HOME
Helicopter Hogs
By Russell A. Graves
The new day’s sun was barely an hour old when I climbed into the cockpit of the Robinson R-44 helicopter and by that time, the helicopter had been idling for fifteen minutes or so. While the February day was unseasonably tepid, the helicopter still needed to warm up so it’s at peak performance by the time we take off.
Dusty Whitaker is my guide today, and I am not new to his piloting. In fact, we’ve flown together on numerous occasions when I’ve needed to do aerial photography for a variety of clients. He’s an all-purpose pilot who may be flying clients on a hog eradication expedition one day while gathering cattle on vast ranches the next. He’s a good pilot and he knows what he’s doing. Therefore, I am comfortable when he removes the door on my side of the helicopter after I climb in and strap on the safety belt.
As the engine revs up, we make small talk over the headsets. He gives me a safety briefing on proper firearm handling in a helicopter and, in an instant, we lift off the trailer with which he hauls his aircraft.
“Always make sure the muzzle is pointed down and forward,” he reminds me. In a small helicopter like this one, a bullet through the blade of tail rotor could be disastrous, and while I’ve shot from helicopters before, a reminder on muzzle control is never out of sorts.
To read more pick up a copy of the 2017 February NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
One of my professors out at Texas Tech University always told us that we aren’t just raising cattle, we’re raising grass, because without grass there is no cattle business. The same applies to most livestock species and crops we seek to raise- without good land management, no good yield can grow.
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 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.
-
Country Lifestyles2 years agoScott & Stacey Schumacher: A Growth Mindset
-
Country Lifestyles8 years agoStyle Your Profile – What your style cowboy hat says about you and new trends in 2017
-
HOME8 years agoGrazing North Texas – Wilman Lovegrass
-
Equine1 year agoThe Will to Win
-
Country Lifestyles5 years agoAmber Crawford, Breakaway Roper
-
Outdoor9 years agoButtercup or Primrose?
-
Country Lifestyles8 years agoJune 2016 Profile – The man behind the mic: Bob Tallman
-
Country Lifestyles8 years agoDecember 2016 Profile, Rusty Riddle – The Riddle Way