How To Prepare For Mosquito Season By Mario Villarino
Warmer temperatures and rain means mosquito season is underway in most of the state. With an increase in mosquitoes comes an increase in bites. While these insects pose a big annoyance for Texans, here are five tips on how to protect your home from mosquitoes this summer. Eliminate standing water: Mosquitoes develop in stagnant water. Limiting water-filled breeding sites around the home can reduce populations in...
How To Plant Bermudagrass By Mario Villarino
As temperatures rise we often start getting an itch to plant. When it comes to establishing bermudagrass from sprigs there are several things to keep in mind before we start tilling the soil: Location: Choose a well drained soil; bermudagrass does not do well on wet-land (except for Jiggs Bermudagrass). Variety Selection: Match variety to soil type, average rainfall, production goals, and willingness to manage (provide...
April Is National Volunteer Month – Hopkins County Master Gardeners Announce Plant Swap
Front Row (Left to Right): Joan Brennan, Charlotte Wilson, Mario Villarino (County Agent), and Judy Jones.Second Row (Let to Right): Brenda Payne, Jon Dalzell, Ronnie Wilson, Phyllis Kitten, Gere Camper, Pam Jorgenson and Dawn Wilburn. Volunteers are an ESSENTIAL component of our Extension Office and we love them!. The Hopkins County Master Gardeners conduct demonstration programs, trainings, public events and even make school...
Understanding Pesticide Applicator Licenses By Mario Villarino
Understanding Pesticide Applicator Licenses: Do YOU need a license? If so, which endorsement do you need? The Texas Pesticide Law requires that you must be licensed or certified by the Texas Department of Agriculture in order to lawfully use a restricted-use pesticide, state-limited-use pesticide or regulated herbicides. The law is designed to ensure safety of humans, animals, plants, and the entire ecosystem. License types are below:...
Tree Roots By Mario Villarino
Metsulfuron-methyl is a residual sulfonylurea herbicide that kills broadleaf weeds and some annual grasses. It is a systemic compound with foliar and soil activity, that inhibits cell division in shoots and roots. It has residual activity in soils, allowing it to be used infrequently but requiring up to 22 months before planting certain crops (sunflowers, flax, corn, or safflower). It has very low toxicity to mammals, birds, fish, and...
Soil PH Levels By Mario Villarino
April 7, 2023 – Having trouble with your lawn or flower bed not producing the way you’d like? The problem may be with your soil, which has to provide all the elements plants need for normal growth. A soil test can tell you whether your soil is making those elements available to your plants, and now is the time to have your soil analyzed. It takes 3-6 months to neutralize the soil after a lime application. The most crucial...
Soil Test By Mario Villarino
March 29, 2023- With the First Day of Spring and the most recent warm weather and sunny days we start thinking about our warm season pastures and hay meadows. A few things to keep in mind as our warm season forages begin to break dormancy: Soil Test! Soil Test! Soil Test! If you have not done so for this year, please consider obtaining a soil test now. There is not much that can be done regarding the high cost of fertilizer, but...
State Steer And Heifer Validation Pre-Orders Due March 31, 2023 At Noon. By Mario Villarino
The mission of the youth livestock validation program is to promote a positive youth development environment focused on ensuring rules for livestock exhibition are being followed under the supervision of County Extension Agents and Agricultural Science Teachers. This helps to foster integrity, virtues, and values of youth and families. The purpose of validation is to encourage positive relationships with County Extension Agents,...
Block Supplements For Grazing Cattle By Mario Villarino
Supplementing (adding nutrients to an existing diet) is a common nutritional tool to provide extra nutrients to improve cattle body condition. Block supplements are a convenient mechanism for delivering supplemental nutrients to grazing beef cattle. As the labels on most blocks or tubs state, they are meant to be used as supplements, not feeds. Success or failure of a block/tub supplementation program will depend on the availability...
Are Your Trees Dead? by Mario Villarino
Feb. 22, 2023- Recent winter storms in Texas will leave its lingering effects for months. Many Texas trees are still showing signs of stress from last year storms. Tufts of leaves give some a patchy, inverted look – while others are losing vast amounts of bark, or seemingly dying overnight – leaving many Texas home and land owners wondering what they should do. Texas A&M Forest Service send a unified message across the state:...
