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Grazing North Texas – Green sprangletop
By Tony Dean
Green sprangletop is a native perennial bunch grass. It can grow from 12 to 48 inches in height and leaves are from four to 18 inches long. An interesting thing about this grass is that the stems are unbranched anywhere above the base of the plant.
Green sprangletop is most adapted to rocky hills and medium textured soils, but it can also grow on deep sands and deep clay. It is moderately tolerant of alkaline soils, and weakly tolerant of saline sites. It can be found in most states across the southern United States.
Green sprangletop is good forage for livestock but poor forage for deer. Crude protein levels run from 4.5 percent to 6.5 percent in the fall.
Ecologically, Green sprangletop behaves as a pioneer species, establishing quickly to give soil protection and shade, thereby giving other species a chance to germinate. For this reason, it has long been used as a nurse crop in seeding mixes, providing quick cover until the other species establish.
To read more pick up a copy of the December 2017 NTFR issue.
(Below) The seed head of Green sprangletop is an open panicle spreading four inches to 12 inches in length and with numerous branches up to six inches long. The large seed head below matured during the summer months and the smaller seed head on the right began growing recently, indicating this plant was attempting to produce a second seed crop. (Photo by Tony Dean)
By Krista Lucas Wynn
Each year, when the professional rodeo season wraps on Sept. 30, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association announce the Nutrena Horse of the Year, presented by the American Quarter Horse Association, in each event. This is a prestigious award, voted on by the members of the associations. To be named Horse of the Year by fellow competitors is a high honor only a few achieve.
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 Heather Welper
Husband and wife duo, Heather and Calvin Welper, are the Co-Owners and Operators or Two C Livestock, located in Valley View, Texas.
The pair’s operation has a show cattle focus where they raise and sell purebred heifers of all breeds and club calf Hereford steers.
When it comes to show cattle, the Welpers know a thing or two including how to prepare for the cold winter months and the Texas major show season run.
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
Snow on the Mountain is an annual forb that is part of our landscape almost every year.
It is adapted to most of Texas and grows north to Montana and Minnesota and south to Mexico.
Although is seems to be most adapted to clay soils, this plant can be found on a wide variety of soil and moisture conditions.
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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