Farm & Ranch
Ranchers, more than cowmen, but stewards of the land
By Lindsay Allen
Dr. Larry Redmon, professor and associate department head and extension program leader for the department of soil and crop sciences at Texas A&M University, said a cowman’s number one goal when it comes to his soil is protecting this valuable resource from erosion loss. While some soil erosion may be natural, an accelerated form of erosion is not.
Removing any protective layer from your pastures, such as trees, thick leaf layers and dense grass, which all protect the soil in its natural state, could speed up the erosion process. Poor grazing management is another area that could take a toll on the soil and increase erosion. Redmon said appropriate stocking rates are critically important when it comes to providing the necessary levels of forage residues remaining in the pasture in an effort to reduce and protect the soil from erosion loss.
When taking soil samples and tests, Dr. John Lory, University of Missouri Extension, recommends the sampling area be divided into pastures that have similar characteristics and should not exceed 20 acres. 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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