Farm & Ranch
Commissioner Staples urges producers in need of hay to utilize Hay Hotline
AUSTIN — Despite some substantial rain across parts of the state, many Texas ranchers continue to struggle to feed livestock due to the lingering drought that has cost the state’s agriculture industry approximately $3.6 billion in losses.
“The drought has done more than dry up our land and evaporate our reservoirs; it also has destroyed thousands of acres of hay resources for producers who raise cattle, goats and horses,” Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples said. “The drought has indeed left its mark, and unfortunately, we cannot change the fact that many ranchers were forced to reduce or sell off herds and, in some cases, even close operations. We aim to connect those who need hay with hay producers across the state and nation to help alleviate the hardship.”
Commissioner Staples is encouraging Texas livestock producers to go to the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Hay Hotline Web site at www.TexasAgriculture.gov. The site currently lists more than 450 available hay suppliers. Those suppliers wishing to donate or discount hay are encouraged to make their hay available by filling out a hay supplier form on the Hay Hotline Web site.
TDA is also working with the Texas trucking industry to provide ranchers with more affordable hay transportation in times of drought and other crises.
“The cost to transport hay from out of state, or even within the state, is a costly expense that many ranchers cannot afford,” Commissioner Staples said. “We are appealing to the partnership and neighborly spirit among trucking companies to offer reduced rates for hay delivery to ensure ranchers can maintain the herds they have left through the winter.”
In the meantime, producers in need of hay should also contact their local Texas Department of Transportation office for information on baling the right of ways along Texas highways.
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Planned grazing course with Kirk Gadzia this April in Fort Worth
FORT WORTH — Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers and Holistic Management Texas team up to offer a new “Planned Grazing” course at the Will Rogers Memorial Center April 21-25.
The emphasis for this five-day course will be on grazing planning, but instructor Kirk Gadzia will cover rangeland monitoring, financial planning and land planning as well. The content will be relevant to both managerial and operational level employees, with varying levels of formal education. There will be a lands-on Learning aspect if weather permits. Class runs from 8am to 4:15pm each day. -
One more for the tourists
Moira and Clive, British tourists, had taken in the Arkansas attractions of Eureka Springs, the Chuck Wagon races in Clinton, the sale barn in Green Forest, and now found themselves in Fort Smith for the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association Trail Drive.
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Cowboy ingenuity
Cowboys are nothing if not ingenious. It takes that sort of out-of-the-box mentality to allow them to solve the myriad of problems that arise when you combine horse, cow and rope!
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Local wins at San Antonio Stock Show
SAN ANTONIO — The Junior Market AOB Steer Show was held Feb. 19, at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.
Taylor Cody won the honor of Breed Champion AOB with her 1334 pound steer. -
Olympic distraction
You know the inmates have taken over the asylum when you’re turning to PETA as the voice of reason! These are the animal rights extremists who compared eating chicken to the Holocaust, compared the murdering cannibal Jeffery Daumer to butchering hogs, and once proclaimed that it would be great if Foot and Mouth Disease infected animals in the U.S.
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Scholarships awarded to Parker County youth
SAN ANTONIO — Cade Hansma and Alannah Chalmers of Weatherford, and Jens Rudibaugh of Poolville, were the recipients of scholarships from the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo at this year’s horse and llama shows.
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Jake working overtime
In an effort to make managing the 20 section ranch more efficient, the boss bought Jake a Ranger, a four-wheel drive muscle car ATV.
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Local student wins at Fort Worth Stock Show
FORT WORTH — Dylan Mask, a 4-H member from Weatherford, exhibited a First Place Medium Weight Hampshire Barrow in the Junior Barrow Show at the 2010 legendary Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Feb. 4. J
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Local youth wins Calf Scramble at Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo
FORT WORTH — Jacob Sheffield of Weatherford, Texas, a Perrin FFA member, was among the winners in the Calf Scramble event during the Feb. 4 evening performance of the Rodeo at the 114th edition of the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show.
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Harry and the hog
Many of us took a meats course in college or have dressed wild game and have a basic understanding of how it gets from the pasture to the plate. Harry is not one of us, in that regard.
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Planned grazing course with Kirk Gadzia this April in Fort Worth
