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The dirt on dirt of duck paddies
By Andy Anderson
Duck Paddies are a fantastic feature for your property, attracting wildlife and creating sustainable vegetation for the eco system to thrive. The first step to any project is site evaluation, what are your options and what constructions methods must be used to be successful. I look at hundreds of properties a year and consult with biologists and other professionals specializing in wildlife management. Most of that time is spent walking around or driving ATV’s to numerous areas throughout the property to find the right location for the project.
The first step in planning anything is to list your priorities and/or objectives. Be systematic in creating your blueprint for the project. Another thing to consider as you list the objectives is make sure it fits into your overall management program.
For instance, if you are raising livestock, consider the impact it will have on the Duck Paddy, should it serve as a multi-use water source or be completely isolated in a designated wildlife area? To read more pick up a copy of the June 2016 issue.
Diagrams courtesy of Texas A&M Aquaculture hand book.
By Hannah Claxton | Editor
The North Texas area is located within USDA Hardiness zones seven and eight. The zones are categorized by predicted low temperatures for winter and timing of the first and last frosts.
Zone seven usually has winter low temps between 0 and 10 degrees F with the average date of the first frost falling between Oct. 29 and Nov. 15 and the average date of the last frost falling between March 22 and April 3.
Overall, these two zones have similar climates and growing conditions, making the options for timing and variety within a garden very similar.
In these zones, cool-season crops should go in the ground in March, meaning that soil preparation should start now.
To read more, pick up a copy of the January edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Heather Lloyd
Vaccinations are a critical component of maintaining the health and well-being of horses, especially in environments where they are exposed to other animals, such as in the sport, show and performance arenas. Horses, like all animals, are susceptible to various infectious diseases that can spread quickly and cause serious harm.
A routine vaccination schedule helps prevent the spread of these diseases by preparing the horse’s immune system.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
Having herds on a controlled breeding schedule means that we have a predictable calving schedule, and while it’s only over a couple of months, for us it does fall right after the start of the year. I lobby annually to call ours the “Winter calving season”, but I am outvoted and my husband still refers to it as Spring. Unlike producers in our Northern States, we don’t have to contend with brutally harsh winter weather, and on those rare times we do, thankfully it is not for extended periods. Regardless of whether you have a Spring or a Fall calving schedule, the health of a newborn calf begins with the mother’s health, and the mother’s health is largely dependent on the producer.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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