Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Gardening Minute – Herb Gardens 3/23/2016




Gardening Minute – Herb Gardens
3/23/2016

This is Jason Lamb your Quay County Ag. Extension Agent with your Gardening Minute. 

Herb Gardens are a great way to add flavor to your meals and great smells to your garden. The most commonly grown herbs in New Mexico are sweet basil, cilantro, savory, mints, and rosemary. 

A one hundred-square foot space is usually sufficient for an average sized family. One side of the garden should be for perennial herbs and the other dedicated to annuals. Herbs can also be scattered around ornamental plants or in decorative planting containers to add aesthetic value.

When plants mature tie stems together in small bundles for curing. Hang them upside down in a dry, shady location. Leaves and flowers can also be dried in a shallow, shaded tray. Once dry, rub the leaves and flowers between your hands to make a powder.

Store dry leaves and flowers in airtight glass containers in the dark. Collect seeds from plants such as coriander, anise and dill by placing dry seed heads in a paper sack and separating seeds by hand.

For more information about herb gardens please contact us at the Cooperative Extension Office at 461-0562. We will be hosting a Weed Management Workshop on March 30th at the Tucumcari Convention Center from 8:30 to 12:30. Please RSVP by March 25th.  This has been your Gardening Minute with Jason Lamb your Quay County Ag. Extension Agent. Where are programs are open to everyone.

Monday, March 21, 2016

COW/CALF CORNER The Newsletter From the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service March 21, 2016



COW/CALF CORNER
The Newsletter

From the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
March 21, 2016

Cattle on feed and early spring
Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist

The latest Cattle on Feed report pegs March 1 feedlot inventories at 10.77 million head, 101 percent of year ago levels.  February marketings and placements were both up year over year partly because of an extra business day in February due to leap year.  Marketings were 105 percent of last year with daily average feedlot marketings equal to year ago levels.  Placements were 110 percent of year ago levels, within a wide range of pre-report expectations.  The placement number is not as bearish as viewed by some.  First, the extra day in February allows more placements during the month.  Secondly, it was compared to a small 2015 value that was nearly five percent under the five year average. Nevertheless, it was up and was the first significant year over year increase in placements in two years.  Larger feeder cattle supplies mean that more cattle will be coming to feedlots and increased year over year placements will likely be the expectation for many months to come. 

Spring started officially last weekend but in numerous ways spring came early and has been evident since February.  Despite a winter storm currently impacting the Northeast, unseasonably warm temperatures have predominated across much of the country recently.  In Oklahoma many trees and plants broke dormancy in February and wheat reached the first hollow stem stage two to three weeks early, prompting large movements of feeder cattle to market in February rather than the more typical early March pull-off date,  These no doubt contributed to the large February feedlot placements and may partially offset some March placements.  March feeder auction totals in Oklahoma so far are also bigger than year ago levels but significantly less of a year over year increase compared to February. There are indications that a significant number of stocker cattle are still on wheat for grazeout due to low wheat prices.  That decision may be reinforced and expanded by the hard freeze over the weekend in northern Oklahoma covering Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings.  Much of the region experienced 15 to over 30 hours of below freezing temps over the weekend. Though crop damage assessment will take several days, the likelihood of damage may prompt additional demand for stocker cattle to graze out wheat.  Stocker cattle grazing out wheat will typically be marketed in May.

Other signs of an early spring have been evident in meat markets.  Boxed beef increased impressively the past two weeks with strength in both middle meats and wholesale ground beef markets suggesting some early grilling demand. The Choice-Select spread bottomed seasonally in mid-February, about a month earlier than usual, and has widened back out to roughly $10/cwt. indicating strong demand for Choice beef.  Beef retail prices increased seasonally in February according to the latest retail data, while retail prices for pork, turkey and broilers all decreased. Easter is early this year, on March 27, and may be impacting seasonal meat demand in March.  Easter occurs in March only once every four or five years on average.  The last time Easter occurred in March was 2013 but the next time will not be until 2024. 

Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services.  References within this publication to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, service mark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement by Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.

Livestock Board quarantines facility following case of equine disease




FOR RELEASE:
March 18, 2016

MEDIA CONTACT:
Katie Goetz
New Mexico Department of Agriculture
575-646-2804 office

Livestock Board quarantines facility following case of equine disease
Equine piroplasmosis affects only horses; unrelated to recent EHV-1 outbreak

(SUNLAND PARK, N.M.) – A private racehorse-training facility in southern New Mexico is under quarantine after a single horse there was confirmed to have a parasitic disease.

The New Mexico Livestock Board imposed the quarantine -- no horses in, no horses out -- at Jovi Training Stables late Friday after one horse there was confirmed to have equine piroplasmosis (EP).  EP is a bloodborne disease transmitted by ticks, or mechanically via improperly sanitized syringes and the like.  Mild forms of EP can appear as weakness and lack of appetite.  More severe signs include fever, anemia, weight loss, swelling of the limbs, and labored breathing.  Death may occur in some cases.
Humans cannot get equine piroplasmosis.  The disease is also unrelated to equine herpesvirus (EHV-1), which recently affected Jovi Training Facilities and other tracks and training facilities in the area.

“It is important to keep in mind that equine piroplasmosis is nowhere near as transmissible as EHV-1,” said Bill Bunce, the executive director of the New Mexico Livestock Board.  “Compared to the EHV-1 outbreak, we are looking at a vastly different scenario here."

Because tick-spread diseases are very uncommon in the dry climate of southern New Mexico, Bunce said "the chances are very good that we are looking at an isolated case."

"To ensure the disease is not widespread and to prevent further risk to the racing industry, we will be completing all regulatory testing and surveillance steps," Bunce added.  "That's in addition to the quarantine that prevents horses from entering or leaving Jovi -- meaning that during the quarantine period, no horses from Jovi will be admitted at Sunland Park Racetrack.”

EP is not considered endemic in the United States, but surveillance of the disease has increased in tandem with the increasingly international nature of horseracing.  As such, the New Mexico Racing Commission requires that quarterhorses at sanctioned racetracks in New Mexico be tested for EP once every two years.

Racehorse owners who have had horses at Jovi recently are advised to contact their veterinarian for medical questions and to contact the Livestock Board for quarantine questions.

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Confidentiality Notice: New Mexico has a very broad public records law. Most written communications to or from state employees are public records. Your e-mail communications may therefore be subject to public disclosure. This e-mail, including all attachments is for the sole use of the intended recipients. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited unless specifically provided under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act.


Confidentiality Notice: New Mexico has a very broad public records law. Most written communications to or from state employees are public records. Your e-mail communications may therefore be subject to public disclosure. This e-mail, including all attachments is for the sole use of the intended recipients. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited unless specifically provided under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act.