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ARM AND ANCH B ulletin □ Vol. 16, No. 5 May 15, 1961 A D JU S T IN G TO A C H A N G IN G W A T E R SU PPLY — TEX A S H IG H PLA IN S Declining water levels are a cause of growing concern among farming, business, and financial interests on the Texas High Plains, according to the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. The decline, which began shortly after irriga tion was developed on a significant scale, was accelerated by increased rates of water use and expanded irrigation development during the 1950-56 drought period. The decrease con tinued, although at a reduced rate in most places, under the improved moisture condi tions of 1957-58. The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station has made a study of an area in the Texas High Plains designated by the State Board of Water Engineers as Subdivision No. 1 of the High Plains Underground Water Reservoir. The pur pose of the study was to determine the effects of the decline in water levels and the adjust ments that have been made in response to the change in water supplies. The decline in the static water levels in the area averaged about 43 feet between January 1937 and January 1959, ranging from a few feet to around 100 feet in different parts of the reservoir. The effects of this decline and the number, types, and extent of adjustments vary greatly, depending on major soil types, initial thickness of the water-bearing stratum, the permeability of water-bearing materials, and the proportional amount of depletion experi enced in specific hydrologic situations. The principal short-run physical effects of a decline in water levels are reflected by a reduction in well yields. Special practices or F E D E R A L R E S E R V E DALLAS, adjustments induced by, or associated with, the decrease in water supplies include: (1) increas ing the number of hours of pump operation, (2) lowering pumps, (3) drilling additional wells, (4) putting in closed water-distribution systems, (5) installing smaller pumps in old wells, (6) decreasing the acreage of summerirrigated crops and increasing the acreage of crops irrigated in the fall and winter, (7) staggering planting dates for grain sorghums, (8) concentrating the available water supply on cotton, (9) irrigating alternate rows, and (10) reducing the number of acres of crop land irrigated per farm. According to the Texas Agricultural Experi ment Station, several factors combine to ob scure the full physical and economic effects of the water-level decline. Among these are the continuation —- although at a slower rate — of irrigation development, elimination or reduc tion of transmission losses through the use of a closed distribution system, modified irrigation programs, and the change from butane to natural gas for pumping fuel. Elim ination or reduction of transmission losses, particularly, has had a masking effect. In some instances, piping the water to the place of use may have saved a substantial amount. Thus, although a well’s yield may have deterio rated substantially, the acreage served by the well might be about the same as that served before the conduits were installed. Closed distribution systems— composed mainly of underground concrete tile — served B A N K TEXAS OF D A L L A S approximately 40 percent of the land irrigated in the Texas High Plains in 1958. About 80 percent of the systems used that year had been installed during 1954-58. The proportion of farms equipped with these systems ranged from 16 percent in areas where water supplies were lightly depleted to 100 percent in some of the more severely depleted areas. To a large extent, the increase in expendi tures for employee food services probably will accompany the construction of new plants and the expansion of old ones. The USDA study shows that food service for employees is pro vided more frequently in new plants than in older ones. Nearly all of the $20 million spent during Since the full effects of past water-level de the 4-week period was for foods that had been clines have been offset, to some extent, by the processed in some manner. However, about elimination or reduction of transmission losses, one-half of the expenditures were for foods future declines are likely to result in a larger with only a limited amount of processing. The reduction in irrigated acreage and a greater more highly processed foods ranged from can increase in costs than those which occurred ned goods to foods brought to the plants ready during 1954-58. The effects of adjusting to to eat. declining water supplies are reflected in in Belle Patna Rice Released creased per acre investment in irrigation facili ties, higher operating costs per acre, and a Seed of Belle Patna, a new early-maturing reduction in the acreage of cropland irrigated long-grain rice variety, was released recently per farm. to certified rice seed growers, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Livestock and M eat Imports Down In tests by both agricultural experiment United States imports of livestock and meat stations and industry, Belle Patna exhibited during 1960 were equal to 6.5 percent of the high processing and cooking qualities. In a 3total domestic production, contrasted with 8.6 year test, rough rice yields from the first harvest percent in each of the preceding 2 years, ac of Belle Patna averaged 3,521 pounds per acre. cording to Lloyd Bergsma, formerly with the In the same test, Century Patna 231 averaged Texas Agricultural Extension Service. 3,849 pounds and Bluebonnet 50 produced Imports of beef and veal declined 23 per 3,555 pounds per acre. cent during 1960, and those of live animals The new rice variety matures about 18 days decreased 5 percent to a total of 664,000 head. before Century Patna 231 and is the earliest As a result of lower cattle prices, the reduction maturing long-grain variety for southern rice in import value was substantially greater than areas. In a 3-year test, Belle Patna matured in the reduction in import numbers. an average of 108 days from the time of seeding. Early maturity is advantageous in irrigated sec The value of cattle imported during 1960 tions, since the crop is ready for harvest at the was 50 percent below the all-time high reached time irrigation water may be needed elsewhere. in 1958. The value of meat and other livestock products imported amounted to $464 million, Belle Patna plants are about 2 inches shorter reflecting a 16-percent decline from the 1959 than plants of Century Patna 231. The stems total. Most of the imports of cattle and meat are relatively thin, but lodging has not been were from Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, serious except under adverse weather condi tions, even with heavy rough rice yields of up and Australia. to 4,000 pounds an acre. Expanded Market for Processed Food The new variety is resistant to straighthead, Expenditures for employee food services at a disease that causes rice heads to remain up factories are likely to increase, reports the right at maturity because the few grains formed United States Department of Agriculture. Dur are too light to bend the heads over normally. ing a recent 4-week survey period, such Belle Patna shows some tolerance to hoja expenditures were at a $20 million level. blanca, a serious virus disease which whitens or mottles plant leaves, stunts plant growth, and prevents normal grain development. Under Texas and Louisiana conditions, the new rice is moderately susceptible to blast, a funguscaused infection that may produce leaf blight. The long, slender grains of Belle Patna have processing characteristics similar to those of Rexoro and Texas Patna. However, the new variety requires more care than most rice va rieties in order to obtain satisfactory yields. Seedling growth is slow and is affected adversely by low temperatures and by excessive or deep irrigation early in the season. Since plants tend to lodge from late or excessive fertilizer appli cations, all fertilizer should be applied during the first 30 days of growth. Tests indicate that Belle Patna is best suited for growing in Texas. Hale, New Castor-bean Variety the Dawn variety. The new castor bean yielded as much as 2,325 pounds of beans per acre in 1960 in farm trials on the High Plains of Texas. Hale plants are adapted to mechanical har vesting, since the first fruiting spike is well above ground level and fruiting branches are erect. The seed capsules are nonshattering and, after frost, are easily removed from the dry plants by mechanical harvesters. The seed weight, size, and quality of Hale beans are acceptable for planting and for crushing. Seed hulling and cleaning are easy, and nearly all foreign material separates from the seed. The oil content averages 51 percent, which is 1 to 2 percent more than in available dwarf-internode varieties. Hale performed well in irrigation tests in Hale — a new dwarf-internode castor-bean the Southern Great Plains region of Texas, variety adapted to such irrigated areas as the Oklahoma, Kansas, and New Mexico. The High Plains of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and variety has some drought tolerance but is not New Mexico — has been released coopera generally recommended for dry-land planting tively by the United States Department of as satisfactory yields are not obtained consist Agriculture and the Texas A gricultural ently. Moreover, it is not recommended for areas of high rainfall because of possible mold Experiment Station. damage to the seed capsules. A limited amount of Hale seed is available to seed producers for planting this year. Names Coastal Bermuda Grass for of seed suppliers may be obtained from the Conservation Acres Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Col Farmers participat lege Station, Texas; no seed will be distributed ing in the feed grain by the USDA. Seed will be available to farmers program who are hav in 1962. ing difficulty deciding The new castor-bean variety produces good how to use th e ir yields and has potential as a male parent in diverted acres might hybrid combinations, since its hybrid offspring find the establishment also yield well. The variety is resistant to of Coastal Bermuda bacterial leaf spot and to Alternaria leaf spot. grass to be very pro fitable, says George Hale has a better root system than many M cB ee, E x ten sio n other castor-bean varieties. However, its stems Pasture Specialist with tend to be weak if the plants are grown under the Texas Agricultural conditions of excessive amounts of nitrogen Extension Service. This hybrid grass continues and soil moisture. Weak stems, together with a to gain favor because of its adaptability and heavy fruit set and high winds before harvest, high yields. can cause lodging. Under the feed grain program, a farmer may Hale matures about 1 week later than receive up to one-half of the program payment Baker-296, the leading commercial variety on at the time he signs up to divert corn or grain the High Plains, and about 1 week earlier than sorghum land to soil-conserving uses. Mr. McBee suggests that this money can be used to establish a new field of high-yielding, goodquality Coastal Bermuda where additional for age is needed. He points out that Texas farmers generally have been able to purchase satis factory feed grains but many of them are often disappointed with the quality and price of available forage. The pasture specialist recommends that only fresh sprigs of good-quality Coastal Bermuda be planted. The seedbed should be moist, well prepared, and clean. Where moisture is limited, difficulty may be encountered in obtaining a stand of the grass unless irrigation is available. Mr. McBee suggests planting the Coastal Bermuda in 36- or 42-inch rows, with the sprigs at 36-inch intervals in the row. This spacing will require about 9 bushels of sprigs per acre. Closer row spacing will require more sprigs but will result in a faster ground cover and less competition from weeds. Fertilization should be carried out in ac cordance with soil test findings. Mr. McBee recommends placing the fertilizer in a band 3 to 4 inches to the side and below where the sprigs are to be planted. He says that it may be advisable to wait until the Coastal Bermuda is growing to apply the fertilizer, especially if weeds and grasses are expected to be a prob lem. Fertilizer should never be broadcast on land to be planted to Coastal Bermuda. Recent Research Results ^ Of six alfalfa varieties tested in 1958, Cody and Lahontan appear to be the best adapted to growing conditions in the Texas Panhandle. According to the Texas A gricultural Experi ment Station, these varieties showed the best winter survival through a combination of hardi ness and spotted alfalfa aphid resistance. Forage and seed yields of Cody and Lahontan were comparable with those of the other four varieties tested. ★ Pigweed, henbit, fumitory, sheep sorrel, and lamb’s-quarters are weeds which present prob lems to vegetable growers in the Winter Garden area of Texas. Pigweed is the most troublesome for warm-season crops, and henbit is the pre dominant winter weed. According to the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, chemicals are effective for controlling all of these weeds, but the herbicides should be used only in accord ance with instructions on their labels. ic In tests conducted during 1960 in Texas (exclusive of the High Plains), 23 grain sor ghum hybrids produced average yields which were 17 percent to 40 percent above those of Martin and Combine 7078, the standard vari eties for this area. The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station points out that such char acteristics as earliness, quick-drying heads, and resistance to lodging and diseases may be as important as yielding ability. New Egg Products on the W a y The egg business is becoming modernized, says Fred Gardner of the Poultry Science De partment at Texas A. & M. College. Research personnel are developing new packaging ideas and new uses for eggs in order to enable the housewife to spend less time and energy in the preparation of egg dishes. A recently developed scrambled egg pack age enables the housewife to prepare enough scrambled eggs for the entire family in 30 seconds. A nother new product is instant French toast. These are just two of the many new egg products that are expected to be on grocers’ shelves in the near future, according to Mr. Gardner. Fungus for Nematode Control? A newly discovered species of fungus is being tested for possible use in biological control of nematodes, according to the United States De partment of Agriculture and the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station. Nematodes, or eelworms, are almost micro scopic in size and live in the soil. M any destructive varieties of nematodes feed on plant roots. In laboratory tests, the new fungus (Catenaria vermicola) killed root-knot, sting, sheath, dag ger, lance, ring, meadow, citrus, and stunt nematodes. It is a type of water mold and ap parently is not harmful to plant life.
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