March 2007 AgNews Links

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
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 20, 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 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.