Agriculture in Burleson County
By F. Jack McKemie
Howdy to all and happy spring! Stop the insanity is the theme for this issue, so I will do my best to bring some sanity to agriculture in Burleson County.
One of the most concerning topics for livestock owners in Texas is New World Screwworms. Yes, they are coming and will probably enter the state in 2026. Fortunately, our USDA and Texas Animal Health Commission are monitoring and have begun counter measures for this dangerous pest. I suspect infestation will occur in border counties between Mexico and Texas. Those counties will be quarantined and an enhanced fly eradication protocol with extensive surveillance of this destructive pest will begin. The good news is Burleson County is several layers away from infestation, provided no one breaks the quarantine. Most crucially, monitor any open wounds on animals and navels on neonates for myiasis/maggot infection. If you see maggots in an open wound, submit the larvae to your veterinarian or TVMDL for identification!
Even more insanity exists in South Texas. We must also watch for fever ticks. Fever ticks which carry babesia, a blood borne protozoon that causes death in over 90% of animals infected is already in South Texas and there are counties currently quarantine at the border. Also, don't forget the introduction of a new tick called the Long-horned tick, mealy bugs and tube worms that can carry disease and destroy your pasture, respectively.
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What does all this mean to you as a producer? A multi layered pest treatment protocol with daily or every other day vigilance of your animals and pastures is vital. Long Range deworm will provide additional parasite control. Fly control involves a multi-layered approach. Ear tags, dust bags, IGR tubs and spot-on topicals at least every two to four weeks are crucial to keep biting flies at bay. Poor fly control can greatly reduce your herd production.
Continue to vaccinate your calves and cattle for Blackleg, reproductive and respiratory disease. Deworm your herd every 6 to 12 months. Fertility evaluation of your bulls is also highly recommended. I have seen too many times where producers lose 6 to 12 months of calf production because of an infertile bull. Beef prices are insane, don't miss the boat to sell as many calves as you can.
Agriculture producers have been blessed with record animal prices. Now is the time to improve you herd and facilities. America is the land of opportunity; however, the agriculture industry has been left behind. Inflation, grain cost and many other fixed expenses such as fertilizer and fuels have doubled. Only now can agriculture producers make a little hay.
Paramount for this fight to make our industry profitable once again is the grain market. Politicians and the USDA govern grain prices by subsidizing to the ethanol and biofuel lobbyist/industries. These primarily Midwest and corporate farmers cause inflation of grain prices with subsidy from the USDA and the federal government. It is time this government welfare for Midwest corporate grain producers END! MAN-MADE GLOBAL WARMING IS A LIE perpetrated by the democratic left! STOP THE INSANITY OF MAN-MADE GLOBAL WEATHER CHANGE! I'm almost 63 years old and have seen temperature changes and drought that dwarf by far what we are seeing now.
Spring has sprung, so make sure all your house pets are properly vaccinated and on flea/heartworm preventative. This includes all domesticated animals in your household. Stop the insanity and protect your family from rabies and provide a parasite free environment for your pets to thrive in.
Finally, speaking of insanity, thank the Lord Jesus our county and city officials have torn down the abortion that was to be our new city hall. Why did Burleson County need a Taj Mahal for a county building, when city services, county roads and lost or stray animals of the county remain neglected? Who thought an insane construction that was not managed appropriately was needed for Burleson County TAXPAYERS? Why no one was fired or went to jail is beyond me! The gross negligence in this debacle boggles the mind and smacks of INSANITY! I leave you with this, think of all the helpless deserving animals that the city and county officials could have helped by funding a county shelter instead of lining the pockets of general contractors, lawyers and wasting millions of dollars this county could have used for good.
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