Farm & Ranch
Horns 4 Hope: Helping Fight Food Insecurity in North Texas
By Dani Blackburn
In one of the most developed countries in the world, food insecurity remains a very real issue for more than 38 million people in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Even more devastating are statistics showing the effect of hunger on children as nearly 12 million were food insecure during 2020.
What is food insecurity? The USDA defines it as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life and differs slightly from the meaning of hunger.
Hunger implies that feeling of physical sensation of discomfort when one is lacking food, whereas food insecurity is the shortage of consistent access to food. Every community in the country is home to families who face food insecurity, including those right here in North Texas. In fact, food insecurity is highest in the south at 12.3 percent. Many close to home are just one layoff or missed paycheck away from struggling to put food on the table for their family. Numerous individuals do not qualify for government food programs, or when they do, it is still not enough. They turn to their local nonprofits and food pantries for the support they need during difficult times.
Historically, those food pantries across the Lone Star State have lacked the ability to provide consistent high-quality protein to the families they serve. One North Texas nonprofit by the name of Horns 4 Hope is working to confront this challenge by providing protein, in the form of quality ground beef, to those who need it most. The organization’s goal is to collaborate with individuals, businesses, ranchers, rodeo families, and volunteers to contribute to the immense need for fresh meat at local pantries. Since September 2020, they have donated over 10,000 pounds of quality protein beef. Their goals are reached through the donations of cattle, hay, feed, pasture, cattle processing fees, and monetary donations.
To read more pick up a copy of the January 2022 NTFR issue. To subscribe 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.
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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