September 2004 AgNews Links

September 30, 2004
Liquid Asset: Water Site Wins Web Award  
COLLEGE STATION – A team of water experts from Texas A&M University have won the Blue Ribbon Award from the American Society of Agricultural Engineers for the Texas Water Resources Education Web site.

September 30, 2004
Watson First Texas Master Arborist  
COLLEGE STATION – Todd Watson, Texas A&M University assistant professor of urban and community forestry, recently became the first board certified Master Arborist in Texas.

September 30, 2004
Spoonful Of Sugar? Communication More Likely To Help Medicine Go Down  
AMARILLO – For some older Americans, the high cost of prescription drugs is hazardous to their health, said Andrew B. Crocker of Amarillo, Texas Cooperative Extension program specialist in gerontology and health.

September 28, 2004
Texas Crop And Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – Even though Sept. 22 marked the first day of fall and leaves are beginning to drop, there may still be time to plant fall gardens, said Texas Cooperative Extension horticulturists. And Texas may have the luck and weather needed for a good year, said Dr. Larry Stein of Uvalde, Extension horticulturist.

September 28, 2004
New Department Of Nutrition And Food Science Approved  
COLLEGE STATION – The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has approved the new department of nutrition and food science at Texas A&M University.

September 27, 2004
City Kids Get Taste Of Country Life At Food And Fiber Expo  
AUSTIN Eight-year-old Marquis Kingsmith, who attends third grade at Campbell Elementary School in Austin, could barely contain his excitement.

September 24, 2004
Kent, Stonewall, Swisher Counties Quarantined For Africanized Honey Bees  
COLLEGE STATION – Kent, Stonewall and Swisher counties were added today to the state quarantine restricting the movement of commercial bee operations following the detection of Africanized honey bees.

September 24, 2004
Moth Orchids Destined For Global Internet Sales  
WESLACO – The next time you watch a celebrity interview on television, a potted moth orchid will likely be somewhere in the setting. The plants have become so popular that growers in Taiwan, the world's largest producer, are teaming up with a scientist in South Texas to market the plants to wholesalers via the Internet.

September 23, 2004
National Park Service Historian Kicks Off Lecture Series  
COLLEGE STATION – The chief historian of the National Park Service said the nation's parks must have something meaningful for everyone and be able to explain their purpose not just historically, but also their current significance.

September 23, 2004
Experiment Station Partnering With Federal Agencies In Conservation Study  
TEMPLE - Texas Agricultural Experiment Station scientists are working cooperatively with several federal agencies in assessing the effectiveness of federally funded conservation initiatives as part of the 2002 Farm Bill.

September 22, 2004
American Society Of Animals Science Awards Faculty  
COLLEGE STATION - Two faculty members of the Texas A&M University department of animal science received awards from the American Society of Animal Science in July at St. Louis, Mo.

September 21, 2004
Texas Crop And Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – South Texas rangelands are shaping up to have a great winter while pastures in West Texas are improving, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

September 21, 2004
What Are Deer Really Worth?  
SAN SABA – What is the value of deer hunting to Central Texas? That question will be answered during the "Economic Impact Of Deer Seminar" conducted by Texas Cooperative Extension at 10 a.m. Oct. 5 in San Saba's Rylander Memorial Library.

September 21, 2004
Older Drivers: Know When To Give Up The Keys  
AMARILLO – Ike Hughes Jr. didn't want to give up driving.

September 20, 2004
Harris County Names New Extension Director  
HOUSTON–Texas Cooperative Extension and Harris County Commissioner's Court have named Hurley E. Miller as county extension director, to begin Oct. 1.

September 20, 2004
Bazer Receives Honorary Doctoral Degree  
COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Fuller Bazer, associate vice chancellor of agriculture and life sciences at Texas A&M University, received an honorary doctoral degree of science from The University of Guelph on June 17.

September 20, 2004
‘gene Chips’ Research In Cotton Could Lead To Superior Variety  
COLLEGE STATION – A technology that uses "gene chips," which can help analyze tens of thousands of different DNA elements in a cotton plant, could lead to cotton varieties with superior traits and improved fiber quality.

September 17, 2004
Weslaco Scientist Zeros In On Important Citrus Gene  
WESLACO – After years of high-tech lab work, a scientist in South Texas is inching closer to a gene in the DNA of a citrus relative that will change the way citrus is produced.

September 17, 2004
Aggiefest Livestock Judging Contest  
COLLEGE STATION – The annual Aggiefest Livestock Judging Contest will be Oct.16 at the Louise Pearce Pavilion here.

September 17, 2004
Austin Workshop To Cover Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde Of Wildlife Management  
AUSTIN – An upcoming wildlife workshop here will cover the gamut of issues facing rural absentee landowners.

September 17, 2004
Extension’s Central Texas Meat Goat Series Offers Something For Everyone  
COMANCHE -- Texas Cooperative Extension offices in Comanche, Mills and Brown counties will conduct the three-part "Central Texas Meat Goat Series,"over the next few weeks. The programs are designed to bring producers up to date on meat goat production.

September 16, 2004
Program Helps Houstonians Make Home, Home On The 'Ranchette'  
BRAZORIA – Visitors to the Meuth's 20-acre home place are greeted by a licorice-colored hound and his caramel-colored friend sounding off thunderous "woofs." Nine-year-old Hannah offers a smile from behind straw-colored wisps of hair that frame twinkly eyes and a smile that defines Texas hospitality.

September 16, 2004
P-Shackelford  
BRAZORIA--Visitors to the Meuth's 20-acre home place are greeted by a black-licorice-colored hound dog and his caramel-colored friend sounding off thunderous "woofs" from the bass clef. Nine-year-old Hannah offers a smile from behind straw colored wisps of hair that frame twinkly eyes and a genuine smile that defines Texas hospitality.

September 16, 2004
Savell To Receive Meat Association’s E. Floyd Forbes Award  
COLLEGE STATION -- Dr. Jeff Savell, professor in the department of animal science at Texas A&M University, has been named the recipient of the National Meat Association's E. Floyd Forbes Award. The award will be presented to Savell in February 2005 at the association's annual meeting in Las Vegas.

September 16, 2004
Texas 4-H’ers’ Quilt Block Wins Place In Statewide Contest  
MIDLAND – A trio of Midland County 4-H'ers have a special reason to look forward to visiting the Texas State Fair in Dallas this month.

September 15, 2004
Researchers Investigate Cotton Irrigation Strategies  
HALFWAY – Is there a better way to water cotton using subsurface drip irrigation?

September 14, 2004
Texas Crop And Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION -- Instead of enjoying this year's mild summer, cotton farmers in the High Plains are anxiously watching the thermometer and hoping for warmer temperatures, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

September 14, 2004
Make Land Pheasant Friendly; Amarillo Wildlife Workshop To Show How  
AMARILLO – By making small changes in management, landowners can have a positive instead of a negative effect on their pheasant population.

September 14, 2004
Valley Moms Raising Funds To Go To Washington  
WESLACO – The U.S. Department of Education has invited a group of Lower Rio Grande Valley mothers to Washington, D. C. to honor them for their work in Abriendo Puertas, a program designed to teach low-income parents how to get their children into college.

September 14, 2004
Former Extension Director Receives Distinguished Ruby Award  
COLLEGE STATION -- Dr. Chester Fehlis, retired director of Texas Cooperative Extension, has been given Epsilon Sigma Phi's top honor, the Distinguished Service Ruby Award.

September 10, 2004
Tree, Turf Health To Be Topic Sept. 22 At Texas A&M Gardens  
COLLEGE STATION – Trees and turf health will be the topic Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. for the Texas A&M University Horticultural Gardens monthly lecture.

September 10, 2004
Texas A&M Student Placed Third In The 2004 – K.k. Barnes Student Paper Award  
COLLEGE STATION -- Lindsay Birt, a senior at Texas A&M University, placed third in the 2004 K.K. Barnes Student Paper Competition.

September 10, 2004
Eastland County Sets “quail Odyssey Tour 2004" On Sept. 21  
EASTLAND – Texas Cooperative Extension's Eastland County office will present "Quail Odyssey Tour 2004" on the Billy Wright Ranch from 4:30-7 p.m. Sept. 21.

September 10, 2004
Texas 4-H Congress Teaches About The Real Thing  
AUSTIN – The calendar clerk of the Senate is making the final schedule for the day. The clerk of the House and the lieutenant governor are having an unofficial conversation with the lobbyist coordinator while members of the legislature gradually start taking their seats.

September 09, 2004
Getting Shots: Not Just Kid Stuff Any More  
AMARILLO – Shots ... say the word and watch the look of dread come over a child's face.

September 08, 2004
Texas Crop And Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION – With sunflower harvest just beginning, producers in the Texas Panhandle are looking forward to high yields, according to Texas Cooperative Extension. The Panhandle has received more than twice the normal amount of rainfall for the year, and, due to attractive selling contracts within the county, more sunflowers were planted.

September 07, 2004
Workshop To Show Houston-Ites How To Deal With Wild Hogs  
HOUSTON – Urban absentee landowners can learn how to better manage wildlife – both the wanted and the unwanted kind, such as feral hogs – at an upcoming workshop.

September 07, 2004
Soaring Obesity Rates Could Be Costly  
SAN ANTONIO -- One called it a perfect storm. Another said it was a train wreck. Rising obesity rates will push Texas and the nation to physical and financial disaster unless people change their behaviors, according to speakers at the recent Texas Produce Convention in San Antonio.

September 06, 2004
Former Director Of National Park Service Leading New Diversity Initiative At Texas A&M  
COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M University's department of park, recreation and tourism sciences has begun a new leadership and diversity initiative led by the former director of the National Park Service.

September 06, 2004
Understanding Basis Is Fundamental To Wheat Marketing Success  
ABILENE – Wheat producers who understand basis are more likely to be successful and profitable marketers, according to a Texas Cooperative Extension economist.

September 06, 2004
Ideal Forage Combo For White-Tailed Deer Found  
OVERTON – White-tailed deer hunters have the chance to perform a labor of love on Labor Day weekend – planting winter supplemental feed plots.

September 03, 2004
Texas Quail Study Group Makes Inaugural Run  
ASPERMONT -- Quail enthusiasts, mark your calendars for the Texas Quail Study Group's inaugural meeting Oct. 6-8 in Aspermont's Stonewall County Civic Center.

September 03, 2004
National Farm Safety And Health Week: Protect Children  
COLLEGE STATION – Children who grow up on farms and ranches contribute to overall productivity. Family farms also contribute to children's development of responsibility, sense of accomplishment and work ethic.

September 03, 2004
It's War! Fall Armyworms On The March  
OVERTON – Armyworms are on the march in East Texas.

September 02, 2004
Rio Grande Irrigation System Challenges Water Engineer  
WESLACO – Like the difference between shooting at a stationery target and a moving target – that's how Dr. Juan Enciso compares irrigating crops with water from an aquifer to irrigating crops from the ever-moving Rio Grande.

September 02, 2004
Awareness Week Turns Up Heat On Infernal Texas Pest  
SAN ANTONIO -- In Texas, fire ant awareness may seem redundant. What Texan's life hasn't been touched by one or several of the little critters?

September 02, 2004
Garza, Dickens Counties Quarantined For Africanized Honey Bees  
COLLEGE STATION – Dickens and Garza counties were added today to the state quarantine, restricting the movement of commercial bee operations following the detection of Africanized honey bees.

September 01, 2004
GRANT WILL HELP LOW-INCOME KIDS LEARN ABOUT WILDLIFE, NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION  
SAN ANTONIO -- The 4-H Outreach and Youth Development program of the Texas Cooperative Extension in Bexar County has received a $2,500 grant from the Marcia and Otto Koehler Foundation. The grant will help expand 4-H wildlife conservation learning efforts in elementary and middle schools, plus other locations in low-income areas of Bexar County.

September 01, 2004
Texas Forester Named To National Research Panel  
COLLEGE STATION - U.S. forests face a shortage of people capable of researching ways to improve them, according to a blue-ribbon panel policy report released in August 2004. But a leading Texas forester with ties to college forestry students will have a stake in changing that.