Livestock Scale inspection

Dont for get today is the last day to call on Livestock scale inspection.

Soil Temp

Good Morning. The soil temp this morning is 56 degrees. Have a great day.

NMSU professor alerts pubic to total eclipse of the Moon Saturday, April 4

NMSU professor alerts pubic to total eclipse of the Moon Saturday, April 4 DATE: 03/31/2015 WRITER: Minerva Baumann, 575-646-7566, mbauma46@nmsu.edu CONTACT: Kurt Anderson, kurt@nmsu.edu WHAT: There will be a total eclipse of the Moon in the early morning hours of Saturday, April 4. This will be an extremely short event lasting less than 5 minutes. Telescopes or binoculars won’t be needed but the eclipse is best observed away from the glare of city lights. WHO: New Mexico State University astronomy professor emeritus Kurt Anderson is alerting the general public that a lunar eclipse will be visible in this region when the full Moon passes into the shadow of the sun. WHEN: The eclipse begins at 3:01 a.m. The eclipse becomes total at 5:58 a.m. and ends at 6:03 a.m. WHERE: Observers will need an unobstructed view of the western horizon. VISUALS: Eclipses occur at roughly six-month intervals. This eclipse is unusual in that it is the third in a sequence of four consecutive total lunar eclipses. The fourth will occur on Sept. 28, 2015. “This eclipse will begin at 3:01 a.m. when the Moon first enters the penumbral shadow of the Earth,” explained Kurt Anderson, astronomy professor emeritus at New Mexico State University. “This will be hardly noticeable to earthbound observers; appearing as a slow dimming of the Moon’s brightness. In this stage of the eclipse the Earth, as seen from the Moon, blocks out only a portion of the Sun’s light. The main (“partial”) phase of the eclipse begins as the Moon first enters the Earth’s umbral shadow at 4:15 a.m.; the sharp edge of this darker shadow will appear to move across the face of the Moon. An astronaut on the shadowed part of the Moon would now see the Earth completely covering the Sun. The eclipse becomes total, with the Moon fully in the umbral shadow, at 5:58. Totality will last only 4 minutes and 43 seconds, ending just before 6:03. From then to 7:44 the Moon moves out of umbra during a second partial phase of the eclipse. However, local Sunrise is at 6:27 and t he Moon sets at 6:58 so the end of the umbral phase at 7:44 and the penumbral phase at 8:51, will be missed.”

Obama Administration Releases National Action Plan to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release March 27, 2015 FACT SHEET: Today, the White House released a comprehensive plan that identifies critical actions to be taken by key Federal departments and agencies to combat the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, which was developed by the interagency Task Force for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in response to Executive Order 13676: Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, outlines steps for implementing the National Strategy on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and addressing the policy recommendations of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) report on Combating Antibiotic Resistance. Antibiotics have been a critical public health tool since the discovery of penicillin in 1928, saving the lives of millions of people around the world. The emergence of drug resistance in bacteria is undermining our ability to treat bacterial infections and perform a range of modern medical procedures, including chemotherapy, surgery, dialysis, and organ transplantation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that drug-resistant bacteria cause 23,000 deaths and 2 million illnesses each year in the United States. Antibiotic resistance also threatens animal health, agriculture, and the economy. The National Action Plan provides a roadmap to guide the Nation in rising to the challenge of antibiotic resistance and potentially saving thousands of lives. The Action Plan outlines Federal activities over the next five years to enhance domestic and international capacity to prevent and contain outbreaks of antibiotic-resistant infections; maintain the efficacy of current and new antibiotics; and develop and deploy next-generation diagnostics, antibiotics, vaccines, and other therapeutics. These activities are consistent with investments in the President’s FY 2016 Budget, which nearly doubles the amount of Federal funding for combating and preventing antibiotic resistance to more than $1.2 billion. Implementation of the Action Plan will require the sustained, coordinated, and complementary efforts of individuals and groups around the world, including public and private sector partners, healthcare providers, healthcare leaders, veterinarians, agriculture industry leaders, manufacturers, policymakers, and patients. Efforts carried out as part of the Action Plan will help the Federal government curb the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria with the goal of saving lives. To provide advice, information, and recommendations regarding programs and policies intended to support and evaluate the implementation of Executive Order 13676, including the National Strategy for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and the National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, the Secretary of Health and Human Services established the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (Advisory Council). HHS is currently seeking nominations of individuals who are interested in being considered for appointment to the Advisory Council. National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria The Action Plan is organized around five goals for collaborative action by the U.S. Government, in partnership with foreign governments, individuals, and organizations aiming to strengthen healthcare, public health, veterinary medicine, agriculture, food safety, and research and manufacturing. Aggressive action will move the nation towards major reductions in the incidence of urgent and serious drug-resistant threats. These goals are: • Slow the Emergence of Resistant Bacteria and Prevent the Spread of Resistant Infections. • Strengthen National One-Health Surveillance Efforts to Combat Resistance, • Advance Development and Use of Rapid and Innovative Diagnostic Tests for Identification and Characterization of Resistant Bacteria. • Accelerate Basic and Applied Research and Development for New Antibiotics, Other Therapeutics, and Vaccines. • Improve International Collaboration and Capacities for Antibiotic Resistance Prevention, Surveillance, Control, and Antibiotic Research and Development. Slow the Emergence of Resistant Bacteria and Prevent the Spread of Resistant Infections Judicious use of antibiotics in healthcare and agricultural settings is essential to slow the emergence of resistance and extend the useful lifetime of effective antibiotics. The CDC estimates that up to half of all human antibiotic use is unnecessary or inappropriate. The Action Plan includes activities to foster improvements in the appropriate use of antibiotics (i.e., antibiotic stewardship) by improving prescribing practices across all healthcare settings. , preventing the spread of drug-resistant threats in healthcare facilities and communities, and continuing to eliminate the use of medically-important antibiotics for growth promotion in animals. By 2020, significant outcomes in this area will include: • Establishment of antimicrobial stewardship programs in all acute care hospitals and improved antimicrobial stewardship across all healthcare settings. • Reduction of inappropriate antibiotic use by 50% in outpatient settings and by 20% in inpatient settings. • Establishment of State Antibiotic Resistance (AR) Prevention (Protect) Programs in all 50 states to monitor regionally important multi-drug resistant organisms and provide feedback and technical assistance to health care facilities. • Elimination of the use of medically-important antibiotics for growth promotion in food-producing animals. Strengthen National-Surveillance Efforts for Resistant Bacteria The “One-Health” approach to disease surveillance for human and animal pathogens is critical to combat antibiotic resistance. Improved detection and control of antibiotic resistance in human and animal pathogens will be achieved through a “One-Health” approach to disease surveillance that integrates data from multiple monitoring networks. This approach will significantly increase the currently very limited data and provide high-quality information, including detailed genomic data, necessary to track resistant bacteria in diverse settings in a timely fashion. By 2020, significant outcomes in this area will include: • Creation of a regional public health network—the Detect Network of AR Regional Laboratories—for resistance testing, a specimen repository for resistant bacterial strains, and a National Sequence Database of Resistant Pathogens. • Routine reporting of antibiotic use and resistance data to National Health Safety Network (NHSN) by 95% of Medicare-eligible hospitals, as well as by Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs healthcare facilities. • Routine testing of zoonotic and animal pathogens for antibiotic susceptibility at ten to twenty National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) and Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN) member laboratories, using standardized testing methods and data sharing practices. Advance Development and Use of Rapid and Innovative Diagnostic Tests for Identification and Characterization of Resistant Bacteria With the support of funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, today’s researchers are taking advantage of new technologies to develop rapid “point-of-need” diagnostic tests that can be used during a healthcare visit to distinguish between viral and bacterial infections and identify bacterial drug susceptibilities — an innovation that could significantly reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. The availability of new rapid diagnostic tests, combined with ongoing use of culture-based assays to identify new resistance mechanisms, will advance the detection and control of resistant bacteria. By 2020, significant outcomes in this area will include: • Development and dissemination of authorized point-of-need diagnostic tests that rapidly distinguish between bacterial and viral infections. • Validation of diagnostic tests that rapidly determine the antibiotic resistance profiles of bacteria of public health concern. Accelerate Basic and Applied Research and Development for New Antibiotics, Other Therapeutics, and Vaccines Antibiotics that lose their effectiveness for treating human disease through antibiotic resistance must be replaced with new drugs; alternatives to antibiotics are also needed in veterinary medicine. The Action Plan will boost basic scientific research, attract greater private investment, and facilitate clinical trials in order to advance the discovery and development of new antibiotics and alternative therapies to combat resistance. By 2020, significant outcomes in this area will include: • Characterization of the gut microbiome—the communities of microorganisms that live within the gastrointestinal tract—of at least one animal species raised for food. This outcome will help us understand how antibiotic treatments disrupt normal gut bacteria and how animal growth might be promoted—and bacterial diseases might be treated—without using antibiotics. • Advancement of at least two new antibiotic drug candidates, non-traditional therapeutics, and/or vaccines from pre-clinical testing to clinical trials for treatment or prevention of human disease. • Development of at least three new drug candidates or probiotic treatments as alternatives to antibiotics for promoting growth or preventing disease in animals. • Creation of a biopharmaceutical incubator—a consortium of academic, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry partners—to promote innovation and increase the number of antibiotics and antibodies in the drug-development pipeline. Improve International Collaboration and Capacities for Antibiotic Resistance Prevention, Surveillance, Control, and Antibiotic Research and Development Antibiotic resistance is a global problem that requires global solutions. The United States will engage with international ministries and institutions to strengthen national and international capacities to detect, monitor, analyze, and report antibiotic resistance; provide resources and incentives to spur the development of therapeutics and diagnostics for use in humans and animals; and strengthen regional networks and global partnerships that help prevent and control the emergence and spread of resistance. By 2020, significant outcomes in this area will include: • Elevation of antibiotic resistance as an international priority for global health and security. • Enhanced capacity to identify antimicrobial resistant pathogens in more than 15 partner countries. • Establishment of a common U.S.-European Union (EU) system for sharing and analyzing bacterial resistance patterns for priority pathogens. • Development of a global database to collect harmonized quantitative data on the use of antibacterial agents in animals. • Development of national plans to combat antibiotic resistance and improve antibiotic stewardship in low- and middle-income countries. • Strengthened regulatory and supply chain systems that assure the quality, safety, and efficacy of antibiotics used in low- and middle-income countries.

State Game Commission

The New Mexico State Game Commission is the governing body of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Commissioners are appointed by the Governor with the collective goal of overseeing the rules and regulations established to achieve the NMDGF mission of "conserve, regulate, propagate and protect the wildlife and fish within the state of New Mexico using a flexible management system that ensures sustainable use for public food supply, recreation and safety; and to provide for off-highway motor vehicle recreation that recognizes cultural, historic, and resource values while ensuring public safety." The Commission meets six to eight times a year during which they make management, financial, and recreational decisions that effects resident and non-resident hunters and anglers. All meetings are open to the public and are held in various, rotating locations across the state. The New Mexico Council of Outfitters and Guides attends every State Game Commission meeting and provides testimony on behalf of the industry. 2015 Game Commission Meeting Schedule Commissioner Biographies March 26, 2015 - Commission Meeting Re-cap The State Game Commission held a meeting on March 26th at the Space History Museum in Alamogordo . The basic theme of the meeting was to address issues that were brought up during the recently finalized 60 day legislative session. The Department also initiated the development of a new 4 year cycle for Bear and Cougar seasons and the commission additionally, adopted the final proposal of the department as it relates to Oryx Security Badge Hunts. Legislative Update The Department provided a presentation regarding all of the legislative actions taken during the 2015 NM Legislative Session that in anyway related to the efforts of NMDGF. As it relates to NMDGF budget, Legislators approved to keep all of the NMDGF programs as well as current employee numbers funded for fiscal year 2016 which begins in June. The only down side to the budget was that Legislators did not approve any new capital projects. According to the Department this should have little effect on short term plans as the Department already has money set aside to fund many of their upcoming initiatives. The Department proudly went through the list of their 5 basic legislative initiatives 4 of which are currently awaiting the Governors signature. The Department was successful in passing a bill which would give them the ability to treat minor infractions similar to the way police departments treat speeding tickets, by having the availability to mail in the penalty assessment. They also successfully passed a bill that would give a 50% reduction in license costs to active duty and retired veterans across the board as opposed to the current confusing and cumbersome methods of applying for military discounts. They were able to pass a bill that would provide the NMDGF the ability to recognize Talapia as a NM species. And finally the Department was successful in passing a bill that would give NMDGF the authority to compensate volunteers. The Department described this year as being their most successful session in recent history. The Department also made a special effort to recognize the Stream Access legislation. Although this was not an official objective of the NMDGF, the Department explained to the Commission that the legislation that we were able to pass during the session mirrored their existing Rule as it relates to accessing public waters on private lands. They also mentioned that they were supportive of our efforts. The stream access legislation is also awaiting the Governor's signature. Update on Felons Attempting to Hunt with a Firearm In response to a failed legislative push by Representative Jimmie Hall (Bernalillo), the department provided a presentation to the Commission regarding why it would not be cost effective for the Department to attempt to run background checks on individuals applying for draw hunts. The department explained that it would not be possible to run 50,000 applicants through the Department of Public Safety records check as the legislation would have required. On top of the fact that running background checks on this many individuals would be exorbitantly expensive, there are laws that actually prevent NMDGF from doing this. Additionally, hunt codes are designed to be "any legal sporting arm" so while it would be illegal for a felon to hunt with a firearm, they could legally apply for these hunt codes and subsequently use a bow to harvest the game. The presentation was for informational purposes and there was little debate from the Commission as to whether additional steps should be taken regarding this issue. Initiation of Bear and Cougar Rule Development The Department gave their preliminary presentation for the opening of the predator rule development. They presented the current harvest statistics for both Bear and Cougar which showed that both species are not being harvested to the full extent allowable by NMDGF. The Department explained that they have expanded their research measures for both predator species and they are working with NMSU to derive population estimates across the state. The Department additionally addressed concerns from ranchers regarding Cougar depredation of livestock and indicated that they are considering allowing trapping of snaring as a method of Cougar harvest. They also addressed the possibility of implementing a spring Bear hunt. The predator rule development is now open for public comment on the NMDGF website. NMCOG will also be accepting comment from Outfitters and Guides. Please email your concerns/suggestions to kerriecoxromero@gmail.com. Oryx Security Badge Hunts The Commission approved the Department's proposal to do away with the Security Badge Hunt code for Oryx. NMCOG is supportive of this recommendation. After the TERK injunction was vacated in 2014 a problem that was created within this hunt code. Since it is forbidden, by White Sands Missile Range policy, for a hunter with a Security Badge permit to contract with an Outfitter, and because the department is required by law to apply the quota to all hunt codes, an empty Outfitter pool would be inevitable within the Security Badge Hunts. Beginning in 2016 the department will do away with the Security Badge Hunt code and rather include these hunts as population management hunts on White Sands Missile Range. Trans-locating Desert Bighorn to the Sacremento Escarpment The department presented a proposal to introduce Desert Bighorn sheep into the Sacremento mountains in GMU 34. They addressed much concern from sportsman that the Barbary sheep herd, currently established in the area, would need to be eliminated if Deserts were introduced. The Department made clear that they have no intentions of eliminating the Barbary populations in that area, they merely would like to do a study to see if the Deserts could co-exist with the Barbary. The Department would not be ready to trans locate the Deserts until at least 2016 and at that time they would consider introducing 40 from the Red Rock herd and 40 from the Fra Cristobal herd. The presentation was for discussion purposes only. Odds and Ends The Department additionally covered a number of clean up agenda items during the meeting. They presented a proposal, for discussion purposes, to create a phone application that would allow for electronic tagging and at the same time automatically submit a harvest report for the hunter. They also presented an initial proposal, now open for public comment, that would amend the miscellaneous fee structure for vendors. They proposed to include trappers and furbearers into the mandatory harvest rule which was previously overlooked when the rule was approved in 2013. And finally the Commission heard a presentation, from an outside organization, on the methods of establishing un-staffed shooting ranges. The next meeting will be held on May 7, 2015 in Farmington, NM.

USDA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Launch Ecosystem-Wide Effort to Aid Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and Other Riparian Species

Working Lands for Wildlife Boasts New Practices, Greater Predictability for Landowners in Six Western States WASHINGTON, March 30, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) today unveiled an ecosystem-wide model to aid the Southwestern willow flycatcher and help western landowners. The model will enhance or restore habitat for at-risk, threatened and endangered species while supporting working lands in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. The program builds on existing partnerships with landowners in the Southwest to support habitat improvement for the Southwestern willow flycatcher, along with 83 other species that depend on the same riparian ecosystem. This action will result in healthier ranges, more productive ranches, and more robust rural economies. "By focusing on predictability on an ecosystem level, we will bring together an even larger group of agricultural producers in the Southwest to create habitat for the flycatcher and other wildlife," said NRCS Chief Jason Weller. "These efforts will not only support the many species that depend on this riparian ecosystem, but also help ranchers move to more sustainable grazing systems and give them the support they need to keep their lands working." "These efforts will help ensure not only the long-term health of ecosystems and countless species vital to the West, but they will assist rural landowners and provide tangible benefits to local economies," said FWS Director Dan Ashe. "The Service has a long record of working with federal and state agencies and private landowners in creating holistic, long-term solutions such as this." These efforts are part of the Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) partnership between NRCS and FWS, which helps create habitat on working landscapes for seven different at-risk, threatened or endangered species, including the flycatcher. Through WLFW, producers who maintain conservation prac¬tices and systems that benefit the targeted species will be covered for any incidental take that may occur as a result of the conservation activities for up to 30 years. Over the past three years, NRCS has worked with landowners in these six states to restore or enhance more than 7,000 acres of riparian land that the Southwestern willow flycatcher relies on for nesting habitat. Expansion of this program will engage more landowners by providing incentives for six additional conservation practices. It will also expand the scale of the program by providing predictability under the Endangered Species Act for 83 species in addition to the flycatcher. Some of the other species that share riparian habitat with the flycatcher in the Southwest include the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse, yellow-billed cuckoo, Chiricahua leopard frog and the Least Bell's vireo. The six new conservation practices available through WLFW for the flycatcher include: installation of a stream crossing, pumping plant, micro-irrigation system or livestock shelter; mulching; and planting for species habitat. These are among the supporting conservation practices that NRCS offers to ranchers. This effort builds on the historic success of voluntary conservation practices on private lands that benefit wildlife while supporting working lands. Recently, due in large part to proactive steps by private landowners, FWS delisted the Oregon chub, the first fish species to be delisted due to recovery. Listing the Arctic grayling was not required because of similarly successful efforts to improve aquatic habitat. Additionally, through their partnership in the Sage Grouse Initiative, the agencies have seen gains in habitat creation for the greater sage-grouse through which private landowners have restored 4.4 million acres over the past five years – an area twice the size of Yellowstone National Park. For more on technical and financial assistance available through conservation programs, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted or a local USDA service center. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD)or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov, or connect with us through any of these social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube.

COW/CALF CORNER

COW/CALF CORNER The Newsletter From the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service March 30, 2015 Beef herd rebuilding: What’s next? Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist The long-awaited end to beef cow herd liquidation happened in 2014 as the industry abruptly switched to expansion. The 2.1 percent increase in beef cow numbers in 2014 was more than generally expected but not a big surprise as the conditions were right for such a turnaround. Modest growth in heifer inventories has occurred since 2012. It wasn’t until 2014 that beef cow culling decreased enough to combine with heifer retention and result in herd growth. This leads to a number of questions including how much additional herd growth is needed; how fast can it happen; and where will it take place. The answers to these questions are not completely apparent at this time and will depend on a number of factors yet to be determined in the coming years. However there are some indications already in place. After a brief attempt at expansion in 2004 and 2005, the industry has experienced unplanned herd liquidation. I mean unplanned in the sense that it was not typical cyclical factors that caused the liquidation. It was not, for the most part, low cattle prices but rather cost shocks that caused low returns and liquidation between 2006 and 2010. Widespread drought forced additional liquidation between 2011 and 2013. The question of how much growth is needed will depend on domestic and international market conditions over the next few years as herd growth occurs. It will depend also on things such as carcass weights that will determine total beef production relative to slaughter rates. At this point I see little reason why the cow herd should not rebuild to at least the level of the truncated expansion in 2007-2008…roughly 32.5 million head. That would suggest another 2.8 million head beyond the January, 2015 level. This implies total herd growth of nearly 9.5 percent in the next few years. Time and market conditions will, however, determine exactly what the size potential is for the industry. How long will it take? At the 2014 rate of 2.1 percent per year, it would take until 2019 to surpass the 32 million head level. In the last complete cyclical expansion from 1990-1995, the average annual herd growth rate was 1.4 percent. Leaving out the slow first year and tapering off the last year, the principal four years of expansion during this period averaged 2 percent per year. In the current expansion, a single year of faster growth is very possible but it is unlikely that an annual growth rate much above 2 percent could be maintained for two or three years consecutively. There are however, a number of regional factors that could slow down expansion. An average herd growth rate of 1.5 percent would take until 2021 to exceed 32 million head of beef cows. The question of how long is related to the question of where herd growth will take place. In five Midwestern states from Missouri to Ohio, the beef cow herd in 2015 was 8.4 percent smaller than in 2008. In the Appalachian states of Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia, the 2015 beef cow inventory was down 15 percent compared to 2008. In both of these regions, the decrease in beef cows is largely the result of decreased forage acreage due to expanded crop production. Lost pasture and hay production in these regions is not likely to return quickly, if ever. The beef cow herd in these regions will grow but is unlikely to rebuild to previous levels. The Northern Plains states of Nebraska and the Dakotas experienced a modest 2.9 percent decrease in the beef cow herd between 2008 and 2015. Similarly, the 2008-2015 beef cow herd decrease in the Northern Rocky Mountain region of Montana and Wyoming was only 1.2 percent. These regions will likely experience herd rebuilding but the two regions together are currently only 155 thousand head below the 2008 level. The beef cow herd in other regions is down as well including the South (down 3.8 percent; the Great lakes region (down 4.7 percent); the Gulf region (down 8.1 percent); the Southern Rocky Mountain region (down 2.8 percent) and the Southwest (down 9.4 percent). These five regions combined are down just over 500 thousand head from 2008 and will likely rebuild but drought will limit or slow the rate of growth in Southwest and Southern Rocky mountain regions. The 2015 beef cow inventory of the Southern Plains region (Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas) was down 13.2 percent from 2008, a decrease of over 1.1 million head. This represents 42 percent of the total beef cow herd decline between 2008 and 2015. This region will clearly play a central role in U.S. beef cow herd expansion in the coming years. Parts of the region are still experiencing severe to exceptional drought conditions. The 6.2 percent herd expansion in 2014 in the Southern Plains may be difficult to maintain if drought conditions do not improve significantly. Moreover, herd expansion could be halted or reversed if drought conditions redevelop in the region. While the final beef cow herd total for this expansion is unknown, it seems likely that the industry will be rebuilding or trying to rebuild for the remainder of the decade. Much of the herd growth will be in the Southern Plains with proportionately more growth likely in the western half of the country compared to the eastern half. Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. References within this publication to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, service mark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement by Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.

Soil temp this am

I hope you had a great palm Sunday or weekend Soil temp this AM was 54F

TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT GET OUT THAT LAWN MOWER

TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT GET OUT THAT LAWN MOWER Ok, some of you have already mowed your lawn for the first time this spring but for the rest of us we are getting ready to pull out that lawn mower and get to work. If you read my article last fall about proper storage for the winter this is no big deal but if you did not and it has been siting all winter without being prepared here somethings to think about doing or having done for you by a professional. If you did not put in fuel stablizer in your fuel and stored with fuel in the tank, you should drain the tank of old fuel and add clean fresh fuel. . Over time, untreated gasoline breaks down and no longer does its job; it just does not have the chemically stored energy anymore, kind of like a drained battery. As I told you last fall, pouring a measured amount of a fuel stabilizer into the gasoline mix can keep the fuel from going bad. The cost for stabilizer can be as low as 50 cents per tank treated; saving visit to a repair shop or loss of equipment. You may have to spray carburetors cleaner into the carburetors as well to remove varnish left by evaporating fuel; old fuel is the major cause of hard starting in the spring and resulting in spark plug fouling. If you did not change the oil before storage, change it this spring before starting. The oil should be changed at least once a season or every 25 operation hours. Most push type lawn mowers do not have an oil filter. Over the winter water, and other contaminates can accumulate in the motor oil. Use the manufactures recommend weight and capacity. Change the air filter according to the recommended schedule, or at the beginning of each season. Engine manufacturers sell maintenance kits complete with the correct oil for each tool - Briggs & Stratton, for example, sells tune-up kits containing fuel stabilizer, spark plug, filter, and oil - although oil can be purchased separately. Also, be sure to recycle used oil at a licensed oil collection location. Finally, remember to change the spark plug, one of the easiest solutions for hitch-free starts. Like motor oil, a spark plug should be changed once every season. When I have the spark plug out I place a little Marvel Mystery Oil to help lubricate the piston before I start the engine over time the oil has drained into the crank case and there may not be much left on the rings. Remember, the gap in the end of the spark plug - the space where the spark forms - must be adjusted to each engine's specifications. Manufacturers' maintenance kits generally include "pre-gapped" plugs for a specific model. As a bonus, proper engine maintenance reduces engine emission, which is good for the environment. But don't let pre-chore maintenance create new problems for you or your lawn mower. When servicing the underside of a mower deck, for example, always position the mower with the air-filter side up. Otherwise, oil might drain into the filter, preventing the engine from starting. And always detach the spark plug to keep the engine from starting accidentally. Of course you can also just take it to a qualified small engine shop and they will do all this for you, but regardless if you do it yourself or have it done proper maintenance save your investment in equipment and a lot of spring frustration. Eddy County Extension Service, New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating.

CATTLE OUTLOOK – Ron Plain and Scott Brown

Ag Economics, MU March 27, 2015 Retail beef prices were record high for the third consecutive month during February. The price of fresh beef in grocery stores averaged $6.028 per pound. That was 4.1 cents higher than the month before and 75.7 cents higher than in February 2014. Choice beef at retail averaged $6.27 per pound. Ground beef prices also set a new retail price record at $4.238 per pound in February. The 5 area price of slaughter steers averaged $159.90/cwt during February, down $4.50 from the month before. Record retail beef prices and declining fed cattle prices left the wholesale–retail margin at a record $2.581 per pound in February. There were 492 million pounds of beef in cold storage at the end of February. That is 20% more than a year ago and the most since April 30, 2013. A strong dollar and labor problems at west coast docks may have forced more beef into storage. This morning the choice boxed beef cutout value was $250.43/cwt, up $6.05 from the previous Friday and up $14.00 from a year ago. The select carcass cutout was $246.62/cwt this morning, up $2.06 from last week and up $16.14 from a year ago. Fed cattle prices were higher this week on light sales volume. Through Thursday, the 5-area average price for slaughter steers sold on a live weight basis was $163.98/cwt, up $2.48 from last week’s average, up $11.72 from a year ago, and the highest for any week since early January. The 5 area average dressed price for steers was $260.00/cwt, up $4.72 for the week and up $16.52 compared to a year ago. Cattle slaughter this week totaled 531,000 head, up 2.5% from the week before, but down 9.7% from the same week last year. Year-to-date cattle slaughter is down 7.1% and year-to-date beef production is down 5.0% compared to the same period last year. The average steer dressed weight for the week ending on March 14 was 871 pounds, down 5 pounds from the week before, but up 15 pounds compared to the same week last year. Steer weights have been above year-ago each week since June 14, 2014. Feeder cattle prices at Oklahoma City were mostly $4 to $8 higher this week. Prices for medium and large frame #1 steers by weight group were: 400-450# $301-$342, 450-500# $291-$324.50, 500-550# $286-$308, 550-600# $245-$289, 600-650# $243-$271, 650-700# $227.50-$248, 700-750# $210-$229.50, 750-800# $207-$221, 800-900# $194-$211.50, and 900-1000#, $179-$203.50/cwt. The April live cattle futures contract settled at $162.70/cwt today, up $4.35 for the week. June fed cattle settled at $152.95/cwt, up $2.48 from the previous Friday. August fed cattle gained $1.90 this week to settle at $150.00/cwt. The April feeder cattle contract ended the week at $219.40/cwt, up $3.20 for the week. May feeders settled at $218.02/cwt which is $2.62 higher than the Friday before. The August contract ended the week at $219.17/cwt.

Future NMSU Aggie receives national service award from President Obama

Date: 03/26/2015 Writer: Angela Simental, 575-646-6861, ongola@nmsu.edu Facebook Icon Facebook Twitter Icon Twitter LinkedIn Icon LinkedIn Google+ Icon Google+ Pinterest Icon Pinterest Email Dallas Pompeo, a future New Mexico State University Aggie, was nominated by her colleagues at the Hidalgo County Cooperative Extension Service office, and is the recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Dallas Pompeo, a future New Mexico State University aggie, was nominated by her colleagues at the Hidalgo County Cooperative Extension Service office, and is the recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award. (Courtesy photo) The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country, was granted by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of President Barack Obama. She will receive the award in recognition of her volunteer service. “I have been a member of the Cotton City 4-H Club and Hidalgo County 4-H Program since I was 5 years old, and I have worked on many community service activities such as Adopt-A-Highway program, the Annual Columbus Electric Meeting meal preparation and serving, Sunshine Haven nursing home projects, big brother/big sister mentoring program, junior soccer league coach, the Hidalgo County Fairground cleanup, the Middle Animas Cemetery cleanup, among many more community service projects,” Pompeo said. “I try to do whatever I can to help out the community and show that I care about our local community and its members. I am very honored and blessed to have received this award.” Pompeo, who has been taking dual credit classes through NMSU for the past two years, was accepted and plans to start at NMSU in the fall of 2015. She will be will be majoring in agriculture and Extension education with a minor in animal science “Dallas really is everything a 4-H member should be. She has grown up through the program and has taken on some of the most challenging leadership roles,” said John R. Allen, Hidalgo County 4-H Agent. “Dallas has led the Cotton City 4-H Club and the Hidalgo County Council in many volunteering endeavors. The 4-H program is an excellent youth-driven organization that centers on volunteer work and whenever a community need arises you can count on Dallas to not only give her time and energy, but to recruit and facilitate other youth volunteers to get the job done.” The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, recognizes middle level and high school students across America for outstanding volunteer service. “The recipients of these awards demonstrate that young people across America are making remarkable contributions to the health and vitality of their communities,” said John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. “By recognizing these students and placing a spotlight on their volunteer activities, we hope to motivate others to consider how they can also contribute to their community.” “When I found out, I was smiling ear-to-ear. This meant that my dedication and commitment to my community was being recognized,” Pompeo added. “I do not do the work for recognition by no means but it does feel good to know that my work is appreciated!”

USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program

03/27/2015 01:11 PM EDT Release No. 0033.15 USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program WASHINGTON, March 27, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation announced today that it does not expect to purchase sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program in the second quarter of 2015. The Commodity Credit Corporation is required to announce quarterly estimates of sugar to be purchased for the Feedstock Flexibility Program based on crop and consumption forecasts. Federal law allows sugar processors to obtain loans from USDA with maturities of up to nine months when the sugarcane or sugar beet harvest begins. Upon loan maturity, the sugar processor may repay the loan in full or forfeit the collateral (sugar) to USDA to satisfy the loan. The Feedstock Flexibility Program was reauthorized by Congress in the 2014 Farm Bill as an option to avoid sugar forfeitures. USDA’s March 10, 2015, World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report (www.usda.gov/oce/commodity/wasde) projects that domestic fiscal year 2015 ending sugar stocks are unlikely to lead to forfeitures. USDA closely monitors domestic sugar stocks, consumption, imports and other sugar market variables on an ongoing basis, and will continue to administer the sugar program as transparently as possible using the latest available data. The next quarterly estimate regarding the Feedstock Flexibility Program will occur prior to July 1, 2015. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

USDA Extends ARC and PLC Deadlines

Farmers Have Until April 7 to Update Yields, Reallocate Base Acres, and Make Final Selections WASHINGTON, March 27, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today provided farm owners and producers one additional week, until April 7, 2015, to choose between Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), the safety-net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill. The final day to update yield history or reallocate base acres also will be April 7, 2015. "This is an important decision for producers because these programs help farmers and ranchers protect their operations from unexpected changes in the marketplace," said Vilsack. "Nearly 98 percent of owners have already updated their yield and base acres, and 90 percent of producers have enrolled in ARC or PLC. These numbers are strong, and continue to rise. This additional week will give producers a little more time to have those final conversations, review their data, visit their local Farm Service Agency offices, and make their decisions," said Vilsack. If no changes are made to yield history or base acres by the deadline, the farm's current yield and base acres will be used. If a program choice of ARC or PLC is not made, there will be no 2014 crop year payments for the farm and the farm will default to PLC coverage for the 2015 through 2018 crop years. Producers who have an appointment at their local FSA offices scheduled by April 7 will be able to make an election between ARC and PLC, even if their actual appointment is after April 7. These safety-net programs provide important financial protection against unexpected changes in the marketplace. As part of the strong education and outreach campaign launched by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in September, to date more than 5 million educational postcards, in English and Spanish, have been sent to producers nationwide, and more than 5,000 events with more than 430,000 attendees, including training sessions and speaking engagements, have been conducted to educate producers on the programs. The online tools, available at www.fsa.usda.gov/arc-plc, which allow producers to explore how ARC or PLC coverage will affect their operation, have been presented to more than 3,400 groups. Covered commodities under ARC and PLC include barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium grain rice (which includes short grain and sweet rice), safflower seed, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat. Upland cotton is no longer a covered commodity. Producers need to contact the Farm Service Agency by April 7. To learn more, farmers can contact their local Farm Service Agency county office. To find local offices, visit http://offices.usda.gov. The 2014 Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past six years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. Since enactment, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

Soil temp

Soil Temp is 51F today

SOLAR WATER PUMPIMG WORKSHOP

The first event of the 2015 Beyond the Roundtable series will be Solar Water Pumping & Off-Grid Lighting on April 29, 2015 from 10 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. at the SWCRS in Corona. Attached is a flyer for the event with an agenda. This event is free to attend and will be limited to the first 45 to register online atwww.corona.nmsu.edu, so please register early to insure your attendance. The SWCRS is partnering with AC Nutrition, ADM Alliance Nutrition, Dow Agrosciences, HiPro Feeds, and Purina Mills to host 6 symposiums April through September that we have named Beyond the Roundtable (BTR) as this series will provide a more formalized presentation format than did our Rancher’s Roundtable Series. For each BTR we will invite experts in the subject at hand to present information in 30 to 60 minute presentations starting with introduction of the daily subject and following with presentations that will build knowledge and understanding. The day will end with a roundtable discussion to provide answers to all questions you may have about the day’s topic. Further, a proceedings will be provided to all participants with presentation materials and other important publications that will provide further reading and information. Thanks to our Partners, along with our sponsors; Allfex USA, Carrizozo Soil & Water Conservation District, Ag New Mexico Farm Credit, Farm Credit of New Mexico, the New Mexico Stockman, Paul’s Veterinary Supply and Zoetis, along with the Agriculture Experiment Station, Animal and Range Sciences and the Corona Range and Livestock Research Center there will be no charge for the first few for sure, however due to unforeseen costs of publication of the proceedings, a small fee may be required as the year progresses, but hopefully we can keep within budget to avoid a charge. Other Scheduled BTR events are: April 29th Solar Water Pumping and Off-Grid Lighting May 19th Livestock Health, Immunity, & Vaccinations June TBA Brush and Weed Control July TBA Ruminant Nutrition I – The Rumen Environment and Requirements Aug TBA Ruminant Nutrition II – Protein, Energy & Minerals Supplementation Sept TBA Range Improvement & Pasture Assessment Please feel free to contact me with any questions or if you would rather not register online, Shad

Soil temp today

Good Morning! We are moving up. The soil temp this morning is 51 degrees. Have a great day.

THIS WEEKS POD CAST LINK

http://radio.securenetsystems.net/radio_player_large.cfm?stationCallSign=KSVP-OD

Kochia and Tumble weed

Well with the recent winter moisture Kochia and Russian thistle is abundant and while the weeds are small is the best time to control them. There are a number of herbicides that will control these weed including Dicamba, Banvel, Clarity, Vanquish and Round up or Glyphosate. Dow has some new labels that inclued Starane Ultra. Starane Ultra is labeled for small grains, corn, sorghum pastures and non crop applications. As with any herbicide the smaller the weed the better the control, however Starane Ultra will take out large kochia. Please call if you have any questions.

USDA Implements 2014 Farm Bill Provision to Limit Payments to Non-Farmers

Department Proposes Changes to "Actively Engaged" Rule WASHINGTON, March 24, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a proposed rule to limit farm payments to non-farmers, consistent with requirements Congress mandated in the 2014 Farm Bill. The proposed rule limits farm payments to individuals who may be designated as farm managers but are not actively engaged in farm management. In the Farm Bill, Congress gave USDA the authority to address this loophole for joint ventures and general partnerships, while exempting family farm operations from being impacted by the new rule USDA ultimately implements. "We want to make sure that farm program payments are going to the farmers and farm families that they are intended to help. So we've taken the steps to do that, to the extent that the Farm Bill allows," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "The Farm Bill gave USDA the authority to limit farm program payments to individuals who are not actively engaged in the management of the farming operation on non-family farms. This helps close a loophole that has been taken advantage of by some larger joint ventures and general partnerships." The current definition of "actively engaged" for managers, established in 1987, is broad, allowing individuals with little to no contributions to critical farm management decisions to receive safety-net payments if they are classified as farm managers, and for some operations there were an unlimited number of managers that could receive payments. The proposed rule seeks to close this loophole to the extent possible within the guidelines required by the 2014 Farm Bill. Under the proposed rule, non-family joint ventures and general partnerships must document that their managers are making significant contributions to the farming operation, defined as 500 hours of substantial management work per year, or 25 percent of the critical management time necessary for the success of the farming operation. Many operations will be limited to only one manager who can receive a safety-net payment. Operators that can demonstrate they are large and complex could be allowed payments for up to three managers only if they can show all three are actively and substantially engaged in farm operations. The changes specified in the rule would apply to payment eligibility for 2016 and subsequent crop years for Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) Programs, loan deficiency payments and marketing loan gains realized via the Marketing Assistance Loan program. As mandated by Congress, family farms will not be impacted. There will also be no change to existing rules for contributions to land, capital, equipment, or labor. Only non-family farm general partnerships or joint ventures comprised of more than one member will be impacted by this proposed rule. Stakeholders interested in commenting on the proposed definition and changes are encouraged to provide written comments at www.regulations.gov by May 26, 2015. The proposed rule is available at http://go.usa.gov/3C6Kk. Today's proposal was made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past six years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill. To learn more about Farm Service Agency, visit www.fsa.usda.gov. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

Family Farms are the Focus of New Agriculture Census Data

97 Percent of All U.S. Farms are Family-Owned, USDA Reports WASHINGTON, March 17, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reports that family-owned farms remain the backbone of the agriculture industry. The latest data come from the Census of Agriculture farm typology report and help shine light on the question, "What is a family farm?" "As we wrap up mining the 6 million data points from the latest Census of Agriculture, we used typology to further explore the demographics of who is farming and ranching today," said NASS Statistics Division Director Hubert Hamer. "What we found is that family-owned businesses, while very diverse, are at the core of the U.S. agriculture industry. In fact, 97 percent of all U.S. farms are family-owned." The 2012 Census of Agriculture Farm Typology report is a special data series that primarily focuses on the "family farm." By definition, a family farm is any farm where the majority of the business is owned by the operator and individuals related to the operator, including through blood, marriage, or adoption. Key highlights from the report include the following five facts about family farms in the United States: Five Facts to Know about Family Farms 1. Food equals family – 97 percent of the 2.1 million farms in the United States are family-owned operations. 2. Small business matters – 88 percent of all U.S. farms are small family farms. 3. Local connections come in small packages – 58 percent of all direct farm sales to consumers come from small family farms. 4. Big business matters too – 64 percent of all vegetable sales and 66 percent of all dairy sales come from the 3 percent of farms that are large or very large family farms. 5. Farming provides new beginnings – 18 percent of principal operators on family farms in the U.S. started within the last 10 years. "Whether small or large - on the East Coast, West Coast, or the Midwest - family farms produce food and fiber for people all across the U.S. and the world," said Hamer. "It's due in part to information such as this from the Census of Agriculture that we can help show the uniqueness and importance of U.S. agriculture to rural communities, families, and the world." The 2012 Census of Agriculture Farm Typology report classifies all farms into unique categories based on three criteria: who owns the operation, whether farming is the principal operator's primary occupation, and gross cash farm cash income (GCFI). Small family farms have GCFI less than $350,000; midsize family farms have GCFI from $350,000 to $999,999; and large family farms have GCFI of $1 million or more. Small farms are further divided based on whether the principal operator works primarily on or off the farm. To access all the data products from the Census typology report, including Highlights, infographics and maps, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov. To learn more demographic data about women farmers, join a USDA Google+ Hangout on March 18, 2015 at 2 PM Eastern by visiting www.usda.gov/live. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). #

NMSU entomologist warns of invasive aphid near New Mexico

DATE: 03/23/2015 WRITER: Angela Simental, 575-646-6861, ongola@nmsu.edu CONTACT: Jane Pierce, 575-748-1228, japierce@nmsu.edu Jane Pierce, agronomic entomologist at New Mexico State University, is warning growers of the possibility of finding sugarcane aphid moving into New Mexico. “Sugarcane aphid is a new aphid pest of sorghum. This aphid either expanded its diet from eating sugarcane to sorghum or came in as a new biotype,” Pierce said. Over the last year the sugarcane aphid moved from south Texas to the Panhandle, and last year it was spotted northwest of Lubbock, near Plainview, Texas and Amarillo. It was also collected in Oldam County, Texas right on the border of New Mexico, and Pierce said could be in New Mexico right now. “We will keep an eye out to see if we can spot the aphid in sorghum fields or on johnsongrass, a common weed. It will probably be found first around the Portales area. As soon as anyone spots the aphid NMDA can apply for permission to use the most effective insecticide,” Pierce said. Sugarcane aphid looks similar to some other sorghum aphids, particularly yellow sugarcane aphid and greenbug. However it is easy to distinguish the three species. Unlike sugarcane aphid, yellow sugarcane aphid has numerous hairs on its back and the greenbug has a green stripe down its back. “Populations of sugarcane aphid can be enormous. They reproduce rapidly and are moved by wind,” Pierce said. “Growers can see losses of 25-50 percent. Some fields have been so bad that growers have abandoned them. One of the big problems is when sticky secretions from the aphids clog harvesting equipment.” Beneficial insects often help control insect pests in New Mexico, but growers cannot expect beneficials to keep up with this rapidly reproducing pest. “Dry desert conditions also help control many insect pests in New Mexico,” Pierce added. “We may see some dessication in grain sorghum however, in forage sorghum we have higher humidity in the canopy so we shouldn’t expect much help in that situation.” Fortunately, if an insecticide is applied at the recommended economic threshold of 50-125 aphids per leaf, growers can generally see good control with just one application, Pierce explained. Pierce urges growers to talk to their county agents and take any insects or damaged plants to them to be examined if they see unusual problems. - 30 - Follow NMSU News on Twitter: http://twitter.com/nmsunews Follow NMSU News on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NMSUNews

BEEF Mag wants your input.

If you are in the industry you can subscribe for free to BEEF mag. Dear reader: In preparation for our State of the Industry coverage in the June issue, BEEF magazine editors are asking your help in gauging producer attitudes. Would you take a few minutes to answer the questions posted in the survey below? The results will be published in the June issue of BEEF magazine. Thank you and best wishes for a great 2015. To access the survey, just click on this survey link Take the survey We respect your privacy, thus the answers you provide in this survey are strictly confidential, used only in combination with all others for percents and averages. If you have any questions or concerns about this survey please e-mail me at research@penton.com. Thank you for participating in our survey. Sincerely, Scott Grau Sr. Research Manager BEEF magazine

Preparing for Wildfires: Moving from Crisis to Opportunity

By Doug Cram, Extension Fire Specialist Recently, 8 members from NM Cooperative Extension and 2 employees from NM Soil and Water Conservation Districts attended a wildfire conference in Tucson, AZ under the same title as this newsletter. As the title indicates, the principal focus of the workshop was identifying how the West, with particular help from the Cooperative Extension Service, can move away from allowing wildfires to wreak havoc across landscapes and in our personal lives and move toward a more predictable and prepared environment before, during and after fire. The workshop targeted Cooperative Extension educators from across the West, but also encouraged and welcomed attendance from potential collaborative partners, such as county emergency planners, fire chiefs, and stakeholder groups (e.g., fire safe councils) to name just a few. Insightful and engaged discussion characterized the three day event. Where is the ‘opportunity’ in wildfire? Let us ‘peel back the onion.’ First, from the academic side, we live on a fire planet. In fact, earth alone (probably) supports fire. For example, there are 8.5 million lightning flashes across the globe each day. If one tenth of one percent of those started a wildfire, that would amount to 8500 wildfires each day. Since fuel and oxygen are also readily available on this planet, the Smokey Bear philosophy of preventing fires would seem to be a nonstarter. Here in the southwest, where hot, dry and windy are annually in the spring forecast the question is not if we will have forest and grass fires but when and where. Second, and maybe more meaningful, is that an individual can prepare for such events (or realities) and thereby reduce their risk to the hazard. In other words, an individual can take the opportunity to be prepared for wildfire, an opportunity that will yield better results than chance alone. Examples of individual preparedness include having a disaster/emergency supply kit (to include prescribed medications), and multiple and secure storage of important paperwork (e.g., last will and testament) and photos. Beyond individual or family preparations, there are approaches and actions that homeowners can undertake to further prepare their homes and yards for wildfires. In particular, preparing the home and yard to withstand an ember shower from an impending wildland fire is recommended. New Mexico State University Extension Animal Sciences & Natural Resources Department Volume 64 March 2015 Where is the ‘opportunity’ for NM Cooperative Extension? Although ‘living with fire’ is not necessarily a traditional or typical ‘bread and butter’ type program found within NM Cooperative Extension, there have been and continue to be various efforts to educate stakeholders about ‘opportunities.’ One specific and rather unique example found in NM is Cooperative Extension’s participation in the ‘ag emergency conference calls’ that occur when wildfires are active or likely. These phone calls involve ag stakeholders at the local, county and state levels communicating information and coordinating efforts as they pertain to ag issues and wildfire (e.g., where can displaced livestock be sheltered, what allotments are threatened, who can volunteer to help, etc.). Additional opportunities to engage the wildfire issue include collaborating with ongoing efforts (i.e., no need to reinvent the wheel). However, in some cases, such efforts consist simply of a passive web-based clearinghouse of information. Because of Cooperative Extensions unique structure and location there is an opportunity to have a greater impact. For example, the grass roots tradition of Cooperative Extension could create an opportunity where none existed before, perhaps introduced through the 4-H program. Engaging the Master Gardner program would be another opportunity to tie into an existing network to educate homeowners on how to ‘Firewise’ their yards. Living with fire is an iterative process that is achieved through multiple steps over a number of years. For example, although the individual can prepare relatively quickly as noted above, preparing one’s home, yard, neighborhood, and community takes time, and is best achieved through a local, organized, and persistent effort. This is where the stability, trust, and consistency of Cooperative Extension can have measurable impacts. Time and resources are limited especially when considering the prospect of adding a ‘new’ program. Contact Doug Cram to discuss opportunities to help NM live with wildfire. dcram@nmsu.edu; 575-646-8130 *************

Agriculture Committee advances bill to protect producers from duplicative regulations and permit requirements

Agriculture Committee advances bill to protect producers from duplicative regulations and permit requirements Today, the House Committee on Agriculture approved H.R. 897, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2015. This legislation (H.R. 872 in the 111th Congress and H.R. 935 in the 112th) would clarify Congressional intent regarding pesticide regulation in or near waters of the United States. A 2009 decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit erroneously applied the provisions of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permitting process under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to pesticide applications that were already fully regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). As a result, many farmers, ranchers, water resource boards and public health professionals involved in mosquito control are subject to costly and duplicative burdens providing no quantifiable public health or environmental benefit. The expansion of jurisdictional waters under the Administration's “waters of the United States” proposed rule would likely, and significantly, increase the regulatory cost and burden associated with this court decision on food production costs and mosquito control programs. The Committee on Agriculture and the full House passed this bill during the two previous Congresses, but the Senate failed to act. “Costly and duplicative regulations and permitting requirements on farmers weaken the economy in rural America,” said Rep. K. Michael Conaway, Chairman of the Agriculture Committee. “The money and time that farmers have to spend fulfilling redundant, unnecessary requirements is time and money that can be put to better, more productive use. Making pesticides readily accessible for use is crucial to efficiently protect our nation's food supply and natural resources. Correcting the erroneous court decision that created this duplicative process has been a priority for public health, water resources, and agricultural stakeholders." “It was never the intent of Congress to burden producers with additional permit requirements that would have little to no environmental benefit. This legislation restores Congressional intent and addresses the court’s ruling, alleviating the massive burden of additional permitting requirements. The House has consistently supported this legislation and I hope that the Senate will quickly take action,”Ranking Member Collin Peterson said. "Unnecessary and duplicative federal regulations like this one have made it much more difficult for our family farms to operate," said Rep. Rodney Davis (IL-13), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research. "By simply exerting some common sense, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act will save our farmers from yet another costly mandate and help grow our economy." ###

CONTROLLING ANNUAL GRASSY WEEDS

It that time of year I get call about various annual grassy weeds, including Foxtail, Crabgrass, Rescue Brome grass, Barnyard grass, Goose grass and Sand bur. These can be grouped in to two groups, winter annual grasses and summer annual grassy weeds. Winter annual grasses germinate in the late fall grow through the winter into the spring set seed then die. Summer annual grass do the same but germinate in the spring grow through the summer set seed and die. Winter annual grassy weeds include annual blue grass, rescue brome grass. Most people don’t worry about annual blue grass it is small and a weak competitor so it gets crowed out quickly as the spring warms up, warm turf breaks dormancy. Rescue brome grass is one that was classified as an annual at one time, and behaves like that in more northern latitudes; here it has been reclassified as a short lived perennial or maybe a biannual. At any rate in Eddy County it lives for more than one season. This is the robust green grass in the winter that set a sleeved seed head about now to mid-June. Like all weed the best time to control it is when it is small in late fall and winter. Controls the existing plants by preventing it from setting seed, application of a post-emergent herbicide and a pre-emergent herbicide in the fall. Summer annual weeds include barnyard grass, goose grass, crabgrass, fox tail and sand bur. Seed germination begins in early to mid-spring, when soil temperatures have risen to 55° - 60° F. for about a week. In Eddy County; this is typically late-March through mid-April. Seeds continue to germinate in the summer, and plants are killed by the first frost. Control with a pre-emergent herbicide applied prior to seed germination, and if there is a large seed production from the year before, a second pre-emergent may be helpful 90 to 100 days later. Sand bur will germinate in the middle of winter if the temperature gets warm enough so a post emergent herbicide may be tank mixed with the pre-emergent. Eddy County is un-lucky enough to have four species of fox tail, Green, Giant, Yellow, and Foxtail Barley. They all germinate at different times. They germinate in that order in the spring to late summer. Foxtail Barley is almost a winter annual grass because it germinates in late summer and will stay green into the early spring. If this is your problem a pre-emergent has to be applied every 90 days from spring to fall. Most annual grassy weed are not real good comparators with a health warm season turf grass in the summer but winter annual may take advantage of warm season tur going dormant in the fall. The best weed control is proper turf grass care, good irrigation, fertilizer practices go a long way in keeping out invasive weeds and a much more attractive lawn. Before you rush out to buy an arsenal of chemicals, read and remember this checklist! 1. Identify the weed; 2. Hand pull new weed growth before seeds are formed or clip seed heads and dispose before they are mature; 3. Correct growing conditions to favor desirable turf; 4. Understand common herbicide terms, next week article will be on this; 5. Read herbicide labels, chemical names are found under “Active Ingredients”. 6. Spot treat to limit the amount of pesticides introduced into the environment for post emergent herbicides; 7. Use and integrated weed management program that includes cultural, and mechanical practices; 8. Always remember to read and follow the label directions of any herbicide product you are using! 9. It is perfectly acceptable to have a tolerable level of weeds in a home lawn - really! In this part of the world if it is green a pleasing to the eye it may not be all that bad. Eddy County Extension Service, New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating.

Pecan industry seeks federal marketing order to expand sales, revenue

Western Farm Press By Lee Allen, 3-17-15 Industry taglines help sell products, including “Got Milk?” and “Where’s the Beef?” for example. The tree nut industry has several taglines - “A can a week, that’s all we ask” (Blue Diamond Almonds) and “Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t” (Almond Joy). The pistachio industry focuses its marketing on the nut health properties - “The Power of Pistachios.” Welcome pecans to the marketing fold. “Pecans don’t have to take a backseat to any food commodity in the health arena,” said Texas pecan grower Mike Adams, who serves as the president of the American Pecan Bureau (APB). “The positive features of our commodity need to be better known by the entire world. The story we have to tell is a great one - we’ve just not told it very well.” The APB wants to change the perception of pecans. Shortly after the board was established in 2013 to represent all segments of the industry, APB has consulted with the USDA to possibly create a federal marketing order (FMO) for pecans. According to the organization, “An FMO was deemed the appropriate solution to raise sufficient funds to support and sustain a comprehensive marketing effort with an anticipated positive impact similar to the successes of almonds, walnuts, and pistachios.” Adams said, “It works for others and our consensus is that this is the best route for us to go. We’re recommending to stakeholders that we move forward.” According to the APB President, the order would involve a mandatoryfinancial assessment on handlers, first buyers, and shellers who buy pecans from growers. APB hopes to raise $6 million to $10 million to elevate its marketing efforts. It’s a number similar to the pistachio industry when they expanded their marketing budget from $400,000 to $10 million in 2006-2007. In January, the APB sat down with the Food and Drug Administration to create the details. “Since that time, we’re going to the industry and rolling out the details of the proposed order. In May, we hope to submit the final order to the USDA for approval,” Adams said. Currently, the U.S. produces nearly 300 million pounds of pecans annually in 15 states. Of the total, 36 percent of the nation’s crop is grown in the eastern states; 31 percent in the central region; and 32 percent from western states. The APB is discussing the FMO proposal with producers and others in the pecan food chain. “We’re trying to do this project right by listening to the folks in the field,” Adams explained. “They need to feel like they have a stake in this and will benefit from it. “Although it isn’t a done deal until the referendum is passed, perhaps as early as September 2016, we’re making headway and positive momentum is in our favor.” Arizona pecan grower and sheller Bruce Caris is the executive vice-president of Green Valley Pecan Company. He favors the establishment of the marketing order. Green Valley is possibly the largest pecan grower in the world and one of the world’s top five pecan processors. “There’s strength in unity,” Caris said. “This federal marketing order would raise funds to create awareness and promote our product worldwide.” He added, “The focus of these dollars would create recognition of the health and nutritional benefits of pecans in the U.S., as well as work to open up new markets in the world.” Pecan production is spread across the country so it’s harder as an industry to come together and decide the best way to market pecans. It may be easier for the almond, walnut, and pistachio industries since all commercial production is located in less than a handful of states. Adams noted, “Marketing works and we want to increase product demand. Our commodity is viewed favorably, and in some cases, preferred to our sister tree nuts.” “We’re a great story to tell and a marketing order will facilitate telling that story with (hopefully) a resulting increase in meat prices for shellers, more net dollars for handlers, and higher farm prices for growers,” Adams concluded.

CATTLE OUTLOOK

CATTLE OUTLOOK – Ron Plain and Scott Brown Ag Economics, MU March 20, 2015 The March cattle on feed report was a bit bullish. It said that February placements were down 8.1% compared to a year ago. February marketings were down 2.1%. This left 0.5% fewer cattle on feed at the start of March than a year ago. The pre-release trade forecasts were for placements to be down 7.0%, marketings down 2.6% and the number on feed down 0.4% on March 1. Domestic beef demand was up 16.3% in February, but foreign demand for U.S. beef was down 13.6%. U.S. beef demand has been above the year-ago level for each of the last 12 months. I would say the strong dollar and the labor problems at west coast docks were the main causes of the weak export demand during January. The growth in domestic demand more than outweighs the decline in export demand. Through the first ten full weeks of 2015, year-over-year beef production was down 2.2%, but the choice beef cutout value was up 10.8% and fed cattle prices were up 31.3%. This morning the choice boxed beef cutout value was $244.38/cwt, up 31 cents from the previous Friday and up $3.55 from a year ago. The select carcass cutout was $244.56/cwt this morning, down 3 cents from last week, but up 61 cents from a year ago. The choice-select price spread has been very tight in recent days. Fed cattle prices were mixed this week on light sales volume. Through Thursday, the 5-area average price for slaughter steers sold on a live weight basis was $161.50/cwt, up 72 cents from last week’s average and up $11.40 from a year ago. The 5 area average dressed price for steers was $255.28/cwt, down $3.81 for the week, but up $15.17 compared to a year ago. Cattle slaughter this week totaled 518,000 head, down 1.1% from the week before and down 10.5% from the same week last year. The average steer dressed weight for the week ending on March 7 was 876 pounds, up 1 pound from the week before and up 18 pounds compared to the same week last year. Steer weights have been above year-ago each week since June 14, 2014. Feeder cattle prices at Oklahoma City were as much as $7 higher on calves, but $1 to $3 lower on heavy weight feeders. Prices for medium and large frame #1 steers by weight group were: 400-450# $306-$313, 450-500# $285-$303, 500-550# $275-$295, 550-600# $266-$282, 600-650# $246-$266, 650-700# $236-$250, 700-750# $207.50-$235, 750-800# $202.25-$217.50, 800-900# $186-$204, 900-1000#, $173-$191/cwt. The April live cattle futures contract settled at $158.35/cwt today, up $4.08 for the week. June fed cattle settled at $150.47/cwt, up $5.20 from the previous Friday. August fed cattle gained $4.48 this week to settle at $148.10/cwt. The March feeder cattle contract ended the week at $214.87/cwt, up $1.75 for the week. April feeders settled at $216.20/cwt which is $4.98 higher than the Friday before. The May contract ended the week at $215.40/cwt.

USDA Announces Loan Rates for Rice and “Pulse” Crops

USDA Announces Loan Rates for Rice and “Pulse” Crops WASHINGTON, March 20, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced the 2015 marketing assistance loan rates by region for dry pea, lentils, small chickpeas and large chickpeas (known as “pulses”), and by state for rough rice. Marketing assistance loans provide interim financing to producers so that commodities can be stored after harvest when market prices are typically low to be sold later when price conditions are more favorable. 2015 Rough Rice Loan Rates by State and Class State Long Grain Rice Medium Grain Rice $ per hundredweight (cwt) Arkansas 6.45 6.23 California 6.36 6.59 Louisiana 6.51 6.32 Mississippi 6.62 6.50 Missouri 6.38 6.50 Texas 6.82 6.41 U.S. Average 6.50 6.50 U.S. loan rate applies to all other states.Medium grain includes short grain. Marketing assistance loans for the 2015 rice crop are available through May 31, 2016. The loan rate for long grain whole kernels is $10.22 per cwt; for medium grain (including short grain), $9.63 per cwt; and for broken kernels (all classes), $6.51 per cwt. 2015 Regional Pulse Crop Loan Rates Crop East Region Loan Rate West Region Loan Rate National Loan Rate $/cwt Dry Peas 5.31 5.81 5.40 Lentils 10.40 14.04 11.28 Large Chickpeas 11.28 11.28 11.28 Small Chickpeas 7.43 7.43 7.43 The West region includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington. The East region includes Montana, North Dakota and states not included in the West region. The rate for small and large chickpeas applies to all states and counties. For more information on discounts and premiums applicable to loan forfeitures, contact your local Farm Service Agency office or visit www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/2-lp-grain_r01_a24.pdf Marketing assistance loans were authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past six years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. Since enactment, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

Soin Temp 20 March 2015

Soil Temp was 49 F

2013 Ag Statistics

2013 Eddy County Agriculture It should be noted 2013 was a year of drought as were the preceding 4 years Eddy County = 4,184 square miles 2,677,760 acres Private or deeded land 470,198.64 17.5% State land 583,225.36 21.7% Federal land 1,627,826 60.8% Approximately 75,690 acres with valid water rights. Approximate population 55,471 70.55% Rural areas * 16334 29.44% * not included in Artesia, Carlsbad population Number of farms 551 Land in agricultural productivity 1,141,956 acres Annual precipitation 10.84 inches, 75% of normal Livestock Income Beef cattle 13,100 head $28 million/year Dairy cattle 12,500 head Milk 160 million pounds$30.08 million/year Cows/calves $31.26 million/year Other cattle 21,000 head $37 million/year Sheep 2,159 head $0.08 million/year Meat goats 2,300 head $0.8 million/year Other livestock $0.55 million/year Total livestock $116,334 million/year Crops Alfalfa hay 36,000 acres/226,800 tons $34.8 million/year Other hay 5,200 acres $3.6 million/year Cotton 4,000 acres/7,312,300 lbs $4.06 million/year* * does not include seed value Chile 1,100 acres $0.87 million/year Corn 2,700 acres/86,300 tons silage $1 million/year Pecans (commercial) 4,830o acres $10.7 million/year Pecans (non-commercial) 1,100 acres $7.8 million/year Other vegetables 1,000 acres $4.5 million/year Small grain 2,420 acres $0.082 million/year (wheat, barley, sorghum) 1,100 acres $.5 million/year Green house nurseries $3.2 million/year Cotton gin $5 million/year Total crops $29,235 million/year Grand total $145,569* million/year *2007 $219,892 million 7th in the nation for alfalfa 6th in NM for total ag products sold 934th out of 3,079 counties in the US

NEW CES PUBLICATIONS

Good afternoon, The following new and revised CES publications are now available online in PDF format. Guide Z-309, “Design and Functionality of a Wine Tasting Room,” by Bernd Maier and Cady Mathews http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_z/Z309.pdf Guide B-817, "Juniper Control: Individual Plant Treatments,” by Keith Duncan and Kirk McDaniel http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_b/B817.pdf Guide B-824, "Snakeweed Control: Aerial Application,” by Kirk McDaniel and Keith Duncan http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_b/B824.pdf

Agriculture Committee Advances Bill to Protect Producers from Duplicative Regulations and Permit Requirements

Today, the House Committee on Agriculture approved H.R. 897, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2015. This legislation (H.R. 872 in the 111th Congress and H.R. 935 in the 112th) would clarify Congressional intent regarding pesticide regulation in or near waters of the United States. 
A 2009 decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit erroneously applied the provisions of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permitting process under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to pesticide applications that were already fully regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). As a result, many farmers, ranchers, water resource boards and public health professionals involved in mosquito control are subject to costly and duplicative burdens providing no quantifiable public health or environmental benefit.  

The expansion of jurisdictional waters under the Administration's “waters of the United States” proposed rule would likely, and significantly, increase the regulatory cost and burden associated with this court decision on food production costs and mosquito control programs. The Committee on Agriculture and the full House passed this bill during the two previous Congresses, but the Senate failed to act.
“Costly and duplicative regulations and permitting requirements on farmers weaken the economy in rural America,” said Rep. K. Michael Conaway, Chairman of the Agriculture Committee. “The money and time that farmers have to spend fulfilling redundant, unnecessary requirements is time and money that can be put to better, more productive use. Making pesticides readily accessible for use is crucial to efficiently protect our nation's food supply and natural resources. Correcting the erroneous court decision that created this duplicative process has been a priority for public health, water resources, and agricultural stakeholders."
“It was never the intent of Congress to burden producers with additional permit requirements that would have little to no environmental benefit. This legislation restores Congressional intent and addresses the court’s ruling, alleviating the massive burden of additional permitting requirements. The House has consistently supported this legislation and I hope that the Senate will quickly take action,”Ranking Member Collin Peterson said.
"Unnecessary and duplicative federal regulations like this one have made it much more difficult for our family farms to operate," said Rep. Rodney Davis (IL-13), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research. "By simply exerting some common sense, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act will save our farmers from yet another costly mandate and help grow our economy."

SOIL TEMPERATURE THIS AM

The soil temperature this am was 58 F

WHY DO PEOPLE BLAME FARMERS FOP DST.?

Watch this short video. Funny and it explains my feelings on DST.

http://tvline.com/2015/03/09/daylight-saving-time-last-week-tonight-video/