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...
Block Supplements Convenient Mechanism for Delivering Nutrients to Beef Cattle by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas 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...
Freezes Can Kill Plant Tissues but do You Know How? by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas We all know that freezes can kill plant tissues but do you know how? According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension horticulturist, when the water inside a plant freezes it causes ice crystals to form that pierce the cell walls of the plant....
A Year in Review 2020: 4-H Agricultural Youth Programs by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas 2020 Hopkins County 4-H Agricultural Plan Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Jessica Humphrey, Assistant Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas Relevance:...
Cattle Supplement Feeding: Tips for Hopkins County Ranchers by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas Cattle supplement feeding: tips for Hopkins County ranchers Supplements must be chosen to meet particular nutrient deficiencies. Body condition is a key factor in the choice of supplements. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, thin...
Winter Cattle Feeding by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas Feeding cattle during the winter season heavily depends on forage availability and this on moisture to keep up with its growth. Many beef producers may need a Plan B when it comes to winter forages due to dry conditions, according to Dr. Jason...
During the Year 2020, Many Different Parts of Agriculture Became Challenged by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas During the year 2020, many different parts of agriculture became challenged either because lack of distribution or lack of workforce. As we celebrate our thanksgiving, we can see the importance of food and food supply in our society. There are...
