Farm, Ranch & Garden

Gillespie-Kendall-Blanco County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Ricky Neffendorf, urges producers who want to purchase coverage through the Noninsurable Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) to do so before the sales closing date of September 1, 2011. NAP provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planting occur due to normal disasters. "Purchasing a crop insurance policy is an easy way f ...

Starting in 2012, Quality Counts verification will be required for all youth exhibiting livestock (market and/or breeding) at major livestock shows in Texas (including the Ft. Worth Livestock Show, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Star of Texas Fair in Austin, San Angelo Livestock Show, Sandhills Stock Show in Odessa, State Fair of Texas in Dallas, and Heart O’ Texas Fair in Waco).

Growing vegetables in a drought can be stressful not only for the plants but for gardeners. But there are some solutions, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service horticulturist. "This year in Texas, we are facing a drought, and people are asking about stressed plants," said Dr. Joe Masabni, AgriLife Extension vegetable specialist.

"Failure of the Senate to act before it adjourned for the August recess means the estate tax issue is still in limbo," according to Adrian Schulze, Blanco County Farm Bureau Secretary/Treasurer. If Congress fails to act before January 1, estate taxes will be reinstated with a $1 million per person exemption and 55 percent top rate. "A million dollars isn’t what it used to be,"

Jonathan Schulze bagged this Axis Deer on August 22 at his grandparents ranch in Segovia. Being very proud of it, he is dipping into his savings to have it mounted.

What’s That Weather Doing? In case you are a newcomer to the Texas Hill Country, this has not been our typical Spring, Summer or any season so far this year. We have experienced one of the coolest June and July months ever, and yet another record high August, except for those two teasers Fall days toward the end of the month.

"Gardening for Wildlife" will be the presentation given by Elizabeth McGreevy at the September 18th meeting of the Highland Lakes Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. "By inviting wildlife to seek refuge on our property, the homeowner can watch, enjoy and appreciate wild things up close and personal," said Fred Zagst, vice president of the group and program chairman.

Gardeners assembling their arsenal of weapons for control of weeds next spring should stock up on a good dose of patience. This is especially true for people who do not want to overdose on lawn poisons, but are not exactly sure what to do without them. In addition to patience, add two more things: experimentation and accepting nature’s imperfections.

If you want to try planting bluebonnets that turn Hill Country fields a hue that rivals the sky, make your plans now. But beware — this flower is willful enough to make grown men weep, or at least go gray or bald while trying to coax the blooms out of the soil. Other wildflowers might be a bit easier to grow than bluebonnets are, especially if you follow the directions of John Thomas, founder of Wildseed Farms.

No offense intended to admirers of Romantic poetry, but someone should have planted something in that Grecian urn Keats wrote about ("Ode on a Grecian Urn") in 1819. Then he would have had even more fodder for his pen. Imagine a fine green vine with tiny flowers trailing over the side, and an explosion of blooms and foliage within. For centuries, potted plants – often called by the prettier name "container gardens"