 30 to 50 seedlings, depending on the plant species.
"We're already sold out of several species, but we still have several evergreen and hardwood species available for the 2008 planting season," Dudley said. "With increased home energy costs and a plethora of new home construction, windbreaks offer a way to reduce a home’s utility bills while adding to its landscape aesthetics," Begnaud said.
To see what is currently available and to order trees go to: http://tfsstore.tamu.edu/wtn/
Bumper Crops Could Lead to Bagged On-Farm Storage
by Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5600,SKledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Jimmy Hayes, a Calhoun County producer, didn’t want to take a chance on having to hold his harvest in the field because the grain elevators were full. He researched on-farm storage in the form of polyethylene bags.
These bags are not the typical seed or feed bag size – they are 200 foot long and can hold the equivalent of about four railcar loads of grain, so they are taking the place of storage buildings, Hayes said.
Because Hayes was working with a new product for storage in Texas, he asked Roy Parker, Texas AgriLife Extension Service entomologist from Corpus Christi, to help him determine if the corn would store sufficiently and if the insects could be controlled.
Pat Porter, AgriLife Extension entomologist in Lubbock, presented some of Parker’s early findings during the Texas High Plains Grain Elevator Workshop held in Amarillo recently.
“It’s an interesting technology that we need to know much more about before we can make recommendations,” Porter said, adding that he wasn’t aware of anyone trying it for grain storage in the High Plains yet.
“With the advent of grains for biofuels, we’ve found that we don’t have enough storage capacity,” he said. “This might give us another option.”
Parker said storage of corn in polyethylene bags started last spring when growers along the coast anticipated that harvest would be delayed as grain elevators exceeded capacity. “We got involved because people were unsure how the grain would store,” he said. “We’ve had corn in them for about five months now and it still looks good. We took samples of the grain as it went into the bags, had it officially tested, and are now monitoring on a monthly basis. We’re taking temperature, moisture readings, bushel weights and counting insects.”
In the last two months, Parker said, he’s only found one weevil in 16 samples each month. Coming out of the field, the corn had weevils in it, but a month later, there were none. The respiration of the grain is supposed to use up the oxygen resulting in eventual death of the insects. Incubated samples he kept, however, ended up with four weevils per quart sample in two of the 16 samples.
There’s been no real problems storing corn in the bags, he said, unless water or rats got in where it wasn’t sealed well. An electric fence was placed around the bags to keep feral hogs and other animals out.
He said corn must go into the bags at a moisture level below about 14.5 percent, the ends must be sealed well and the bags should be set up on hard ground.
While the protection looks good so far, the economists still need to look at the method along with insurance considerations and other costs involved, to determine if it is a viable alternative.
“Some are saying this is cheaper to do it this way,” he said. “It looks promising for short-term storage, at least in this area.”
Hayes believes it is cheaper, and more than just promising.
“This county turned a huge amount of grain this last year, and we knew we had to have some storage,” Hayes said. “We found this alternative.”
In researching the system, most information came from Argentina, Hayes said.
He said he was able to store 7,400-7,500 bushels of corn per 200-foot bag. They have unloaded some of the bags now, and there was no shrink due to loss of moisture. It went into the bag at 14 percent moisture, and it came out at 14 percent moisture, Hayes said.
“It is a dry grain system,” he said. “It doesn’t work for high moisture corn. We recommend around 14 percent for corn, 13.5 percent for grain sorghum and 12.5-13 for soybeans. The drier it is, the longer the shelf life.”
Hayes said he put up eight bags for himself and another eight bags for the local co-op. Several other producers with baggers put up eight bags each. He was the only one who bought an unloader, and he is allowing the other producers to borrow it for now.
When figuring the cost of it compared to a grain tank, he said, a 12-railcar grain tank would have cost $100,000. This system, the bagger and unloader cost $40,000, and one bag that would store the equivalent of 4.4 railcar loads cost $600.
“I’ll do it again regardless of the grain situation, because the system is much cheaper than going to commercial storage or building a tank,” Hayes said. “The alternative was watching it sit in the field. It’s a must for us.”
Stephen Tillery, operations manager for Attebury Grain in Amarillo, said while he doesn’t see his company using the alternative, it might be one for other commercial grain storage companies or even producers.
“It gives some companies another avenue to store grain without letting it go out of condition,” he said. “And, if we keep having good crop years like we did this year, it might be beneficial to the farmer to have some on-farm storage. This would be a viable method for him to keep it for himself for feeding cattle or even (use on) dairies.”
He said this was the first time he’s seen corn and even wheat on the ground in a long time, and it immediately starts to deteriorate with the first rain or first snow. “The most positive thing about them is the fact you have them there if you need them, but you don’t have the high dollar cost of building a building,” Tillery said.
Cashing in On High Crop Prices May Be Limited by Water Availability
by Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5600,SKledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Before they plant fence row to fence row to take advantage of high commodity prices, producers need to develop realistic expectations of their irrigation capacity, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service expert.
Leon New, AgriLife Extension irrigation specialist, told producers at the High Plains Irrigation Conference held recently in Amarillo that there is only a certain amount of water available for commodity crops.
“We may want to plant all the wheat and corn we can and maybe some soybeans and cotton,” New said. “One of the limiting factors may not be money, as in the past, but water.”
There are a number of tools available that will help producers identify how much water they have available and when to apply it to address peak water-use periods, he said.
“You need to know your seasonal irrigation capacity and then you’re going to make a decision on where your water is going,” New said.
The Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration Network of weather stations can help producers determine how much water a crop needs throughout the growing season, as well as how much is being derived from rainfall, he said.
Corn may need 20 inches or more water from June to August. A 5.5 gallons-per-minute-per-acre well can only produce 17.5 inches running full-time during that period, so producers will need some stored water in the 6-inch soil profile, New said.
“We want to do more with less, but just how much can you do?” he asked. “You don’t want to plant corn with only four gallons per minute per acre available from your well. You are better off with sorghum.”
Sorghum requires 12 to 12.5 inches of moisture from mid-July to the end of August, and a four gallon-per-minute-per-acre well can produce somewhere between 9.5-10 inches, New said. That risk can be made up with a full soil-moisture profile.
Also, grain sorghum will do without moisture longer than corn before it starts stressing.
Cotton is another option where water is limited, he said. A three gallon-per-minute-per-acre well can support the production of three to four bales per acre of cotton.
“Every crop-water-use chart indicates we don’t have the water to meet the demand throughout the growing season,” New said. “What we try to meet is the demand during peak parts of the season.
“On most crops, you are betting on some free moisture in the form of rainfall, but you don’t want a wreck.”
Utilizing tools such as soil moisture probes and the weather station network, he advised, wait as long as possible, but be prepared to put on water to fill the 6-inch soil profile for this year’s crop.
“You know as well as I know, every year is different,” New said. “Wait as long as you can. If you can only put on an inch a week, it takes six weeks to fill the soil profile. So keep that in mind when planning water for critical water-use stages.
“If you have to quit watering on one of these stages, it will hurt you at harvest,” he said.
Texas Agricultural Producers Encouraged to Participate in 2007 Census
by Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259,b-fannin@tamu.edu
Texas AgriLife Extension Service officials are encouraging the state’s agricultural producers to participate in the 2007 Census of Agriculture.
“The agricultural census provides very important data that helps tell the agriculture story in Texas and the nation,” said Dr. Roland Smith, associate director. “We strongly encourage producers in every county across Texas to complete their forms by the Feb. 4 deadline in order to have a voice relative to future industry decisions that often are based off the census numbers, such as farm policy, program funding, and other key issues.”
Census data is collected every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The census provides detailed data covering nearly every facet of U.S. agriculture and is the only source of uniform and comprehensive agricultural data for every county in the nation.
Government organizations, lawmakers, city planners and individual farm operations use the information in a variety of ways from farm bill impacts to community development, according to Smith.
Dr. Mark Waller, AgriLife Extension program leader for agricultural economics, said census data serves as a vital decision aid in making many on-farm management decisions each year.
“Farmers and ranchers can use this data to see how their costs and returns compare to those of producers in other parts of the country,” he said. “When taking into consideration the high production costs many producers are facing today, having detailed information certainly helps plan against risk and make one more profitable.”
“The importance of an inclusive and accurate census of U.S. agriculture has never been greater,” said Dr. Mark Welch, AgriLife Extension grain marketing economist.
Welch said producers are responding to shifting demand patterns for food, feed, fuel and fiber “and must cope with ever increasing input costs.
“It’s important to monitor the changing face of American agriculture in order to stay current with what farming and ranching today looks like, to appreciate the productivity and role this industry plays in our economy, and to respond to its needs,” he said.
Producers can return their forms by mail or, for the first time, fill out the census online. For more information about the 2007 Census, visit http://www.agcensus.usda.gov.
Arthritis Common Cause of Stiffness and Swelling in Aging Adults
by Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5600,SKledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Arthritis is one of the most common diseases in this country, affecting millions of adults and half of all people age 65 and older, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service specialist.
Arthritis literally means “joint inflammation,” said Andrew Crocker, AgriLife Extension program gerontology specialist. However, there are many kinds of arthritis, each with different symptoms and treatments.
Arthritis can attack almost any part of the body, Crocker said. Some forms of arthritis cause changes you can see and feel – swelling, warmth and redness. Other types have fewer symptoms but still slowly cause damage.
The three most common types of arthritis in older adults are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout, he said.
Of the three, osteoarthritis is the most common, Crocker said, and it starts when cartilage, the tissue that cushions bones, begins to wear away. At its worst, all of the cartilage in a joint wears away, leaving bones that rub against each other.
“Symptoms may range from stiffness and mild pain that comes and goes to severe pain that persists when you are at rest,” he said. “Sometimes osteoarthritis causes you to feel stiff when you have not moved in a while, but the stiffness goes away when you move.”
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body attacks the lining of a joint just as it would if it were trying to protect itself from an infection, Crocker said. The disease generally leads to inflammation, pain, swelling and stiffness, and can occur in many different joints at the same time.
“If you have rheumatoid arthritis in a joint on one side of the body, the same joint on the other side of the body will probably have it,” he said. “People with rheumatoid arthritis often do not feel well, often being tired or running a fever.”
Gout is one of the most painful forms of arthritis, Crocker said. It begins when crystals of uric acid form in the joints, leading to swelling, redness, heat, pain and stiffness in the joint. Eating foods like shellfish, liver, dried beans, peas, anchovies or gravy can bring on gout attacks.
“Gout is most often a problem in the big toe, but it can affect other joints, including your ankle, elbow, knee, wrist, hand or other toes,” he said. “Swelling may cause the skin to pull tightly around the joint and make the area red or purple and very tender.
“If any arthritis symptoms last longer than two weeks, see your health provider,” Crocker advised. “If you have a fever, feel physically ill, suddenly have a swollen joint or have problems using your joint, see him or her sooner.”
Medications may help with the pain and swelling – acetaminophen and some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are sold without a prescription, he said. These are medications like Tylenol, ibuprofen or naproxen. Read the warnings that come with the drug, and talk to a health provider about how to best use them for arthritis pain.
There are some treatments specific for each common type of arthritis, including prescription drugs or steroid injections, Crocker said. A health provider may recommend a treatment after determining which type of arthritis is present.
Along with taking the right medicine and properly resting joints, exercise is a good way to stay fit, keep muscles strong and control arthritis symptoms, he said. Daily exercise helps keep joints moving, lessens pain and makes muscles around the joints stronger.
Three types of exercise work best on arthritis:
• Range-of-motion exercises, like dancing, relieve stiffness, improve flexibility and help keep joints moving.
• Strengthening exercises, such as weight training, strengthen muscles to support and protect joints. Be sure to move in a slow, steady manner – do not bounce. A gentle stretch at the end of each motion is all right, but there should be no pain.
• Aerobic or endurance exercises -- ike bicycle riding -- improve overall health and well-being, and may lessen swelling in some joints.
“You might find comfort by applying heat or cold, soaking in a warm bath or swimming in a heated pool,” Crocker said. “Your health provider may suggest surgery when damage to your joints becomes disabling or when other treatments do not help with pain. Surgeons can repair or replace these joints with artificial ones.”
He suggested that pain and arthritis shouldn’t be accepted as part of growing older.
“You and your health provider can work together to safely lessen pain and stiffness and prevent more serious damage to your joints,” Crocker said.
For more information, go to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Web site at http://www.niams.nih.gov/ .
Cotton Resource DVD is an Encyclopedia of Production Information
by Tim McAlavy, 806-746-6101,t-mcalavy@tamu.edu
The 2005 Cotton Resource CD provided many things Texas producers needed to know about cotton production. The new 2007 Cotton Resource DVD goes even further, serving as a veritable encyclopedia of Texas cotton information, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service specialist. "At this stage of the game, it’s as close to one-stop shopping for cotton information as we can get," said Dr. Randy Boman, AgriLife Extension agronomist based at Lubbock. "Many of the common challenges producers encounter are addressed by publications on this DVD."
"Information on the DVD is indexed according to key topic areas," said Dr. Robert Lemon, AgriLife Extension agronomist based at College Station. "The publications address general production problems; irrigation management; soil fertility; insects, weeds, nematodes and diseases; harvest concerns, fiber quality and ginning; and production economics. We also included a list of Internet information resources."
The photo gallery illustrates insects, weeds, grasses, diseases and symptoms of herbicide injury. Bark contamination, irrigation, and insect scouting are covered in short videos, Lemon said.
The DVDs are made possible by a grant from the Texas State Support Committee of Cotton Inc. This funding allowed AgriLife Extension and Texas AgriLife Research to produce and target this resource for AgriLife Extension agents, producers and industry personnel.
Those who want a copy of the free 2007 Cotton Resource DVD can contact Lemon at 979-845-0870 or Boman at 806-746-6101. The contents of the DVD can also be found on the Internet at: http://lubbock.tamu.edu/cottondvd . “The DVD will soon be available at cotton gins, because we know they typically have a lot of traffic in and out,” Boman said. “This resource will help answer some of the questions gins receive. We’ve also made it available to agribusiness representatives and crop consultants, as a key training tool for the cotton industry.”
The Texas AgriLife Extension Service is the new name of Texas Cooperative Extension, which provides Texans in all 254 counties with non-biased, research-based education programs and services in agriculture and natural resources, 4-H and youth development, family and consumer sciences, and community economic development. Texas AgriLife Research is the new name for the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, which annually conducts more than $150 million in agriculture and life-sciences research.
Higher Retail Beef Prices Caused by Rising Production, Transportation Costs
Writer: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259,b-fannin@tamu.edu
COLLEGE STATION – Rising feed and transportation costs continue to keep retail beef prices edging higher, a Texas AgriLife Extension Service economist said.
“One of the big stories this year as we start 2008 is we’re seeing higher prices for consumer beef, whether it’s at the grocery store or restaurants,” said Dr. David Anderson, AgriLife Extension Service livestock marketing economist.
The annual average retail beef price for 2007 was $4.16 per pound, which was 5 percent higher than 2006 and exceeded the previous 2005 record of $4.09 per pound, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture-Economic Research Service data. Factoring into the high beef prices is record-priced crude oil, which is increasing transportation costs for many beef suppliers, he said.
“There are higher costs of getting it to the store,” Anderson said. “When we talk about $100 per barrel oil, it ripples through the economy. Everything you get at a restaurant or grocery store, we have to get it from somewhere else.”
Another reason is a leveling of beef production across the U.S., Anderson said. With fewer cows and calves in national inventory, and increased export demand for U.S. beef, “that’s keeping pressure on beef prices,” he said.
At the producer level, calf prices have been forced lowest by rising feed costs which are tied to ethanol production. Lighter-weight calves are getting the most discounts because they require more feed to add weight before slaughter, Anderson said.
Anderson described the current calf market as a “tug of war.” USDA inventory indicates 1 percent fewer beef cows, which will lead to a smaller calf crop, he said.
“From a supply standpoint, that means fewer calves, and fewer calves usually means better prices for calves,” Anderson said. “I like to describe it as a tug of war going on in the calf market this year. You have feed on one side and high prices pressuring calf prices lower, then tight supply of calves on the other side pushing them higher.
“Still for 2008, we should see calf prices where they were in 2007, but a little bit lower due to the high feed costs. Given where we are in inventory, we should expect to see fewer cows in 2009, so tighter supplies keeping upward pressure on calf prices.”
Meanwhile, profit margins have also been tough for stocker producers. Recent USDA data indicated there were fewer calves on wheat pasture.
“That (report) confirmed what we all knew,” Anderson said. “That’s down 30 percent or basically one-third fewer calves. What that means for stocker producers is typically they see the lowest prices for 700-800 pound steers in March. They come off wheat then and go to feedlots.
“There were not a lot of calves on wheat pasture this year, so what is a seasonal low may hold up and we could see some moderation in the springtime that we usually don’t see. Consequently, we could see some heavier calf weight prices over the next couple of months simply because there’s not that much supply.”Editor’s Note: The following information can be used as a breakout graphic.
Factors Affecting the Beef Industry:
- Rising feed and transportation costs are having a ripple effect throughout the beef supply chain.
- Continued decline in U.S. beef cow inventory could drive calf prices upward, but higher feed costs will weigh heavily in pricing outcome.
- Calf prices for 2008 are predicted to be lower due to high feed costs.
Cotton Best Management Practice Workshops Scheduled for Dumas, Lubbock
Harvesting, irrigation and pest management methods will be discussed at two free Best Management Practices training seminars being offered by Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the National Cotton Council.
The meetings will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 1 at Moore County Community Building in Dumas and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 2 at Reece Technology Center in Lubbock, according to Randy Boman, AgriLife Extension cotton agronomist in Lubbock.
“I think this is a good opportunity for producers to hone in on very important subject matter within the realm of cotton production,” Boman said. “The format of these meetings will allow producers and consultants to ask questions of the speakers. Really, it is encouraged.”
Extension and research personnel from various states, as well as crop consultants from across the Cotton Belt, worked together to produce a set of best management practices, said Bill Robertson, Cotton Council manager. This was done with the overall goal of helping cotton growers increase the efficiency and cost effectiveness of their production systems.
Two papers generated as a result of this collaboration – “The First Forty Days” and “Fruiting to Finish” – will be utilized during the workshops to generate in-depth discussions of variety selection, pest management and harvest practices, such as stripper versus picker harvesting.
Presenters will be from AgriLife Extension, Texas AgriLife Research and Texas Tech University.
“We certainly want to encourage producers to attend this, as well as crop consultants,” Boman said. “It won’t be a regular Extension meeting, but more of a discussion-oriented meeting.”
Continuing education units will be offered for certified crop advisors and for those who need credits from Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico departments of agriculture, he said.
Seating is limited, Robertson said. Those planning to attend should RSVP to BMP@cotton.org and provide information concerning the meeting they want to attend, along with an e-mail address and phone number.
Lunch will be provided at both workshops, he said. Bayer CropScience sponsored the two papers and will sponsor the workshops.
For more information, contact Boman at 806-746-6101 or r-boman@tamu.edu, or Robertson at BMP@cotton.org.
Parkinson’s Disease More than Just the Shakes
Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5600,SKledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
AMARILLO -- Parkinson's disease affects nerve cells in the part of the brain controlling muscle movement. While that is the most visible sign of the disease, it is not the only one, a Texas AgriLife Extension Service specialist said.
“The earliest symptom of Parkinson's disease may be an arm that does not swing when you walk, a mild tremor in the fingers of one hand, soft, mumbling speech and/or difficulty swallowing,” said Andrew Crocker, AgriLife Extension gerontology health specialist.
“You may lack energy, feel depressed, have trouble sleeping, (have) slowed motion, rigid muscles, loss of automatic movements and/or dementia.” As many as half the people with Parkinson's develop depression, sometimes occurring months or even years before the disease is diagnosed, Crocker said. While physical limitations resulting from the disease can be frustrating and stressful, depression is not usually a reaction to physical disability, but more likely a result of underlying brain changes.
Parkinson's disease is progressive, meaning the signs and symptoms become worse over time; however, the disease often progresses gradually and most people have many years of productive living after a diagnosis, Crocker said.
Parkinson's disease occurs when certain nerve cells in a particular area of the brain are damaged or destroyed, he said. Normally, these nerve cells release dopamine which causes the muscles to make smooth, controlled movements. Everyone loses some dopamine-producing nerve cells as they grow older; but people with Parkinson's disease may lose half or more of these cells.
Age is one of the main risk factors for Parkinson's, Crocker said. In fact, signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease may be dismissed as the effects of aging.
Other risk factors may include heredity, gender, exposure to pesticides and herbicides and/or reduced estrogen levels, among others, he said.
“See your health provider if you have any of the symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease, not only to diagnose the illness but also to rule out other causes for your problem,” Crocker said.
A diagnosis of Parkinson's disease is based on medical history, observations and a neurological examination, he said. The health provider will want to know about any medications being taken and any family history of Parkinson's.
The initial response to Parkinson’s treatment can be dramatic for some, but over time the benefits of drugs diminish or become less consistent, Crocker said, although symptoms can usually still be fairly well controlled.
Physical therapy may be helpful in improving mobility, range of motion and muscle tone, he said. Although specific exercises cannot stop the progress of the disease, strengthening muscles may improve confidence and capability.
“When lifestyle changes are no longer enough, your health provider may recommend certain medications,” Crocker said. “Medications can help manage problems with walking, movement and tremor by increasing the brain's supply of dopamine.”
With the advent of drug therapies, surgical approaches have been re-evaluated, he said. A brain implant device is now widely used to help control many of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The deep brain stimulator consists of a pacemaker-like unit implanted in the chest wall that transmits electric impulses through a wire to tiny electrodes inserted deep within the brain.
“If you have received a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, you will need to work closely with your health provider to find a treatment plan right for you,” Crocker said. “Certain lifestyle changes also may help make living with Parkinson's disease easier, such as eating a healthy diet and getting exercise.”
More information can be found on the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Web site at http://www.ninds.nih.gov .
Pet Surgery Can Be Stressful Time, Vet Says
Finding out that your pet needs surgery can be a scary experience, but being well-prepared before and after surgery can alleviate some anxiety, says Dr. Courtney Baetge, a veterinarian at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.
After a pet has been scheduled for surgery, the veterinarian will usually give the pet owner some guidelines for accommodations the pet will need before and after the procedure, but there are a few tips that every pet owner should know before the operation.
The pet owner will need to make sure that the animal is up to date on its vaccinations and the pet’s medical and surgical history is available to the surgeon. If the pet is taking a prescribed medication, pet owners should be sure to tell the operating veterinarian, Baetge believes, and the medication may have to be halted prior to the surgery for the animal’s safety.
Baetge says the animal will have to fast (go without food or water) usually starting the night before surgery. “Make sure that during the time that the pet is fasting, that all available means of attaining food or water have been prevented,” she explains.
“For example, some dogs or cats may try to drink out of the toilet since they do not have another water source. To prevent this, owners should keep the lid to the toilet down,” explains Baetge.
On the day of the surgery, pet owners should anticipate simply dropping off the animal at the clinic or hospital. The surgery may be completed that day or the pet may need to stay overnight to be monitored.
“On the day of the surgery, pet owners should allow themselves enough time to let the pet eliminate before surgery to help avoid ‘accidents’ during anesthesia,” Baetge adds.
Pet owners should also make sure that all of their contact information is correct prior to the animal’s surgery. From time to time, the pet owner will need to be contacted because of an emergency. If the owner cannot be reached, this can greatly complicate the situation, she notes.
After surgery, if the animal usually resides outdoors, it may be a good idea to make a confined area in the home where the pet can lounge after surgery with clean blankets or other comfortable material. This area can also be helpful in allowing the pet owner to keep a close eye on the pet after surgery.
“Some animals will irritate the area of incision causing it to get infected, so pet owners should check the area at least twice a day to ensure that the wound is healthy,” Baetge explains. “If the incision is red, swollen or has fluid leaking from it, the pet owner should call the veterinarian.”
She adds that all medications prescribed for the pet should be given as directed.
“Call your local veterinarian if you have any questions or if your pet continues to appears pained, won’t eat or eliminate normally,” she advises. “Do not give your pet any human medication unless specifically told to do so by your veterinarian. Many of the medications used regularly by humans are highly toxic to pets. Making sure you and your pet are properly prepared before and after a surgical procedure is one important component to a successful outcome.”
Texas Is In A Drought Again, Conditions Could Worsen, Expert Says
Forget those drenching rains of last spring and summer: Texas is in the middle of a drought that has reached the severe stage in several parts of the state, says John Nielsen-Gammon, professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University who also serves as Texas State Climatologist.
The bottom line: More than half of the state is currently experiencing unusual dryness and conditions could actually worsen over the next few months, Nielsen-Gammon says.
“Less than a year after rains finally brought an end to the 2005-2006 drought in Texas, many parts of the state are again suffering drought conditions,” he confirms.
“Only the eastern third of the state and parts of the Texas Panhandle have received normal precipitation over the past few months.”
The hardest-hit area: the Edwards Plateau region.
Nielsen-Gammon says that region experienced the driest December through February on record, totaling an average of only 0.57 inches of rain, breaking the previous record of 0.67 inches set in 1966-67. He notes that broad portions of southwest Texas – within a triangle bounded from Sanderson to Leakey and Laredo – have received zero rainfall for the past 90 days.
The area around Del Rio and Eagle Pass is also experiencing extreme drought conditions, he adds, and areas of central and south Texas and the lower Rio Grande Valley are also in a severe drought.
“This drought started back in early September,” says Nielsen-Gammon, who compiles data from several groups, among them the National Weather Service.
“The central third of the state has been especially hard hit and the extreme dryness has set up ideal wildfire situations.”
Nielsen-Gammon says the drought conditions are partly due to La Nina, during which unusually cold sea surface temperatures are found in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. When a La Nina occurs, winters are usually drier and warmer than normal, and there are frequently strong, drying winds from the southwest and west.
Most water supplies remain at safe levels, he says, because of the previous year of wet weather. “But agriculture is suffering in many areas, and some winter wheat crops have been severely damaged,” Nielsen-Gammon notes.
“If these areas don’t get some decent rains in the next month, an entire spring planting season may be lost in parts of south Texas.”
There may not be good news for the long-term outlook, either, he believes.
“Prospects for rainfall for the next couple of months are not good,” he notes.
“La Nina is expected to remain moderately strong into April, so the general tendency for dry weather is expected to continue. Beyond that time, it’s hard to say what may happen.”
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