Keep an Eye on the Herd Bull, by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas Many seasoned ranchers are fully aware of the importance of the herd sire and the potential consequences of making a wrong sire selection. Bulls are an expensive, labor intensive part of the herd management. Because of its size, financial investment and impact on the herd offspring, many attributes (and drawn backs)...
Fall Armyworms: How to Spot Them and What to Do, by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas Recent rainfall events have been a major problem this summer. As a result of this rainfall, fall armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda) are thriving across the northern, central and eastern portions of Texas. Below is some information on the biology of the pest, how to scout for them, and control options to mitigate...
Garden Checklist for July, by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas Garden Checklist for July Trim off faded flowers on crape myrtles to encourage later re-bloom. The more modern hybrids of the old-fashioned Lagerstroemia indica and L. faureii have larger, more conspicuous panicles of flowers, but these often...
How Best to Handle Invasive Insects, by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas Many insects can be managed without using pesticides, but this cultural control requires extra time and effort. It may also result in slight damage to your plants. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, some of the cultural methods you can use to prevent or control insect damage are: Keep weeds and grass...
Tips For Grilling Season, by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas Fire up your grills! The official start of grilling season, is here! Whether grilling a quick, light and healthy, summer meal or hosting a savory cookout with friends and family, Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. is kicking off grilling season by sharing tips for a flawless grilled meal! Consider your cut While classics,...
Soil Solarization: Take Advantage of Summer Heat, by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas Summer is already here and making a statement. Few days ago I was involved with the District 4 4-H horse show and the intensity of the summer heat was very noticeable both to riders and horses! We, the “ground crew” noticed it as well. Most of our gardens and crop field are fully planted and waiting to harvest or...
Selecting Bermudagrass for Pastures, by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas Last week I got a phone call from a local rancher wanting to learn about seeded varieties that grow “the best” in our county. After thinking about it, I reply to him in the best way I could and in the simplest way. Growing Bermuda pastures is not simple. The main reason is because there are many “moving” parts (soil...
Master Gardener Training, by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas The Texas Master Gardener program is an educational volunteer program conducted by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service of the Texas A&M University System. Master Gardeners are members of the local community who take an active interest in their lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers and gardens. They are enthusiastic,...
Nutritional Challenges for Cattle Under Wet Conditions, by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas Nutrition and herd health are likely to be the production areas most impacted by excessive rainfall. Reports from producers indicate that body conditions scores of breeding herds and average daily gains of stocker calves have been lower than expected in many cases, despite providing access to forage and feed that...
Villarino: Benefits of Soil Sampling
Farmers across Texas are familiar with standard soil testing procedures and many make use of soil tests to determine fertilizer applications for a wide range of crops and soil types. You have likely been encouraged to soil test annually and “Don’t Guess—Soil Test” to better pinpoint your soil fertility program. According to Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, TAMU Soil & Crop Sciences there are considerations to help you...
