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AGRICULTURAL
NEWS LETTER
F E D E R A L
Vol. 10, No. 8

R E S E R V E

B A N K

OF

D A L L A S

DALLAS, TEXAS

August 15, 1955

PASTURES — NATIVE VERSUS IMPROVED

During the 4-year period 1949-52, steers
grazed on improved pastures in southeastern
Oklahoma produced 13,500 pounds more
beef than those grazed on native-grass pas­
tures on the same type of soil, according to
tests conducted by Oklahoma A. & M.
College.
In order to determine the value of pasture
improvement on overgrazed native grass­
land, a 300-acre experimental site was se­
lected in southeastern Oklahoma. The ex­
perimental site was representative of thou­
sands of acres of shallow, overgrazed, or
abandoned fields found in the area.

tremely wet weather. Forage species of both
grasses and legumes should be tolerant to
these extremes or be able to reseed under
unfavorable conditions.
Soils in the area generally are acid and
low in available phosphorus, calcium, and
potassium. Cash crops cannot be produced
profitably on much of the land because of
low fertility levels, and many fields previ­
ously cultivated have been abandoned. Most
of the soils in the area are low in soil nitrogen
and organic matter; consequently, a pastureimprovement program must be based on im­
proving soil fertility levels.

In this section of Oklahoma, climatic con­
The 300-acre experimental tract was di­
ditions — particularly rainfall and tempera­
tu re— generally are favorable for growth vided into two 150-acre pastures with simi­
of adapted species of desirable forage plants. lar soil types and conditions. Each pasture
A grazing season of 180 to 200 days is nor­ contained about 50 acres of land too steep or
mal, but in unfavorable years, there may be stony to cultivate, approximately 15 acres of
several weeks of either severe drought or ex­ bottom land, and 85 acres of tillable upland.
COW-CALF PRODUCTION ON IMPROVED AND NATIVE-GRASS PASTURES, 1949-52
Southeastern Oklahoma
1949

IMPROVED PASTURES
Stocking rate
Cows.............................................................. ................. 25
Calves............................................................ ................. 20
Calf weight at weaning (pounds)................. ................. 413
Total calf weight (pounds)........................... ................. 8,260
NATIVE-GRASS PASTURES
Stocking rate
Cows.............................................................. ................. 15
Calves............................................................ ................. 12
Calf weight at weaning (pounds)................. ................. 326
Total calf weight (pounds)........................... .................4,950
'Two calves died.
2One calf died.

1950

1951

1952

478
9,560

28
261
398
10,340

397
7,940

26
21.8
421.5
9,025

15
12
452
5,424

18
18
388
6,690

16
14
398
5,535

16
14
391
5,649.8

25
20

26

Average

212

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AGRICULTURAL NEWS LETTER

On the improved pasture, the bottom land
was cleared of timber and planted to a local
strain of Bermuda grass and Big Hop and
white clovers. Forty-six acres of the upland
were cleared of persimmons, disked, and fer­
tilized with 40 pounds of phosphate per acre.
The land then was planted to a mixture of
Kobe and Korean lespedeza at a rate of 20
pounds of seed per acre, drilled in 14-inch
rows. In order to furnish some winter and
early spring pasturage, about 38 acres of
tillable upland in the improved pasture were
plowed and planted to rye and vetch each
year.
Cow-calf herds were grazed on the pas­
tures from 1949 through 1952. The carry­
ing capacity of the pastures, the number
of calves produced, and calf weights at 9
months were used as measures of pasture
productivity.

Some producers use cable-type rubbing
devices, but Dr. Fuller believes that a good
spray program provides better control.

Mosquito Control
Mosquitoes are costly to a farmer since
they reduce productivity of livestock, ac­
cording to entomologists at the Texas Agri­
cultural Extension Service.
The insects often drive livestock away
from lush pastures, resulting in weight losses
or reduced gains of the animals. Also, mos­
quitoes may cause poultry to lose weight and
lay fewer eggs.
To get rid of the insects, eliminate breed­
ing places by removing standing w ater.
Ponds and irrigated pastures should be
sprayed or dusted with insecticides.

During the first 3 years of the experiment,
a larger number of calves, with heavier wean­
ing weights, were produced on the improved
pasture. In 1952 the weaning weights of the
calves on the two pastures were about the
same, but more calves were raised on the
improved pastures.

There are several sprays and dusts which
are effective under different conditions. Lo­
cal county agricultural agents can supply
information on the recommended mixtures
and rates of application.

Don’t Feed Steak to Horn Flies

Poultry heavily infested with fowl ticks —
commonly called blue bugs or chicken ticks
— become unthrifty and may lose weight
during the summer if control measures are
not followed.

Horn flies during the summer months re­
sult in an annual loss of 20 to 30 pounds of
beef per animal, according to F. M. Fuller,
extension entomologist with Texas A. & M.
College.
The pests — which are about half the size
of ordinary houseflies — suck the blood of
livestock, causing irritation which results in
loss of weight, indigestion, and other dis­
orders.
Horn flies can be controlled simply and
at a nominal cost. A spray of .5 percent
DDT, toxaphene, or methoxychlor applied
with a hand- or power-sprayer gives control
which should remain effective for 3 weeks
or longer.

Check for Poultry Ticks

The insects hide in the cracks and crevices
of poultry houses during the daytime and
then emerge at night and suck the blood of
poultry, according to Ben Wormeli, Exten­
sion poultry specialist at Texas A. & M.
College.
When poultry houses are infested with the
ticks, masses of the insects usually can be
found in cracks and under loose planks in
the houses.
A small power- or hand-sprayer contain­
ing .5 percent lindane, toxaphene, or chlor-

AGRICULTURAL NEWS LETTER

dane is recommended for fowl-tick control.
The spray material should be applied to
chicken coops and to roosts and interiors of
poultry houses. Particular attention should
be given to cracks, crevices, and fence posts.
Repeated treatments may be needed to in­
sure satisfactory control.

Dairy Surplus Decreasing

3

Higher Fall Egg Prices
Production of eggs from the Nation’s lay­
ing flocks this fall is expected to be about 5
percent below that of last fall, according to
John G. McHaney, Extension economist
with Texas A. & M. College. This should re­
sult in a seasonal rise in egg prices this fall,
with possibly higher prices for producers
than during the same period a year ago.

The surplus of dairy
United States farmers have raised 19 per­
products obtained
under price support cent fewer replacement chicks this year, and
operations gradually it appears that the number of layers on farms
is being reduced, ac­ will be 6 to 8 percent smaller than in 1954.
cording to a report of Mr. McHaney says that poultrymen who
the United States Department of Agriculture. bought replacement stock during the first 4
If total milk production remains low and de­ months of this year will profit the most, but
mand continues strong, prospects are that raisers starting chicks in September still may
the surplus will be reduced further before the be able to take advantage of some of the
expected favorable prices during the second
end of the year.
quarter of 1956.
The Department of Agriculture purchased
Supplement Dry Grass
the milk equivalent of nearly 6,000,000,000
pounds of dairy products during the mar­
Minerals and plenty of roughage are
keting year ended March 31, 1955. This
needed
to keep livestock healthy and grow­
amount is about 5,000,000,000 pounds less
ing
during
the dry summer months when
than was purchased a year earlier.
green grazing is short, according to U. D.
The following factors are credited by the Thompson, Extension animal husbandman
Department of Agriculture as being respon­ of Texas A. & M. College.
sible for the reduction in milk surpluses.
Mr. Thompson suggests supplementing
1. The reduction in retail prices for dairy the roughage — whether it be dry pasture,
products in 1954 has helped to increase baled hay, or bundles — with 2 pounds of
cottonseed meal or cake for each animal
consumption.
daily.
2. Advertising and special promotions
Research has shown that 41 percent pro­
by the dairy industry are stimulating con­
tein supplements are the most economical to
sumption.
feed. Granulated salt and steamed bone
3. More children are drinking increased meal, fed separately or in combination,
quantities of milk at schools, as a result of supply necessary minerals.
the special school milk program.
By creep-feeding nursing calves, mother
4. More milk and dairy products are be­ cows can be maintained through the summer
in better condition and the calves can be
ing provided to military personnel.
marketed at heavier weights. The calves
5. Needy persons are receiving greater should be started on oats; then the amount
of oats fed should be reduced and corn added
donations of dairy products.

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AGRICULTURAL NEWS LETTER

to the ration. The addition of 10 pounds of
cottonseed meal to each 100 pounds of grain
mix is recommended when all green grazing
is exhausted.

Oil Controls Johnson Grass
Farmers can control Johnson grass in row
crops without swinging a hoe, reports Homer
E. Rea, agronomist for the Texas Agricul­
tural Experiment Station.
Spot application of diesel- and naphthatype oil sprays in four treatments killed 99
percent of all Johnson grass in cotton stands
in one season. In comparison, four trips
over a similar field with hand hoes eliminated
only 44 percent of the grass.
According to Mr. Rea, the commercial
preparations to use are Varsol 1, Lightfoot
23, No-weed Oil, Lion 1, and Flit 38. A mix­
ture of 50 percent of one of these oils and 50
percent diesel fuel applied with an ordinary
knapsack sprayer provides effective control.
Approximately one-third of a teaspoon of
oil mixture on the stem near the base of each
plant is sufficient, with best kills being ob­
tained on young grass.

cultural Experiment Station, and its adapta­
tion to growing conditions in the High Plains
has been tested at Amarillo since 1950. The
new barley:
• Is unusually cold- and green bugresistant.
• Heads only from fall seeding.
e Is late-maturing.
• Yields well under cold conditions.
• Has a good test weight.
• Provides good winter and spring
grazing.
No Kearney barley seed is available to
farmers from the Texas Agricultural Experi­
ment Station, but foundation seed for the
production of certified seed may be obtained
from the Nebraska Experiment Station at
Lincoln, Nebraska. Limited quantities of the
seed also will be available from commercial
seed growers.

New Fertilizer Applicator

A new liquid-nitrogen applicator devel­
oped by the United States Department of
Agriculture and North Carolina State Col­
To eradicate the grass roots completely lege will handle low-pressure and nonpres­
and prevent resprouting, repeated spot oil- sure nitrogen solutions. It is simple in de­
ings at intervals of 7 to 10 days, or approxi­ sign and operation, inexpensive, and easily
mately 4 to 6 treatments, may be necessary. and cheaply repaired. The pump unit weighs
Within hours of the initial treatment, John­ about 25 pounds and can be mounted on a
son grass usually is shriveled and killed to tractor or a tractor-drawn cultivator or plow.
ground level. Although the costs of control­
ling Johnson grass with spot oil treatments
Liquid nitrogen is easier to handle than
will vary with the amount of oil used and dry fertilizers and costs less per unit of plant
the degree of Johnson grass infestation, Mr. nutrient. In the past, however, liquid-appli­
Rea has figured the cost of application, in­ cation machinery has been relatively expen­
cluding oil and labor, at $14.10 an acre. sive; and, in general, only operators of large
farms have found it economical to purchase
such equipment.
New Barley for the High Plains
Kearney — a new, cold-resistant, green
bug-tolerant variety of barley—is now avail­
able to growers in the Texas Panhandle. The
variety was developed by the Nebraska Agri­

The Agricultural News Letter is prepared in
the Research Department under the direction
o f J. Z. R owe, Agricultural Economist.