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...
Webworms And Insecticide By Mario Villarino
The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury), is native to North America and is a common caterpillar pest of trees. It attacks more than 88 kinds of plants in North America, including many fruit, nut, and ornamental trees and shrubs. It does not attack pines and other needle-bearing trees (conifers). Fall webworms are known for their large webs on terminal foliage. Heavy infestations are rarely fatal, but if they occur over several...
How To Spot A Bagworm By Mario Villarino
The small, silk weaving that resembles a Christmas tree ornament on your favorite tree or shrub is not decoration. These bags protect the caterpillars, or larvae, pupae, female adults and eggs of bagworms (Order Lepidoptera Family Psychidae) Bagworms attack trees and shrubs including: evergreens such as arborvitae, cedars, cypress, junipers, pines and spruce broadleaved plants such as...
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...
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...
