View original document

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

AGRICULTURAL
NEWS LETTER
F E D E R A L
Vol. 11, No. 5

R E S E R V E

B A NK

OF

DALLAS, TEXAS

D A L L A S
May 15, 1956

The East Texas Field Station is at Henderson, in Rusk County; the Coastal Bend Field
Station is near Taft, in San Patricio County; and the West Texas Field Station is at Merkel,
in Taylor County. The High Plains Field Station will be established this summer. These
are in addition to the 850-acre main station at Renner, in Collin County.

2

AGRICULTURAL NEWS LETTER

TEXAS RESEARCH FOUNDATION ESTABLISHES FIELD STATIONS
Business leaders and farmers are co­ tions throughout most of the State’s corn­
operating with the Texas Research Founda­ growing areas.
tion at Renner in the establishment of four
Grass and legume studies at Renner are
regional field stations in Texas, according
to C. L. Lundell, Director of the founda­ of major significance to the State’s live­
tion. The purpose of the stations is to evalu­ stock industry and to the formulation of
ate forage crops and to test new crop varie­ proper farming systems for soil and water
ties for adaptability to the soils and climates conservation. As a result of prolonged
of the regions in which the stations are drought, the re-establishment of grasses and
legumes for increased production of forage
located.
is one of the more critical problems over
The field stations are being set up on a much of Texas. Thorough evaluation of
5-year operational plan. Leading business­ promising grasses and legumes with a view
men and farmers in each region are under­ to solving this problem will be possible at
writing the operating expenses of the station the regional stations, according to Dr.
Lundell.
in their area.
Earl H. Collister, Chairman of the Plant
Science Department at the Texas Research
Foundation, is supervising the regional field
stations. These stations will evaluate im­
proved varieties and strains of grasses and
legumes, corn hybrids, soybeans, sesame,
and sunflowers for commercial production.
If the crops studied prove to be profitable,
they may contribute toward much-needed
diversification in the areas.
The stations are enabling the foundation
to carry to the major farming and ranching
areas of the State hundreds of new crop
strains that have been produced by the 12year plant investigation and breeding pro­
gram at Renner. The foundation already
has pioneered successfully several new
crops in various regions of Texas. Among
the more important of these are sesame,
button clover, soybeans, and corn hybrids.
Sesame has spread to 15,000 acres in the
State since its introduction in 1953. Button
clover is grown on more than 150,000 acres
in north and northeast Texas. Corn hybrids
produced by the Renner foundation are
meeting with widespread acceptance as de­
pendable producers under droughty condi­

At the East Texas Field Station, spring
planting started during the latter part of
M arch and will continue through early
June. Several species of grasses, white and
yellow corn hybrids, and improved varieties
of sunflowers already have been planted.
Soybeans, sesame, and selected legumes also
will be grown.
The 8-acre station has been divided into
half-acre plots for trial plantings of various
row and forage crops. Plots this size are
small enough to accommodate a wide vari­
ety of plantings and, yet, are large enough
for interested farmers and businessmen to
observe the growth and adaptability of the
crops.
Soybeans, sesame, and sunflowers are
among the new crops to be grown at the
East Texas Field Station. New corn hybrids,
which are capable of increasing the region’s
per acre grain yield, also will be introduced.
Comparisons will be made of many pasture
grasses to determine their relative merits.
An initial test will be a comparison of
Coastal and Common Bermuda grasses. The
adaptability of Blue Panic — a new grass
for the region — also will be evaluated.

AGRICULTURAL NEWS LETTER

3

Eliminate Cotton Bandits
The Texas Agricultural Extension Service recently released its 1956 Guide for
Controlling Cotton Insects. Included in the guide are suggestions on early and lateseason control, early stalk destruction and farm cleanup, timing of insecticide appli­
cations, and seed treatment with systemic insecticides; and general information on
spraying and dusting.
The 1956 Guide for Controlling Cotton Insects, L-218, can be obtained from
county agents in the State.

Controlling Cotton Insects
Progressive cotton farmers
in the State have attained rec­
ord-high levels of yields, effi­
ciency, and profits in recent
years, according to C. B.
Spencer, Agricultural Direc­
tor of the Texas Cottonseed Crushers’ As­
sociation.
The farmers have utilized the knowledge
gained through research, as well as the new
equipment and materials developed by in­
dustry. In addition, they are active in soilimprovement and other conservation pro­
grams in their communities.
Part of the success of the Texas cotton
farmers is attributed to their ability to con­
trol cotton insects. In this connection, they
follow these essential steps.
1. The farmers learn to recognize insect
damage and to identify the pests causing the
trouble. There are about 16 insects that
damage cotton.
2. They keep a sharp lookout; and if a
cotton plant is not growing or fruiting prop­
erly, a careful check is made to determine
the cause. If control measures are needed,
immediate steps are taken.
3. They are prepared. D ust or spray
equipment is kept in first-class condition,
and a sufficient supply of insecticides is on
hand for any emergency.

4. They recognize that it is their respon­
sibility to kill the pests. Effective insecticides
must be applied properly and at the right
time. A careful check just before and 24
hours after each application gives an accu­
rate picture of the effectiveness of the ap­
plication.
5. They follow the Guide for Controlling
Cotton Insects in Texas. The recommenda­
tions contained in the guide are based on
carefully conducted research projects.

Poisonous Plants Cause
Livestock Losses
Livestock losses will occur if animals are
permitted to graze ranges on which poison­
ous plants are growing, according to A. H.
Walker, Extension range specialist at Texas
A. & M. College.
The continuing drought has limited the
growth of desirable forage, and stock will
graze new plants, even if they are poisonous.
Therefore, livestock should be removed
from pastures where poisonous plants are
growing until the danger period has passed.
• Bitterweed, a plant especially toxic to
sheep, is controlled best by deferred and
rotation grazing.
• L ocow eed and pea vine are o th er
plants which can cause trouble. Mr. Walker
says that animals should not be allowed to
graze pastures containing these plants until

4

AGRICULTURAL NEWS LETTER

other plants attain sufficient growth to satis­
fy the forage needs of the animals.
• The cocklebur in the seedling stage is
very poisonous to grazing animals, espe­
cially hogs and cattle.

Change in Beef Grade
Effective June 1, the Commercial grade
of beef will be divided into two new grades
— designated as Standard and Commercial,
according to the United States Department
of Agriculture. This revision originally was
recommended by the Cattle and Beef In­
dustry Committee.
The Standard grade will apply to beef
from young anim als, w hile Commercial
will be retained for beef from mature ani­
mals.
It was the committee’s opinion that the
change in grades would lead to a greater
proportion of the younger beef being fed­
erally graded, resulting in increased market­
ing efficiency fo r the S ta n d a rd grade of
meat. Increased efficiency would be bene­
ficial to both producers and consumers.

Fattening cattle should consume V2
ounce to IV 2 ounces of salt per head daily.
Loose granulated salt is the best form for
these animals and should be kept before
them at all times.

Cattle Need Dental Care, Too

Officials of the American Foundation for
Animal Health cite the following example
to illustrate the problem that can be caused
by faulty teeth.
A cow that had exhibited a poor appetite
for several days finally refused to eat any
feed. When the veterinarian examined her
for a possible throat obstruction, he found
that the cow had two extremely sharp teeth
that caused severe pain when she chewed.
After these teeth were clipped and her other
teeth were dressed down to a normal chewing
level, the cow started eating again.

Publications
Texas Agricultural Experiment Station,
College Station:
Performance as a Guide to Beef Herd
Selection, Bulletin B-809, by J. K.
Riggs and L. A. Maddox, Jr.
Environment Affects Market Value of
Eggs, Bulletin B-810, by Floyd Z.
Beanblossom, Kermit F. Schlamb, and
William S. Allen.
Photosensitization of Cattle in Texas, Bul­
letin 812, by O. E. Sperry, R. D.
Turk, G. O. Hoffman, and F. B.
Stroud.
Sweetclover in Texas, Bulletin 791, by
R. C. Potts.
Some Economic Effects of Drouth on
Ranch Resources, Bulletin 801, by C.
A. Bonnen and J. M. Ward.
Bindweed Control in the Panhandle of
Texas, Bulletin 802, by A. F. Wiese
and H. E. Rea.
Silo Construction Costs and Silage Pro­
duction Practices, Bulletin 798, by
A. C. Magee.

Stockmen are urged to give more attention
to the dental care of cattle that fail to eat
properly or that do not produce a normal sup­
ply of milk or meat, according to specialists
Copies of these bulletins may be obtained
at Louisiana State University.
by request to the experiment station.
Many cattlemen apparently overlook the
fact that defective teeth may cause digestive
upsets and general unthriftiness in otherwise
healthy cattle.

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