Good Ways to Manage Mosquitoes Around Your Home by Mario Villarino
November 9, 2023 – Concerns about mosquito-borne disease this fall are prompting many of us to learn what to do to reduce the chances of mosquito bites in our own backyards and gardens. Fortunately, there are good ways to manage mosquitoes around your home at reasonable cost. DESTROY OR TREAT MOSQUITO BREEDING SITES The first step in any mosquito control effort is to find and eliminate the mosquito breeding sites from your...
Agricultural Awareness for Children is Important by Mario Villarino
October 13, 2023 – Agricultural awareness for children is important for several reasons: Understanding Food Sources: It helps children understand where their food comes from, fostering an appreciation for the effort that goes into producing it. Environmental Awareness: It can teach kids about the environmental impact of agriculture and the importance of sustainable farming practices. Healthy Eating: Agricultural awareness can...
October Gardening Tasks to Consider by Mario Villarino
September 26, 2023 – In Texas, October is a great time for gardening as the weather starts to cool down. Here are some gardening tasks to consider: Plant Fall Vegetables: You can plant cool-season vegetables like lettuce, spinach, broccoli, and carrots. They thrive in the milder temperatures. Prune and Trim: Trim back overgrown shrubs and perennials to prepare them for winter. Remove dead or diseased branches. Mulch: Apply mulch...
4-H Livestock Showing Projects are Educational by Mario Villarino
September 18, 2023 – 4-H livestock showing projects are educational programs offered by the 4-H organization. These projects involve raising and showing livestock animals like cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and poultry. Here’s an overview of what’s involved: Animal Selection: Participants choose an animal to raise and show. They might consider factors like breed, health, and market potential. Animal Care: They learn to...
Ideal Time for Planting Cool Season Forages by Mario Villarino
September 9, 2023 – Late September-early October is the ideal time for planting cool season annual forages such as annual ryegrass, small grains (rye, wheat or oats) and/or cool season annual legumes. Anytime we are incorporating new forages into our production systems it is important to make sure to match the forage species to your location (soil type, average annual rainfall, intended use, etc). Three methods for establishing...
Advice For Cattle During Drought by Mario Villarino
Certainly, drought conditions in Texas can significantly impact the cattle industry. During droughts, the availability of water and forage for cattle can become limited, leading to challenges in maintaining the health and productivity of the animals. Ranchers may need to implement strategies such as supplemental feeding, reducing herd size, or relocating cattle to areas with better grazing conditions to mitigate the effects of...
Texas 4-H is Like a Club for Kids and Teens, and it’s BIG! by Mario Villarino
Texas 4-H is like a club for kids and teens ages 5-18, and it’s BIG! It’s the largest youth development program in Texas with more than 550,000 youth each year. No matter where you live or what you like to do, Texas 4-H has something that lets you be a better you! You may think 4-H is only for your friends with animals, but it’s so much more! You can do activities like shooting sports, food science, healthy living, robotics, fashion,...
Wildfires Affect America’s Farms and Ranches by Mario Villarino
Wildfires affect America’s farms and ranches, damaging and destroying homes, barns, agriculture production facilities, crops and livestock. By the time this article gets to your hands, twelve wildfires are occurring in Texas at different stages of development. Much of this damage can be avoided, or at least minimized, if a few precautions are taken to minimize the risk and spread of wildfires. I. BEFORE Precautions should be taken...
Crickets By Mario Villarino
Crickets are about 1″ long, dark brown to black with large hind legs used for jumping. Female crickets have a large, sword-like structure, the ovipositor, protruding from the tip of the abdomen. The ovipositor is an egg laying structure. Crickets feed on plant material and other insects. They can cause damage to seedlings and be destructive to plants when in high numbers. Males can become a nuisance with their sounds...
69th Annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course By Mario Villarino
The 69th annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course in Bryan-College Station will offer some cutting-edge ranch technology, along with basic beef cattle production information. The annual event is set for Aug. 7-9, with more than 1,900 cattle producers expected to come to the Texas A&M University campus, making it the largest event of its kind in the nation. The event is hosted by the Texas A&M...
