Farm & Ranch
Cotton in Crisis
By Judy Wade
According to the National Cotton Council, in 2017 Texas farmers planted 6,900,000 acres of cotton and harvested 5,500,000 acres yielding 9,270,000 bales. If two north central Clay County farmers are any indication, those figures will be much less for the 2018 yield.
Dewayne Davis and Johnny Harding are both third generation cotton farmers and share the same findings about the low yield for 2018. “Wet weather prevented us from planting when we usually did, and then the dry spell hit,” according to Harding. Davis agreed, saying, “Dry weather kept the cotton from coming up, and in the places it did, the growth was skippy.”
Harding planted 700 acres and will harvest only about 200 acres. “I plowed the rest under and I’m planting wheat there,” he said.
Davis usually plants about 1,000 acres, but cut back to 600 in 2018, declared 200 disastered and will harvest the remaining 400.
To read more pick up a copy of the January 2019 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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