May 2005 AgNews Links

May 31, 2005
Texas 4-H Roundup Set for June 6-10  
COLLEGE STATION – Texas 4-H'ers have been meeting for Roundup on the campus of Texas A&M University each year since the early 1940s. This year is no exception. Roundup will be June 6-10, with thousands of 4-H'ers from all over the state attending.

May 31, 2005
Lower Cooking Temperatures May 'Chill' Fried Food Carcinogen  
COLLEGE STATION – A potential cancer-causing chemical has been found in some fried food items, but it's not time yet to throw out the potato chips and french fries. Texas A&M University research is showing that cooking temperatures and storage times may decrease the carcinogen acrylamide in these products.

May 30, 2005
Crop Pest Scouting Workshop Set in Plainview  
PLAINVIEW – Producers and agriculture consultants can hone their pest management and crop production skills June 1 at the High Plains Crop Pest Scouting Workshop sponsored by Texas Cooperative Extension.

May 30, 2005
Deer Workshop scheduled July 14-16 in Sonora  
SONORA – A workshop on managing deer habitat and management is scheduled July 14-16 at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station near Sonora.

May 30, 2005
Beginning June 1, Free Credit Reports Available in Southern States  
COLLEGE STATION – Late last year a nationwide process of offering consumers free copies of their credit reports got under way. Texans get their turn starting June 1, said Nancy Granovsky, Texas Cooperative Extension family economics specialist.

May 27, 2005
Annual Overton Horticulture Field Day Largest One Yet  
OVERTON – On June 28, East Texas nursery growers, greenhouse managers, East Texas gardening enthusiasts and homeowners will have the chance to see in-field tests of hundreds of ornamental plant varieties here.

May 27, 2005
Shift of Weather Patterns Necessitates Rethinking of Reforestation Methods  
OVERTON – Forest landowners can greatly increase the survival rate of pine tree seedlings by changing when and how they plant, according to research conducted here.

May 26, 2005
Ed Smith Named Texas Cooperative Extension Director  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Ed Smith was named Texas Cooperative Extension director today by the Texas A&M University System board of regents. Smith has been interim director since July 2004 and had been chosen sole finalist for the position in March.

May 26, 2005
Beetle’s Return Shows Promise for Saltcedar Control  
FRITCH – The brushy area along the Canadian River as it enters Lake Meredith is teeming with insects. But Dr. Jerry Michels is looking for only one species – the saltcedar leaf beetle.

May 25, 2005
Get the ‘Grill’ of a Lifetime with Summer Cooking Safety  
COLLEGE STATION – When barbecuing outdoors, don't leave food safety indoors, a poultry expert warns.

May 24, 2005
Texas Crop and Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – A resurgence of the cattle fever tick has left more South Texas land under quarantine than in years past, according to Texas Cooperative Extension.

May 24, 2005
Senior Class Project Uncovers Neighborhood’s History  
HOUSTON – Just one block south of Interstate 10 on the corners of Lockwood and Market streets are the cracked and leaning headstones that are remnants of a plantation cemetery. Though the acreage, which is dimpled with sunken grave sites, has been cleared, less than a year ago only weeds and trash were visible.

May 23, 2005
AgriPartners Make a Difference to Producers, Industry  
AMARILLO – Dan Krienke farmed for 30 years, but he admits when he started irrigating in 1996, he didn't know much about using his water efficiently.

May 20, 2005
Price Receives Bush Excellence Award for Outstanding Public Service  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Edwin C. Price, associate vice chancellor for international agriculture at Texas A&M University, was presented the 2005 Bush Excellence Award for outstanding public service at ceremonies recently on campus.

May 20, 2005
Scientist Pleased by Growing Orchid Sales  
WESLACO – Like a best-selling author who chuckles at old rejection slips, Dr. Yin-Tung Wang recalls rejection letters he received from the nursery industry 13 years ago when he proposed researching potted orchids.

May 20, 2005
Stiles Farm Field Day Scheduled June 21  
THRALL - From managing new cotton genetics to animal identification, several topics will be of interest to producers attending the Stiles Farm Field Day scheduled June 21.

May 19, 2005
Researchers Work Toward Hardy, Stress Resistant Corns  
LUBBOCK – A collaborative corn breeding project under way at the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Lubbock is paving the way for hardy, stress-resistant corns that yield well under demanding growing conditions.

May 19, 2005
2005 Texas State 4-H Outdoor Archery Tournament Set For June 17-19  
GRAHAM – 4-H archers are invited to string their bows and enter the June 17-19 Texas State 4-H Outdoor Archery Tournament in Young County.

May 19, 2005
Menard County Sets Two June Educational Events  
MENARD – Texas Cooperative Extension in Menard County has announced two multi-county educational events in June for area landowners.

May 18, 2005
Texas Crop and Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – Great weather has created a high quality, large volume onion crop in the state this year, Texas Cooperative Extension experts report.

May 17, 2005
Sugar Beet Virus Mutation Requires Texas Touch  
AMARILLO – The only sugar beets growing in Texas are in the laboratory. But those few plants are getting to the root of problems throughout the sugar beet industry.

May 16, 2005
Technology Can Simplify Grape Irrigation  
LUBBOCK – How much water is enough for my grapes? That's a common question posed to Dr. Ed Hellman, Texas Cooperative Extension viticulture specialist based at Lubbock.

May 16, 2005
Texas 4-H Center Lets Young Adults 'L.E.A.P.' into Summer Adventure  
BROWNWOOD – Texas 4-H Center's Leadership Experience Adventure Program - or L.E.A.P. - will offer two adventure camps for young adults this summer.

May 13, 2005
Experiment Station Researchers to Explore Genome of Disease-Fighting Fungus  
COLLEGE STATION – A team of Texas Agricultural Experiment Station scientists will soon begin genome sequencing a disease-fighting fungus used to protect crops, which has implications for both agriculture and the pharmaceutical industry.

May 13, 2005
Plug Abandoned Wells  
COLLEGE STATION – An estimated 150,000 abandoned water wells exist in Texas, and each one poses a threat to water safety, said Dr. Bruce Lesikar, Texas Cooperative Extension agricultural engineer here.

May 13, 2005
Teachers Offered Summer Gardening Classes  
WESLACO – Teachers who mix gardening with their lesson plans tell success stories that sound too good to be true. But Barbara Storz, who teaches teachers how to use gardens to motivate students, believes every story because she sees them first-hand.

May 13, 2005
Wildlife Management Seminar Slated for May 25 in Upton County  
RANKIN – Texas Cooperative Extension's Upton County office is presenting a wildlife management seminar May 25 in the Upton County Extension Office Meeting Room. The Extension office is located at 1000 N. Highway 329 here.

May 12, 2005
Forester, City Officials on the Trail of Champion Trees in South Texas  
WESLACO – Nature lovers who visit South Texas to admire birds and butterflies could soon have record-sized trees on their list of must-see wildlife. Officials want to develop maps and brochures to guide tourists along a champion tree trail stretching across the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

May 11, 2005
Caddo, Spanish, Anglo Cultures Influenced Early Texas Agriculture  
COLLEGE STATION – A number of cultures influenced early Texas agriculture, and each brought its own impact. That's what impressed Dr. Allan Jones the most as he wrote, "Texas Roots: Agriculture and Rural Life Before the Civil War".

May 10, 2005
Nelson named Executive Associate Dean for College of Ag and Life Sciences  
COLLEGE STATION - Dr. A. Gene Nelson, long-time head of Texas A&M University's department of agricultural economics, has been named executive associate dean for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

May 10, 2005
Texas Crop and Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION -- Warm weather triggered a fly explosion in southern regions of the state, Texas Cooperative Extension experts report.

May 10, 2005
Citrus May Hold Key to Colon Cancer Prevention, Researchers Say  
COLLEGE STATION – Can grapefruit stop a killer?

May 10, 2005
Research Investigates Link Between Nutrition and Colon Cancer Prevention  
COLLEGE STATION – Fish and fruit may not sound like a tasty menu combination, but for some Texas A&M University researchers it's the best thing since sliced bread.

May 09, 2005
Purple Camp ‘Colorful’ Way to Deal with Military Deployment  
BROWNWOOD – About 100 children from military families are expected to attend a free Operation Purple summer camp June 5-10 at the Texas 4-H Center on Lake Brownwood.

May 09, 2005
ABCrocker  
AMARILLO – Everyone knows children need their sleep. But so do adults.

May 06, 2005
Harris Joins Expanded Nutrition Program for Travis County  
AUSTIN – Amy Harris has joined the Expanded Nutrition Program for Travis County as its new nutrition education associate for youth.

May 06, 2005
Researcher Finds Social Support is Ingredient in Good Nutrition  
COLLEGE STATION – You are what you eat?

May 06, 2005
Teen Parents in Katy Take Charge of Personal Finances  
KATY — Becoming a parent in high school is challenging on many levels. Managing personal finances is one area teen parents may overlook while trying to address a number of other worries.

May 06, 2005
Texas 4-H Kids Go Wild Over Wildlife  
BROOKSHIRE – Young 4-H conservationists from across the state tested their wildlife and habitat management skills here April 23 during the 2005 Statewide Texas Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program's annual contest.

May 05, 2005
Can No-Till 'Fill the Bill' for Rolling Plains Wheat Producers?  
VERNON – Wheat and cattle go hand-in-hand on the Texas Rolling Plains. Farmers there use winter wheat as a grain crop and as a grazing crop to feed young cattle.

May 04, 2005
Children’s Literature Can Turn Reading into Family Time  
COLLEGE STATION – What do knights, siblings, dragons, sports, teachers, friends, school and far-off lands have in common? All can be found in the pages of children's books.

May 03, 2005
Texas Crop and Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – Cabbage prices are low in Texas, but production is high, Texas Cooperative Extension experts report.

May 03, 2005
May 26 Seminar to Show How Quail Coveys Can Convert to Cash  
MIAMI – Interest in quail management has to start with the bottom line – "show me the money."

May 03, 2005
Wild Grasses and Man-Made Wheats Advance Research Capabilities  
AMARILLO – Getting resistance to the latest biotype of greenbug or rust in wheat may require some bridge building.

May 03, 2005
Rio Grande Initiative Receives New Mexico State Award  
LAS CRUCES – Dr. Bill Harris, associate director of the Texas Water Resources Institute in College Station, Texas, received a team award for the Rio Grande Basin Irrigation Conservation Initiative from New Mexico State University. The award was presented April 21 at the Live, Learn and Thrive awards convocation here.

May 02, 2005
MEDIA ADVISORY: Wheat Crop May Suffer Under Spring Snow  
AMARILLO – The region's wheat crop may have escaped a damaging freeze over the weekend, but a spring snow storm puts a threatening cloud back over it.

May 02, 2005
Proper Management Helps Control Varroa Mite in Bee Hives  
COLLEGE STATION – As much as half of the U.S. honey bee population has been affected by a tiny parasite, according to recent media reports. Although the varroa mite is playing a key role in reducing these numbers, it is not the entire problem, said Texas' apiary inspector.

May 02, 2005
Research Takes Big Picture of Wheat Streak Mosaic  
AMARILLO – Seeing a field of damage confirms a wheat streak mosaic problem exists. Seeing it in fields across multiple counties at one time puts the problem into perspective.

May 02, 2005
Gregg Named Dallas Communications Specialist  
DALLAS - Janet Gregg has been named communications specialist for the Texas A&M Dallas Agricultural Research and Extension Center.