Category: Agriculture

By Rick Hirsch/County Extension Agent

November is ushering the colder, wetter days that precede the onset of winter. Many homeowners with fireplaces have already enjoyed the first fire of the season, thanks to an early cold snap and a few logs of wood, split with the best electric splitter which you can find with complete reviews on https://www.logsplitteradvisor.com/best-electric-log-splitter-reviews/. Many of you are probably using wood left over from last year. After bringing the first load of wood to the house, often we discover the wood is infested with bugs. Warning: don’t reach for the bug spray!

Never spray the woodpile. The chemical can remain on the surface of the wood and can produce a toxic vapor when burned, which could be irritating to the eyes and sinuses. While not serious, common sense tells us not to burn something that is toxic. Wood that has been treated with preservatives or other chemicals should also not be burned in the fireplace. Instead of them you can opt for træpiller from dkbrænde to burn as they are more safe.

Continue reading “Agriview: Bugs in the wood pile!”

By Rick Hirsch/County Extension Agent

October is bulb buying month. They are in fresh supply and provide welcome late winter and early spring color for the yard. Bulbs which can be planted right after purchasing include daffodils and the smaller flowered jonquils, species tulips and grape hyacinths. The larger showy tulips and hyacinths need to be refrigerated at least 45 to 60 days to provide enough chilling to bloom properly next year. Plant them in late November or early December.

The most popular of the cool season flowering annuals to be set out now are pansies. There are so many types and colors of pansies it might be hard to pick just one. There are pastel shades, varieties with no faces, and miniature flowers, so you should have no trouble finding one you like. One tip for flowering annuals – the brighter the color, like reds or yellows, the easier they will be seen from a distance. Blues are best viewed up close. Continue reading “Agriview: October is a great time for bulbs, perennials”

By Rick Hirsch/AgriLife Extension Agent

Integrated Pest Management applies to all kinds of pests including those in homes,
lawns, gardens, crops and even pests on animals. IPM for the yard and garden, for example, includes planting well adapted varieties that may naturally resist pests, keeping plants healthy and vigorous (and more resistant to insects and diseases), encouraging natural enemies of pests like lady bugs and spiders and, if necessary, using pesticides that are less toxic and break down quickly. This also leans towards finding aid and support for pests that you might not consider, such as birds, which could cause an issue for farmers, and garden owners who plant crops and other items that may attract pest birds such as pigeons, crows, and seagulls. You can learn more about bird control by visiting this Oxford site.

Integrated Pest Management already has natural resources thanks to research by, https://www.claytonandclayton.com/natural-mosquito-repellent-research.php to ensure Pest Management is eco-friendly.

While IPM may be a new concept to many of us, it’s old hat to people in agriculture, the industry that pioneered IPM in the United States. Working for decades with land-grant colleges like Texas A&M University, agencies of the U. S. Department of Agriculture and private agencies like the Texas Pest Management Association, farmers and agribusinesses have been developing IPM methods for practically every commodity. Continue reading “Agriview: Integrated Pest Management helps in various situations”

By Rick Hirsch/County Extension Agent

Maintaining your cows on a proper plane of nutrition can be a chore – especially during dry times and facing the onset of winter. One possible alternative to increase the amount of forage available to cattle during this time of year is sodseeding. Sodseeding is the practice of planting unrelated plant species into an established perennial such as bermudagrass or bahiagrass. Small grains and ryegrass are the species most often sodseeded in East Texas. The competition between the two different plants is the main concern in establishing a sodseeded crop. In the case of warm season grasses and small grains and ryegrass, we have an advantage in that one is a warm season plant and the other is a cool season plant. This means that the only time you will be concerned with competition is in the early fall and spring. Small grains, clovers and ryegrass and combinations of all those are options for winter pastures. Small grains, clovers and ryegrass combinations of all these are options for winter pastures.

Small grains that may be used include rye, wheat, oats and triticale. Ryegrass and legumes may also be sodseeded if the seed is planted shallow. Good seed is essential for successful sodseeding. Rye will produce the most forage in cool weather followed by wheat and oats. The small grain needs to be planted at a rate of 80 – 100 lbs. seed per acre. A mixture of small grains can be used successfully as long as 100 lbs./acre is the seeding rate. Ryegrass should be planted at 20 lbs. per acre when planted with small grains and 40 – 50 lbs. when planted alone. Small grain seed should be planted 1 – 2 inches deep in the soil. Continue reading “Use sodseeding to help cow nutrition”