Farm & Ranch

[AgriLife] Texas crop, weather report for March 1, 2016

Published

10 years ago

March 1, 2016

NTFR

By: Paul Schattenberg

DALLAS — While most people typically think bright lights and big city when they think of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, agriculture remains a primary driver of the area’s economy, said Dr. Blake Bennett, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist in Dallas.

“The area’s temperate weather and available irrigation water are well suited to numerous agricultural enterprises, including various livestock operations and more than 25 commercial crops,” Bennett said.

More than 20 different crops are produced commercially in the metroplex, including a variety of fruits and vegetables and major field crops.

“The climate and soil conditions are particularly well suited to the development of high-value specialty crops,” he said. “Primary crops include nursery crops, wheat, corn, grain sorghum, hay, and ensilage.”

These and other interesting facts about agribusiness and agricultural production throughout an eight-county area in North Texas can be found in the recent publication “Agribusiness: The Impact of Agriculture in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex,” which is on the agency’s Agricultural Economics website, http://agecoext.tamu.edu/files/2013/08/DFWMetroplex.pdf.

Bennett said the metroplex is so well suited to agriculture that per the state’s agricultural census from 2007 to 2012, the number of farms and acres of agriculturaa-use land in the eight-county area in and around the metroplex increased by nearly 10 percent.

“This growth is in contrast to the rest of Texas where during the same time frame the number of farms increased by just over one-half of one percent and farmland actually saw a small decrease,” he said. “Also counter to state trends, farms of every size in the metroplex saw increases — the greatest being among smaller-acreage farms.”

During the same time period the rest of the state showed only an increase in the number of farms in size ranging from 10 to 179 acres, with all other size categories showing decreases.

“The owners of most of these small-acreage farms have primary jobs that are off the farm, but still produce enough to make a significant economic impact on the area,” Bennett said. “And the reasons for people purchasing small farms are as diverse as the metroplex itself.”

He said some small-acreage farmers want to grow organic produce while others just want to experience a more rural lifestyle or use their farm for agritourism or agritainment, such as providing festivals, hayrides, corn mazes or a pumpkin patch experience.

Bennett added those who own smaller farms, especially farms of 20 or fewer acres, are also more likely to grow alternative or “niche” crops than larger commercial farmers, and many small-scale farmers tend to focus on cattle and hay production as the most effective use of their limited acreage.

“While impressive, the figure still does not reflect the entire value of the agricultural industry in the region, as data limitations prevent the inclusion of public sector employees involved in agriculture,” he said. “Production agriculture in this region is as diverse as the communities and landscape within it.”

He noted while housing, businesses, roadways and other aspects of urban structure and infrastructure have grown significantly in the region, production agriculture has seen significant growth as well.

“While we don’t have figures for after 2012, it is apparent that agricultural production in this area continues to be on the upswing, and the trend toward smaller farms continues,” Bennett said.

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

CENTRAL: Counties in the region reported 90 percent good soil moisture with the area receiving rains ranging from 1.5 to 2.8 inches. Range and pasture conditions were fair, as were overall crop conditions. Corn planting began and some producers were putting down fertilizer and weed control on Bermuda grass pastures. Stock tanks were full and cattle remained in good condition. Producers were preparing and planting fields with milo.

COASTAL BEND: Up to 2.5 inches of rain fell across most of the region, improving soil moisture conditions. Corn and some grain sorghum planting began. Some corn fields have emerged and a little cotton was planted. Wheat was in good condition and warm-season perennial pastures were growing. Some controlled burns took place. Cattle were in good condition.

EAST: Conditions around the region were cold and windy. Subsoil and topsoil conditions were mostly adequate with a few counties reporting conditions as short. Nighttime temperatures dropped to the low 30s with daytime temperatures in the 60s and 70s. Most of the counties received much needed rain with amounts up to 4 inches. Most counties were reporting pasture and range conditions as poor with only a few reporting conditions as good. Winter forage crops improved and the risk of fire danger was reduced. Producers were top dressing winter pastures. Fertilizer prices have come down. Some applications of fertilizer were being made on cool season annuals. People were preparing to plant their spring garden vegetables. Spring sprouting has begun on trees and flowers. Fruit tree pruning was underway. Livestock were in fair to good condition. Cattle were chasing the grass that has sprouted up, but there was not enough to sustain them so producers were still supplemental feeding. Spring breeding season had begun. Cows were calving. Selling of market ready calves and culls continued. Cattle numbers were still low but prices were slightly better. Feral hogs continued to be a problem.

NORTH: Topsoil moisture varied from adequate to short. Rainfall amounts ranged from about 1.5 to 2.5 inches. High winds and rain slowed down farming activity, and many corn farmers were waiting until fields dried out so they could plant. Cattle ranchers were trying to pull cattle off wheat and other winter annual pastures. Continued temperature swings caused stress with livestock, as it affected cool season forages and crops. Fruit tree buds were swelling and some were starting to bloom. Winter pastures greened up but had little growth. The mild temperatures were good for forage but questionable for fruit production.

PANHANDLE: Temperatures ranged from cold to warm. Some areas received moisture in the form of rain or snow. Potential wildfire conditions persisted throughout the region, slowing some farm work. Preparations were being made for spring planting. Winter wheat greened up but needed moisture. Dallam and Hartley counties were warm and dry, so activity picked up in the field as producers put down fertilizer and pre-emerge herbicides ahead of corn planting. Some pre-watering was being done. Supplemental feeding continued among cow-calf producers. Spring calving was underway and calves were getting off to a good start. A few weeds started to emerge in pastures, and cool-season grasses greened up. Wheat-pasture stocker cattle made good progress. Deaf Smith County producers also prepared for spring plantings. Pasture cattle were doing well, thanks to above-normal temperatures and adequate soil moisture providing excellent forage. Cattle on wheat were in good condition. In Hutchinson County, some weeds began to emerge and producers needed moisture for a good start on their crops. Wheeler County wheat needed rain and was showing some moisture stress, but cattle remained in fair shape. Many herds are experiencing lice problems; winter annuals provided some grazing in native pastures. Farmers began shredding cotton stalks and preparing land for spring planting. Range and pasture conditions varied from poor to excellent with most reporting good to fair.

ROLLING PLAINS: Rain fell across parts of the region with amounts ranging from 0.5 to 2 inches, helping the wheat crop. Range and pastures were in better condition though pastures still had dead winter grass and weeds, which could act as fuel for a wildfire. Livestock were in good condition and preparations were being made for row-crop planting. Cotton remained a concern from a market standpoint.

SOUTH: Temperatures throughout the region were warm during the daytime and cool at night. Rainfall occurred in some counties ranging from drizzling to heavy downpours, with the heavy rainfall brought by storms tracking across the region. In the northern part of the region, conditions were good. Rainfall from 1.5 to 4 inches, was reported throughout the area. Rainfall was accompanied by hail, which damaged spinach and potato crops throughout the area. In Frio County, wheat and oat crops responded well to the much-needed rainfall. Some of the southeast portion of the county received the lesser rainfall with the northern portion receiving the most. Range and pasture conditions remained mostly unchanged and in fair overall condition in McMullen and surrounding counties. Supplemental feeding continued at a steady pace but declined some as temperatures warmed. Cattle body-condition scores remained fair. Soil moisture was 100 percent adequate in the Atascosa and Frio County areas, 80 percent adequate in the LaSalle County area and 60 percent adequate in the McMullen County area.

In eastern parts of the region, range and pastures improved throughout Brooks County, even though conditions were generally very dry. Supplemental feeding continued at a steady pace. Two cold fronts swept through the Jim Wells County area, but no significant rainfall was received. Temperatures were milder during the day and colder at night. Windy conditions continued to reduce topsoil moisture in most row-crop fields. Jim Wells County had minimal planting activity. Some of the corn crop emerged with good stands. Additional moisture will be needed to help with row crops throughout the area and to improve forage quality. Corn crops in the Kleberg/Kenedy county area were also almost completely planted, and sorghum planting was underway. Soil moisture conditions were 100 percent adequate in the Brooks County area. Jim Wells County had 50 percent adequate subsoil and 100 percent short topsoil moisture. Kleberg/Kenedy County soil moisture conditions were 50 to 60 percent short. Range and pasture conditions were fair.

In the western part of the region, Dimmit County received isolated showers and Maverick County received some light rain. Coastal Bermuda grass continued in its dormant stage and was yellow, but will soon be ready for its first cut of the year. Weather conditions remained cool with only a small amount of rain was received throughout the area. Temperatures reached the 80s and 90s in Zapata County. Pastures remained green but with some visible stress due to the lack of rainfall. Strong winds, heavy rainfall and hail hit parts of Zavala County, causing damage to buildings and crops. Cabbage and spinach producers began preparing insurance claims for crop damage but the extent of damage was as yet unknown. The storms also damaged center irrigation pivots in some parts of the county. Livestock on native range and pastures continued to receive supplemental feed. Soil moisture conditions throughout the area were 50 percent short in Dimmit County, 70 percent short in Maverick County, 40 percent short in Zapata County and 100 percent adequate in Zavala County.

In the southern parts of the region, sorghum, cotton and corn planting progressed well in Cameron County. Of the crops planted, a minimum amount of grain sorghum was planted. Also in Cameron County, some harvesting of hay occurred in improved pastureland. Grain sorghum and cotton planting was active in the Hidalgo County area, as was the harvesting of sugarcane, citrus and vegetables. In Starr County, onion crops progressed well, beef cattle producers continued supplemental feeding and range and pastures showed signs of moisture stress. Soil moisture conditions were 60 percent adequate in Cameron County, 70 percent adequate in Hidalgo County and 90 percent adequate in Starr County.

SOUTH PLAINS: Recent moisture in Cochran County has improved subsoil and topsoil moisture in pastures and rangeland. Winter wheat dealt with fluctuating hot and cold temperatures while producers attempted to get ready for spring planting. Floyd County received rain from 0.3 to 2 inches, which will help winter wheat and make planting conditions more favorable. There was warmer-than-normal weather in Hale County and limited moisture was a concern. Wheat crops looked good and livestock were in good condition. Hockley County received an early rain so some producers were kept out of the fields for a few days. Lubbock County had good weather with light precipitation. Fruit trees began to bloom. Land preparation continued and area wheat fields were nearing the jointing stage. Scurry County received from 0.2 to 0.5 inches of rain.

SOUTHEAST: Soil-moisture levels throughout the region varied widely, mostly in the adequate to surplus range with adequate being the most common. Fort Bend, Chambers and Walker counties reported 100 percent adequate. Rangeland and pasture ratings were mainly fair to poor, with fair ratings being the most common.

In Walker County, rain replenished moisture levels. Cool-season forages such as clovers grew well and were looking good, as did ryegrass. Most of the region had excellent soil moisture for planting crops. In Brazos County, scattered showers provided 1 to 2 inches of rainfall. Corn producers prepared for planting. In Grimes County, rain replenished the topsoil moisture, but was followed by strong winds that may have prevented much of the moisture to be absorbed. Montgomery County received 2 to 3 inches of rain with morning temperatures in the 30s and mild daytime temperatures. Waller and Brazoria counties also received rain. Chambers County was drier, but still had enough moisture to initiate field work. Rice fields were being readied for planting. Fort Bend County received approximately 1.5 inches of rain countywide, which delayed corn planting but provided much-needed moisture to pastures. Producers were also preparing to plant grain sorghum soon. Livestock were in good condition.

SOUTHWEST: Recent rain from 1 inch to 4 inches helped with small grain and pastures. Some areas got hail, which damaged some leaves on forage. The colder weather was good for peaches. Some farmers began fertilizing. Supplemental feeding of cattle continued.

WEST CENTRAL: Most of the area received rainfall ranging from 0.5 to 2 inches, putting much-needed moisture back in the topsoil. Unseasonably high temperatures brought on spring-like conditions earlier than normal, but high winds continued to cause range fire concern. Some cooler weather and a light freeze set back some warm-season grasses and forages that had previously began to break dormancy. The winter wheat crop remained in good condition and showed good growth. Row-crop producers were plowing fields and spraying winter weeds. More rain will be needed before spring planting. Livestock grazed winter wheat and remained in fair to good condition. Some supplemental feeding continued and cattle prices remained steady.

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Farm & Ranch

Tumble Windmillgrass

Published

4 days ago

April 15, 2026

NTFR

By Tony Dean

Tumble windmillgrass is a short, compact perennial bunch grass that is adapted to almost every corner of Texas. It can grow on almost any soil, but prefers coarse textured soils.

The most obvious characteristic about Tumble windmill is its large seed head sporting 10 to 16 laterally spreading branches, each approximately two to six inches long, arranged in one to three whorls.

When mature, the seed head will break off and be caught up in the wind, making Tumble windmill one of the great wanderers of the plains. It can tumble great distances, spreading itself in the process. This wanderer seems to like parking in your garage on windy days, as well as dancing around windy corners of buildings and any other place the wind decides to carry it.

Tumble windmill can also spread by short stolons. The upper leaves are very short, while the lower leaves are often much longer. The leaves are light green with a purplish seed head that fades to pale reddish at maturity.

Tumble windmillgrass provides poor forage for livestock and wildlife, although most grazers will use the forage in early spring when tender.

Since Tumble windmill can grow in poor soil conditions, it is useful as a component for a prairie grass mix used on disturbed areas. This grass does not usually dominate a pasture but can often be found in smaller amounts. Proper grazing use along with rotational grazing can cause the plant to be replaced with higher successional plants.

Farm & Ranch

Looking for Low-Maintenance Poultry? Geese are Your Answer!

Published

6 days ago

April 13, 2026

NTFR

Unless you are a fan of Dickens and Doyle, geese probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of poultry. But maybe they should be. And the aim of this article is to get you acquainted with the aristocrat of poultry.

Let’s start with the basics. Geese are domesticated waterfowl. Twelve breeds are recognized by the American Poultry Association, but dozens more are available. Much like ducks, all domestic geese breeds descend from two species. The overwhelming majority of breeds originate from Greylag geese (Anser anser). This species is native to Europe and Central Asia. These are the stockier, heavy geese that feature prominently in German fairy tales as a symbol of wealth and which Victorians loved to consume at Christmas. These geese come in various sizes, colors and dispositions. Here are a few examples: Cotton Patch geese are a small, variably-colored, extremely heat tolerant landrace native to the South. These were raised to consume weeds in cotton fields in the days before commercial herbicides. They are quite rare today and lay a variable number of eggs. American Buff geese are medium-sized, tan colored, very docile geese of uncertain origin. They are excellent meat birds. They are decent layers and wonderful mothers. Toulouse geese are the largest breed at up to thirty pounds. This ancient French breed is dark grey in color. They are bred to become very fat and so must be managed carefully to maintain fertility. They are very gentle, but require somewhat more shelter than other breeds.

A native of parts of China, Mongolia and Russia, the Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides) gave us both the Chinese goose and the African goose. Both have large bulbs on their heads and are similarly colored, but are otherwise very different. African geese are quite large, maturing at around twenty pounds and prized for their meat. These gentle giants are often recommended for beginners. Chinese geese are the egg champions of the goose family. They produce multiple clutches in a year, equaling up to a hundred eggs annually. They are small geese with males weighing about twelve pounds and females ten. They are nervous and the loudest breed, but this makes them suburb as “watch geese” and perhaps the best all-purpose breed.

Now that we are a bit acquainted with various breeds, we can find out just why someone may want to keep geese. Before we go over their benefits, you may be surprised to learn something surprising about geese. Geese are so rarely seen in the United States today that they can seem unusual, even exotic. As such, you may reasonably expect that geese are hard to manage, require expensive feeds and must be waited on hand and foot. The surprise is that geese are actually significantly easier to take care of than chickens. In fact, I would venture to day that geese are the lowest maintenance poultry there are.

Geese are unique among poultry in that the vast majority of their diet is made up of grass. Some meat birds are raised entirely on grass. It may be a good idea to supplement their grass with some chicken feed and scratch grains, but you will find that, when grass is plentiful, they will generally not bother with anything else. Geese are excellent pasture birds. A simple wire pen that can be moved every other day is enough to keep them happy. Unlike chickens, geese do not scratch up a yard and are not nearly as messy as ducks. If moved promptly, the area they occupied will swiftly grow back greener, thanks to all the free fertilizer, which they produce in abundance. Few geese can fly with any proficiency and even then, only when they are young. One wing’s feathers can be easily clipped, if their escape is a concern.

Geese are also almost absurdly hardy. They not only love rain, they seldom if ever go inside. Shade and perhaps a windbreak are their only real needs for shelter. In sub-freezing temperatures, they will scorn a shed and simply sit in the snow. There is a reason that goose down is so valued for comforters. It is extremely good at keeping them warm. The clever little birds know exactly when they need to bend down over their feet to keep them warm and hide their heads under their wings for the same purpose. In the summer, geese require shade and access to water at all times, but are otherwise unbothered. Geese keep their bodies very clean and are, owing to a small oil gland and their meticulous grooming, waterproof. They will soil water almost instantly, so do not worry about keeping it clean, just be sure they have enough. Without water, they may die in the heat and regardless (like ducks) cannot keep their bills and eyes clean, which could cause disease. Provide multiple water tubs to reduce fighting. Geese will dig up the mud around their waterers, so they should be moved each time they are filled. They will appear to be eating the mud, but are actually filtering it in the water through the serration in their bills. This is to find food, as well as small rocks for their gizzards. With a bit of caution, geese will weed a garden for you and clean it up at the end of the season.

Geese need little more from you than water, basic protection from predators and grass. In return, they offer a number of benefits.

In the first place, Geese offer a dark, rich, beef-like meat. Geese are often butchered between twelve and twenty weeks old. At this time, their weight will vary by breed, but as an example, the commonly raised meat breed Pilgrim geese will weigh around thirteen pounds. The carcass weight will be about sixty to seventy percent of the live weight. If one cares to process it, goose fat is highly valued in the culinary world and contains almost no saturated fat. It is comparable to olive oil and may be used in the same applications.

Especially if you have selected the Chinese goose, eggs are another offering of your new favorite poultry. These eggs are roughly the equivalent of three chicken eggs. A fried goose egg, sausage or bacon and a pancake makes a very nice dinner or hearty breakfast. Alternatively, you can incubate and hatch goose eggs quite easily. The goslings are so valuable that it’s a wiser financial move to only consume the first couple of eggs laid in the spring, which are usually infertile. Goose eggs are easily candled without any special equipment. Infertile eggs or those that die early on can be blown out and made into painted or dyed eggs.

If you hate waste, and wish to use all but the “honk,” so to speak, the feet are rich in collagen and highly prized in the rest of the world. The liver of a goose is extremely healthy and famous as foie gras. A more familiar byproduct of butchering is down, which can be made into extremely valuable bedding. Be sure to clean and dry feathers carefully first. If raised by hand and handled very often, geese will be quite friendly to their owners and make loyal pets. Some people will actually hold their geese in their laps and gently pluck the down from their flock.

Lastly, geese are often kept as watch animals. Geese are extremely observant night and day and will loudly complain when they see something unfamiliar anywhere in the vicinity. It takes a very short time to learn the difference between the normal sounds of geese and the sound of their panic. Please know that while they may scare away small predators and they are nearly always too big for hawks, a goose is largely defenseless against most predators. Keeping geese near a livestock guardian dog is a great idea. The extremely intelligent birds will rapidly learn the dogs are a source of safety and will alert the dogs to anything they see as a threat. Geese can usually be kept with other poultry without problems. They will not directly protect their avian brethren, but the others will learn to hide when the more observant geese voice a concern. In mixed flocks, the noble geese stride around the yard, aristocracy among poultry.

Geese are immensely versatile, the most low-maintenance poultry there is and should have a place on any property.

Farm & Ranch

Changing the Way We Handle Hay

Published

4 weeks ago

March 22, 2026

NTFR

Few machines have reshaped livestock operations as much as the round baler. Before its arrival, haymaking was slow, labor-intensive, and limited by the storage and handling of small square bales. The round baler mechanized the process, producing large rolls that could be handled with tractors instead of back-breaking labor. Today, those big bales are a familiar sight across Oklahoma, Texas, and much of the world, stacked along fence lines or dotting pastures.

The modern round baler traces back to the mid-20th century. While early versions of hay-rolling machines appeared in Europe in the 1940s and 1950s, it was a man from Iowa who brought the design into practical use in America. In 1971, Vermeer Corporation, led by Gary Vermeer, introduced the first large round baler that could be mass-produced and widely adopted. His design gathered hay into a chamber, rolled it into a tight cylindrical package, and then wrapped it with twine before ejecting it onto the ground.

This solved a long-standing bottleneck. Small square bales required enormous labor — lifting, stacking, hauling, and feeding by hand. One person with a tractor and round baler could do in hours what once took a crew all day. The new bales were weather-resistant, stored easily outdoors, and reduced spoilage. They also fit well with the larger scale of modern cattle operations.

By the 1980s, other manufacturers such as John Deere, New Holland, and Case IH offered their own models. Improvements included variable chamber sizes, better pickup systems, and stronger tying methods. Round balers quickly became the standard for beef and dairy producers in Oklahoma, Texas, and beyond.

Though models vary, the principle remains the same. The baler picks up cut hay from the windrow and feeds it into a chamber with belts, rollers, or chains. As the hay circulates, it rolls into a tight cylinder. Once the bale reaches the set size — often 4×5 or 5×6 feet, weighing between 800 and 1,200 pounds — the machine stops feeding, and the bale is wrapped for storage.

The result is a dense, weather-resistant package that can be moved with a tractor spear or loader. Unlike small square bales that require dry storage, round bales can be stacked outdoors, especially when wrapped correctly.

The biggest evolution in round baling since its invention has been the way bales are bound. Early machines used only twine, usually sisal or synthetic. Twine is inexpensive and reliable, but it has drawbacks. Wrapping a bale with twine can take up to two minutes, slowing production. Twine also leaves more exposed surface area, allowing moisture to penetrate and spoil hay.

Net wrap was introduced in the 1990s as a solution. Made of high-strength polyethylene, it wraps the bale quickly — usually in 10 to 20 seconds — and covers more surface area. This tighter, more uniform wrap sheds water better and reduces spoilage, especially for bales stored outside. Net-wrapped bales also hold their shape better, making them easier to stack and transport.

Producers must weigh cost against efficiency. Net wrap is more expensive than twine, both in material and in required equipment, but many ranchers find the savings in time and hay quality worth the investment. Twine remains common for operations feeding hay quickly or storing it under cover, while net wrap dominates in large-scale or commercial setups.

In recent years, bale film wrap has also entered the market. Similar to plastic used in silage, film wrap can seal bales almost completely, reducing spoilage even further. While more expensive, it is gaining ground in wet climates and dairies where feed quality is critical.

The round baler is more than a machine — it changed the rhythm of haymaking. Producers can now harvest, bale, and store hundreds of tons of hay with a fraction of the labor once required. In regions like Oklahoma and North Texas, where cattle herds are large and hay is often stored outdoors, round balers became indispensable.

The machine also influenced land use. With the ability to bale quickly and efficiently, ranchers could harvest larger fields and manage forage with precision. It also reduced dependence on hired labor during peak hay season, a major benefit as rural populations declined.

While square balers still have their place — especially for horse hay and small-scale operations — round bales remain the workhorse of modern cattle ranching.

From its introduction in the 1970s to its widespread adoption today, the round baler has proven to be one of the most influential farm inventions of the last century. It solved the labor bottleneck of haymaking, improved storage and feed efficiency, and fit seamlessly into the mechanization of modern agriculture.

Whether wrapped in twine, net, or film, those big round bales are more than just scenery on a country road. They are symbols of an innovation that continues to save time, labor, and feed across ranch country. Like the steel plow, barbed wire, and windmill, the round baler is an invention that permanently changed the way we work the land.

References

Vermeer Corporation. History of the Round Baler. https://www.vermeer.com

John Deere Equipment. Hay and Forage History. https://www.deere.com

Oklahoma State University Extension. Hay Storage and Preservation.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Net Wrap vs. Twine for Round Bales.

Farm Progress. “Round Balers: The Machine That Changed Haymaking.”