Sunny days in between rain showers promoted hay production in East Texas. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Robert Burns)

Are you interested in the viticulture industry? Would you like to learn about growing grapes for wine in North Texas? If you answered yes then you might be interested in registering for the North Texas Vineyard Tour. This tour is provided by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and will visit 6 vineyards in Collin and Grayson counties. During the tour you will learn from the owners and wine makers. You must register to attend this event and seating is limited.

Scabiosa or Devils Bit is a very aggressive, invasive broadleaf weed that now covers Collin, Fannin, Hunt and Grayson counties. It will crowd out grasses as it moves in. It is distinguished by the small bluish flower at terminal ends. The plant is 2-3 feet tall with most leaves at the base. It is in bloom from May to June. Normally when you see small patches of it one year, the whole field will be covered two to three years later.

"I encourage all eligible farmers and ranchers to participate in this year's county committee elections by nominating candidates by the August 1 deadline," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "County committees are a vital link between the farm community and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and provide an opportunity to farmers and ranchers for their opinions and ideas to be heard. We have been seeing an increase in the number of nominations of women and minority candidates and I hope that trend continues.”

Open 5D Barrel Race,100% payback, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. July 13 in Fairlie, Texas. Exhibitions, $2 dollars apiece, all money from exhibitions will be added to pot. Open will start at 2:30 p.m. $30 dollar entry fee, with equal payout in each division.

Drought Severity by Climatic Region on 6/14/2013 / Drought is an insidious hazard of nature. It is often referred to as a "creeping phenomenon" and its impacts vary from region to region.

Temple Grandin and Kit Pharo with 16 ranchers on list of speakers

Sale results for June 13, 2013 - 685 head

On Friday, June 21, the Fannin Soil and Water Conservation District is partnering with the Texas Section Society for Range Management to host a Summer Grazing Tour at the Caddo National Grassland near Ladonia, TX. The focus of this meeting is “Enhancing Grasslands through Grazing Management.” Please RSVP to 903-583-9513 x3 if you plan to eat lunch.

Although applications are accepted all year, farmers, ranchers and forestland owners interested in CSP should submit applications by June 14 to their local NRCS office to ensure they are considered for this year’s funding. The deadline was extended from May 31.

Experts say drought, freeze and hail could cause a scramble for wheat seed this fall. (Texas A&M AgriLife Research photo by Kay Ledbetter)

Do you like feeding your livestock hay from August to March? Do you realize you have a choice in this matter? Well, you do. Here is a step by step process which you can follow that will help you make some good decisions for managing your livestock operation so you don’t have to feed so much hay and grow close to the same amount of beef but with more profit.