Farm & Ranch
[AgriLife Today] Texas to see 300,000-acre increase in planted corn acres for 2016
By: Blair Fannin
Writer: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, [email protected]
Contact: Dr. Mark Welch, 979-845-8011, [email protected]
COLLEGE STATION – Texas is projected to see an increase of 300,000 acres of corn planted for 2016 following a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture expected plantings report, which confirmed a broad-scale increase in corn acreage across the nation.
Significant shifts have been seen on the western edge of the Corn Belt from North Dakota to Texas as corn acres are projected to be up 2.25 million acres, said Dr. Mark Welch, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service grain marketing economist, College Station.
Texas is projected to plant 2.6 million acres of corn in 2016 compared to 2.3 million acres in 2015. The 300,000-acre increase is attributed to wet conditions during the fall, which prohibited farmers in the Central Texas Blacklands region and along the Interstate 35 corridor from planting wheat, Welch said.
“That left many farmers leaning towards corn since the moisture was favorable and corn budgets looked better versus other commodities,” Welch said.
The threat of the sugarcane aphid has left some Texas farmers to opt for corn with already record-high sorghum yields booked in 2015.
In his recent Feed Grain Outlook report, Welch said the USDA’s expected plantings report, “if realized and yields are at or near trend line, corn supplies could reach 16 billion bushels and carry over 2.3 billion bushels.”
Other grains will see fewer planted acres, Welch noted. U.S. wheat acres are projected to be down 5 million acres compared to 2015 and sorghum down 1.2 million acres.
“We were already expecting more corn acres to be planted this year and the USDA report confirmed it,” he said.
Though corn prices have fallen due to U.S. farmers’ intentions to plant more corn, farmers can offset that revenue loss with more volume, Welch said.
“If a farmer feels that they’ve got the moisture and there’s favorable chances for moisture to continue through the growing season, they can make more bushels to make up for the lower price.”
Another factor is the financial capacity of some farming operations. Welch said for producers carrying over large debt from the previous year, a big question is will they have enough capital needed to plant a new crop?
“If not, will there be someone else to come in and pick up the land (in time before the planting window closes)?” Welch said.
Low commodity prices and increased loan demand are concerns for ag lenders across the country, Welch said. Several farm income safety net programs, such as crop insurance and the Agriculture Risk Coverage, or ARC, program in the farm bill, offer lower levels of security in times of low commodity prices.
“But that all depends on how each farmer is structured and their cost of production,” Welch said.
Some farmers in Texas have been diversifying by planting oilseed crops to offset depressed prices in corn, cotton and other commodities, Welch said.
“Overall, the USDA report was a wake-up call in that we are capable of planting considerably more corn compared to recent years,” Welch said.
Welch distributes a Feed Grain Outlook, which can be subscribed to via email at [email protected] or by calling 979-845-8011.
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By: Martha Crump
Most cattle producers can tell you quite a lot about balancing cattle diets for energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals based on the specific needs for their herd and type of operation.
A key factor, and one that is often overlooked, is that how your animals perform is also directly affected by their water intake.
Now many of you may already be thinking “well of course water is necessary, anybody knows that!”
In many years, as September marches into October, we are beginning to experience some return of rainfall. But as many of us know, that is not always the case. Often we are still experiencing hot and dry weather, and water supplies are dwindling.
When we find ourselves experiencing those types of fall conditions, it is critical to not only understand the daily water requirements for cattle, but also the impact that the quality of water can have on herd health and development.
To read more, pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Tony Dean
Since their introduction to the U.S. in the early 1900s, Old World Bluestems such as King Ranch bluestem and Dahl bluestem have become established on farms and ranches from the Rio Grande to Nebraska. With such a wide range of adaptability, these species are subjected to a wide range of management, depending on location and the goals of the rancher.
Due to the aggressive nature of OWBs, producers in far South Texas have been trying to find a way to eradicate OWBs in their pastures. Texas AgriLife Extension bulletin “Introduced Bluestem Grasses: Management on Native Lands” describes several methods being used in the effort to rid pastures of OWBs. In 2016, one project involved using chemicals, plowing, mowing, reseeding, summer burning, and combinations of these practices.
To read the about the researchers findings and hear Tony’s take, pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Rayford Pullen
Watching our pastures over the years, I have noticed our forages quit growing when nighttime temperatures begin hitting that 45-degree mark, and in North Texas, that will usually be around October 20.
While growth stops, our forages will still be high quality which allows our momma cows to gain weight for another 40 days or so.
Getting these cows in better condition is key to getting them through the winter and breeding after they calve.
Read more in the October issue of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available online and in print. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive NTFR in your inbox each week.
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