Corn Harvest
Last Updated: 12:59 PM 08/15/08 -
Last year abundant rain in the Brazos Valley produced record yields of corn with very little or no irrigation. This year Mother Nature couldn’t have acted any more differently. (Full Story) |
Harvest Begins
Last Updated: 10:58 AM 08/07/08 -
Last year Brazos Valley Farmers had received rain every time they needed it throughout the growing season. This year couldn’t have been any more different, and as the 2008 harvest begins, Joe Brown takes a look at this year’s milo crop. (Full Story) |
Erosion of Cotton Acreage
Last Updated: 10:57 AM 07/31/08 -
Traditionally, Brazos Valley Agriculture has been dominated by the three Cs, Cotton, Cattle, and Corn, but some economic realities could change our local agricultural landscape, at least in the short term. (Full Story) |
Brazos Valley Cotton
Last Updated: 11:01 AM 07/24/08 -
As wet as it was in the Brazos Valley last year, all of our agricultural producers didn’t benefit from 2007’s abundant rainfall. Constant wet conditions wreaked havoc on local hay fields, and certain row crops can get too much of a good thing. (Full Story) |
Brazos Valley Row Crops
Last Updated: 2:48 PM 07/17/08 -
Last year farmers got a rain every time they needed one. We even talked with a seasoned veteran who, for the first time in over 40 years of farming, didn’t irrigate any of his crops, not even once. You don’t have to be involved in agriculture to know that this year, it’s a different story. (Full Story) |
Beef Export Markets
Last Updated: 9:28 AM 07/10/08 -
Agricultural products are a very important part of U.S. trade internationally. In this week’s From The Ground Up, Joe Brown looks at current U.S. beef export markets, and some potential bright spots for beef producers, at a time when the beef industry is working through challenges it faces due to government mandates for the production of ethanol. (Full Story) |
The Ethanol Debate Continues
Last Updated: 10:06 AM 07/03/08 -
In this week’s From The Ground Up, Joe Brown takes a final look at the current debate taking place on whether or not the government should have mandated the production of ethanol, and as we’ll see, there’s anything but concensus on this issue. (Full Story) |
Ethanol Producers Versus Beef Producers
Last Updated: 3:02 PM 06/19/08 -
With growing economies in India, China, and Russia, competiotion for a bushel of corn has never been greater. Add to that U.S. Government mandates for the production of corn based ethanol, and you have a scenario that has pitted several groups against one another. (Full Story) |
Texas Ag Forum
Last Updated: 8:48 AM 06/12/08 -
The Texas Ag Forum is a group of ag leaders and representatives from across Texas that provides an open forum for public discussion of problems and issues facing agriculture. Monday in Austin, the food versus fuel debate was the topic. (Full Story) |
Feral Hogs
Last Updated: 10:23 AM 06/05/08 -
Part of the challenge of working in agriculture is the adversity ag producers face year-in and year-out. Farmers and ranchers alike battle disease, insects, and of course, the weather. One growing pest is the feral hog, an with an estimated population of 3 million plus, just in the state of Texas, it’s not a problem that’s going away. (Full Story) |
Food Security vs. Energy Security
Last Updated: 11:08 AM 05/30/08 -
With ethanol mandates taking a big part of domestic corn production here in the U.S., grain prices have increased and supplies of grain for food and animal feeds have been reduced. This has led to a debate on whether or not we’re trading food security for energy security. (Full Story) |
The Race For Acres
Last Updated: 11:18 AM 05/22/08 -
With corn, soybean, wheat and rice prices at historical highs, there’s been unprecedented competition among buyers of commodities that’s been described as the race for acres. With most planting decisions having been made across the country, we talked with an agricultural marketing consultant about projected winners and losers in 2008. (Full Story) |
The Renewable Fuel Standard
Last Updated: 12:29 PM 05/15/08 -
There’s little doubt that global demand for grain is having an effect on grain prices, and a weak U.S. dollar makes U.S. products more attractive overseas, but the use of corn for ethanol production has a lot of people questioning the wisdom of government subsidies for producing the fuel. In late April, Governor Rick Perry asked the Federal government to cut by 50% a national standard that boosts ethanol at the pump, a move endorsed by Ag Commissioner Todd Staples. (Full Story) |
Wheat - pt. 3
Last Updated: 9:06 AM 05/09/08 -
Wheat is an important crop in the state of Texas, and this year we’ve seen a little more Brazos Valley wheat than usual. In this week’s From The Ground Up, a local producer says this year’s wheat crop should be a good one. (Full Story) |
Wheat
Last Updated: 10:14 AM 05/01/08 -
Wheat production has never really been a staple for Brazos Valley farmers, but in this week’s From The Ground Up, Joe Brown tells us there are several opportunities wheat offers to producers, and it’s not only the price. (Full Story) |
Wheat
Last Updated: 9:13 AM 04/24/08 -
The Brazos Valley agricultural community is noted for what’s referred to as the three c’s…cotton, corn, and cattle. With the race for acres that took place among all grain commodities, this year finds a few more farmers with amber waves of grain…at least in May when the wheat is harvested it will be. (Full Story) |
Fire Ants
Last Updated: 8:55 AM 04/17/08 -
Some of us can remember catching horny toads when we are kids, or even seeing a few quail here is the Brazos Valley, but today a lot of people attribute the absence of these two species along with many more to the invasion of our area by fire ants. In this week’s From The Ground Up, Joe Brown says there are two sides of the story. (Full Story) |
Planting Corn - Part 2
Last Updated: 11:39 AM 04/10/08 -
Most of the corn that is to be planted in our area this spring has been, and many farmers who plant cotton are in the midst of getting those seeds in the ground. In this week’s From The Ground Up Joe Brown tells us what’s keeping local farmers busy in the Brazos bottom. (Full Story) |
Planting Corn
Last Updated: 10:01 AM 04/03/08 -
With the price of corn at a historical high, and an ethanol industry going full throttle, local farmers who weren’t able to take advantage of the price surge that occurred late in the season last year, have hopes of producing a good corn crop this year, and cashing in on the increased demand for their product. (Full Story) |
Resistance In Cattle
Last Updated: 9:30 AM 03/27/08 -
It been said to be successful as an agricultural producer, one must be a jack-of- all-trades. Ranchers need to be thoroughly acquainted with what it takes to grow grass in their pastures, the types of nutrients beef cattle require, and have at least the expertise of a veterinarian assistant to help them care for their cattle. (Full Story) |
Strategically Worming Cattle
Last Updated: 10:45 AM 03/26/08 -
In the U.S., every year consumers become more removed from agriculture and the details that are involved in the production of the safest and most abundant food supply the world has ever seen. (Full Story) |
Possible Changes In Cow/Calf Operations
Last Updated: 10:15 AM 03/13/08 -
With record high oil, grain, and fertilizer prices that don’t seem to be letting up any time soon, speculation has begun on what kind of changes cattlemen are likely to make to try and keep their operations profitable, and that’s what’s being looked at in this week’s From The Ground Up. (Full Story) |
Feed Yards
Last Updated: 10:09 AM 03/06/08 -
At the cost of getting into the cow/calf business, we’re probably going to see a steady decline in the cow herd. (Full Story) |
Cow/Calf Producers
Last Updated: 9:31 AM 02/28/08 -
CONSISTANTLY RECORD HIGH OIL PRICES HAVE SUSTAINED A DEMAND FOR ETHANOL PRODUCTION THAT HAS RESULTED IN A RACE FOR ACRES OF ALL GRAIN COMMODITIES, THE LIKES OF WHICH WE’VE NEVER SEEN. WITH GRAIN PRICES BEING AT HISTORICAL HIGHS, THE ECONOMICS INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OF BEEF ARE DICTATING CHANGES BE MADE IN THE BEEF INDUSTRY, STARTING WITH THE COW/CALF PRODUCER. (Full Story) |
Calf Prices
Last Updated: 4:43 PM 02/21/08 -
“If I’m a cattle feeder, I have to buy the calves and I have to buy the feed, and I know that, or at least I have a estimate of what the price I’m going to get for that animal at the end is. We have a future’s market for live cattle, for fed cattle.” (Full Story) |
Forward Production Contracts
Last Updated: 10:34 AM 02/18/08 -
“Usually we’re looking at this time of year, trying to lock in the least loss, and then now we’re looking at alternatives among all the grain crops and even cotton what cotton prices have done, of which is going to make us the most profit.” (Full Story) |
Planting Decisions
IT’S OFTEN SAID THAT TO BE A GOOD FARMER, YOU HAVE TO LIKE TO GAMBLE. FARMERS GAMBLE WITH THE WEATHER, WITH INSECTS, AND ON WHAT THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR THEIR PRODUCT WILL BE, AND OF COURSE, ON WHAT THEY PLANT. WE TALKED WITH A LOCAL AG PRODUCER ABOUT PLANTING DECISIONS. (Full Story) |
Private Property
Last Updated: 11:30 AM 01/31/08 -
“There’s a number of issues facing Texas agriculture. This is one of them. This is one that our board, the Texas Farm Bureau, has identified as being our number one issue in the state.” (Full Story) |
Property Rights
After the Legislature adjourned in 2007, Governor Rick Perry vetoed a bill that he believed would cost Texas Taxpayers too much money when the state needed to condemn property for road expansion and projects like the Trans Texas Corridor. Senator Glenn Heagar’s amendment to the bill triggered the Governor’s veto. (Full Story) |
Private Property Rights
Last Updated: 1:42 PM 01/17/08 -
In June of 2007, governor Rick Perry vetoed a bill dealing with private property rights that was overwhelmingly passed by the legislature. One of the governor’s objections was a part of the bill that dealt with a landowner’s diminished access to his property after condemnation procedures. We talked with the author of that portion of the legislation. (Full Story) |
Private Properties Rights
The Texas Transportation Corridor has sparked a lot of dicussion, most of which has to do with 600,000 acres of land it is projected to take, purchase or condemnation procedures. Compunding the issue is a 2004 Texas Supreme Court decision that stripped away some importatnt rights held by private landowners. Add to that a veto of a bill by Governor Rick Perry that would have restored those rights, and you have a recipe for some pretty serious political jawboning. (Full Story) |
Reflections on 2007
Last Updated: 12:33 PM 01/03/08 -
In 2007, after two years of drought, farmers went into the spring concerned about moisture needed for planting, moisture was abundant. When summer arrived, the worry was that the rains would stop, but they didn't. 2007 proved to be an interesting year forBrazos Valley agriculture. (Full Story) |
The Farm Bill
Last Updated: 9:21 AM 12/28/07 -
The 2007 Farm Bill was the last pice of legislation being considered by the House and Senate this year, and while the press is usually focused on one part of the bill that a safety net for agricultural producers, we talked with an econmist who says that portion of the legislation is even more important for consumers. (Full Story) |
Farm Bill
Last Updated: 10:34 AM 12/20/07 -
The U.S. House of Representatives passed it's version of the 2007 Farm Bill in July, and last week the Senate followed suit. The bill goes to conference committee to recouncile any differences between the two. We talked with a Texas Cooperative Extension economist who told us that while the bill is referred to as "The Farm Bill", the majority of the legislation has nothing to do with farmers. (Full Story) |
Soil test
Last Updated: 4:09 PM 12/18/07 -
Most ranchers know that to be successful, they need to be good grass farmers, and some would even argue that beef is a by-product of grass. A grass plant is not unlike other plants we grow. It requires a supplementation of nutrients to achive it's full potential. (Full Story) |
Winter Pastures
Last Updated: 3:49 PM 12/10/07 -
In past years, when you take a drive in the country in late fall, winter, or early spring, you've probably noticed some pastures that are the greenest you've ever seen. That's because they've been planted with the hopes of having enough forage for winter grazing… and as is the rule in agriculture, the rancher is struggling to get along with mother. (Full Story) |
Boll Weevil Eradication
Last Updated: 4:30 PM 12/18/07 -
About five years ago, a program was put into place with the goal of eradicating the Cotton Boll Weevil from our part of the state. Farmers were losing the battle fighting the destructive little pestd on their own, so a coordinated spraying effort was put into place. It's not only resulted in less spraying, but in less Boll Weevils. That in turn has translated into about a twenty per cent increase in yeilds for our local cotton farmers. (Full Story) |
Thanksgiving Abundance
Last Updated: 4:39 PM 12/18/07 -
Thanksgiving celebrations here in the United States are all bound together by one common thread... They all include a feast of some kind, and while some of us may have some sort of kitchen duty preparing food, it's a safe bet that most of us didn't have much to do with producing the food. (Full Story) |
Ginning Cotton
Last Updated: 4:14 PM 12/18/07 -
Cotton harvest was late this year, and the month of November finds most Brazos Valley cotton having been picked and local cotton gins running full force. We talked with a local gin operator about the ginning process, and the yields he was seeing from local cotton farmers. (Full Story) |
Beef Quality
Last Updated: 4:49 PM 11/08/07 -
When beef began to lose market share in the late 1970s, the beef industry reacted and began to employ selective genetics to improve their product. We talked with a local processor who said there’s a definite difference in today’s beef. (Full Story) |
Beef Consumption
Last Updated: 6:05 PM 11/02/07 -
About 30 years ago changing tastes of consumers forced the beginning of changes industry wide in beef production. Research continues today, to insure that the best possible product makes its way to the meat case in your supermarket, or to your favorite restaurant. (Full Story) |
Expected Progeny Differentials
Last Updated: 2:35 PM 10/25/07 -
Producing beef for today’s consumers demands attention to detail from the rancher, and in this edition of From the Ground Up, we take a look at some of the technology the beef industry uses to make breeding decisions. (Full Story) |
Commercial Bull Selection
Last Updated: 10:45 PM 10/18/07 -
When enjoying a good steak, very few of us think about what went into producing it. We talked with a couple of breeders about the decision-making that goes into selecting a bull for a commercial cowherd. (Full Story) |
Cotton Harvest
Last Updated: 6:44 PM 10/11/07 -
So far, area cotton farmers have dodged two threats from Tropical Storms that could have reeked havoc during their harvest. Yield results are beginning to be tabulated, and if the dry weather continues, it appears this year’s crop will be a good one. (Full Story) |
Milo Harvest
Last Updated: 3:05 PM 10/04/07 -
While the rains we received during this year’s growing season were beneficial for most farmers, how the rain would affect Milo yields remained a question until harvest, because Milo doesn’t require a lot of water. Results are now in from Brazos Bottom Milo producers. (Full Story) |
Cotton Harvest
Last Updated: 3:39 PM 09/27/07 -
It’s been an interesting year for Brazos valley agriculture. The rains we received for the most part were beneficial, except for some problems that they created for hay producers. Area cotton farmers are starting to pick, or at least get their crop ready to pick. The abundant rainfall grew big cotton plants, and we’ll soon know how it affected lint and cotton seed production. (Full Story) |
Corn Harvest
Last Updated: 1:09 PM 09/20/07 -
There’s an adage in agricultural circles that “rain makes grain”, and this year’s wet growing season certainly put it to the test. The results are in, and with the corn yields produced by Brazos Valley farmers in 2007, it’s not hard to understand where the old saying came from. (Full Story) |
Pasture and Cattle Conditions
Last Updated: 2:47 PM 09/13/07 -
Almost a year ago to the day, we were talking about the lack of any timely rains on Brazos Valley pastures which had resulted in a lack of spring and summer forage, and over grazing of the little forage that was available to Brazos Valley cattle. Going into the fall, pastures were in bad shape. Oh, what a difference a year can make. (Full Story) |
Bio-terrorism Threat To Agriculture
Last Updated: 6:08 PM 09/07/07 -
After the attacks on September 11th, many facets of the American economy have been looked at more closely as conceivable targets of terrorism. The possibility of diseases being brought unintentionally into the country has always existed, but today agriculture faces the threat of a bioterrorist attack. (Full Story) |
Fuel Independence vs. Food Independence
Last Updated: 6:02 PM 08/30/07 -
Record prices on corn, mostly a result of the increase in ethanol production, have caused some to ask whether 0r not U.S. agriculture can meet the current demand for the commodities it produces. (Full Story) |
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