Texas Soil and Water Stewardship Week Week highlights the importance of healthy forests PUBLISHED ON APRIL 11, 2021 - Morning AgClips

 

 

 Forest landowners are an important part of Texas agriculture and the stewards of this resource. (robert thigpen, Flickr/Creative Commons)

 

TEMPLE, Texas — The Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, Association of Texas Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Texas A&M Forest Service, Texas Wildlife Association, and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association have partnered to highlight Soil and Water Stewardship Week and the importance of voluntary land stewardship in Texas. The statewide campaign is April 25 through May 2, 2021, and the focus this year is “Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities.”

Forest landowners are an important part of Texas agriculture and the stewards of this resource. They work closely with their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS) district office to implement conservation practices that promote the health and sustainability of forests and forest ecosystems. These privately-owned forests contribute significantly to the Texas economy and provide numerous environmental and social benefits.

If recent events have taught us anything, it is that forests are extremely important. From the unprecedented shortages of daily supplies like toilet paper, to the health benefits of being around trees and nature during stressful times, forests improve our quality of life and our communities.

To truly have a healthy forest, proper management and conservation is needed. Thankfully, many forest landowners in Texas are implementing beneficial conservation practices such as strategic tree plantings, prescribed burning, brush management to remove diseased trees and invasive species, native grass management, wildlife management, and even bee propagation to stimulate pollination. In certain instances, livestock can be included as part of a prescribed grazing plan to strategically manage the leaf litter, soil, and underbrush in a forested area, which can ultimately assist in preventing wildfires. Without these sustainable management practices, problems such as soil erosion, insect and disease outbreaks, invasive species encroachment, declines in biodiversity, and even catastrophic wildfires can occur.

Trees filter air, reduce ambient temperatures, absorb carbon dioxide, and produce oxygen. They help conserve energy by casting summer shade and blocking winter winds. Tree roots hold the soil in place and fight erosion. Trees absorb and store rainwater, reducing runoff and sediments after storms, which also helps recharge groundwater supply and prevent flooding.

Essential products made from trees include paper products and lumber. Trees also offer habitat and food to birds, insects, lichen, fungi, mammals, and reptiles. Finally, trees increase our quality of life through a relaxing effect, reducing stress.

This campaign aims to bring more awareness and support to voluntary land stewardship because the way we manage our resources on private lands directly impacts our forestry resources.

The Texas Soil and Water Conservation Board is proud to collaborate with conservation partners across Texas to promote the importance of land stewardship.

With proper management and the implementation of conservation practices, Texas forest landowners are improving and sustaining healthy forests. These forests not only provide healthy trees for production agriculture but allow for healthy communities of organisms in the soils, healthy communities of wildlife, and in some cases, provides healthy livestock for your own community. Your local SWCD and TFS district office have been assisting forest landowners and agricultural producers with conservation practices for almost 85 and 100 years, respectively.

Partnering organizations in the “Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities” public awareness campaign includes Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas, Ag Workers Insurance, Ducks Unlimited, Earthmoving Contractors Association of Texas, Exotic Wildlife Association, Independent Cattlemen’s Association of Texas, Plains Cotton Growers, Project Learning Tree, San Antonio River Authority, South Texans’ Property Rights Association, Texan by Nature, Texas A&M AgriLife Blacklands Research and Extension Center, Texas A&M Forest Service, Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council, Texas Agricultural Land Trust, Texas Association of Dairymen, Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Texas Conservation Association for Water and Soil, Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Forestry Association, Texas Grain and Feed Association, Texas Grazing Land Coalition, Texas Hemp Growers Association, Texas Independent Ginners Association, Texas Land Trust Council, Texas Logging Council, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Poultry Federation, Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association, Texas Water Resources Institute, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

For more information on “Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities”, please visit www.tsswcb.texas.gov.

–Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board

Texans could see severe weather in April, May By Jennifer Whitlock Field Editor - reprinted from Texas Agriculture Daily - Texas Farm Bureau

 

 

 

Gusty winds blew spring weather across Texas in March, but April and May could bring severe weather, according to Tom Bradshaw, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Fort Worth.

“Wind was the big story during the month of March. That contributed to some breakout of wildfires across the central and western parts of the state. It was also a very dry month with precipitation values well below 50 percent of normal across most of Central, South and West Texas. Really, the Panhandle is the only part of the state that had any kind of appreciable precipitation last month,” Bradshaw said in an interview with the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. “But when we look at the severe weather climatology for the state of Texas, the two months that really stand out are April and May.”

Being prepared for severe weather is important in this volatile time from mid- to late spring.

Bradshaw noted from mid-April through the end of May, Texas often sees an increased frequency of strong frontal passages with supercell thunderstorms forming ahead of the fronts. Dry line activity can form and contribute to the development of large hail and damaging winds. And it also creates potential for tornadoes and flash flooding.

Texans should have a severe weather safety plan in place and be ready to act when there are alerts about severe thunderstorms, tornadoes and flash flood watches or warnings in their area, he said.

A weather watch may be issued hours before a storm develops and indicates conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms or tornadoes. Bradshaw recommends residents continue to monitor the situation and check weather information frequently for updates or changes.

A warning precedes an actual weather event. When a tornado warning is issued, it contains information that lists the cities and towns in the path of a tornado.
Because of the way radars work, however, NWS information says times and locations may be off by minutes or miles, and storms can move unpredictably. So, a warning in one area does not mean residents in nearby locations should drop their guard.

As part of “spring cleaning,” emergency safety plans should be reviewed, and preparedness kits should be inspected.

“Folks need to have their severe weather safety plan dusted off, and they need to be ready to do what they need to do when they receive information about severe thunderstorm or tornado watches or certainly tornadoes or thunderstorm or flash flood warnings for their area,” Bradshaw said.

Meanwhile, the Texas drought monitor still shows extreme drought and exceptional drought in West Texas, Far West Texas and South Texas.

As of March 30, 89 percent of the state was in some stage of drought, according to the United States Drought Monitor. Bradshaw said he hopes traditional April showers will break some of those drought patterns.

“Climatologically, April tends to be a little wetter month for the state of Texas. We are hoping that we’ll see more fronts coming down into the state and forming showers and thunderstorms across the area. But the long-term forecast continues to show below-normal rainfall potential for the state,” he said. “Unfortunately, temperatures are going to be above normal. According to the outlook, once we get into April, you start seeing a lot of 80s and even 90s start creeping into the picture across most of the state toward the end of the month.”

NWS has information on severe weather safety and survival, including steps to take when a watch or warning is issued.

For more information on building an emergency preparedness kit and to learn more about wireless emergency alerts, visit ready.gov.

 

USDA will not mandate RFID tags…yet APHIS will move forward with rulemaking process Anna Miller, WLJ managing editor Mar 26, 2021 Updated Mar 26, 2021

 

 

USDA recently announced radio frequency identification (RFID) tags will not be mandated as the only tag option for interstate movement of cattle and bison, after reviewing public comments from a 2020 proposal. The agency will use the rulemaking process to proceed with their proposal, and therefore the original notice issued will not be finalized. All other approved forms of identification may be used until further notice.

Background

In the spring of 2019, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) quietly announced they would be requiring RFID tags over the traditional metal bangs tags. Producers would have four years to switch to RFID tags, and by January 2023, the tags would be mandatory for moving cattle and bison interstate movement.

USDA announced its decision in the form of a factsheet on its website, not through the standard rulemaking process. The agency removed the factsheet from its website shortly after then-President Donald Trump issued two executive orders in October 2019 to stop federal agencies from imposing rules without following the rulemaking process.

APHIS released a statement on animal disease traceability later that month, stating, “Last April, APHIS posted a factsheet to provide producers with information about the agency’s guidelines and goals related to Animal Disease Traceability [ADT]. Since the factsheet was posted, APHIS has listened to the livestock industry’s feedback.”

However, the agency noted it still believed RFID tags were the best option for cattle and bison producers.

Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF) sued the agency in 2019 upon learning of the factsheet. The group called the regulation an abuse of discretion and a violation of both the Federal Advisory Committee Act and Regulatory Flexibility Act by not involving interested parties or considering effects on small entities.

Last summer, APHIS announced it was seeking public comment on a proposal to require RFID tags for interstate travel by 2023. The comment period closed in October, and on March 23 after reviewing the 944 public comments, APHIS declared they would not mandate the proposal, but would instead use the rulemaking process for future actions related to the proposal.

“APHIS continues to believe that RFID tags will provide the cattle industry with the best protection against the rapid spread of animal diseases and will therefore continue to encourage the use of RFID tags while rulemaking is pending,” the agency said in its announcement.

In response, R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard said, “Today’s announcement is good news for U.S. cattle producers as it means the impending threat of a costly RFID mandate is now removed, but we must not stop defending the rights of producers because it’s clear the agency fully intends to continue efforts to force this costly mandate upon America’s independent cattle producers."

R-CALF was one of many industry groups who submitted comments last year, as did the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). R-CALF urged the agency to revoke the notice.

In NCBA’s comments, then-President Marty Smith said, “NCBA supports the USDA proposal to transition to RFID ear tags as the official identification for currently covered cattle and bison moving interstate.”

However, Smith said while NCBA supports developing a national animal disease traceability system, the organization had concerns with USDA’s proposed transition to the system. Such concerns included increased costs and infrastructure changes, efficient flow of cattle through the supply chain, and data confidentiality.

“NCBA looks forward to working with USDA, APHIS to implement the proposal for RFID technology for official identification of currently covered cattle and bison as well as working together to address the issues that we have raised in our comments,” the comments concluded.

As APHIS considers a rulemaking process related to animal disease traceability and use of RFID tags, the agency said it will continue to share new information and there will be opportunity for public comment during the rulemaking process.

Protect backyard chickens from disease, parasites Bird, flock health critical for production, sustainability PUBLISHED ON March 1, 2021 –Adam Russell Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

 COLLEGE STATION, Texas — With interest in backyard chicken production during COVID-19 increasing the number of small flocks in Texas, experts are advising producers, especially beginners, to focus on the health of their birds for sustainable success.

There are two preventative measures backyard producers can practice to protect their flocks – basic but consistent biosecurity and buying vaccinated birds, said Martin Ficken, DVM, Ph.D., resident director of Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory’s, TVMDL, Sam and Sally Glass Poultry Diagnostic Laboratory, Gonzales.

Chickens face many common diseases and pests, including internal and external parasites, that can negatively impact a flock, he said. But buying vaccinated birds and practicing biosecurity – or procedures and practices that can protect the flock from outside pathogens and pests – can greatly reduce potential problems.

Ficken said he strongly recommends backyard producers establish a relationship with a local veterinarian for consultations regarding diagnosing problems and treatments within flocks.

“We’re here to help but having a local veterinarian who can diagnose the problem and talk you through the options for any number of situations is a valuable component to any backyard producer,” he said. “They can also give you tips on preventing health problems specific to your operation, which is always better than reacting to a problem.”

Backyard chickens in Franklin, Texas. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Laura McKenzie)

Vaccinations prevent disease in backyard chickens

Ficken said flocks should only be started and/or expanded with vaccinated birds from reputable sources.

Buying birds vaccinated for Marek’s disease or inoculating chicks upon hatching is the best way to prevent more than 90% of opportunities for the disease to spread. Marek’s disease can devastate flocks, and Ficken said it is everywhere.

Birds with Marek’s disease become lame or suffer neurological damage that continues to deteriorate, he said. Unvaccinated birds typically become infected within a few weeks of hatching.

“In my mind, every bird is infected within the first few weeks, and you can’t keep it out,” he said. “It’s going to be an issue unless the birds are inoculated, and the inoculations are good for the life of the bird. They’re not 100% effective, but it’s close and it cuts down on problems.”

Ficken said backyard producers can vaccinate their own chickens, but he recommends inoculations within the first day of hatching.

While Marek’s disease is a common and serious threat to backyard flocks, the most common problem is respiratory illnesses typically related to mycoplasmosis, Ficken said. With mycoplasmosis, birds become sick, but infections are not typically fatal unless the animal has or develops secondary issues that compound the illness.

Signs of mycoplasmosis include coughing, nasal discharge, swollen sinuses, conjunctivitis and secondary bacterial infections, Ficken said. Infections are treatable with antibiotics.

Ficken said a common scenario for a mycoplasmosis outbreak is the introduction of asymptomatic birds to an established flock. The birds are introduced without quarantine and shed the disease through bodily fluid and waste for other birds to become infected.

Backyard producers should also monitor for pox lesions, Ficken said. Vaccinations can prevent or put an end to pox outbreaks. The disease is spread by vectors like mosquitoes.

Backyard chickens best practices

Ficken said biosecurity is the best way to protect a flock from an outside pathogen, but that it takes diligence. Exposure to outside pathogens can happen in many ways, including contact with new chickens or wild birds, vectors like mosquitoes or even contact with a pathogen brought in on the bottom of a shoe, clothing or hands of the person tending the flock.

“Biosecurity principles are easy to understand but hard to practice because you can’t make a mistake,” he said. “It’s so easy to walk something in on the bottom of your shoe if you don’t maintain a high degree of scrutiny when it comes to what the flock is exposed to.”

Backyard producers should have dedicated clothes or a pair of coveralls and shoes that are strictly for entering the coop area. They should also practice good hygiene like washing hands before and after entering the coop.

Cleaning the coop and other areas frequented by chickens will also reduce the risk of a pathogen establishing within the flock.

“You have to scrape the litter out eventually because chickens aren’t discriminatory with their droppings,” he said. “A buildup can help amplify problems if birds are shedding a pathogen, and pretty soon you have a full-blown problem. Cleanliness on the ground, perches and nests should be considered part of the biosecurity to maintain the health and welfare of your flock.”

Quarantine new chickens and monitor flock

Ficken also suggests quarantining new chicks and adult birds for three weeks before introducing them to the flock. Monitoring and physically inspecting them for signs of pathogens and tag-alongs like mites could prevent a small problem from becoming a big problem.

External parasites like mites, fleas and lice are easy to catch and treat during quarantine, but also easy to miss if you are not looking, Ficken said. Sulfur dust is a cheap and easy way to keep chickens and frequented areas clear of mites. Topical parasiticides for birds and treatments or pressure spraying the coop may be required for lice, fleas and ticks.

“Treating one bird is much easier than dealing with an infestation that requires treating the whole flock and the areas they frequent,” he said. “But I’ve also seen a lot of examples of how detrimental external parasites can be to bird health and production, even birds dying of anemia due to severe blood-letting.”

Internal parasites are another health issue that can spread through a flock, Ficken said.

Coccidiosis is a common gastrointestinal disease that occurs due to an internal parasite, Ficken said. The pathogen is a single-celled organism that is typically introduced to the flock via the producer’s shoes or equipment used in the coop. The infection spreads as the host bird sheds the disease via fecal matter.  Signs of coccidiosis are diarrhea, listlessness and stunted growth.

A bird that eats heavy rations but still loses weight is a good indication of internal parasites, he said. Diarrhea is another potential sign. There are a number of treatment options for internal parasites, including coccidiosis, available.

More resources

Ficken said Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and TVMDL have numerous resources to inform backyard producers and help them navigate potential problems, but he reiterated that building a relationship with a local livestock veterinarian is one of the best ways to manage your flock.

“The health of your flock is a responsibility from an animal welfare point, but it’s also critical as it relates to the backyard producers’ expectations and goals for the birds,” Ficken said. “Maintaining basic but diligent protocols and procedures when it comes to biosecurity and reducing health risks among the birds is the best way to sustain a flock and ultimately find success.”

Pesticide Awareness Month: Read the label Texas A&M AgriLife expert reminds consumers to educate, protect themselves PUBLISHED ON February 15, 2021 - –Susan Himes Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

 

February is National Pesticide Awareness month and experts remind consumers to read the labels of all categories of pesticides, including cleaning products. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo)

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — You probably wouldn’t buy an unfamiliar food product without looking at the label or take a new prescription without reading the instructions and warnings first. The same care should be exercised when using pesticides, because the label is the law, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, recognizes February as National Pesticide Awareness Month.

AgriLife Extension integrated pest management specialist Janet Hurley encourages the public to take the time to learn how to protect themselves and their families from the potential dangers pesticides can present when misused, mishandled or incorrectly stored.

Pesticides: For more than just ‘pests’

It’s not just about bugs, Hurley said.

“Most people don’t think pesticide safety is something they need to be concerned with,” she said. “But they don’t realize a lot of the chemicals they use day in and day out for cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting — especially now with COVID-19 — those are all pesticides.”

Pesticides are regulated by the EPA and represent a broad category that applies to far more products than the average consumer would imagine. Everything from cleaning products and antimicrobials to herbicides and bug repellents are pesticides.

Read the label, then read it again

Consumers have been encouraged to read food labels for years, but pesticide labels haven’t received the same focus on education, Hurley said.

“The label is there to be read,” she stressed. “It will tell you everything you need to know—the active ingredients, if protective gear is needed, how much and how to use it, and potential dangers.”

She also said that it is necessary to read the label every time, as different brands and formulations can have different active ingredients and application instructions.

“Take disinfecting wipes for an example, it doesn’t matter who makes them or what brand, you must read the label,” Hurley said. “If you’re going to use one to wipe off a countertop that may be okay, but if you’re going to wipe down a large area you need to wear gloves. People need to read the directions and follow them. They don’t all have the same active ingredient.”

Following directions ensures the product is being used in the safest and most effective manner possible. It also means that you are utilizing it in the most cost-effective manner and not wasting product.

More doesn’t equal better

Using more of a product than its labeled usage isn’t going to make it work more effectively and can even be dangerous to people and pets, she said.

Some common home-cleaning mistakes are using products in a closed room with poor ventilation. Some products used together can even cause a deadly chemical reaction.

“Most of these things people just store under their kitchen or bathroom sink and don’t really think about having these things in the reach of children or pets either,” Hurley said.

She said that just as we want to be aware of what we expose our bodies to when it comes to the food we ingest and the water we drink, the same is true for the chemicals we are exposing ourselves to when using pesticides for cleaning, addressing pest issues or working in the garden.

“This isn’t a case where more is better,” Hurley said. “In order to protect ourselves and our environment we have to be aware, and that requires some level of self-education to know what you are using and how to use it.”

A helpful educational website both Hurley and the EPA recommend is the National Pesticide Information Center.

Safety indoors and out

Spring is coming and people are going to want to start doing things in their yards, she said, but it is important to keep best practices in mind inside and outside.

EPA assesses the risks and benefits of all pesticides sold and distributed in the U.S. and requires instructions on each pesticide label for safe use.

The EPA’s best pesticide awareness practices include:

• Storing pesticides in their original containers with proper labels.
• Storing pesticides out of the reach of children and pets, preferably locked up.
• Using the amount specified on the label.
• Washing hands with soap and water after using a pesticide.
• Keeping children and pets from entering sprayed areas until they dry.
• Keeping pesticides away from food and dishes.
• Washing clothes that have been in contact with pesticides immediately and separately from other items.

Global fight against fall armyworm gets Texas boost Texas A&M AgriLife Research looks to guide future control methods PUBLISHED ON February 22, 2021–Adam Russell Texas A&M AgriLife Today

In large numbers, the fall armyworm can be devastating to crops. AgriLife Research will lead a project to identify improved control methods for the now global pest. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo)

 

 

 

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists have declared war on the fall armyworm.

Greg Sword, Ph.D., Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Entomology professor, has received $499,000 to determine fall armyworm behaviors and genomic traits that could aid in controlling the agricultural pests.

The three-year project funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture will be a cooperative effort with the U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists around the country.

The project is titled “An integrative approach to determining fall armyworm population genomics and dispersal.”

Fall armyworms feed on Bermuda grass pasture. Infestations of the pest can cause considerable damage to crops in a matter of hours. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Adam Russell)

Answering unknowns about fall armyworms

The research sprung from studies by Texas A&M University graduate student Ashley Tessnow, who will work on the new project as a postdoctoral researcher. Her doctoral research tracked the genetics of fall armyworm populations as they moved south to north through Texas into a location in Minnesota.

Tessnow studied two distinct strains of fall armyworms as they migrated northward annually during their preferred crops’ growing seasons. These strains of fall armyworms are the same species and morphologically identical, but they prefer different crops. The new research will look at the C-strain, named for its prevalence in corn fields, and the R-strain, named for its identification in rice fields but also known for consuming small grasses like Bermuda.

In addition to different crop preferences, these fall armyworm strains exhibit different behaviors and responses to some chemical insecticides, she said. These two strains occasionally hybridize creating a third “unknown” type of fall armyworm.

Learning more about the behavior and ecology of these fall armyworm strains and their hybrids will be the focus of the new project.

Fortuitous timing as pests spread globally

The timing of the research is fortuitous, Sword said. The fall armyworm has recently become a global invasive agricultural pest, spreading rapidly across Africa, Asia and, most recently, Australia, devastating crops along the way.

In the U.S., the fall armyworm has long afflicted commercial crops such as forage grasses, corn, wheat and ryegrass; it can also be found in gardens and on turfgrass. But despite the armyworms’ history of damage and the global attention, Sword said little is known about the insects’ genetics, population biology and migration throughout the U.S.

Sword said the research could identify improved control methods and specific strategies directed at the individual strains or hybrids.

“We want to know what keeps these two strains distinct, what keeps them separated — whether it’s their preferred diet, reproductive behavior, whether they’re more active at certain times of the night — as well as the genetic makeup and behavioral characteristics of hybrid populations,” Sword said. “We believe this will give us a much better understanding about how to control these different populations throughout their migration.”

Fighting fall armyworms with science and technology

Tessnow, Sword and other researchers will use improved DNA technology to identify key characteristics within the two strains of fall armyworms in the U.S. and hybridized populations. The project will also use population genomics, behavior and stable isotope assays to characterize the relationship between fall armyworm population structures, their mating behavior and their dispersal pattern across the country.

“Enhancing our understanding of these populations may allow us to improve management strategies and minimize our use of chemical insecticides,” Tessnow said.

The project will expand the sampling and genomic identification of fall armyworms as they migrate across the U.S., from California to the Carolinas.

The pest overwinters in South Texas and South Florida, and it migrates north through the central and eastern U.S. and into Canada annually.Notably, this will be the first study that explores the migratory pattern of fall armyworm populations in the western U.S., which have so far been ignored.

Fall armyworms migrate as moths, but it’s the caterpillars that are destructive to a wide range of crops.

The caterpillars got the name because they appear to march across croplands consuming the greenery in their path. They are picky eaters that prefer high-quality, fertilized crops and forages typically found on fields maintained for agriculture production.

These destructive caterpillars are green, brown or black in color and can be identified by the white inverted Y on their head. They can grow up to 1 inch in length. Mature armyworms can consume 85% of their diet in the final two to three days of their larvae stage.

Fall armyworm moths are highly mobile, Tessnow said. They can move almost 1,000 miles in a generation. Additionally, they can lay up to 2,000 eggs that hatch in two to three days. There are four to five generations of fall armyworms per year as they make their seasonal migration.

Tessnow has studied the fall armyworm since 2015. She noticed a lack of understanding in published literature about the distinct strains, their population behaviors, migration patterns and basic ecology.

“It’s a classic story that this pest has been around for so long, but there’s not a lot about it that we know,” Sword said. “That’s why Ashley started work to fill the knowledge gaps. This project expands her work more broadly across the U.S., and we expect it will help growers here and around the world deal with a significant agricultural pest.”

Outbreak control is the goal

The new project kicked off in January with Tessnow gathering 20 gallons of water from regions with different isotopic signatures related to their latitudinal location across the U.S. These isotopes of water are incorporated into the moth’s exoskeleton and can help determine where the caterpillars are originally from.

“The molecular makeup of water varies across latitude, and there are fewer heavy isotopes as you move north,” she said. “So, by taking samples, and growing plants with that water here in College Station, we can determine how these insects incorporate the heavier isotopes into their chitin. We can then compare the isotopic profiles with the wild-caught moths sampled in locations along the migration route to determine which direction the moths are flying, north-to-south or south-to-north.”

Sword said this research will also likely answer another knowledge gap – do generations of fall armyworms migrate south to north only or do they circle back as part of a continuous cycle driven by weather conditions? The isotope profiles associated with latitudinal movement will help the team answer that and other questions related to the pests’ movement, breeding and feeding behaviors.

Potential to mitigate major outbreaks

Tessnow said the potential application of what the research reveals about the fall armyworm will likely have a broad impact to mitigate major outbreaks.

“We’d love to see strain-specific control measures develop based on the specific physiology because there is evidence that these strains respond differently to pesticides and may be better managed if treated as different pests,” she said.

For instance, Sword said, improved control methods for the C-strain that is evolving resistance to Bt corn varieties, which produce proteins toxic to pests, would be a very important discovery.

Sword and Tessnow said they are excited about the prospect for the study and the broad application of what they learn about controlling the now global agricultural threat.

“There is a lot of interest in what we are doing because of the fall armyworm’s impact on agriculture productivity,” Sword said. “It’s been exciting for both of us to be part of research that could make a big difference for our producers here in Texas and across the U.S., but it takes on a different level as a scientist when you’re talking about helping producers around the world.”

Beef Production The 3 Stages of Parturition (Calving)

 

 

Newborn calf to first time mom 40 minutes after calving.  Courtesy of Todd Williams W5 Herefords.

 

By Glenn Selk January 25, 2021

Each year in January, it is time to review and prepare for the most important season in a spring-calving cow operation.  As the calving season approaches, an increased understanding of the parturition process is helpful.  The more we understand about the physiology of the process, the more likely we are to make sound decisions about providing assistance.  Parturition or “calving” is generally considered to occur in three stages. 

Stage 1:  The first stage of parturition is dilation of the cervix.  The normal cervix is tightly closed right up until the cervical plug is completely dissolved.  In stage 1, cervical dilation begins some 2 to 24 hours before the completion of parturition (2 to 6 hours would be most common).  During this time the “progesterone block” is no longer present and the uterine muscles are becoming more sensitive to all factors that increase the rate and strength of contractions.  At the beginning, the contractile forces primarily influence the relaxation of the cervix but uterine muscular activity is still rather quiet. 

Stage 1 is likely to go completely unnoticed, but there may be some behavioral differences such as isolation or discomfort.  At the end of stage one, there may be come behavioral changes such as elevation of the tail, switching of the tail and increased mucous discharge.  Also relaxation (softening) of the pelvic ligaments near the pinbones may become visually evident, giving a “sunken” appearance on each side of the tailhead.  Checking for complete cervical dilation is important before forced extraction (“pulling”) of the calf is attempted. 

Stage 2: The second stage of parturition is defined as the delivery of the newborn.  It begins with the entrance of the membranes and fetus into the pelvic canal and ends with the completed birth of the calf.  So the second stage is the one in which we really are interested.  This is where we find all of the action. 

Clinically, and from a practical aspect we would define the beginning of stage 2 as the appearance of membranes or water bag at the vulva.  The traditional texts, fact sheets, magazines, and other publications that we read state that stage 2 in cattle lasts from 2 to 5 hours. 

Data from Oklahoma State University (Putnam, et al. 1985) and the USDA experiment station at Miles City, Montana (Doornbos, et al, 1984) would indicate that stage 2 is MUCH shorter.  In these studies, assistance was given if stage two progressed more than two hours after the appearance of water bag at the vulva.  The interesting thing about the data was that the heifers calving unassisted, did so in about one hour after the initiation of stage two, and mature cows calved within an average of 22 minutes of the initiation of stage two.  Those that took longer needed assistance.