Bahia grass - as a landowner, you'll either love it or you'll hate it.   While Bahia grass has a few good qualities (vigorous growth, erosion control, tolerates various soil types, crowds out weeds), it is almost always unwelcome in the yard and often disliked in the pasture setting.

In the yard, the tall seed stalks, easily recognized by the  V-shaped 2-3" black seed heads on top of a 2' stem, pop up just a few days after mowing.  To make matters worse, the stems are so tough that they will dull a lawnmower blade and reduce your mower's efficiency.  Even without considering the unsightliness of the seed heads, the rhizomes and lower leaves of Bahia presents a less desirable texture and feel in a lawn setting.  It is important to note that while it can be well restrained, complete and permanent eradication of Bahiagrass is not possible.  This is due to the sheer number of seeds that remain viable in the soil for years, and the tenacity of the Bahiagrass root system.

In livestock grazing pastures, the stalks mature quickly, thereby offering a lower nutritive value and palatability than common and improved Bermuda grasses.  The key differences between Bermuda grass and Bahia grass in pasture are illustrated in the photo below.  This is a Kenney-area beef cattle pasture in August 2014. The left section was sprayed with MSM Turf herbicide earlier in the growing season, which very effectively killed out the Bahia grass.  The right side is where the land manager did not spray MSM Turf.  You can see that the healthy stand of Bahia grass on the right has crowded out most of the weeds, whereas on the left the Bermuda has allowed a few wooly croton(aka goat weed) and others to pop up.  However, as you can tell by the color and height, the Bahia section is more mature and less nutritive, while the Bermuda side is more lush and preferred by the cattle.   Taking all of this into account, one could certainly make a reasonable argument for or against Bahia in the pasture setting.

Ready to rid yourself, or your grass at least, of Bahia? For small lawn applications, we have Martin's Top Shot, with the same active ingredient as MSM Turf, in a (2)1.8 ml blister pack which mixes with up to 2 gallons of water to cover 5,000 sq. ft. for under $10.   We have QualPro's MSM Turf available in 2 oz (covers 4-8 acres) and 8 oz (covers 16-32 acres), when used at a rate of .25-.5 oz per acre.  If you'd like a herbicide which will have more residual control, we would recommend a product such as Dow's Chaparral. None of these herbicides require a license for purchase.  With these or any other herbicide, for best results use a good quality surfactant to ensure best leaf absorbency.  For more information on Bahiagrass, pasture management and lawn care, visit the sites below and come see us!

-CK

Clemson Cooperative Extension: Bahiagrass
http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/pests/weeds/hgic2316.html

Smith County Agrilife: East Texas' Love/Hate Relationship with Bahiagrass
http://agrilife.org/smithcountyagriculture/2012/04/23/east-texas-lovehate-relationship-with-bahiagrass/

8 AM  Kids' Painted Birdhouse Judging

            Wooden birdhouses painted prior to event by Pre-K class at Tender Care Learning Center; will be on display & returned to the class afterwards

9 - 10 AM  Fat Cat Contest

             Bring your cat and we'll start weighing in at 9 AM.  Heaviest cat wins $25 gift certificate & bag of treats.  Please bring cat on leash or in carrier for his/her safety.

10 AM - 1 PM   FREE Petting Zoo and Barrel Train Rides

11 AM - 1 PM   Complimentary Hot Dogs & Drinks

1:30 PM   Drawing of Mega "You Pick" Door Prizes

              Need not be present to win; See prizes here

2 PM   Drawing of Grand Prizes

              3 Winners of $1000 Gift Certificates

              Must be present to win!!!

All day Friday & Saturday

May 2 & 3

10% off ALL STIHL Serial Numbered Equipment

Discounts this big are only offered once a year!

Stihl Rep will be on hand for consultation

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BUY 1, GET 1 FREE

PMI Exclusive and Red Flannel Pet Foods

Mix & Match, Lesser Priced Bag Free, Limit 1 Free per household

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Purina Impact Horse Feed

$11.99

All Formulations: 12% Sweet, 12:6+L Pellet, 14:5 Pellet, Forage Extender;  Limit 10 bags per household

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Purina Stocker Grower 14% Cattle Creep

$10.50

Limit 20 bags

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Purina Layena

$12.99

Includes pellets, crumbles, and Omega-3

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Priefert Equipment

Save $50 off every $500 spent

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 New Styles of Muck Boots  20% Off

Xpress-Cool Shoes and Boots

Please join us for our 4th Annual Cattlemen's Stew at the store after hours on Monday, March 3. 
We're excited to host Todd Huebner from Merial who will share the latest in internal parasite control for cattle.  Also, Aaron Novosad from Purina Animal Nutrition will analyze results from a recent calf preconditioning program fed at a local farm.  

We will briefly discuss the Wind & Rain mineral promotion for this year as well as available proof incentive programs.

This meeting offers one Continuing Education Unit in IPM.

It's always a great time for education, good food, and fellowship.  We hope to see you there!

9 Reasons You Should Be Feeding Accuration Blocks to Your Cattle

1.  The Accuration Block is a self-fed molasses-based supplement that complements forage and grass.  Studies show that consumption of the blocks goes up when forage quality goes down, and vice versa.

2.  It will help keep your cows in ideal body condition, which is a main factor in reproductive performance and profitability.  If you aren't already using Body Condition Scoring on your cattle, learn more here. 

3.  Feeding demonstrations in 6 different states and 14 groups of cattle on different forages have shown Accuration blocks can help improve conception rates and calf performance.

4. The Accuration Block incorporates Intake
Modifying Technology, a proprietary technology developed by Purina which encourages snack eating throughout the day, supporting rumen efficiency, addressing nutrient waste and aiding in forage digestion.

5. Cattle will adjust consumption based on individual needs, ranging from .25 to 3.5 lbs per head per day.

6. Research trials showed cattle ate an average of .7 lbs less per day of the Accuration block than the previous product, while maintaining comparable to better body condition.

7. Blocks are superior to cubes, meal, and other hand-fed supplements due to the fact that each individual gets a chance at eating.  With hand-fed supplements, often the meeker cows get pushed out of the way by the bossy, more aggressive cattle.

8.   Because daily feedings are not necessary, producers save time, fuel, and money.

9.  Accuration blocks are available in different forms to fit the needs of the cattle producer, including: 200 lb cardboard-wrapped block, 200 lb plastic tub, and 500 lb block.

For more information, visit www.cattlenutrition.com or http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cattle-news/latest/Purina-Animal-Nutrition-introduces-Accuration-Block-226918971.html.

-CK

As of January 1, 2013, the Texas Animal Health Commission will require that all adult cattle have an approved form of permanent identification in place at the change of ownership(sale).    While nursing calves, steers, spayed females, bulls and heifers under 18 months (unless heifer has calved) are exempt, all other cattle are required to have this identification.   

"A complete list of acceptable identification devices/methods may be found at www.tahc.state.tx.us, but the most commonly used devices include USDA metal tags, brucellosis calfhood vaccination tags, US origin 840 series
Radio Frequency Identification tags (RFID), and breed registration tattoos or firebrands. Producers are encouraged to contact their veterinarian or TAHC to
determine which method of tagging will be best for their operation." - TAHC. 

The USDA metal tags are available at your local extension office. 

For more information, please contact your local extension office (for Austin County call 979-865-3602) or the state office TAHC Traceability Team  at 1-800-550-8242 ext 733. 

Texas Animal Health Comm:  http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/

Most common questions - What you need to know: http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/adt/CattleTraceabilityRule-QA.pdf

To read the full press release from the TAHC: http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/news/pr/2012/2012-10-4_ADTEarTagRule.pdf

   Most cattlemen could give you a list of reasons why they're in the business... but always included is to make a profit.   To do so, bulls, cows, calves and pastures must be managed well and kept in great condition.

    It is also important to maximize the genetic potential of your herd.  One way to do this is to ensure that each of your cows is bred. In recent years more and more research has been done in the area of sustained nutrition.  Cattle that remain in good condition year round experience higher conception rates, breed back sooner, wean heavier calves and experience fewer health problems.   
 
     Our Purina Accuration Range Liquid along with your forage will do a great  job of keeping your herd in good condition.  Accuration Range Liquid is a 32% protein, 10% fat premium liquid product.  Compared to other products, Accuration Range Liquid has a lower moisture content (so you pay for nutrients, not water), better suspension system to keep ingredients from settling out and a higher TDN(Total Digestible Nutrient) value.  

    So how does it work?  You call us to have us deliver a feeder or refill an existing feeder.  Your cows greet the guy who brings the feed, and start licking the thick, molasses-based feed supplement off the wheels of the feeder.  Daily intake will vary according to the quality and quantity of forage in your pasture as well as the cow's current nutrient demand (open or bred, lactaction stage).    Instead of "treating" your cows to cubes every day or two, you're providing them with consistent, high quality nutrition at all times.  You're also saving yourself the drive to town to pick up feed every few days... although you're always welcome to come just visit with us instead!

The primary advantages of this system are:
    (1) cows get the nutrition needed even as forage quality fluctuates through the winter, 
    (2) ALL cows can access it, not just the bossy ones who normally hog the cubes, 
    (3) lower costs of putting out feed compared to hand-feeding cubes.  
     An important key to remember is that cattle on liquid feed still need roughage in their diet.  You cannot feed them this supplement on a dry lot or pasture with no grass, unless you also add hay.  However, in our area this is typically not a problem.
 
     Fall is the prime time to refill or introduce this product to your cows.  Don't wait until they are already losing condition:  it's harder and more expensive to put weight back on than it is to maintain good weight.  Loss of cow body condition means smaller calf crop, weaker and lighter weight calves, and a bottom line of less money at the sale.  This is a product intended to save you money and time while keeping your herd in great shape.  Call or come by to discuss any concerns you may have and get started today!

For more information, visit Purina's Cattle Nutrition page.