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One of the most damaging diseases in pecans is pecan scab, caused by the fungus Fusicladium effusum. It infects actively growing tissue, such as stems, leaves and nut shucks, when temperatures are above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity is above 90 percent.

We often think about the bull as the means of introducing new genetics into a beef herd. However, management of the bull (or lack of it) after purchase is often the "Achilles Heel" of cattle production. Failure to pay attention to important management practices affecting the bull often results in reduced calving rates, increased calf mortality, and loss of uniformity and marketability.

Alfalfa stands within the Southern Great Plains are often infested with cotton root rot, causing heavily affected fields to be taken out of production within two to three years.

The days are getting shorter and Fall is in the air. It's Pumpkin Time. I've been growing about 10 acres of pumpkins for several years now and many people are quite curious about growing the crop; so, in this issue I will include a few pumpkin pointers.

Mycotoxins, toxins produced by fungi, are known to negatively affect mammals, birds, and fish. Some of the grain produced this year might have higher levels of mycotoxins due to drought related stresses during seed production.

As we manage the cow herd into the fall and through the winter, our primary focus should be on health and nutrition. These two areas of management determine reproductive performance, which is the number one factor that affects profitability.

Greenbugs are a species of aphid that can reproduce rapidly when the temperature is above 55 degrees. The insects reduce yields by sucking plant juices from the leaves and killing them or potentially transmitting diseases.

Anyone who knew the answer to that could make a lot of money, even in agriculture. We don't know what the future holds for us, but there are people at work trying to shape a few changes and I have the privilege to try and help some of these come about.

It is hard to believe that summer is almost upon us. This has the potential to be a heavy pecan crop year, if the drought has not hurt things too badly. To ensure a good crop, many management decisions need to be considered over the next few months, including proper fertilization and insect and disease control.

Determining the nutrient supplying ability of soils can guide decisions that may make the difference between profit and loss. Technology offers sophisticated electronic tools to manage farming in a site specific manner. Large data files contain soil test results and production records providing information for making accurate electronic decisions.