April 2003 AgNews Links

April 30, 2003
Spring Blossoms Can Mean Runny Noses, Watering Eyes  
COLLEGE STATION – Ah, spring ... birds are singing, trees are leafing out, grass is growing, flowers are blooming ... noses are running, eyes are watering, sneezes are echoing ...

April 29, 2003
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION– Despite the chilly weather earlier this spring, rice planting is on schedule and growing well, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

April 29, 2003
Highway Deaths Highest For Males – Male Urban Squirrels, That Is  
COLLEGE STATION – A year-long study on the Texas A&M University campus recently showed that males are more likely than females to die on the road, and scientists believe it's because the males dart about through the streets more.

April 28, 2003
Keep Tabs On Personal Credit Report Too  
COLLEGE STATION – Routine maintenance is a part of life. You get your car tuned up and its oil changed on a regular basis; the smoke detector's batteries are replaced once a year; visits to the doctor and dentist are part of a regular health routine.

April 28, 2003
Youth Trade Show Set For May 2 At South Park Mall  
SAN ANTONIO -- More than 100 middle school and high school students will showcase their entrepreneurial skills Friday at the Texas Teens Exploring Entrepreneurial Minds trade show at South Park Mall here. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in front of JC Penney.

April 25, 2003
Intensive Grazing Web Site Now Online  
COLLEGE STATION - Cattle producers wanting to learn how to make their operations more profitable by establishing an intensive grazing system can access a new Web site offered by Texas Cooperative Extension.

April 25, 2003
Callahan County Pond Management Seminar Set For April 30  
BAIRD - Small-pond owners, or those who want to be, have an excellent chance to learn about small-pond management at the Callahan County farm pond management seminar April 30. The seminar will be in the Baird Activity Center located at 208 Walnut. The program starts at 9 a.m. and ends with a catered noon meal.

April 25, 2003
Ranch Profitability Is Focus Of May 21 Field Day  
MELVIN - A special field day, "Improving Ranch Economics and Health," has been set for 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. May 21 on the Ford Ranch.

April 24, 2003
Groundwater Conservation District Seminar Series Set May 28  
COLLEGE STATION – Buying, selling and exporting Texas groundwater will be the topic of a May 28 program at the George Bush Presidential Conference Center in College Station. The program will also be telecast to the Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center in San Angelo.

April 24, 2003
Hispanic Outreach A Hot Topic For Many States  
WESLACO – First it was Nebraska. Then Arkansas. State extension service directors in those two states were the first to call on their counterparts in South Texas for insight on how best to work with their growing Hispanic populations.

April 23, 2003
Diet Study Focus Of TAES Research In Effort To Help Save Giant Panda  
COLLEGE STATION - It's a first for the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station's Grazingland Animal Nutrition Lab, and oddly enough, the work doesn't have anything to do with livestock. But what researchers learn from the nutrition of a giant panda could be applied to livestock and other wildlife.

April 23, 2003
Tri-County Extension Wheat Tour Set May 1  
MILLERSVIEW – Texas Cooperative Extension is sponsoring a tri-county wheat tour May 1.

April 23, 2003
Protect Against Potentially Deadly Fire Ant Stings  
COLLEGE STATION - Getting stung by ants doesn't sound like much to worry about - and for most people, it isn't - but for those who develop an allergy to fire ant venom, getting stung by these insects can be deadly.

April 22, 2003
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – Some farmers in Texas are having to re-think planting corn due to wet fields and late starts, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

April 22, 2003
Research Shows Concentrated Applications Of Atrazine Can Prevent Runoff Hazard  
COLLEGE STATION – It's a fact that broadleaf weeds rob corn and sorghum of necessary nutrients and moisture. But the use of atrazine, one of the preferred and effective herbicides for broadleaf weed control, has led to runoff problems affecting neighboring watersheds in Texas – threatening sources of public drinking water.

April 22, 2003
First-Ever Extension Camp June 22-26 Seeks Aspiring Young Veterinarians  
MONAHANS – Got an aspiring young veterinary protégé with no real plans for the summer? If so, suggest they attend the "West Texas Youth Veterinary Science Workshop" June 22-26 at the George and Opal Bentley 4-H Center.

April 22, 2003
Neighborhood Control Of Fire Ants Working In San Antonio  
SAN ANTONIO - Does neighborhood-wide fire ant treatment work?

April 21, 2003
West Nile Activity Could Pick Up Soon In Texas  
COLLEGE STATION – A Texas mosquito expert is anticipating another – and earlier – round of West Nile virus for this state.

April 21, 2003
Texas Youth Place At High School Forum In Wyoming  
COLLEGE STATION – Three youths participated recently at the Texas Section of the High School Youth Forum as part of the annual meeting of the Society for Range Management in Casper, Wyo.

April 21, 2003
Wheat Field Day Slated For May 8  
VERNON – Farmers can update their knowledge of wheat production at a May 8 wheat field day at the AgriPro farm near Lockett, west of Vernon on U.S. Highway 70. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. Field tours begin at 10 a.m.

April 21, 2003
Texas A&M, ECOR Corp. Sign Deal To Produce Health-Related Proteins  
WESLACO – Before a plastic surgeon injects collagen into a patient's face to repair damage, smooth out wrinkles, or create more sensual, pouty lips, the patient undergoes skin tests to detect any possible allergies to the collagen.

April 18, 2003
Hessian Fly Hits Runnels County Wheat  
ROWENA – Rick Minzenmayer has something new to worry about. Last week, Minzenmayer, Texas Cooperative Extension's entomologist for Runnels and Tom Green counties, was asked to check a wheat field just north of here that wasn't doing well.

April 18, 2003
Deer Habitat Workshop Offered July 10  
SONORA – Tools, techniques and strategies used in developing deer habitat will be the focus of a three-day workshop scheduled July 10- 12 at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station at Sonora.

April 17, 2003
Horse Owners: Have A Plan In Case Disaster Strikes  
COLLEGE STATION – Emergencies such as fire or floods are usually chaotic and frightening, especially when they concern your horses. However, some simple precautions can help ease those fears.

April 17, 2003
IPM In Greenhouse Means Cost Savings, Less Environmental Impact  
OVERTON – A recent integrated pest management trial done with cooperation from a Cherokee County plant farm demonstrated that IPM methods can not only reduce pesticide usage and still control insect pests, they can save greenhouse managers money.

April 17, 2003
Siders Named Outstanding Cotton Agent  
LUBBOCK – Kerry Siders, Texas Cooperative Extension integrated pest management agent for Hockley and Cochran counties, recently received the Plains Cotton Growers Outstanding Cotton Agent Award.

April 16, 2003
New Plant Introductions Topic At Horticultural Garden’s April Lecture  
COLLEGE STATION – New plant introductions will be discussed by Garry McDonald April 23 at the Texas A&M University Horticultural Garden.

April 16, 2003
Crocker Named Extension Gerontology Health Specialist  
AMARILLO - Andrew Crocker has been named gerontology health program specialist by Texas Cooperative Extension, according to Dr. Judith Warren, family development and resource management program administrator in College Station.

April 16, 2003
New Beef Production Web Site Promotes “Bull Power” And More  
OVERTON – A recently launched Internet page is designed to help East Texas producers fine tune their beef operations.

April 16, 2003
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – What was a promising spring for the state's fruit growers turned to disaster after freezing temperatures, with a nearly 100 percent loss of the peach crop in the Hill Country, reports Texas Cooperative Extension.

April 15, 2003
Harris Honored As Distinguished Alumnus Of Texas Tech  
LUBBOCK – Dr. B. L. Harris, associate director of the Texas Water Resources Institute, was recently honored as a distinguished alumnus at Texas Tech University.

April 15, 2003
USDA Food Safety Mobile Coming To San Antonio April 19-27  
SAN ANTONIO -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture will be bringing a food safety message to San Antonio April 19-27 with its Food Safety Mobile, a 35-foot, recreational-style vehicle covered with a bold, eye-catching design and prominent food safety messages.

April 15, 2003
May 7 Workshop In Vernon Designed For Cow-Calf Producers  
VERNON – To sustain and improve an operation in a volatile market environment, cow-calf producers have to know how their operation rates – from a production standpoint and from a financial standpoint, said a Texas Cooperative Extension economist.

April 14, 2003
Parnell, Sweeten Reappointed To National Air Quality Task Force  
COLLEGE STATION – U. S. Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman has named Drs. Calvin B. Parnell and John M. Sweeten of Texas A&M University and Robert V. Avant of the Texas Food and Fibers Commission to the national Agricultural Air Quality Task Force for 2003-2004.

April 14, 2003
Warped Idea: Ways To Stop Swayed Wood May Be Around The Bend  
COLLEGE STATION – Anyone who buys a swayed plank of wood has to be, well, warped.

April 14, 2003
Stress: Try Not To Worry About It  
COLLEGE STATION – No matter how you feel about the war in Iraq or the current budget crisis or the marchers in the streets, most likely you'll agree the levels of stress in your life have gone out the roof in the past 19 months.

April 14, 2003
Heart Of Texas Cow/Calf Clinic Celebrates Silver Anniversary  
BROWNWOOD – The annual "Heart of Texas Cow/Calf Clinic" is set for May 1 in the Brown County Fairground's Home Economics Building located on U.S. Highway 377 South. Registration begins at 8 a.m. The formal program starts at 9 a.m.

April 11, 2003
“City Critters” Multimedia Module Makes Fifth Grade Learning Fun  
OVERTON -- A new school enrichment program available this month is designed to teach fifth graders the habits of urban wildlife.

April 11, 2003
Stuth Receives International Excellence Award  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Jerry Stuth, Kelleher Professor with the department of rangeland and ecology management at Texas A&M University, was the recipient of an International Excellence Award Thursday during a ceremony held at the J. Wayne Stark University Center Galleries.

April 11, 2003
Family Forest Program Goal: Keep Trees In The Family  
OVERTON – Tens of thousands of acres of East Texas forestland are at risk of being lost or severely degraded in the coming decade, according to a forestry specialist with Texas Cooperative Extension.

April 11, 2003
Do Your Homework To Select Best Cotton Varieties  
LUBBOCK – Picking productive cotton varieties is not an easy task – especially on the Texas High Plains, an area where weather can literally "make or break" a crop.

April 11, 2003
Rocker B Ranch To Host Extension Wildlife Field Day April 22  
MERTZON – Texas Cooperative Extension is sponsoring a "Wildlife Appreciation Day" on the Rocker b Ranch west of here April 22.

April 10, 2003
Exotic Newcastle Disease Confirmed In Texas Poultry Flock  
COLLEGE STATION – Exotic Newcastle Disease, a deadly, highly-contagious poultry disease, was confirmed Thursday, April 10, from samples taken the previous weekend from a backyard flock near Fabens, east of El Paso.

April 10, 2003
Deer Appreciation Day April 16 In The Heart Of The Texas Deer Country  
DOSS – Texas Cooperative Extension offices in three fabled deer hunting counties are sponsoring a "Deer Appreciation Day" April 16 in the Doss volunteer fire department building.

April 09, 2003
Extensión En Español Debuts Today  
COLLEGE STATION – Extensión en Español – a national online clearinghouse and resource center for Spanish-language materials, translation assistance and other services from the Cooperative Extension Service – debuts today.

April 09, 2003
Newsom Vineyard Grape Day Set For April 18  
LUBBOCK – Those who are interested in grape and wine production on the South Plains should make plans now to attend the 2nd Annual Vineyard Grape Day at Newsom Vineyard on April 18 in Plains.

April 08, 2003
Texas Crop And Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION– Got milk? Texas milk producers have a lot, but they would also like to see their prices for that commodity go a little higher, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

April 08, 2003
Phillips Receives Communicator’s Award  
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Kathleen Phillips of College Station, a science writer for the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas A&M University System, is the recipient of an award from the North American Agricultural Journalists for outstanding contributions to the organization.

April 08, 2003
Quail Appreciation Days Set For Seven Locations In May  
SAN ANGELO – Quail season may be over, but May is definitely quail month as Texas Cooperative Extension readies for seven Quail Appreciation Days in seven counties.

April 08, 2003
Texas Quail Index Workshop April 14-15 Targets Population Dynamics  
SAN ANGELO – Quail enthusiasts interested in learning more about quail population dynamics should not miss Texas Cooperative Extension's "Texas Quail Index Workshop" April 14-15 at the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center.

April 07, 2003
Exotic Newcastle Disease Suspected In Texas Poultry Flock  
COLLEGE STATION – Exotic Newcastle Disease, a deadly, highly-contagious poultry disease, is suspected in a backyard fighting gamecock flock near Fabens, east of El Paso.

April 07, 2003
Organic Fire Ant Baits Available, Effective  
COLLEGE STATION -- Organic fire ant baits are new on the market this spring and are as effective as conventional baits, giving consumers another option in control.

April 07, 2003
Dr. Raymond O. Berry Memorial Lecture Slated For April 11  
COLLEGE STATION – Immunology of the male reproductive tract in relationship to vaccine development will be the topic of the ninth annual Dr. Raymond O. Berry Memorial Lecture April 11.

April 04, 2003
In War Times, Growing Gardens May Yield Relaxing, Useful Benefits  
COLLEGE STATION – Not that the produce shelves at grocery stores are depleted, but consumers may be growing more of their own vegetables and fruits this season as the war in Iraq continues.

April 04, 2003
Kerri Harris Receives Professional Award  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Kerri Harris, executive director of the International HACCP Alliance at Texas A&M University, received the 2003 Professional Award from the National Meat Association.

April 04, 2003
Avery Named Director Of V.G. Young Institute  
COLLEGE STATION – Richard O. Avery has been named director of the V.G. Young Institute of County Government. His appointment became effective March 1.

April 04, 2003
May 14-15 Conference To Focus On Conducting Trade With Cuba  
AUSTIN - Insights on how to export food and agricultural goods to Cuba as well as learning more about Cuba's food and agricultural markets will be the focus of a May conference at the Omni Austin Hotel, South Park.

April 03, 2003
Revolutionary Crop Yields Top List Of Key Agricultural Events During Last 50 Years  
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The most important change in agriculture in the past 50 years, say members of North American Agricultural Journalists, was the hybridization and improvement of many crops.

April 03, 2003
Plant Disease Experts Meeting At South Padre April 5-10  
WESLACO – Plant disease experts from throughout the world will converge on South Padre Island to attend the Pan American Plant Disease Conference at the Radisson Resort Hotel. The conference begins Saturday and ends April 10.

April 03, 2003
Second Annual Asian American College Day April 12 In Arlington  
ARLINGTON -- What do Secretary of Labor Elaine Chow, Gov. Gary Locke of Washington, best-selling author Amy Tan, fashion designer Vera Wang, Fort Worth Deputy Chief of Police Cliff Cook, CBS News 11 anchor Betty Nguyen, and Texas Cowboys linebacker Dat Nguyen have in common? All are Americans of Asian descent -- and all have college educations.

April 02, 2003
"Drought Watch" Begins In El Paso  
COLLEGE STATION - Texas A&M University, in collaboration with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, has begun Drought Watch, a bi-weekly summation of Rio Grande River water supply conditions.

April 01, 2003
Texas Crop And Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION - Texas wheat producers are still optimistic about this year's crop, despite rain shortages and disease, Texas Cooperative Extension Reports.

April 01, 2003
Texas A&M’s Savell Receives Educator’s Award  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Jeff Savell, Texas A&M University professor and E.M. "Manny" Rosenthal chair holder in the department of animal science, received the Harry L. Rudnick Educator's Award from the North American Meat Processors Association recently in Chicago.

April 01, 2003
Dig It: Spring Plant Sale Features Hard-To-Find, Well Adapted Varieties  
COLLEGE STATION - Gardeners looking for something different to plant this year in the Brazos Valley might try the annual spring plant sale April 12 at Texas A&M University's Horticultural Gardens on Hensel Road between Texas and South College avenues.