Farm & Ranch
My Farm Radio App
By Jessica Crabtree
The year is 2016, and by this point modern technology has advanced agriculture far beyond most farmer’s and ranchers wildest dreams. There is GPS in tractors, touch screens and much more.
Emerging technology implemented in recent years include mobile computing, 4G networks you can take along to ensure strong internet connection and telematics technology that allows you to check where each farm vehicle is, the fuel level, amount of crops harvested with it, product applied and even when the vehicle is near breakdown.
Other technology includes mini chromosome technology to identify corn traits, highly efficient ethanol production, drought resistant traits in crops, biologicals which are advances in pest control and growth enhancers, RFID technology that stands for radio frequency identification to indentify livestock, soil crop sensors to read plant health, water needs in the crop and nitrogen levels in the soil and electronic drive systems where tractors, sprayers and other farm vehicles generate electric power to run auxiliaries and attachments.
By this day and age most flip phones have been replaced by smart phones; however, a few still exist. A larger majority of farmers and ranchers were brought into the smart phone movement kicking and screaming; however, over time I would be willing to bet they see how beneficial the phone is, enabling access to the internet, allowing a plethora of knowledge and so much more. To read more pick up a copy of the September 2016 NTFR issue.
By Barry Whitworth, DVM, MPH
With the prolonged drought, most pastures in Oklahoma end up in poor condition. With the lack of available forage, animals may go in search of alternative foods.
If oak trees are in the pastures, acorns may be a favorite meal for some livestock in the fall. This may result in oak poisoning.
Oak leaves, twigs, buds, and acorns may be toxic to some animals when consumed.
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.
By: Tony Dean
There are a handful of grasses on North Texas grazing lands ranchers need to know, not because they are highly desirable, but rather because they are not of much value. I call them “decom” plants, which is am acronym for “Don’t Ever Count On Me.” Silver bluestem is a “decom” grass.
Silver bluestem is a perennial which grows in all areas of Texas. It can survive in almost all soil types, and in full sun conditions or in semi shade. It grows up to three feet tall and is easily recognized with the presence of the white fuzzy seed head. Also, one of the identifying characteristics of Silver bluestem is a bend in the stems at each node, causing the plants to take on a rounded shape as they mature.
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.
By: Rayford Pullen
Fall is here which means winter is closing in on us and before we officially get into winter, we need to make sure our factories are either producing or will be producing in a few months.
We have been pregnancy testing our cows this fall and if they are not bred or nursing a calf, we are bidding them adios. With annual costs somewhere between $900.00 and $1,000.00 per cow, those cows not producing a live weaned calf are costing us quite a bit.
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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