The program begins at 10 a.m. and will conclude with a hamburger lunch from noon to 1 p.m. Dr. Ron Gill, Extension livestock specialist, will present an update on beef cattle diseases including trich and neospora.

Ranch owner Carla Payne will provide a brief overview of the weed control and forage management systems she uses, and Wade Watson with AgVantage Farm and Ranch will discuss late-season weed control measures.

Take Farm Road 51 north 16.5 miles from U.S. 380 in Decatur to County Line Road; go right on County Line Road; turn in the pipe entrance to the left.

Participants will receive two CEUs for their pesticide applicator’s license. Lunch is being sponsored by AgVantage Farm and Ranch.

This will also be an excellent opportunity to meet new County Extension Agent Todd Vineyard.

If you are interested in attending, contact the Extension office at (940) 627-3341 to register so we will have an accurate meal count.

This class is for those individuals who do not currently have a pesticide applicator license, but would like to get one. Individuals who have a license that has been expired less than one year are not eligible to take this class.

The class is limited to the first 20 paid participants.

As defined by law, a private applicator is a person who uses or supervises the use of a restricted use or state-limited-use pesticide or a regulated herbicide for the purpose of producing an agricultural commodity.

The licensed private applicator is responsible for assuring that persons working under his or her direct supervision are knowledgeable of the label requirements governing the use of the pesticides they are using.

Licensing as a private applicator requires practical knowledge of pest problems and control practices associated with agricultural operations.

Licensed private applicators are required to re-certify every five years by obtaining 15 continuing education units (CEUs) by Dec. 31 of the year preceding license expiration. That includes two credits in laws and regulations and two credits in integrated pest management. Up to 10 CEUs may be obtained through TDA- approved home study programs.

Check out the Texas Department of Agriculture’s website for more information. www.agr.state.tx.us/pesticide.

Private applicators may earn the required credits by passing a 200-question re-certification exam administered by TDA. If an applicator passes the exam, a certificate of completion for 15 CEUs will be issued. The license costs $60. Come by the Extension office to sign up or call (940) 627-3341 for more information.

A common symptom of stress or injury is marginal leaf burn, or leaves fringed by dead tissue. This has been a problem with numerous species of trees and shrubs this summer. Marginal leaf burns are seldom caused by leaf disease, which usually shows up as random lesions (dead areas) scattered about the leaf.

Leaf burn occurs at the tip or along the leaf margin because salts (plant nutrients) accumulated along leaf margins. Anything that causes the plant to pump insufficient water (stress) can result in a toxic burn of this tissue because it contains the highest level of salt.

Stress symptoms ranging from leaf burns to limb dieback or tree death can result from numerous causes. Drought is the most obvious cause of stress. The extremely dry weather, coupled with the heat of June and early July, may cause some serious problems for some homeowners.

Large trees show responses to stress more slowly; some of the marginal burns now being observed relate to last summer. High temperatures cause plants to pump more water and simply compound drought problems.

As temperatures exceed 100 degrees, water loss by some trees and shrubs can equal or exceed the ability of the roots to supply water, even when the soil moisture is not deficient. I expect we will continue to see problems with trees and other landscape plants until we receive significant rainfall.

Because of extreme Texas temperatures each summer, freeze injury is often overlooked, yet it is one of the most common and damaging causes of stress. Direct injury to twigs and limbs is usually fairly evident, and the damaged wood can be pruned.

Often the injury is more subtle, occurring on a portion of the trunk with no immediate or noticeable effect on the entire tree or shrub.

Thick bark sometimes remains intact, hiding trunk-freeze injury for well more than a year. Probing the bark on the lower three feet of the trunk with a screwdriver or tapping with a mallet (listen for hollow sound) will usually reveal hidden freeze injury.

Just as drought causes trees to stress, so does excess water. Tree roots need oxygen to function properly, so roots that are waterlogged lose their ability to take up water. It can take several years for a seriously injured root system to be regenerated.

In recent years, numerous trees growing in poorly drained soil have been killed or damaged following periods of heavy rainfall. Trees with damaged roots systems are vulnerable to summer droughts and heat stress. Be sure to deeply water your landscape trees as we continue into what are normally the driest months of the year.

Ag producers should be checking recently cut hay fields and other bermudagrass pastures on a regular basis. Several hay growers between Decatur and Boyd have already sprayed their fields and I have also received some calls from the Alvord area, so be on the lookout. Early planted small grain pastures could be at risk if good egg laying conditions return later this month. A number of products are labeled for armyworm control, check with your local chemical dealer to see what they carry. Cost per acre for control should be under $15.

Do you have unwanted pesticides? Take them to one of the upcoming free collection events for proper disposal. The first available date in our area is Tuesday, Sept. 14, at the Bowie Rodeo Grounds. Contact the Montague County Extension office at (940) 894-2831 for details. The second opportunity will be Thursday, Oct. 14, at the Parker County Sheriff’s Posse Grounds. The Parker County Agent can be reached at (817) 598-6168. These collection events are open to Texas residents at no charge. For a complete listing of items accepted come by the Wise County Extension office or go online to: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assistance/AgWaste/agwaste.html

Crickets feed mostly on organic matter, but will eat young seedlings such as winter wheat. They usually cause little damage; they are more of a nuisance.

This time of year they develop wings, become able to fly and are highly attracted to lights. That is why we see them at lighted businesses, street lights and near exterior home lights.

Sevin and Tempo are two of the safest and most effective insecticides to use on crickets. More than one application may be needed between now and frost. It is also advisable to remove the dead crickets since they can cause an odor.

Crickets do have a positive side, they make excellent bait for sunfish, bluegill and catfish.

The 2010 Ranchers Gathering has been set for Tuesday, Aug. 24, in the Decatur Civic Center. Doors will open around 5 p.m. for everyone to visit booths. Dinner is set for 6 p.m. The $10 registration fee covers the meal and makes you eligible for one of the many door prizes given away during the program.

Judon Fambrough, Senior Lecturer at the Texas Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, is the keynote speaker. Mr. Fambrough will discuss “Hints on Negotiating Easements in Lieu of Condemnation,” a hot topic for many Wise County landowners.

The registration deadline is Friday, Aug. 20. To register, come by the Wise County Extension office at 206 S. State Street. Checks can be made to: Extension Livestock Committee.

Many sorghum- and sudan-type plants, including johnsongrass, can release a poisonous substance known as prussic or hydrocyanic acid. Even though we’ve had decent amounts of rainfall this year, I have still heard reports of some cattle deaths in the area due to prussic acid. Fortunately neither local veterinarian I talked to last week had treated any cases.

There are some losses of cattle almost every year due to grazing on the green plants. Silage and hay can usually be fed without problems.

The prussic-acid content decreases as the plant approaches maturity. Small plants, young leaves and tillers are usually the highest in prussic acid. In other words, upper leaves will contain more acid than older lower leaves.

Drought-stricken and second-growth plants are dangerous because they are small and consist largely of leaves, which are high in prussic acid. Poisoning seems to be less likely if animals eat some grain before they are turned into the pasture.

The remedy is an intravenous injection of sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulfate. However, if cattle are grazing contaminated pastures, death can come quickly. Therefore, if you have pastures with johnsongrass present, it is advisable to have a sample sent to the TAMU diagnostic lab before taking an unnecessary risk.

The 2010 Ranchers Gathering has been set for Tuesday, Aug. 24, at the Decatur Civic Center. Doors will open around 5 p.m. for everyone to visit booths. Dinner is set for 6. The $10 registration fee covers the meal and makes you eligible for one of the many door prizes.

Judon Fambrough, senior lecturer at the Texas Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, will discuss “Hints on Negotiating Easements in Lieu of Condemnation,” a hot topic for many Wise County landowners.

Registration deadline is Friday, Aug. 20, at the Wise County Extension office at 206 S. State Street in Decatur. Checks can be made to: Extension Livestock Committee.

Judon Fambrough, senior lecturer at the Texas Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, is keynote speaker. Fambrough will discuss “Negotiating a Transmission Line Easement,” a hot topic for many Wise County landowners.

The registration deadline is Friday, Aug. 20. Come by the Wise County Extension office at 206 S. State Street. Checks can be made to Extension Livestock Committee.

On Sept. 29, Texas AgriLife Extension and NRCS are teaming up to bring you Kit Pharo of Pharo Cattle Company in Cheyenne Wells, Colo. He will be discussing ways to increase production in your beef cattle operation without increasing expenses. Pharo will also tell you how to reduce expenses without reducing production. Pharo Cattle Company markets about 300 bulls annually and has more than 11,000 people on its newsletter mailing list.

This beef cattle program will be held from noon until about 4 p.m. in the Decatur Civic Center. Look for details in late August.

The first collection event is Tuesday, Sept. 14, at the Bowie Rodeo Grounds, 507 Pelham Road. Parker County is hosting a collection day Thursday, Oct. 14, at the Sheriff’s Posse Grounds, 2251 Mineral Wells Hwy. Collection hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For a complete listing of items they will accept and items they will not accept, come by the Wise County Extension office or call the Montague County Extension office at (940) 894-2831 or the Parker County Extension office at (972) 825-5175.

For quantities larger than a pickup load, call (512) 239-3143 or the county Extension agent to ensure they are prepared to properly handle and accept the materials.

The conference will include-up-to-date information on topics that influence stocker-cattle profits.

Cattle owners and operators from North Texas and Southern Oklahoma are invited to participate. The registration fee of $20 includes the noon meal, refreshments and meeting proceedings.

Topics will include cattle and wheat-market outlook, economics of wheat/stocker operations, effective backgrounding and animal health update. There will be a presentation on small-grains forage production and animal rights versus animal welfare.

Specialists from Oklahoma Cooperative Extension, Texas AgriLife and Ohio Farm Bureau will offer the full day of education. Registration will be from 8 to 8:30 a.m., and the first session begins at 9 a.m.

Information is available at the Extension office, (940) 627-3341.

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for Tuesday, Aug. 24. That’s the date for the 2010 Rancher’s Gathering. Come by the Extension office in Decatur to sign up. The $10 registration fee covers the evening meal. Look for details in the next couple of weeks.

June beetles typically emerge over several weeks beginning in late May and sometimes extending into July and August. Adult beetles lay the eggs that will eventually become white grubs, a pest of turfgrasses all across Texas. Eggs take up to two weeks to develop, and another three weeks is required for the most damaging and difficult to control stage to be reached. The best time for chemical suppression of white grubs usually occurs in Wise County during July and early August. Damage may not be visible until late fall when it is too late for control measures.

White grub damage can be detected by the presence of irregular shaped areas of weakened or dying grass in your lawn.

Several non-chemical treatments are available, including beneficial nematodes. These microscopic worms can be purchased from stores or through garden supply catalogs.

The most effective insecticides for controlling grubs contain imidacloprid. Trade names of products available include: Merit, Bayer Advanced Lawn Season Long Grub Control and Scotts Grub-Ex. This is only a partial list. If you would like more information on white grub control in your lawn, call the Extension office at (940) 627-3341.

Fleas tend to be more of an itching nuisance than a threat to human health, primarily because the worst diseases they carried have been eradicated.

The chief sources of flea infestation in the home are family pets. Indoor fleas thrive in floor cracks, carpets, upholstered furniture and pet bedding. Fleas, of course, are also abundant outside; larvae burrow into the top surface of the soil.

If flea problems are occurring in the house, the yard and on the pets, all three must be treated at the same time.

Use only approved products for treating animals. Dusts are acceptable because they generally are effective longer. However, the newer products such as Frontline and Advantage, contain an insect-growth regulator that can reduce subsequent egg and larval production and can be applied directly to the animal.

Outdoors, treat areas that pets frequent. Use only approved products to thoroughly cover and saturate soil and grass areas. Make sure that application equipment is carefully calibrated to measure dosages exactly.

In the house, thoroughly vacuum or sweep carpets, rugs, furniture, cracks and crevices. Be sure to reach under furniture and along baseboards. Discard the vacuum bag afterward.

Use a coarse spray (large droplets) in treating likely infested areas. It is always more effective to treat all carpets, furniture and baseboards at one time. After spraying, use total-release aerosol applications to reduce adult fleas.

Because flea pupae are hard to kill with insecticides, an additional follow-up treatment is usually needed 7 to 10 days after the first application. When using short-residual insecticides such as pyrethrins, two or three follow-up sprays at 5- to 10-day intervals may be required.

Don’t wait until fleas get out of hand. Begin your control program early for best results. Start a thorough sanitation program, regularly inspect pets for fleas and follow label directions on all pesticide containers.

For more information come by the Extension office and pick up a publication entitled “Controlling Fleas.”

We still a few spots available for the private-applicator training and test scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18, at the Wise County Extension office, located at 206 S. State St. in Decatur. The $45 registration fee includes study booklets, lunch and refreshments.

This class is for individuals who do not currently have a pesticide-applicator license. Those who have a license that has been expired less than one year are not eligible to take this class.

The class is limited to the first 20 paid participants.

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service sponsors the three-day program, which will be held on the Texas A&M University campus.

“One of the most exciting aspects of the short course each year is the cattleman’s college,” said Dr. Jason Cleere, conference coordinator and AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist. “There are 20 different Cattleman’s College educational sessions, which will have a mix of information, addressing current beef industry issues and providing fundamental information on basic beef cattle and ranch management.”

On Aug. 3, beef cattle specialists and animal health officials will give an overview of the cattle-tick program activities.

“Even if you are not in the quarantine zone, you need to understand the impact of this pest,” Cleere said.

An overview of the history of the fever tick, its current management program and, economic impact, plus other topics will be discussed.

The Aug. 4 sessions take some of the information that was provided during the first two days of the short course “and demonstrate how it can be applied in working cattle operations,” Cleere said.

“There will be demonstrations on brush control, cattle selection, cattle handling, vaccinating cattle, business management and cuts of beef,” he said.

A tour of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine will also be offered “so that participants can see some of the latest technology that we have in livestock care,” he added.

“Participants will also have an opportunity to receive a private pesticide applicator’s license on Wednesday,” Cleere said.

Training will occur before lunch on Aug. 4 and the certification test will be at 1 p.m.

Short course registration is $140 per participant by July 26, and includes admission to the conference, a copy of the short-course proceedings, trade show admittance, tickets to the special Aggie prime rib dinner, and additional meals and refreshment breaks.

Attendees can earn at least seven pesticide continuing education units, 15 veterinary credits and numerous Beef Quality Assurance credits.

For more information or to register, go online at http://beef.tamu.edu, or contact Cleere’s office at (979) 845-6931 or email jjcleere@tamu.edu.

If left untreated grasshoppers can cause severe damage to pastures in a short amount of time. Entomologists with Texas A&M usually advise to treat when you can count 15-20 grasshoppers per square yard.

Forage is currently in decent supply in Wise County and as long as we get rain, grasshoppers should remain in pastures and roadside ditches. However, when forage gets short, expect them to move into home landscapes where they will feed on shrubs, flowers and grasses.

If you’ve treated for grasshoppers in the past, you realize the importance of treating while they are small to prevent treating the adults later in the season. Once they become adults, they are able to migrate, making control much more difficult.

There are a number of products labeled for grasshopper control in pastures. Some products such as Malathion will provide a quick kill but offer no residual, while Sevin 805 will control grasshoppers and has some residual control for grasshoppers migrating into an area.

Be sure to read the label for grazing and haying restrictions. Good coverage is a must to achieve effective results; apply 12-15 gallons of water per acre to guarantee good coverage.

For home owners a carbaryl bait may be an option.

The following recipe has provided good results in orchards, fenced areas and around home landscapes.

1. 19 pounds of wheat bran

2. One quart of Sevin XLR

3. One gallon of molasses

4. Sufficient water to make a moist mash

5. Mix with rubber gloves

6. Spread mixture in 2 to 3 table spoon clumps

7. Apply bait to open areas (grasshoppers won’t be able to find the bait in tall grass or weeds)

8. Start applying bait when nymphs (young wingless grasshoppers) are observed.

To request a list of approved products for grasshopper control, call the Extension office at (940) 627-3341.

This class is for those individuals who do not currently have a pesticide applicator license but would like to get one. Individuals who have a license that has been expired less than one year are not eligible to take this class. The class is limited to the first 20 paid participants.

As defined by law, a private applicator is a person who uses or supervises the use of a restricted use or state-limited-use pesticide or a regulated herbicide for the purpose of producing an agricultural commodity. The licensed private applicator is responsible for assuring that persons working under his or her direct supervision are knowledgeable of the label requirements governing the use of the pesticides they are using.

Licensing as a private applicator requires practical knowledge of pest problems and control practices associated with agricultural operations.

Licensed private applicators are required to re-certify every five years by obtaining 15 continuing education units (CEUs) by Dec. 31 of the year preceding license expiration. That includes two credits in laws and regulations and two credits in integrated pest management. Up to 10 CEUs may be obtained through Texas Department of Agriculture-approved home-study programs.

Check out TDA’s website for more information, www.agr.state.tx.us/pesticide.

The license cost is $60. Come by the Extension office to sign up or call (940) 627-3341.

A recent research paper from the University of Georgia (published in the Journal of Animal Science) compared a typical dairy farm from 1944, when management was largely pasture-based, to a typical modern dairy farm in 2007.

Compared to the 1944 dairy, to produce the same amount of milk, the modern dairy needed only 21 percent as many animals, 23 percent as much feedstuffs, 35 percent as much water and 10 percent as much land.

In addition, for the same amount of milk, the 2007 dairy produced only 24 percent as much manure, 43 percent as much methane and 56 percent as much nitrous oxide and had a carbon footprint only 37 percent as large. A comparison of grass-fed beef production compared to current feeding systems yielded similar results.

To fulfill the increasing requirements of the U.S. population for dairy and beef products, it is essential to adopt management practices and technologies that improve production efficiency, allowing milk and beef production to be increased while reducing the impact on the environment.

The Humane Society of the United States, a McDonald’s stockholder, has proposed purchasing 5 percent of the company’s eggs from cage-free sources. McDonald’s rejected the proposal on the grounds that there is not enough scientific evidence to do so and that cage-free systems may increase risk of infectious disease.

Insecticidal soap: Works well against small, soft-bodied pests such as aphids and mites. Once it dries, it no longer kills pests. Follow label instructions carefully as it can burn sensitive plants especially if mixed too strong or applied in hot, sunny weather. Repeated applications will reduce yields of some vegetable plants, so don’t overuse it.

Horticultural oil: Works well on aphids, mites, scale, insect eggs and whiteflies. Follow label instructions and keep the spray mixed well as you apply it. Can also damage plants if not mixed and applied properly.

B.t. (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki): Kills caterpillars. This works best on young caterpillars, so don’t wait too long to make an application. Caterpillars must ingest the product to be killed. Be sure to use this product judiciously because it will kill those caterpillars that turn into beautiful butterflies.

Kaolin clay: A fine, clay powder used in food products, toothpaste and Kaopectate! When sprayed on plants it leaves a white residue that repels some types of insects and discourages egg laying. I put it on the list as research shows that it works to repel stink bugs if applied early on when the pests first arrive.

Potassium bicarbonate: Similar to baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) but more effective. Helps prevent some diseases of the foliage if applied prior to infection to protect foliage from disease spores. Repeat sprays are needed to maintain control. Not a panacea and results will vary with various foliage diseases.

Neem oil: Works well to prevent powdery mildew or to shut down an early infection of the disease. Also helps control some insects such as whiteflies, thrips and squash bugs to name a few. Be patient as the product works as an anti-feedant (appetite suppressant) and disrupts the developmental stages of affected pests. So in most cases the results are not immediately apparent.

The high winds have kept custom applicators behind, but it’s not too late to apply herbicides and still achieve good control.

Costs for herbicide plus application range from $10-$25 per acre depending on the herbicide used and rate. Used in combination, herbicide and fertilizer can more than double grass production. However, herbicide alone increases grass production more than fertilizer alone. If you have fields free from weeds, fertilizer alone is the right choice.

Producers are lucky in that several herbicide choices are out there that do not require a pesticide applicator license for the purchase.

I get questions every year about mowing weeds. According to Texas A&M Trials, mowing costs $10 to $15 per acre, or about the same as herbicide. One difference: Mowing doesn’t improve grass production since it won’t kill the weeds.

Pastora herbicide has been made available this spring for grassbur control. It is recommended as a post-emerge application at about 1 oz. per acre. No license is required.

If you haven’t applied your weed killer yet, contact your custom applicator today to get on their list, or get your sprayer calibrated and ready for the next wind-free day.

Young non-bearing trees should receive foliar applications every two weeks from now to the first of August. Mature trees need zinc beginning at budbreak and again every two weeks for a total of three applications. Zinc sulfate or zinc nitrate are the products of choice. In addition, homeowners should apply one pound of 33-0-0 per diameter inch of trunk and a minimum of one inch of water per week during the growing season. Pecan trees should never go more than two weeks without water.

May beetles or June bugs can be a nuisance this time of year, particularly on young trees. Adults feed on the foliage at night so observing the foliage during the day will not reveal the culprit. There are no good guidelines or thresholds to help decide on control but if you see a lot of damage and think you need to spray, a good broad spectrum insecticide is your best choice.

For light weed infestations, hand pulling may be an option, and it’s probably the most enviro-friendly. Otherwise you can spot spray with Roundup or use a post emerge product like Weed-B-Gone. Both are commonly found in retail stores in our area. Always read the label carefully regardless of the weed control product you choose to make sure which weeds can be controlled and to determine which ornamental plants the products can be safely applied around. If you would like a more complete list of products, both pre-emerge and post-emerge, just call the office and we’ll get that to you.

I should also mention the best long term solution to your lawn weed problems is to build a dense, healthy lawn which will most likely choke out those winter weeds.

It’s still a bit early to fertilize our North Texas lawns. Once the grass (not weeds) has greened up and been mowed 2-3 times, apply a fertilizer with a 3-1-2 ratio. I prefer a 15-5-10 or 21-7-14 in a slow release form. You don’t need more than about a pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.

If you have questions just call (940) 627-3341. We’ll be glad to help.

Foot rot is one of the most common causes of lameness in cattle, but is also over-diagnosed in part because it is so common. Foot rot occurs in all ages of cattle. The first signs of foot rot are lameness and swelling between the hoof claws and evenly distributed around the hairline of the hooves. Accurate and timely diagnosis is critical to ensure positive treatment outcomes. If left untreated, foot rot can become chronic and infection may spread from the space between the hooves to deeper structures including bones and tendons, which is associated with a poor chance of recovery.

Several different bacteria that can commonly be found in the environment can cause foot rot. Weather can contribute to the ability of these bacteria to infect the foot in several ways. Prolonged exposure to wet conditions may lead to cracking of the skin between the claws, thus providing a route for bacteria to enter and infect the skin. Wet conditions also favor persistence of these bacteria in the environment and on the surface of intact skin. Recurrent freeze thaw cycles may also lead to frozen mud, which can create sharp points that traumatize the skin between the claws.

Foot rot is not the sole cause of lameness in wet conditions. Lameness may also be observed due to other infectious agents, mechanical injury due to softening of the hoof or injuries due to slippery or difficult conditions. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to recovery for all of these causes of lameness. Consult your large animal veterinarian for assistance with diagnosis and treatment programs.

Treatment and preventative measures for foot rot can include the use of injectable antibiotics and medicated feed. Several products are available that are specifically labeled for the treatment of foot rot. In addition, your veterinarian can help make specific recommendations. Importantly, for some animals with more severe lameness, treatment with an anti-inflammatory may be necessary to aid in the control of pain and discomfort.

Prevention:

Check with your veterinarian; at this stage in the game, there may not be adequate time to develop immunity but a vaccination may help reduce severity of disease in subsequent outbreaks.