Full text of Agricultural News Letter : Vol. 10, No. 8
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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 2 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. 4 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.