Sunday, August 17, 1997

Texas peanut crop predicted to be a bumper harvest

By J.T. SMITH / Farm Editor

The best peanut crop in Texas history is on the horizon.

Texas peanut production is expected to increase 18 percent from last year to a record 811 million pounds.

Statewide, the yield is projected at 2,750 pounds per acre, up 150 pounds per acre from last year. Harvested acres also are expected to be 11 percent above last year at 295,000 acres.

A bigger cotton crop, too.

The 1997 Texas Upland cotton crop is expected to total 5 million bales, 15 percent above 1996.

"Harvested acreage is estimated at 5.3 million acres, some 29 percent more than last year when significant acreage was lost to drought and poor stands," said Dennis Findley, state statistician for the Texas Agricultural Extension Service.

Right now, the overall cotton crop in the Abilene region looks good.

The area peanut crop is excellent at this point.

Stocker Cattle Clinic is Aug. 26 at Stamford

A Stocker Cattle Clinic is 5:30 p.m. Aug. 26 at Stamford Farmers and Ranchers Livestock Auction.

The clinic will be hosted by the Haskell and Jones County Extension Service.

Taylor County Ag Agent Gary Bomar, Preston Hollis of Aztec Cattle Feeders, and Texas A&M Extension Economist Stan Bevers will speak.

The program will feature videos on detecting sickness and injection sites. Bevers will explain how to do a break-even analysis on stocker cattle. Hollis will discuss raising the value of one steer above another. Bomar will report on the effects of deep placement of phosphorus on small grain forage production and grain yield.

A sponsored meal will be served. Please respond to either the Haskell or Jones County Extension Service office by Friday so that organizers can plan the meal. You can call County Agent Greg Kaase at Haskell County, (940) 864-2658; or Todd Vineyard, Jones County, (915) 823-2432.

Taylor County Farm Bureau meeting is Saturday

The Taylor County Farm Bureau annual meeting is 6 p.m. Saturday in Wylie High School Cafeteria at 4502 Antilley Road.

Farm Bureau members will adopt policies for the coming year. New officers and directors also will be elected.

Voting delegates to represent Taylor County at the state convention Nov. 30-Dec. 3 in Arlington will be chosen.

All Taylor County Farm Bureau members are invited. All members are eligible to vote or be elected to office.

The Shed will cater a barbecue dinner.

Private applicators training in Sweetwater

The Nolan County Extension Service and the Texas Department of Agriculture are offering training and testing for private applicators at 9 a.m. Thursday in Sweetwater.

The training will be in the Extension Service demonstration room on the third floor of the Nolan County Courthouse.

"This training will meet the requirements for any individual who needs a private applicator's license in order to purchase or use state-limited or restricted-use chemicals," said Zachary Wilcox, Nolan County ag agent.

To register, or for more information, contact Wilcox at (915) 236-6912.

Rehab Club Pig Sale

The Rehab Club Pig Sale is 7 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Wylie FFA Showbarn in Abilene.

Tommy Hays of Merkel and Tommie Jack Stuart of Abilene are the Taylor County area chairmen for this event from which the proceeds help the West Texas Rehabilitation Center.

The Rehab Center provides outpatient service to more than 17,000 disabled children and adults each year.

Those wanting to donate a pig or get more information can call Hays at (915) 928-5794; Stuart at (915) 677-2279; the Rehab Center in Abilene, (915) 691-7290; or the Rehab campus in San Angelo at (915) 949-9535.

Boll weevil board meeting

An open meeting of the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation's board of directors has been slated for 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Holiday Inn-Lubbock Plaza, 3201 Loop 289, South Lubbock, Texas.

The board's agenda will include assessment reports and program updates in three active zones: Southern Rolling Plains (SRP) zone; Rolling Plains Central and South Texas/Winter Garden. In addition, the board will discuss Foundation-specific funding issues and other topics.