Author Archives: Dr. Michael "Shane" McLellan
Ag/Timber Tax Exemption Renewal
Texas law requires a person claiming an exemption from sales tax on the purchase of certain items used to produce agricultural and timber products for sale to hold an Agricultural and Timber Exemption Registration Number (Ag/Timber Number). The law also requires the Ag/Timber Number to be renewed every four years on a uniform date, regardless of the date the number was first issued. Persons claiming the agricultural exemption on their purchases already give their supplier an exemption certificate that includes the Ag/Timber Number. Effective Jan. 1, 2016, the… Read More →
District 8 Farm and Ranch Seminar, 8 Hour CEU program
District 8 Farm and Ranch Seminar December 10, 2015 MCC Emergency Services Center 7601 Steinbeck Bend Road, Waco 8 CEU’s: 5 Gen-1 L&R-2 IPM 7:30-8:30 Local Laws and Regulation related to Pesticide Applicators Dr. Shane McLellan, McLennan County Extension Ag Agent 8:30-9:30 Forage Pest Management Dr. Sonja Swiger, Asst. Professor and Extension Entomologist 9:30-10:30 Riparian Watershed Management Ricky Linex, Natural Resource and Conservation Service Wildlife Biologist 10:30 – 11:30 Protecting our Pollinators Mark Dykes, Chief Apiary Inspector, Texas Apiary Inspection Service ** Meal ** 12:00-1:00 Tree and Turf… Read More →
Retaining Volunteer Wheat
From the Desk of Dr. Clark Neely, Small Grains and Oilseed Crop Specialist-Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service A unique situation is unfolding for many wheat producers across the state of Texas this fall, particularly for areas of the Blacklands, which started back in the spring. Torrential spring rains destroyed or otherwise prevented harvest of many wheat acres throughout Texas in 2015 providing a large seedbank of wheat seed in the soil. Once fields were abandoned or insured out, drought quickly set in for much of the summer months,… Read More →
Beneficial Insects
Many different kinds of insects are found in and around our homes, yards and fields. Most of these insects are completely harmless and do provide a valuable service for us. We refer to these insects as beneficials. The majority of beneficials fall into two general categories: parasites and predators. Parasites are usually the immature or larval stages of wasp and flies. Predators are commonly larger than parasites. Predator insects actively seek and capture pest insects. A parasite insect kill only one host during their life while a predator… Read More →
Fall Lawn Care
While our warm season grasses slow their growth this time of year you should continue to mow regularly. Suggested fall mowing heights are one inch for Bermuda, 2-1/2 to 3 inches for St Augustine. In my mixed Bermuda/St. Augustine lawn, I have raised my mower height as high as it will go and I mow often. The nicest well kept lawns are all mowed often. If you don’t want winter weeds in your lawn, I recommend you apply a pre-emerge herbicide on September 1. It’s not too late… Read More →
TSCRA Ranch Gathering, October 1 2015
There will be a sponsored meal on October 1, 2015 at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame-Knox Center from 6-8 pm. The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association will have a brief stocker cattle panel discussion for those attending. To RSVP please call 800-242-7820
BIG Recertification Training, January 6th
On Wednesday, January 6th the McLennan County Extension Office will host the annual recertification program at the Waco Convention Center “Bosque Theatre.” 2 Laws and Regs, 1 IPM, 1 Drift, and 2 General CEU’s will be offered forTDA pesticide license holders. The event will begin with registration at 7:30 am. The fee is $60. All persons interested in participating must contact the McLennan County Extension Office to pre-register (254)757-5180. Local ag vendors will still be on display as part of the Blackland Income Growth Conference /Mid-Tex Farm and… Read More →
Blackland Income Growth Conference, January 5-6
The 2016 BIG Conference will be held January 5-6, 2016 at the Waco Convention Center. On January 5th the ag commodities will be held. Sessions on Forage, Beef, Grain, Cotton, Wildlife, Rural Land Management, Horse, Horticulture and Feeding the World will be offered. There is no pre-registering for the January 5th portion of BIG. Registration will be $20 and open at 8 am at the Convention Center. The previous six years have been at the ExtraCo Events Center and in February. The BIG Conference has been historically held… Read More →
Beef Cattle Browsing for the month of June
In this edition you will find the following: 1. White House Forum on Antibiotic Stewardship 2. How Many Will You Have Left? 3. Trends in Cattle Feeding 4. GMO Beef, Anyone? 5. Effect of Breed/Type on Carcass Traits6. Heat Tolerance & Embryonic Mortality 6. Could There be Flaws in the US Dietary Guidelines 7. Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course Beef Cattle Browsing for the month of June
Sugarcane Aphid Update
Questions have arisen on which insecticides to use on pests other than sugarcane aphid so that the chance of having to also treat for sugarcane aphid does not increase. As more fields in Texas are treated with insecticides for various pests like stink bugs, sorghum midge, caterpillars and sugarcane aphid, we have developed some considerations for choosing insecticides for the different pests. It is also important to treat these “other” pests at their economic thresholds and not withhold treatment out of worry about what sugarcane aphid might do…. Read More →