February 2007 AgNews Links

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.