Outdoor
The Pig Explosion- Part 2: How a species went from obscure to a nuisance in a quarter century
By contributing writer Russell Graves
Over the past three decades, the population reached a critical mass and everywhere pigs can live, pigs probably exist.
“There are but two kinds of landowners in Texas: Those with wild pigs and those that are about to have wild pigs,” says Billy Higginbotham, Professor and Extension Wildlife and Fisheries Specialist for the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Overton. Dr. Higginbotham is on the front line in the war on feral pigs and the damage they cause by researching control methods and ways to mitigate hog populations and the damage they inherently cause. His assessment on the landowners and the hog population, while simplistic, provides information on the breeding success of a species whose numbers continue to explode.
Historically, wild pigs were relegated to the rural areas of Texas. The prolific porcine, however, has continually expanded its range and now encroach inside city limits of small towns across the state as well as suburbia.
“Pigs are a constant concern for us,” says Ryan Mills who works for the municipal golf course in Childress, Texas. “We are always finding areas where they’ve rooted. They are attracted by the water we irrigate with and cause us a continual maintenance issue.”
“The funny thing is we never see them,” he admits. “They come out and do their damage at night.”
Wild pigs root up lawns and damage recreational areas while the wallows they leave behind provide a medium for standing water. The water can create breeding pools for mosquitoes – thus increasing the risk for mosquito borne illnesses like West Nile virus. An increase in West Nile is noteworthy since Texas suffered 43 fatalities in 2012 as a result of the disease. To read more pick up the April 2014 issue of North Texas Farm & Ranch.
By Jelly Cocanougher
What an extraordinary end to the Wise County Youth Fair – a fantastic opportunity for the Heart of a Champion participants to show. From rabbits to lambs, to pigs to dogs – we’ve seen it all. Through this unique event, the Heart of a Champion Livestock show aimed to promote confidence, friendship, and a sense of accomplishment within our amazing community. Everyone worked tirelessly to create an environment that fosters growth, camaraderie, and a shared passion for agriculture. Until next year!
By Tony Dean, [email protected]
If moisture is adequate, there are several winter annual grasses that dominate the landscape during early spring in Texas. One of the most common is Rescuegrass.
This winter annual is native to South America but grows over much of the United States and can be found in all ecoregions of Texas. Rescuegrass is easily recognized by its flat seed head.
Numerous seed heads produce seed that is transported by animals and can quickly spread to other areas.
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Norman Winter | Horticulturist, Author, Speaker
The National Garden Bureau has designated 2024 as the ‘Year of the Angelonia’ and I am in full celebration mode. As I was preparing for my contribution to the celebration, I was, however, sent into taxonomic trauma.
For the last 26 years of deep love for the Angelonia, or summer snapdragon, I have told everyone via newspaper, radio and television that they were in the Scrophulariaceae family. Since most gardeners don’t like those words, I modified or simplified the snapdragon family, but somebody has tinkered with green industry happiness and moved Angelonia to the Plantaginaceae or plantain family. I immediately reached out to my friend Dr. Allen Ownings, Horticulture Professor Emeritus with the Louisiana State University AgCenter. I said, “Did you know this, or better yet, did you do it?” He said, as I expected, that the Taxonomist group had done it. This reminded me that someone once said taxonomists have to eat, too.
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
-
Country Lifestyles1 year agoScott & Stacey Schumacher: A Growth Mindset
-
Equine7 months agoThe Will to Win
-
Country Lifestyles7 years agoStyle Your Profile – What your style cowboy hat says about you and new trends in 2017
-
Country Lifestyles4 years agoAmber Crawford, Breakaway Roper
-
HOME7 years agoGrazing North Texas – Wilman Lovegrass
-
Country Lifestyles7 years agoDecember 2016 Profile, Rusty Riddle – The Riddle Way
-
Outdoor9 years agoButtercup or Primrose?
-
Country Lifestyles8 years agoJune 2016 Profile – The man behind the mic: Bob Tallman