Farm & Ranch

The Capital Farm Credit Board of Directors recently declared a total patronage refund of $126.6 million. Of that, $38.4 million is in cash to be paid to stockholders in March, and $88.2 million is in the form of allocated equities and is eligible for future cash payouts.The refund, based on 2011 earnings, continues a long-standing tradition by the rural lending cooperative of sharing its earnings with its customers.

San Saba County was declared eligible for Farm Service Agency (FSA) disaster emergency loans on January 3, 2012. Generally, that means that farmers who have lost at least 30 percent of their production due to damages and losses caused by drought, excessive heat, high winds and wildfires beginning January 1, 2011 and continuing, are eligible for FSA loans.

Receipts totaled 1249 head for the week. Receipts were lighter today at 510 head due to the good rains that fell over the area on Tuesday and Wednesday. The market was strong with stocker steers $2 higher and stocker heifers steady to $1 higher. Feeder steers were steady to $1 higher and heifers were $3 higher.

The Texas Brigades is gearing up for the newest addition to their family, the Waterfowl Brigade. The camp will start this summer near Palestine, Texas. It will focus on teaching youth about managing land to benefit various waterfowl species and the importance of wetlands management. The Texas Brigades hosts five camps each summer: two Buckskin Brigades, two Bobwhite Brigades, Bass Brigade and its newest addition, Waterfowl Brigade.

Receipts totaled 2060 head for the week. Another choice offering of calves were on hand this week with very good quality and condition. The market was very active and demand strong. Stocker and feeder steers and heifers all sold steady compared to last week’s market with some of the lighter heifers $2-$3 higher.

The "Take a Child Hunting" program concluded the 2011-2012 season Saturday, January 7th. 74 boys from 13 children's homes hunted at 21 area ranches harvesting 67 animals. Homes participating were Methodist Children's Home, Waco; Presbyterian Children's Home, San Antonio; Methodist Boy's Ranch, Waco; Christ's Haven, Keller; Texas Baptist Children's Home, Round Rock; Hughes Home, San Angelo; Boys Country, Hockley; Still Creek Boy's Ranch, Bryan; Cherokee Home, Cherokee; Texas Baptist Home, Wax ...

On Tuesday, February 29, the Lampasas County Extension Service will hold a private pesticide applicator training and testing. This training/testing will allow individuals to acquire the TDA license required to purchase and use restricted pesticides. This training will be held at the Lampasas County Annex Conference Room located at 409 S Pecan, and will begin at 8:00 a.m.

San Saba County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Valerie Cortinovis, announced that sign-up for the 2012 Direct and Counter-cyclical Program (DCP) and the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program starts on January 23, 2012 and continues through June 1, 2012. “I encourage producers to make an appointment with our office to sign-up for program benefits,” said Cortinovis.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Salvador Salinas reminds agriculture producers that the ranking period cut-off date for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is January 13, 2012. Producers interested in CSP should submit applications to their local NRCS office by the deadline so their applications can be considered during the first ranking period of 2012.“CSP gives conservation minded producers the ability to apply and build on their curren ...

San Saba County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Executive Director Cortinovis reminds eligible ranchers and livestock producers who had livestock losses or grazing losses during the 2011 crop year that the deadline for applying for benefits under the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) is Jan.