Full text of Agricultural News Letter : Volume V, Number 4

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AGRICULTURAL

NEWS LETTER

T HE

FEDERAL

Volume V

RESERVE

BANK

OF

DALLAS

Dallas, Texas, April 15, 1950

GRAIN

SORGHUMS

FOR

Nearly 10,000,000 acres will be seeded to
grain sorghums in 1950 by southwestern farm­
ers, according to the United States Depart­
ment of Agriculture’s survey of intentions to
plant as of March 1. If the drought continues
in major wheat-producing areas of Texas,
Oklahoma, and New Mexico, additional acre­
age may be shifted to this important and ver­
satile feed crop.
The development of combine-type grain
sorghums has permitted the complete mechan­
ization of this crop and has made it especially
suitable to the large-scale operations prevalent
in the Texas High Plains and eastern New
Mexico counties. In these areas grain sorghums
usually outyield corn, both on dry land and
under irrigation. The results of 8 years’ re­
search at the Texas Agricultural Experiment
Substation at Lubbock, shown in the table be­
low, emphasize the superiority of grain sor­
ghums over corn under dry land conditions in
these areas. During these tests rainfall was
above average during 4 years and considerably
below average during the other 4 years, the
annual rainfall ranging from 9.47 inches in

Number 4

FEED

AND

F O R A G E

1948 to 40.5 5 inches in 1941. It is significant
to note that the grain sorghums outyielded
both the open-pollinated and hybrid corn in
each of the 8 years.
The fact that sorghums produced a crop in
each year, even under conditions of extreme
drought, emphasizes the adaptability of this
crop to the subhumid conditions encountered
in the Texas High Plains and eastern New
Mexico counties.
Variety Tests at Dalhart

Plainsman, Club X Day No. 16, and Finney
milo produced the highest yields of grain in
variety tests conducted at the Dalhart Field
Station of the United States Department of
Agriculture during 1944-48, inclusive. Results
of these tests are shown in the table on page 2.
One of the most interesting features of these
tests at Dalhart is the comparison obtained be­
tween yields on land previously in fallow and
land that had been continuously cropped.
Throughout the 5-year period the average per
acre yield of sorghums on the fallowed land
exceeded that on the cropland by 16/2 bushels.

HIGH-YIELDING CORNS AND GRAIN SORGHUM AT LUBBOCK, 1941-48
(In bushels per acre)
Year

«

Open-pollinated
Mexican June
Surcropper

1941 .....................................................
20.2
1942 .......................................................... 17.6
1943 .....................................................
20.6
1944 ..................................................... 24.3
1945.........................................................................
1946 .....................................................
4.6
1947 .......................................................... 18.2
1 9 4 8 .....................................................................
A v erag e.............................................
13.2

29.8
31.2
17.9
23.1
....
1.5
20.8
. .. .
15.5

Hybrids
Texas 8

27.4
41.0
20.8
33.1
. .. .
2.9
23.0
. .. .
18.5

Texas 12

23.7
39.8
21.4
29.9
... .
2.3
20.5
. .. .
17.2

Grain sorghum
Plainsman

38.4
41.2
28.8
47.0
3.4
4.8
26.7
3.4
24.2

AGRICULTURAL NEWS LETTER

2

Furthermore, in 1945 moisture was inadequate
to get a stand on the cropland, while the aver­
age of all varieties on the fallowed land was 27
bushels per acre. This emphasizes the impor­
tance and profitableness of the practice of fal­
lowing the land in the drier areas of Texas,
New Mexico, and Oklahoma, where moisture
is most frequently the limiting factor in crop
production. Contour cultivation, use of stub­
ble mulch, and, sometimes, chiseling are essen­
tial to moisture conservation during the fallow
period. Weeds or volunteer wheat should not
be permitted to make rank growth on fallow
land, as their growth depletes moisture supplies
and defeats the purpose of fallowing.
Variety Tests at Big Spring

Results during the past 5 years at the Big
Spring Field Station of the United States De­
partment of Agriculture show that Plainsman
and Caprock, two late-maturing combine vari­
eties, averaged 3 to 4 bushels per acre more
than the earlier varieties, such as Westland
and Martin, and, in general, yielded as well as
or slightly better than the older standard vari­
eties.
In these tests the Hegari-type varieties, with
the exception of regular Fiegari, were about
equal in yield to the better new combine vari­
eties. Early Fiegari, because of its surety of
production in dry seasons, yielded 5 bushels
more than regular Fiegari in these tests.

most profitable time of planting grain sor­
ghums in these areas. The dates used at Dalhart
were June 1 and June 15. Results of the tests
indicate that either of these dates is satisfac­
tory, although the June 1 plantings averaged
about 1 bushel more per acre.
In the Big Spring tests, three dates were used
—May 15, June 1, and June 15. Results of
these tests indicate clearly that sorghums
planted June 15 in the Big Spring area gener­
ally will outyield those planted June 1, and
both June 1 and June 15 are better than May.
Results of these experiments are most applic­
able to the semihumid sections of west Texas,
eastern New Mexico, and western Oklahoma.
However, farmers in central and northern
Texas, particularly in the Low Rolling Plains,
will usually obtain similar results. Yields may
be somewhat higher and the chances of crop
failure due to drought are less of a threat in
these areas of higher rainfall.
Forage Sorghums for East Texas

The wide range of sorghum varieties and
types permits the production of this crop under
many soil and climatic conditions. Thus, in
east Texas, while corn rather than sorghum is
usually grown for grain, certain forage sor­
ghum varieties have proved to be highly
profitable for the production of silage.
At the Nacogdoches Substation of the Texas
Agricultural Experiment Station, tests were
Date of Planting
conducted on 16 varieties of sorghums in 1949.
In both the Dalhart and Big Spring tests, The land planted to sorghums was idle the
experiments were conducted to determine the previous year, and the sorghum crop received
GRAIN SORGHUM VARIETY TEST ON FALLOW LAND AT THE DALHART STATION
1942-48
(In bushels per acre)
Variety

Finney milo................
Hegari..........................
Dalhart Wheatland...
Early Hegari...............
Beaver Sel. 255..........
Plainsman...................
Club X Day No. 10..
M artin.........................
Westland.....................
Midland......................

1942

49.8
56.0
42.4
46.2
33.9

1943

66.1
47.1
47.5
41.1
39.7

1944

46.4
37.5
47.8
40.7
43.3
52.9
51.6
48.9
40.7
48.7

1945

30.0
23.8
28.9
31.4
22.1
33.7
32.8
24.3
21.2
23.5

1946

52.7
58.0
44.0
56.5
45.5
56.7
57.8
51.1
43.3
48.0

1947

57.1
49.6
35.3
40.6
44.2
49.6
48.7
46.4
43.7
35.3

1948

43.3
52.7
50.0
23.2
20.1
50.0
48.2
39.7
42.0
32.1

Annual
average
adjusted

49.3
46.4
42.3
40.0
35.5
50.3
49.5
43.8
39.9
39.2

AGRICULTURAL NEWS LETTER

3

500 pounds of 0-12-12 fertilizer at the time of
planting and 200 pounds of nitrate of soda as a
side dressing June 13. While it is impossible to
obtain conclusive results in 1 year’s tests, the
results obtained at Nacogdoches in 1949 sug­
gest that certain varieties of sorghums are defi­
nitely superior for the production of forage.
Specialists conducting the experiments state
that when both quality and quantity of for­
age and ease of handling are considered, it
appears that either Atlas or Hegari is the most
desirable crop for feed in this area. Dwarf
combine-type grain sorghums, such as Plains­
man and Caprock, were definitely inferior to
the other sorghums for forage. Sudan grasses
were low in forage yield, but the quality of
hay produced was very good.
In the Gulf Coast Prairie region of Texas,
where the production of grain sorghums has
become an important enterprise, Schrock kafir
(also known as Sagrain) is the most common
grain sorghum variety grown. In 11 years of
tests at the Angleton Experiment Station it has
produced 50 percent more grain than corn.
Hegari and Red Top are other varieties recom­
mended for the area, with Hegari being the
preferred forage variety for silage that is to be
fed to dairy cattle. The high tannin content of
Schrock kafir and Red Top makes them less
desirable as dairy feed.

winter, and improved permanent pastures for
next year.
Louisiana State University suggests that
dairymen divide the grazing period into three
seasons: (1) spring, March 1 to June 30; (2)
summer and fall, July 1 to October 31; and
(3) winter, November 1 through February.
The spring season usually presents no problem,
since all of the clovers and grasses thrive dur­
ing this period. For the summer and fall
months the University recommends such crops
as common and kobe lespedezas, Dallis, Ber­
muda, carpet, and Johnson grasses, Allyce
clover, hairy indigo, and kudzu. For the winter
season rescue and fescue grasses, rye grass, and
Singletary peas usually give the most grazing.

Pastures Reduce Dairyman's Costs

This first milk is rich in certain essential pro­
teins, high in Vitamin A, and contains other
important vitamins and perhaps unknown hor­
mones or elements that clean out the digestive
tract and prepare it for the invasion of bacteria
so essential for proper digestion.
Calves should be permitted to nurse the cow
for 3 days after freshening in order to insure
that they obtain sufficient colostrum. If this
practice is followed, calves are much less likely
to develop scours and other digestive disturb­
ances that retard their early development and
sometimes result in rather heavy death losses.

Records of Texas dairymen show that im­
proved pastures are the most important factor
in reducing the cost of producing milk. R. E.
Burleson, associate extension dairy husbandryman of Texas A. and M. College, points out
that some dairymen in the State, with the aid
of improved pastures, are producing milk with
a cash outlay for feed of 40 cents per hundred
pounds, while others who do not have adequate
pasture and home-grown forage are spending
as much as $3.60 for each hundred pounds of
milk produced.
As milk prices decline, the dairyman with
adequate pastures will still make a profit, but
those who are relying only upon "feed sacks”
for their feed supply may find their operations
unprofitable. Plans should be made now for
emergency summer pasture, grazing for next

New-Born Calves Need Colostrum

Colostrum, or the first milk secreted by the
cow when she freshens, is of prime importance
in getting the new-born calf off to a good start.

Fly Population on the Increase

The fly population has increased steadily
since 1947, in spite of the development and
widespread use of new insecticides, such as

4

AGRICULTURAL NEWS LETTER

DDT and M ethoxychlor, say leading
entomologists.

Almost complete reliance upon the new in­
secticides for fly control, rather than upon a
combination of sanitation and insecticides, is
blamed by entomologists for the failure of to­
day’s campaign to eliminate these persistent
and dangerous pests.
Elimination of breeding areas, such as open
garbage cans, trash, and, around the barns, ma­
nure piles and other refuse, is the most impor­
tant step in gaining effective fly control. Gar­
bage should be disposed of daily, either by
burying or burning, and all containers kept
tightly covered. Around the dairy barn, ma­
nure should be hauled to the field daily or, if
this is impractical, it should be sprinkled with
lime.
Failure to use the recommended quantities
of insecticide materials is another major cause
cited by the entomologists for ineffective fly
control. For example, many people fail to meas­
ure accurately the ingredients used in mixing
spray solutions, and others do not do a thor­
ough job of spraying.
Neglecting the application of control meas­
ures early in the season is a third very common
cause of ineffective fly control. Buildings and
animals should be sprayed as soon as flies put in
their appearance in the spring. It has been said
that one fly killed in the spring is the equiva­
lent of killing a million in late summer.
FARM PRICES

No Price Support for Long Staple Cotton

The Department of Agriculture has an­
nounced that there will be no price support
program for long staple cotton produced in
1950. Long staple cotton (principally American-Egyptian and normally with a staple
length of 1kz inches or more) has been sup­
ported at 90 percent of parity in recent years.

New Support Price Announced for Wool

The United States Department of Agricul­
ture has announced that the 1950 wool crop
will be supported on a national average price of
45.2 cents per pound, grease basis. This com­
pares with a support price of 42.3 cents per
pound in 1949. The support program will be
in effect from April 1, 1950, to March 31,
1951, and a schedule of price supports by
grades will be announced shortly.
Support Price for Flaxseed

The United States Department of Agricul­
ture has announced that the price of the 19 50
flaxseed crop will be supported at $2.57—
60 percent of parity, f.o.b. Houston and
Corpus Christi. The price will be supported
through loans and purchase agreements.
PUBLICATIONS

Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station,
Baton Rouge:
A 300-XJnit Laying House, Agricultural
Extension Publication 1039, by Clyde
Ingram and Mansel Mayeux.
Control Cotton Insects, 1950, Agricultural
Extension Publication 1041.
New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station,
State College:
Codling Motto Control in Southern New
Mexico Orchards, Press Bulletin 1034, by
J. R. Eyer and J. V. Enzie.
Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station,
Stillwater:
Potassium in Oklahoma Soils: and Crop Re­
sponse to Potash Fertilizer, Bulletin No.
B-346, by Horace J. Harper.
Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Col­
lege Station:
Effect of Fertilizers on Yield and Quality
of Sweet Potatoes in Central East Texas,
1949, Progress Report 1233, by H. C.
Hutson and J. C. Smith.
Grasshopper Control, Progress Report
123 5, by J. C. Gaines and H. A. Dean.
Copies of these bulletins may be secured
by request to the publisher.