October 2002 AgNews Links

October 31, 2002
Meat Processors Now Have Help On The Web  
COLLEGE STATION – Food safety is now at the meat industry's fingertips. A scientific article database has been designed at Texas A&M University to help meat processors and others who develop their Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point programs.

October 30, 2002
Rodeo Team Wins Second Regional Competition  
COLLEGE STATION – In spite of very wet and muddy conditions, the Texas A&M University Women's Rodeo Team won its second straight regional competition recently at the Northeast Texas Community College qualifying rodeo in Mt. Pleasant.

October 30, 2002
Give To Charities ... But Wisely  
COLLEGE STATION – If you think pleas from charities increase as the calendar moves closer and closer to the end-of-the-year holiday season, you're right. "It is estimated that charitable organizations receive 40 percent of their contributions in the last six to eight weeks of the year," said Nancy Granovsky, Texas Cooperative Extension family economics specialist.

October 29, 2002
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION - The Texas citrus crop looks promising, with good prices and good quality in spite of decreased production, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

October 29, 2002
Gramann Selected Visiting Chief Social Scientist For National Park Service  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. James H. Gramann, associate department head of recreation, park and tourism sciences at Texas A&M University, has been selected as visiting chief social scientist for the National Park Service.

October 29, 2002
Young County Quarantined For Africanized Honey Bees  
ELIASVILLE – Young County was added today to the state quarantine, restricting the movement of commercial bee operations following the detection of Africanized honey bees.

October 29, 2002
Extension Sets Nov. 14 Pesticide CEU Training In Schleicher County  
ELDORADO – Texas Cooperative Extension is sponsoring a pesticide re-certification course on Nov. 14 at the Schleicher County Ag Barn on Highway 277 S in Eldorado.

October 28, 2002
Lacey Oak Designated As A Texas Superstar  
DALLAS -- After more than 7 years of state-wide testing, the Texas A&M University Agriculture Program has designated the lacey oak tree as the newest Texas Superstar.

October 28, 2002
Experiment Station Scientist Tests 150 Bermuda Grass Seed Varieties  
OVERTON – With a little luck, in a few years East Texas agricultural producers could have a seeded Bermuda grass variety that rivals top-yielding sprigged varieties.

October 25, 2002
Freezing Produce Preserves Taste Of The Seasons  
COLLEGE STATION – Ever get hungry for produce that's out of season? Want to preserve some of that flavor for the times of the year when it's unavailable? Look no further than your home freezer.

October 24, 2002
Schleicher County Range Tour Slated For Oct. 29  
ELDORADO – Landowners interested in the status of the region's latest state brush control projects should not miss the Schleicher County Fall Range Tour.

October 24, 2002
County Tax Assessor-Collectors To Meet In College Station  
COLLEGE STATION – The 20th annual County Tax Assessor-Collector's Continuing Education Seminar is scheduled for Nov. 11-13 at the Hilton College Station and Conference Center, near the campus of Texas A&M University.

October 23, 2002
4-H Celebrates Its 100 Years At The Texas State Fair  
DALLAS – Last year, after numbers were released showing for the first time, more than a million young Texans were involved in 4-H programs, each 4-H'er celebrated being "One in a Million."

October 23, 2002
"Be Holiday Smart" Annual Event Scheduled For Nov. 7 In Dallas  
DALLAS -- Believe it or not, the holiday season is almost here again. Getting ready for the annual festivities can be a challenge.

October 23, 2002
Brush Control Field Day Set Near Rankin Nov. 5  
RANKIN – A field day to demonstrate various methods of controlling brush is planned at the Wagon Wheel Ranch near Rankin for the afternoon of Nov. 5.

October 22, 2002
West Nile Could Still Be A Concern  
COLLEGE STATION – With the cooler weather, Central and Southeast Texas are seeing a shift from summertime species of mosquitos to those which are more prevalent. But the threat to humans and horses from West Nile encephalitis is still here, especially with rainy weather contributing to an increased mosquito population, said Dr. Jim Olson, entomologist with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.

October 22, 2002
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION -- Temperatures are dropping, leaves are falling and Texas gardeners are planting their winter crops, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

October 22, 2002
Low-Performing Stocker Cattle Rarely Catch Up At Feedlot  
OVERTON – Common knowledge has it that if stocker cattle gains are somewhat low on pasture, it's OK. They'll make up for it in the feedlot with what's called compensatory gains.

October 21, 2002
Spendaholics: Control Your Spending Appetite  
COLLEGE STATION – Take this quick financial quiz.

October 21, 2002
Cleated Turf Aerator Draws Attention At Texas A&M University Turf Field Day  
COLLEGE STATION – Dusty Robinson has taken a dandy piece of engineering and put it to work on the playing field.

October 18, 2002
Phorid Fly Release In Ponder Aimed At Controlling Fire Ants  
DALLAS -- A parasitic fly that may help control fire ants will be released in an experiment next week west of Denton in the small town of Ponder.

October 18, 2002
Time To Winterize Your Cowherd  
CORPUS CHRISTI – Cooler weather is on its way, and just as ranchers check the antifreeze levels in trucks and tractors, they should begin preparing cowherds for the effects of winter. "Winterizing the cowherd" is a set of simple steps to improve management during this season of change, said Dr. Joe Paschal, livestock specialist with Texas Cooperative Extension.

October 18, 2002
Better Closure, Safer Environment  
COLLEGE STATION - A new publication from Texas Cooperative Extension will help livestock and poultry producers with closure. Closure of unused or temporarily out-of- commission lagoons and earthen manure storage structures, that is.

October 17, 2002
San Antonio Walking Conference Set For Oct. 25  
SAN ANTONIO -- Walk Across Texas, San Antonio Style! That's what various local agencies are promoting at a conference scheduled for Friday, Oct. 25, at the Texas Engineering Extension Service building, 600 Hemisfair Plaza, Building 277.

October 16, 2002
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION -- Pecan prices this year should be notably improved from last year's disappointing market, reports Texas Cooperative Extension.

October 16, 2002
Building Strong Families Parenting Conference Set For Nov. 7 In Lubbock  
LUBBOCK – Want to find out what's going on inside your teenager's brain? Need to help your child deal with a bully? Or how about that "birds and the bees" talk...how do I go about it?

October 16, 2002
Denton County Meat Goat And Lamb Clinic Slated For Oct. 26  
DENTON - The Denton County Extension Crops, Forages and Beef Committee and the Denton County 4-H Program will host a Meat Goat and Lamb Clinic on Oct. 26 at North Texas State Fair, 2217 N. Carroll Blvd. in Denton.

October 15, 2002
Stop Youthful Smoking: It Takes A Village  
CANTON – When Van Zandt County Agents DeeLee Smith and Tommy Phillips decided to take a stand in a community-wide stop-smoking effort, they called out the S.W.A.T. team.

October 15, 2002
Upcoming Sweetclover Variety Good Fit For Central Texas  
Editors: High resolution photo files with captions can be found at http://overton.tamu.edu/photos/sweetclover_cs.htm

October 14, 2002
Soil And Water Conservation Projects Funded  
COLLEGE STATION – The Texas Water Resources Institute recently announced it will fund 10 Texas Agricultural Experiment Station projects and 13 Texas Cooperative Extension programs dealing with soil and water conservation.

October 14, 2002
Rio Grande Valley Farmers Offered Free Soil Tests  
WESLACO -- Growers in the four-county Lower Rio Grande Valley area are encouraged to take advantage of a free soil-testing program designed to improve farm management practices and conserve water.

October 11, 2002
San Antonio’s Family Alliance Council Sets Oct. 18 Leadership Conference  
SAN ANTONIO -- The Family Alliance Council will hold a one-day conference titled Community Leadership for the Future on Friday, Oct. 18.

October 11, 2002
Use Caution When Feeding Corn To Wildlife  
COLLEGE STATION – Deer hunters and wildlife enthusiasts are urged to use caution this fall when feeding corn to wildlife, paying special attention to product labeling. Failing to do so could pose a potential health threat to Texas wildlife.

October 10, 2002
Edward And Howard Kruse Receive Outstanding Alumni Award  
COLLEGE STATION – Edward F. Kruse and Howard W. Kruse of Brenham are each being recognized with a 2002 Outstanding Alumni Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.

October 10, 2002
Kessler Receives Outstanding Alumni Award  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Winifred "Wini" Kessler is being recognized with the 2002 Outstanding Alumni Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.

October 10, 2002
Hargrove Receives Outstanding Alumni Award  
COLLEGE STATION -- Dr. Thomas R. Hargrove of Galveston is being recognized with the 2002 Outstanding Alumni Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.

October 10, 2002
Peduzzi Named Director Of Strategic Partnerships  
COLLEGE STATION – Ricardo Peduzzi was named director of strategic partnerships by the Texas A&M University System's Agriculture Program effective Oct. 8.

October 10, 2002
New Extension Beef Cattle Specialist Hired For East Texas  
Editors: A high-resolution jpeg picture of Dr. Jason Cleere can be found at http://overton.tamu.edu/roster/jason_cleere_1100x1400.jpg

October 09, 2002
Phinizy Named Extension Risk Management Specialist In Uvalde  
UVALDE -- William E. Phinizy has been appointed Texas Cooperative Extension specialist in risk management at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center here.

October 08, 2002
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – Favorable prices early in the season may encourage wheat growers to plant more acreage this year than last year, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

October 08, 2002
Floating Classroom Education Program Setting Sail Oct. 12  
MATAGORDA -- Texas A&M University's Marine Advisory Service is offering a cruise on its "Floating Classroom," R/V Karma, during Matagorda Day Oct. 12 to acquaint participants with the state's coastal resources.

October 07, 2002
Extension Sets Quail Appreciation Day Oct. 17  
LUEDERS – Texas Cooperative Extension will hold a Rolling Plains Quail Appreciation Day Oct. 17 at the Krooked River Lodge.

October 04, 2002
Youth Receive Awards At State Fair Range And Pasture ID Contest  
DALLAS - Youth involved in 4-H and FFA programs received awards recently at the State Fair of Texas Range and Pasture Plant Identification Contest.

October 04, 2002
World Food Day Set For Oct. 16  
COLLEGE STATION – Hunger knows no boundaries. And even the technological advancements of the last 100 years have not been able to eliminate it.

October 03, 2002
Media Advisory: Texas A&M University, FSA Offer Demonstration Of Web-Based Tool For Operators, Landowners  
COLLEGE STATION -- James Little, administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency, and Dr. Joe Outlaw, associate professor and Texas Cooperative Extension economist at Texas A&M University, on Friday will showcase a new interactive Web-based tool for landowners and operators which will be used in regards to the new farm bill.

October 03, 2002
Texas A&M Agriculturists Set Framework To Safeguard Food Supply  
COLLEGE STATION – Agricultural experts with Texas Cooperative Extension have created a process to help local jurisdictions across the nation assess the vulnerability of the food supply for terrorist attacks.

October 02, 2002
GANLAB Now Offers Cost-Share Service  
COLLEGE STATION – The Grazingland Animal Nutrition, part of the department of rangeland ecology and management at Texas A&M University, is now offering cost-share services for producers participating in the Natural Resource Conservation Service's Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

October 02, 2002
New Water Management Specialist Named  
COLLEGE STATION – Texas Cooperative Extension has teamed up with the Texas Water Resources Institute to assist water resources management in West Texas by establishing a new water management specialist position for the region. The goal of this effort is help agricultural producers, urban residents and water providers to conserve water and protect the quality of water resources.

October 02, 2002
Brown, Don't Be Crude Team Receive Award  
VICTORIA – Even five years ago, when she was an 11-year-old, Barbara Brown knew about caring for the earth. That was the year she and two of her friends – Lacy Jones and Kate Klinkerman – started what was to become the Don't Be Crude team.

October 01, 2002
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION -- Despite cooler weather and smaller pumpkins tricking Texas' farmers, the state's residents can still look forward to being treated with plenty of healthy pumpkins this Halloween, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

October 01, 2002
Family-Friendly Panhandle Pet Expo Set Oct. 5  
AMARILLO -- Families with their pets or anyone thinking about giving a pet a home can plan on spending the day at the third annual Panhandle Pet Expo at the Civic Center on Oct. 5.