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Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Pink smartweed - Polygonum pensylvanicum



The plant Pink smartweed is very common in central and eastern Texas. Often, they are found growing in wetland habitats. Most of the time, it will grow in shallow standing water. Flowers can range in color from a white to light pink and are located at the end of each stem. Leaves are lance shaped, alternate, and can be up to 4 inches in
length.

Pink smartweed has great wildlife value. Seeds are a favorite of ducks, song birds, and some small mammals. When the plant becomes submerged for an extended period of time, its stems become habitat micro and macro invertebrates – important food for fish and other wildlife species.

USDA Plants Profile for Polygonum pensylvanicum

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Cattle, Hog Futures Advance as Dollar's Drop May Boost U.S. Meat Exports

By Whitney McFerron - Sep 24, 2010 9:43 AM CT

Cattle futures rose for a second straight day and hogs gained as the dollar dropped, boosting prospects for U.S. beef and pork exports.

The greenback fell to a seven-month low against a basket of six major currencies. Beef export sales in the week ended Sept. 16 were 41 percent higher than the previous four-week average, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pork exports this year through July were 5.6 percent higher than a year earlier, the most-recent USDA data show.

“Export demand continues to work in favor of beef, and the dollar can have a positive impact on that,” said David Kruse, the president of CommStock Investments Inc. in Royal, Iowa. “There seems to be good support in general in all commodities.”

Cattle futures for December delivery gained 0.375 cent, or 0.4 percent, to 98.625 cents a pound at 9:24 a.m. on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Before today, the most-active contract was up 14 percent this year, partly as beef demand recovered from the recession. Feeder-cattle futures for November settlement dropped 0.1 cent to $1.0975 a pound.

Hog futures for December settlement rose 0.6 cent, or 0.8 percent, to 76.625 cents a pound. As of yesterday, the most- active contract was up 16 percent this year.

Hogs also rose before a USDA inventory report, which may show shrinking U.S. sow supplies, Kruse said. The quarterly report will be released today after CME livestock markets close.

To contact the reporter on this story: Whitney McFerron in Chicago at wmcferron1@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Steve Stroth at sstroth@bloomberg.net

Article from Bloomberg.com

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Croton spp.

        Now that dove season is in full swing there is a genus of plants that you should be keeping your eye open for and that is croton. If you find a patch of croton you’re bound to find a flock of doves and many other seed eating birds.  There are roughly twenty different species of croton in Texas.  There is even a town in Texas called Croton.  Below is a list of 3 species of croton that are commonly found in Texas.

Woolly Croton (Croton capitatus Michx.)

Ted Bodner @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Jeff McMillian @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
       Woolly croton can grow 1 to 3 foot tall. The leaves and stem have star-shaped hairs that give it a soft texture. The leaves are entire and have no lobes. The leaf placement is alternate and has an aromatic smell when crushed.

The seeds of the woolly croton have a great wildlife value. Dove, quail, Rio Grande turkeys, and many other seed-eating birds seek out the seeds after they mature. Most of the time the plant is treated as a weed due to the fact that it has no to little value to livestock.

These plants can normally be located where recent soil disturbance has occurred or where overgrazing is present

Texas Croton (Croton texensis (Klotzch) Muell. Arg).
USDA-NRCS Plants Database
        Texas croton also has that unique aromatic smell when the leaves are crushed. It can be a little larger than the woolly croton varying from 1– 4 feet tall. The leaves tend to be a dark green on the bottom and a light green/gray on the top. The leaves also are entire and have no lobes. The fruit on Texas croton is divided into three sections each holding a seed. 

Texas croton also produces a seed crop that is very valuable to dove, quail and other seed-eating birds but like the woolly croton has little value for grazing livestock.

These will be found in the same areas as woolly croton, where recent soil disturbances have occurred. 

One-seeded Croton (Croton monanthogynus Michx.)
Melody Lytle, Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center
One-seed croton or prairie-tea is smaller than both the other types of croton, it’s height ranges from several inches to 18 inches tall. The stems of the one-seeded croton usually have a peach-pink-orange color. The plant has many wide branches unlike the other two species of croton. This plant gets its name from having only one seed instead of three like most members of the croton family.

Along with most croton species, the one-seeded croton also produces a seed crop that is very valuable to dove, quail and other seed-eating birds but again has little value for grazing livestock.


More information on these plants and other plants found in Texas can be found at http://essmextension.tamu.edu/plants/

Friday, September 17, 2010

Rio Grande wild turkeys are popular game birds found throughout much of Texas.  In recent years TPWD has noticed a steady decline in their population. Specific causes are unknown, but it is thought that poor nest success and poult survival associated with changes in vegetation structure are limiting factors.  Brush encroachment near and under roost sites is believed to have a negative effect on RGWTs, and it is thought that dense understory brush may degrade roost site quality. It is difficult to understand all the causes of the decline in the turkey population, but brush management is one that can be easily managed. This publication written by Dr. Jim Cathey and myself is designed to give the landowner or manager an overview of the issues and proper techniques to manage turkey roost sites.

Managing Brush Near Rio Grande Wild Turkey Roosts

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Forum added

A forum has been added to the website. Give it a look.

Ranch Management University


First Annual Ranch Management University will be held October 12-15

The Ranch Management University is an intensive 4-day event that targets new or inexperienced ranchers and landowners and covers the fundamentals of soils and soil fertility, forage establishment, pasture management, and utilization by livestock. Basic livestock management practices such as castrating, vaccinating, and de-horning calves are demonstrated. Grazing management, stocking rate, and body condition scoring are also highlighted. Additionally, several wildlife management topics are covered for those interested in managing white-tailed deer, turkey, quail, feral hogs, and farm ponds. Approximately one-half the workshop involves lectures and discussion, with the remainder consisting of the field demonstrations of various how to methods of soil sampling, planting, calibrating sprayers, and inoculating legume seed. Various forage species, including bermudagrass, small grains, annual ryegrass, and clovers are studied by workshop attendees. Additional demonstrations covers deer necropsy, hog trap management, and pond fisheries management. Plenty of time is allowed for interaction with Texas A&M University faculty with expertise and experience in all management facets of the soil-plant-animal interface and wildlife management.

The agenda and registration can be found at https://agrilifevents.tamu.edu/events/details.cfm?id=649