Farm & Ranch

AgriLife -Texas crop and weather report for April 13

Published

10 years ago

April 13, 2016

NTFR

By: Adam Russell

Pigs pose problems for producers around the state

OVERTON — Wild pigs continue to plague farmers and ranchers in much of the state.

They are a year-round nuisance to producers, said Dr. Billy Higginbotham, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service wildlife specialist in Overton, but farrowing, the birth of new litters of pigs, typically peaks in the spring.

Higginbotham said farmers and ranchers in 253 of 254 Texas counties face a constant battle to prevent or reduce damages by wild pigs. The statewide population estimate is around 2.6 million wild pigs, and limited ways of controlling their numbers means they are here to stay, he said.

“Given the population numbers, there’s no way to eradicate them but you can reduce exposure to damage by managing their numbers,” Higginbotham said.

It costs producers time and money to repair damages and deal with the wild pig population, he said. Higginbotham said 71 percent of landowners with pastureland who responded to an AgriLife Extension survey reported damages by wild pigs.

A conservative estimate of statewide damages based on a decade-old study puts the annual cost to farmers and ranchers at $52 million. Producers spent an additional $7 million each year to repair damages and deal with wild pig populations, according to the same estimate.

Wild pigs are omnivores and will seek any food source for calories, Higginbotham said. They cause much of the damages to crops when they dig, or root, for food sources, such as grub worms, planted seed and plant roots.

Higginbotham said the wild pigs are especially damaging to hay pastures in East Texas. Pastures are rooted up and must be smoothed by farmers to allow hay equipment to access the land. Disturbed soil also creates weed control problems, he said.

Landowners should monitor for signs of wild pig activity, such as tracks, rubs against fence posts and trees, well-used trails and hair stuck on barbed-wire fences where they cross, he said.

“If you see the signs of hogs it’s best to take a proactive approach and try to reduce their numbers,” he said. “They may just be moving through your land but eventually they will cause problems. The more you reduce their numbers the more you reduce the damage they cause.”

Higginbotham said there are four legal ways to address wild hogs in Texas – trapping, snaring, shooting and catch dogs.

Hiring professional shooters to reduce wild pig numbers from helicopters represents a cost-effective way for farmers and ranchers in parts of the state with less tree canopy, but in East Texas trapping is advised, Higginbotham said. Corral-type traps work best, especially when a landowner can catch an entire family or sounder of pigs, he said.

But Higginbotham said it takes a process to trap effectively. Pigs must be “hooked” on the bait before placement of the trap, he said. The trap should then be baited to allow the pigs to get comfortable.

“It could take a week, it could take several weeks depending on how much trapping pressure they’ve experienced,” he said.

Higginbotham suggested landowners speak to their local AgriLife Extension agents for tips on what works best in their area to trap wild pigs.

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

CENTRAL: Corn planting was completed. About 35,000 acres, or 50 percent, of corn acreage was replanted. Sorghum has been replanted as well. Timely rainfall helped activate fertilizer put out by landowners. Bermuda grass began to emerge. Hay was planted. Cattle were doing well with very little supplemental feeding. Tanks were full and creeks were flowing but there were still long-term concerns about continued precipitation. Crops were growing and cotton was in the ground. Insects have not made a large-scale impact, but rust has been found on some wheat. All counties reported soil moisture and overall range and pasture conditions were good. Livestock conditions were 100 percent “good” as well. Overall, 95 percent of crops were in good condition.

ROLLING PLAINS: It had been a few weeks since the last rainfall and producers were finding the top layers of soil were either dry or drying as they continued preparing fields for cotton planting. There was plenty of subsoil moisture, but the topsoil was problematic. Cotton producers plowed in pre-emergent herbicides. Pastures and rangeland were trying to green up, but without any moisture, the process has been slow. Wildfires have been an issue over the past couple of weeks because there was plenty of fuel and wind to spread fires. Producers have plenty of winter wheat for grazing and livestock were in good condition. There could be a fair amount of wheat baled for feed. Cows were calving in some areas. Some producers were beginning to ship gain cattle, but most said they would wait until May. Some cattle producers were feeding supplement, but only on a small scale.

COASTAL BEND: High winds depleted much of the topsoil moisture. Soil moisture conditions were becoming critically low due to the lack of rain. It had been a month since most of the region received measurable rain amounts. Planted crops needed rain to help roots develop and row crops, hay fields and pastures began to show signs of stress as well. Cotton planting was in full swing and wheat looked good. Corn, grain sorghum and cotton were doing well but suffered due to low moisture levels in other areas. Cattle and livestock were in good to excellent condition. Pecans were leafing out and pecan nut casebearer activity was being monitored.

EAST: Dry, windy conditions were reported around the region. Topsoil was drying out. Most counties reported pasture and range conditions as fair to good with subsoil and topsoil as adequate. Ponds and creeks were full. Farmers were planting vegetables. Jasper County reported crops were doing well with some watering taking place. Application of herbicides and fertilizers to pastures started. Cooler night temperatures slowed warm season forage growth. Winter pastures were looking good. Producers were preparing hay fields for the first cutting. Some producers bailed crimson clover and ryegrass. Livestock were doing fair to good. Some producers stopped supplemental feeding. Spring calving continued along with calf working and sales of cull cows and market-ready calves. Feral hogs continued to pose problems across the area.

SOUTH PLAINS: Producers were in need of moisture throughout the region. Bailey County producers received light scattered rainfall. Sub and topsoil moisture levels in Cochran County have improved with some rainfall received last week. Pasture, range and winter wheat needed rain. Producers continued preparations for spring planting. Floyd County producers needed moisture to help suffering dryland wheat crops. Moisture before planting cotton and corn would also help. Weather was warm and windy. Crop and range conditions were less than ideal in Hale County. Lubbock County experienced light rain of up to one-third of an inch. Isolated rain and hail occurred in the southeast portion of the county. Average minimum soil temperature at 8 inches was up to 56 degrees. Corn planting will begin soon. Field preparation and equipment maintenance was ongoing as planting time approaches. Producers remained concerned about the prospects of a profitable season in light of depressed prices. Scurry County received 0.75 inches. Temperatures were about average. Yoakum County had steady precipitation all day on April 8 and soil moisture increased.

PANHANDLE: Conditions were dry and windy with temperatures near to slightly above average. There was high fire danger as soil moisture levels were mostly short. Producers were actively irrigating. Conditions remained dry in Collingsworth County. Winter wheat looked healthy but needed water. Wheat continued to head out at a rapid pace and was coming along nicely. Conditions in Deaf Smith County were almost perfect for producers. Preparations continued in fields for planting season with center pivots running on wheat fields. Pre-watering on corn fields began in preparation of planting. Wheat was still in a holding pattern with many dryland fields needing water. Irrigated wheat looked good. Silage chopping was expected to start soon. Irrigated triticale was growing well. Graze-out wheat was continually stocked with extra animals to graze down wheat to avoid any forage losses. Hutchinson County was in dire need of rain. Moisture to begin the 2016 crop season was short. Lipscomb County winter wheat was hurting from lack of moisture. Windy, dry weather continued to deplete soil moisture levels and cause wheat conditions to decline in Ochiltree County. Summer crop pre-plant activities continued. High winds prevented herbicide spraying. Cattle on range were still being supplemented. Randall County remained dry. There has been less than 1 inch of rain there since January 1. Corn on pre-irrigated fields was expected to be the only planting done in the near future. Cotton and sorghum acres were not expected to be planted until some type of pre-plant moisture arrived.

NORTH: Topsoil moisture varied from short to adequate with some surplus. Days were warm and nights were cool. Ground temperature was right at 65 degrees. Wind dried topsoil to allow more field work. Bermuda grass greened but was not growing. Winter wheat looked decent across the county. Some fields were inconsistent in growth. Many producers were expected to start baling winter forages soon. Cattle were in good condition. Feral hogs were highly active. Small grasshoppers were out on warm days.

FAR WEST: Glasscock County received two-tenths of an inch of rain. The effects from a slight freeze started to show in some wheat crops. Damage was minor and generally limited to low lying areas. Overall, wheat crops look good. Pre-emerge herbicides were applied to cotton, and planting of sorghum continued. Howard County reported rain but no measurements were available. High winds were reported in Hudspeth County where farmers planted crops. Winkler and Loving counties received 0.25-1.25 inches of rain. Conditions in Reagan County were very dry and high winds caused crop and range conditions to dry up. Farmers in Upton County prepared the fields for planting. Goats and lambs continued to kid. Livestock and wildlife were still receiving supplemental feed. Upton County received rain showers. Across the district pasture and range conditions were poor. Subsoil and topsoil were short and all counties needed rain.

WEST CENTRAL: Dry, warm and windy conditions continued. Light scattered rain showers were reported but were not significant. High winds caused extreme range fire concerns in many areas. All areas needed rain. Field activities continued to increase as planting season began. Weeds continued to be an issue and required control. Preparations for row crops were mostly complete and producers waited for moisture to plant. Producers sowed some spring seeded hay crops. Some cutting and baling of wheat and oats began. Sudan planting started. Grain sorghum was planted but needed additional rainfall to emerge. Winter wheat and oats were planted for winter grazing. Field preparations for cotton planting continued. Winter wheat progressed quickly with the warm, dry weather. However, drought stress was becoming a factor in wheat crops. Wheat conditions were fair to good with some rust showing. A large number of wheat acres continue to be grazed out. Some wheat was harvested for forage. Winter grains were beginning to head out. Range and pastures began to decline due to dry conditions. Forages began to show stress. Winter grasses were still doing well and coming on. Tanks remained in good condition with plenty of water. Livestock remained in fair to good condition. Cattle prices held steady.

SOUTHEAST: Weather provided excellent growing conditions for warm-season plants in Brazos County. In Fort Bend County, most producers had planted crops but needed rain. Livestock were in good condition throughout the county. Hay producers cut winter ryegrass remnants to promote warm-season forage growth. Soil moisture levels throughout the region varied widely. Most levels were adequate to surplus with adequate being the most common. Rangeland and pasture ratings varied widely too, mostly from excellent to good, with good being most common.

SOUTHWEST: Recent rains helped forages, and spring growth of grass and wildflowers. Pecan trees continued to leaf out, and hay producers shredded winter weeds and prepared to fertilize hay fields and pastures. Livestock remained in good condition. Spring shearing was underway.

SOUTH: Temperatures began to rise, with cool nighttime temperatures and no rainfall was reported in any counties. Mild temperatures were reported in Atascosa and Brooks counties. The majority of crops in Frio County were being irrigated. Potato crops were in the flowering stage in Frio County and the majority of wheat and oats were headed. Sorghum and corn were completely planted and corn was emerging. Cotton planting began. In Live Oak County, conditions were good for field activities and crop spraying as winds calmed enough to prevent a drift. Topsoil moisture conditions declined in McMullen County. Dry-out could impact further range and pasture improvement until topsoil moisture levels improve. Range and pasture conditions remained fair to good in McMullen and surrounding counties. Body condition scores on cattle remained good. Soil moisture conditions were 98-100 percent adequate in Atascosa County, 50 percent adequate in Frio County, 80 percent short in Live Oak County and 70 percent adequate in McMullen County. Pasture conditions were average in Brooks County. Fog and mist provided some moisture, but the lack of rainfall took its toll. Livestock prices remained steady. In Jim Wells County, weather conditions were favorable for field work. Row crop producers progressed well with planting crops. Some producers finished planting, and a few hoped to be done soon. No significant rainfall was received in the last few weeks, but some rainfall was forecast. Range and pastures throughout Jim Wells County were good and improving. Livestock conditions were good. The local cattle market experienced a five cent drop in 500-pound steers as compared to the previous week. Offerings and demand remained steady. In Kleberg and Kenedy counties, temperatures were cooler than normal. Soil moisture conditions were 100 percent adequate in Brooks and Jim Wells counties and 70-75 percent adequate in Kleberg and Kenedy counties. Maverick County did not receive rainfall and temperatures reached 80 degrees during the day. Nighttime temperatures continued to be quite cold. Crop farmers continued to plant but most have already finished. Pecan orchards started to turn green and look healthy. Also in Maverick County, Coastal Bermuda grass was ready for the first cut. Producers will make either round or square hay bales. All wheat and oats were maturing well across Zapata County. Early reports from producers indicate yields should be average or a little better compared to last year. Native range and pastures continued to provide adequate forage for grazing livestock and no supplemental feeding was reported. In Zavala County, corn, sorghum, carrots and onions made good progress following irrigation. No insect pressure was reported on any crops. Soil moisture conditions were 35-50 percent adequate in Dimmit County, 70 percent short in Maverick County and 100 percent short in Zavala County. Range and pasture conditions continued to improve with recent rainfall in Starr County. Spring vegetable crops were also progressing well and soil moisture conditions were 90 percent adequate.

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Farm & Ranch

Tracks in the Sand

Published

4 weeks ago

July 28, 2026

NTFR

This morning, I walked out into my arena and noticed something that gave me pause. The roping steers had been in there the day before, and even though the ground was wide and level, the sand carried their story. Hoofprints crossed every direction, but in several spots, the same trail was pressed deeper than the rest. Twelve steers had been turned out, yet more than a few chose the exact same path, wearing it down until it stood out from all the other tracks.

Cattle are creatures of habit. Anyone who has spent time around them knows this. They like routine: the same feed, the same water trough, the same shade tree in the pasture. When they are turned loose, they rarely wander without purpose. More often than not, they move together, following the same course as the steer in front of them. There are reasons for this: efficiency, safety, instinct. Walking a beaten path conserves energy, and following the herd is their natural defense. Even in an arena with no real destination, those instincts come through. By the end of a short turnout, you will see the evidence, lines where they have chosen the easiest way to travel and stuck with it.

Out on the range, those lines last longer. Before fences and highways, cattle drives cut deep paths across the land. The Chisholm Trail, which carried herds north from Texas through Oklahoma into Kansas, was walked by millions of cattle in the late 1800s. More than a century later, faint traces of those trails remain, worn so deep by hooves and wagon wheels that the land still carries the mark. On ranches today, you can see the same effect in pastures where cattle walk the same lines between water and grazing. From the ground those trails might look like nothing more than dusty ruts, but from the air, they sometimes stand out as sharp lines winding through otherwise open fields. Cattle do not simply pass over the land; they shape it. Every step adds up.

That simple truth extends beyond livestock. We all make tracks. Our habits and routines are our trails, worn in by repetition, sometimes efficient, sometimes limiting. Like the cow paths, they can serve a purpose, keeping us steady and helping us move forward. But when repeated without thought, they risk becoming ruts, keeping us from stepping into new ground. History offers perspective here too. The old cattle trails built towns and economies, but once railroads and fences changed the landscape, those paths were no longer useful. Sticking to them would have meant going in circles. Progress required something new.

The Tracks We Leave

Standing in the arena, I thought about the kind of tracks I leave behind. Most of mine are not visible in the dirt. They are pressed into my daily life, how I work, the way I handle challenges, the example I set. Some are helpful and worth keeping. Others may have outlived their purpose. The difference comes in knowing when to stay in the track and when to step out of it.

Tomorrow I will drag the arena and smooth it all clean again. The next time the steers are turned in, they will make the same trails. That is their nature. But unlike them, I have a choice. I can decide which paths are worth walking, which ones to change, and what kind of tracks I want to leave for others who might follow.

Tracks tell a story. Sometimes they are only temporary, fading with the next rain. Other times they last for generations, reminders of where herds and people once walked. This morning, the cattle showed me again that even the smallest things on the ranch carry meaning. Their tracks in the arena were not just marks in the sand. They were a lesson: every step matters, and the paths we choose shape more than just the ground beneath our feet.

Farm & Ranch

Sideoats Grama

Published

1 month ago

July 24, 2026

NTFR

In 2015, we introduced this “Grazing North Texas” series by highlighting one of our most important forage plants, Sideoats grama. On this 11^th anniversary, we will take a closer look at this unique and valuable species.

Every Texan should be aware that Sideoats grama is the Texas State Grass. It was recommended for this honor in 1971 by the Texas Council of Chapters of the Soil Conservation Society of America and the Texas Section of the American Society of Range Management, and was officially adopted by Senate Concurrent Resolution 31 in 1971.

Resolution 31 states, in part, that “Although there are many desirable forage species native to the State, one variety, Sideoats grama, occurs on a greater diversity of soils than any other grass; on rangelands of West Texas it is the backbone of the ranching industry.”

Sideoats grama is a deeply rooted summer perennial bunchgrass. It is a mid-grass in height, reaching from 8 inches to 36 inches, depending upon variety and growing conditions. As a mid-grass, it does not produce the total pounds of forage that the tall grasses produce, but the quality of the forage is very good.

Sideoats grama produces high quality, nutritious forage that is relished by all classes of livestock. Crude protein can reach 11 percent in spring green up, decrease to 5 to 8 percent during summer months, and maintain a very respectable 3.5 to 4.5 percent protein after frost, making it one of our most important forage species.

Sideoats has rather wide leaves that take on a characteristic color and curl as the plant matures. The seed head is a zigzag stalk containing small spikes dangling from one side, thus the name Sideoats. Depending upon variety, Sideoats can spread by seed and by small stout rhizomes. It is often found in colonies.

Sideoats is most at home in the mid-grass prairie section of the Great Plains that receives 12 to 20 inches of annual rainfall, but can be found in all areas of Texas (except the far eastern counties), and is adapted to most of the central and western US. It blends well with other native summer grasses such as Little bluestem, Indiangrass, and many mid and short species. It is the most productive of the grama family.

Being adapted to almost all soil types, it has the widest range of soil adaptation of almost all summer perennial grasses. But the best stands are found on medium to fine textured upland sites. It is also better adapted to calcareous and moderately alkaline soils than to neutral or acidic soils.

Sideoats grama can serve many uses, but the best use is as high quality nutritious forage for all classes of livestock. It is also recommended as part of a planting mix for earth fill and bank stabilization, and for establishing grass on critical areas. It was noted in 1944 that it was one of the important grasses remaining in large areas that were affected by the drought of the 1930s, and played an important role in reclaiming those damaged acres. Successful stands can be obtained on rocky and shallow soils.

Sideoats provides some forage for antelope and deer when actively growing. Elk use it for forage throughout the year, and wild turkey consume some seed.

Several varieties have been bred and produced over the years. One of the early varieties was ‘El Reno’ Sideoats grama, bred and released in Kansas in 1944. Another variety, Haskell, was released in 1983 by the James E. (Bud) Smith Plant Materials Center in Texas. Haskell is still widely used in plantings today.

Farm & Ranch

Raising Chicks

Published

1 month ago

July 17, 2026

NTFR

By Landon Moore

If you keep or are interested in keeping poultry, you will have the desire to raise young birds at some point. If you order chicks, or decide to incubate and hatch eggs, it will be necessary to learn how to brood the resulting hatchlings. While this will vary in specifics between species, the basic rules remain the same. In this article, the word “chicks” will be used, but the general information following also applies to goslings, ducklings, keets, poults, etc.

Brooding poultry is caring for the chicks during the period when they are growing their first feathers. Chicks hatch with a thin coat of down that leaves them susceptible to chilling. The mother keeps them warm by continuing to sit on the young for the first weeks after hatching. If you plan to hatch your own flock’s eggs you may wonder why you should bother to do it artificially, especially if you have broody birds. The answer is that modern incubators are much more likely to result in live chicks, can incubate far more eggs and keep the extremely vulnerable hatchlings safe as they emerge, especially from ants. Of course if you are purchasing chicks, brooding is your only option.

Before your eggs hatch or the chicks arrive, you will want to have the brooder set up, and ready to go. The first issue to decide is location. You will want a covered and secured place to set up the brooder. Be sure it has plenty of air flow; as anyone who has spent any time with birds can attest, fowl of any age produce an unpleasant smell without adequate ventilation. A barn or other outbuilding could work, but be sure it is well secured. A cat, raccoon or other predator could easily kill your chicks if they get the opportunity. A garage is a great option, offering protection and close access to water and electricity. If it lacks windows you will need to open the garage door a few times per day for ventilation. Inside the house is another option (such as in a disused bathroom) especially for very small poultry. This may seem ideal, offering complete protection, easy temperature regulation, water and electrify, but there are drawbacks. Aside from smell, chicks are unbelievably messy and will require extensive and daily cleaning if the room is to remain in even slightly good condition.

The next choice is what the brooder box will be. You can purchase large metal brooders built for hundreds of chicks or expensive tiered systems on rollers. However the best option is usually a plain, heavy-duty plastic storage box. Cheap, easy to move, simple to clean and sanitize, these are the most versatile and efficient option.

The chicks will require (in addition to shelter) heat, bedding, feed and water. The heat will come in the form of a small heat lamp or even a very strong and hot light bulb suspended above one end of the brooder box. Be sure it is securely prevented from falling into bedding or you could end up with a fire. You can make a metal screen to place over the box which protects them from predators in addition to falling lamps. Place a thermometer at the surface of the bedding before adding the chicks and adjust the heat lamp until the thermometer measures 95 degrees. You will reduce this by 5 degrees each week until their feathers have grown out. Even if the weather reaches or exceeds this temperature a lamp will be needed at night.

You may be intimidated by charts showing the exact temperature requirements of various poultry species and wonder how you can possibly keep the heat exactly right during daily temperature shifts. You do not need to be overly worried about this. Why? Because the chicks will tell you if they are comfortable through their behavior. After placing them in the brooder simply watch them for a few minutes. Do they crowd underneath the heat, piling on each other to conserve heat? Lower the bulb a bit. Are they straining against the opposite wall and cheeping in stress? Move it further away. Are they fairly evenly spread out, some exploring their new environment and some sleeping under the heat? Perfect. This is why the heat should be placed over one end of the brooder. If it is over the entire box you will have no way of knowing if your chicks are over-warmed.

The next issue is bedding. When the chicks are first placed in the brooder the bedding should be a layer of paper towels or (non-slick) newspaper. This even surface provides good traction for the birds preventing splayed legs and also prevents them from getting stuck somewhere and dying or else ingesting bedding before they learn what feed is and dying. It is always good to keep in mind that chicks of all kinds are morbid little things that will jump at the first opportunity for death in their initial couple weeks of life. It is up to you to deny them the opportunity until their self-preservation instinct kicks in. Chicks mature shockingly fast and in just a couple of days the bedding may be exchanged for pine shavings. You may still want a layer of paper at the bottom to make cleaning easier. You do not want to disturb the chicks without necessity, so you can add a fresh layer of shavings a couple of times as needed before you completely clean the box.

Commercial chick feed is available that is meant to be suitable for all species. For game birds, guineas and turkeys it’s often better to just use an adult gamebird crumble feed as their protein requirements are extremely high. For waterfowl, be sure the feed has enough niacin if it isn’t specifically formulated for them. If it does not have enough, you can sprinkle some brewer’s yeast over the top. Medicated feed is usually formulated for chicks specifically and may not be safe for other species (especially for waterfowl), so be sure to check before feeding. Chicks aren’t especially bright and may not be able to figure out how to operate the feeder at first. You can help them by placing a small pile of their feed on a paper plate (or paper towel for quail) where they can see it more easily.

For waterers, their basically two main types; open waterers and bottles. The bottles can be complicated with multiple pieces and nipples to drink from or simply a two piece plastic quart jar and base that screw together. The open waterers will usually be a miniature trough with a hinged or sliding lid that allows the chicks to stick their heads in without falling into the waterer and drowning. Generally the bottle type waterers will stay cleaner and hold more, but for waterfowl open waterers are preferred so they may submerge their bills for cleaning. Quail should be given bottles with special quail bases which are very small to prevent drowning. It can be extremely beneficial to dissolve a couple tablespoons of sugar (or commercially-made chick electrolytes) into the water for the first few days, especially if the chicks came by mail. Provide chicks with warm water the first few days (use your inner wrist to determine a suitable temperature, as you would milk for a bottle) to prevent chilling them. Be sure to carefully dunk each chick’s beak into the water when they are placed in the brooder so they learn what it is.

Chicks are most fragile for the first three days and should be handled as little as possible. When shipped, they will arrive stressed and possible chilled and care during this period is the most crucial. For the first three days after hatching, chicks are still absorbing their egg yolk and will not require outside nutrition and therefore may eat sparingly. It is best practice to sanitize the feeders and waterers regularly, but be aware that all birds will leave manure in their water. Don’t let the water remain filthy, but don’t expect it to remain sterile, either. Likewise, a stinking bog will not yield thriving poultry, but it is unnecessary to fanatically clean the brooder constantly. When the chicks are fully feathered will vary by species (three weeks for quail, six weeks for chickens), but once this happens it will be time for your young feathered friends to graduate to their new pens.