Loose Ends

The Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association is crediting Congressmen Henry Bonilla and Charles Stenholm with securing a recourse loan program for mohair and wool in the agriculture portion of the massive federal omnibus spending bill adopted last week.

"This program will provide funding as well as time for the new marketing strategies the industry is undertaking to take effect and begin to help producers," says TS&GRA president Carl Menzies, Menard.

The program, to be administered by USDA's Farm Service Agency, will provide a one-year interest-free recourse loan for fiscal year 1999 on producer-owned mohair produced during or before that fiscal year. The loan must be repaid at the end of the year. Unlike many crop loans, the loan cannot be satisfied by simply turning over the pledged commodity; producers will be liable for any difference between the loan value and value of product committed.

"We felt we had to find a way to buy some time for our producers so the programs we've been working on could be brought to fruition," says Mohair Council of America executive director Zane Willard. "It is our hope that these programs will give the industry a much-needed boost so we can begin to clear the backlog of adult mohair."

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Applications for the 1999 Marketer Master Program are still being accepted with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service.

Faced with continued reductions in the federal farm income safety net, lower commodity prices and two drouths in three years, producers are scrambling for ways to undergird their agricultural operations. This program is intended to help farmers and ranchers develop successful survival tactics to meet those challenges.

The marketing training consists of 64 hours of intensive instruction, held in four two-day sessions two weeks apart, starting January 6 and 7 at the Amarillo Research and Extension Center, 6500 Amarillo Blvd. West.

There is a $250 registration fee. More information is available from local county Extension agents, Steve Amosson or James Sartwelle III at (806)359-5401.

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The Texas Sheep and Goat Raiser's Auxiliary sponsored a national letter-writing contest to encourage young people to take an interest in writing members of the U.S. Congress. The subject addressed was the effect of environmental regulations on private property rights in the U.S.

Winners are: Jerod Parker, Mt. Pleasant, $1000 scholarship; Kristan Weaver, Rocksprings, $750; Cheryl Tyer, Dickinson, $500.

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Five Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available to both Texas Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) and Texas Department of Agriculture(TDA) certified agricultural pesticide applicators attending a Nov. 13 training session in Fort Stockton's Civic Center. Registration starts at 8 a.m. More information is available from the Fort Stockton Extension Center at (915)336-8585.

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Terrell Baker III recently joined New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service as a riparian management specialist. He will study land issues regarding stream banks and other riparian areas for the Range Improvement Task Force, an NMSU land-use study group.

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The 13th annual Texas Cowboy Poet Gathering will be held Feb. 26-28 on the campus of Sul Ross State University in Alpine. The Gathering is the oldest in Texas and the second oldest gathering in the United States.

The Gathering Showcases cowboy poets, storytellers, singers and dancers in numerous sessions throughout the day with a Friday night campfire session followed by an open session, the Cattle Call. Saturday night there will be a stage show followed by a dance. Educational sessions, the Ballet Folklorica dancers and campfire breakfasts and dinners are also part of the weekend.

Trappings of Texas, the western art and custom cowboy gear show, will open at the Museum of the Big Bend on Saturday.

More information is available from J.J. Tucker at (915)837-8191.

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The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association will hold a horse seminar and branding on Saturday Nov. 21 at the Parker County Sheriff's Posse Arena.

Freeze branding and chipping will be available at reasonable costs for anyone who provides proof of a registered brand and a negative Coggins test. TSCRA members may have one horse branded and photographed at no cost. Members may have additional horses branded for $15 each. Non-members will be charged $25 for each horse branded.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. The Parker County Sheriff's Posse Arena is located on Hwy. 80, just west of Weatherford. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP at (800)242-7820, ext. 192. More information is available from Jody Henderson at (817)332-7064 or H.D. Brittain at (817)599-5088.

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Before winter weather hits, livestock owners should protect their animals by treating poisonous rayless goldenrod plants, advises New Mexico State University.

Rayless goldenrod, also called jimmy weed, is toxic to all animals, but especially affects horses. It causes losses every year in New Mexico.

The plant is native, growing mainly along river valleys and drainage areas in eastern and central New Mexico. It is most abundant on alkali or gypsum soils. To identify it look for a small shrub with several upright branches growing from a stout, woody crown. Stems will be two to four feet tall with clusters of yellow flowers on stem tips from August through October.

Until recently, no good control measures were available for rayless goldenrod. New Mexico State University research and demonstration trials have shown that rayless goldenrod can be controlled with herbicides that contain picloram, metsulfuron or tebuthiuron. The best time to control it is in the fall after bloom but before frost. Tebuthiuron may be used any time of the year.

More information contact your local New Mexico county Extension agents.