Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin,

age, disability, genetic information or veteran status. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

******************************************************************************************************************************** Commercial products and trade names are used for information purposes only.

By: Roy Walston – CEA-Ag/NR

Top of the Windmill News

Fall 2014

Kerr County AgriLife Extension Service

3655 Hwy. 27

Kerrville, TX 78028

(830) 257-6568

kerr@ag.tamu.edu

Kerr.agrilife.org

Calendar of Events Sept 6 - Earth-Kind Landscape

School

Sept 12– Session 6-Range

Management Field-Day

(3 CEUs)

Sept 17– Farm & Ranch Estate

Planning & Surface

Water Workshop

Sept 23 –Winter Forage Workshop

(1.5 CEUs)

Sept 25- Winter Care of Backyard

Poultry Flocks

Sept 26– New Landowner Series

Fall Vegetable Program

Sept 29– Earth-Kind Gardening

Class

Oct 1 - Livestock Producers

Disaster Assistance

Program

Oct 1 - Kerr Co. Hay Show

Entry Deadline

Oct 2 - Texas Cattle Raisers

Round Up & 4-H

Replacement Heifer Sale

Oct 3 - Kerr WMA-First Friday

Tours

Oct 4 - Kerr 4-H Wild Game

Dinner

Oct 27 - Kerr Co. Forage Meeting

(3 CEUs)

Session 6 – Range Management Field-day On Friday Sept 12th, talks on brush control, brush sculpting, wildlife management

for high and low fences will be presented. Instructors will also do some plant

identification on grasses, forbs and woody plants. This session will be held

at 1109 FM 474, Kendalia, TX with registration from 1-1:30 and the program

lasting until 5pm. Cost to attend this individual session will be $30 dollars and 3

CEUs will be given. Please RSVP by calling 830-249-9343 and ask for the

Kendall County Extension Office. Attendees can pay at the door.

2015 New Land Owners Series will probably start in March of 2015 and cover

Kerr, Kendall, Blanco & Gillespie Counties. It will consists of a series of

sessions to help new land owners make the best possible decisions on managing

their property. To be put on next year’s list please call the Gillespie County

Extension Office at 830-997-3452.

Farm & Ranch Estate Planning & Surface Water Workshop Sept 17th-This workshop will be held at the Gillespie County Extension

office starting at 6:15. Talks will cover: The Benefits of Having a

Coordinated Plan; Succession, Gift and Estate Planning; Asset Protection;

Maximization Strategies for your Family. Water issues for the Rural

Landowner concentrating on the classification of navigable waters by

EPA $10 cost payable at the door.

Winter Forage Workshop-Sept 23 Winter forage interest continues for grazing livestock, supplementing

wildlife.

BANDERA, Texas — The Agriculture and Natural Resource Committee

of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Bandera County will

host a Winter Forage Workshop from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 23.

The program will be held at the Mansfield Park Recreation Center, 2886

Texas 16 N. in Bandera. “This is sure to be an informative program as it will be presented by Larry Redmon, a professor and state AgriLife Extension forage specialist from

College Station,” said Sam Womble, AgriLife Extension agent in Bandera

County.

Winter care of backyard poultry flocks

Thursday, September 25 at 7:00 pm EDT

Link: https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/poultry

Fall is the time to prepare your flocks and coops for the toils of winter. Dr. Brigid McCrea from

Delaware State University will cover the activities that are recommended for such prepartions.

Whether this is your first or fortieth flock, take the time to learn about changes to your management and

biosecurity routines so that your flock stays happy and healthy all winter long.

New Landowner Series to host Fall Vegetable Program–Sept. 26th

The last two New land Owner Series sessions will take place in Sept. Session 5

was cancelled in July and will now be held on Friday, Sept 26th at the Kerr

County Extension Office, 3655 Hwy 27, Kerrville, TX. Registration will be

1-1:30 with the program lasting until 5 pm. Topics for this session will include

fall vegetable gardening, organics, pest management, soil development and many more topics.

Individuals wishing to attend this single event of the meeting series may attend at a cost of $30

dollars. Please RSVP by calling the Kerr County Extension Office at 830-257-6568. Attendees can

pay at the door.

Earth-Kind Gardening Class On September 29th, Hill Country Master Gardeners will present a class on

Earth-Kind Gardening at the Kerr County AgriLife Extension Office from 1-4 pm.

This class will guide participants in reaping maximum gardening and landscaping

pleasure while still preserving and protecting our environment.

You'll learn about soil building, Texas Superstar plants, the best plant for the

correct spot, natives to choose, effect of climate change on the garden, controlling

insects in an Earth-Kind way and more.

This class is open to the public and cost is $15. Due to limited space, reservations/payments must be

received by September 25. Make check for $15 payable to HCMG and mail to Deborah Russell, 107

Itz Ranch Rd., Fredericksburg, TX 78624. If you need more information, contact Deborah at

russhill@beecreek.net or call 830-889-0776.

Livestock Producers Urged to Enroll in Disaster Assistance Program by Oct. 1

Producers who have suffered eligible disaster-related losses are encouraged to act to secure

assistance by Sept. 30, 2014, as congressionally mandated payment reductions will take place

for producers who have not acted before that date. Livestock producers that have experienced

grazing losses since October 2011 and may be eligible for benefits but have not yet contacted

their local Farm Service Agency (FSA)

office should do so as soon as possible.

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USDA is encouraging producers to register, request an appointment or begin a Livestock

Forage Disaster Program application with their county FSA office before Oct. 1, 2014, to lock

in the current zero percent sequestration rate. As an additional aid to qualified producers

applying for LFP, the Farm Service's Agency has developed an online registration that enables

farmers and ranchers to put their names on an electronic list before the deadline to avoid

reductions in their disaster assistance. This is an alternative to visiting or contacting the county

office. To place a name on the Livestock Forage Disaster Program list online, visit

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/disaster-register .

Cattle producers can add revenue through cost-effective calf management

A new Farm Assistance study conducted by specialists with the Texas A&M AgriLife

Extension Service reveals cattle producers can add significant net cash farm income to their operations

on top of already high cattle prices by implementing cost-effective calf management practices.

As prices for calves continue to reach historic

levels, beef cattle producers could see increased

revenue by implementing blackleg vaccinations,

castrations and implants, as well as deworming.

However, many ranchers do not elect to do so and

could be missing significant additions to revenue,

according to economists.

―The financial performance and condition of most

South Texas cow-calf operations will continue to be

supported by off-farm income, hunting and other

sources of income,‖ said Mac Young, AgriLife

Extension economist. ―At the same time,

implementing cost-effective calf management practices offers cow-calf producers the potential to

improve profitability.‖

As prices for calves continue to reach historic levels, beef cattle producers could see increased revenue

by implementing cost-effective calf management

practices, according to Texas A&M AgriLife

Extension Service economists. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin)

Texas ranchers have welcomed rains throughout the spring and summer, which have improved forage

conditions and increased interest in herd rebuilding, Young said.

―As a result, demand and prices for feeder calves and prices for replacements have increased,‖ he said.

―Cow-calf producers in South Texas routinely make management decisions to adapt to weather, market

and economic conditions. Various calf

management practices can be critical to herd performance and profits. Successful managers will find

ways to improve their operations by adopting better and cost-effective approaches to doing things.‖

The study focused on a 2,000-acre ranch consisting of 1,800 acres of native pasture and 200 acres of

established Coastal Bermuda used for grazing only. Under normal stocking rates, the cowherd included

200 cows or a stocking rate of one animal unit to 10 acres and eight bulls or one bull to 25 cows.

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The study took in consideration production inputs, yields, costs and overhead charges based on typical

rates for the region. In 2014, hunting income for the ranch was $10 an acre. Assets, debts, machinery

inventory and scheduled equipment replacements for the projection period were the same in all

management scenarios.

―We took in consideration all four scenarios, which were clostridial vaccinations, castration and

implants, deworming and all calf management,‖ Young said. ―All four calf management practices that

were evaluated potentially can significantly increase profitability of an operation.‖

With no selected calf management practices, average net cash farm income was $76,970 a year or $385

a cow per year and $428 a calf per year. An all calf management program of clostridial vaccinations,

castration/implants and deworming led to net cash farm income of $89,360, representing $477 a cow

per year and $496 a calf per year.

―This reflects a 16.1 percent increase or $12,390 increase versus no calf management practices,‖ Young

said.

He said while the financial performance and condition of most South Texas cow-calf operations will

continue to be supported by off-farm income, implementing these practices can have a significant

positive impact on profitability.

Oct 2nd Texas Cattle Raisers Round Up & 4-H

Replacement Heifer Sale

Heifer sale will start at 5:00 pm with 8 pens of 3 bred heifers offered for sale by 4-H

kids.

Followed by Roundup at 5:30 pm

Micah Walker – Gillespie County TA&M AgriLife 4H Extension Agent (Introduction and recognition of Youth

Commercial Heifer Show Participants and Presentation of awards.)

Jason Skaggs – TSCRA Executive Director, Government and Public Affairs (National & State

Legislative Affairs Update) Larry Gray – TSCRA Director of Law Enforcement (Special Ranger

activities)

THIS TSCRA RANCH GATHERING IS OPEN TO ALL LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS/LANDOWNERS AND

FAMILY WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PRESERVING OUR RANCHING WAY OF LIFE. IF PLANNING TO

ATTEND THE RANCH GATHERING, RSVP’S ARE

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN PLANNING OUR MEAL; PLEASE CALL TSCRA

@800-242-7820 ext.192, or RSVP @tscra.org

Kerr WMA - First Friday Tours

“Ecosystems Approach to Wildlife Management, putting it all together,” – Oct 3

Finding a cure rather than treating a symptom. 3rd and final seminar discussing

white-tailed deer management, grazing management, prescribed burning, brush

control and endangered species. The seminar will also include over 30 years of

nutrition and genetics research conducted in the Donnie E. Harmel White-tailed Deer

Research Facility. Outdoor tour of sites at the Management Areas will follow

demonstrating topics covered indoors. This program is free of charge. Please

contact the respective Wildlife Management Area office for more details.

Reservations are requested Kerr Wildlife Management Area Office: 830-238-4483.

Kerr County 4-H Wild Game Dinner Fund Raiser

Saturday, October 4th – Kerr County Youth Event Center

Kerr Co. 4-H Wild Game Dinner

The Kerr County 4-H Wild Game Fund Raiser sponsored by Kerr

County 4-H will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2014. This event will be held at the Hill

Country Youth Exhibition center at 3805 Hwy. 27, Kerrville. The doors will open at 5:00 p.m.

and dinner is served at 6pm.

Tickets are $20.00 for adults, 6 and under free. Tickets are available at Gibson’s, Kerrville

Ranch and Pet, and Double L Feed in Kerrville and Ingram.

THE COOKS…The Kerr County 4-H Wild Game dinner is famous for its flavor of the Texas

Hill Country. 21 cooks from around Kerr county will prepare delicious treats made with Axis,

Whitetail, Sika, Blackbuck, Red Stag, wild hog and much, much more!! If you are not into

exotic meats, then you will enjoy the taste of Wild Range chicken and Boiled shrimp.

THE RAFFLE…After you have enjoyed a great dinner, we will start announcing our raffle

winners and have our auction items. Over $50,000 dollars in auction & raffle items available

including 30 guns, shooting gear, blinds, jewelry, furniture, and much, much more.

THE PROCEEDS…from this event benefit the 4-H Club Leadership & Development

programming serving 454 youth in Kerr County. 4-H is a community of young people across

America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. 4-H is about having fun,

learning, exploring and discovering. In 4-H, young people make new friends, develop new

skills, become leaders and help shape their communities. The Mission Of The Texas 4-H and

Youth Development Program is to: Prepare youth to meet the challenges of childhood,

adolescence and adulthood, through a coordinated, long-term, progressive series of educational

experiences that enhance life skills and develop social, emotional, physical and cognitive

competencies.

WILD GAME MEAT DONORS… If you have access to exotic wild game we are looking

for donations of meat for this year’s dinner. If you are interested in donating you may take your

dressed game to Rhodes Taxidermy on Junction Hwy. (please id to Kerr 4-H) or call

Roy Walston at 830-257-6568.

Kerr County Hay Show

Producers interested in participating in the Hay Show may

bring their hay samples by the Kerr County Extension office by

Tuesday, October 1st. Entries will include one small square bale

and a producer may enter as many bales as they wish. In cases of

round bales an entry will consist of 20 pounds of hay sacked, bound and tied. Entry fee is

$10.00 per bale. Classes include; Sorghum Sudan, Winter Annuals, Legumes, Perennial

Grasses, Coastal Bermuda, and other bermudagrasses. Bermudagrasses will be divided into

irrigated and dryland. This is a good opportunity for producers to get their hay tested and

determine how your fertility and management program is working. For more information

contact the Kerr County Extension office, 830-257-6568.

Kerr County Forage Meeting – October 27

The Kerr County Hay Show & Forage Meeting will be just around the

corner. On October 27 Dr. Larry Redmon, Extension Forage Specialist

will discuss forage management, as well as new improved forages, insect

and weed control and new products to control fall armyworms, grassy weeds, etc. The

program will begin at 1 pm. to 4 pm. with three hours of CEU’s offered to Private, commercial

and non-commercial applicators. Registration for this program will be $15 per person payable

at the door or pre-registration is $10 by October 18.

If you would like to receive the Top of the Windmill via email,

please send an email to: kerr@ag.tamu.edu with the Subject title as: Top of the

Windmill.

Kerr County AgriLife Extension Office

3655 Hwy 27

Kerrville, Texas 78028