For earlier stories, go to the Archives
text available	photos available	video available	audio available

October 11, 2007
Worldwide Summit on Fruits, Vegetables Unite Medical, Agricultural Researchers  
HOUSTON -- The number of people across the globe who are underweight has declined to less than 1 billion in the last decade, while the world's overweight population grown to more than 1.1 billion, according to Dr. Thomas Lumpkin, with the World Vegetable Center in Taiwan.

October 11, 2007
Extension Economist: South Texas Hunting Prospects Best in Years  
UVALDE – Though crop losses from record rainfall earlier this year reached $200 million, hunting prospects across South Texas are excellent and the money spent on related activities throughout the region will be welcomed, according to a Texas Cooperative Extension economist.

October 11, 2007
Borlaug Institute To Help Build Burundi’s Agriculture  
COLLEGE STATION – The Norman E. Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture at Texas A&M University, as a member of a special consortium, has been awarded a program to expand agricultural capacity and opportunity in Burundi.

October 11, 2007
Barnhart Station Field Day is First in Several Years  
BARNHART – The Texas Range Station at Barnhart will hold a field day, the first in several years, on Oct. 18.

October 11, 2007
Texas Crop, Weather Report: State’s Cotton Production Heating Up  
COLLEGE STATION – Cotton needs heat units to mature and while things started out slowly for much of the crop, it is now back on track on the High Plains, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

October 10, 2007
Worldwide Gathering Set in Houston to Consider Fruit, Vegetables and Human Health  
What: International Symposium on Human Health Effects of Fruit and Vegetables. The goal of the conference is to exchange information between the agricultural, nutrition and health sciences, and to advance the science related to foods for health.

October 10, 2007
MEDIA ALERT: Food safety contacts for follow-up stories on E. coli beef  
If you are working on a follow-up story on the E. coli-beef recalls, please be aware that Texas A&M University has a Center for Food Safety. Dr. Kerri Harris, director, will be available to answer any questions about regulatory and food safety issues. To set up an interview, please contact Edith Chenault, communications specialist, at 979-845-2886 or EChenaul@ag.tamu.edu .

October 09, 2007
Constipation a Symptom, Not a Disease  
AMARILLO – Constipation is a serious problem at any age but may be more so in older adults, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

October 05, 2007
Rusk Pioneer Days Set Oct. 13 for Little and Big Cowboys and Cowgirls Alike  
RUSK - - Pioneer Days in Rusk is what Rene McCracken calls her "little cowboy" event.

October 05, 2007
Fall Pesticide Training Promises 'Non-Boring' Programming  
NACOGDOCHES – The "Fall CEU Program" is designed for private pesticide applicators who need continuing education units but don't want to be bored getting them, said a Prairie View A&M University Cooperative Extension agent .

October 04, 2007
4-H Principles Underpin Program Helping Juvenile Offenders  
KERRVILLE - A new program based on 4-H principles is helping juvenile offenders develop character and life skills while giving them a chance at a better life, said program coordinators.

October 04, 2007
Texas Crop, Weather: Pumpkins at a Premium?  
COLLEGE STATION – In much of the United States this autumn, a turnip may have to be used as a jack-o'-lantern, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates lower national yields.

October 03, 2007
Youth Boards Help 4-H Members Improve the Present and Prepare for the Future  
COLLEGE STATION – When Jack County Agent Tom Marks organized the first boys' ‘corn club' in Texas a century ago, no one ever talked about peer pressure.

October 03, 2007
Rainwater Harvesting Seminar Will Tap into Natural Resource  
FORT WORTH – A day-long conference in Fort Worth will focus on harvesting rainwater for use in landscape, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

October 02, 2007
Sticking to Cactus Control Pays Off  
CANYON – New products make controlling prickly pear and cholla cactus a paying venture, as long as planned for on a long-term basis, a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist said.

October 02, 2007
Twelfth Annual Parenting Conference Set for Nov. 6 in Lubbock  
LUBBOCK – What's the best way to balance work and family? Is there a rule of thumb when trying to choose quality child care? What language is my teenager speaking these days? Am I losing my mind?

October 01, 2007
Ceres and Texas A&M to Develop and Market High-Biomass Sorghum for Biofuels  
COLLEGE STATION - Energy crop company Ceres, Inc. and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station of The Texas A&M University System announced today that they have entered into an exclusive, multi-year joint research and commercialization agreement for high biomass sorghum.

October 01, 2007
It’s Cotton Tour Time  
BALLINGER – It's cotton tour time, and Texas Cooperative Extension has tours set for Oct. 10 in Runnels County and Oct. 11 in Tom Green County.

October 01, 2007
Workshop Will Address Livestock Risk Management  
SAN ANGELO – Texas Cooperative Extension has scheduled a livestock risk management workshop from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 7 at Angelo State University's Management, Instruction and Research Center.

September 28, 2007
'Father of Green Revolution' to Earn Doctorate Degree from Texas A&M  
COLLEGE STATION - Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, who is credited for saving more than a billion people worldwide from starvation, will receive an honorary doctor of letters degree from Texas A&M University in December, as approved by the A&M System Board of Regents on Friday.

September 28, 2007
Ag Scientist: Don't Plant 'Seeds of Doubt'  
OVERTON - The price of crimson clover seed – for standard varieties – has nearly doubled this year. Non-standard varieties may be cheaper, but planting a variety that hasn't been tested in Texas is asking for failure, said a Texas Agricultural Experiment Station forage expert.

September 28, 2007
Livestock Risk Management Workshop Set For Oct. 22 in Vernon  
VERNON – Drought, mad cow disease, market volatility and higher input costs have increased risk levels for cattle and forage producers during the last decade, in spite of relatively good market prices, said a Texas Cooperative Extension economist.

September 27, 2007
U.S. Agriculture Secretary: Guatemala Project Shows Borlaug’s ‘Feed the World’ Vision  
GUATEMALA CITY – The Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture, part of the Texas A&M University System, will expand the efforts of its Food for Progress project in Guatemala beginning Oct. 1.

September 26, 2007
Hessian Flies Threaten Fall Wheat in North Texas  
DALLAS – North Texas wheat fields could be damaged by Hessian flies this fall, said an expert with Texas Cooperative Extension.

September 26, 2007
Texas Crop and Weather: Producers Seeing Improvements in Crops  
COLLEGE STATION – The recent warmer, drier weather has been a boon to crop production almost statewide, according to Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

September 26, 2007
No Shortage of New A&M Dwarf Turfgrass Seed This Year  
OVERTON - After a seed shortage last year, supplies this year should be plentiful of Axcella 2, a winter turfgrass developed by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.

September 25, 2007
Extension Leader Honored as Agricultural Visionary  
AMARILLO – Dr. Bob Robinson may be retired from his position with Texas Cooperative Extension, but he's not through collecting honors for the work he did during his 37 years within the agency.

September 24, 2007
Got Grapes? Extension To Present First Hill Country Vineyard Workshop  
FREDERICKSBURG – Texas Cooperative Extension will present its first-ever Prospective Grower Workshop on Oct. 16 for those interested in planting a commercial vineyard in the Hill Country.

September 24, 2007
Recently Published Paper Highlights Bovine Genome Work  
COLLEGE STATION – A group of researchers – including Texas Agricultural Experiment Station scientists – have used gene fragments from Hereford, Holstein and Angus animals to create an artificial chromosome map. The artificial chromosome map will be used to study disease resistance or immunological response to vaccination, feed efficiency and reproductive efficiency in beef animals, said Dr. Clare Gill, Experiment Station associate professor.

September 24, 2007
‘New’ Angora Goat Futurity Picks Winners Using Science  
SAN ANGELO – The Junior Angora Wether Goat Futurity uses scientific image analysis – not just the judge's eye – to select winners, show officials said.

September 21, 2007
Harvest Aid Guide Can Help Producers Prepare for Cotton Harvest  
LUBBOCK – Plains cotton producers preparing for harvest have an updated harvest-aid guide available to help them make the most of this year's delayed crop, said a Texas Cooperative Extension agronomist.

September 21, 2007
Media Advisory: 2007 Texas Pumpkins On Their Way to Market  
FLOYDADA – Growers in Texas' largest pumpkin patch haven't yet sited the Great Pumpkin, but they haven't had much time to look for him. They are busy harvesting, processing and shipping a bountiful crop of decorative squash to wholesale and retail outlets.

September 20, 2007
Extension Conference To Flow with Rainwater Harvesting Info  
BOERNE – An upcoming conference in Boerne will help people tap into harvesting rainwater for indoor and outdoor use, according to Texas Cooperative Extension organizers.

September 20, 2007
Diabetes Risk Sweetens with Age  
AMARILLO – Diabetes is a serious disease at any age, but it is especially serious for older adults, said Andrew B. Crocker, Texas Cooperative Extension specialist on aging.

September 19, 2007
Wet Summer Could Mean Surge in Feral Hog Numbers  
OVERTON – Might it be raining feral hogs this fall? "Raining" might be something of an over-statement, but the wet year could mean bigger litter sizes and more far-ranging herds, said Texas Cooperative Extension experts.

September 19, 2007
Geographic Information System Workshop Slated For Oct. 18  
SAN ANGELO – A geographic information system workshop is set for Oct. 18 at the Texas A&M University System Research and Extension Center at San Angelo.

September 19, 2007
Stakeholders Helping to Protect Cedar Creek Watershed  
KAUFMAN – Water quality has declined in the Cedar Creek Reservoir, but experts with the Texas A&M University System are helping landowners and government officials develop plans to plans to clean the water that flows into the 160-acre lake.

September 18, 2007
Texas Crop, Weather  
COLLEGE STATION – It's a given that the success of row crops hinges on the weather.

September 18, 2007
Angora Goats: A ‘Shear’ Delight  
SAN ANGELO – Veteran producers who have long enjoyed the charm and personality of the Angora goat may have help in educating new audiences about opportunities with Angoras.

September 18, 2007
Extension Names Judy Gully to West Region Leadership Post  
SAN ANGELO – Judy Gully has been named the regional program director for family and consumer sciences in Texas Cooperative Extension's west region.

September 18, 2007
Toro Gives $73,000 to Texas A&M University Turfgrass Program  
COLLEGE STATION – Toro Company has given a $73,000 grant to Texas A&M University's turfgrass program to support undergraduate activities and research, officials said Tuesday.

September 17, 2007
Playa Lakes Endangered Without Proper Management  
AMARILLO – A bountiful, wet spring and summer have made playa lakes more noticeable as they fill with water across the state, a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist said.

September 17, 2007
Texas Department of Agriculture Funds Array of Cotton Research  
LUBBOCK – The Texas Department of Agriculture awarded more than $280,000 to cotton research in the state during a Sept. 10 ceremony at Lubbock.

September 17, 2007
TDA Gives Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Sheep and Goat Research a $300,000 Boost  
LUBBOCK – Sheep and goat research in West Texas got a strong financial boost thanks to more than $300,000 in Texas Department of Agriculture funding that was awarded earlier this week.

September 17, 2007
Pink Hibiscus Mealybug Found in Texas  
PORT ARANSAS – The pink hibiscus mealybug – which may be of concern to Texas, citrus and ornamental industries – has been found near Port Aransas.

September 14, 2007
Cow Power: System Could Let Cows Produce Milk AND Electricity  
COLLEGE STATION – Contented cows may be giving more than milk these days. Their manure could help to turn the lights on at farms, thanks to a project being undertaken by the Texas Water Resources Institute and Texas Cooperative Extension.

September 13, 2007
Bug 'Explosion' May Be Coming for Farmers and Homeowners In Coming Weeks  
SAN ANGELO – Crickets, mosquitos, flies, fleas and spiders: Texans have seen them all this summer thanks to unprecedented wet weather. But a Texas Cooperative Extension entomologist says the worst may be yet to come.

September 12, 2007
MEDIA ADVISORY: Tropical Storm Preparedness Information Available Online  
COLLEGE STATION – As residents along the Gulf of Mexico coast take stock of the potential tropical storm expected to arrive this evening, Texas Cooperative Extension reminds that information on how to prepare for emergencies is available on the Internet.

September 12, 2007
Villalobos Begins New Appointment with Department of Nutrition and Food Science  
COLLEGE STATION – After spending her educational and professional careers in the four corners of the country, Dr. Alice Villalobos has settled in Bryan/College Station. Villalobos said she is looking forward to beginning her new position as assistant professor in the department of nutrition and food sciences. Her husband, Dr. Michel Massett, will be an assistant professor with the department of health and kinesiology.

September 12, 2007
Texas, Crop Weather  
COLLEGE STATION - Scattered storms brought rain to some parts of Texas, with many counties seeing warm days and cooler nights, reported Texas Cooperative Extension agents and specialists across the state.

September 12, 2007
Fire Ants Killing Baby Song Birds at High Rates  
COLLEGE STATION – Red imported fire ants may be killing as many as a fifth of baby song birds before they leave the nest, according to research recently completed at Texas A&M University.

September 12, 2007
Texas Cooperative Extension to Offer Rainwater Harvesting Seminar  
McKINNEY – A day-long conference in McKinney will focus on harvesting rainwater for use around the home, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

September 12, 2007
‘Maggot Art’ Offers Colorful Lesson in Entomology  
DALLAS – After soaking in paint, dozens of maggots squirmed across construction paper leaving colorful trails behind them.

September 11, 2007
Public Feedback Sought on Pecos River Watershed Protection Plan  
FORT STOCKTON - Persons interested in the future of the Pecos River are asked to give input to a draft plan aimed at improving the river and its watershed.

September 11, 2007
To Maximize Biofuel Potential, Researchers Look for Sorghum’s ‘Sweet Spot’  
BEAUMONT – Picture this – IV (intravenous) lines in a sorghum field. It's not as far-fetched as it sounds. It's one way that scientists at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station are researching crops that may contribute to the biofuel revolution.

September 11, 2007
Texas A&M Agriculture Receives Sun Grant Funding for Bioenergy Research  
COLLEGE STATION – Eight of Texas A&M Agriculture's bioenergy research projects will receive funding through the Sun Grant Initiative, a national program established to create new solutions for future U.S. energy needs.

September 7, 2007
Competition Brews Good News for Rwanda as World-Class Specialty Coffee Producer  
KIGALI, RWANDA – Rwanda's reputation as a producer of top-quality specialty coffee took a quantum leap with the results of its first-ever Golden Cup national competition held Aug. 28-31, said event organizers.

September 6, 2007
Texas 4-H ‘Hits the Road’ to Celebrate 100th Anniversary  
JACKSBORO – For Texas 4-H'ers, all roads lead from Jacksboro, where 4-H in the Lone Star State has its roots.

September 5, 2007
Peace Corps Master's International Program Adds Texas A&M University  
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Peace Corps' Master's International program has added Texas A&M University to its roster of university partners.

September 04, 2007
End-of-Life Issues Also Part of Planning for Future  
COLLEGE STATION – If nothing is sure in life except death and taxes, this is also true: Both need to be planned for. That's the advice from Dr. Joyce Cavanagh, Texas Cooperative Extension family economics specialist.

September 04, 2007
Flower Power: Leading Horticulturist to Focus on Floriculture Future  
COLLEGE STATION – Anna Ball will address the future of the U.S. floriculture industry Oct. 10 in Room 102 of the Horticulture and Forest Sciences Building at Texas A&M University in College Station.

September 03, 2007
Inquiring Research Minds Want To Know More About Cotton Fleahoppers  
LUBBOCK- Inquiring minds want to know. The supermarket headlines tell us so.

September 03, 2007
Wind Energy and Wildlife Thrust of Oct. 25-26 Abilene Conference  
ABILENE – Wind energy and its effects on wildlife will be the focus of a conference in Abilene Oct. 25-26 at the Big Country Hall at 1982 Lytle Way.

August 31, 2007
Despite Usually Wet July, Some Texas Trees Parched  
OVERTON - - Homeowners across Texas are concerned their landscape trees may be diseased, but "don't panic," said a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

August 31, 2007
Extension Deserves Mention for Emergency, Disaster Preparedness Information  
COLLEGE STATION – September is National Preparedness Month, and Texas Cooperative Extension is an excellent source for emergency and disaster preparedness and recovery information and expertise, said an Extension expert.

August 31, 2007
Brown County to Host Pecan Tour  
BROWNWOOD – Brown County will host a Texas Cooperative Extension multi-county pecan tour on Sept. 26.

August 31, 2007
Sonora Ram Test Starts Sept. 10-11  
SONORA – The annual ram performance test conducted by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in Sonora begins Sept.10 -11 with delivery of the rams to that location.

August 30, 2007
Harris Named Director for Texas A&M Center for Food Safety  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Kerri B. Harris has been named the director of the Center for Food Safety at Texas A&M University.

August 30, 2007
Dunlap Returns to Collingsworth County in Extension Role  
WELLINGTON – Dale Dunlap said he just couldn't stay away from Collingsworth County and Texas Cooperative Extension.

August 29, 2007
Texas Crop & Weather  
COLLEGE STATION– Tropical storm Erin brought more rainfall to the San Angelo region with some areas south of the city reporting 9 inches, according to Scott Durham, Texas Cooperative Extension district administrator at San Angelo.

August 29, 2007
Breeders Fortifying Wheat With Consumers in Mind  
AMARILLO – Wheat breeders are working to put a ‘little muscle' into bread, in addition to helping producers get better yields, said a Texas Agricultural Experiment Station researcher.

August 29, 2007
Allergy Attack Prevention Begins at Home  
COLLEGE STATION – A runny or stuffy nose, watery eyes, sneezing and coughing may signal a cold or the flu – or could mean allergies.

August 29, 2007
Extension to Offer Pasture, Meadow Pesticide Training in September  
HOUSTON–Texas Cooperative Extension in Harris County will offer pesticide applicator training on managing pastures and meadows from 3:30-9 p.m., Sept. 14 in the Extension auditorium, 3033 Bear Creek Drive.

August 28, 2007
Late-Summer Weed Control Helps Winter Lawns  
DALLAS – Winter weeds might be out of sight and out of mind, but now is the time to think about applying pre-emergent herbicides to lawns, according to a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

August 27, 2007
New Forage Legume Could Ease Nitrogen Cost-Shock  
OVERTON – Rio Verde lablab, a recently released forage legume by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, could provide some relief to nitrogen fertilizer cost-shock.

August 27, 2007
Scott Named 4-H And Youth Specialist for South Plains, Panhandle  
LUBBOCK – Texas Cooperative Extension's 4-H and youth programs in the South Plains and Panhandle will soon have a new leader.

August 24, 2007
Field Day Looks at Bioenergy Impact on the Sheep and Goat Industry  
SAN ANGELO – Bioenergy and its impact on the sheep and goat industry is the theme for the 34th annual Sheep and Goat Field Day Sept. 6 at the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center near San Angelo.

August 24, 2007
Stocker Cattle, Wheat Management Workshop Set For Aug. 30  
SNYDER – Cattle and wheat producers can update their knowledge of stocker cattle and wheat management at an Aug. 30 workshop sponsored by Texas Cooperative Extension.

August 24, 2007
Fall Gardening Conference to Feature 'Tough Plants' and Antique Daffodils  
TYLER – An upcoming gardening conference will do more than offer speakers about Texas tough plants and antique daffodils.

August 23, 2007
New Extension Publication Gives the ‘Poop’ on Manure  
COLLEGE STATION – Proper management systems are needed to handle, store, treat and utilize animal manure in a safe and environmentally sound manner, a Texas Cooperative Extension expert said.

August 23, 2007
2007 Golden Cup Competition Reflects Perk-Up of Rwandan Coffee Industry  
BUTARE, RWANDA – About 140 of Rwanda's highest quality specialty coffees were entered for the first-ever Rwandan Golden Cup coffee competition. The competition will take place Aug. 28-31 at a cupping laboratory about 10 miles from Butare, Rwanda..

August 23, 2007
Carbon Credit Conference Set Sept. 28 in East Texas  
OVERTON – An upcoming conference promises to walk landowners through four steps to making a profit from selling carbon credits, said a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

August 22, 2007
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – Rainfall across the state has put range and pastures in great shape for beef cattle, and livestock markets have gotten a boost, according to Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

August 22, 2007
Perennial Pastures Require Care, Planning  
FLOYDADA – So you want some perennial grass on your place for grazing or maybe even hay? Before you get started on this project, get a leg up and do some planning, said a Texas Cooperative Extension beef specialist.

August 20, 2007
Families Reminded to Include Pets in Family Evacuation Plan  
HOUSTON – As Texans eye the Gulf of Mexico for what weather experts are forecasting as another busy hurricane season, a Texas Cooperative Extension expert said every family should have an evacuation plan that includes the family pet.

August 20, 2007
Disaster Recovery May Include Replacing Personal Documents  
COLLEGE STATION – When disaster strikes, chaos reigns. Taking care of the safety of loved ones takes first priority, but recovery may also include rebuilding financial and personal information.

August 20, 2007
Disaster Recovery May Include Replacing Personal Documents  
COLLEGE STATION – When disaster strikes, chaos reigns. Taking care of the safety of loved ones takes first priority, but recovery may also include rebuilding financial and personal information.

August 20, 2007
Obesity Center's Name Change Reflects New Relationships  
COLLEGE STATION -- Texas A&M Agriculture's Center for Obesity Research and Program Evaluation has been elevated to an institute, reflecting the entity's collaborative efforts to fight obesity, particularly in children.

August 20, 2007
Hurricane Preparedness for Livestock  
COLLEGE STATION – Livestock owners should "hurricane-ize" their livestock each year, Texas Cooperative Extension officials advise.

August 20 2007
Be Prepared: Disaster Can Strike Any Time  
COLLEGE STATION – Disaster can strike at any place, any time, to anybody. One look at television news coverage of the recent upheaval in the Caribbean caused by Hurricane Dean proves that, according to a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

August 20, 2007
Experiment Station Scientist Named Fellow of Prestigious Science Society  
OVERTON – Dr. Ron Randel, an East Texas based researcher with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, has been named a fellow of the American Society of Animal Science.

August 17, 2007
Who Do You Call When the Wall Caves In? Hiring a Contractor Is Not as Easy as it Looks  
COLLEGE STATION – Suppose your house was damaged by weather.

August 17, 2007
Fort Stockton Field Day to Center on Rangeland Water Harvesting  
FORT STOCKTON – Texas Cooperative Extension's Pecos County office will be conducting a Rangeland Water Harvesting Field Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 27 at the Sherman Hammond Ranch.

August 17, 2007
Plenty of Good Watermelons Available Despite Heavy South Texas Rains  
UVALDE – Watermelon aficionados can rest easy. Despite heavy rains in South Texas, the juicy melons should be available at reasonable prices for the rest of the summer, said a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

August 17, 2007
Record Rainfall Causes $200 Million in Ag-Related Losses  
COLLEGE STATION – From watermelons left rotting in the field to flooded cotton and grain sorghum, record rains this spring and summer have resulted in $200 million in agriculture losses in South Texas, Texas Cooperative Extension and Texas Farm Service Agency officials reported Friday.

August 17, 2007
Private Pesticide Applicator Training Set for September 6  
SAN ANTONIO – Texas Cooperative Extension and the Texas Department of Agriculture will offer private pesticide applicator training from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 6.

August 17, 2007
Biggest Costs of Bloat May be in Undiagnosed Cattle  
VERNON – Cattle deaths due to bloat are an economic loss, but the greater cost may come during the early stages of bloat, said a Texas Agricultural Experiment Station researcher at Vernon.

August 16, 2007
Extension Expert Issues 'Heat Advisory' for Farm Pond Fish  
OVERTON – Humans and their domestic pets aren't allow in being at risk from triple-digit summer heat, according a Texas Cooperative Extension wildlife and fisheries specialist.

August 16, 2007
Media Advisory: South Texas Crop Loss Estimates To Be Released Friday  
COLLEGE STATION – A media conference call announcing crop loss estimates due to above-normal rainfall over much of South Texas is scheduled at 10 a.m. Friday.

August 16, 2007
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – In many cases, high temperatures across the state are just what producers ordered, reported area Texas Cooperative Extension officials.

August 16, 2007
Fire Ant Awareness Week to Promote Fall Treatment  
DALLAS – It's not too late, or too early, to set out fire-ant bait for the notorious pests, experts say. Fire Ant Awareness Week, beginning Sept. 10, is a reminder to apply insecticides for the second time this year.

August 15, 2007
High Quality, Heart-Healthy Beef Focus of International Symposium  
COLLEGE STATION – Producing beef with high levels of oleic acid and other heart-healthy traits for both domestic and Asian consumption will highlight an international symposium Oct. 15-16 at Texas A&M University.

August 15, 2007
Expert: Security Freeze Can Help Chill Identity Theft  
COLLEGE STATION – Beginning Sept. 1, Texans will have another layer of protection for their personal identities, said a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

August 14, 2007
Texas A&M Horticulture Students Sprout Honors at National Meeting  
COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M University horticulture student club has been "awarded in spades," according to the group's advisor, Dr. Dan Lineberger, horticulture professor.

August 14, 2007
Westphalia Hosts Water Conference  
WESTPHALIA – Brushy Creek, water issues and water legislation will be the topics of a conference at the Westphalia Community Center in Westphalia. The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Aug. 23.

August 13, 2007
Samuel Welch Endowed Scholarship Established at Texas A&M  
BRYAN -- Dr. Finis Welch has established a $150,000 Foundation Excellence Award through the Texas A&M Foundation to benefit Hispanic students who have graduated from Texas high schools, demonstrate economic need and are pursuing a degree from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences on the College Station campus.

August 13, 2007
Multinational Research: Protecting Ecology Means Understanding People Too  
COLLEGE STATION – Talking to a biologist about one's feelings could produce the same reaction as, say, telling a sociologist about molecules.

August 10, 2007
Agriculture Adds Fuel to Food, Feed and Fiber Supply  
BUSHLAND – Agriculture has a challenge in front of it: the opportunity to help meet the energy needs of the future, said the director of Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.

August 10, 2007
Texas A&M Wins Second Consecutive National Academic Bowl  
COLLEGE STATION – The Academic Bowl Team from Texas A&M University's department of agricultural economics recently captured its second consecutive national title.

August 09, 2007
Rain, Flooding and Mud Stress Cattle  
CORPUS CHRISTI – Recent rains and flooding have been hard on livestock, but producers can help them weather the unusually wet summer. The following tips from Dr. Joe Paschal, Texas Cooperative Extension livestock specialist, were written for cattle, but could apply to sheep and goats in most cases:

August 09, 2007
Excess Rainfall: Both Good and Bad for Texas Agriculture  
COLLEGE STATION – Agricultural producers are trying to make hay while the sun shines. The problem is it won't shine long enough.

August 08, 2007
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – Drying in wait – that's what grasslands across Texas are doing as producers work to cut the abundant hay and make bales between rains, according to Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

August 07, 2007
Texas A&M Invitational to Tee Off on Sept. 10  
DALLAS -- Texas A&M University alumni are finalizing plans for the 10th annual Texas A&M Invitational golf tournament on Sept. 10.

August 07, 2007
Get the Most from Your Exercise Investment  
COLLEGE STATION – The longest journey may begin with a single step, but Texas Cooperative Extension experts suggest that the road to better health starts with these six:

August 06, 2007
Consumer Beef: Producing Safe, Quality Product Focus of 53rd Beef Cattle Short Course  
COLLEGE STATION – While beef demand continues at a brisk pace, consumers are paying close attention to its source and cattle producers are taking note, said one Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

August 06, 2007
Not Too Late to Beat High Nitrogen Costs This Fall  
OVERTON – There is a way to beat high nitrogen fertilizer costs for pastures when it comes to putting pounds on calves.

August 06, 2007
Exercise Saves Dollars as Well as Lives  
COLLEGE STATION – Regular physical activity is good for physical – and fiscal – health, said Dr. Carol Rice, Texas Cooperative Extension health specialist. That's because the lack of exercise can be expensive for both individuals and communities.

August 03, 2007
Media Advisory: Beef Story Ideas for Labor Day  
What's going on in the beef industry and how will it ultimately impact the dinner table? Try the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course Aug 6-8 in College Station, where 1,400 cattle producers statewide will be learning how to produce a better steak.

August 03, 2007
Free Wildlife Management Workshop Offered in September  
HELOTES – Texas Cooperative Extension will present a free "Wildlife Management Workshop" during the evenings of Sept. 18 and 19 at the Helotes 4-H Activity Center, 12132 Leslie Road.

August 03, 2007
International Symposium on Fruit, Vegetables Headed for Houston  
HOUSTON – Fruits and vegetables – tasty and a vital part of daily nutrition. But researchers worldwide continue to seek better ways to use the healthful properties of these foods. Many of these scientists will meet in Houston Oct. 9-13 to share the latest findings.

August 03, 2007
Wheat, Stocker Cattle Conference Is Aug. 14 In Wichita Falls  
WICHITA FALLS – Area producers can update their knowledge of wheat production and learn more about stocker cattle at an Aug. 14 conference. The event will be presented in Room 5 of the Multi-Purpose Event Center, 1000 Fifth St. in Wichita Falls.

August 03, 2007
Perennial Grass Workshop Is Aug. 10 In Floyd County  
LUBBOCK – Texas Cooperative Extension in Floyd and Hale counties will sponsor a perennial grass workshop for South Plains producers on Aug. 10.

August 02, 2007
'Making Small Acreage Profitable in East Texas' to Start Sept 6.  
NACOGDOCHES – Some people might call them "piecemeal" farms: small operations of 50 acres or less.

August 02, 2007
Seed Quality Is Key To A Good Wheat Crop  
WICHITA FALLS – Somewhere between putting grain in the bin after harvest and putting seed in the drill for planting, Texas wheat producers should pay attention to seed quality, said a Texas Cooperative Extension agent.

August 01, 2007
Cardona Is New Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences in Burnet County  
BURNET – Norma Linda Cardona has been named the Texas Cooperative Extension agent for family and consumer sciences in Burnet County. The announcement was made by County Judge Donna Klaeger and Scott Durham, Extension administrator at San Angelo.

August 01, 2007
Jordan Receives High Honor in Dairy Field  
DALLAS – Dr. Ellen Jordan, Texas Cooperative Extension dairy specialist, has received the American Dairy Science Association's DeLaval Dairy Extension Award.

July 31, 2007
Texas Crop and Weather  
COLLEGE STATION --While the persistent rains throughout most of the state have broken the long-standing drought, results have been both a blessing and a curse to farmers and livestock producers, according to Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

July 30, 2007
Alfalfa Workshop Set For Aug. 9 in Farwell  
FARWELL -- Crop producers, cattle raisers and grass farmers who are interested in alfalfa should mark Aug. 9 on their calendars. That is the date for a regional alfalfa workshop in Farwell, sponsored by Texas Cooperative Extension and New Mexico State University.

July 27, 2007
Texas A&M University System Regents Name Agricultural Agency Leaders  
COLLEGE STATION - New leaders have been named for two Texas agricultural agencies which are part of The Texas A&M University System.

July 27, 2007
New Texas Cooperative Extension Agent Hired in Sherman County  
STRATFORD – David Graf is coming back to Texas Cooperative Extension, and he's looking forward to working with youth again, as well as rejoining the family atmosphere of the agency.

July 26, 2007
Sorghum Producers Optimistic About Biofuel Potential  
COLLEGE STATION – Motorists traveling along Brazos bottom farmland just outside of College Station are doing double takes over a towering 12-foot sorghum crop.

July 26, 2007
San Angelo Center Readies for 34th Annual Sheep and Goat Field Day  
SAN ANGELO -- The impact bio-energy is having on the sheep and goat industry will be the focus of this year's 34th annual Sheep and Goat Field Day at the Texas A&M University System Research and Extension Center in San Angelo.

July 25, 2007
Two QuickBooks Short Courses Offered for Farmers and Ranchers  
AMARILLO – Courses covering the business accounting program QuickBooks Pro will be offered in Amarillo and Lubbock in August, a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist said.

July 24, 2007
Texas Crop and Weather  
COLLEGE STATION – Prolonged wet weather followed by a dry spell can mean trouble in anthrax-prone areas, according to a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

July 24, 2007
Free August Seminar to Focus on Livestock, Wildlife  
SAN ANTONIO – Texas Cooperative Extension and the Bexar Beef Cattle Committee will present a free "Livestock and Wildlife Seminar" from 6-9 p.m. on Aug. 23. The program will be in Suite 208 of the Extension office in Bexar County, located at 3355 Cherry Ridge Drive, San Antonio.

July 23, 2007
Welch Named New State Extension Grain Marketing Economist  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Mark Welch has been named Texas Cooperative Extension state grain marketing and policy economist.

July 23, 2007
New Texas Cooperative Extension Agent Hired in Oldham County  
VEGA – Knowing the programs offered by Texas Cooperative Extension can be beneficial to both producers and students, Charlie Martin can't wait to start as the new agriculture agent in Oldham County, he said.

July 23, 2007
Familiar Pests Return Early  
DALLAS – They're like uninvited guests who show up too early for the party. To make matters worse, they get underfoot and smell.

July 20, 2007
R.B. Dooley ’39 Endowed Graduate Scholarship Established at Texas A&M  
COLLEGE STATION – An endowed graduate scholarship honoring the late R.B. Dooley, a professor of agriculture at Angelo State University in San Angelo for 30 years, has been established by family members at Texas A&M University.

July 20, 2007
Extension Sets 3 Dove Appreciation Days Across Texas  
SAN ANGELO – Widespread rainfall across Texas should mean excellent dove hunting for much of the state, according to a Texas Cooperative Extension wildlife expert at San Angelo.

July 19, 2007
Beef Marketing Course To Begin Aug. 21  
AMARILLO – Beef Marketing and Management 2010, a series of educational activities for people involved in the beef industry, kicks off in August, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

July 19, 2007
Can Artichokes Bring New Heart to Texas Agriculture?  
UVALDE – U.S. Department of Agriculture figures show that California produces almost all of the nation's commercial artichokes. But a team of agricultural researchers is working to change that, said Dr. Daniel Leskovar, a vegetable physiologist with Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.

July 18, 2007
Anthrax Case Reported in Tom Green County  
SAN ANGELO – On July 13, the Texas Animal Health Commission confirmed that 17 head of cattle and a number of deer have died of anthrax in northern Tom Green County. The news release was posted on its Web site http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/ .

July 18, 2007
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION - - Weeks of frequent rainfall have southeast hay producers crying, "uncle," according to Wayne Thompson, Texas Cooperative Extension agent for agriculture in Harris County.

July 18, 2007
Field Day to Focus on Agriculture’s Role in Alternative Energy  
BUSHLAND – Agriculture is growing more than just food and clothing these days, local researchers say. Because energy is the latest potential crop to be harvested, a field day featuring agriculture's role in the energy industry is scheduled for Aug. 8.

July 17, 2007
In Preparing for Disasters, Who You Gonna Call? Try 2-1-1  
COLLEGE STATION – Fires ... floods ... hurricanes ... Sometimes the best way to survive a disaster – natural or otherwise – is to get out of its way.

July 16, 2007
Rangeland Management Workshop Set for Aug. 17  
MIAMI – A workshop and field day designed to help ranchers improve their plant identification skills is set for Aug. 17 at the Mesa Vista Ranch, said a Texas Cooperative Extension agent. The ranch is located 32 miles north of Pampa on U.S. Hwy. 70 in Roberts County.

July 13, 2007
Former Agent Named to National 4-H Hall of Fame  
COLLEGE STATION – From her days as a 4-H member and president of the Dallas County 4-H Council to her career as a 4-H agent in Belton, Tammera Beckham has dedicated her life to the 4-H program, said Preston Sides, chair of the Texas 4-H Hall of Fame Committee.

July 13, 2007
Mirkov Rewarded For Patented Sugarcane Research  
WESLACO -- A scientist in South Texas has earned a string of awards recently for developing patented methods designed to greatly expand where sugarcane can be grown -- and what it produces.

July 12, 2007
New Texas Cooperative Extension Leadership Announced  
COLLEGE STATION – Three administrators have been named for key positions with Texas Cooperative Extension, according to said Dr. Ed Smith, Extension director in College Station.

July 12, 2007
Playa Lakes Are A Valuable Plains Resource  
FLOYDADA – So how's your playa...is it holding water during this unusually wet year? Is it sporting a lush bloom of vegetation, in the water and on the land surrounding it?

July 11, 2007
Texas A&M's Borlaug To Receive Congressional Gold Medal  
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Texas A&M Agriculture's Dr. Norman Borlaug will be presented the Congressional Gold Medal July 17 for unparalleled efforts at "bringing radical change to world agriculture and uplifting humanity," according to the U.S. Congress.

July 11, 2007
Texas Crop and Weather  
COLLEGE STATION – With flood waters receding in most areas of Central Texas, the major chore of cleaning up now begins, according to Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

July 10, 2007
Extension Economist: Increased Consumer Demand for Milk Products Driving Up Prices  
COLLEGE STATION – The popular catch phrase ‘Got Milk?' is taking on new meaning after a spike in demand for milk-related products, a Texas Cooperative Extension economist said.

July 09, 2007
West Texas Deer Study Group to Meet Aug. 7-8 in San Angelo  
SAN ANGELO - ‘The West Texas Deer Study Group will have its 10th annual program Aug. 7-8 at the Texas A&M University System Research and Extension Center in San Angelo. Anyone interested in deer management is invited to attend. The meeting starts with registration at 8 a.m. Aug. 7.

July 09, 2007
Texas A&M System Awarded $5 Million for Bioenergy Research  
COLLEGE STATION -- Gov. Rick Perry announced today that The Texas A&M University System has received a $5 million grant from the state's Emerging Technology Fund for the Texas A&M Agriculture and Engineering Bioenergy Alliance. "The Texas A&M System has a reputation for excellence in research. We strive to maintain and improve upon that reputation by hiring outstanding faculty and providing them with the tools they need to rise to the top of their field," said Michael D. McKinney, chancellor of the Texas A&M System. "This funding from our state's leadership will be used for groundbreaking research to create alternative fuels to solve our world's energy challenges."

July 09, 2007
Officials Warn West Nile Virus Is Back  
CANYON -- Lots of rain leaves standing water. Standing water attracts mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can carry West Nile Virus. And July is the prime month for cases of the disease to start showing up, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

July 06, 2007
Researcher: Feeding Distiller’s Grains Vital to Future Livestock Operation Success  
AMARILLO – There's no reason the cattle-feeding industry in Texas cannot remain strong and viable if it incorporates distiller's grains into rations, said a Texas Agricultural Experiment Station researcher.

July 05, 2007
Expert: Federal Aid Available For Some Flood Victims  
COLLEGE STATION – If the rain clouds hanging over Texas have a silver lining, it might be this: Some people affected by the recent flooding could be eligible for federal aid, said a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

July 05, 2007
Day Care Decision No Small Matter for Parents  
COLLEGE STATION – Here's a question many parents must consider: Is putting their children in day care good, bad or indifferent?

July 04, 2007
Texas Cooperative Extension Announces New Agent in Briscoe/Hall Counties  
MEMPHIS – Missy Reynolds has been named Texas Cooperative Extension family and consumer science agent in Hall and Briscoe counties, according to Donna Brauchi, Extension district administrator.

July 03, 2007
Texas Crop and Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – While rain has been plentiful across Texas, it's throwing a kink into hay harvesting activities but producing bumper grain crop yields, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

July 03, 2007
Texas Wine Industry Participants Have Plenty to Ponder  
COLLEGE STATION – The domestic demand for wine is so great that Texas could produce twice as many wine grapes as it does – and sell far more wine, said a Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association official.

July 02, 2007
Texas Wheat Fairing Well Despite Rain-Delayed Harvest  
WACO – Though shaping up to be a great Texas wheat crop, continued rainfall is putting harvest efforts behind schedule. Producers should be mindful of several potential issues when things do dry out, according to one Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

July 02, 2007
Reducing Feed Costs, Grazing Management Strategies Topics of Beef Cattle Short Course  
COLLEGE STATION – Hay production costs have risen sharply in recent years due to higher fertilizer, equipment, fuel, and labor prices. Supplemental feed costs have also increased.

June 29, 2007
Diary of a Wildlife, Fish Manager: New Calendar Makes it Easier  
COLLEGE STATION – The number of people buying and managing rural property for wildlife recreation is increasing at an exponential rate – and so is the need for information on managing ponds or land, according to a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

June 29, 2007
GIS to Help Ranchers Manage Natural Resources  
SAN ANGELO – Texas Cooperative Extension will present an introductory Geographic Information System workshop at 8:30 a.m. July 12 at the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center in San Angelo.

June 29, 2007
Curs Named Assistant Director for Foreign Operations at Borlaug Institute  
COLLEGE STATION – Stephanie Curs has been named assistant director for foreign operations at the Norman E. Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture, part of the Texas A&M University System.

June 28, 2007
Extension Provides Free Information on Flood Preparation, Recovery  
COLLEGE STATION – Texas Cooperative Extension has free information available on what to do before, during and after a flood, said an Extension expert.

June 27, 2007
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – "Wet" is still the primary story across Texas. And wheat harvests are having problems due to the abundance of moisture, according to Texas Cooperative Extension officials.

June 26, 2007
Extension Names New Family and Consumer Science Agent in Moore County  
DUMAS – Membership in 4-H and involvement with Texas Cooperative Extension as a youth prompted Karen Russell to get a college degree in home economics, she said. Now she's returning to give back.

June 26, 2007
Texas Cooperative Extension Hires Three New Agents for Four Counties  
COLEMAN – Texas Cooperative Extension has named three new agents for four West Texas counties, according to Scott Durham, Extension administrator at San Angelo.

June 25, 2007
Noted Texas A&M University Tortilla Researcher Succumbs to Cancer  
COLLEGE STATION - Dr. Ralph Waniska, a professor of food science and technology in the Cereal Quality Laboratory at Texas A&M University, passed away Monday following a lengthy battle with cancer.

June 25, 2007
Technology Team Shows 4-H Firmly Focused on Future  
COLLEGE STATION – Texas 4-H traces its roots back 100 years to the first boys' corn club in Jack County.

June 25, 2007
Stephen C. Helbing Sr. ’48 Scholarship Established at Texas A&M’s Agricultural Economics Department  
COLLEGE STATION – Stephen C. Helbing Sr.'s family gave him a surprise for his recent 80th birthday: An $80,000 scholarship endowment in his honor.

June 22, 2007
MEDIA ADVISORY/Request for Coverage: “Speak Out for Military Kids” Event – Training and Reception  
Background: "Operation: Military Kids" is a partnership of Army Child and Youth Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National 4-H program, and other organizations. National participants in the program include 4-H, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the American Legion, and the Military Child Education Coalition. These and other groups work together to support military children and youth across the country.

June 21, 2007
Fredericksburg Facility Will Address Top Wine Industry Threat  
FREDERICKSBURG – The newly opened Texas Pierce's Disease Research and Extension Program facility in Fredericksburg may yield solutions for mitigating the single-greatest threat to the Texas wine industry, experts said.

June 21, 2007
Gayle to retire as head of Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab  
COLLEGE STATION -- Dr. Lelve G. Gayle, executive director of the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory since 2002, announced this week that he is retiring on July 31.

June 20, 2007
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – In a word, "wet" describes most of Texas. And while the moisture is beneficial to most crops - except wheat and other crops awaiting harvest - it also has produced abundant weeds, according to Texas Cooperative Extension officials.

June 20, 2007
Managing Medications Critical to Overall Health Care and Cost  
AMARILLO – Prescription and non-prescription medications are important for good health, but without proper management they may have unintended side-effects, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

June 19, 2007
One Point Defines National Wool Judging Winners  
SONORA – One point – that's all that separated first and second places in two of the main judging contests which were held in conjunction with the 70th annual Sonora Wool and Mohair Show. The contests and the show were June 12-14 in Sonora.

June 18, 2007
MEDIA ADVISORY: 44th Stiles Farm Foundation Field Day  
Background: Stiles Farm is a non-profit, self-supporting institution established by bequest of the late J.V. and H.A. Stiles for the advancement of agriculture to benefit all Texans. A field day is held at Stiles Farm each year to introduce producers to the latest research and best management practices. Morning presentation topics this year include: biofuels opportunities for producers, new approaches to chemical weed control, soil quality and root development evaluation, and forage resources. In the afternoon, a demonstration on the use of sprayers, strip-tilling machines and other equipment will be presented, along with a beef cattle industry update.

June 15, 2007
August Estate Planning Seminar Tailored for Ranchers  
COLLEGE STATION – Ranchers can learn how recent changes in tax laws may affect their estate plans by attending a seminar scheduled for Aug. 8-9 at the College Station Conference Center, 1300 George Bush Drive.

June 14, 2007
DTN Partners with Texas Cooperative Extension Executive Program  
COLLEGE STATION – DTN, a provider of real-time market, news and weather information services, is partnering with Texas Cooperative Extension, its Executive Program for Ag Producers and Extension economist Danny Klinefelter.

June 14, 2007
Air Emissions Project to Get Under Way at Oklahoma Swine Operation  
AMARILLO -- Determining how much air emissions area hog facilities release from their buildings is a two-year project for a local Texas Agricultural Experiment Station air quality engineer.

June 13, 2007
Texas Crop and Weather  
COLLEGE STATION – Although high winds and hail damaged crops in some regions, beneficial weather conditions throughout most of the state helped farmers and cattle producers, Texas Cooperative Extension reports stated.

June 13, 2007
When in Drought, Use Rainwater  
FORNEY – Nature can be stingy with rain, so hoard it when you can.

June 11, 2007
Can’t Stand the Heat? Stay Out of the Tanning Booth  
COLLEGE STATION – All tans are created equal, no matter what the source of the damaging ultraviolet rays, said a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

June 08, 2007
Competition, Biofuel Corn, Labor Costs Topics at 2007 Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course  
COLLEGE STATION – "The Changing Dynamics of the Texas Beef Industry" is the theme for this year's Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course. The short course will be Aug. 6-8 at Texas A&M University in College Station.

June 08, 2007
Sonora to Mark 70 Years of Wool and Mohair Contests  
SONORA – This year marks the 70th annual Wool and Mohair Show and the 47th annual National 4-H Wool Judging Contest. Both will be held in conjunction with the seventh annual FFA Wool Judging Contest June 12-14 in Sonora.

June 08, 2007
Gift Agreement Inked for Texas Water Resources Institute  
COLLEGE STATION – A $2 million endowment agreement between the Texas A&M Foundation and the Zeros Energy & Water Alliance was signed last week.

June 07, 2007
MEDIA ADISORY: Big City, Big Country Set for June 11-15  
WHAT: Big City, Big Country Road Show.

June 07, 2007
Playa Management for Wildlife Meetings Planned in June  
CANYON – Wildlife-friendly management of playa lakes promises to be significant in Texas due to the unique functions these wetlands provide, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

June 6, 2007
Texas Crop, Weather  
COLLEGE STATION – Heavy rains in many areas of the state benefitted row crops, greened up pastures, but delayed hay harvests and planting of some crops, reported Texas Cooperative Extension agents.

June 06, 2007
Extension Specialist Concentrate on What’s ‘Buggin’ Wheat  
AMARILLO – Yellowed or brown leaves on wheat may be caused by drought, disease, pests or too much rain. Dr. Ron French puts the plant under a microscope to determine the exact problem.

June 05, 2007
Hundreds of Flowering Bedding Plants to be Showcased at Upcoming Hort Field Day  
OVERTON – On June 28, nursery growers, greenhouse managers and gardening enthusiasts can view field tests of flowering bedding plant varieties at the annual Overton Horticultural Field Day.

June 04, 2007
Survey to Determine Quail Return Rate After Wildfires  
CANYON – Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and Texas Cooperative Extension personnel are trying to find out how and when quail populations in the High Plains will recover after last year's wildfires.

June 01, 2007
Rangeland Monitoring Workshop Set For June 13 At Alpine  
ALPINE – Sul Ross State University's Everett E. Turner Center in Alpine will be the site for a rangeland monitoring workshop from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on June 13.

June 01, 2007
Gray Water Alternative for Sub-irrigating Landscape Plants  
COLLEGE STATION – When the weather turns dry, Texans may start thinking about the best ways to avoid high water bills and still maintain their landscaping. Gray water may be one option, said Dr. Bruce Lesikar, Texas Cooperative Extension agricultural engineer.

May 31, 2007
Texas Crop, Weather  
COLLEGE STATION –Livestock and crop conditions are improving in many regions following a series of slow-moving weather systems bringing rain.

May 30, 2007
MEDIA ADVISORY/New Pierce’s Disease Research Facility Will Open in Fredericksburg June 14   Background: According to the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association, the Texas wine industry has an economic impact of about $1 billion. There is an estimated 3,700 acres of family-owned vineyard land throughout the state, according to the association. Pierce's disease, caused by a bacterium and transmitted by insect vectors, is the single greatest threat to Texas wine-grape production.

May 30, 2007
Chevron, Texas A&M Form Alliance To Convert Non-food Crops into Renewable Fuels  
SAN RAMON, Calif. – Chevron Corp. and Texas A&M Agriculture and Engineering BioEnergy Alliance are joining in research to accelerate the conversion of crops for manufacturing ethanol and other biofuels from cellulose.

May 30, 2007
Alternative Crops Garner a Second Look  
ETTER – A change in the agriculture picture in the High Plains is bringing several alternative crops back into the spotlight, according to a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

May 29, 2007
Texas A&M System Regents Approve Organizational Changes  
COLLEGE STATION — The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has approved several organizational changes and appointments recommended by Chancellor Michael D. McKinney, M.D.

May 29, 2007
Free Seminar on Bats Offered to Professionals  
HOUSTON–A free seminar on bats will be offered from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on June 8 in the boardroom of the Klein Independent School District offices, 7200 Spring Cypress Road, in Klein.

May 28, 2007
Targeted Grazing Book Offers a New Look at an Old Practice  
SAN ANGELO – Sheep and goats can take some of the frustration – and expense – out of the fight against noxious weeds and brush, said a West Texas researcher.

May 25, 2007
Pierce’s Disease Program Efforts Important to Texas Wine Industry  
MARBLE FALLS – A collaborative effort between a federal and state agency, several universities, and Texas and California grape producers is addressing the greatest threat to the Texas wine industry.

May 24, 2007
Aggressive Termites Found in North Texas Community  
WYLIE – Entomologists with Texas Cooperative Extension are helping a Dallas-area community hunt Formosan subterranean termites, one of the most aggressive and destructive species in the world.

May 23, 2007
Texas Crop and Weather Report  
SAN ANGELO – A Texas Cooperative Extension expert said the amount of soil moisture at planting is one of the most accurate predictors of crop yields at harvest time. But with the good also, comes the bad.

May 23, 2007
Cleaner Manure Burns Hotter in Ethanol Processing  
HEREFORD – Clean manure may sound like an oxymoron, but Dr. Brent Auvermann is working with feedyard owners to help them get the most "spark" from it as a fuel source.

May 23, 2007
Brown County Sets Pesticide Applicator Training and Testing Day  
BROWNWOOD – Texas Cooperative Extension in Brown County has scheduled a pesticide applicator training and testing day. The event will take place at 8 a.m. June 13 at the Brown County Fairgrounds on U.S. Highway 377 South.

May 22, 2007
Master Beef Volunteer Training to be Held in June  
LUBBOCK – Future 4-H beef project leaders are invited to attend a statewide Texas 4-H Master Beef Volunteer Training to be held June 1-3 at the Texas Tech University Animal Science Building in Lubbock.

May 22, 2007
Extension, Others Offering Free Ag Chemical Disposal Opportunities  
LULING – Texas Cooperative Extension, in cooperation with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Texas Department of Agriculture, will offer three free agricultural chemical collection events in June.

May 22, 2007
'Gators and Cattails Spark Science Curiosity in Brazoria Fourth-Graders  
ANGLETON — Introduce a fourth-grader to a baby alligator, and he's likely to become interested in Gulf Coast ecology, according to Ed Barrios, president of the Cradle of Texas Chapter of Master Naturalists.

May 22, 2007
Crop Pest Scouting Workshop Set for June 1 in Plainview  
PLAINVIEW – Producers and agriculture consultants can hone their pest management and crop production skills at the High Plains Crop Pest Scouting Workshop on June 1. The event is sponsored by Texas Cooperative Extension.

May 21, 2007
Extension Economist: Fall in Spring Onion Prices Reflects Supply, Demand  
UVALDE – While most Rio Grande Valley onion producers were able to get excellent prices earlier this spring, the market has weakened in past weeks, leading to reduced profits for those harvesting now, said a Texas Cooperative Extension economist in Uvalde.

May 21, 2007
Save Your Skin: Cover Up in the Sun Now  
COLLEGE STATION – That tan may look 'healthy;' those freckles may be cute, but in reality both are skin damage caused by the sun, said a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

May 18, 2007
2007 Blackland Income Growth Ag Tour Set for Monterey, Salinas Valley, Calif. 
DALLAS - The 2007 annual Blackland Income Growth Agricultural Tour will visit the .Salad Bowl of the World. Aug. 13-17 in the Monterey and Salinas Valley areas of California.

May 18, 2007
Extension to Host Sheep and Goat Internal Parasite Program 
BROWNWOOD - Texas Cooperative Extension in Brown County will host a sheep and goat internal parasite program at 6 p.m. May 29. The event will be at the Brown County Fairgrounds on U.S. Highway 377 South.

May 18, 2007
Hunting Bird Grower and Hunting Preserve Conferences Set for June National Title 
COLLEGE STATION - A series of conferences for landowners wanting to know more about the bird hunting industry will be held throughout the state in June.

May 17, 2007
Hall Named Ellison International Floriculture Chairholder at Texas A&M 

COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Charlie Hall has been named holder of the Ellen and Jim Ellison Chair in International Floriculture at Texas A&M University's department of horticultural sciences. Hall, who for the past five years has been professor of agricultural economics at the University of Tennessee, previously was a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

May 17, 2007
Biotechnology Conference to Focus on ‘Genetic Solutions for Today’s World’< 
May 16, 2007
Texas Crop and Weather 
COLLEGE STATION - Crop and range conditions are benefiting from recent rainfall, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

May 15, 2007
Small Beetle Has Big Appetite for Elm Leaves 
COLLEGE STATION - DALLAS – Tiny beetles have been ravaging North Texas elm trees this spring, said experts with Texas Cooperative Extension. Requests for information about the elm flea weevil have poured in from five counties in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, said Dr. Mike Merchant, an Extension entomologist in Dallas.

May 15, 2007
White-tailed Deer Day Set for May 15 in Reagan County 
BIG LAKE – Texas Cooperative Extension plans to showcase the latest trends affecting the deer hunting industry with its White-tailed Deer Appreciation Day. The event is set for 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 22 on the Rocker B Ranch.

May 14, 2007
Agricultural Researcher: Texas Rivers, Lakes Safer than Expected for Drinking, Recreation  
EL PASO –- A research program that uses DNA fingerprinting to determine the source of E. coli in Texas waterways won this year's Environmental Excellence Award in Agriculture. The program, which seeks ways to improve water quality, received the award from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

May 14, 2007
Carbon Credit Brokers Offer Extra Income to Forest Landowners    
OVERTON – Sign a contract and getting paid not to harvest your trees? And still own your trees at the end of the contract?
Better yet, how about getting paid retroactively for your timber acres back to 2003?

May 11, 2007
Cancer Screenings Now More Available to Underinsured, Uninsured Women  
COLLEGE STATION – Cancer prevention screenings just became more affordable for women who have little or no health insurance, said Courtney Schoessow, Texas Cooperative Extension program specialist for health education and development.

May 11, 2007
Heat -Tolerant Cherry Red Petunias Designated Newest Texas Superstars    
OVERTON – Tidal Wave Cherry petunias are a bright red that can be seen from a quarter mile away, said a Texas A&M horticulturist.

May 11, 2007
2007 Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course Set for Aug. 6-8  
COLLEGE STATION - The 53rd annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course will be held Aug. 6-8 at Texas A&M University in College Station.

May 11, 2007
Small Grains Field Day Scheduled for May 24  
ETTER -Producers will have a chance to see how varieties of wheat, canola and triticale performed under this year's wet spring conditions at the Small Grains Field Day.

May 10, 2007
Dry Spring May Make Rainwater Harvesting Systems Even More Attactive  
COLLEGE STATION - With the news that La Nina may bring another dry spring to the state, Texans may be looking at installing rainwater harvesting systems to help water landscapes and ease utility bills, according to a Texas Cooperative Extension agricultural engineer.

May 10, 2007
Texas Crop and Weather  
COLLEGE STATION - Most parts of the state reported rain this week. In some cases, it delayed agriculture operations; in others, it provided a little relief during an extended drought.

May 8, 2007
Military Kids Invited to Free 'Operation Purple' Camp in Brownwood  
BROWNWOOD - Children of military families of all service branches are invited to apply to attend a free Operation Purple summer camp from July 30 to Aug. 3 in Brownwood.

May 8, 2007
Inflammatory Breast Cancer Requires Additional Vigilance  
COLLEGE STATION - Not all breast cancers start with a lump, said Courtney Schoessow, Texas Cooperative Extension program specialist for health education and development.

May 7, 2007
Lower Numbers of Some Mosquitoes May Mean Fewer Cases of West Nile  
COLLEGE STATION - Cool spring weather in the eastern half of Texas may have slowed the buildup of West Nile virus in mosquitoes and birds.

May 7, 2007
St. Augustine Takes Beating from Drought, Freezing Temperatures and Disease  
DALLAS -- Dr. Jim McAfee has heard it time and again about St. Augustine grass this spring: "You mean my lawn's not the only one?"

May 7, 2007
Prescribed Burn Workshop Aug. 2-4 in Sonora  
SONORA - Ranch owners and managers interested in learning about prescribed burning are invited to an Academy for Ranch Management workshop Aug. 2-4 at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station at Sonora.

May 4, 2007
Extension Agent: Feral Hogs 'Out-of-Control'    
PITTSBURG - A feral hog management field day will address the worsening issue of feral hog damage in northeast Texas, said a Texas Cooperative Extension agent.

May 3, 2007
Pheasant Appreciation Day Planned for May 15    
NAZARETH - Interest in Texas pheasants is gaining more momentum, both for hunting and for just observing them, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

May 3, 2007
Texas A&M Team to Add a 'Grain of Common Sense' to Biofuel Options    
COLLEGE STATION - The U.S. has entered the "era of the bio-economy," said U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Gale Buchanan.
"This could have the most important impact on agriculture in 150 years. To fully meet the nation's needs for sustainable resources, we've got to look at all types of feedstock," said Buchanan, who recently visited the Texas A&M University System campus at College Station on May 1.

May 3, 2007
Sutton County Program Targets 'Do-It-Yourself' Rancher  
SONORA - Texas Cooperative Extension will present a multi-county .Ranchers. RoundUP. workshop from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on May 22 at the Sutton County Civic Center. The center is located at 1700 N. Crockett in Sonora.

May 2, 2007
Rural Ranchers Help Trinity River and Themselves 
STREETMAN -- Dr. Jim Cathey dipped a bottle into the Trinity River and held it up to the sun. The water was as murky as chocolate milk.

May 2, 2007
Texas Crop, Weather  
COLLEGE STATION - Rains fell this past week to the benefit of farmers and ranchers throughout the Lone Star State. While some damage from recent hail, tornados and flooding was reported, crops and livestock grazing generally got a welcome boost from these rains – and from warmer weather.

May 2, 2007
Scientists Seek Useful Traits in Wild Cottons    
LUBBOCK - If you have Mom's smile, Dad's eyes and Grandpa's laugh, you might wonder what other traits you picked up from the genealogic fabric of the ol' family tree.

April 30, 2007
Mineola Garden Tests Earth Kind Roses for East Texas      
MINEOLA - The common perception is that roses are hard to grow, requiring lots of pesticides and work. But that's just not true, particularly with Earth Kind roses, said Pete Smith, Master Gardener and the mayor of Mineola.

April 30, 2007
Texas Grape Industry to Discuss Pierce's Disease Outlook for State  
COLLEGE STATION - Grape growers and wine industry leaders will meet with top Texas researchers here on May 21 to discuss strategies to combat Pierce's Disease, a condition that can be devastating to vineyards.

April 30, 2007
Texas-Sized Sorghum: New Solution for Fuel?  
COLLEGE STATION - Big Sorghum is moving up on Big Oil in Texas. Ten-foot tall stalks of bioenergy sorghum, planted on thousands of acres, could march across Texas just as oil derricks once did, replacing black gold with green gold.

April 27, 2007
Rural Car Crash Mortality Rate Higher  
COLLEGE STATION – Never mind mosquitoes, bees or ants: With the coming of warmer weather, Texans are likely to be bitten by the travel bug, said Bev Kellner, Texas Cooperative Extension program coordinator for passenger safety.

April 24, 2007
Research Aims to Reduce Injury, Illness in Horses  
COLLEGE STATION -- Injuries such as the one that felled 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro are tragic. Research at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary and Biomedical Medicine is focused on reducing that type of health issue -- and some aren't quite so apparent.

April 24, 2007
Texas Crop and Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION -- Producers and agricultural officials around the state continue to assess the impact of an East$ Extension officials.

April 23, 2007
Be A Good Neighbor When Using Phenoxy Herbicides  
LUBBOCK - There's an old saying ..."good fences make good neighbors." While good fences often separate productive crop land and different crops, they do little to stop herbicide drift.

April 23, 2007
Standard Agricultural Practices for Dove Hunters Focus of May 8 Meeting  
BEAUMONT - To help agricltural producers and dove hunters stay informed of the latest practices with winter pasture establishment, a May 8 meeting has been scheduled in Beaumont.

April 23, 2007
Belew Named Dallas Marketing Coordinator  
DALLAS - Kat Belew, a recent graduate of Texas A&M University, has been named marketing coordinator for the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Dallas.

April 23, 2007
Mason County Sets Spring Beef Cattle Field Day  
MASON - The Spring Beef Cattle Field Day presented by Texas Cooperative Extension is set for 9 a.m. May 16 at the Mason County Community Center.

April 20, 2007
Concho/McCulloch County Wheat Tour Set for May 15  
MILLERSVIEW - Texas Cooperative Extension in Concho and McCulloch counties will hold its annual wheat tour from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 15, at the Millersview Gymnasium.

April 20, 2007
Annual Heart of Texas Cow/Calf Clinic Becomes More 'User-Friendly'  
BROWNWOOD - For 28 years, Texas Cooperative Extension's annual Heart of Texas Cow/Calf Clinic has been a morning program. This year, to make it more "user-friendly," it will be in the evening, said Scott Anderson, Extension agent in Brown County.

April 19, 2007
Shaw Named Associate at Texas A&M Renewable Natural Resources Institute  
COLLEGE STATION - Dr. Bob Shaw has been named associate director of the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, effective May 1.

April 18, 2007
Human Gene Technology May Show Horse Traders Where to Place Their Chips  
COLLEGE STATION – Horse trading could come down to a computer chip, thanks to research done at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences.

April 18, 2007
Texas Crop and Weather  
COLLEGE STATION – Wet though cool weather improved range and pasture conditions across the state, but some crops took a hit from last week's freeze, report Texas Cooperative Extension agents and specialists.

April 17, 2007
Tom Green County Quail Appreciation Day Set For May 3  
SAN ANGELO – Texas Cooperative Extension in Tom Green County has scheduled a "Quail Appreciation Day" from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 3.

April 17, 2007
Researcher Focuses on Pros, Cons of Antioxidants from Fruits and Vegetables  
COLLEGE STATION – Nutrition: It's not just the four basic food groups any more.

April 17, 2007
Post Oak Grasshoppers Emerging  
COLLEGE STATION – They're not afraid of heights, they're voracious, and Dr. Spencer Behmer wants to know if you've seen them hanging out in oak trees or on your house.

April 16, 2007
Feral Hog Meeting Scheduled for May 1 in Levelland  
LEVELLAND - Feral hogs cause serious problems with agricultural production, from row crops to hay crops to livestock and wildlife. And concerns are only growing, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

April 16, 2007
Texas High School Seniors Learn A-B-Cs of Personal Finances  
COLLEGE STATION – A Texas high school education just got a little more practical. That's because this academic year – 2006-2007 – instruction in financial education is required as a condition of graduation, said Nancy Granovsky, Texas Cooperative Extension family economics specialist.

April 16, 2007
High Cost of Nitrogen Calls For New Farming Strategies  
OVERTON – Farmers can expect nitrogen fertilizer costs to be more than 50 cents per pound of nitrogen this year, said Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and Texas Cooperative Extension experts.

April 13, 2007
Two Weslaco Scientists Win Top Honors  
WESLACO - Two agricultural research scientists in Weslaco have received the highest honor their professional peers could bestow upon them. Dr. Gene Lester and Dr. Yin-Tung Wang have been named Fellows by the American Society for Horticultural Science.

April 13, 2007
Early Indications Show Wheat Escaped Freeze Injury  
AMARILLO - The High Plains wheat crop appears to have escaped injury from temperatures that dipped into the low 20s F for an extended period, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

April 13, 2007
Kids, Kows & More Expo Introduces Agriculture to Urban West Texas Youth  
ODESSA – Helping kids better understand agriculture is the goal of Texas Cooperative Extension's Kids, Kows & More Expo. The event is scheduled for April 30-May 2 at the Ector County Coliseum Outback Arena in Odessa.

April 13, 2007
Sweet! Beekeeping Essay Contest Winners Announced  
GAINESVILLE – Cletus Fuhrmann knows how to ‘bee' a winner.

April 13, 2007
MRI Recommended as New Tool in Fight Against Breast Cancer  
COLLEGE STATION – The American Cancer Society last month recommended that women at high risk of developing breast cancer should get a magnetic resonance imaging – or MRI – each year in addition to a mammogram, beginning at age 30.

April 13, 2007
Borlaug Institute Helps Identify Ways to Increase Iraqi Agricultural Employment  
COLLEGE STATION – Through its Norman E. Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture, Texas A&M University is again playing a significant role in helping revive agriculture in Iraq.

April 12, 2007
Dallas Conference to Focus on Business with Cuba  
DALLAS – Agricultural producers and agribusiness professionals can learn more about the Cuban export market by attending an April 26 conference at the Small Business Development Center-International Trade Center in Dallas.

April 11, 2007
Texas Crop, Weather  
COLLEGE STATION – With cold temperatures, rain, sleet and snow reported across the state, producers in East Texas have reported no crop damage so far, according to Dr. Ramona Kellum, Texas Cooperative Extension district director in Overton.

April 10, 2007
Grapes May Become Viable Crop for Brownwood Agriculture  
BROWNWOOD - A growing interest in wine grape production has prompted Texas Cooperative Extension, the city of Brownwood and the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce to present "Developing a Growing Industry; Vineyard and Winery Seminar," from 8:30 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. May 8.

April 10, 2007
Cow-Calf Financial Workshop Slated for May 2 in Vernon  
VERNON – Cow-calf producers changed many of their normal production and marketing strategies in 2006 due to drought and higher fuel, fertilizer and feed prices, said a Texas Cooperative Extension economist. These factors have pushed the cost of running a breeding cow on the Rolling Plains to more than $400 per year.

April 09, 2007
Texas Cooperative Extension Names Economist to San Angelo Post  
SAN ANGELO – William "Bill" Thompson, was named the economist for Texas Cooperative Extension's West Central District earlier this month.

April 09, 2007
First Year of Two-Year Turf Grass Drought Study Complete; More Research Needed  
SAN ANTONIO – While the first year of a two-year study on the drought tolerance of warm-season South and Central Texas turf grasses is complete, more research is needed, said a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

April 06, 2007
'PET' Project Could Reduce East Texas Cities' Water Woes  
OVERTON – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's long range forecast is for below-average precipitation for East Texas in coming months.

April 06, 2007
Itchy Chiggers Coming to Life  
WESLACO – As spring temperatures rise, so do chiggers, up the legs of unsuspecting humans who serve as accidental hosts for the tiny parasites that can leave itchy welts, an expert says.

April 05, 2007
Clinic Addresses Recent Changes In Market Lamb Classification Standards  
SAN ANGELO – Minor changes in the market lamb classification standards used at all Texas youth livestock shows has prompted Texas Cooperative Extension to hold a market lamb classification clinic from 9 a.m.- until 4 p.m. April 25 in San Angelo.

April 05, 2007
Texas Wheats Excel in Baking Quality  
AMARILLO – Texas wheat offers high quality when it comes to baking and milling characteristics, said Texas Agricultural Experiment Station's state wheat breeder.

April 05, 2007
Rio Grande Valley Bull Gain Test Announces Results  
LINN - The Rio Grande Beef Improvement Association recently completed its bull gain test for 2006-2007 at Rio Beef Feedyard in Linn, said Brad Cowan, Texas Cooperative Extension agent in Hidalgo County.

April 04, 2007
Texas Crop and Weather Report  
SAN ANGELO - Rangeland conditions across the central portion of the state have turned around, according to a Texas Cooperative Extension range specialist.

April 04, 2007
New Extension Associate to Serve Growing Gulf Coast Wine Industry  
HOUSTON - During the last decade, the Texas wine industry quietly blossomed into the nation's fifth- largest producer of wine grapes, according to Fritz Westover, Gulf Coast regional viticulture extension associate for Texas Cooperative Extension.

April 04, 2007
Multi-County Beef Field Day Set for May 5  
CONVERSE – The Connell Life Skills and Livestock Center at Boysville, 8555 E. Loop 1604 in Converse, will be the site of a multi-county beef cattle field day on May 5.

April 03, 2007
Limit on Farmers’ Adjusted Gross Income Would Impact Many Operations  
COLLEGE STATION – A group of farms included in a recent study would fail to qualify for government subsidies if a proposed $200,000 adjusted gross income limit is approved by Congress.

April 03, 2007
Pronghorn Management Workshop Scheduled for April 19  
DALHART – Pronghorns have increasingly become topics of conversation by farmers, ranchers, hunters, outfitters and wildlife watchers in the northern Panhandle, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

April 02, 2007
First West Texas Beef 2010 Session Set for April 26 in San Angelo  
SAN ANGELO - Texas Cooperative Extension, Angelo State University and the Texas Beef Council have teamed up to present the first ever "West Texas Beef 2010" program, a four-part series on beef quality management of market cattle and cows.

April 02, 2007
Texas Wheat Crop Strengthened by Recent Rainfall  
COLLEGE STATION – The 2006 drought led to the smallest number of wheat acres harvested in Texas since 1925, but this year's crop is showing promise thanks to timely rains, a small grains expert said.

March 30, 2007
2007 Texas Corn Acreage to Increase, Declines in Cotton Forecasted  
COLLEGE STATION – Fueled by ethanol demand and strong export sales, U.S. corn acreage is predicted to be the largest since 1944 with Texas plantings to increase by as much as a quarter of a million acres in 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Friday.

March 30, 2007
School Attracts the Novices and Experienced Ranchers Alike  
OVERTON -- Libby Stephens said that she told her husband that when their kids were grown and out on their own, she wanted to live her dream.

March 29, 2007
Pecan Growers Can Get Casebearer Pest Prediction at Upgraded Web Site  
COLLEGE STATION – A real-time prediction map for the pecan nut pest called the casebearer is now available at a newly upgraded Web site.

March 28, 2007
Texas Crop,Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION -- With ground temperatures rising and recent rain, Texas Cooperative Extension professionals in the Rolling Plains described the outlook for this year's wheat as positive.

March 28, 2007
Texas Cooperative Extension Hires New Plant Pathologist  
AMARILLO – Dr. Ron French, who began his job as Texas Cooperative Extension plant pathologist on March 21, looked forward to taking his place among Extension personnel in Amarillo.

March 27, 2007
Ethanol, Corn to Weigh Heavily on Future of Livestock Industry  
COLLEGE STATION – Future ethanol production and demand for distiller's grains will leave cattle prices lower and lead to higher consumer meat prices, a Texas Cooperative Extension economist said.

March 27, 2007
Spring Goat Management Meeting Set April 12 in Brownwood  
BROWNWOOD – Texas Cooperative Extension's Brown County office is sponsoring the Spring Goat Management Meeting at 6 p.m. April 12 at the Brown County Fairgrounds, U.S. Highway 377 South.

March 26, 2007
Make Sure Your Citrus Tree is Certified  
WESLACO – If your landscaping plans include planting a citrus tree this spring, experts say to make sure it's certified to be disease-free. Not only will you have a healthier tree, you'll help the Texas citrus industry stay healthy, and it's the law.

March 26, 2007
Scurry County Will Host Agricultural Conference April 11  
SNYDER – Texas Cooperative Extension in Mitchell, Nolan and Scurry counties will sponsor the "Lower Rolling Plains Agricultural Conference" from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on April 11 at Western Texas College in Snyder.

March 23, 2007
Cotton Entomologist Joins Lubbock Center Staff  
LUBBOCK – Texas Cooperative Extension recently welcomed a new entomologist to its staff at the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Lubbock.

March 23, 2007
Texas Cooperative Extension Sets Multi-County Range and Wildlife Program  
JUNCTION – Texas Cooperative Extension offices in four Central Texas counties are collaborating to present the 2007 Hill Country Range and Wildlife Program. The program is set for 9 a.m. April 11 in Junction's Coke R. Stevenson Center.

March 22, 2007
Texas Legislature Honors Extension, 4-H With Centennial Resolutions  
AUSTIN – Texas is celebrating two centennials within two years of each other. In 2006, the 100th anniversary of the first county Extension agent in Texas was marked; in 2008, Texas 4-H will have its centennial.

March 21, 2007
Lupton Presents Spring 2007 University Distinguished Lecture  
COLLEGE STATION – Low fat ... high fiber ... vegetarian ... high carb ... low carb ... no carb: Nutritional information can be confusing.

March 21, 2007
Long-Term Care Insurance Can Relieve Financial Burdens  
COLLEGE STATION – Long-term care insurance can be just what the doctor ordered, said experts from Texas Cooperative Extension.

March 20, 2007
Texas Crop and Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – Recent rainfall in portions of Central and East Texas has sparked a bit of optimism among beef cattle producers, according to Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

March 20, 2007
MEDIA ADVISORY: Tapping into The Trinity River from Headwaters to the Bay  
What: The Trinity River is not the longest in Texas, but it supplies water to millions of people. It also supports a substantial portion of the state's ecology. How long will the water last? How long can the quality be sustained?

March 19, 2007
Houston Teens Selected as Delegates to 2007 National 4-H Conference  
HOUSTON — Two local high school juniors have been selected to represent Texas and Harris County 4-H at the 2007 National Conference. The event, titled "Our Changing World," is scheduled for March 24-29 in Washington, D.C.

March 16, 2007
Livestock Management Lecture Series Offered in Harris County  
HOUSTON – Texas Cooperative Extension of Harris County will present a series of workshops on livestock health education throughout 2007.

March 15, 2007
Be a Smart Shopper When Selecting Cotton Varieties  
LUBBOCK – With planting time just around the corner, South Plains farmers are thinking about cotton seed or already booking it with suppliers. There is a dizzying array of genetics and varieties available today, but picking seed doesn't have to be difficult, said a Texas Cooperative Extension cotton agronomist.

March 14, 2007
Medical Help Comes from a Variety of Professional Levels  
AMARILLO – Going to the "doctor" doesn't always mean a patient is seeing a doctor of medicine, a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist said.

March 13, 2007
Jason Cook Named Texas A&M Agriculture Communications Director  
COLLEGE STATION – Jason Cook has been named director of communications and marketing for Texas A&M Agriculture, effective April 16.

March 13, 2007
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – While recent rains have brought some relief to many areas of the state, more is needed to counter the effects of long-term drought, according to Texas Cooperative Extension reports. However, these rains, along with warmer temperatures, have provided a good foundation for row-crop planting throughout the state.

March 13, 2007
4-H Shooting Sports Workshop Set in Lubbock  
LUBBOCK – Texas Cooperative Extension will offer a regional workshop for 4-H shooting sports leaders and coaches April 27-28 at the National Guard Armory at 301 East Regis St. in Lubbock.

March 12, 2007
Gene-Age Training, Tools Offered to Valley Science Teachers  
WESLACO – Lower Rio Grande Valley science teachers will soon be able to use expensive scientific equipment at a nominal fee to teach biotechnology to their students, according to scientists at the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Weslaco.

March 12, 2007
New Risk Management Specialist Hired by Extension  
AMARILLO – Patrick Warminski is ready to help producers look into the future in his new position as a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist of risk management.

March 12, 2007
Pasture Management Workshop for Horse Owners Scheduled for May 3  
COLLEGE STATION – Horse owners wanting to learn more about the nutritive value of purchased hay or enhance knowledge of forage production and management can attend an all-day workshop scheduled May 3.

March 09, 2007
Dallas Researchers to Explore Potential 'Green Roof' Technology  
DALLAS - North Texas researchers plan to determine whether a spongy material designed to contain jet fuel can be used as bedding for roof-top gardens.

March 08, 2007
Texas Crop and Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – Rain is needed across Texas, according to reports by Texas Cooperative Extension officials.

March 08, 2007
David and Peggy Hutcheson Endowed Scholarship Established at Texas A&M  
COLLEGE STATION – The David and Peggy Hutcheson Endowed Scholarship was recently established at Texas A&M University. The scholarship will provide one or more scholarships to full-time students studying in the department of animal science. The College of Agriculture Development Council provided matching funds for the gift.

March 08, 2007
Parents, Researchers, Other Experts Divided on Spanking Issue  
COLLEGE STATION – When California Assemblywoman Sally Lieber proposed legislation prohibiting spanking children younger than 4, she triggered a country-wide debate, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

March 07, 2007
Texas 4-H Camp: It’s Not Just for Kids Anymore  
BROWNWOOD – You're never too old for camp – especially if it's Texas 4-H camp, said Dr. Darlene Locke, Texas Cooperative Extension specialist for 4-H and youth.

March 06, 2007
Annual Ram Performance Test Marks March 16 for Field Day and Sale  
SONORA – Final fleece measurements and index calculations are nearly complete for the 2007 Annual Ram Performance Test. The field day and sale that culminate those findings is set for March 16.

March 06, 2007
SAM School April 18-20  
HUNTSVILLE – The Successful Agricultural Management School is scheduled for April 18-20. The school caters to those new to ranching and wanting to learn more about the basics of livestock production.

March 06, 2007
Texas Citrus Survey Seeks Exotic Pests, Diseases  
WESLACO – For the past year, citrus researchers have fanned out across Texas looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack. They say that after much success, they're preparing to do it again to look for even more "needles."

March 05, 2007
McQueen Endows Agricultural Journalism Scholarship at Texas A&M  
COLLEGE STATION – Long-time farm and ranch journalist Horace McQueen and his wife, Carole, of Grapeland, have established a scholarship at Texas A&M University in hopes of "jump starting" a college degree like his was decades ago.

March 05, 2007
McQueen Endows Agricultural Journalism Scholarship at Texas A&M  
COLLEGE STATION – Long-time farm and ranch journalist Horace McQueen and his wife, Carole, of Grapeland, have established a scholarship at Texas A&M University in hopes of "jump starting" a college degree like his was decades ago.

March 05, 2007
New Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch Unveiled  
ROBY – The disappointing 2006-07 quail season has ended, but a bright new venture for quail has just begun in West Texas, according to a Texas Cooperative Extension wildlife specialist. The venture targets both bobwhite and scaled quail, and wild quail enthusiasts can thank donors of a Fisher County ranch for actively trying to save these dwindling populations.

March 05, 2007
Wet Distiller’s Grains Could Play a Role in Cattle Diets  
CANYON – Wet sorghum distiller's grains can be fed in a steam-flaked corn ration without affecting efficiencies, said two researchers.

March 02, 2007
Bexar County Extension to Present ‘A-to-Z’ Farm Pond Management Workshop  
SAN ANTONIO – Texas Cooperative Extension for Bexar County will present a free farm pond management workshop from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on March 22 at Palo Alto College, 1400 West Villaret in San Antonio. "Farm Pond Management – A to Z" will be presented in Room 100B of the college's Performing Arts building with registration beginning at 6 p.m.

March 02, 2007
Old is New Again in the Recently Named ‘EarthKind Rose of the Year’  
DALLAS – When it comes to tough roses, "tried and true" can be better than "brand-spanking new." This year's EarthKind Rose of the Year is a case in point.

March 02, 2007
Personnel Management Seminar Scheduled for April 3-4 in Lubbock  
LUBBOCK – A two-day conference designed to help agriculture human resource managers will be held April 3-4 at the Ashmore Inn in Lubbock, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

March 01, 2007
Rio Grande Valley Vegetable Crops Earning Top Dollar  
WESLACO – "Through the roof" is how experts are describing the record prices growers in the Rio Grande Valley are getting for their winter vegetable harvests this year.

March 01, 2007
Managing Urban Wildlife Becoming Critical in Growing Cities, Suburbs  
DALLAS – Humans and animals cross paths more than ever in growing Texas cities, wildlife experts say.

March 01, 2007
New 4-H Environmental Program Will Involve Blind, Sight-Impaired Youth  
AUSTIN – The 4-H Children and Parents Involved in Technology and Literacy program of Texas Cooperative Extension for Travis County has received a $15,000 Giving Voice grant in science literacy from Starbucks Foundation. The grant will be used for science literacy related to environmental awareness at the Texas School for the Blind.

February 28, 2007
Master Gardeners Bring Passion for Plants to East Austin  
AUSTIN – Texas Cooperative Extension and the Travis County Master Gardeners will sponsor "A Passion for Plants" garden fair in East Austin.

February 28, 2007
Researchers ‘Sniff Out’ Emissions from Feedyards  
AMARILLO – Setting up an air quality trailer in the midst of cattle pens at a feedlot will help measure gaseous emissions, said a Texas Agricultural Experiment Station researcher.

February 27, 2007
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – Warmer temperatures, accompanied by signs of spring, blanketed most of the state this week, according to Texas Cooperative Extension officials.

February 27, 2007
Specialist Says: Producer’s Challenge is to Match Crop with Water  
AMARILLO – A tendency to plant more crop than available water will make scheduling of water applications vital this year, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

February 27, 2007
Health Literacy Is Communication Tool for Patients, Doctors  
AMARILLO – If you've ever ended a conversation with a health care provider just as confused as you were at its beginning, you know why health literacy is so important. That's the word from Andrew Crocker, Texas Cooperative Extension gerontology specialist.

February 26, 2007
Agronomy Lecture Series Offered in Harris County  
HOUSTON—Texas Cooperative Extension of Harris County will present a series of lectures on pasture management and hay meadow systems throughout 2007. Each workshop in the five-part series will be repeated at four locations throughout the county: East Harris Community Center, Hockley Community Center, May Community Center and the Bear Creek Extension Auditorium.

February 23, 2007
Renewable Energy, Conservation Key Issues in Making of New Farm Bill  
AUSTIN – Farmers and ranchers could soon be looking harder at forage production as biomass crops become more lucrative and sought after by new biofuel plants popping up across the U.S.

February 23, 2007
Three Receive Texas A&M Distinguished Texan in Agriculture Awards  
AUSTIN – A former congressman who spearheaded the 2002 Farm Bill and two brothers who helped create an ice-cream empire received Texas A&M Distinguished Texan in Agriculture awards Friday.

February 23, 2007
Texas 4-H Center Names Locke as New Director  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Darlene Locke, Texas Cooperative Extension specialist for 4-H and youth, has been named director of the Texas 4-H Conference Center in Brownwood. She will begin her new duties immediately, said Dr. Martha Couch, Extension associate director for 4H and youth.

February 22, 2007
Issues, Opportunities Outlined for 2007 Nursery Plant Industry  
COLLEGE STATION – Labor and environmental issues are among the greatest concerns for plant nursery operators, but niche marketing and alliances offer opportunities that could help businesses survive.

February 22, 2007
Live Oaks are a Texas Landscape Mainstay  
SAN ANGELO – The pecan may be the state tree of Texas, but if there's a runner-up, it's probably the live oak.

February 22, 2007
Human, Vulture Culture Can Clash on Central Texas Landscape  
SAN ANTONIO -- In a semi-rural section of northwest San Antonio, dozens of vultures congregate on high-tension electrical towers as if holding a meeting. Others make lazy circles in the air, waiting for an opportunity to land and join them.

February 22, 2007
Texas Crop and Weather  
COLLEGE STATION – Cold fronts continued to push across Texas, thwarting growth of wheat and native pastures, according to Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

February 21, 2007
Living With Diabetes? Take Care of Yourself  
COLLEGE STATION – A diagnosis of diabetes is for life, said Dr. Carol Rice, Texas Cooperative Extension health specialist. But that diagnosis is easier to live with, thanks to blood glucose monitoring, she said.

February 21, 2007
Personal Savings Plans Can Start Small  
COLLEGE STATION – When it comes to developing a personal savings plan, little things mean a lot, said Nancy Granovsky, Texas Cooperative Extension family economics specialist.

February 20, 2007
Economist: Winter Weather Playing Factor on Live Cattle Weights  
COLLEGE STATION – Cold weather sweeping through a portion of the nation's feedlot industry could be playing an even bigger role on live cattle weights than the price of corn, a Texas Cooperative Extension economist said.

February 19, 2007
East Texas Spring Landscape and Garden Conference Draws 350  
TYLER – "The best one yet," said one of the nearly 350 attendees at the 2007 East Texas Spring Landscape and Garden Conference. The event was held Feb 10 in Tyler.

February 19, 2007
Rose Survived Katrina, Lends Cuttings to Restore Ravished Gardens  
NEW ORLEANS – This is the story of a rose. A nameless rose. A rose that had no thorns, not one.

February 19, 2007
Zebra Chip Affecting Tubers Used to Make Potato Chips  
WESLACO – Federal and state agricultural research scientists in South Texas have teamed up to combat a disorder in potatoes that affects the production of potato chips. So far, its cause is unknown.

February 16, 2007
O'Leary Accepts Top Post at Colorado State's Warner College of Natural Resources  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Joseph T. O'Leary, who has headed the recreation, park and tourism sciences department at Texas A&M University for five years, will become dean of Colorado State University's Warner College of Natural Resources in May.

February 16, 2007
Rio Grande Basin Initiative Project Receives Award  
COLLEGE STATION – The Rio Grande Basin Initiative recently received a national award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

February 16, 2007
Concho Valley Cotton Conference Set For March 21 In San Angelo  
SAN ANGELO – The seventh Concho Valley Cotton Conference is set for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 21 in the San Angelo Convention Center.

February 16, 2007
Rains Bring Large Fish Kills in East Texas  
OVERTON – "Few people get to see a bass this big – ever," said Duel Glass, East Texas lake owner.

February 15, 2007
Texas Volunteers: Learn to Serve Others by Being There  
COLLEGE STATION – Hurricanes devastate the Gulf Coast. The space shuttle falls out of the sky. The Panhandle goes up in wildfires. Tornadoes rip up parts of West Texas.

February 14, 2007
Texas Crop and Weather  
COLLEGE STATION – Fluctuations in the weather led to improved agricultural conditions in many regions of the state, but had a negative impact in others, Texas Cooperative Extension reported.

February 14, 2007
Weed Control in Winter Will Help Lawns in Spring  
DALLAS - Though still winter, now is the time to begin preparing lawns for spring, a Texas Cooperative Extension expert said.

February 14, 2007
All Is Not Lost: Non-Bt Cotton Varieties Offer Promise for Banned Area  
AMARILLO – Some existing cotton varieties offer northern Panhandle growers production equal to the restricted insect-resistance enhanced varieties, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

February 13, 2007
Developing Cotton Marketing Plan Focus of March 27 Workshop  
COLLEGE STATION – Brazos Valley cotton farmers can learn more about developing a comprehensive marketing plan by attending a March 27 Advanced Topic Series workshop.

February 13, 2007
Jackson Named Dallas Communications Specialist  
DALLAS – Mike Jackson, who spent 10 years reporting on city government and education for the Dallas Morning News, has been hired as communications specialist for the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Dallas.

February 12, 2007
Popular Texas Grazing School for Novices Accepting Students  
OVERTON – The Grazing School for Novices is now accepting enrollment for the 2007 spring classes. The spring classes will be held at the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Overton.

February 12, 2007
Pets Can Be More than Best Friends for Older Adults  
AMARILLO – Older adults who live alone, either in their own home or in a residential facility, may find a pet is just what the doctor ordered, a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist said.

February 09, 2007
Turfgrass Maintenance a $7 Billion or Better Business in Texas  
OVERTON – More than 150 professional managers of landscapes for school districts, city parks and sports fields attended the annual East Texas Turfgrass Conference on Feb. 1.

February 09, 2007
Topping Trees Can Be Deadly  
WESLACO – Paul Johnson goes through a range of emotions when he sees trees being topped: anger, disgust, sorrow, frustration and worse. That's why he, as an urban forester with the Texas Forest Service in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, is spreading the word that topping does serious damage to trees, their value and the value of the entire urban forest.

February 09, 2007
Multi-County Seminar Will Focus on Feral Hogs  
LULING – Texas Cooperative Extension will be one of the sponsors of a multi-county seminar on feral hogs to be held Feb. 20 in Luling. The seminar will be from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the Luling Civic Center, 333 East Austin Street.

February 08, 2007
Nutrition Expert Advises Parents: Relax  
COLLEGE STATION – Fruits and vegetables are a basic part of a healthful diet, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's My Pyramid Plan.

February 07, 2007
Sugar Land Teen Honored With Named Texas A&M Scholarship  
HOUSTON – A Houston business owner and 1983 Texas A&M University graduate has donated $25,000 to the Texas A&M Foundation to establish a memorial scholarship in honor of Ashton Glover, said Jody Ford, the Foundation's assistant director of development for agriculture.

February 06, 2007
Texas Crop and Weather  
COLLEGE STATION – Wet weather brought needed moisture to many areas of the state last week. But Texas Cooperative Extension agents report moisture in conjunction with cold temperatures stressed cattle in some areas and limited field preparation for spring planting.

February 06, 2007
Confused Yet? Life Insurance Explained  
COLLEGE STATION - Automobile insurance, which is required by state law, helps cover drivers in case of crashes. Health insurance is important because it helps cover the cost of medical care.

February 05, 2007
Texas Farm, Ranch, Wildlife Expo Set for Feb. 20-21 in Abilene  
ABILENE – The annual Texas Farm, Ranch, Wildlife Expo is set for Feb. 20-21 on the grounds of the Taylor County Expo Center. The center is located at 1700 state Highway 36 in Abilene. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 20 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 21.

February 05, 2007
Panhandle Researcher Earns National Recognition  
AMARILLO – Dr. William Payne, a Texas Agricultural Experiment Station researcher, has been named as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

February 02, 2007
Texas Cooperative Extension to Present Multi-County Cotton Workshop  
DEVINE – Cotton disease, insect management and deficit irrigation will be the main topics discussed at the upcoming Multi-County Cotton Workshop presented by Texas Cooperative Extension. The workshop will be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Feb. 21 at the Devine Community Center, 200 E. Hondo St.

February 01, 2007
Texas Nurseryman To Discuss Emerging Issues, Opportunities in the Green Industry  
COLLEGE STATION – Jim Prewitt of Coppell, Landmark Nurseries Inc. owner, will talk about issues facing the industry and project future trends Feb. 21 at Texas A&M University.

January 31, 2007
Texas Brigades Seek to Muster New Recruits  
SAN ANGELO – Texas Cooperative Extension's Texas Brigades is seeking to muster new recruits into this year's summer camps.

January 30, 2007
Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION - While some residents may be complaining about weeks of cold temperatures and rain, Texas weather is still not cold enough in Greater Houston, according to Wayne Thompson, Texas Cooperative Extension agent for agriculture in Harris County.

January 30, 2007
Whitefly Research Helps Cotton Producers  
COLLEGE STATION – Maggie Toothaker does not want to be a pencil pusher. Her graduate work at Texas A&M University is enabling her to achieve her goal, while also helping cotton producers in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and in California.

January 29, 2007
Extension Expands Statewide Viticulture Team  
LUBBOCK – Texas Cooperative Extension continues to expand its statewide viticulture program with the addition of four regional viticulture associates.

January 26, 2007
Cotton Marketing Planning Meetings Scheduled in February  
AMARILLO – Three "Developing This Year's Marketing Plan for Cotton" meetings will take place in February in the Panhandle, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

January 26, 2007
Horticultural Society Reaches Out to Students, Other Disciplines  
WESLACO - For the first time in its 61-year history, the annual meeting of the Rio Grande Valley Horticultural Society will be held outside Weslaco. Organizers say the event will be held Jan. 30 at the University of Texas-Pan American campus in Edinburg in an attempt to include more students and broaden its professional scope.

January 26, 2007
Texas Experience Pavilion Designed to Provide Enjoyable Experience for Whole Family  
SAN ANTONIO – For the third time, Texas Cooperative Extension for Bexar County and the Texas Department of Agriculture will co-present the Texas Experience pavilion at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. The 20,000-square-foot pavilion is located near Freeman Coliseum on the west side of the event grounds.

January 25, 2007
Proposed Annual Angora Goat Test Dates Set  
SONORA – Dates are set for the 2007 Angora Goat Performance Test at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station near Sonora.

January 24, 2007
Texas Cooperative Extension Offers Floral Design Workshop on Feb. 3  
SAN ANGELO – "From the Garden to the Table" floral design workshop will be presented from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 3 at the Texas A&M University System Research and Extension Center at San Angelo. Texas Cooperative Extension will host the event.

January 23, 2007
Texas Crop and Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – El Niño continues to feed moisture across most of the state in the form of snow and freezing rain, according to Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

January 23, 2007
Grain Industry Plays Key Role in Aflatoxin Containment  
AMARILLO – The grain industry continues to encounter mycotoxins in Texas feed-grade corn, making grain elevators among the first line of defense, said Dr. Tim Herrman, director of the Office of the State Chemist at Texas A&M University.

January 23, 2007
Show Your Love: Buckle Up Your Kids  
COLLEGE STATION – Showing your love on Valentine's Day doesn't always involve flowers and heart-shaped boxes of candy, said a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

January 23, 2007
Crop, Livestock Insurance Course set for Feb. 26 in Vernon  
VERNON – A one-day Advanced Topic Series course slated for Feb. 26 will help producers incorporate federal crop and livestock insurance in their marketing plans, said a Texas Cooperative Extension economist.

January 22, 2007
Initial Ethanol Push Challenges Beef Market  
AMARILLO – Like it or not, ethanol is coming, and beef producers must be prepared to weather the transitional phase and capitalize on the potentials in the future, said two speakers at the Southwest Beef Symposium in Amarillo.

January 22, 2007
Lacher Named Texas A&M Wildlife, Fisheries Sciences Head  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Thomas E. Lacher Jr. has been named head of the wildlife and fisheries sciences department at Texas A&M University, effective March 1.

January 22, 2007
2007 Estate Planning Seminars Slated Across Texas  
COLLEGE STATION – Producers and landowners with tax decisions on their minds might want to add estate planning to the mix this year. A series of four Farm and Ranch Estate Planning Seminars slated across Texas in February and March can help, said a Texas Cooperative Extension economist.

January 19, 2007
Space Foods for Astronauts to be Produced with Texas Agricultural Experiment Station  
COLLEGE STATION – Astronauts in space will soon be dining on lasagna, crawfish etouffee, teriyaki beef steak and other food items made in Aggieland.

January 19, 2007
Extension Expert: Irrigation Opportunities Must Be Accompanied by Proper Planning  
AMARILLO -- Excitement and anxiety are building as irrigation producers look at the first opportunity in many years to have profitable spring crops, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

January 19, 2007
Cold Weather Helping Valley Ag Producers  
WESLACO -- The recent cold blast responsible for so much chaos throughout the state may have helped agricultural producers in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

January 19, 2007
Program to Help Landowners with Oil and Gas Lease Fine Print  
GILMER – Most oil companies want to be good neighbors when they come to drill, but as in every profession there are a few "bad apples" said an attorney who specializes in oil and gas real estate law.

January 19, 2007
Flexibility May Be Greatest Management Tool in Livestock Operation  
AMARILLO – High corn prices, drought, terrorist attacks, mad cow disease, more drought and high fuel prices have all cut into beef prices in the past 10 years, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

January 18, 2007
Texas Crop and Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – Severe winter weather across much of Texas has been a factor in the reduced number of postings in this week's crop and weather report. As more arrive, they will be added to next week's report.

January 18, 2007
East Texas Turfgrass Conference Set Feb. 1  
OVERTON – The average householder may overwater his or her lawn and landscape by 100 percent, said a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

January 18, 2007
Media Advisory: Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Partners on Space Food Project  
COLLEGE STATION – Astronauts in space will soon be dining on lasagna, crawfish etouffee, teriyaki beef steak and other food items made in Aggieland.

January 18, 2007
Borlaug Institute Helping Genocide Survivor, Others Rebuild Rwanda through Agriculture  
COLLEGE STATION – At the age of 16, Gemima Mukashyaka lost her parents and six siblings to the 1994 ethnic genocide in Rwanda which claimed the lives of more than 800,000 Tutsis. Today, at 28, she is a successful coffee grower and member of a coffee cooperative Rwanda's southeastern Maraba district.

January 18, 2007
Cold Can Burn Landscape Plants  
SAN ANGELO – Ice and cold have gripped much of the state for several days, leaving many Texans to wonder about what's to become of their frozen landscapes.

January 18, 2007
Vice Chancellor’s Awards in Excellence Honors Bestowed at Texas A&M  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Elsa Murano, Texas A&M University System vice chancellor and dean of agriculture and life sciences, recently presented more than 20 Award in Excellence honors to individuals, teams and an agency-industry partnership.

January 18, 2007
Secondhand Smoke Harms Smoker’s Loved Ones  
COLLEGE STATION – In addition to harming their own health, smokers' habits harm the health of their loved ones, said Courtney Schoessow, Texas Cooperative Extension program specialist for health education and development.

January 17, 2007
Former Rep. Charlie Stenholm Wins Tribute to Leadership Award  
AUSTIN – Former Congressman Charles Stenholm has been honored with the Tribute to Leadership Award by Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership alumni.

January 16, 2007
Child Care Professionals Conference Discusses Circle of Learning  
HOUSTON, TX – Many children spend a majority of their time growing and developing in day care, said Alexis Cordova, Texas Cooperative Extension agent for family consumer sciences in Liberty County.

January 15, 2007
Research May Lead to Better Health in Rural Communities  
COLLEGE STATION – To many people, going to grocery stores can be a chore.

January 12, 2007
March Meeting: Promoting Nature Tourism at Light Speed  
COLLEGE STATION – Land managers can learn how to harness the Internet to boost nature event profits during a meeting March 2 at the Cibolo Nature Center in Boerne.

January 12, 2007
Media Advisory: 45th Blackland Income Growth Conference to be Jan. 16-17 in Waco  
WACO – The 45th Blackland Income Growth Conference is scheduled for Jan. 16-17 at the Waco Convention Center.

January 12, 2007
Texas Human Nutrition Conference Scheduled for Feb. 2  
COLLEGE STATION – Question: What's yellow and green and red all over?

January 11, 2007
Upcoming Spring Garden to Focus on Drought Challenges to Landscaping  
TYLER – Drought-stressed shade trees, water-challenged azaleas, rainwater harvesting – all these topics and more will be addressed at an upcoming conference in Tyler on Feb. 10.

January 10, 2007
Texas A&M Chair, Fellowship Named in Honor of Norman Borlaug  
NEW ORLEANS – Texas A&M University Agriculture and Monsanto Company have announced the creation of the Borlaug-Monsanto Chair for Plant Breeding and International Crop Improvement. The chair is named in honor of Dr. Norman Borlaug, who won the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for his work in plant breeding.

January 09, 2007
Texas Cooperative Extension Announces Partnership Awards  
COLLEGE STATION – Texas Cooperative Extension presented four Partnership Awards during the 2007 Texas A&M Agriculture Conference on Jan. 9 in College Station.

January 09, 2007
Honey Bee Researcher Wins National Research Initiative Discovery Award  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Tanya Pankiw, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station assistant professor, has been awarded the 2006 National Research Initiative Discovery Award. The award was presented Jan. 9 at the 2007 Texas A&M University Agriculture Conference in College Station.

January 08, 2007
Texas Ag Forum Scheduled for Feb. 23 in Austin  
AUSTIN – Renewable energy and issues surrounding the upcoming farm bill debate will highlight the 2007 Texas Ag Forum scheduled for Feb. 23 in Austin.

January 08, 2007
Chandler Named North Region Program Director for Family and Consumer Sciences  
LUBBOCK – Joan Chandler has been named Texas Cooperative Extension North Region Program Director for Family and Consumer Sciences, effective Feb. 1.

January 08, 2007
New Extension Agent Hired for Briscoe County  
SILVERTON – Growing up in an agriculture-based family at Crowell prepared Seth Manney to take on the Texas Cooperative Extension agriculture agent position in Briscoe County, he says.

January 05, 2007
mjroman  
Background: Gemima Mukashyaka will be a speaker at the 2007 Agriculture Conference at Texas A&M University. Mukashyaka, a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, is now a successful coffee grower in Rwanda. She credits much of her success to the ongoing efforts by Texas A&M and its partners in revitalizing Rwandan agriculture. For the past six years, Texas A&M has been involved in the Partnership for Enhancing Agriculture in Rwanda through Linkages – or PEARL – project. Efforts have led to higher incomes and a better quality of life for many Rwandans, including widows and orphans, enabling them to acquire or improve a home, pay for medical care and schooling, and buy food and clothing.

January 05, 2007
South Texas Gardening Class Starts Jan. 13  
WESLACO -- Texas Cooperative Extension and the Deep South Texas Master Gardeners will be conducting one of the Lower Rio Grande Valley's most popular gardening classes beginning later this month in McAllen.

January 04, 2007
Chicken Pox Virus May Manifest Itself as Shingles in Older Adults  
AMARILLO – The same virus that causes chicken pox can cause shingles in adults, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

January 04, 2007
Fostering Good Child Care: Take Smoking Outside  
COLLEGE STATION – Foster parents in Texas have just been given another reason to make quitting smoking their No. 1 New Year's resolution.

January 03, 2007
Dried Distiller’s Grains Can Help Produce More Beef  
AMARILLO – Supplemental feeding of dried distiller's grains to cattle can help produce more beef in grazing programs, a Texas Agricultural Experiment Station researcher said.

January 02, 2007
Holiday Season Is Over: Get Ready for Tax Season  
COLLEGE STATION – Brace yourself. Income tax time is coming.

January 01, 2007
Nothing Normal About Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus  
AMARILLO – Normal pressure hydrocephalus, which is thought to be a cause of dementia, can occur in people of any age but it is most common in the elderly population, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

December 29, 2006
Texas High Plains Grain Elevator Workshop Scheduled Jan. 18  
AMARILLO – Bioenergy is the current buzz word in agriculture and the Texas High Plains Grain Elevator Workshop on Jan. 18 will keep it buzzing, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

December 28, 2006
Start Off the New Year on the Right Foot: Shoe Fit Matters  
COLLEGE STATION – If getting in shape is on your list of New Year's resolutions this year, the first step is making sure the shoe fits, said Texas Cooperative Extension experts.

December 28, 2006
Horse Woman: Mare, Foal Management Program a 'Bargain'  
ATHENS – A daylong mare and foal management program with Texas A&M experts for $30 is a bargain, said a Henderson County horse manager.

December 27, 2006
Workshop to Help Homeowners Create Oasis  
HOUSTON – Volunteers with Texas Cooperative Extension in Harris County will present a gardening workshop 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 27 in the Extension auditorium, 3033 Bear Creek Drive.

December 27, 2006
Agriculture Conferences Slated in January, February  
LUBBOCK – South Plains producers can update their crop production and management skills and earn continuing education units at any of seven agriculture conferences. The Texas Cooperative Extension events are slated for January and February.

December 26, 2006
New Publication Available on Converting Manure to Energy  
COLLEGE STATION – In the wake of higher gas prices, interest in renewable and green energy has been fueled tremendously. This led to the publication of a Texas Cooperative Extension publication called "Manure to Energy: Understanding Processes, Principles and Jargon."

December 25, 2006
IPM Programs Slow Common Housefly's Resistance Building to Pesticides  
STEPHENVILLE – Thanks to years of unrestricted spraying, the ordinary housefly is becoming more resistant to commonly used pesticides every year, said a Texas Cooperative Extension entomologist.

December 22, 2006
Waco: Rural Economic Opportunities, Leadership Development Workshop Jan. 17  
WACO -- A workshop on nature tourism and community leadership is scheduled for 8:50 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Waco Convention Center.

December 22, 2006
Seminar to Help Develop This Year’s Marketing Plan for Feed Grains  
AMARILLO – Producers needing help in establishing a marketing plan for their feed grains operation in the midst of recent rising prices are invited to attend a two-day seminar, said Dr. Steve Amosson, a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

December 21, 2006
February Short Course Focuses on Texas Viticulture  
LUBBOCK – Anyone interested in commercial wine-grape production and vineyard management should make plans to attend the Texas viticulture short course. Texas Cooperative Extension and Texas Tech University's Division of Outreach and Distance Education will present the course Feb. 7-9, 2007 at Baron's Creek Conference Center in Fredericksburg.

December 20, 2006
Meeting to Discuss Ethanol and Corn Prices' Affect on Irrigation Needs  
AMARILLO – Greater demand for corn in the wake of the growing ethanol industry could change the demand for irrigation in the upcoming year, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

December 19, 2006
Ground Spider Diversity Studied in Research Project  
COLLEGE STATION – None of Takesha Henderson's discoveries are named Charlotte, but they are weaving a new chapter in Texas entomology. Her graduate studies at Texas A&M University have led to the discovery of 25 new spiders in Brazos County and one species found for the first time in Texas.

December 18, 2006
2007 Master Gardener Class Set in Lubbock County  
LUBBOCK – Is your green thumb itching for the garden? Would you like to learn more about gardening, fruit and nut trees, water conservation and water gardening?

December 15, 2006
Pecan Integrated Pest Management Program Pays Plenty for Producers  
COLLEGE STATION – The Pecan Integrated Pest Management program has paid handsomely to both producers and consumers, said a Texas Agricultural Experiment Station entomologist.

December 14, 2006
Industry Mourns the Loss of Rice Pioneer  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Henry (Hank) Beachell, a 1996 World Food Prize winner who developed a high-yielding rice variety that fed the malnourished and poverty-stricken, died Dec. 13. He was 100.

December 14, 2006
Texas Extension to Lead Efforts to Stabilize Iraq Through Agriculture  
COLLEGE STATION – At this critical time in the Iraq war, a new effort to stabilize the country is being sought through agriculture. Texas Cooperative Extension, an agency of the Texas A&M University System, will lead a team of five land-grant universities to do just that.

December 14, 2006
Damage by Fire Ants in Rural Texas Estimated at $236.5 Million  
COLLEGE STATION – A recent study in rural Texas allowed respondents to estimate not only the damage from red imported fire ants, but also to calculate benefits as well, according to a Texas Agricultural Experiment Station economist.

December 14, 2006
Nearly $1 Million from Permanent University Funds to Support Texas Agriculture Research  
COLLEGE STATION – Like toys and electronics vying for the season's Hot Picks lists, such are the gadgets of researchers.

December 13, 2006
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – Cold weather put a chill on some farm operations in parts of the state, but allowed some producers to finish harvests. In other areas, wind-blown snow and moisture put harvests on hold, according to Texas Cooperative Extension experts.

December 13, 2006
Rice Industry Tackles Export Problem  
COLLEGE STATION – Texas rice producers are encouraged to implement voluntary measures in 2007 in an attempt to regain valuable export markets, according to experts.

December 12, 2006
Crop, Livestock Insurance Course Set Jan. 30 at Hondo Community Center  
HONDO – A comprehensive course on federal crop and livestock insurance products will be presented 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Jan. 30 at the Hondo Community Center, 1014 18th St.

December 12, 2006
Economist: Grain Production Outlook Best in 20 Years  
AMARILLO – Grain producers can look forward to a profitable market for several years, but cattle producers must work through some shocks in the market, a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist said.

December 11, 2006
Cooler Weather Helps Texas Citrus Trees  
WESALCO – The arrival of cooler temperatures in the Lower Rio Grande Valley is a plus for the area's citrus industry, although harvest has gotten off to a slow start this year, said a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

December 08, 2006
Research Upsetting Some Notions about Honey Bees  
COLLEGE STATION – Genetic research, based on information from the recently released honey bee genome, has toppled some long-held beliefs about the honey bee that colonized Europe and the U.S.

December 08, 2006
Eat Your Vegetables! Parents Can Encourage Healthier Eating in Their Children  
COLLEGE STATION – Ask a child what his or her favorite foods are, and chances are vegetables and fruits won't be on the list.

December 07, 2006
Father of Green Revolution Hopes More Ag Professionals Will Join World Hunger Fight  
COLLEGE STATION – The U.S. House has voted to award Dr. Norman Borlaug a Congressional Gold Medal for his lifelong efforts to combat world hunger.

December 07, 2006
Energy Markets to Weigh Heavily on Future of Ag Commodity Prices  
COLLEGE STATION – If agricultural producers haven't been factoring the impact of energy markets on future commodity prices, it's time they did.

December 06, 2006
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – Many agricultural producers are still shivering from an arctic blast that brought single-digit temperatures to some areas of the state. Some producers received ice and snow with the cold air, but are thankful because of the associated moisture, reported Texas Cooperative Extension agents.

December 06, 2006
Environmental Markets Theme for February Meeting in Houston  
COLLEGE STATION – Emerging ecosystems markets will be the topic for a meeting Feb. 27 in Houston.

December 06, 2006
Texas A&M Doctoral Student Builds Better Fly Trap  
COLLEGE STATION – Thomas Edison said success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration. But Robert Puckett showed he could build a better fly trap – phorid fly trap, that is – with 90 percent inspiration.

December 05, 2006
MEDIA ADVISORY: Extension to Offer Landscapers Pest Management Training  
HOUSTON — Texas Cooperative Extension's agriculture program in Harris County will offer the "Pest Management for Landscapers" workshop twice during December. Topics will focus on pest management for landscape contractors. After completion, participants will be eligible for five continuing education units applicable to licenses under the Texas Department of Agriculture and Structural Pest Control Board. Each session will be $25 for advance registration and $30 at the door. Pre-registration is recommended because these classes fill quickly. Contact Diana Todd, 281-855-5600,DGTodd@ag.tamu.edu

December 04, 2006
Electric May Be Cheaper Than Natural Gas When Farmers Water Crops This Spring  
AMARILLO – Producers who irrigate crops can make converting their watering systems to electricity pay at current natural gas prices, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

December 04, 2006
Retired Physician Thrives on Master Gardener Program  
WESLACO – When Harlingen physician Dr. Bob Hatcher was contemplating retirement and ways to fill his newfound leisure time, he came across Texas Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener program in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

December 01, 2006
Texas A&M Honors West Texas Men with Regents Fellow Service Awards  
COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M University System's board of regents honored two West Texas men with Regents Fellow Service Awards this week in College Station.

December 01, 2006
Boutton Receives Regents Professor Award  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Thomas W. Boutton, professor and plant ecologist with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, has received a Regents Professor Award from the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.

December 01, 2006
Rice Named Recipient of Texas A&M Regents Fellow Service Award  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Carol Rice, program leader for Texas Cooperative Extension's family development and resource management unit, received a Regents Fellow Service Award at the board's meeting this week in College Station.

December 01, 2006
Texas Cooperative Extension 4-H Program Receives Coca-Cola REAL Grant  
AUSTIN – Texas Cooperative Extension for Travis County has received a $7,500 REAL 4-H! Community Grant from Coca-Cola. The grant was given to support the Watershed Ecology Team activities of Extension's 4-H Children and Adults Participating in Technology and Literacy program.

December 01, 2006
Onion, Garlic Topics for Seasoned Researchers  
COLLEGE STATION – Onion and garlic scientists from around the nation will convene Dec. 7-8 to rehash the year's research on these popular food crops.

For earlier stories, go to the Archives