Navarro County Ag Update

New County Agriculture Web site

Do you want the latest news about emerging issues, research and programs that are affecting Navarro County agriculture and natural resources? If so, then you need to check out the Navarro Ag Blog online at www.navarroag.blogspot.com This Web site will feature the latest news affecting land and landowners in Navarro County. Log on and check it out.



Beef Quality Assurance Certification is Now Online

Have you ever heard of BQA or Beef Quality Assurance? Well if you haven’t BQA is part of the Texas Beef Quality Producer Program (TBQP) and is designed to promote best management practices for cattle producers in order to optimize the retail beef product and improve consumer confidence. The program uses proven beef quality practices that may just be better methods of doing the same jobs you're already doing. The methods that are recommended provide a safer, more tender and improved food product that makes satisfied beef eaters around the world. According to the Texas Beef Council Web site “The TBQP management strategies ‘prevent’ problems related to quality and safety from ever occurring — rather than correcting them. The main focus of the program is food safety. Eliminating residues, blemishes and foreign objects is critical to maintaining consumer confidence and acceptance of beef as the protein of choice in their diet.” This program can help producers become more efficient, productive and profitable while sustaining the beef industry and beef consumption. Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) is a national effort with 47 states involved. It has now become easier than ever to get BQA certification. Training is now available online at www.bqauonline.org. Producers can go through this in-home training at their own pace and receive essentially the same information as presented in Level I classroom training. This online course also acts as a great refresher or as a tool to educate new ranch employees. Check it out and improve your beef operation today.



Time to Start Planning the Spring Garden

Even though it is still January now is the time to start making plans for the spring garden. Even though the threat of frost remains until the middle of March for Navarro County there is a lot of work to be done on paper. For a successful garden I recommend planning it all out on paper and then working that plan.

There are several things to consider:

• Site Selection: Do you need to do weed control, add organic matter and start working the soil.

• Soil Fertility: Do you know what your soil needs? If you haven’t had your soil tested then consider this as a way of taking the guess work out of fertilizing. Soil testing will provide a detailed, scientific analysis that tells you what the nutrient composition of your soil is and what it might need. Soil bags are available by calling the Extension Office.

• Plant Selection: Consider the types of vegetables you want to grow. If you won’t eat it, then why grow it. Also, make sure you have the space you need for the plants you want. If you can’t get between the rows to work then what is the use.

• Planting Timing: It is no use planting okra in the early spring but don’t wait to late to get those carrots in. For planting dates check out http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/earthkind/ekgarden.pdf and for planting spacing check out http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/home/hmguide.pdf.



Row Crop Update and CEU Seminar

This program will be held Tuesday, Jan. 27 in the Small Fannie Mae Vernon Room at the Navarro County Exposition Center. Cost is $10 to cover the lunch and four CEU’s will be provided (one general, two IPM and one Laws and Regs). The agenda will cover the following: Reading Pesticide Labels, Applying Wastewater Residuals to Improve Soil Fertility, Variety Performance and IPM Applications, Boll Weevil Eradication, Atoxigenic Strains to Manage Alfatoxin in Corn, and Corn, Milo and Small Grains Demonstration Reports. The program will start at 9 a.m. and conclude by 2:30 p.m.

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.

A member of The Texas A&M; University System and its statewide Agriculture Program.

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