Garden Minute - Powdery Mildew

June 1, 2015

This is Jason Lamb with your Gardening Minute.

Powdery mildews are some of the most common diseases worldwide. Almost all plants can be affected by powdery mildew. In New Mexico, powdery mildew is common on roses, euonymus, crape myrtle, lilac, and turf grass as well as many other species.

All powdery mildew fungi produce a white, powdery growth on the surface of affected plant parts. Individual spots may enlarge until the entire leaf, stem or flower is covered with white powder. Any above ground plant part, including fruit are susceptible to infection. Affected parts may be dwarfed, distorted, and curled.

Powdery mildew fungi overwinter on fallen leaves or spores in or on infected plants. In spring, new shoots become infected from old spores. In general, powdery mildew fungi favors high humidity 40-70% in the plant canopy and warm temperatures 60-80ºF.

Growers can use cultural practices to reduce the occurrence of Powdrey Mildew by pruning out infected plant parts, removing fallen leaves, increase air flow by thinning out plants. Contact and systemic fungicides are also available for most plants. However proper timing of applications and thorough coverage are important. 

If you would like more information on treating powdery Mildew please contact the Extension office at 461-0562. This has been your Gardening Minute with Jason Lamb your Quay County Ag. Extension Agent. Where are programs are open to everyone.

(reference NMSU O & T Powdery Mildew)

Garden Minute - Growing Roses

May 19, 2015

This is Jason Lamb with your Gardening Minute.

Roses are one of the most popular garden plants and there are endless
varieties to choose from. The most common types of roses are tea roses,
hybrid teas, floribundas, miniatures, and climbers with the hybrid teas
and floribundas being grown most often.

February to March is the best time to plant bare root roses in New
Mexico and potted roses can be planted anytime during the growing
season. Roses do best in sunny locations with six hours of sun or more
and that are sheltered from strong winds. Roses should be planted in
well-drained, fertile loam soils and watered deep to promote root
development. Soils containing excessive amounts of alkali are not
recommended for Roses.

Hybrid tea roses should be pruned in late winter while floribundas in late
fall. Higher pruning of roses in relation to the ground will produce more
flowers early, while lower pruning produces fewer but bigger flowers
later. Growers should use an open-center system to allow for more
sunlight when pruning.

Cuttings for roses should be cut at least one quarter of an inch higher
than an out facing bud, at a 45 degree angle. Blooms are borne on new
growth so old flowering heads should be removed to permit the new
laterals to develop into healthy flowering wood.

If you would like more information on growing roses please contact the
Extension office at 461-0562. This has been your Gardening Minute
with Jason Lamb your Quay County Ag. Extension Agent. Where are
programs are open to everyone.

(reference NMSU Guide H-165 – Growing Roses)

Cattle Outlook

CATTLE OUTLOOK - Ron Plain and Scott Brown

    Ag Economics, MU   May 29, 2015

The same moisture that is slowing down corn planting in a handful of

states (Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado and Texas all trail their

recent 5-year average planting rate) is contributing to good pasture

conditions in important beef cow producing areas. 71% of pasture was

rated in good or excellent condition in Texas for the week ending May

24, similar to the previous week and higher than any other weekly

reading since September 2007. Oklahoma pastures were 63% good or

excellent, highest since August 2010. Beef cow herd expansion will

continue in earnest with conditions such as these.

Today’s release of the May survey of U.S. consumers by the University

of Michigan indicated a drop in consumer sentiment of 5.4% relative to

April, though the index is still 10.7% above the year ago level. For

the first five months of the year the consumer sentiment index is

averaging a level higher than any year since 2004. The Restaurant

Performance Index was at 102.7 in April, the 26th consecutive month

with a reading indicating expansion for the restaurant industry.

On the international front, U.S. dollar strength continues to

constrain exports. The trade-weighted dollar index against major

currencies has grown again recently, and though it remains below the

levels of March and early April, it is still at a higher level than

any other time since 2003. Monthly meat export data through April will

be released next week.

Fed cattle prices fell for the second week in a row. Through Thursday,

the 5-area average price for slaughter steers sold on a live weight

basis was $158.49/cwt, down $1.49 from last week but still up $14.33

from a year ago. The 5 area average dressed price for steers retreated

$1.95 this week to $249.71/cwt. This remains $18.95 higher than last

year’s dressed price average.

Boxed beef cutout values also declined this week. The cutout value for

choice carcasses this morning was $255.11/cwt, down $5.69 from last

Friday but up $21.79 from a year ago. The select cutout was

$243.57/cwt, resulting in a choice-select spread of $11.54/cwt, down

from $12.80/cwt last week.

Cattle slaughter totaled 525 thousand head this holiday-shortened

week, down 2.8% from the same week last year. Year to date cattle

slaughter trails 2014 by 7.0%. The average dressed weight for steers

slaughtered the week ending May 16 was 867 pounds, down 3 pounds from

last week but 27 pounds heavier than the same week last year.

There was no feeder cattle sale this week at Oklahoma City due to the

Memorial Day holiday.

The June live cattle futures contract closed at $152.50/cwt today, up

38 cents for the week. August fed cattle settled at $151.52/cwt and

October at $153.10. The August feeder cattle contract jumped $4.02 on

the week to end at $223.02/cwt.

July corn closed today at $3.515/bu, down 8.5 cents from last Friday.

CATTLE OUTLOOK - Ron Plain and Scott Brown

CATTLE OUTLOOK! Posted: 15 May 2015 01:23 PM PDT CATTLE OUTLOOK - Ron Plain and Scott Brown Ag Economics, MU   May 15, 2015 The May WASDE gave its first forecast of 2016 production and prices. USDA expects 2016 beef production to be up 1.0% from this year and they expect this year’s beef production to be up 0.1% from last year. Slaughter steers averaged $154.56/cwt live in 2014.  They are looking for prices to be $4-12 higher this year and about the same in 2016 as this year. USDA expects beef imports to decline 9.5% and beef exports to increase 2% in 2016.  This will keep the domestic per capita beef supply very tight and support prices.  USDA is forecasting 2016 per capita beef consumption at 53.9 pounds of retail weight; that will be the lowest since 1952. Fed cattle prices this week were higher on light volume.  Through Thursday, the 5-area average price for slaughter steers sold on a live weight basis was $160.82/cwt, up $1.05 from last week’s average and up $13.87 from a year ago.  The 5 area average dressed price this week for steers was $256.55/cwt, up $1.51 for the week and up $22.49 compared to the same week last year. This morning the choice boxed beef cutout value was $262.69/cwt, up $4.49 from the previous Friday and up $35.97 from a year ago.  The select carcass cutout was $250.52/cwt this morning, up $3.72 from last week and up $33.52 from a year ago. The choice-select price spread is wider than normal at $12.18/cwt. Cattle slaughter this week totaled 569,000 head, up 0.4% from the week before, but down 4.5% from the same week last year. Year-to-date cattle slaughter is down 7.2% and beef production is down 4.9%.  The average steer dressed weight for the week ending on May 2 was 865 pounds, down 1 pound from the week before, but up 25 pounds compared to the same week last year.  Weights have been up for 46 consecutive weeks.  USDA rated 56% of pastures in the 48 contiguous states as being in good or excellent condition on May 10.  That is up from 53% good or excellent last week and 41% good or excellent a year ago.  Feeder cattle prices at Oklahoma City were mostly steady to $3 higher this week.  Prices for medium and large frame #1 steers by weight group were: 400-450# $295-$329, 450-500# $286-$314, 500-550# $272-$299, 550-600# $247.50-$285, 600-650# $240-$256, 650-700# $228.50-$242.50, 700-750# $221-$231.50, 750-800# $213.50-$225.50, 800-900# $192.50-$215.50, and 900-1000#, $189-$201.75/cwt. Cattle futures were higher this week.  The June live cattle futures contract settled at $152.52/cwt today, up $1.02 for the week.  August fed cattle settled at $150.80/cwt, up 98 cents from the previous week. October fed cattle gained 47 cents this week to settle at $151.67/cwt. The May feeder cattle contract ended the week at $219.00/cwt, up $3.13 for the week.  August feeders ended the week 78 cents higher at $218.40/cwt.