Summer Season: Careful With the Heat! By Mario Villarino 7-9-2019
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas The high temperatures of the summer are here to stay for a little while. Learning how to work with high temperatures is critical. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Disaster Education Network, whether you work outdoors in agriculture,...
Mario Villarino on Spring Gardening
I often get questions related to gardening and more specific about certain crops. As an avid gardener will recognize, there is no way to know everything about every vegetable available to the gardeners today. However, good principles apply to both familiar and new vegetables for you to try. As our weather starts to warm up, so is the excitement of gardening. Our friend from Aggie horticulture (Hansen et al) reminded us that...
Dallisgrass Infestation in Hopkins County by Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
During the last few week, I have visited some hay meadows in Hopkins County infested with Dallisgrass. For some, Dallisgrass was not recognized because either the ranchers never seen it before or was never seen in their pastures. According to UC Davis IPM website, Dallisgrass, Paspalum dilatatum, is a tufted perennial grass that was introduced into the United States from Uruguay and Argentina. It is now naturalized in much of the...
Mario Villarino On The Upcoming Bee Program
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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Provides Resources on Managing Buttercups by Mario Villarino
April 25, 2024 – Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides resources on managing buttercups, particularly in pasture and forage management. Buttercups are toxic to livestock if ingested in large quantities, so effective control is important for animal health and pasture productivity. AgriLife Extension typically recommends a combination of cultural practices, such as maintaining good pasture health, and chemical control...
Soil Testing is Crucial for Understanding the Health of Your Soil by Mario Villarino
April 15, 2024 – Soil testing is crucial for understanding the health and fertility of your soil. It involves collecting samples from different areas of your property and sending them to a lab for analysis. The results will provide information on nutrient levels, pH balance, organic matter content, and recommendations for any necessary amendments to improve soil quality and plant growth. For soil testing through Texas A&M...
Controlling Nutsedge Can be Challenging by Mario Villarino
April 12, 2024 – Controlling nutsedge can be challenging because of its extensive rhizome system. Cultural methods like regular mowing and hand pulling can help, but herbicides are often necessary. Pre-emergent herbicides can prevent nutsedge seeds from germinating, while post-emergent options can kill existing plants. However, repeated applications may be needed for effective control. It’s also important to improve soil...
Too Much Emphasis on Winning and Losing at Jr. Fair Livestock Shows by Mario Villarino
February 8, 2024 – According to Nebraska Extension “It seems far too often we place too much emphasis on winning and losing at Jr. Fair livestock shows. Unfortunately, many times adults consider 4-H and FFA livestock projects a failure if their son or daughter does not win. If our only goal at a livestock show is to win, maybe we need to make some adjustments in our goals and in understanding the benefits our youth are gaining...
Soil Tests Can be Used to Help by Mario Villarino
Soil tests can be used to estimate the kinds and amounts of soil nutrients available to plants. They also can be used as aids in determining fertilizer needs. Properly conducted soil sampling and testing can be cost-effective indicators of the types and amounts of fertilizer and lime needed to improve crop yield. The effects of adding a fertilizer often depend on the level of nutrients already present in the soil If a soil is very low...
Green Acorns and Cattle by Mario Villarino
January 2, 2024 – The howling winds of cold fronts and rainstorms often knock green acorns from oak trees in a pasture. Most cattle like the taste of acorns and tend to seek them out. But hungry cattle that consume too many green acorns will get sick. Their gastrointestinal tracts will be upset; they will develop diarrhea, become dehydrated, constipated and emaciated; and they might die. Acorn poisoning is caused by chemicals...
