fourth edition ag mag

is just two years old but has already had two showmanship clinics & shows at the RGV Show, invested over $13,000 in Brahman steer premiums at the RGV Shows, awarded $5,000 in scholarships last year to six students, hosted two Brahman Camaraderie Parties with and at the Englands after the RGV Brahman Show, hosted two field days and are now adding a $6,000 RGV Jr. Brahman Heifer Show at the LMC $ellabration in March.

They are MAKING THINGS HAPPEN!!! Please support our members with business and become a member if interested in helping develop tomorrow’s leaders today. Please contact Mike England @ 956-330-0916, Carlos X. Guerra Jr. @ 956-330-1963 or Javier Moreno @ 956-607-7408 for more info.

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, AgriLife Research approved for drone-based plant health study...........................................Pg 6Despite Important Challenges, Brazilian Agriculture Achieving Large Scale................Pg 10SOIL: The Great Sustainer.............................Pg 12

Feature StoryThe Simpson Legacy Lives On..........................Pg 1669th Annual Meeting of the Subtropical Agriculture and Environments Society.........Pg 18Small Adjustments in Irrigation Practices Lead To Big Water Savings............Pg19Cameron Co. Temporary Cattle Fever Tick Preventative Quarantine Area Update..........Pg 22The True Sustainable Conversation............Pg 25ALOE KING Reigns Supreme in the RGV!......Pg 27The right Time to Refinance!.......................Pg 28FFA & 4-H Events....................................Pgs 30-31STAR GALA 2015 Re-Cap.............................Pg 33Youth Ag-education Innovation Cooperative (YAIC).......................................Pg 34The Man Behind The Microphone................Pg 36Protect Your Groundwater...........................Pg 39FFA Research Takes to the Sky in Search of Resistant Weeds.......................................Pg 41The Arroyo Colorado Watershed Partnership Photo Contest...........................Pg 42 Tamarixia radiata - Biological control in door yard citrus in the Rio Grande Valley....Pg 43Institute-led Initiative Receives $2.3 Million Grant to Address Water Quantity, Quality in Lower RGV..................Pg 44Bayer CropScience Launches Latest Insecticide Innovation, Sivanto....................Pg 47

StaffMichelle MartinOwner/Editor [email protected](956) 330-8870

Al Benavides Graphic Designer

In This Issue:

We are now well on our way into the New Year and we are now entering into the Spring,that is if the weather gives us all a break. As Spring approaches I am reminded of Easter time. I look back and remember as a child loving Spring/Easter time because not only did I get Spring Break but also meant I could indulge in as much chocolate and candy as I wanted. If you know me, you know I love my chocolate. If you don’t know me or how much I love chocolate, you might be frightened after finding out - ha!During our family Easter Egg Hunt I could care less if I found the golden egg with the mon-ey in it. I was all about gathering as many eggs as I could to ensure I was the one with ALL the chocolate. While everyone was busy cracking confetti eggs, I was the kid in the corner eating my pounds and pounds of chocolate. I think that was my heaven on earth. Yet, as I grew older so did my perception of Easter and the Spring. It’s about realizing the life God has given us and feeling a sense of re-newment and how He died on the Cross so we may have new life. The Spring also means my wedding anniversary - I can’t forget that one. ( I would be in BIG TROUBLE) Yet while many people enjoy the Spring, the Spring time also brings about a time of chaos with all the planting of new crops and stock shows that are taking place. I think we can attest that life is crazy and full of changes (especially in the Ag world). My life has greatly changed lately and I am thankful for it. Many of you have been working hard over the winter to ensure the perfect crop to harvest. Others have been laboring with your herds or flocks to produce the perfect animal. I wish you nothing but success. We all have had and are going to have challenges at many dif-ferent levels this season. The world of Agriculture is never an easy one, and every person of the industry works to hard to provide for the world. Thank you for that. I pray you feel renewed this Spring with a sense of fulfillment. I wish you success in all that you do. Above all, let us remember the real reason we are on this earth and never forget to give thanks to God in all we do.

As I have said before, it would not be possible without God, my husband, all my advertisers, my designer, writers and readers. This has been a life-changing experience for me. I like to tell people that starting this magazine has allowed me to meet some of the greatest people on earth, the salt of the earth. YES YOU! To everyone who reads and supports my magazine YOU have been a blessing to me, whether you know it or not.

A Letter from the Editor

Volume 1, Issue 4. March 2015. No part of this publication can be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ag Mag reserves the right to edit, rewrite or refuse editorial materials and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors, omissions or consequence arising from it. All correspondence to the publica-tion become the property of Ag Mag.

Ag Mag is published bi-monthly ©2015. To advertise in Ag Mag, call (956) 330-8870 or email [email protected]

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Vol. 1 Issue 4

Owner/Creator of AG MAG

6 Ag Mag THEAGMAG.ORG

CORPUS CHRISTI – Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi and Texas A&M AgriLife Research have received the state’s first permit to use drones to conduct agricultural research at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Corpus Christi.

Research will begin soon in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs,) sometimes called drones – that are expected to help growers improve crop quality and yields while reduc-ing production costs, savings that could be passed on to consumers.

“This represents another excel-lent opportunity for us to continue conducting cutting-edge agricultural research,” said Dr. Juan Landivar, director of the AgriLife Research and Extension Centers in Corpus Christi and Weslaco. “After submit-ting an application and undergoing an extensive review process by the Federal Aviation Administration, we were issued a permit to conduct research on in-flight operations for precision agriculture. This technology will eventually improve agriculture and, in addition, could bring an entirely new remote-sensing, multi-million dollar industry to Texas.”

The first test flight of the UAV, a fixed-wing lightweight platform called a Sensefly eBee, will take flight within days, according to Dr. Michael Starek, assistant professor of geospatial surveying engineering at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.A demonstration for the media will be planned in the next few months.

“This technology has huge potential,” Starek said. “Such systems can be equipped with specialized cameras to precisely map where crops are stressed, assess moisture conditions, image 3-D plant structure, detect pest infiltration, and potentially determine early on where crops are diseased. Compared to traditional aircraft or satellites, UAVs provide the capability to scout crops at a fraction of the cost and at spatial and temporal scales previously unat-tainable.”

Current FAA regulations prohibit flying unmanned aircraft systems for commercial purposes, Starek said. While a few companies have received waivers or permits, the permit that A&M-Corpus Christi and AgriLife Research received is specific to their role as state agen-cies and does not pertain to com-

mercial uses.The technology for growers is already here, he said. But challenges still remain on how to effectively operate and process data that is easily useable for the end users.

“I see small-scale UAVs becoming an integral tool for growers, big and small, enabling them to target their needs to better manage crops,” Starek said. “It’s relatively inexpen-sive, capable, and a technology that is rapidly evolving. Eventually these platforms will perform all kinds of applications beyond crop scouting, such as precisely watering or distrib-uting insecticides. The possibilities and potential are impressive.”

Starek said the current flight permit has very strict guidelines about how, when, and where the fixed-wing UAV can be used. Initial operations will include conducting baseline surveys of crops fields at the Corpus Christi center.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and AgriLife Research are in the pro-cess of applying for another ag-ricultural UAV permit. “A second permit would use a roto-copter that operates more like a helicopter to

Texas A&M University -Corpus Christi, AgriLife Research approved for drone-based plant health study

Texas A&M University -Corpus Christi, AgriLife Research approved for drone-based plant health study

M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 5 7

hover and focus in on a particular problem in a field,” Starek said.

Depending on the objective and the particular sensors on a drone, an entire field crop can be surveyed in less than 30 minutes, Landi-var said. The data could then be plugged into a “smart” tractor via a computer jump drive. The tractor would proceed through the field, responding to plants’ needs based on a data map showing the tractor where to apply herbicides, insec-ticides, water, growth hormone regulators or whatever the crop requires.

“That’s precision agriculture,” he said. “It would apply only what’s needed where it’s needed. It will make for a higher-quality, higher-yielding crop, saving the grower time and money.” Landivar said UAVs could also eventually drastically reduce the amount of time crop managers spend in the field evaluat-ing crop performance.

“This technology could help in phe-notyping, or evaluating the thousands of prodigy lines that now must be done by hand, plant by plant,” he said. “With the proper sensors on

the platform, the UAV could do in very short order what normally can take up to several days, depending on the size of the study.”

A new, technology-based industry for the state could result from the preliminary work now being done, he said.

“In addition to aiding in the produc-tion of crops, other uses for this technology include the management of water, minerals, livestock and wildlife,” Landivar said.

Dr. Craig Nessler, AgriLife Research director in College Station, said this new field of research fits well with the organization’s goals of agricul-tural research.

“AgriLife Research has long been known for setting the scientific bar, which ultimately benefits the grower, consumer and national food security,” he said. “With this sophisticated technology, our researchers will be able to advance their studies and solve agricultural issues in new ways.”

W R I T T E N B Y : R O D S A N TA A N A

“

“

I see small-scale UAVs becoming an integral tool

for growers, big and small, enabling

them to target their needs to better

manage crops.Dr. Michael Starek

Dr. Michael Starek, assistant professor of geospatial surveying engineering at Texas

A&M-Corpus Christi, holds a Sensefly eBee UAV, the type to be used in agricultural

research at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Corpus Christi. (Photo courtesy of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi)


was recently able to help organ- ize and join Texas farmers on a trip to learn from farming operations in Southern Brazil. Our group included farmers from across Texas, and included Marshall Swanberg and Billie D. Simpson from the Valley. A simple request from a customer quickly evolved into navigating the complicated process of travel visas and tour connections overseas.

Fortunately, we borrowed established relationships of Texas Grain Sorghum Producers, Intl FC Stone, Rabobank, Campus Brazil travel services, and many others that lent their time and expertise so that we had an enjoyable trip. The comfort of our travel, the ac-commodations and meals, and most of all the hospitality of the people at the farms and businesses that we visited all exceeded my expectations.

Brazil showed us to have tremendous resources and impressive efforts under way to help overcome the many chal-lenges presented by diverse landscapes and people groups spread across an

enormous geographic area.We started at the Port of Santos which sets 50 miles below Sau Paulo, a city of 20 million or so. Santos has 400,000 residents, and is the largest port in Latin American. It’s the second largest soybean port in Brazil. Sugar, coffee, and corn pass through there as well. While agriculture is big in Brazil, Santos is also a huge hub for petro-leum, mining and manufacturing.

This is a centuries old port where growth in the coffee trade helped build better roads and rail access. We visited a museum that explained the importance of coffee production to the modernization that is apparent today. Coffee has been overtaken by other agricultural and industrial ship-ments but is still a source of great pride as seen by the fact that coffee, very strong coffee, is served at virtually every eating establishment.

Next was Cuiaba, a city located in western Mato Grosso state. This is the state capital, and the geographical center of South America. The area is

now known for the extremely fertile farm ground. We traveled to Campo Verde to visit a 30,000 acre farm of soybeans, corn, cotton, edible beans, and wheat. This was also home to a sizable cattle operation consisting of tropic-hardy breeds such as Brahman.

Large farms are common and we were told that numerous farming opera-tions are in excess of 500,000 acres. Given the remoteness, farms strive to be self-sufficient. This farm had siz-able grain storage facilities, edible bean processing, a four-stand cotton gin, and a cottonseed warehouse for use as a feed-source for their cattle operation. In addition, most farms own and oper-ate their own spray equipment, includ-ing aircraft, and harvesting equipment.We found the equipment brands and components familiar to that found in the U.S.

An exception was that all combines had hopper covers to control dust and protect from frequent rains. After looking at facilities and equipment, a trip to the fields emphasized differenc-

Despite Important Challenges, Brazilian Agriculture Achieving Large Scale W R I T T E N B Y : J O H N M I L L E R

I

es in our ways of farming and theirs. While we were familiar with the soy-bean, corn and cotton crops; and famil-iar with various day-to-day activities, the year-round nature of farming there was truly amazing. Just on the farm at Campo Verde, we saw soybeans in every development stage. The tropical climate, high soil fertility, and frequent rains allow farmers to two-to-three crops per year. No wonder that once cheap land now has Iowa prices.

The combines harvesting soybeans or edible beans leave the fields clean enough to where planters are run-ning right behind. Soybeans are often followed by short-season corn, edible beans, or cotton. The constant crop-ping is a key advantage for an area in need of extra income to deal with transportation challenges. Soybeans across the country travel by truck for up to 2,000 miles to ocean ports Atlantic, and the roads are of difficult to travel. Farmers we visited said that transportation was the main challenge. There is very little rail infrastructure beyond coastal areas, and road-building is often left to the individual farmers.

We had time left to visit similar operations near the national capital of Brasilia, but also incorporated irrigated seed corn. This saw pivot irrigation for the first time since the Southern Brazil climate becomes dryer as you move towards the coast. We also learned about the agricultural labor laws. We ate traditional meals just as prepared by the same staff that cooks meals for their farm labor. By law employees work only eight hours per day, are provided a one-hour lunch with cooked meals, and housing or transportation expenses. Each farm had a cafeteria and serving area.

The next farm took the concept of self-sufficiency to a higher level. To help comply with rules about meals, this farm was adding handling and processing facilities for beef, pork and chicken to complement home gardening.

Our final visit was a coffee farm near Uberlandia in Minas Gerais. Coffee is the national drink, being served everywhere the traveler stops. Brazilian coffee is well-known worldwide and locals drink a very strong blend served in small cups throughout most of the day.

The local coffee is strong and was best taken in sips while the locals drank it quickly. The woman that owned this farm was pointed out that official cof-fee tasting and testing very particu-lar and provided constant feedback about their grow-ing , drying and packag- ing practices. Much like the feed and food crop farmers we had visited in the days prior, she was well aware of her farms participation in a global marketplace.

We concluded with a week-end in Rio de Janeiro to enjoy this popular seaside city. As you have been told, the beaches are beauti-ful and the hospitality and food were great. Brazil-ians really do like their beef, pork, chicken and fish served tableside from skewers.

We traveled from east to west and back during the rainy season without delay. The experiences exceeded our expectations, and gave us a great appreciation of the productive potential of agricul-tural there.

While Brazilians want to achieve a better system of handling and transporting their crops, the ability to grow 4 to 5 crops every two years makes this country a strong global competitor. I highly recom-mend taking advantage of a chance to see Brazil.

Despite Important Challenges, Brazilian Agriculture Achieving Large Scale

M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 5 11


2015

SOIL The Great Sustainer

: W R I T T E N B Y : K AT H RY N B R A DY

has been named the International Year of the Soils by the Food and Agriculture Organization and by the Global Soil Partnership in order to bring awareness to soils and their vitality. This article will be the first of a series of articles about soil and its importance to agriculture and our world.

Soil is more than just the substance underneath our feet with which we tread. In reality soil is one of the most important components on earth- without which life as we know it would not exist. Soil sustains life, so why do we treat it like dirt?

The difference between dirt and soil; is that dirt is misplaced soil. In order to maintain healthy and productive soils; soil must be able to stay in place. Soil is anchored in place by the plants that are growing in it. Soil is a living organism that nurtures,

purifies, cools and protects the earth. Healthy soils are one of the most important resources we have in helping to mitigate impacts from weather extremes. Healthy soils are soils that have a greater water and nutrient holding capacity. In drought years, like the one we’ve been going through, this can help ensure produc-tion continues. And in heavy rainfall years, healthy soils can help keep water and nutrients in the soil where they should be, and avert flooding downstream. We must do our part to protect the soil that supports life.Soils sustain life by proving energy, storing and filtering water, recycling nutrients, sequestering carbon, and nourishing a biodiversity of microor-ganisms. Soil produces the essentials for human survival on earth, such as; food, clothing and shelter.

Many factors make up the various types soil. It is a complex mix of minerals, air, water, and even micro-organisms. The topography, climate, parent material beneath the earth’s surface and even the history of the land and what it was used for all go

into the workings and productivity of soil. A healthy soil makes a healthy earth, but soil must be cared for because it is a non-renewable resource that takes hundreds of years to form.

Soil can be formed from the break-down of rocks, from volcanic ash, and organic matter such as plant and animal materials. Soil can also be transported from one location to another; picking up materials along the way. It takes almost 500 to 1000 years to form just one inch of soil, and no time at all for that inch to erode away. So we must be vigilant and take great care in conserving and sustaining our precious soils; one of the most important natural resources.

Soil is being lost a great rate. It is being lost to urbanization, defores-tation, overgrazing and erosion of farmland. To protect the soil that is already in place we must be open minded and take a lesson from the natural processes that are already in place to maintain the soil. In healthy

Kyle Ruppert’s pastureland planted to Bufflegrass

Photo taken by Kathryn Brady on 12-12- 2013

and productive soils there is always some sort of cover on top of the soil to replenish organic matter, cool the soil, and hold in moisture. As the stewards of the land we need to find ways maintain or add nutri-ents back to the land. The best and most cost effective way to do this is to take a lesson from nature, while still producing crops or livestock. Research is continually being done to find ways to improve the conser-vation and management of our soils. Soils science is a relatively new science, but is improving by leaps and

bounds as more is discovered about the secrets hidden within the earth’s surface and below. Soil scientists work with other ecological scientists to figure out how nature works. Then the scientists take that knowl-edge and apply it to modern farming and ranching techniques to enhance our agricultural production while conserving the soil. More details on soil science and soil conservation techniques will follow in the articles to come. In the mean-time, as you go about your day take

time to notice the plants around you and the soils that they are grow-ing in. Consider the farmer and the great attention he takes to care for the crops he is planting in the soil of his fields that will feed the nation and the world. Then, maybe, we will recognize that soil is not just dirt and should be treated with respect; because it is worth more than practically anything else on earth.

“So the Lord sent Adam out of the Garden of Eden to cultivate the

land from which he had been made.”Genesis 3:23

Pat Chapa Ranch(Linn - San Manuel)

Photo taken by Kathryn Brady on 7-15-2014

Ortega Farms, JV Boyd Davis and crew installing a subsurface drain.Photo taken by Rolando Miranda, NCRS on 9- 3-2014

M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 5 13


W R I T T E N B Y : M I C H E L L E M A RT I N

“

The Simpson Legacy Lives On

EP H OTO B Y : L I N D S E Y VAV R A

veryone has always had somebody behind them to help them, and mine was my daddy.”

It’s a quote you’ll hear quite often if you’re visting the Simpson Farms, located on the outskirts of Rio Hondo.Simpson Farms was started by Billie Joe Simpson and Martha Ann Simpson. His legacy, following his passing, was handed over to his son and grandson – Billie Mack Simpson and Billie D. Simpson.

Hard work, mentoring from elders and a deeply rooted history of agriculture has brought their farming and cattle operations where it is today. Simpson Farms began when farming was as traditional as tradition begins. To this day, many of those simple pleasures in life – enjoying the land, seeing how much can be produced and relishing the chal-lenge to reap rewards – are instilled as a way of life. Agriculture is in their blood.

The late Martha Ann’s father, Mack Mize, owned a vegetable shed next to the family’s home. The business, named Mack Mize and Sons, was known for perfect vegetables, also known as Arroyo Beauties. Billie Mack said he can recall stories of his grandfather getting on the train to deliver shipments of the beauties to New York. He didn’t need to go with the shipment, but he wanted to make sure they arrived safely.

After several years of successful business, the Depression got the best of them and, eventually, put them out of busi-ness – but it didn’t stop them. Another Simpson Family saying came to the forefront during those years: “you have to just keep going no matter the circumstance.” Pressing on is what they did.

In 1922 – Mack Mize produced the first bale of cotton for that year. Hard work and perseverance kept the family alive.In the 1940s, Billie Joe was given the opportunity that opened many doors for himself and his future family’s by a man named A.L. Smith. A.L. saw great potential in Billie Joe and put him to work quickly by renting him a small amount of land to start farming. It was there Billie Joe met his wife Martha, a Rio Hondo girl. Growing up Billie Joe’s son, Billie Mack saw and admired his father’s drive and love for farm-ing and decided to jump on the bandwagon.

Billie Mack and Billie Joe started farming at a young age. Aside from farming, Billie Joe put Billie Mack to work by managing cattle (which he still does to this day). Billie Mack can remember his father taking him to the PCA (Production Credit Association), where he borrowed money to purchase cattle. In 1970 they began cow calf operations, eventually growing it to yearling operations.Billie Mack’s son, Billie D., fell right in to his predecessors’ footsteps, admiring agriculture, and his dad brought him right along.

Billie Mack used to grow 100-200 acres of vegetables but now farms several thousand acres of cotton, milo and corn. In 1989 he implemented Sugar Cane into his operation.This father son team also own a cattle operation alongside their farming. They both work extremely hard to balance the two operations. During the farming off-season you can find them on horseback in the pasture tending to their

“

M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 5 17

The Simpson Legacy Lives On

““

You have to just keep going

no matterthe circumstance.

cattle. While owning cattle and farming operations has been rewarding for them in many ways, challenges the Simpsons face are common to any farmer. Weather, time, the infamous fever tick, and money seem to play a major role in determining whether a successful cattle and crop will be produced.

Billie Mack has always had an open mind and likes trying new things. He can remember not knowing how to turn on a computer, but he quickly learned after buying “Computer for Dummies.” Since then, not only can he man-age his books on the computer, but he understands things change and to remain successful and in business you must stay one step ahead of technology. You also have to remain positive with the price of commodities.

As most know, the life of a farmer/cattle rancher is NOT easy. Plans change often and tomorrow doesn’t mean much. Billie Mack is very firm and believes that “You cannot do tomorrow what you have to get done today. We run all enti-ties of our land. If something has to be done its got to be done.” Today Simpson Farms consist of Billie Mack and Debbie Simpson, Billie D. and Stephanie Simpson along with sons Clay and Mack. Hopefully Clay and Mack will be the future of the Family Farm.

The Simpsons say their success is due to doing what they can with their best efforts - and with the good Lord’s grace.

www.boggusford.com

The 69th meeting of the Subtropical Agriculture and Environments Society (SAES) was held on February 6th, 2015 at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Weslaco. Marking the second year under the newly branded name, SAES is working hard to broaden the scope of the society and continue to stimulate interest in all the agricultural and environmental sciences affecting the subtropics. This meeting was one of the highest attended with 115 people eager to hear from the impressive lineup of professional speakers and a great group of student presenters. Topics included: cattle fever tick, citrus greening, sugar cane aphid, fruit fly, hydrology of the RGV and a drought update; all relevant and important issues for our area. Barbara Storz, former Hidalgo County Horticulture Agent made history as the first female to be awarded the Arthur T. Potts Award recognizing her outstanding horticultural work in our area. For more information about becoming a member, participating in our annual meeting or submit-ting an abstract to the SAES peer-reviewed journal, please visit our website at www.subplantsci.org for more information.

69th Annual Meeting of the Subtropical Agriculture and Environments Society

Student poster winners pictured from left to right: 2014 SAES President John Goolsby with 1st place Liliana Cantu, 2nd

place John Brush, and 3rd place Jorge Trujillo

Former and current winners of the Arthur T. Potts award pictured from left to right: Clay Everhard,

Andy Scott, Barbara Storz, Victor French, and Robert Mangan

W R I T T E N B Y : A S H L E Y G R E G O RY

M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 5 19

69th Annual Meeting of the Subtropical Agriculture and Environments Society Small Adjustments in Irrigation

Practices Lead to BIG WATER SAVINGS

ater is in high demand in the Rio Grande Valley. In recent years, farmers have seen cuts in alloca- tions due to prolonged drought , a lack of water released into the Rio Grande from Mexico, and growing demand from non-agricultural users. The importance of irrigation efficiency grows with each season. The Texas Project for Ag Water Efficiency (TexasAWE) spent the last ten years studying and demonstrating methods of agricultural irrigation efficiency and water conservation in the Rio Grande Valley. Two irrigation techniques have been shown to both save water and increase productivity: (1) narrow border flood (NBF) and (2) surge valve irrigation. New videos showcasing these practices can be seen at TexasAWE.org. NBF uses about 30 percent less water than the large pan flood irrigation commonly used in citrus and other laser-leveled orchards. The technique requires little to no investment in equipment, and has been shown to produce higher yields and better quality fruit. Studies in the Lower Rio Grande Valley have shown that using NBF can even produce twice as much income per acre.

Converting to NBF is relatively easy – raised berms are created between each row of trees so water can be channeled underneath the canopies where the roots absorb it. By reduc-ing the surface area that’s flooded, farmers can irrigate just as effectively with less water. This technique also keeps fertilizer, fungicide and herbicide closer to the trees where they are needed, so farmers don’t need to apply as much.

Many citrus growers in the Valley have already started to incorporate NBF irrigation after seeing it in action at the Citrus Center at Texas A&M-Kingsville and reading the research results. Texas AWE’s new video features interviews with Citrus Center scientists and local grower Jimmy Pawlik, who has seen positive results from using NBF in his orchards. NBF could make a huge difference in ag water use in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. If all 28,000 acres of citrus groves were converted from traditional large pan flood to NBF, some 37,000 acre-feet of water could be saved each year.

If you visualize an acre foot of water as a football field with one foot of water on top, then you can imagine the volume of water in a tower 37 thousand feet tall. That’s a lot of water!Surge Irrigation is the second water-saving technology featured in Texas AWE’s video series. This technique uses a surge valve between two lengths of polypipe, and is basically a simple modification to furrow irrigation used in crops such

as cotton, sugarcane and seed corn. Nearly 30 percent of the water used for irrigation in the Valley is consumed by cotton and sugarcane, so converting to surge irrigation could make a signifi-cant impact. TexasAWE has shown that surge irrigation can use up to 52 percent less water than furrow irrigation in sugarcane, and 28 percent less in seed corn. Two separate cotton studies demonstrated savings of 22 percent and 31 percent.

How it Works. In furrow irrigation, water is typically lost to seepage or tailed off at the end of the row. The longer the row, the longer it takes to reach the far end of the field, and the more infiltration occurs near the water source. Studies show a great deal of water is lost beyond the roots of the crop with traditional flood irrigation. However, with surge irrigation, a solar powered timer switches the valve and the water from one side of the field to the other. The first application flows down a short portion of the rows, then water is sent the same distance down the other side. This process is repeated until water has reached the end of the row on both sides. These intermittent quick shots of water seem to seal the soil, so each subsequent release flows faster over the surface of the already-wetted soil, reducing infil-tration. This method allows a more precise application of water, which leads to a reduction in the volume of tailwater.

Surge valves normally cost about $2,000 each, but are currently available from the Surge Valve Co-op, a grant funded program from the Rio Grande Regional Water Authority, for $300. More information on the co-op can be found at TexasAWE.org and RGRWA.org. Texas AWE is a project of the Harlingen Irriga-tion District (HID) funded by the Texas Water Development Board. Since 2004, HID and its project partners have gathered data on ways to manage agricultural water more efficiently. The research findings on NFB and surge, including factsheets in English and Spanish, specifications, and videos, can be found at TexasAWE.org.

W R I T T E N B Y : J O H A N N A A R E N D T, WAT E R P R

W

?

M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 5 21

ARC OR PLCThat is the question!

s we enter into March 2015, I am sure Farmers across the RGV have been back and forth on whether to choose ARC or PLC. They have listened to their neighbors, crop insurance agents, county agents, and some may have even been to the meetings with Dr. Joe Outlaw.

All have left the meetings with a deer in the head light kind of look……What the….!! Well today we are going to clear it all up, bring it all into focus, package it up and turn it in.

HERE WE GO!!There are two Keys that can summarize the decision for South Texas in deciding whether to take ARC or PLC and they are:

1. The most options in the future – PLC2. Pay me now – ARC

Lets discuss ARC First :ARC = Less Options for the future but Pay me now.This program will more than likely have a higher payment in 2014 and maybe 2015 than PLC, but offers less options in the future for the simple fact, the farm is locked in to the program for the duration of the farm bill and a farmer will not be able to take advantage of the SCO (Supplemental Coverage Option) in when advantageous.

The ARC program is a great program where County Yields are High…..I am not talking South Texas high I am talking Iowa high. Everyone who has a county average 180bu/ac or higher the decision is easy. ARC should most definitely pay more than PLC unless there is a collapse in the market. Rio Grande Valley counties do not have these high yields which makes the ARC program pay very little due to its 10% cap.

Here is an ARC formula and example for Hidalgo County Grain with actual prices : 5 yr Olymipic Avg Price ($4.96/bu)X 5 yr Olympic Avg Yield (54bu/ac)= Expected Revenue.($268.27/ac)

ARC starts paying when the county has a current year revenue loss of 86% to 76% ($230-$203) 10% band. The max payout for 2014 will be $27/ac. Understand this pay-ment is not guaranteed, but if it triggers the MAX payout it will be $27/ac. (PLC has an estimated payout at a $12-$15/ac at current prices depending on what a grower can update his yields to.) Also, ARC avg price is high and will be high

over the next two years due to the Olympic Avg., but will fall dramatically in two years at the current prices. Here are the prices: 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Grain Sorghum $3.22 $5.02 $5.99 $6.33 $4.28 Corn $3.55 $5.18 $6.22 $6.89 $4.46

In two years when Olympic Avg takes out the High and the Low and averages the 3 in the middle and lower current prices of 2015 and 2016 also reduces the avg. our ARC county max payments will settle in less than $20/ac. and we will not be able to purchase additional coverage through the SCO crop insurance program in drought years or take advantage of a year where the price spikes. Remember if we have a spike in price year it still wont count in the ARC program due to the Olympic average takes the high price out. It will take two years of high prices to get the ARC price back up to around $5/bu. where it is today. I suspected ARC will pay the first two years and have trouble paying much money in years to come.

PLC = Options for the futureThis program is very similar to the Counter Cyclical Program. It will pay on a price loss when the price falls below the PLC reference price. The reference prices for corn and grain are below:

Corn $3.70/bu Grain $3.95/bu

The current price for Grain is 3.80/bu. If this holds it would pay .15/bu on the updated yield. So If your yield is 80/bu, PLC will pay $12/ac on 85% of the base acres. (.15 X 80 = 12).

PLC also, allows the most options for the growers as well as gives them a floor revenue guarantee. This coinciding with the new Crop Insurance rules and regulations will give the best case choice of the two programs. This year SCO was purchased on about 90% of all irrigated Grain Sorghum acres that we signed up at CropGuard Group. As for non-irrigated farmers we recommended not to purchase the SCO as the county triggers were too low with the current moisture profile. We felt the counties would have a great year so we recommended to the NI farmer put SCO on the shelf, we will dust it off next year and take a look, and see how it fits.

If you would like us to analyze your farms or to discuss other options with the 2014 Farm Bill program theories, please call us or come by:

CropGuard Group, Inc. 2315 West Expressway 83 Suite 102San Benito, TX 78586 956-361-5550Happy Planting!!!

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Cameron County Temporary Cattle Fever Tick Preventative Quarantine Area Update

ecently, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and the United States Department of Agri culture (USDA) confirmed the presence of cattle fever ticks on Cameron County premises located outside the permanent quarantine zone. In order to protect the land, premises, and animals from exposure to cattle fever ticks, the TAHC created a temporary preventa-tive quarantine area (TPQA) in Cameron County. The TPQA, commonly referred to as the “blanket area,” and its require-ments, became effective October 7, 2014. Surveillance efforts have been ongoing since the TPQA went into effect. Currently, 95% of premises inside the TPQA have been identified, and 94% of cattle and 93% of equine on those premises have been inspected or “scratched”. The TPQA originally started with six new premises located outside the permanent quarantine zone. To date, there are six new premises that have been identified in the TPQA, which makes a total of 12 infested premises. In an effort to facilitate the Cameron County Fever Tick response operations, an office has been set up. The location of the TAHC/USDA Cameron County Fever Tick Response Office is 105 West Ocean Boulevard, Los Fresnos, TX 78566. As part of establishing the quarantine, livestock must be inspected and treated prior to movement. The schedule for spraying equine (horses) or cattle that need a 14 day move-ment permit to move has been modified. Spraying is now available every other week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays or by appointment.

To schedule an appointment, call 512-800-2521. The schedule may be found on the TAHC website at http://www.tahc.texas.gov/animal_health/fevertick/fevertick.html. The spraying location is currently at the Los Fresnos Rodeo Arena. On January 15, 2015, this location will be moved to 30934 FM 1561, San Benito, TX 78586. (On FM 1561, three tenths of a mile west of FM 803.) A new cattle public dipping vat location is now open for the treatment of livestock. The vat is located at 30934 FM 1561, San Benito, TX 78586. (On FM 1561, three tenths of a mile west of FM 803.) Hunters that harvest wildlife such as white-tailed deer, nilgai and other free-ranging wildlife and exotic hoofstock in the TPQA must call 956-254-3507 to have their animal inspected and treated for cattle fever ticks.

“Our primary goal is to protect the health of Texas livestock and maintain marketability,” said Dr. Hank Hayes, Incident Commander for the event. “We are here to help and work with local ranchers and producers.” The TPQA consists of approximately 223,000 acres. The TPQA will remain in effect until all premises within it are released from fever tick quarantines and the area is deter-mined to no longer be at risk of infestation. Within this area, all livestock (cattle & equine) and live or hunted wildlife (such as nilgai antelope and white-tailed deer) that are capable of hosting fever ticks, are subject to movement restrictions, inspections and treatment as prescribed by TAHC fever tick regulations. The Temporary Preventative Quarantined Area is defined as that portion of the state within the boundaries of a line begin-ning at a point in Cameron County where Farm to Market Road (FM) 511 and Captain Donald L. Foust Road intersect (25.950997;-97.412259); thence, northwest along FM 511 for 9.43 miles to FM 803 (26.028682; -97.530968); thence, north along FM 803 for 21.3 miles to FM 2925 (26.335137; -97.491350); thence, east along FM 2925 for 7.28 miles to the east side of the Adoplh Thomae Jr. County Park eastern-most parking lot (26.349462; -97.390468) (parking lot); thence, north along the east side of the parking lot for 61.3 yards to the Arroyo Colorado (26.349960; -97.390577); thence, east along the Arroyo Colorado shoreline for 4.45 miles to Laguna Madre (26.353917; -97.325179); thence, southeast along the Laguna Madre shoreline for 55.33 miles to the Brownsville Navigation District Ship Channel (26.064276; -97.775511) (Brownsville Ship Channel); thence, southwest along the Brownsville Ship Channel for 16.4 miles to the point on Wind-haus Road that is a straight line southwest of the Brownsville Ship Channel (25.952057; -97.403765); thence, north along Windhaus Road for .1 mile to Captain Donald L. Foust Road (25.952738; -97.404135); thence, west along Captain Donald L. Foust Road for .52 miles to FM 511 (25.950997;-97.412259), the beginning. A permanent cattle fever tick quarantine zone (PQZ) ranging from 200 yards to 10 miles wide along the Rio Grande River was established in 1942. The PQZ extends 500 miles, through eight South Texas counties from Devils River to the Gulf of Mexico. It was created as a buffer zone to Mexico, where fever ticks are common. This zone allows tick incursions from Mexico to be detected and eliminated quickly, so that cattle in the zone do not potentially spread fever ticks into the interior of the state.

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The true “Sustainable”

conversatioN n the produce industry I wear a few different hats. I work for a large family owned company in California that ship 500,000 cases of produce a week to cus- tomers like Olive Garden, Sysco, Outback, Wendy’s and many more. The Cali- fornia job takes me every other week to Central Mexico to inspect broccoli. So it is sufficient to say I work for one of the big boys. The other hat I wear is that I am partners with two guys in Los Fresnos, Texas producing , selling, and mar-keting local organic vegetables. You really can’t be too much further apart and still be in the produce industry than these two hats.

One of the ongoing conversations I hear from my conventional friends is that conven-tional farming is more sustainable than organic and local farming movements. This is a topic of conversation when we discuss worldwide food needs in the next 20 years. Usually, the argument is centered on yields, tractor passes, fuel and efficiencies.

They have a point that I am happy to concede. I know my organic yields are about 70% of conventional fields. In some cases because of diseases, yields can be even less than 50 percent. But I don’t think it should be an organic vs conventional thing. We need to look at all the produce we throw away because it is not cosmetically pretty.

I can use the orange as a perfect example. Does wind rub, thrips damage or leaf shading cause the fruit to change its flavor? Working in Central Mexico I see scarred fruit on the shelves and selling. In the United States we would have to sort this product out. I don’t know how many times I have had a customer complain about a leaf miner or off coloring on lettuce or greens. Tomatoes are another easy example.

Many of you have had home gardens or friends and families with one. The home grown tomato looks very different than those in the store. The shape is usually oblong or has a dent on one side. It may even have a sun spot and some yellowing. At home you may say something like, ‘‘I can just cut the spot off ” or “The shape is not pretty but it is mine, I grew it”. Yet, when you go to the store you pick over the tomato that is not close to perfect in color, size, and shape. There is a movement, albeit small in Europe , to eat off shaped fruit . The European Union declared 2014 to be the year against food waste according to an article from NPR, “Europeans begin marketing Ugly Fruit”. By some accounts 20 to 40% of food is wasted because it is not cosmetically beautiful.

Using all of the food we produce regardless of the exterior quality will become nec-essary, especially if we look at the world’s expected population growth. The world’s population is projected to grow from 5.7 billion in 1995 to 9.8 billion by 2025. That is a growth rate increase of 72%. How can we as farmers/producers keep pace with that? Yields will be a huge factor, but I argue we can get more out of what we are doing now. We need to change our view of what is a good regarding the appearance of fruits and vegetables. Let us talk about food value from a nutrient point of view and not a beauty contest. This is the true sustainable conversation.

Source: [1] Europe begins marketing “ugly fruit” INTERNATIONAL NEWSIn some cases, 20 to 40 percent of fresh fruits gets wasted for aesthetic standards.

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W R I T T E N B Y : J E D M U R R AY

Aloe King Reigns Supreme in the Rio Grande Valley

Aloe King Reigns Supreme in the Rio Grande Valley

A LOE VERA could be one of the friendliest plants you’ll find. You might even call the attractive and decorative plant a goodwill ambassador for healthy living. Aloe King from Mercedes, Texas, is proud to shine the spot- light on this magnificent plant.

Aloe King is a long-time member of the GO TEXAN marketing program, and the company has built a reputa-tion for providing quality natural products from its sub-tropical location in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. Aloe King, also known as Southern Fields Aloe, has long had an open door policy and offers farm tours by appoint-ment. For more than 30 years, this South Texas company has been providing quality aloe vera products from their farm to consumers in Texas and beyond.“We wish to share our knowledge of this incredible and benefi-cial plant by providing premium quality, fresh aloe vera to meet a growing consumer demand,” said owner John Sigrist. Aloe King produces many products, including a 100 per-cent pure and natural stabilized aloe vera juice, aloe vera gel, flavored aloe beverages, pure aloe pulp jelly, and topi-cal burn and after shave gels. One can spot Aloe King in multiple locations during a typical visit to the local grocery store. Delicious fruit flavors, like mango, peach, kiwi and eight others, make up the delicious line of Aloe King Aloe Vera Drink and can be found in the juice and beverage aisles of the grocery store. Healing aloe gel can be found in the health and beauty sections of many stores.

Aloe King’s Texas farming, processing and manufacturing operation provides pharmaceutical and cosmetic grade, processed aloe leaf fillets to many aloe companies who do not have their own farms. Thanks to the growing popularity of their products, along with their reputation for quality and integrity, Aloe King continues to be a name you can rely on for all your aloe vera product needs. The company’s full-time chemist certifies the purity and quality of its products.

It’s interesting that a company with the ability to utilize,

enhance, mix and attractively package a product in so many forms insists that the most beneficial method of applying the aloe gel is directly from the leaf itself — talk about raw materials. “Our vision was to bring farm fresh aloe vera gel, aloe vera juice and aloe vera leaves to the mainstream consumer market in its most natural form,” said Sigrist.

With worldwide distribution expanding, it is apparent that Sigrist’s vision has certainly come to fruition.

Aloe King’s concept is unique in contrast to the many juices, elixirs and health supplements containing aloe on the market today. Aloe King’s ability to grow, harvest and ship products daily enables their farm fresh Aloe King leaf to reach produce markets, grocery stores and retailers in a timely and consistent manner.

For more information on the healing properties of aloe vera and the many products available from Aloe King, visit their websitewww.aloeking.com

W R I T T E N B Y : D O U G VA N P E LT – D E P T O F AG R I C U LT U R E

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t has been that kind of year for everyone it seems. Whether you’re a fresh produce guy cursing the lack of sun, the sugar mill that hasn’t been able to harvest for most of their season, or some of the hay guys I know who know have competition thanks to the rain, it hasn’t been the best of years. A local cabbage farmer I know hasn’t even had to irrigate his crop this year because we have had that much rain. Mother Nature seems bipolar in the best of times and downright vindic-tive the rest of them. As we in the produce industry do, we make do and that seems to be the running theme of this season’s business environment. To that end it’s time for those in the industry to tighten belts and cut costs in any feasible way they can, and the area we’re going to touch upon today is in refinancing your debt. If you’re like most producers the free cash flow you get typically goes into capital intensive projects and/or rolled over into next year’s crop. If you’re lucky enough to be able to pay for everything through your cash flow then congratulations, but please leave since nobody likes a showoff. In all seriousness though, even those operations lucky enough to be able to pay cash for it all should take a hard look at financing because your cash flood this year might turn into a desert next year, leaving you wishing you had a long term debt plan in place. The advantages you need to be looking for here to decide if refinancing are right or you are twofold: 1) If you can take advantage of the lower rates that are currently available in the market-place, and 2) If you need the ability to make smaller annual payments by stretching your debt out longer than you currently have it structured. These work if and only if the costs of refinancing aren’t more than any savings you may achieve. As with dealing with any bankers though, it always seems you need to be able to prove you don’t actually need the money to be able to get the deal done. Your lender is going to need to understand why you want to refinance

refinance and why they should help you. You will have to be able to produce a good balance sheet, income state-ments, and an analysis of how you think your cash flows will stack up in the long term to start with. Any equity that you may have for the note (land, equipment, etc.) may have to get appraised so you can present its cur-rent market value. In addition to this, if you shop around from lender to lender, or if you do research on your own, you’re going to need to get an idea of current interest rates and annual payments. All of this takes time, effort, and usually fees of some sort that can range from process-ing the application to buying stock in a co-op. If you’re paying an accountant to do your paperwork, and appraiser to check your collateral, and any filing fees to process your new loan you might have just eaten up any savings you could recoup. Keeping a close watch on these costs is paramount in deciding whether financing fits your current business situation.

Rates change quickly, but a quick scan of rates today versus the recent years past show that at the very least producers should take a quick check of any notes out-standing they have. You might find that a note at 7% from years back could be refinanced for a 5% one today, possi-bly saving you thousands. Also, equipment dealers looking at a slack market may be willing to offer financing incen-tives they normally don’t. Beyond a lower interest rate, the desire for lower payments is fine in itself, but this option only works if the operation is profitable both in the short, and long term. If profitability is your problem then refi-nancing any debt merely kicks the can down the road until the problem comes back later.

Refinancing can be a great tool to help at any point in time when it makes sense. In years like the one we’ve had where it seems the weather, fuel prices, and everything else are against you it might be one of the few options you have left to free up some cash flow while reducing your debt obligations.

THE RIGHT TIME TO REFINANCE!W R I T T E N B Y : Kurt Schuster AgMag Columnist

FFA Events

March 12 - 22

RGVLS

Tuesday , March 31

RGV Ag Teachers Planning Meeting-

Red Ga te

Monday - Sunday , March 2 - 8

Star Show

Tuesday , May 19

RGV Ag Teachers Planning Mtg

@ Mr. A l an i z ’s

Wednesday , April 8

Area X CDE’s

Tuesday , April 28

RGV District FFA Check

Tuesday , May 5

RGV FFA District Banquet

Wednesday , April 1

State FFA Scholarship

Apps due

Sponsored by:


April 1 - 5

District 12 4-H Photography,

ContestV i r t ua l

Friday, April 10

County 4-H Roundup

Saturday , April 18

District 12 4-H Livestock Judging

Contesti n F r ed r i ck sbu r g

March 1 - April 7

District 12 4-H Shooting Sports Postal League

D i s t r i c tw ide

Thursday , March 5

Photography JudgingLo ca t i on TBA

Saturday, March 28

District 12 Fashion Show

i n Fa l f u r r i a s

Sponsored by:

4-H EventsFFA Events

M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 5 31

“It was a historic night at the Pharr Conven-tion Center in Pharr, Texas, as over 1100 4-H and FFA members and guests gathered for the STAR Gala V. The guests were greeted and guided to their tables by the very 4-H and FFA members they were there to support and then the youth served them a delicious warm rib eye dinner with all the trimmings prepared by Chorizo de San Manuel, Agri-Science teachers and 4-H leaders. All the guests were served in less than 20 minutes. The event which features a silent and live auction, as well as unique raffles broke an all time record in terms of gross sales thanks to the generosity of many local and state businesses, public servants and various other individuals and entities.” stated Benny Cano – the STAR GALA Chairman.

“STAR GALA supporters enjoyed first class camaraderie and lively bidding on the silent auction items while they enjoyed the sounds of live Mariachi music from a youth group from Roma High School that also played during dinner. This was followed by the dedication of the STAR GALA V to the Luis & Vicky Flores Family for their many years of support of the STAR Show and the STAR GALAS.” Stated STAR GALA mem-

ber and emcee, Victor G. Guerra

“A spirited live auction followed that was topped by a pair of LMC Brahman and Simbrah heifers that were donated by Enrique & Patti Ramos. They sold for $10,000 and $8,500 to a STAR GALA Syndicate of 37 donors that each donated $500 to the cause. The two heifers will be exhibited over the next couple years by youth selected by the syndicate. The live auction had several items made and donated by the students headed by a portable BBQ pit made by the four Edinburg FFA Chapters that sold for $6,500 to the Nowell Borders Family who also bought $7,000 of caliche as did La Muneca Cattle Co. that was donated by Frontera Materials - the Eddie Forsaghe Family. Overall 44 lots netted over $120,000 for a $2,727 average per lot, a new GALA record. A BIG HEARTY THANKS goes out to our donors, bidders, buy-ers, committee, ring men and Colonel Steve Krenek” reports Carlos X. Guerra, STAR GALA volunteer.

The live auction was followed by some great Country Western Music by the Rio Grande Valley’s own Scott Randolph and his White Lightning Band with a few special songs by budding star Lauren Corzine.

A new GALA supporter Larry Skloss stated “ We had a great evening. Really enjoyed being around such an outstanding group of youth. Glad to see the Star Gala will

be helping these young people. The organiz-ers did a great job taking care of the guests. It was an enjoyable evening all around. Glad we could be a part of it.”

“All of the work done for the STAR GALA and the STAR SHOW is done by VOLUNTEERS. Over 170 VOLUNTEERS helped that night. The proceeds from STAR Gala will help to fund the STAR Premium Auction on March 7th at noon at Edinburg’s Doolittle Park that benefits Hidalgo County 4-H and FFA Students. The public is invited to support the kids at the STAR Premium Auction. Every STAR exhibitor will earn a premium check and every one of the 51 Scholarship appli-cants will win a scholarship - two of the great STAR Traditions. The breeding projects also get tremendous support.” stated Tonya Hill, STAR GALA co-chair.

Long time STAR SHOW manager Janice Dudley reports “629 Hidalgo County 4-H and FFA Students have entered 822 entries for the 12th Annual STAR Show to be held March 4-7th at Edinburg’s Doolittle Park. They are fun to watch and appreciate the public’s support.”

For more information on the STAR SHOW and STAR PREMIUM AUCTION, please contact Janice Dudley @ 956 821 - 0901, Gene Espinosa @ 956 874 - 7247 or Benny Cano @ 956 499 - 5129.

M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 5 33

W R I T T E N B Y : C A R L O S G U E R R A

t all started with an idea and the culmination of a diverse group of motivated, self-driven young adults who come from all walks of life. The team is made up of four Texas A&M graduate students, Juan Whit ing, Shiva Thompson, Levi Brewer, Nathaniel Haight, and one recent graduate, Andrew McArdle.

The team plans to create the “Youth Ag-education Inno- vation Cooperative,” or “YAIC,” to address unemploy-ment and undernourishment issues around the world. By providing an opportunity for youth to apply the skills and knowledge they have gained in a successful cooperative. The YAIC team aims to create an educational alternative that develops these young minds, supports the youth as individuals, and gives them the skills and expertise needed to move forward into agribusiness with confidence. By developing the YAIC, the team hopes to support the posi-tive economic and cultural growth in regions that are in dire need of agricultural awareness, and give youth a progressive outlet through agribusiness.

The YAIC model is built around a functional curriculum that teaches the skills necessary for youth to start their own entrepreneurial agribusinesses. The Youth will enter into a semester long program in which they will be taught skills that will help them become empowered as com-munity leaders and role models. An entrepreneurial ap-proach will be obtained by the end of the program, along with a solid set of technical and soft skills and extensive knowledge from hands-on farming instruction. One of

the main goals is to change youth’s negative perception of agriculture by offering a curriculum that incorporates nu-tritional science with small-scale agri-business model based on agricultural innovations such as aquaponics. The YAIC model will build technical skill sets in the following fields of study: Ag Marketing, Agribusiness, Finance, Economics, Horticulture, and Nutrition. YAIC will allow youth to effectively participate in decision making with Ag-market-ing, production, and farm-to-farm coordination, all of which will create economic opportunities and increase youth engagement in agriculture. By incorporating a functional business strategy, an international cross-cultural network of like-minded individuals and specialists, and an applied learning structure within the cooperative, youth will acquire the skills necessary to add value within the agri-cultural sector and address food insecurity within their respective nations. The students will also gain insight into the importance of agriculture and how crucial farming is to the future of their own personal health, and the health of their nation.

The purpose of the curriculum is to allow youth to par-ticipate in creating a blueprint for a successful cooperative. This will give youth ownership of the venture where they will gain experience in leadership, teamwork, and com-munication, within a democratically led institution. The responsibility that comes with managing a cooperative and the demanding amount of work associated with growing food creates a sense of confidence and fulfillment for dis-enfranchised youth. With a cooperative blueprint in hand,

Youth Ag-education Innovation Cooperative (YAIC):Texas A&M students team up to form youth driven agriculture co-ops

IW R I T T E N B Y : J U A N W H I T I N G A N D S H I VA T H O M P S O N


youth will be matched with mentors who will help them obtain the micro-financing they need to get their ag-ricultural innovations off the ground. These innovations could be anything from aquaculture and poultry to beekeeping and hydroponics. By using these agricultural innovations, and becoming vertically integrating oper-ations, these youth cooperatives will be able to produce enough to reach economies of scale, enter larger, lucrative markets and decrease input costs. With this strategy, youth will obtain business skills, personal de-velopment skills, and vocational skills from the curriculum training process and apply them to their cooperative of choice.

One of the greatest challenges to establishing the cooperatives is help-ing youth around the world establish effective Ag-innovations. YAIC’s co-founder Andrew McArdle is taking on this challenge by driving a new initiative through the curriculum to implement innovations that can lead to value added agricultural produc-tion and quality for these youth. As

an Aquaponic expert, Mr. McArdle stated that there are many advantag-es to producing food through new in-novations like aquaponics. By focusing on systems like aquaponics, farmers will be using only 5-10 percent of the water that traditional soil cultivation demands and will ultimately intensify production while saving space.

Aquaponics is a rapidly emerging en-terprise, which can be built anywhere from a greenhouse in the country to a warehouse in the center of a sprawling city. Production intensity in aquaponics equates profitability.

The more fish are grown per unit area/volume the higher the level of intensification and the better the profit margin. Mr. McArdle explains that aquaponics “…saves water, there is little waste, there is a constant source of nutrients, no herbicides or fertilizers are used, and production turnaround time is greatly reduced. It’s possible to go from seed to harvest in 34 days and the results are premium-quality vegetables! ”

In speaking about the program, Mr. McArdle stated that innovations like this have the potential to pro-duce a trifecta of change. “Youth from around the world are going

Youth Ag-education Innovation Cooperative (YAIC):Texas A&M students team up to form youth driven agriculture co-ops

M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 5 35

to gain valuable entrepreneurial skills, innovative farming practices will be taught and established, and an increase in agricultural cooperatives will increase the quality and quantity of fresh foods worldwide!”

Implementation for the curriculum, which will include an extensive ag-ricultural innovations portfolio, is scheduled to begin February 2016.

The team’s long-term mission is to create the YAIC Curriculum as a model for collaboration and youth

empowerment that can be replicated throughout the world.

The YAIC team is currently seeking support, funding, and partners with a similar vision. Please contact the team at [email protected].

Follow the team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/YAIC team to watch the progress unfold, and find out how you can help.

JR Gulley is a voice and account executive for the Down on The Farm Radio Network. Aside from his reports from “The Turn-row” and filling for Larry Marble on Down on The Farm heard on KKYX San Antonio, JR can be heard on 9 additional radio stations covering from the Texas Hill Country to the Rio Grande Valley! Those stations are KSAQ Charlotte, KCTI Gonzales, KHLB Mason, Texas Mix105.3, 99.7 and 94.9 Hempstead, Palacios and Ganado, KVNN Victoria, KFTX Corpus Christi and KTEX in the Rio Grande Valley. JR’s roots run generations deep in Farming and Ranching through-out South Texas. He grew up on his family’s farm in Frio County, Texas raising peanuts, corn, milo, wheat, mungbeans and cattle, and managed their Ag Equipment dealership. He began his radio career in 1991, having worked as disc-jockey, sportscaster, account executive and General Manager, and has announced football games and Ranch Rodeos. JR has been with Down on The Farm Radio since 2011, when he began contributing Winter-garden crop reports. Today JR devotes himself fulltime to God, family and being a voice for South Texas Agriculture on the Down on the Farm Radio Network. He remains active on the family farm helping out when he can, and is the Parts Manager for Wylie Implement and Spray Center in Raymondville. JR married Valley Business Woman Yvonne Rodriguez in August

2013. When JR & Yvonne started dating, he saw an opportunity for Down on The Farm Radio to expand into the Valley. Yvonne helped JR make a few contacts and soon Down on The Farm was on the air on KTEX in January 2013. JR says, “I’m a firm believer in the saying, behind every man, is a great woman.” Yvonne has a knack for recognizing talent in people they didn’t know they had. She’s helped JR take his career in radio and Agri-Business Management to another level. Aside from their busy schedule, JR and his family always make room in their busy schedules for down time. Enjoying family dinners at home with their four children and watching them play sports and spending time with their new son Baby Royce. “It’s been challenging blending a family, but it is a won-derful blessing.” This has made JR more dependent on God and all the glory goes to him. JR is part of a legacy his Grandpa Cotton Gulley began, and now he sets sail out to write his own.

Important upcoming dates

for Ag Producers:

Water Well Testing , Weslaco - March 12Wine Festival, Rio Farms - April 11

Mosquito Control Workshop for County and City Workers , Weslaco - April 16

Sugarcane Producers Meeting , Rio Farms - April 23Pesticide License Training, Edinburg - May 6

Contact the County Extension Office for details on any of these events

Brad Cowan, County Extension AgentAgriculture Hidalgo County

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service410 North 13th Avenue, Edinburg, TX 78541

[email protected] http://hidalgo.agrilife.orgo) 956-383-1026, m) 956-330-3208

The Man Behind The Microphone

Important upcoming dates

for Ag Producers:

Coverage and discounts are subject to qualifications and policy terms, and may vary by situation. ©2015 Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Companies. CAM0215

MEETING YOUR NEEDSAS THEY GROWFrom life-changing events to everyday miracles, we’re here to help you protect the people, places and things that matter most. For great rates and no-hassle service, contact us today.

1095 E. Wood Ave.Raymondville, TX 78550956.689.2113

Aaron GodfreyAgent

Scott GilbertAgent

Les SmithAgency Manager

M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 5 39

The Texas USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) joins with the National Ground Water Association (NGWA) and other partners to promote ways Texans can protect their groundwater.

Ninety percent of Texans depend on public drinking water supplies. All Texans are encouraged to protect the public health and the environment through simple steps that will go a long way to ensuring a clean, healthy water supply for future generations.

In Texas, more than 5.3 million people rely on groundwater-supplied community water systems, while another 2.23 mil-lion residents rely on groundwater from their own house-hold water wells. Proper management of groundwater and private well systems greatly impacts water quality. Households that do not rely on a private well can make a difference in groundwater quality, too. Appropriate storage, use and disposal of hazardous household substances, in addi-tion to septic system maintenance, can improve groundwa-ter quality for everyone.

“Protecting groundwater through conservation is more important than ever,” said NRCS State Conservationist, Salvador Salinas. “Drought, which is a significant problem throughout the state, has the potential to put a strain on household water wells and public drinking supplies, but there are conservation programs and financial assistance through NRCS such as well decommis-sioning and brush clearing that can help protect and enhance state’s groundwater.”

Surface water is also affected by groundwater because natural aquifer discharge is needed to maintain the flow in streams and rivers, especially during periods of little or no precipitation.

Protect Your Groundwater: NRCS Can Help

Groundwater in the Lone Star State serves more than five million Texans Here are some actions that individuals can take to protect and conserve groundwater:

3 Store cleaning products and other household chemicals properly and in a secure place. 3 Use household products according to the manufactur- er’s recommendations. 3 Dispose of household products safely. 3 Install water-saving devices such as plumbing fixtures and aerators on faucets. 3 Check for household leaks. A leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water each day. 3 Take short showers instead of baths. 3 Run dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads

Protect Your Groundwater:Private well owners should take the follow-ing steps to prevent contamination and ensure water quality:

3 Move possible contamination sources, such as kennels or livestock operations, waste systems, or chemical storage areas for paint, fertilizer, pesticides, and motor oil , a safe distance away from the wellhead. 3 Test well water annually for coliform bacteria and nitrates, and anything else of local concern. 3 Inspect and clean the septic system regularly. 3 Inspect water well systems annually. 3 Work with NRCS to decommission any abandoned wells properly.

For a Texas landowner success story, go to our website and read:

www.nrcs.usda.govFor more information, visit the USDA-NRCS county office located in most county USDA Service Centers or the website at www.nrcs.usda.gov. The Texas Well Owner Network at twon.tamu.edu. The National Groundwater Association’s website is www.ngwa.org

Coverage and discounts are subject to qualifications and policy terms, and may vary by situation. ©2015 Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Companies. CAM0215

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FFA Research Takes to the Sky in Search of Resistant Weeds

Few products in the last 50 years have had the impact on agriculture that Monsanto’s Roundup has. Since its introduc-tion in 1976 it has become the most popular and widely used herbicide in the world. As the use of Roundup increased, however, weeds resistant to its effects have become a seri-ous problem all over the United States, South America, and Australia. Much research has been done on managing and preventing these resistant weeds and through an FFA Agri-science program, I am working to incorporate new precision agriculture technologies in that effort.

In the 1990s farmers around the world were ushered into the ‘Age of Roundup’. The herbicide contributed largely to the success of conservation tillage practices and after the introduction of Roundup Ready crops, sales of the herbicide boomed. However, before most farmers were comfortable calling Roundup by its generic name, glyphosate, resistant weeds had already started to appear. As farmers increasingly relied on glyphosate, the selection pressure from a single herbicide allowed biotypes to escape, reproduce, and grow resistant populations. Between 2004 and 2010 resistant Palmer Amaranth, what we call carelessweed, spread from Georgia to the Texas Panhandle. Glyphosate resistant weeds are a reality in Texas and they are drawing closer to the Rio Grande Valley.

Because glyphosate resistant weeds are a constant threat to Rio Grande Valley agriculture, I decided to focus on them for my FFA Agriscience project. Through FFA, students have the opportunity to work on agricultural research projects of their own design outside of class. I titled my research “Early Detection of Glyphosate Resistant Weed Populations Using Remote Optical Sensing”. Optical sensors are used in precision agriculture programs to measure plant health and biomass by comparing the amount of visible light and near infrared light reflected from a plant’s leaves. These measure-ments are used to calculate the Normalized Difference Veg-etative Index or NDVI. NDVI measurements are most com-monly used in agriculture for variable rate fertilizer and plant growth regulator applications. In my experiment, however, I researched whether NDVI was a suitable measurement for finding weeds that lingered, clinging to life, after an applica-

tion of glyphosate. My theory was that it would be beneficial to identify early generations of resistant weeds that survive a glyphosate application before they pass their resistant gene to the next generation. My results proved that by using optical sensors I could detect weeds that escaped a glyphosate application; even if they couldn’t be identified by visual inspection.

The limitation of my experiment though was the narrow swath of the sensors. To improve my experiment this year, I built an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or UAV to take my research to the sky! By carrying a modified camera to take false-color infrared images my UAV can survey 100 acres in about 30 minutes. After programming the autopilot on the ground the aircraft is fully autonomous in flight and takes aerial photos at pre-determined coordinates. These pictures are later stitched together to form a composite image of the field. I hope that my research leads to successful integra-tion of precision agriculture technologies for scouting and detecting early generations of resistant weeds.

In 2014, my experiment was recognized as the best FFA plant science research in Texas and won a “Gold” designa-tion at the National level. It was an honor to bring those awards back to the Lyford FFA Chapter but the real reward was doing my part to increase awareness about glyphosate resistant weeds and trying to develop a process to identify them before it’s too late.

FFA Research Takes to the Sky in Search of Resistant WeedsW R I T T E N B Y : B A I L E Y S C O G I N

M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 5 41


COLORADO WATERSHED

The ArroyoPartnership Photo Contest

The Arroyo Colorado Watershed Partnership (ACWP) is currently writing Phase II of the Arroyo Colorado Watershed Protection Plan (ACWPP). The original ACWPP was completed in 2006 and was intended to have a ten year implementation period. As the initial implementation period is nearing completion, the ACWP is assessing the effectiveness of the plan and developing Phase II of the ACWPP in order to continue the Partnerships efforts to improve the water quality of the Arroyo Colo-rado and the Lower Laguna Madre. The original ACWPP was full of great pictures of the Arroyo Colorado and native flora and fauna found in the watershed. That is where you, the Arroyo Colorado Watershed residents and stakeholders, come in. The ACWP will be hosting a photo contest to get recent photos for Phase II of the ACWPP. We are asking the public to submit photos of the Arroyo Colorado and native plants and animals found in the watershed to be included in Phase II of the ACWPP. Of all of the photos submitted, the ACWP Photo contest committee, will select the very best photos to be included in the Update. Of the photos selected by the committee, one photo will be selected as the Grand Champion and be used as the photograph for the cover of the Update and receive a $250 prize. There will also be a special Arroyo Colorado Logo category with a $500 prize. The ACWP’s logo is the Ringed Kingfisher sitting on a branch with a small fish in its beak. See photo below. We are asking for you to try and replicate the logo through photography. The photograph must be taken from within the Arroyo Colorado watershed and during the contest period. It will be the responsibility of the photographer to provide the proper evidence, date, time, GPS coordinates, to demonstrate that the photograph is valid and meets the requirements of the contest. The contest period will begin October1, 2014 and end January 31, 2016.

W R I T T E N B Y : J A I M E F L O R E S

M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 5 43

COLORADO WATERSHED

The ArroyoCitrus greening, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB) is a bacterial plant disease that affects all citrus trees and its spreading in the Rio Grande Valley. This region has a long tradition of growing citrus, resulting in a high proportion of residential sites with citrus present, including in RV Parks. Pest and diseases are not always managed in residential areas where the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), a known vector for HLB is abundant.

One way to reduce the rate of spread of HLB is to reduce the populations of the Asian citrus psyllid living on door yard citrus. This will have an important impact: fewer ACP will migrate from door yard citrus into commercial citrus production areas threatening organic and conventionally-grown citrus. An effective way to reduce ACP popula-tions in residential areas without the use of pesticides is through biological control, the use of natural enemies to reduce pest populations. Tamarixia radiata a parasitoid of the Asian citrus psyllid has been tested and recommended by scientists at USDA- APHIS as a candidate for reducing the spread of HLB. This beneficial agent is a tiny wasp about 1 mm long that feeds on the Asian citrus psyllid and it lays its eggs in the nymphs, the young stage of the Asian citrus psyllid. So, instead of hatching a new psyllid, we end up with the emergence of a new Tamarixia radiata. Since residential properties cannot rely on chemical insecticides for psyllid

control, biological control was deemed the most suitable approach for manag-ing psyllid vectors of HLB. Dr. Daniel Flores with USDA-APHIS, AgriLife Extension Services and Texas Citrus Pest and Disease Management Corporation partnered together to fight citrus greening in residential areas by providing this beneficial insect, Tamarixia radiata, in plastic containers to residents at our local farmers mar-ket in McAllen, TX. This is a service at no cost; the first event took place on September 28, 2013 at Grow’n Grow-ers farmer’s market at 201 N. 1st ST in McAllen, Texas.

We provide Tamarixia to residents that want to practice biological control at home and have not treated their citrus trees, treating will also kill the beneficial insect. This control will also benefit the trees around their neighborhood. People who take Tamarixia give us their address so we can chart the GPS loca-tion on the map and track the release of the insects. Each container will have 30 - 60 insects.

The commercial industry is making great efforts to control the Asian citrus psyllid and now our citrus industry is on the hands of the residents of the Rio Grande Valley. We are providing a lot of residential outreach and edu-cating people about citrus greening disease and prevention methods. With an educated public, we will slow the spread of citrus greening and we will help save our Texas citrus.

General information on citrus greening, symptoms, sample drop off locations, prevention methods with chemical and biological control can be found at www.citrusalert.com or call the citrus greening hotline at 956-580-1917.

Heidi C Arteaga, B.S. HLB Prevention Outreach Specialist

Tamarixia radiata - Biological control in door yard citrus in

the Rio Grande Valley.WRITTEN BY: HEIDI C. ARTEAGA PHOTOS TAKEN BY: HEIDI C. ARTEAGA


COLLEGE STATION – A Texas Water Resources Insti-tute-led initiative has received a $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conserva-tion Service to address water quantity and water quality con-cerns in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

The Lower Rio Grande Valley Water Improvement Initiative is being funded through the Regional Conservation Partner-ship Program, a new program authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. The program promotes coordination between the Natural Resources Conserva-tion Service and its partners to deliver conservation assistance to producers and landowners. Natural Resources Conservation Service state conserva-tionist Salvador Salinas announced the new initiative Jan. 15 at a news conference in College Station. Irrigation management is part of a new $2.3 million grant to address water quantity, quality in Lower Rio Grande Valley. (Photo courtesy of Texas A&M AgriLife)Dr. Kevin Wagner, the water institute’s associate direc-tor, said project partners will work together to improve management of nutrients and irrigation water in the Valley. The Texas Water Resources Institute is part of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.

“The Lower Rio Grande Valley is experiencing significant popula-tion growth, which puts greater pressure on the limited water supplies and increases the need for improved irrigation efficiency,” Wagner said at the news conference. “Along with the limited supplies, degraded water quality, particularly from nutrients, neces-sitates improved nutrient management. Although addressing water quantity is the primary concern, the importance of water quality and quantity are inseparable and intricately linked in the Valley.” Wagner said the five-year project will address the Valley’s water quantity and quality concerns through improved irrigation delivery and scheduling, as well as innovative irrigation techniques and technologies.

“These innovations will decrease water use, improve productivity and reduce irrigation return flows, thus reducing nutrient and sedi-ment loading to local water bodies,” he said.

According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service,

the initiative encompasses 1.59 million acres in Cam-eron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties, and includes the lower Rio Grande, Arroyo Colorado and northFloodway.“All these water bodies are important sources of fresh-water inflows that ultimately reach the Gulf of Mexico,” Salinas said.

Wagner said the $2.3 mil-lion will be leveraged with more than $7 million in in-kind contributions from project partners: Texas State Soil and Water Con-servation Board, Harlingen Irrigation District, Rio Grande Regional Water Authority, Black and Veatch,

and Cameron County Irrigation District #2.Jaime Flores, a water institute program coordinator who also serves as the Arroyo Colorado Partnership coordina-tor, said the project partners will coordinate water conser-vation and water quality activities in the Rio Grande Valley.

“Working through existing regional planning efforts, this initiative will provide additional technical and financial assistance to agri-cultural producers in the Valleysupported by extensive outreach and education,” said Flores, who is located in Weslaco.

“This partnership allows for a strong and enhanced approach to addressing the water quantity and water quality challenges facing farmers and ranchers in the Lower Rio Grande Valley,” Salinas said. “NRCS and partners working through RCPP proj-ects will help in bringing new ideas and technologies to produc-tion agriculture in the Valley.”

The Texas Water Resources Institute is also a collaborator on the only other state Regional Conservation Partner-ship Program project funded in Texas, the Texas Gulf Coast Stream and Wetland Initiative led by the Resource Institute, Inc., which also was announced at the news conference. It focuses on the restoration and protection of headwater stream and wetland systems on cropland, grassland, range-land and pastureland within a contiguous 54-county area that includes portions of six major rivers in the Texas Gulf Coast region, according to the Natural Resources Con-servation Service. The Natural Resources Conservation Service works with private landowners nationwide to identify and address natural resource objectives and imple-ment conservation practices and activities to deliver environmental benefits locally, regionally and nationally.

Institute-led initiative receives $2.3 million grant to address water quantity, quality

in lowerRio Grande

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Some agencies of the federal government have learned that a “carrot and stick” approach often works. Proposed changes in the Clean Water Act by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amount to “stick and bigger stick.”Sometimes you see the “carrot” in enforcement of the Endangered Species Act. Things like Safe Harbor and habitat mitigation mean having a species does not force landowners out of business. Then, other things become possible. The EPA will move forward with a vast expansion of the agency’s regulatory power with changes in the Clean Water Act. Perhaps as an olive branch, EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently announced the withdrawal of their waters of the U.S. “interpretive rule .”

That rule would have required federal permits for normal farming activities in and around newly defined “waters,” unless strictly following USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service practices. Well, okay, thanks. You won’t hit me with the stick, but the bigger stick is still in the other hand.

EPA however, only withdrew the interpretive rule. They are still pursuing the invasive “Waters of the U.S.” rule. It greatly expands federal jurisdiction to include very small water bodies, flood plains and land that is not even wet most of the time. These newly classified “waters” are not currently subject to federal regula-tion and they don’t need to be. Huge punitive fines are in the arsenal of aggressive regulators. Farmers and ranchers nationwide, including members of Texas Farm Bureau, have voiced opposition. Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening called it a “breathtaking overreach of federal authority.”

Perhaps that’s why Congress and the courts have stopped EPA on previous attempts to implement this outrageous new rule. This is a reckless abuse of federal power. Stay out of dry ditches and low spots in the farmer’s field. EPA, stop hitting agriculture with big sticks. Ditch the rule!

WRITTEN BY: GENE HALL A TexAs FArm BureAu puBlicATion

EPA Rule Withdrawal Only a Tiny Step

M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 5 47

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.

Bayer CropScience today announced that Sivanto™ insec-ticide has received registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and will be available for the 2015 grow-ing season. Sivanto precisely targets key damaging pests at multiple insect life stages – delivering rapid knockdown of sucking pests while helping safeguard beneficial insects – to prevent damage to plants and help minimize the spread of diseases from insect carriers. With flexible application timings and compatibility with many beneficial insects and predatory mites, Sivanto works safely, effectively and pre-cisely to preserve the overall health of plants and protect growers’ investment in their crops.

The discovery of Sivanto was primarily inspired by the natu-ral compound stemofoline, a derivative from the plant Stemona japonica. Sivanto is the first member of a new chemical class of insecticides, the Butenolides (newly created IRAC subgroup 4D) and has shown excellent con-trol of neonicotinoid-resistant aphids and whiteflies in U.S. field trials. It is registered on a broad range of horticulture crops and most broadacre crops, including citrus, pome fruit, grapes, bush berries, tree nuts (not including almonds), pota-toes, vegetables, alfalfa, cotton, sorghum and several specialty crops (such as blueberry and clover from IR-4), which allows for inclusive and flexible crop rotation programs.

“Bayer CropScience is committed to providing growers with the tools they need to protect their crops and their profits,” said Frank Rittemann, Sivanto product manager. “Sivanto’s unique profile provides growers with state-of-the-art precision pest control that effectively targets harm-ful pests while helping safeguard beneficial insects—all with a flexible window of application that allows for use even when other products often cannot be used.”Sivanto can be applied as a foliar spray or as a soil drench, shank or drip application, depending on the crop, allowing growers maximum flexibility with their crop protection tools. More information on application methods for each crop is included in the product label.

New insecticide delivers precision pest control to preserve the health of plants and protect growers ’ investment in their crops

Bayer CropScience Launches Latest Insecticide Innovation, Sivanto

R E L E A S E B Y : B AY E R C R O P S C I E N C E

With the registration of Sivanto, Bayer CropScience will be able to address the specific needs of growers across mul-tiple crops, i.e.:

• In citrus, Sivanto provides an effective alternative to citri-cola scale management and can be used to help manage cit-rus thrips, key pests in the San Joaquin Valley that have few options for control. Additionally, university studies show that Sivanto has extremely fast feeding cessation effects on Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), key to helping reduce the transmission of Huanglongbing, or HLB. Also, Sivanto brings maximum application flexibility, including during the most challenging times that can occur around bloom periods.

• For cucurbit vegetables, Sivanto helps ensure quick, reli-able control of aphids and whiteflies while providing securi-ty that pollination by honey and bumble bees is unaffected. Sivanto’s rapid feeding cessation effect and control of insect vectors reduce silverleaf damage and provide disease miti-gation, including for the cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV) transmitted by whiteflies.

• Regarding fruiting vegetables, Sivanto brings effective adult knockdown and residual control of aphids, whiteflies, leaf-hoppers and psyllids. Sivanto provides mitigation of plant diseases, such as tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), and offers flexible application methods, including the option to apply as a foliar spray or as a soil drench or drip application.

• For sorghum, Sivanto provides excellent control of aphids, including the sugarcane aphid which has been found in high populations in recent years.“We’re excited that our newly-registered Sivanto will provide growers with a new tool that has an excellent fit with modern pest management practices,” Rittemann said.

For more information on Sivanto insecticide, visit www.SivantoInsecticide.com, follow Bayer on Twitter@Bayer4CropsUS or contact your local sales representa-tive for product information. To learn more about Bayer CropScience, visit www.bayercropscience.us.Bayer CropScience is committed to bringing new technology and solutions for agriculture and non-agricultural uses. For questions concerning the availability and use of products, contact a local Bayer CropScience representative, or visit Bayer CropScience online at www.bayercropscience.us.

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