June 2005 AgNews Links

June 30, 2005
Biotechnology Educators Conference Set for Aug. 2  
DALLAS - The fifth annual Biotechnology Educators Conference will be Aug. 2 at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center here.

June 30, 2005
Beef Markets Should Not Feel Brunt of Texas Cow Linked To Mad Cow Disease  
COLLEGE STATION -- Cattle trading throughout the Lone Star state shouldn't be impacted after a cow linked to Texas tested positive for mad cow disease, a livestock economist said Thursday.

June 30, 2005
Auckerman Moving North, But Staying with Extension  
HEREFORD – Rick Auckerman is changing jobs, but he won't be moving.

June 29, 2005
Cattle ID Tags to Work Like Electronic ‘Social Security Cards’  
THRALL - It's not Social Security for cattle, but the proposed electronic ear tag to be used as part of the National Animal Identification System would act much like a Social Security card.

June 28, 2005
Crape Myrtle Conference: a Blooming Boon for Texas  
McKINNEY -- Crape myrtle experts from around the country shared their knowledge recently with growers, landscapers and the general public at the 2005 Crape Myrtle Conference.

June 28, 2005
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – Parts of Texas have entered critically dry stages and various crops are beginning to suffer, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

June 27, 2005
Experiment Station Experts Urge Safety in Prescribed Burning  
SONORA – While prescribed burning is effective for controlling undesirable woody plants and cactus species, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station researchers say landowners also should learn safe and effective ways to use fire as a management tool.

June 27, 2005
Rangeland Management Seminar Set for July 8 in Coleman, McCulloch Counties  
COLEMAN – Range management and cost-share programs will be the focus of Texas Cooperative Extension's Rangeland Management Seminar July 8 on the Paul Jensen Ranch near here.

June 27, 2005
Texas Growers Urged to Watch for New Whitefly  
WESLACO – Texas farmers are urged to be on the lookout for a new and highly destructive whitefly that's resistant to many insecticides now being used.

June 24, 2005
Texas Economist: Consumer Confidence Should Remain Strong After Latest Discovery of Mad Cow Disease  
COLLEGE STATION – A Texas Cooperative Extension livestock marketing economist said consumer confidence should remain strong despite Friday's announcement of a confirmed second case of mad cow disease in the U.S.

June 24, 2005
Researchers Show Air Quality Task Force How To Settle the Dust with Technology  
AMARILLO – The merger of research and applied technology was demonstrated here this week during the quarterly meeting of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Air Quality Task Force.

June 23, 2005
Animal Identification to be Highlighted at the 51st Annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course  
COLLEGE STATION – "Profit for Cattle Producers" is the theme for this year's Texas A&M University Beef Cattle Short Course scheduled Aug. 1-3 at Rudder Tower in College Station.

June 23, 2005
‘Comenzando Bien’ Good Start for Prenatal Care, Nutrition  
SAN ANTONIO – Three local agencies have joined forces to provide free prenatal and basic nutrition education and information to expectant mothers.

June 23, 2005
National Youth Wool Judging Contest Winners Named  
SONORA – Kimble County's senior 4-H wool judges were named the top 4-H wool judging team in the nation during the 45th annual National 4-H Wool Judging Contest here.

June 22, 2005
Water Issues Focus of Upcoming Eagle Lake Rice Field Day  
EAGLE LAKE -- The 31st annual Rice Field Day will begin at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Eagle Lake Research Station. Scientists from Texas A&M University and U.S. Department of Agriculture will be on hand with information on the newest developments in production technology. It is free of charge and the public is invited.

June 22, 2005
Quarantine to Bee Discontinued in Texas  
COLLEGE STATION – Crawling over and under boxcars, 18-wheelers, travel trailers and mobile homes. It's not what Paul Jackson expected in his duties as state inspector for the Texas Apiary Inspection Service.

June 22, 2005
Dugas Named to New Position With Texas Agricultural Experiment Station  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. William A. Dugas has been named interim associate director for operations with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station effective July 1.

June 22, 2005
‘Natural’ Grazing Study Helps Find Pasture, Range Management Opportunities  
UVALDE – A recently completed study on cattle grazing shows working with Mother Nature can benefit both cattle and cattle producer.

June 22, 2005
Mason, Menard Counties Gain New Extension Agent  
MASON – Jill Marie Cochran will become the new Texas Cooperative Extension agent for family and consumer sciences in Mason and Menard counties on July 1. The announcement was made by Jerry Bearden and Richard Cordes, county judges for Mason and Menard counties respectively, and Scott Durham, Extension district administrator at San Angelo.

June 21, 2005
Texas Crop,Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION -- Dry Texas summers may mean disaster for some crops, but for irrigated watermelons it's just what the producer ordered, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

June 21, 2005
Planning Ahead Can Keep Homeowner’s Dream from Turning into Nightmare  
AMARILLO – Owning a home is part of the American dream. However, as Americans age, their dream homes may need changes too, one Texas Cooperative Extension specialist said.

June 21, 2005
Texas AgrAbility Helps Impaired Ag Workers Increase Productivity  
GONZALES – The Ehrigs are not the average farm ranch couple. Larry Ehrig, 55, works from a wheelchair due to a degenerative spinal condition and multiple sclerosis. His wife, Norma, suffered two strokes in one year.

June 20, 2005
4-H’ers Get First-Hand Experience at Helping Others Through Home Building  
BRYAN – Jeffrey Jones had a hammer.

June 20, 2005
Mexicans Encouraged by Valley Water Tours  
WESLACO – Enthusiasm for improving water delivery systems in northern Mexico is running high. That's the assessment of Texas Agricultural Experiment Station officials who have hosted Mexican stakeholders on a series of recent tours of the Rio Grande Valley's agricultural community.

June 17, 2005
North Texas Crops Field Day Set for July 21  
PROSPER - The 24th annual North Texas Crops Field Day will be July 21 at the Prosper Research Farm located on Farm to Market Road 1461 just north of Prosper.

June 17, 2005
Hall, Briscoe Counties Hire New Extension Family-Consumer Science Agent  
SILVERTON – Micah Karber is finding herself doing double duty these days.

June 17, 2005
Predator Management Workshop Conceived for Farm, Ranch, Suburbia  
GLEN ROSE – Coyotes don't only prey on lambs and kid goats; they also find Tom and Fido quite tasty, thank you.

June 17, 2005
Where There’s Smoke, There’s Wildlife  
KERRVILLE – Where there's smoke, there's wildlife. Texas Cooperative Extension has scheduled the symposium "Fire as a Tool for Managing Wildlife Habitat in Texas" for Sept. 14-16 at the YO Ranch Hotel and Conference Center here.

June 17, 2005
Irresistible Baby Animals Can Be Covered with Germs  
COLLEGE STATION – Kittens, puppies, chicks, lambs, ducklings, calves ... baby animals are hard to resist. That's why petting areas at zoos and fairs are so popular.

June 16, 2005
Lynn County Quarantined for Africanized Honey Bees  
TAHOKA – Lynn County was added today to the state quarantine restricting the movement of commercial bee operations following the detection of Africanized honey bees near here.

June 16, 2005
Astronauts’ Space Diet May Provide Protection from Radiation  
COLLEGE STATION – An apple a day, by itself, probably won't keep the doctor away. But if the apple is part of a diet loaded with pectin fiber from fruits and vegetables, and omega-3-rich fish oils, it might go a long way toward keeping colon cancer away.

June 16, 2005
Roadmaps Set Course for Research, Teaching, Extension in Agriculture at Texas A&M  
COLLEGE STATION – When planning a trip, people often go to the Web or pull out a map to plot the best way to reach their destination.

June 15, 2005
New Fire Ant Control Given Thumbs-Up by Extension Expert  
OVERTON – Dr. Charles Barr remembers when he got a call from organizers of a July 4 picnic for country singer Willie Nelson.

June 15, 2005
Summer Safety Begins With Sun Screen  
COLLEGE STATION – School is out for summer. Hot weather means shorts, shades and sandals. But before donning lightweight summer clothes, do a little basic cover-up, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

June 15, 2005
2005 Crop Season Is Off to a Rocky Start on the Texas High Plains  
LUBBOCK – The 2005 crop season on the Texas High Plains is off to a rocky start. Abundant spring moisture provided ideal planting conditions for cotton, corn and peanut producers and gave winter wheat a necessary drink of water.

June 15, 2005
Fall Range Monitoring Workshops Scheduled at Three Locales  
SAN ANGELO – It has rained and your pastures look good. But how much have they improved? Can you add more livestock? Has the rain sprouted too many weeds? How do you know?

June 14, 2005
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – Spring has sprung and summer is almost here. This is a great time to do some maintenance on cattle herds, Texas Cooperative Extension experts said.

June 14, 2005
Stiles Farm Field Day Scheduled June 21  
THRALL – An update on the mandatory National Animal Identification System will highlight the beef session at the June 21 Stiles Farm Field Day.

June 14, 2005
Leave ‘Vroom’ for Motorcycle Safety  
COLLEGE STATION – The time: about 5 p.m. on a weekday. Traffic is beginning to build up as people head for home.

June 13, 2005
Extension: Better Predator Control Comes with Integrated Pest Management Approach  
PAMPA – Lions and tigers and bears, oh my.

June 13, 2005
National Crape Myrtle Conference Set June 25  
DALLAS – Experts from around the nation will be gathering in McKinney on June 25 for a national Crape Myrtle Conference.

June 13, 2005
New Rules Regulate Mold Removal Businesses  
WESLACO – New state laws require contractors to have training, insurance and certification to assess and remove mold.

June 13, 2005
Ranch Estate Planning Seminar Set For Aug. 3-4  
COLLEGE STATION – Ranchers can learn how to reduce their taxes and make effective estate planning decisions by attending an Aug. 3-4 ranch estate planning seminar.

June 10, 2005
Weird Pond Sightings Explained  
OVERTON – Call it the pond owner's version of the X-Files: reports of floating brains and jellyfish in freshwater.

June 09, 2005
Texas Cooperative Extension Wildlife Specialist Named Volunteer of the Year  
SAN ANGELO – Dr. Dale Rollins, Texas Cooperative Extension wildlife specialist at San Angelo, was recently named the Volunteer of the Year by Quail Unlimited and Winchester Ammunition. The award was presented during the association's Celebrity Quail Hunt in Albany, Ga..

June 09, 2005
Sonora Readies for Annual Contests  
SONORA – Three premier wool judging contests are scheduled to be held here next week.

June 09, 2005
North American Hair Sheep Symposium Set for Oct. 6-8 Event  
SAN ANGELO – The North American Hair Sheep Symposium is set for Oct. 6-8 in San Angelo.

June 08, 2005
Researchers Determine Temperature-Driven Rootworm Forecast  
AMARILLO – Western corn rootworm can chew through as much as $1 billion yearly due to lost production and treatment costs across the corn belt.

June 07, 2005
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – Wild weather swept across Texas last week, and producers are surveying the damage, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

June 07, 2005
51st Annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course Set Aug. 1-3  
COLLEGE STATION – The 51st Annual Texas A&M University Beef Cattle Short Course will be Aug. 1-3 at Rudder Tower on campus here.

June 07, 2005
Townsend Named Texas A&M Agriculture Education Head  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Christine Townsend has been named Texas A&M University agricultural education department head. She replaces Dr. Glen Shinn, who went on sabbatical in January.

June 07, 2005
Texas State Youth Water Camp Set July 17-21  
MONAHANS -- Texas Cooperative Extension's 13th annual Texas State Youth Water Camp is set for July 17-21 in the George and Opal Bentley 4-H Center here.

June 07, 2005
Townsend Named Texas A&M Agriculture Education Head  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Christine Townsend has been named Texas A&M University agricultural education department head. She replaces Dr. Glen Shinn, who went on sabbatical in January.

June 06, 2005
Insects Bugging You? Know Which Repellent to Choose  
COLLEGE STATION – Summer can be full of pleasant sounds – birds chirping, lawnmowers whirring, children playing.

June 02, 2005
Dr. Mark McLellan Accepts Administrative Position at the University of Florida  
COLLEGE STATION - Dr. Mark McLellan, director of the Texas A&M University Institute of Food Science and Engineering, has accepted a position with the University of Florida.

June 02, 2005
Researcher Studies How Bone Density Affects Health  
COLLEGE STATION – In April the crew of the International Space Station finished its six-month rotation. According to CBS News, the returning space travelers will have about a month's worth of "intense physical therapy" in order to readjust to gravity. (Http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/25/tech/main690582.shtml)

June 02, 2005
Researcher Studies Ways to Put More Protein ‘Bang’ in Beverages  
COLLEGE STATION – Even before she officially earned her doctorate last month from Texas A&M University, Gabriela Perez-Hernandez's research was causing a stir.

June 01, 2005
Texas Crop and Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – The 2005 Texas crop is "peachy," a Texas Cooperative Extension expert reports. For some parts of the state, however, the weather wasn't so fine this week.

June 01, 2005
'Helter-Skelter' Pond Weed Control Can Kill Fish  
OVERTON – Going overboard with aquatic weed control can lead to wholesale fish kills in small ponds and lakes, warns a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.