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TOP JOBS

This week I want to provide some update information on a few topics that I have heard about recently but have not made it into our weekly discussions. The first is about the final sign-up date for the Farm Service Agency 2005-2007 disaster program; the second is about new regulations regarding the moving of “dairy-looking” cattle in Texas, which might impact some of you with dairy influence in your herd.

The final is about the Texas AgriLife Extension Research and Extension Center at Overton’s Horticulture Field Day scheduled for later this month.

Happy Father’s Day to you fathers and grandfathers out there. (I am hoping for a new gas grill and not a tie again this year).

The USDA Farm Service Agency announced at the end of May that the deadline for Texas producers to enroll in the 2005-2007 Livestock Compensation Program and the Livestock Indemnity Program will be July 18. Sign-up for these two programs began on Sept. 10, 2007. These programs were designed to aid livestock producers who suffered eligible livestock or livestock feed losses between Jan. 1, 2005, and Dec. 31, 2007, because of natural disaster.

According to the FSA, LIP provides payments to eligible livestock owners and contract growers who incurred death of livestock because of natural disaster, while LCP provides payments to eligible livestock owners and cash lessees who suffered feed losses or increased feed costs because of natural disaster.

The FSA Web site http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov has more information on LIP and LCP. You may also call your local USDA Service Center for more information. In Tyler, the number is 903-561-2050.

On April 1, new cattle tuberculosis regulations went into effect in Texas. The Texas Animal Health Commission now requires that an approved identification device be placed on dairy cattle being moved within the state.

According to the TAHC, if a calf, steer, heifer, bull or cow looks like a dairy animal, make sure it has an official identification device before moving it within the state. The TAHC provides the USDA ear tags (those used in the Brucellosis and cattle TB programs for years) at no charge for dairy cattle. If these tags are used, producers are to maintain a log including the date the tag was applied, the tag number and the animal’s breed, sex and age.

Beef cattle and dairy cattle are equally as susceptible to cattle TB, but the close confinement and movement of dairy cattle between herds poses a greater risk than with beef cattle. Texas has been TB-free since 2006, however the disease has not been totally eradicated from the United States.

For more information on the new TB regulations, including the types of tags that you can purchase on your own to use with your cattle, visit the TAHC’s Web site, http://www.tahc.state.tx.us.

The Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton will have its horticulture field day on June 26. To beat the heat, the field day begins with tours at 8:30 a.m. at the center’s North Farm. It includes a complimentary lunch and concludes around 3 p.m. following the afternoon inside presentations.

This year’s program includes the opportunity to view nearly 500 varieties of flowering bedding plants, including nearly 70 varieties in the container trials. Plants that will be on display include those in the North Texas Winner’s Circle and plants in contention to be designated as new “Texas Superstars.”

For a map to the Overton Center and the field day’s agenda, visit http://overton.tamu.edu and click on the “Horticulture” link on the front page. The North Farm is located about 4 miles north of the center on Farm-to-Market Road 3053.

Dr. Brent Pemberton, professor of ornamental horticulture and plant physiology with Texas AgriLife Research, said that in recent years the commercial greenhouse and bedding plant industry in East Texas has had a $500 million annual impact on the region’s economy.

Brian Triplett is the Smith County Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources. He can be reached at 903-590-2980 or via e-mail at b-triplett@tamu.edu or on the Web at http://tceblogs.tamu.edu/mt/smith or http://smith-tx.tamu.edu.