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Bandera County Courier is published weekly by Gail S. Joiner, 1210 Hackberry St., Bandera, TX 78003. Subscription price $26 per year in Bandera County, TX; $36 per year for other Texas counties; $40 per year out of Texas. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Bandera County Courier, P.O. Box 1704, Bandera, TX 78003. Periodicals Postage pending in Bandera, Texas.

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Farm & Ranch articles in the on-line edition of the Courier:

Update on fever tick quarantine in South Texas	Published May 8, 2008
RLAT May meeting announced	Published May 8, 2008
Pond management program for landowners	Published April 24, 2008
Corn prices not driving higher food costs	Published April 24, 2008
RLAT meeting announced for May	Published April 24, 2008
Extension program addresses liability, oil & gas leases	Published April 24, 2008
TDA to hold regional meeting in Kerrville	Published April 3, 2008
Progress against fever tick continues	Published April 3, 2008
Bandera County Livestock Show annual meeting	Published March 20, 2008
15th Farm Bureau Ag Day hosts 230 county students	Published March 20, 2008
Hometown girl wins at San Antonio Stock Show	Published March 13, 2008
Stopping TTC begins with Lufkin workshop	Published March 13, 2008
Farm Bureau says ‘Thank you Bandera County Fourth Graders’	Published Feb. 28, 2008
Texas Watershed Steward training slated for Brady	Published Feb. 21, 2008
Bandera 4-H meetings set	Published Feb. 14, 2008
Bandera County Farm Bureau commemorates Food Check-Out Day	Published Feb. 14, 2008
Bandera FFA take home Herdsman Award	Published Feb. 7, 2008
Lone Star crop & weather report	Published Feb. 7, 2008
Texas achieves cattle Brucellosis-free status	Published Feb. 7, 2008
Groundwater & eminent domain topics at Saturday TLC conference	Published Jan. 31, 2008
BC Judge Richard Evans talks with local Farm Bureau members	Published Jan. 31, 2008
Deadline looms for NAP insurance application	Published Jan. 31, 2008
Lone Star crop report	Published Jan. 24, 2008
New face of Texas - wildlife v. agriculture	Published Jan. 24, 2008
Foreign investors must report US agricultural land holdings	Published Jan. 24, 2008
Livestock, crop disaster program 2007 eligibility date extended Change includes livestock losses prior to Dec. 31, losses on crops planted for entire 2007 crop year	Published Jan. 24, 2008
Farm Bureau leaders laud passing of Senate farm bill	Published Jan. 10, 2008
Protect yourself when enjoying nature	Published Jan. 10, 2008
Bexar County Extension offers beef cattle course in January	Published Jan. 3, 2008
New BC Farm Bureau members contribute to state growth	Published Jan. 3, 2008
72nd annual BC Stock Show set	Published Jan. 3, 2008
Texas Landowner Councils columns	Farm & Ranch articles published in second half of 2007
Farm & Ranch articles published in the first half of 2007	Farm & Ranch articles published in second half of 2006
Farm & Ranch articles published in the first half of 2006	Farm & Ranch articles published in 2005

Pond management program for landowners By Paul Schattenberg Special to the Courier Published April 24, 2008    A seminar on pond management will be held from 6 pm to approximately 10 pm, Wednesday, April 30, at the Bexar County Texas AgriLife Extension Service office, 3355 Cherry Ridge Drive in San Antonio, Suite 208.     Registration for “Farm Pond Management – A to Z” begins at 6 pm, with the program starting promptly at 6:20 pm.     “With summer coming, this is an excellent time for landowners to be thinking about how to best manage their ponds to optimize their use for recreational and other purposes,” said Nelson Diarte, AgriLife Extension agent for natural resources in Bexar County.     Program topics will include farm pond overview, design and construction, stocking rates, feeding and fertilization, and weed and brush control in and around ponds.     Three general continuing education units will be offered for program participants.     “Besides fishing, ponds provide many practical benefits, from erosion and fire control to livestock watering, irrigation and other applications,” Diarte said. “Knowing about farm pond management benefits not only the landowner but also the surrounding community and area wildlife.”     AgriLife Extension and the Bexar Small Acreage Landowners Task Force sponsor the program.

Corn prices not driving higher food costs By Blair Fannin Special to the Courier Published April 24, 2008    Many are quick to blame high-priced corn for escalating food prices, but the primary catalysts are $100-plus crude and higher overall production costs. Put it all together and it’s hurting the Texas agricultural economy, according to a report by the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University.     Economists with the center, part of Texas AgriLife Research and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, found the underlying force driving change throughout the agricultural industry is more directly related to high energy and production costs – though corn does play a role in some higher food costs.     “Though crop farmers are receiving historically high prices, it’s negative territory for the Texas livestock industry when you factor in how much is being spent by producers to feed those animals and production costs associated with fuel, fertilizer and other inputs,” said Dr. David Anderson, AgriLife Extension economist in College Station.     Farm acreage is receiving pressure as a result of high-energy costs, Anderson said, adding, “Corn and other commodity prices would have to increase (to offset rising energy costs).”     Substantial increases in fertilizer prices led to a 3 million-acre reduction in US planted corn acres for the 2006-2007-crop year, according to the report, “The Effects of Ethanol on Texas Food and Feed.”     “Higher production costs will continue to pressure acres as producers are faced with expensive fertilizer and diesel prices to plant crops,” Anderson said. “This research also supports the hypothesis that corn prices have had little to do with rising food costs. Higher corn prices do have a small effect on some food items.”     Important food items such as bread, eggs and milk have high prices that are affected by higher corn prices, but “fundamental supply and demand relationships in the world have had a larger effect,” Anderson said, adding, speculative fund activities in the futures markets have led to more money in the markets and more volatility.     “That increase in price volatility has encouraged wider daily price move limits,” he said. “The end result has been the loss of the ability to use futures markets for price risk management due to the inability to finance margin requirements.” According to Anderson, the potential exists for even higher corn prices based on historical changes in overall yields. “Fewer corn acres planted in 2008 leaves production susceptible to weather risks,” he said. “Small yield reductions will result in even higher prices.”     The livestock industry has borne most of the costs of high corn prices, the report noted. The structure of the industry has made it unable to pass costs on, either up or down the supply chain.     “The livestock industry is in the middle of this transition, and prices don’t yet reflect the impact of higher costs,” Anderson said.

RLAT meeting announced for May Published April 24, 2008    The next meeting of the Ranchers and Landowners Association of Texas will take place at 6 pm, Tuesday, May 13, at the Silver Sage Corral Senior Activity Center, 803 Buck Creek Boulevard.     Judith McGeary will address “Texans Deserve the Truth about the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).” McGeary serves as executive director of the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FARFA). She formed the group in April 2006 after the Texas Animal Health Commission proposed regulations to make premises registration mandatory in Texas.     McGeary, owner of a small farm, as well as an attorney, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Stanford University. She received her JD from the University of Texas – Austin. She is experienced in administrative law, litigation and appeals.     The meeting is open to the public. For more information, contact Suzie Rathbone at 830-796-8667 or arathbone@indian-creek.net.

Extension program addresses liability, oil & gas leases Published April 24, 2008    Hunting provides supplemental income to many Bandera County landowners.     This benefit, however, brings an added liability for hunter safety. In essence, lease hunting becomes a task in risk management.     A program on landowner liability for hunters will be held from 10 am until approximately 3 pm, Friday, May 2, at the Bandera United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. A catered meal will be served at noon.     Leasing land for oil and gas will be covered in the afternoon session.     Recent drilling activity has made this a hot topic for many landowners. Featured speaker is Judon Fambrough, senior lecturer and attorney at law for the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University.     The program costs $20, which includes materials, refreshments and lunch. RSVPs with payment must be made to the Bandera County Texas AgriLife Extension Office by Friday, April 25.     To reserve a spot and arrange payment, call 830-796-7755. Checks can be made to Bandera SWCD. One CEU will be given to attendees with pesticide applicators licenses.

TDA to hold regional meeting in Kerrville Published April 3, 2008    The Texas Deer Association will hold its Region 4 Meeting, beginning at 10:30 am, Thursday, April 24, at the Inn of the Hills Resort, 1001 Junction Highway, in Kerrville.     The meeting begins at 10:30 am with a “meet and greet,” and lunch follows at 11:30 pm. The business meeting includes elections and a presentation by guest speaker Todd Kercheval, chief of staff for State District 53 Rep. Harvey Hilderbran. Hilderbran serves as chairman for the House Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism.     TDA Members are asked to RSVP for the meeting by calling 210-767-8300.     For more information on TDA, visit www.texasdeerassociation.com or call 210-767-8300.

Progress against fever tick continues By Bob Hillman, DVM Executive Director, Texas Animal Health Commission Published April 3, 2008    A few miles north of the Rio Grande, where spring temperatures climb past 100º, helicopters work with cowboys to gather cattle. Thorny bushes nick kneecaps, dust and manure swirls up noses and down collars and cowboys inspecting, dipping or treating cattle are gritty and soaked with sweat before noon.     For a small contingency of government “hands” and livestock producers on the border, the presence or absence of ticks on cow bellies or deer flanks indicate defeat or victory in the fight against the fever tick, a foreign-origin pest that threatens the health of cattle in the United States.     In mid-March, Bruce Knight, the USDA undersecretary of agriculture for marketing and regulatory programs, traveled to South Texas for a firsthand look at the fever tick situation. He observed gathering and treatment of cattle on premises infested with fever ticks, and discussed fever tick issues with ranchers, USDA and TAHC staff. “We’re fighting a border war against the fever tick,” noted Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas’ state veterinarian and head of the Texas Animal Health Commission, the state’s livestock and poultry health regulatory agency. “I believe Mr. Knight’s visit to the fever tick quarantine area will result in a commitment and dedication of resources necessary to operate successfully the fever tick program.”     In 1943, the US pushed the fever tick across the border. Since that time, a permanent quarantine zone has been maintained along the Rio Grande from Del Rio to Brownsville to deter fever tick re-infestation. However, the tick was never eradicated in Mexico, which serves as a continuous source for reintroduction into US cattle herds.     “Last summer, the pest gained a foothold beyond the 852-square mile permanent, USDA-patrolled fever tick quarantine zone,” said Hillman. “Now the TAHC, USDA and livestock producers are working from the ‘outside in’ to eradicate the tick, a process that may take another 16 to 18 months, if no additional infestations are discovered.”     According to Hillman, because of fever tick infestations, more than 1,000 square miles of ranchland in Starr and Zapata counties and in a contiguous area of Maverick, Dimmit and Webb counties have been temporarily quarantined since last summer. No domestic or exotic livestock capable of hosting the fever tick can be moved from these areas without an inspection, treatment and a permit.     Hillman described the battle against fever ticks as “putting a band aid on a lacerated artery.” On March 19, 2008, USDA announced that $5.2 million would be made available to control outbreaks of fever ticks occurring outside the permanent quarantine zone between Texas and Mexico.     “We are very appreciative that these funds are being provided,” Hillman said, adding, “However, this funding is significantly less than the $13 million requested and will be enough to address only the program’s most dire needs.”     According to Hillman, the funding provided will be utilized efficiently, but will not be sufficient to complete the job.     Up from 40 in 2007, nearly 100 tracts in the permanent and temporarily quarantined areas were identified as having fever ticks. On these pastures, livestock must be examined and treated every 14 to 28 days, depending on the acaracide products used. As an alternative, the animals can be “tick-free” for two consecutive treatments, then transferred under permit from the property, leaving the pasture vacant for at least nine months, with the idea that the ticks will starve. However, the fever tick now successfully adapts to wildlife hosts, so vacating a pasture may no longer be an effective option for “clearing” it of fever ticks.     During the 2007 hunting season, personnel with USDA and TAHC examined 2,300 white tail deer and other wildlife hosts harvested in the quarantined areas. Of the 52 newly designated fever tick-infested tracts in 2007, 23 had fever tick-infested wildlife. Fever ticks were detected on whitetail, fallow, axis and red deer. The pests also were found on aoudad sheep, a species previously not thought to host fever ticks.     “This is disturbing, but not surprising,” said Hillman. “Wildlife host populations are high in these areas. Scientists believe that the fever tick prefers cattle as a host, but when tick populations are unchecked, or cattle hosts are unavailable, the pest infest wildlife hosts.”     Fever tick-infested wildlife complicates eradication. Treatment for free-ranging wildlife is limited to feeding ivormectin-treated corn or drawing animals to ‘four-poster’ stations where they rub against pyrethrin-treated posts, which transfers the chemical to the head, neck and ears of animals and kills the ticks. However, some products require a 60-day withdrawal period, so they can’t be used just prior to or during the hunting season.     “The very success of the fever tick program may be its biggest problem. The USDA’s Fever Tick Force has run for years under-funded, understaffed, but without a whimper. This small crew has held back the tick onslaught for years,” said Hillman.     Fever ticks carry the blood parasite, babesia, which can infect cattle with “cattle tick fever,” causing them to suffer bloody urine, diarrhea, fever and extreme anemia before death. “We either address the fever tick in South Texas, or we could be seeing fever ticks in Oklahoma, Missouri, Virginia, California or other states where the tick would flourish,” said Hillman. “Fever ticks are not just a ‘Texas’ problem. They are a US problem.”

Bandera County Livestock Show annual meeting Published March 20, 2008     The annual meeting of the Bandera County Junior Livestock Show Association will be held Monday, March 31, at 7 pm at the Show Barn in Mansfield Park.     All 2007 paid members of the Bandera County Junior Livestock Show Association are invited to attend. "We encourage others who might have a positive impact on the association to come, observe and get involved," said a spokesman. Membership fees are only $3 for the year.     First item will be the nomination and election of four directors. Board members will also nominate and elect the 2008 officers for the board.     All paid participants attending the meeting will have a chance to voice their comments and concerns regarding the 2008 Stock Show. All statements must be submitted in writing and will be reviewed by the board at their next regular meeting.     For those who cannot make the meeting, written comments may be dropped off at the Bandera County Texas AgriLife Extension Office at Mansfield Park.     For more information, call 830-796-3334.

15th Farm Bureau Ag Day hosts 230 county students Contributed Published March 20, 2008 Farm Bureau President Barbara Mazurek and board member Anton Haner presented the first place award to Harley Fitsgerald from Alkek Elementary in the rooster coloring contest.    Bandera County Farm Bureau held its 15th annual Ag Day March 13 at Mansfield Park with 230 fourth grade students from Bandera, Medina and Utopia schools attending. Teachers, superintendents and high school ag students helped keep things running smoothly for the classes and exhibitors.     Ag Day acquaints area fourth grade students and teachers with the significant contributions farmers and ranchers make in today’s world.     Students observed and sometimes participated in 13 different exhibits. Area farmers and ranchers set up displays ranging from beef by-products, sheep shearing, spinning, horseshoeing and wildlife to bees, soil conservation, and forestry, sawmill and farm machinery along with Bandera Electric Co-op. The children enjoyed the hands-on experience with the Texas Farm Bureau “Ag in the Classroom” Trailer, a mobile learning barn that includes hands-on experience with seven different commodities.     Coloring contest     The Bandera County Farm Bureau sponsored a coloring contest for the fourth graders. They were given a picture of a rooster to color. The Farm Bureau directors had a tremendous task of going thru the many beautiful and brightly colored pictures to choose three winners. The first place winner was Harley Fitzgerald of Alkek Elementary who received a $30 gift card to Wal-Mart.     Second place winner was Brandon Dubois of Medina Elementary, who received a $20 gift card to Wal-Mart.     Third place winner was Kaitlyn Robinson of Medina Elementary, who received a $10 gift card to Wal-Mart.

Hometown girl wins at San Antonio Stock Show Published March 13, 2008    No stranger to being recognized for her hard work and cheerful attitude, Bandera’s Samantha Williams was awarded an $800 check at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo.     The calf scramble was held February 7 at the San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo. Participants were competing for $800 certificates to be used toward the purchase of breeding animals. Those animals will then compete in the 2009 San Antonio Junior Livestock Show. A total of more than 200 certificates were given away this year during the rodeo.     One such winner was Samantha Williams of Bandera. Williams is 17 years old and in the eleventh grade. She is active in Bandera FFA, and plans to purchase a sheep with her prize money. In pursuit of its mission “Helping Youth Today So That Agriculture Can Grow Tomorrow,” the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo has committed more than $79 million to youth education since 1984.

Stopping TTC begins with Lufkin workshop Special to the Courier Published March 13, 2008    “Stop the Trans-Texas Corridor” has become the new battle cry of Texans in the path of the mega-highway set to transect the Lone Star State.     American Land Foundation, Stewards of the Range and TURF will hold a workshop to discuss that topic from 9 am until 3 pm, Monday, March 17, at the Lufkin Pitser Garrison Civic Center in Lufkin.     Thousands of Texas citizens have voiced their opposition to the TTC-69 in public meetings held by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).     However, no one is convinced they are being heard or that they can keep the massive superhighway from being constructed.     However, four cities and school districts have discovered a way to force TXDOT to “coordinate” with them on the TTC-35 and it’s apparently working.     “Utilizing Chapter 391 of the Texas Local Government Code, four rural towns in Bell County formed the Eastern Central Texas Sub-Regional Planning Commission (ECTSRPC), forcing TxDOT to come to them,” stated Fred Grant, attorney and president of Stewards of the Range. Grant has been assisting the four cities and school districts for the past six months.     Since forming last August, the ECTSRPC has held two coordination meetings with TxDOT and one with Region 6 of the Environmental Protection Agency, engaging in over 10 hours of open, in-depth discussions about local concerns.     “We discuss our bus routes, re-routing water lines, the disruption of our emergency services and the taking of 3,500 acres of prime farmland away from our local economy,” said ECTSRPC President Mae Smith, who also serves as mayor of Holland. “Before we formed our commission, we couldn’t get five minutes with anyone at TXDOT. Now, they’re working with us because they’re required to under Chapter 391.”     Along with the team that devised the strategy, several members of the commission will attend the workshop to answer questions.     “If we can get commissions established up and down the I-69 Corridor, we have a real shot at stopping this monster,” noted Hank Gilbert, director of TURF.     Gilbert is slated to speak at the workshop.     The workshop has been designed for city councilmen, county commissioners and other governmental officials, such as members of school and water districts and personnel with emergency services, as well as for citizens who want to be involved in stopping the TTC from destroying local communities and land.     Pre-registration is $20, but the workshop will cost $30 on the day of the event. A workbook and barbeque lunch will be provided.     To register for the workshop, call the American Land Foundation at 800-452-6389, go online at www.Stewards.us, or fax information to 512-365-7931.

Farm Bureau says ‘Thank you Bandera County Fourth Graders’ Published Feb. 28, 2008    Bandera County fourth graders and their teachers recently contributed to the Bandera County Farm Bureau food drive commemorating Food Check-Out Day Feb. 8.     "They freely gave of themselves so that others can have food on their table," said a spokesperson for the Farm Bureau. "The items they each donated were hand delivered to Helping Hands in Bandera to help stock their pantry for others in our county who may be in need.”     Because food is one of the great bargains in the United States, Americans will have earned enough to purchase an entire year’s food supply by Feb. 8, thus the reason Food Check-Out Week is celebrated in Bandera County.     “The fourth graders did a wonderful job helping those who are less fortunate."

Texas Watershed Steward training slated for Brady Published Feb. 21, 2008    Organizers of the Texas Watershed Stewards Program (TWSP) encourage anyone interested in protecting and restoring the health of local creeks and streams to attend a free workshop April 2 from 8 am to 4 pm in the Pilot’s Lounge at Curtis Field in Brady. Curtis Field is located at 3821 U.S. Highway 377 North.     The workshop, sponsored by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and Texas AgriLife Extension Service, will provide a science-based, watershed education to empower individuals to take leadership roles in addressing local water quality impairments.     “Texas Watershed Stewards trained through this program will learn about watershed systems and water quality regulations and monitoring,” said Jennifer Peterson, AgriLife Extension program specialist, College Station. “The training also provides the basic knowledge and tools needed to form a watershed action group to protect and enhance your community water resources.”     The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Upper Colorado River Authority are sponsoring the development of a Brady Creek Watershed Protection Plan. This workshop will focus on water quality in Brady Creek and participants will be better prepared to make decisions on how to manage and protect water resources in their watershed.     The program will offer seven continuing education units in soil and water management for certified crop advisers, seven continuing professional education credits for certified teachers in science, and three continuing education units in the general category to Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide license holders.     The pre-registration deadline is March 28. A meal will be provided. Participants can register online at http://tws.tamu.edu or find more information online at http://www.tsswcb.state.tx.us/managementprogram/txwsp.     For more information, please contact Jennifer Peterson with AgriLife Extension at 979-862-8072 or jlpeterson@ag.tamu.edu or Pamela Casebolt with TSSWCB at 254-773-2250 ext 247 or pcasebolt@tsswcb.state.tx.us.

Bandera 4-H meetings set Published Feb. 14, 2008    Bandera County 4-H Clubs announce their February meetings.     The Bandera Junior and Senior 4-H Club, Pipe Creek 4-H Club and Lakehills 4-H Club will meet Monday, Feb, 18. The Bandera Junior and Senior Club will meet at 7:15 pm at Alkek Elementary Cafeteria. Pipe Creek Club will meet at 7 pm at Hill Country Elementary School, and Lakehills will meet at 7pm at the Lakehills Baptist Church.     The Medina Club will meet at 6 pm, Monday, Feb. 25, at the Medina Community Library on Highway 16 North.     This year, Texas 4-H celebrates its 100th birthday. In 2007, Texas 4-H Clubs Texas reached 628,840 kids.     For more information on the county 4-H program, contact the Bandera County Office of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, 830-796-7755.

Bandera County Farm Bureau commemorates Food Check-Out Day Contributed Published Feb. 14, 2008 On hand at the Bandera County Farm Bureau’s Food Check-Out day were (front to back) Jessie Parks, Director at Helping Hands; Theresa Sparks, BCFB Secretary; Barbara Mazurek, BCFB President; Anton Haner, Farm Bureau Board Member; and Field Representative for BCFB Dennis Dean. Photo by Theresa L. Sparks    Food in America is affordable. In fact, in only just 37 days, the average American will have earned enough disposable income to pay for his or her food supply for the entire year, according to the Texas Farm Bureau.     As a result, the Bandera County Farm Bureau celebrated Friday, Feb. 8, as their Food Check-Out Day. According to the latest statistics compiled by the Agriculture Department’s (USDA’s) Economic Research Service, American families and individuals currently spend, on average, just 10 percent of their disposable personal income for food.     Not only is America’s food supply the world’s safest, but it’s also the most affordable, said Barbara Mazurek, of Bandera County Farm Bureau. “It speaks well of our nation’s increasing standard of living, which would certainly be reduced without the safe, abundant and affordable domestic food supply produced by America’s farmers and ranchers.”     To mark the occasion, the Bandera County Farm Bureau celebrates this year, as in the past, with canned food drives among the county’s fourth grade classes, including Pipe Creek Christian School. The farm bureau provided non-edible items to be given to the students in exchange for their donated food items. These donations were then provided to the Helping Hands of Bandera County. The winning class from each school was rewarded with an ice cream party.     The Bandera County Farm Bureau congratulates all the fourth graders, Pipe Creek Christian School students and their teachers for a job well done. The Helping Hands is very grateful for items donated. After the holidays, the food items are a welcome sight.     The winning classes with the most food collected were     Alkek Elementary, Valerie Rose - 4th grade.     Hill Country Elementary, Janice Ybarra - 4th grade.     Medina Elementary, Megan Asher & Cammie Morgan - 4th grade (tied).     Pipe Creek Christian School, Richard Cobler - Pre-K through 5th grade.     Utopia Elementary, Marilyn Chalmers - 4th grade.

Bandera FFA take home Herdsman Award by Katie Childers, FFA Sponsor Published Feb. 7, 2008    The Bandera FFA won the 2008 Herdsman Award at the Hill District Kerrville Stock Show. The Herdsman Award is a new bumper pool 16- by 5-foot, 3-section CM Trailer sponsored by Back 40 Trailers in Kerrville. The Herdsman award consisted of several different criteria that all FFA and 4-H programs throughout the Hill Country were required to follow while they were showing their livestock projects.     The Bandera FFA members presented a Power-Point presentation about the Bandera FFA Chapter. They also created a decorated display with FFA signs in their livestock area; kept their livestock well-groomed and livestock bedding clean; and properly stored their tack box, feed, water, and electrical equipment. The Bandera FFA members were also caught having a good attitude towards their livestock projects, showing sportsmanship, being leaders and working well with each other on caring for their exhibit.     The following Bandera FFA members worked extremely hard to help make this honor occur – Joseph Burke, Raven Rucker, Samantha Williams, Jordan Carvajal, Gatlin Magee, Nicole Stewart, Alison Winters, Kelsey Striegl, Ben Hevenor, Emily Jennings, Rhiannon Lewis, Kara Quarles and Kurtis Jennings.

Lone Star crop & weather report By Robert Burns Special to the Courier Published Feb. 7, 2008    The following condition reports are compiled from AgriLife Extension agents and officials across the state:     Central - Moisture was short throughout the region with little grazing left for cattle and wildlife. Producers provided supplemental feed and hay. Some counties remain under a burn ban.     Coastal Bend - Small amounts of rainfall were reported. However, much more is needed prior to planting season. Ryegrass and clovers are doing well. Plenty of hay was available, and producers continued to give supplemental feed to livestock due to lack of good grazing.     East - Cool to cold temperatures with light rainfall and sunny days were reported. Many counties noted that winter pasture growth continued to be retarded by low moisture and temperatures. However, other counties reported that winter pastures have active new growth due to recent rainfall. Heavy supplemental feeding of cattle continued. Hay supplies remained excellent, but consumption is very high, which means there's not likely to be as great a surplus of hay as anticipated. Corn toxicity and grass tetany were reported in Henderson County.     North - Soil moisture was adequate to short. Weather conditions were dry and cold with temperatures in the 30s and 40s. Rain is needed for small grain fields. Most winter pastures look good, and grazing conditions are not yet critical. Supplemental feeding of cattle continued. County officials have instituted a burn ban.     Rolling Plains - Dry conditions continued to affect crops and livestock throughout the region. Wildfire danger remained high, and a few small grass fires were reported. Rain is needed in all counties. Producers continued to provide cattle with supplemental feed. Water tanks are getting very low. Due to lack of grazing, livestock producers supplemented with hay and very little winter grass could be seen.     South - Drought-like soil moisture conditions have stressed wheat, oat and ryegrass. Landowners in the western parts of the region received about 0.5 inch of rain as cold fronts moved through the area. Cold fronts slightly damaged tomato fields, but the majority of tomatoes remained on the vine. Spinach harvesting was active. Producers are heavily irrigating onions, carrots and cabbage. Supplemental feeding of livestock continued.     South Plains - Weather remained dry and cold this week, with lows in the teens on several nights. Dryland fields need rain desperately. Pastures and ranges are in poor to fair condition. Frequent cold fronts and cold temperatures at night have increased livestock stress, requiring producers to supplement feeding.     Southeast - Two inches of rain were received, and temperatures remained cold. Prior to the rain, wildfires were reported in grass pastures. Some heavy rains were recorded, with one county receiving four to six inches, which shutdown field preparation work for a good while. Hay feeding activity was heavy. High feed, fertilizer and fuel costs are big concerns among crop and livestock producers.     Southwest - A light drizzle fell over the weekend, which helped reduce the danger of roadside wildfires. Otherwise, the region remained very dry with less than 45 percent of the long-term cumulative rainfall since Aug. 1. The region will need above-average early spring rain to sustain crops planted under dryland conditions. Farmers irrigated heavily. Forage availability is below average as grasses have entered mid-winter dormancy.     West Central - Temperatures were in the mid 20s to the 40s, with no moisture reported, so conditions remained extremely dry. Stock tanks are drying up. Supplemental feeding of livestock is on the rise, but livestock remains in good condition.

Texas achieves cattle Brucellosis-free status Published Feb. 7, 2008    Texas beef and dairy cattle producers, cattle feeders and markets operators achieved a long-sought victory Friday, Feb. 1, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Texas has achieved cattle brucellosis-free status.     For nearly 50 years, Texas cattle producers battled brucellosis, or “Bangs Disease,” the bacterial disease that is caused by Brucella abortus. The disease can cause cows to abort, deliver weak calves or produce less milk. Cattle brucellosis is a zoonotic disease (can be spread from animals to man) that caused significant human disease incidence until the eradication program reduced the incidence of the disease in cattle, and, sanitary practices and pasteurization procedures for milk were implemented to reduce transmission to humans. All other states in the United States are classified brucellosis-free, some for more than 25 years.     “Texas was the last state to achieve the ‘free’ status. We have more herds and more cattle than any other state­14 million at last count. We also had more brucellosis infection to fight. In 1959, when Texas officially joined the national eradication program, we had more than 20,000 of the country’s 100,000 infected herds,” said Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas’ state veterinarian and head of the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), the state’s livestock and poultry health regulatory agency.     “This victory for the cattle industry did not come easily or without hardship,” said Dr. Hillman. “For many cattle producers in the early days of the program, it meant losing a herd with only salvage value payment, or having the herd under quarantine and being unable to sell animals for long periods of time. Some producers’ herds became re-infected. In recent years, infected herds were purchased from owners and depopulated whenever possible, to quickly wipe out infection.”     Dr. Hillman credited the 2006 Brucellosis Eradication Working Group with re-evaluating all aspects of the Texas brucellosis program, in preparation for the USDA review, which was conducted in summer 2007. The group was comprised of about 25 cattle industry members. “I also want to thank TAHC and USDA staff for their long days of testing cattle, consulting with producers, keeping detailed test records, and handling tense situations when herds had to be quarantined. The efforts by the industry, the TAHC and USDA have brought us to a great place---disease eradication.”     “Now we must ensure that the disease is not reintroduced, or if it is lingering undetected, we must find the infection and eradicate it quickly. If two infected herds are detected within the next two years, we could lose this hard-earned, well-deserved status, so we must do everything to protect the health of our herds,” said Dr. Hillman.     “To this end, we must continue testing our cattle at the first-point of concentration and change of ownership for the next couple of years,” said Dr. Hillman. “This procedure is part of the national brucellosis program standard and was included in the program as a means of assuring that states that have just acquired free-status could identify infected herds should the disease have been left undetected in a herd or is re-introduced into a state. Additionally, brucellosis slaughter surveillance will continue for many years to come to assure that the disease is completely eradicated from cattle herds in Texas and other states of the United States.”     “Decades of hard work are now paying off with this incredible accomplishment. I commend the cattle industry of the state and the Texas Animal Health Commission for working together to establish Texas as cattle brucellosis-free,” Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples said.     “Texas ranks first in the nation in the number of cattle and calves and the industry is a $16 billion business for the Texas economy. This new status will positively improve the industry and help our dedicated cattle producers,” Commissioner Staples said.     “Hearing the words ‘cattle brucellosis-free’ is music to the industry’s ears,” said Mr. Ernie Morales, Chairman of the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC). “While in the short term we will have to continue     testing our cattle, there is a tremendous benefit for cattle producers to be able to market their cattle as cattle from a Brucellosis-free state. This status designation will provide cattle producers and trading partners additional assurance that Texas cattle do not pose a disease risk.”     “This tremendous achievement could not have been accomplished without the combined efforts of state and federal agencies and industry,” said Bruce Knight, Under Secretary for USDA’s marketing and regulatory programs mission area. The interim rule declaring Texas as brucellosis free was published in the Feb. 1 Federal Register and became effective upon publication.     “We must now focus our efforts on eradicating brucellosis from the free-ranging elk and bison populations in the Greater Yellowstone Area in order to protect our national cattle herd against future outbreaks of this disease,” said Under Secretary Knight. He said the presence of brucellosis in free-ranging bison and elk in Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park still threatens cattle health in surrounding states.

Groundwater & eminent domain topics at Saturday TLC conference Published Jan. 31, 2008 Stephen I. Adler   Tom Beard   Trey J. Blocker     David K. Langford   Billy Howe    The Texas Land & Water Conference, sponsored by the Texas Landowners Council, will feature five speakers at the Boerne Convention & Community Center Saturday, Feb. 2, from 10:30 am to 4 pm.     Learn about the need for legislation to curb eminent domain abuse and protect groundwater rights. Speakers include Stephen I. Adler, Trey J. Blocker, Tom Beard, Billy Howe and David K. Langford.     Speakers     Stephen I. Adler of Austin’s Barron & Adler LLP represents landowners in takings cases. One of the most experienced eminent domain attorneys in the state, Adler has appeared before the Texas Supreme Court. From 1995 to 1998, he served as chairman of the American Bar Association Real Property Section Condemnation Committee.     Tom Beard, a sixth generation rancher, serves as president of Leoncita Cattle Company in Alpine. In addition, he is a member of the Board of Directors for Davis Mountains Trans-Pecos Heritage Association and chairman of both the Far West Texas Water Planning Group and the Brewster County Groundwater Conservation District.     In addition to practicing eminent domain law at Jackson Walker LLP in Austin, Trey J. Blocker has represented the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association at the state legislature. He was an assistant to Governor George W. Bush, legislative director for several state representatives and chief of staff and general counsel for State Senator Craig Estes. Blocker is a descendant of early Texas cattlemen and trail drivers.     Billy Howe serves as the state legislative director for Texas Farm Bureau in Austin.  Before representing the farm bureau, he worked as a legislative aide and chief committee clerk in the Texas House of Representatives from 1993 to 1999.      A professional conservationist with expertise in water and eminent domain issues, David K. Langford has been designated as executive director emeritus for Texas Wildlife Association in San Antonio. He operates Laurels Ranch in Comfort, which his family has owned since 1851. Langford serves on the South Central Texas Regional Water Planning Group. He is also an award-winning western and nature photographer.     Admission includes lunch catered by Hungry Horse Restaurant. Phone: (512)892-1802

BC Judge Richard Evans talks with local Farm Bureau members Contributed Published Jan. 31, 2008 Judge Richard Evans, seated, center, with Bandera County Farm Bureau board members Photo by Theresa Sparks    Bandera County Judge Richard Evans served the guest of honor at the Thursday, Jan. 17, board meeting of the Bandera County Farm Bureau.     Meeting topics included the bureau’s annual Food Check-Out program and Eminent Domain Reform Bill HB2006, vetoed last year by Governor Rick Perry.     BCFB will sponsor a food drive the first part of February to help needy families in this area through Bandera’s Helping Hands Center. Judge Evans signed an official proclamation designating Feb. 3 through Feb. 9 as Official Food Check-Out Week in Bandera County.     Food Check-Out Week educates children and offers a unique opportunity to focus on America’s food affordability.     Food in America is safe, abundant and reasonably-priced, thanks in large part to America’s productive farmers and ranchers. Consumers are asked to note Food Check-Out Week and join in celebrating the success of American Agriculture.     “The eminent domain reform battle is far from finished,” said Texas Farm Bureau President Kenneth Dierscke in a letter to all county Farm Bureaus.     According to Dierscke, no issue is more important to TFB membership than eminent domain reform. It was TFB’s top legislature priority during the 2007 session of the Texas Legislature and county FB leaders did an excellent job on the issue. It passed the legislature by overwhelming margins in both houses.     Unfortunately, as it is now apparent, Perry vetoed the Eminent Domain Reform Bill HB2006. “Our goal, however, remains unchanged. We will achieve eminent domain reform in Texas,” said a FB spokesman.     When Perry vetoed the legislation, he claimed that he had been urged to do so by local officials. However, his contention made eminent domain reform a local issue.     TFB will survey local officials to find out how they stand on this issue. Results of the statewide survey will be available on the TFB Voice of Agriculture website, www.txfb.org, as well as in local newspapers at a later date.     Evans agreed that local officials, as well as the community at large must be aware of concerns about eminent domain reform.

Deadline looms for NAP insurance application Published Jan. 31, 2008    Producers who need insurance coverage for annual crops planted in spring and who fall under the Noninsured Crop Assistance Program (NAP) have until March 15, to apply for coverage. Coverage will include crops for which the catastrophic level of insurance is not regularly available, said Joel Gourley, executive director for the Kerr-Bandera County Farm Service Agency (FSA).     “Crop insurance is an important risk management tool for producers, but it's not available for all crops. That's why NAP is so important,” said Gourley.     NAP is a federally funded program that provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planting occurs because of natural disasters.     “Producers must apply for coverage before disaster strikes,” said Gourley. “Like regular crop insurance, once an application period closes, the opportunity to obtain coverage is gone.” NAP applications for coverage on the following crops must be filed and service fees paid by March 15, application closing date, including:     • corn-grain, Feb. 1     • millet-forge and graze, March 15     • sorghum-forage, March 15     NAP coverage requires a service fee of $100 per crop, per producer with a $300 cap per county. Out-of-pocket expenses will not exceed $900 for any producer – even if production occurs in multiple counties. Service fees may be waived for eligible limited resource producers.     Crops eligible for NAP coverage are those for which standard crop insurance is not available, and include fruits and vegetables, aqua-culture, pecans, turf grass and forage crops.     Application closing dates vary by crop, and producers should contact the Kerr-Bandera County FSA office at 830-896-4911, Ext. 2, for details. More information on NAP and other disaster assistance programs is available online at www.fsa.usda.gov.

Lone Star crop report Published Jan. 24, 2008    The following condition reports were compiled from AgriLife Extension agents and officials across the state:     Central - The quality of the native pecan crops is high, while a majority of other varieties is poor.     Coastal Bend - Conditions remain dry to very dry. Harvesting of all summertime crops was completed and cool season grasses and clovers were growing well. Livestock producers were supplementing herds with hay and protein.     East - Although some counties received as much as one inch of rain, the entire region needs more moisture. Dry and windy conditions continue to increase the danger of wildfires. Winter pastures were not growing well. High prices have caused producers to cut back on fertilizer and to plant fewer acres than in past years.     Far West - Top soil moisture remains very short to adequate. With dry conditions, the danger of wildfires continues.     North - Soil moisture ranged from adequate to short. Weather was dry and relatively mild with high winds. The pecan harvest neared completion. Hay movement remained sluggish and stagnant. Livestock were in fair to good condition, and winter feeding continued. Several grass fires were reported in the last two weeks. Range and pastures were in fair condition.     Panhandle - Soil moisture ranged from very short to adequate with most areas reporting short to very short. Range conditions are rated mostly fair, though there is a high danger of wildfire. Cattle were in good condition, and supplemental feeding continued.     Rolling Plains - Dry conditions returned to the region. The bumper summer hay crop is being fed at a record pace because of poor range conditions. With pastures beginning to play out, producers are forced to sell off calves earlier than expected or send them to feedlots. Pecan harvest continues.     South - Extremely dry conditions continue throughout the region. For crops such as wheat, spinach, onions and carrots to progress, producers are irrigating if possible. Citrus, sugarcane and vegetable harvesting is still active in the mid-region. Producers prepare for spring planting. Livestock producers are feeding livestock supplements.     South Plains - Weather conditions have remained mild through this past week, with lows in the 20s to 30s and afternoon highs in the 50s and 60s. No chance of precipitation has been forecast for the immediate future. Pastures and ranges were in poor to fair condition. Cattle conditions were mostly fair to good with feeding of supplements continuing.     Southeast - Temperatures were in the 40s - warmer than normal for the season. With almost no rainfall and persistent winds, winter pastures were stressed, forcing producers to begin feeding livestock. Hay consumption increased and producers have put out large amounts of supplement. Numerous wildfires were reported. Prep work for field crops continues, but high diesel and fertilizer input prices are discouraging for producers. Hay growers are searching for fertilizer alternatives.     Southwest - The region remained dry with only about 45 percent of the average long-term cumulative rainfall since August 1. Less than one inch of cumulative rainfall has been received since Oct. 1. Fields were prepared for early spring planting, but subsoil moisture was very low. The region will need above-average early spring rain to sustain crops planted under dryland conditions. Forage availability is below average. Dry roadways and fields increased the potential for roadside fires. Farmers were irrigating heavily. Hunting continued to dominate ranching activities, especially during weekends.     West Central - Very windy conditions with warm days and cold nights continued this week. Soil moisture declined in all counties. Winter small grains were in poor condition due to lack of moisture. Range and pastures also need moisture. Supplemental feeding of livestock continued to increase.

New face of Texas - wildlife v. agriculture By Robert Burns Special to the Courier Published Jan. 24, 2008 Could Cervus axix, Axis deer, and other wildlife be what Texas agriculture is looking for? Photo credit: Martin T. Fulfer, courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife    Conditions in much of the state remain dry, stressing pastures and winter pasture crops. Long-term dry conditions are not just stressing crops, however, the adverse conditions are actually changing the face of agriculture, said Dr. James Gallagher, Texas AgriLife Extension Service wildlife and fisheries specialist based in Uvalde.     According to Gallagher, with rainfall historically low in the grassland savannah region of Texas, commonly called "brush country," wildlife incomes are surpassing those of traditional agriculture operations such as livestock and crops. "Wildlife is more drought-tolerant than other agricultural enterprises - potentially highly profitable," he said.     For example, at the upscale level, hunting packages for deer or quail can bring from $10,000 to $20,000 per hunter, Gallagher added. Of course, to charge those fees, landowners have made large investments, pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars - if not millions - in first-class housing, food services and professional entertainment.     "The input in a wildlife operation can be from nothing to more money than most of us can imagine," Gallagher said. "However, for the average landowner, it takes very low input to achieve a consistent wildlife crop that's available for use by both consumptive and non-consumptive users."     He defined "consumptive users" as hunters, and "non-consumptive users" as wildlife enthusiasts such as bird watchers and photographers.     Gallagher is putting together a conference, tentatively set for mid-August, designed for landowners interested in diversifying into wildlife. Working title for the conference is "Making Dollars and Sense Out of Wildlife."

Foreign investors must report US agricultural land holdings Published Jan. 24, 2008    (Kerrville) – Jan. 17 -- Foreign investors with an interest in agricultural lands in the United States are required to report their holdings and any transactions to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, according to Joel Gourley, Executive Director of the Kerr-Bandera County Farm Service Agency.     "Any foreign person who acquires or transfers any interest, other than a security interest, in agricultural land in the United States is required by law to report the transaction no later than 90 days after the date of the transaction," said Gourley.     Foreign investors must file Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) reports with the Farm Service Agency County Office that maintains reports for the county where the land is located.     “Failure to file a report, filing a late report or filing an inaccurate report can result in a penalty with fines up to 25 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land,” said Gourley.     For AFIDA purposes, agricultural land is defined as any land used for farming, ranching or timber production, if the tracts total 10 acres or more.     Disclosure reports are also required when there are changes in land use. For example, reports are required when land use changes from nonagricultural to agricultural or from agricultural to nonagricultural.     When the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act was signed into law in 1978, the reporting requirement was adopted as part of the same legislation. Data gained from these disclosures is used in the preparation of periodic reports to the President and Congress concerning the effect of such holdings upon family farms and rural communities in the United States.     Gourley added, “Foreign investors must also file a report when there is a change in the status of ownership such as owner changes from foreign to non-foreign, from non-foreign to foreign or from foreign to foreign.”     For more information regarding AFIDA and FSA programs, contact the Kerr-Bandera County FSA office at 830-896-4911 ext 2 or visit the USDA Web sites at www.usda.gov.

Livestock, crop disaster program 2007 eligibility date extended Change includes livestock losses prior to Dec. 31, losses on crops planted for entire 2007 crop year Published Jan. 24, 2008    (Kerrville) - Jan. 17 -– The eligibility criteria for 2007 livestock and crop year losses has been expanded, for farmers and ranchers who suffered recent livestock and/or crop losses caused by natural disasters, announced Joel Gourley, Executive Director for the Kerr-Bandera County Farm Service Agency (FSA).     On Dec. 26, 2007, President George W. Bush signed the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 (2008 Act). The 2008 Act amended the previous Feb. 28, 2007, date and now allows for crops planted for harvest prior to Dec. 31, 2007, to be included for loss purposes under the Crop Disaster Program (CDP). Similarly, under the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and the Livestock Compensation Program (LCP), the 2008 Act extends the date livestock and livestock feed losses could have occurred in a primary or contiguous county named in a Secretarial or Presidential disaster declaration to Dec. 31, 2007.     “This date change does not make 2008 crops planted in 2007 eligible for CDP, however it does benefit farmers in that it expands the eligibility criteria to include crops planted in 2007 that were intended for harvest in the same crop year, and it adds 10 months to the amount of eligible time livestock losses can be considered for the new programs,” said Gourley.     Producers should visit their local USDA Farm Service Agency office to apply for benefits under these new disaster assistance programs, added Gourley.     Sign-up for livestock disaster assistance under LCP and LIP began Sept. 10, 2007. Sign-up for crop disaster assistance under CDP began Oct. 15, 2007, and applies to farmers who suffered quantity losses to their crops. Ending dates for the sign-up period have not yet been determined.     For more information about LCP, LIP and CDP, contact the Kerr-Bandera County FSA at 830-896-4911, ext 2 or online at www.fsa.usda.gov; under “Disaster Assistance Programs.”

72nd annual BC Stock Show set Published Jan. 3, 2008    The 72nd annual Bandera County Junior Livestock Show will be held Thursday, Jan. 10, through through Saturday, Jan. 12, in the Show Barn at Mansfield Park on Highway 16 North. The county stock show is the culmination of many long hours, days, weeks and months of hard work put in by our 4-H and FFA members and their families, according to Bandera County Extension Agent Warren Thigpen, Ag-NR. “The stock show program helps build ‘life skills’ such as time management, record keeping, competition, winning, losing, leadership skills and discipline – just to name a few,” he said.     This year, the show boasts over 650 entries, which includes participation by 4-H and FFA members from throughout the county.     This year’s show schedule is as follows:     Wednesday, Jan. 9     • 7 pm to 9 pm - Swine may arrive     • 7 pm to 9 pm - Ag Mechanic projects must arrive.     Thursday, Jan. 10     • 8 am - Animals start arriving     • 8 am to 10 am - Poultry and rabbits will be weighed and sifted as they are unloaded; all others unloaded and stalled first     • 10 am - All animals in place     • 10 am - Rabbit showmanship     • 10 am - Weigh and sift lambs, goats, cattle and hogs     • 12:30 pm - Judge breeding sheep, followed by market lambs; Sheep Showmanship follows Market Lamb Show     • 1 pm - Judge broilers, followed by turkeys; Poultry Showmanship follows Turkey Show     • 3:30 pm - Judge Angora goats     • 4 pm - Judge dairy goats, followed by meat does     • 5 pm - Judge market goats; Goat Showmanship follows Goat Show     • 6 pm - Judge Ag Mechanic projects     Friday, Jan. 11     • 8 am - Judge breeding hogs, followed by market hogs; Swine Showmanship follows Market Hog Show     • 8 pm - Judge market rabbits, followed by breeding rabbits     • 1 pm - Judge breeding cattle, followed by market steers     • 1 pm - Deadline for exhibitors to notify superintendent which animal they intend to sell, except for steers     • 2 pm - Cattle Showmanship follows Steer Show     • 2 pm - Horse show in rodeo arena     • TBA - Load floored animals; all feeders, handling supplies, etc. should be removed from barn.     Saturday, Jan. 12     • 10:30 am - Buyer registration     • 11 am to noon - Buyer barbecue luncheon     • 11:30 am - Stock show awards     • 12 pm - Livestock auction     • 9 pm - Livestock show dance     Food and drinks will available at the concession stand throughout the stock show and auction. According to BCJLS Stock Show Treasurer Laurie Haynes, Visa and MasterCard will be accepted at the Saturday auction. “We want to make it as convenient as possible for our buyers to support the youth,” she said.     The Bandera County Livestock Show Dance and Silent Auction will be held in the show barn from 9 pm to 1 am, after the Saturday, Jan. 12, sale. Music will be provided by Chris Story and Southern Edge. Proceeds from the dance will benefit the Bandera County 4-H Youth Scholarship program. Those attending the dance are advised to bring their own refreshing adult beverages; set-ups will be available.     “Everyone is encouraged to come out to the show and see some of the best livestock in the Hill Country,” said Thigpen.     For more information, contact the Bandera County Extension Office at 830-796-7755.

Farm Bureau leaders laud passing of Senate farm bill Published Jan. 10, 2008    Bandera County Farm Bureau President Barbara Mazurek joined hundreds of farmers across Texas in commending the Senate's Friday, Dec. 14, passage of a new Farm Bill by a vote of 79-14.     "The Senate's support of this legislation will not only guarantee we will have an effective national farm policy as we address the future, but it also contains important provisions to ensure programs for nutrition, conservation, energy security and support for rural communities," Mazurek said.     "This bill continues many of the programs that have been so successful in the 2002 bill," she added. "We look forward to the conference committee concluding their deliberations in early 2008 so that Texas farmers and ranchers will have a definite direction for a farm bill as they prepare for their 2008 crops."     Lawmakers have pledged to schedule conference committee hearing as soon as the Christmas break concludes. After meeting committee approval, the bill will still need to be signed by President George W. Bush.     According to Mazurek, farm bill passage is an utmost concern for farmers making planting decisions. Many farmers in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, for instance, have already put chemicals on the ground to prepare the fields for next year's crops. Planting should begin within the next two weeks, she indicated.

Protect yourself when enjoying nature Published Jan. 10, 2008    Cooler weather entices thousands of Texans outdoors to enjoy hunting, hiking, camping and other activities.     "But billions of critters that can carry disease-causing germs will be out as well," said Guy Moore, a wildlife biologist with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).     "Outdoor activities bring a greater risk of exposure to diseases transmitted by fleas, ticks and mosquitoes and other animals." Animals can transmit such diseases as hantavirus, anthrax, brucellosis, tularemia and rabies.     Deer can carry anthrax, a bacterium that can cause a severe, life-threatening disease in both humans and animals. Naturally-occurring anthrax infection in people usually involves skin infections. The typical skin lesion is itchy, forming a coal-black scab several days after it appears.     Wild hogs can carry brucellosis, a bacterial disease. Brucellosis symptoms in humans are similar to the flu and may include fever, sweats, headaches, back pain and physical weakness. The disease can cause longlasting symptoms such as joint pain.     Additionally, mice can spread hantavirus infection to people, shedding the virus in droppings, urine and saliva. When these excretions dry, the virus can spread in the air on dust particles. "You can become infected by inhaling dust that contains the virus," Moore said. "Wearing a mask when cleaning cabins, sheds or barns can reduce the risk of coming in contact with hantavirus."     Early symptoms of hantavirus are often flu-like, including fever, fatigue, body aches, vomiting and dry cough. The disease may lead to extreme difficulty with breathing, necessitating hospitalization and respiratory support. About a third of hantavirus infections result in death.     All warm-blooded animals, including humans, are susceptible to rabies. This deadly viral disease is present in many wild animal populations in Texas, especially skunks, bats, coyotes and foxes. People usually are infected with the rabies virus through a bite by an infected animal.     "People should avoid contact with any wild animals, especially injured animals," Moore said. "If you are bitten or scratched by any animal, wild or domestic, contact your physician or local health department to discuss the need for preventive rabies treatment."     Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms begin. The disease can be prevented if a series of shots is given before symptoms appear.     Ticks often are found in wooded, brushy and grassy areas — and on animals. A bite from an infected tick can cause illnesses such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.     Lyme disease infection may cause skin lesions or rash, fever, fatigue, headaches and muscle and joint aches. Untreated, Lyme disease may cause severe damage to joints, the heart and nervous system.     Rocky Mountain spotted fever is characterized by fever and a measles-like rash. It can be rapidly fatal if not treated quickly.     People can get tularemia from the bite of an infected tick; handling infected animals, especially rabbits; eating or drinking contaminated food and water; and inhaling bacterial particles.     Tularemia symptoms may include fever, skin lesions, swollen lymph glands and general discomfort. The infection can be fatal if not treated.     When traveling through an area with ticks, check yourself carefully for them every few hours. Ticks are small, easy to miss and will attach to any part of the body.     In many part of Texas, mosquitoes are a biting nuisance almost year-round, sometimes carrying organisms that cause illnesses such as St. Louis encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis, dengue fever and West Nile infection.     Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain with symptoms including intense headache, high fever, nausea, weakness, muscle tenderness, disorientation and coma. Infections can be fatal.     DSHS offers these suggestions to minimize chances of contracting diseases outdoors: using insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Follow package directions. staying on trails and avoiding areas of overgrown brush and tall grasses. avoiding camping or picnicking near rodent and prairie dog burrows. wearing protective clothing such as a hat, long-sleeved shirt and long pants tucked into boots or socks and donning light-colored clothes so ticks can be easily spotted, refraining from touching antlers, bones, hides or other parts of animals found dead.     "With the exception of West Nile infection, these illnesses are rare," Moore said, adding, " but we'd like to keep it that way. It's better to be safe than sick." He advised anyone who develops symptoms of illness after being outdoors to seek medical attention.

Bexar County Extension offers beef cattle course in January By Paul Schattenberg Special to the Courier Published Jan. 3, 2008    Texas Cooperative Extension in Bexar County will present a three-session beef cattle short course in San Antonio during January.     The 2008 South Texas Beef Cattle Short Course will be held on three consecutive Thursdays, Jan. 10, 17 and 24 – at the VFW Hall, 2219 Frio City Road, said Jerry Warren, Bexar County extension agent for agriculture. The short course is presented in conjunction with the Bexar County Beef Cattle Committee.     “These sessions will cover a wide array of subjects of interest to the cattle producer,” Warren said. “They’re designed to give the producer and others involved in the beef cattle industry a comprehensive overview of current issues relating to the production and maintaining of beef cattle.”     The sessions are free. Registration begins at 6 pm with the seminar starting at 6:30 pm. Each session will last approximately two hours each, and one continuing education unit will be offered for every session attended.     The Jan. 10 session addresses sire types for commercial herds, bull care and cow size, as well as the impact of DNA testing on cattle operations. The Jan. 17 session covers pasture rejuvenation through prescribed burns and aeration, and how types of meat produced may differ from types of meat preferred by the consumer. The Jan. 24 session addresses food plots, weather and hay and factors affecting the nutritive value of foods consumed by cattle, as well as the importance of forage analysis.     A question and answer period will follow each session, Warren said. “These sessions are conducted by experts from throughout the state, so this will be a great opportunity for those involved in the beef cattle industry to learn a lot from those in the know in a relatively short time.”     For more information and to RSVP for any or all of the three sessions, call Annette Pawelek at the extension office at 210-467-6575 by Tuesday, Jan. 8.

New BC Farm Bureau members contribute to state growth Published Jan. 3, 2008    Bandera County Farm Bureau did its part in increasing the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) membership to more than 404,000 member families. “Bandera County Farm Bureau gained 118 members in 2007 for a total of 1,178 members,” said Bandera County Farm Bureau President Barbara Mazurek. “Membership is the strength of our grassroots organization and the strength of Texas agriculture – at the county or state level.”     Across the state, Texas Farm Bureau membership grew to a record 404,735 families in 2007, showing gains of more than 8,000 member families.     Nationally, Farm Bureau membership surpassed the six million mark for the second consecutive year with 6,231,176 member families. The milestone was passed as state Farm Bureau reported 30,838 additional members for Farm Bureau membership in 2007. The TFB is the largest general farm organization in the state.