The Texas beef cattle herd may be on the path to recovery after reaching its lowest numbers in a decade, say experts from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Rebuilding the herd will depend largely on weather conditions, particularly rainfall and soil moisture to support forage production. Recent rains have improved soil moisture indexes, fueling optimism among producers and leading to spikes in calf prices at local cattle markets.
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While National Snuggle a Chicken Day on January 8th may sound like a heartwarming idea, a Texas A&M AgriLife expert advises caution and awareness when interacting with baby chicks and chickens. Dr. Greg Archer, a poultry specialist, warns of potential health risks, including salmonella and external parasites on these feathered friends. He emphasizes the importance of proper hygiene, sanitary precautions, and gentle handling to ensure the well-being of both chickens and humans.
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Texas ranchers are facing tight hay supplies and rising costs for winter feeding as a result of back-to-back challenging years of drought and hot, dry conditions. While hay supplies have improved compared to the previous year, they are still below pre-drought averages, leading to higher prices for hay. Some ranchers are even shipping in hay from out-of-state due to low availability locally, and experts are emphasizing the need for optimizing hay production in 2024 to alleviate the ongoing challenges faced by producers.
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Jessica Atkin, a graduate student at Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and her colleagues have successfully grown chickpeas in simulated moondust, a groundbreaking achievement. The research aims to address the challenges of growing crops on the moon, where traditional soil with organic nutrients is absent. Atkin’s work involves creating a fertile moondust by leveraging beneficial soil fungi and vermicompost, potentially paving the way for lunar agriculture and sustainable space exploration.
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Emergency management officials in Texas are urging landowners in five counties, including Liberty, Victoria, Montgomery, Lavaca, and Calhoun, to relocate their livestock from flood-prone areas due to the threat of imminent flooding caused by excessive rainfall upstream over the past three days. The runoff from heavy rain is expected to continue, potentially leading to moderate-to-major flood stages in various Texas rivers. To report weather-related damage, residents can use the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT), which helps emergency management officials assess damages and resource needs, although it does not guarantee disaster relief assistance.
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