Corsicana Daily Sun, Corsicana, Texas

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March 12, 2010

Farmers, ranchers face challenges in 2010

By Derek Scasta Texas AgriLife

Corsicana — The extremely wet conditions that started in September of 2009 have continued to create challenges for Navarro County agricultural producers. Farmers struggled to get wheat planted in the fall and tillage accomplished during winter. This has lead to fewer wheat acres than desired and row crop ground that isn’t quite ready for planting of corn or grain sorghum. Generally, corn is planted in this county starting the last week of February through mid-March.  There have been no reports of any corn acres planted to date. Depending upon weather conditions this may cause a shift in acres from corn to grain sorghum and possibly cotton. However, cotton is looking to be more promising for 2010 (as opposed to 2009) and generally is a consistent option for farmers. Additional, challenges for row crops has been a struggle to fertilize wheat and put out fertilizer for corn ground. 

Beef cattle producers have not dodged weather related issues either. The wet fall prevented planting of winter forage crops for winter grazing. The real challenge has been feeding cattle through the winter. Putting out hay has created mud holes that have yet to dry up as they just seem to get wider and deeper. Feeding cake or cubes is also difficult in the muddy conditions and wastage becomes an issue. Also affecting beef cattle performance is the energy expended by cows trying to keep warm and slopping through mud. Cow herds with adequate nutrition may have still lost condition through February for these reasons, especially those with calves at their side. 

Challenges are nothing new for agricultural producers however. Mother nature has always been a variable that is beyond our control. Producers are very adept at working with the weather conditions at hand and making the most of things.  Even with the wet conditions, producers are hesitant to complain about too much water. This might be for two reasons: First, the other end of the rainfall spectrum is extreme drought and everyone vividly remembers 2006.  Secondly, who in their right mind complains about too much rain in Texas? Hopefully, conditions will improve in the next few weeks and progress in the field can be made.

For those readers not involved in agriculture, make sure that you take the time to appreciate the hard work and challenges conquered by farmers and ranchers. For those readers involved in agriculture, hang in there.

Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, US Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

—————

Derek Scasta is a Texas AgriLife extension agent. He may be reached by e-mail at jdscasta@ag.tamu.edu. Want to “Soundoff” on this column? E-mail: soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com

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