Central Texas Irrigation/Turf Maintenance Workshop

October 22, 2014 
Creedmoor Community Center, 12511 FM 1625, Creedmoor, 78610
$50 (through 10/17), $60 (10/18 and on-site)
4 Irrigation CEUs

Register:  https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/TravisCounty or by phone:  979-845-2604
Contact:    Daphne Richards, CEA-Horticulture, drichards@ag.tamu.edu, 512.854.9615

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service-Travis Co will hold an Irrigation/Turf Maintenance Workshop on Oct 22, 2014. This conference is in response to our ongoing critical water issues. The general public can attend but the materials presented will be for turf and irrigation professionals such as those working with municipalities, including parks departments; golf courses; and large and commercial landscape maintenance firms as well as contractors; retail nurseries and other users of urban water resources.

The goal of the workshop is to share new technologies and best practices for water conservation and drought survival. Four Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) licensed irrigator credits are available to attendees.

Presentations and speakers will be:
9 AM         Irrigation Scheduling, Brad Smith, Instructor, Irrigator Training, LLC

10 AM        Efficient Irrigation Practices, Brett Briant, Water Conservation Coordinator, LCRA

11 AM        Break

11:15 AM   Turfgrass Selection and Cultural Practices for Water Conservation

12:15 PM    Lunch

1 PM           Water Management for Sports Field Turf, Dr. Casey Reynolds, Assistant Professor       
                   and Extension Turfgrass Specialist

2 PM           Evaluation, Wrap-up and CEU certificate

Technology: My best friend or worst nightmare?

I have recently been struggling with this blog.  As you can see there is nothing posted on the left side in the calendar section...well, it is simply because it's not working.  Now granted, that could be user error.  I won't lie, I'm not always at the top of the tech game.  With that said, if this reaches your inbox, I have a request of you.  I will be working with a tech guru soon to be redesigning this blog and changing it to a different format and also creating a new one designated to new landowners in Central Texas.  I will do my best to continue to post to this, but for the time being would like to create a bank of all your e-mail addresses so that I may simply add you to an e-mail and directly contact you with upcoming programs or educational pieces. 

Send an e-mail titled: "Count me in" to jzansley@ag.tamu.edu

to receive these e-mail updates and be on my.  Also, once we've created the new blog, you will automatically be added to receive e-mails.  I hope to get rid of this specific blog and be transitioned to the new blog by early 2015.
____________________

"And now for something completely different" (any Monty Python fans?***all smiles)

We see children and adults alike with faces buried in cell phones and tablets constantly.  Average society today is 5 generations removed from the farm.  People don't know where their food comes from.  I have decided that I want to show the world all the wonderful things in agriculture going on right here under their noses daily.  I've jumped on the bandwagon...Instagram.  Now, if you are like I was you just shook your head and said heck no...that's okay!  Honestly, YOU know where your food comes from and know about farming and ranching, what my second charge to you in this e-mail is to tell your friends, kids, and everyone you know about this new Instagram account.  My user name is: traviscountyagagent - it's all run together. 

Our goal is to teach others about agriculture in Central Texas and where people's food comes from.  Please help me by encouraging everyone you know to follow me on Instagram:

Traviscountyagagent

Thank you so much and I look forward to seeing your faces on Instagram.  Get your kids and grandkids involved.  They need to see what's happening around them.  I've already got a handful of photos and have been interacting! 

Travis & Bastrop County update on Vesicular Stomatitis 7/25/14

Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) in Texas Update

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) received confirmation of eight new cases of Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) in horses in Central Texas. Five new premises are located in Travis County and three new premises are in Bastrop County.

• One premises is located 4 miles east of Webberville in Bastrop County
• One premises is located 6 miles southeast of Spicewood in Travis County
• One premises is located 8 miles northwest of Bastrop in Bastrop County
• One premises is located 4 miles east of Webberville in Bastrop County
• One premises is located 4 miles northwest of Webberville in Travis County
• One premises is located 2 miles south of Garfield in Travis County
• One premises is located 3.5 miles northwest of Webberville in Travis County
• One premises is located 2.5 miles northwest of Webberville in Travis County 

To date, 21 premises in eight Texas counties have been confirmed with VS. Affected counties include(d): Kinney, Hidalgo, San Patricio, Nueces, Jim Wells, Bastrop, Travis and Guadalupe counties. Four premises have been released from quarantine: 1 in Kinney county, 2 in Nueces county and 1 in San Patricio county.

*Case= A premises; a location*

Update Number 2 on VS

One waits around all day for an update and I'll be if it didn't happen right after I posted the first time on the subject.  My apologies for back to back info.  -Julie Ansley

_______________________________

On July 18, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) received confirmation of three new cases of Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) in horses in Central Texas. One premises is located 4 miles east of Webberville, TX in Bastrop County, one premises is located 1 mile northwest of Webberville in Travis County, and one premises is located 8 miles southeast of Seguin in Guadalupe County.

  

To date, 13 premises in eight Texas counties have been confirmed with VS. Affected counties include(d): Kinney, Hidalgo, San Patricio, Nueces, Jim Wells, Bastrop, Travis and Guadalupe counties. The Kinney county premises and one premises in Nueces county have been released from quarantine.
*Case= A premises; a location*

  

The newly identified infected premises are currently under quarantine by the TAHC. Affected horses will be monitored by regulatory veterinarians while under quarantine.  Premises are eligible for quarantine release 21 days after all lesions have healed. There is no known exposure to other horses around the state, or at any equine events.

Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) in Travis & Bastrop Counties

The note below is the latest update from the Texas Animal Health Commission on Vesicular Stomatitis (VS).  In a recent conversation with the local inspector for the Bastrop & Travis County area, he informed me that “we currently have several premises under quarantine or hold order in Travis and Bastrop Counties”.  I will keep you up to date as this develops, however, I encourage you all to check the Texas Animal Health Commission website and subscribe as well.   http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/

From the Texas Animal Health Commission, July 11, 2014  

“On July 10, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) received confirmation of two new cases of Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) in horses in Bastrop and Travis counties in Central Texas. One premises is located 2 miles east of Webberville, TX in Travis County. The other premise is located 4 miles east of Webberville in Bastrop County. To date, 10 premises in seven Texas counties have been confirmed with VS. Those counties include: Kinney, Hidalgo, San Patricio, Nueces, Jim Wells, Bastrop and Travis counties. Note: The Kinney county premises has been released from quarantine.     

The newly identified infected premises are currently under quarantine by the TAHC. Affected horses will be monitored by regulatory veterinarians while under quarantine.  Premises are eligible for quarantine release 21 days after all lesions have healed. There is no known exposure to other horses around the state, or at any equine events.”

From Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Contestants who are preparing to haul horses to shows and contests this summer, including the Texas State 4-H Horse Show, should be cautioned about the importance of using best management practices for disease prevention and good biosecurity practices at all times.

Horse owners should be encouraged to follow important practices such as:  do not comingle your horses with other horses of unknown origin; do not water horses out of a community water trough (each should have their own buckets); do not share halters and bridle bits between horses without first thoroughly washing and disinfecting them; thoroughly clean hands and all equipment when working around multiple horses’ faces and mouths; do not pet other horses on the nose, then go pet your own horse; never use the same needle for injections or vaccinations of multiple horses; use a good insect control spray to protect horses from biting insects.  Under the circumstances, it might even be advisable to carry a spray bottle of stall disinfectant to horse shows and disinfect stalls before putting your horse in stalls at show facilities.

Webinar with 1 IPM CEU credit!!

Huisache and Juniper – How to Treat!

Presenter: Dr. Megan Clayton, and Dr. Alyson McDonald
Date: Thursday, August 7, 2014
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CST
Credit: 1 TDA Pesticide CEU - Integrated Pest Management

Description:

This webinar will start with a look at huisache, a native, invasive brush species found in the Gulf Coast Prairies and South Texas Plains. This fast-growing plant must be controlled as early and as often as possible, but just how much do we know about its ecology?  We will discuss the most effective control options and how to know which is right for your situation.

The second plant species highlighted in this webinar will be Juniperus pinchotti (redberry juniper).  The distribution of redberry juniper in Texas extends from the western Edwards Plateau northward to the Panhandle and westward to the Rio Grande.  We will discuss important factors that determine the best option for managing this root-sprouting shrub.

If you're interested in this program, shoot me an e-mail at: jzansley@ag.tamu.edu and I will give you all the information you will need!  Cost: $10, free if you're not seeking CEU credit.

Reminder of Texas Beef Checkoff Referendum

Please remember to visit your local extension office next week and vote in the Texas Beef Checkoff Referendum.  For more information, go to my blog: traviscountyagnews.blogspot.com and go to the next entry down, it has details and links to get all the info you will need. 

Remember you can vote in any county extension office, you do not need to vote where your cattle are located.  The Travis County Extension office is open from 8-5 (including the lunch hour), look forward to seeing everyone!

Travis County Extension Office
Office: 512.854.9600
1600 B. Smith Rd.,
Austin, TX 78721

Blanco County Extension Office

Office: 830.868.7167

101 E. Cypress, Ste 109
Johnson City, TX 78636

Caldwell County Extension Office

Office: 512.398.3122

1403 Blackjack St Ste B
Lockhart, TX 78644

 

Hays County Extension Office

Office: 512.393.2120

1253 Civic Center Loop
San Marcos, TX 78666

Bastrop County Extension Office

901 Pecan Street Bastrop, Texas 78602
Office: 512-581-7186

Williamson County Extension Office

Office: 512.943.3300

3151 SE Inner Loop Ste A
Georgetown, TX 78626

 

Burnet County Extension Office

Office: 512.756.5463

1701 E Polk St Ste 12
Burnet, TX 78611

Beef Cattle Checkoff

Beef Cattle Checkoff

This info was pulled from the Texas Department of Agriculture Website.  Texas A&M AgriLife Extension does not offer an opinion on the checkoff, but we encourage everyone that qualifies to get out and vote!!!  Please carefully read this information if you are ANY AGE and have owned cattle as an individual or legal business entity any time in Texas from June 6, 2013 to June 6, 2014.  This does include youth in 4-H and FFA that have carried cattle projects.  

WHAT IS THE TEXAS BEEF CHECKOFF?

Upon request of the Texas cattle industry and in accordance with provisions of Texas Agriculture Code, Ch. 41, Subchapter H and Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) rules 4 TAC, Ch. 17, Subchapter A, Div. 2, TDA will conduct a referendum on the establishment of a refundable assessment on cattle sales or ownership transfer in Texas.

Eligible Texas producers of cattle will vote to determine if a refundable maximum assessment of $1.00 per head of cattle will be collected at each point of ownership transfer. The Beef Promotion and Research Council of Texas (BPRCT) will set the assessment rate each year, not to exceed the maximum assessment rate. The assessment will be used for promotion, marketing, research and educational efforts regarding beef and beef products.

If approved, collection of the assessment will begin on October 1, 2014 and continue until the BPRCT notifies cattle collection points to cease collection. Each collection point that makes payment to a producer for cattle purchased shall collect the assessment by deducting the applicable assessment from the final amount paid to the producer. No later than the 15th day of each month, the collection point shall remit the amount collected during the previous month to the BPRCT, along with a completed form prescribed by the BPRCT reflecting such amount.

CONDUCT OF THE REFERENDUM
In accordance with provisions of Texas Agriculture Code and Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) rules, TDA will conduct a referendum to allow cattle producers the opportunity to vote on establishing the Texas Beef Checkoff program.

WHO CAN VOTE
An eligible cattle producer is any individual or legal business entity who owned cattle any time in Texas from June 6, 2013 to June 6, 2014. An individual or legal business entity shall not be considered a producer, referred to as a non-producer, if: (A) the person's only share in the proceeds of a sale of cattle or beef is a sales commission, handling fee, or other service fee; or (B) the person:  (i) acquired ownership of cattle to facilitate the transfer of ownership of such cattle from the seller to a third party; (ii) resold such cattle no later than ten days from the date on which the person acquired ownership; and (iii) certified, as required by procedures prescribed by the BPRCT, that the requirements of this provision have been satisfied.
If an eligible producer is younger than 16 years of age, the ballot must be co-signed by a parent or guardian in order to be valid.

HOW TO VOTE
The referendum will be held by physical balloting. Ballots will be available at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county offices beginning June 2, 2014.  Eligible producers may vote at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county offices June 2-6, 2014 during each office’s regular business hours.  For a list of AgriLife Extension Offices, visit their website.

If an eligible producer is unable to access a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county office, a ballot may be requested from TDA no earlier than May 19, 2014 and no later than June 2, 2014, to ensure receipt prior to the postmark deadline.
All ballots must be cast or postmarked no later than June 6, 2014, in order to be considered.

For a list of Frequently Asked Questions and their answers, go to:
https://www.texasagriculture.gov/Home/ProductionAgriculture/TexasBeefCheckoff/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.aspx

I look forward to seeing our cattle producers in the office during the week of June 2-6, 2014.

The address for the Travis County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service:
1600 B. Smith Rd.
Austin, TX 78721

Please e-mail me with questions once you have read the FAQ website.