News
Forage Observations: Looking Back & Thinking Ahead
Hopefully, we won't have to live through another year like 1998 in the near future but it always pays to plan ahead. And because droughts are a normal occurrence in our business, we should always have a plan to offset their severity.
The 50:50 Model for Bobwhites
An appropriate mental model for bobwhite habitat is often difficult to communicate to land managers. Discussion of percent cover types, interspersion, patchiness, edge, etc. often leave a blank look on the face of a manager. One concept I have found that seems to stick with managers is what I call the "50:50 model."
Leasing Pecans
Leasing of pecan trees may be an option that would well serve both parties. Of course, this is not a new idea, but it is one that may be difficult to implement. There are so many variables that it is difficult to make a good, blanket recommendation. Nevertheless, I will attempt to set out some considerations for crafting an individualized lease.
April Hort Tips - Business Image
Image is vital to any business and we only have one chance to make that first impression a positive one that will stay with the potential client, investor, employee, donor, etc. The appearance of your facility's landscape is the first thing a visitor encounters and therefore is a major component of your image.
Bred Heifer Mythology
Most cow-calf producers believe three myths associated with the development of heifers into cows. I will discuss them briefly in this article.
Opportunities to Meet Tough Times
The early and mid-eighties were bad times in production agriculture. We saw many producers go out of business. Here we are today with the same picture. Has this happened because we are so efficient and do not need as many farmers?
Wildlife Conservation Funding
Although wildlife is a publicly owned resource, it receives relatively little public funding. In Oklahoma and Texas, general tax revenues do not support the states' wildlife management efforts. Funding for wildlife management in these states primarily comes from licenses, access or permit fees, and federal excise taxes on sporting goods and boat fuel.
The Importance of Sunlight in Pecan Production
Certainly it is important to have adequate water to translocate nutrients and cool the plant. However, without adequate sunlight intensity, the pecan tree cannot capture the energy necessary to fill its pecans.
Technology and the New Millennium
Today, there are many sites on the Internet that will provide you with much needed information. To help you use this technology, I have listed a few of my favorite web sites below and a brief description of each.
Property Tax Exemption for Wildlife Management
For the past couple of years, landowners in the state of Texas have had the opportunity to claim a wildlife tax exemption on their property. Property owners have been provided this opportunity due in part to the booming wildlife recreation industry in Texas. At this time Oklahomans do not have this tax option. Maybe a look across the river will stir interest.