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Grazing North Texas – Johnson Grass
By Tony Dean
In the 1840s, Colonel William Johnson owned a fertile river bottom farm in South Carolina. A friend gave Colonel Johnson seed for a grass originating in Turkey and the Colonel planted the seed expecting the grass to provide good forage for livestock. The grass became known as Johnson grass since it got its start on the Johnson plantation.
This non-native perennial spreads from seed and from creeping, scaly, underground rootstock. Johnson grass can reach heights up to seven feet. It has a bright green color, and leaves can reach 24 inches in length and ¾ inch in width.
The open seedhead is shaped like a pyramid and is 6 inches to 12 inches long. Seedhead branches growing from the main stem are mostly in groups of four. Seeds are dark brown to black and produced in quantity on each plant.
Just as Colonel Johnson expected, Johnson grass provides good forage for all classes of livestock during the growing season and can be baled for hay. Crude protein in early summer ranges from 12 to 14 percent and reduces to eight to 10 percent in fall. Seeds are utilized by all game and song birds.
To read more pick up a copy of the February 2018 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
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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