February 2006 AgNews Links

February 28, 2006
Disease Damages Wheat Roots, Thwarts Water Uptake  
AMARILLO – Alterations in irrigation schedules may be needed when wheat streak mosaic infection is suspected in winter wheat crops, according to a Texas Agricultural Experiment Station researcher in Amarillo.

February 24, 2006
Bermudagrass Stands May Look Bad but Most Should Recover  
OVERTON – If there's one bit of advice he has for owners of drought-affected bermudagrass pastures thinking about re-sprigging, it's "wait and see," said a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

February 24, 2006
Don’t Sing the Blues for Texas Bluebonnets Just Yet  
DALLAS – "This year's spring wildflower season is shaping up to be pretty dismal," said Dr. Wayne Mackay, a horticulturist with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in Dallas.

February 23, 2006
Asian Soybean Rust Confirmed in Weslaco  
WESLACO – Asian soybean rust- a potentially serious fungus of soybean crops- has now been found in an area of Texas where prevailing winds could help spread the disease.

February 23, 2006
Fort Hood, Texas A&M University System Celebrate Partnership  
KILLEEN – Appreciation for those in the military services is nothing new for the Texas A&M University System, said a Texas Cooperative Extension military program representative at a Feb. 20 luncheon in Killeen celebrating Fort Hood.

February 22, 2006
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – Farmers and ranchers were hopeful that last weekend's weather would yield plentiful rain on land that is more than thirsty, but much of the state came up dry again, Texas Cooperative Extension officials report.

February 22, 2006
Healthful Eating Habits Should Start Early  
COLLEGE STATION – Healthful eating habits should start early in life, said Dr. Sharon Robinson, Texas Cooperative Extension nutrition specialist.

February 21, 2006
Klinefelter Receives Lifetime Achievement Award  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Danny Klinefelter, Texas Cooperative Extension economist, has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists.

February 21, 2006
Drought Has Not Dried Up Mosquito Populations  
COLLEGE STATION – The unseasonably warm weather coupled with drought has not knocked back mosquito populations, according to a Texas Agricultural Experiment Station entomologist.

February 20, 2006
Top English Herbalist to Highlight 2006 Herb Extravaganza  
WESLACO – After a four-year hiatus, the Cameron County Master Gardeners Association will be holding the 2006 Herb Extravaganza on Feb. 25 at the South Padre Island Convention Centre.

February 20, 2006
New Extension Agent Hired for Oldham County  
VEGA – Amy Caballero is crossing the state line to take the position of family and consumer science agent at the Texas Cooperative Extension office in Oldham County.

February 20, 2006
Drip Irrigation Is A Workable Option for Rolling Plains Cotton  
VERNON – After three years of testing cotton performance in the field, a Texas Agricultural Experiment Station agronomist says subsurface drip irrigation is a workable option for Rolling Plains crop producers.

February 17, 2006
Texas A&M to Participate in Applied Wheat Genome Research  
AMARILLO – A new $5 million grant to wheat breeders could shorten the time between the outbreak of diseases and the development of resistant wheat varieties, said the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station state wheat breeder.

February 17, 2006
Experts ‘Flush’ with Safety Tips about Quail Hunting  
SAN ANTONIO -- While the accidental shooting of a quail-hunting companion by Vice President Cheney has received national attention, shooting safety has long been the responsibility of any individual quail hunter, said a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

February 16, 2006
Learn to ‘Take Care of Business’ at Seminar Series  
BIG SPRING – If you've ever dreamed about having your own business and being your own boss – and you want to do more than fantasize – then Big Spring is the place for you, said a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

February 16, 2006
Honors Grow for Texas A&M Horticulture Students at Southern Competition  
COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M University Horticulture Club team placed first at the Southern Region American Society for Horticultural Science, according to Dr. Dan Lineberger, horticulture professor and club advisor.

February 16, 2006
Mobile Lab Expands Capacity of Animal Disease Diagnostics  
COLLEGE STATION – In the event of a disease outbreak, a rapid, massive response by health officials is critical -- even if the patients are animals. That's what makes a new mobile diagnostic laboratory developed by the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory important, said its executive director, Dr. Lelve Gayle.

February 15, 2006
MEDIA ADVISORY: Celebrate Fort Hood to be Held Feb. 20  
WHO: U.S. Rep. John Carter, Dr. Red Duke, TAMU presenters

February 15, 2006
Two Named to Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership Board  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Molly McAdams and Ben Novosad have been named to the Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership advisory board.

February 15, 2006
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – The much anticipated rainfall last weekend provided some relief for Texas farmers and ranchers, but for many areas the precipitation was not enough or failed to fall at all, according to Texas Cooperative Extension specialists.

February 15, 2006
Challenging Year Lies Ahead for Cotton Producers  
AMARILLO – Cotton producers have some challenges ahead in raising this year's crop, said one Texas Cooperative Extension specialist. And conquering some of the challenges may take some different management techniques.

February 15, 2006
Riley Lecture to Focus on Promoting Peace and Stabilizing Governments with Agriculture  
COLLEGE STATION - The inaugural Riley Memorial Lecture Series and Norman E. Borlaug Colloquium will be March 2-3 at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center of the Bush Library Complex. It will be hosted by the Texas A&M University Office of International Agriculture and the Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Foundation with support from the National Agricultural Library.

February 13, 2006
Bertha Garza Retires After Long Extension Career  
WESLACO – After a 36-year career with Texas Cooperative Extension, Bertha Garza thought she'd quietly "sneak out the back door" into retirement.

February 13, 2006
South Plains Peanut Workshops Slated in February, March  
LUBBOCK – South Plains farmers can update their knowledge of peanut production at two workshops slated for February and March.

February 13, 2006
Texas Cooperative Extension Offers West Texas Beef 706 Programs  
SAN ANGELO – Texas Cooperative Extension will host West Texas Beef 706, a four-part workshop for cattle producers, beginning March 1.

February 13, 2006
Reverse Mortgages Call for Careful Consideration  
AMARILLO – Home owners or their heirs could owe a lot of money and have little equity left when a reverse mortgage becomes due and payable, cautioned a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

February 10, 2006
MEDIA ADVISORY: Dr. Norman Borlaug to Receive Medal at White House Ceremony  
WHO: Dr. Norman Borlaug, 1970 Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

February 10, 2006
Ethics Program Packs Quality  
COLLEGE STATION – The Quality Counts food safety and ethics program in Texas was recently chosen by the National Pork Board as meeting the standards for its youth quality assurance training. The program is the first in the nation to be chosen for that designation, said Dr. Jodi Sterle, Texas Cooperative Extension swine specialist.

February 10, 2006
Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation Announces New Leader of Friends and Alumni Association  
COLLEGE STATION – Jana Casada Barrett has been named coordinator for the Friends and Alumni Association of Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation. Her new duties began in January.

February 09, 2006
Industry Leaders Discuss Proposed Texas A&M Equine Business Center  
COLLEGE STATION – With the number of horse owners and related activities on the rise, equine industry experts say analysis and trend data is critical to better represent economic impact.

February 09, 2006
‘Just What the Doctor Ordered’ Shouldn’t Always be an Antibiotic  
COLLEGE STATION – Too much of a good thing can cause serious problems, and that includes antibiotics, said Dr. Carol Rice, Texas Cooperative Extension health specialist.

February 08, 2006
Texas Crop and Weather Report  
SAN ANGELO – Landowners whose property has suffered fire damage can make the best of a bad situation where some weeds are concerned, said Dr. Allan McGinty, Texas Cooperative Extension range specialist at San Angelo.

February 08, 2006
Bullish Cotton Market Hints At Higher Price Potential in 2006-2007  
LAMESA – The general tone of the cotton market is bullish, so producers and marketers may see more upside price potential in 2006-2007 than this year, according to a Texas Cooperative Extension economist.

February 08, 2006
Father Plays Critical Family Role, Even if He Doesn’t Always Know Best  
COLLEGE STATION – Does the American father act more like Ward Cleaver or Homer Simpson?

February 07, 2006
Acreage Doesn’t Have to be Large to Reap Profits on the Farm  
AMARILLO – Willie Wieck's farm has a little bit of everything – wheat, cotton, seed maize, black-eyed peas, sunflowers, pumpkins, gourds, cantaloupes, watermelons, popcorn and sweet corn.

February 07, 2006
New Withholding Rule Applies to All Non-Resident Alien Workers  
CANYON – All U.S. employers are now required to collect and file withholding for non-resident alien workers, according to a Texas Cooperative Extension economist.

February 07, 2006
Master Gardener Class Taking Applications in Rio Grande Valley  
WESLACO – This year's window of opportunity to become a certified Master Gardener in the Lower Rio Grande Valley is quickly closing.

February 06, 2006
Fire Ants Still Around Despite Lack of Mounds  
DALLAS – The mild winter has plants and flowers confused. Many are already leafing, budding and blooming. And that has many homeowners starting their spring yard rituals early.

February 03, 2006
Texas Cooperative Extension Hires Simpson for Dallam/Hartley Position  
DALHART – Nick Simpson is back home, sort of, at his new job as Texas Cooperative Extension agent for Dallam and Hartley counties. His first day was Feb. 1.

February 03, 2006
Extension Expert Says Wildfire Can Help Solve ‘Prickly’ Problems  
SAN ANGELO – Rangeland wildfires are devastating to ranches and ranchers alike. Fences and structures are often destroyed, animals are killed and critical livestock forage reserves are lost.

February 03, 2006
Forage Seminar Slated for Cross Plains on Feb. 9  
CROSS PLAINS – Texas Cooperative Extension will hold a multi-county forage seminar Feb. 9 in the Cross Plains Community Center.

February 02, 2006
Lifetime Achievement Award Presented to Extension Economist  
ORLANDO, Fla. – Dr. Steve Amosson received the Southern Agricultural Economics Association Lifetime Achievement Award at the organization's annual meeting here Feb. 2.

February 02, 2006
Organic Crops Require Extra Work for Extra Payoff  
CANYON – Growing organic is much more than not using chemicals to control weeds, several producers said recently at the annual High Plains Vegetable Conference here.

February 01, 2006
Bee-utiful Vegetable Crops Require Some Buzzing Business  
CANYON – Crops in bloom need the attention of bees, and that's getting harder to find, according to Texas Agricultural Experiment Station's assistant chief apiary inspector.