Update on Industrial Hemp for Texas—February 2020

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  Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, TAMU Soil & Crop Sciences, Lubbock, TX (806) 723-8432, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu February 10, 2020 USDA & Texas Department of Agriculture Rules Updates In late January USDA approved the Texas Department of Agriculture state hemp plan. This is an important step in the move toward legal hemp in Texas in 2020. What is somewhat surprising is TDA’s public comment period is still open another two weeks to Feb. 10. Does this mean that TDA might make some changes in their approved rules? Possibly. Will… Read More →

Guidelines for 2,4-D Use in Wheat

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Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, Dept. of Soil & Crop Sciences, Texas A&M AgriLife/Texas A&M University, Lubbock, 806-746-6101, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu In 2015 I wrote about sensitivity of small grains—wheat specifically—to 2,4-D products, dicamba, and MCPA. I noted a handy guide from Purdue University that explained the differences between 2,4-D amines and 2,4-D esters, which discussed the pros and cons of these two formulations. You can review that earlier newsletter at https://agrilife.org/texasrowcrops/2015/03/04/24-d-and-sensitivity-in-small-grains/ The link noted there for the Purdue guide is https://mdc.itap.purdue.edu/item.asp?itemID=18343 (or directly from https://www.panna.org/sites/default/files/2,4-D%20Amine%20or%20Ester%202004-Purdue.pdf) 2,4-D and Sensitivity in… Read More →

Fine-tuning dual-use wheat management for forage and grain production

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Morgan N. McCulloch1 and Reagan L. Noland2 1. Agronomy Program Aide, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, San Angelo, TX 2. Assistant Professor & Extension Agronomist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, San Angelo, TX Dual-use wheat management is a common practice to optimize production of wheat as both a forage and grain crop, but Texas producers lack specific management information for this system. When managing wheat as both a forage and/or grain crop, specific grazing intensity immediately prior to jointing (first hollow stem) can influence a tradeoff between forage… Read More →

Current and upcoming options for managing reniform nematode in cotton

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Jennifer Dudak1 and Reagan Noland2 1. Graduate Research Assistant, Texas A&M University 2. Assistant Professor & Extension Agronomist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, San Angelo, TX As the threat of reniform nematodes increases on cotton yields in Texas, so does the need for tools to contend with this pest. A two-part study was initiated to identify the most effective management tools among cotton genetics and nematicides. This is a brief summary of findings from the first year (2019) at three locations across the state with known reniform nematode… Read More →

Update on Industrial Hemp for Texas—January 2020

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  Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, TAMU Soil & Crop Sciences, Lubbock, TX (806) 723-8432, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu January 23, 2020 USDA extended the public comment period by 30 days to conclude in late January. This likely delays final approval of state plans, like Texas, a similar amount. Additional Information from USDA There is additional information from USDA. The overall USDA hemp program information is at https://www.farmers.gov/manage/hemp Some topics will not be relevant for Texas in 2020 but will have potentially favorable implications for hemp in Texas in 2021. Additional… Read More →

Update on Industrial Hemp for Texas—December 2019

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Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, TAMU Soil & Crop Sciences, Lubbock, TX (806) 723-8432, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu December 5, 2019 This is a summary of recent hemp information relevant to Texas in view of 2020 production. As noted in last month’s hemp Row Crops Newsletter update, USDA released final interim rules which Texas Department of Agriculture will use to develop proposed Texas rules. The overall USDA hemp program information is found at https://www.farmers.gov/manage/hemp then through several links there. These federal rules are currently in a 60-day public comment period. After… Read More →

Soil management considerations for upcoming pre-emergence herbicide applications in corn and sorghum

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Many farmers across Texas will be thinking about planting corn in just a couple of months, and sorghum shortly after that. Managing soil for good seed-soil contact and for fertilizer nutrients are common concerns as the time for planting nears, but understanding how the management of soil works into integrated pest management (IPM) programs can be helpful to ensuring the effectiveness of expensive pre-emergence (PRE) herbicide applications as well. There are two concepts presented in this article to consider for how soils effect PRE herbicides. 1. Activity –… Read More →

A Checklist for the 2019-2020 Texas Wheat Crop

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  Submitted by Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, Lubbock, 806-746-6101, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu; December 4, 2019   Essentially all the Texas wheat crop is in the ground. This includes wheat for grazing or grain (or both). Abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions exist across much of central Texas, but fortunately most of the High Plains wheat production region has seen dry conditions alleviate since the end of September. I still have a little wheat left to drill. There are still a few scattered acres likely in the High Plains that… Read More →

Another Update on Industrial Hemp for Texas

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Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomy, TAMU Soil & Crop Sciences, Lubbock, TX (806) 723-8432, ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu October 31, 2019 On Tuesday, October 29 USDA released their interim rules which Texas and other states will now use in crafting their state-specific guidelines for hemp production. I have not read the document yet (161 pages), but it is available at https://www.farmers.gov/manage/hemp then click on “Hemp Production Webpage.” There you will find a link to read or download “Interim Final Rule” in PDF. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension ag law specialist Tiffany Dowell-Lashmet,… Read More →

Dodder Identification in the Texas Panhandle

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Jourdan M. Bell, Agronomist, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension – Amarillo Peter Dotray, Weed Scientist, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension – Lubbock Scott Nolte, Weed Scientist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – College Station Muthu Bagavathiannan, Weed Scientist, Texas A&M AgriLife Research – College Station Dodder (Cuscuta sp.), also commonly known as cuscuta, is a parasitic, leafless, annual weedy vine that is becoming more common across the Texas Panhandle. Dodder has many nicknames, like love vine, witches shoelaces, hairweed, and devilguts. Dodder resembles spaghetti. The vine color… Read More →