Horses are an important part of cattle management in Texas and will be the focus of the Ranch Horse Program on Aug. 3 in conjunction with the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course Aug. 4-6 in College Station. (Hannah Harrison/Texas A&M AgriLife)
The Beef Cattle Short Course, the world’s largest beef cattle educational event of its kind, will be held on the Texas A&M University campus.
The horse program is free to all BCSC participants or $60 at the door for nonparticipants. To register for the Ranch Horse Program, go to https://tx.ag/RanchHorseReg.
“Horses have always been an important part of cattle management in Texas, serving as trusted partners in managing herds across vast and varied landscapes in our state,” said Jennifer Zoller, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension horse specialist in the Texas A&M Department of Animal Science, Bryan-College Station. “This program helps keep that tradition alive by supporting the horse’s role as a practical, hands-on tool in today’s beef industry.”
Equine expertise from across The Texas A&M University System
The mission of the Texas A&M Institute for Equine Sciences is to unite stakeholders in advancing research, education, advocacy and outreach in equine sciences. By prioritizing equine welfare and promoting sustainable practices, the institute aims to enrich lives through the discovery, communication and application of science-based knowledge in equine care, health, recreation and sport.
“For over 80 years, the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course has stood at the forefront of education and innovation in the beef industry,” said Craig Huffhines, Institute for Equine Sciences director. “We’re proud to partner with the Ranch Horse Program to highlight how horsemanship continues to play a critical role in practical, progressive cattle management.”
Ranch Horse Program topics and speakers
The morning program will include presentations on:
Horse Protection Act and the Political Landscape of the Equine Industry, Chelsie Huseman, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension horse specialist and assistant professor, Department of Animal Science.
Welcome, Introduction, and Update on Equine Programs in the Department of Animal Science, Zoller.
Best Practices for Ranch Horse Health, Rebecca Legere, DVM, assistant professor of equine internal medicine, Texas A&M Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences. Legere will focus on respiratory function and health management aspects for ranch horses.
Bagley Performance Horse Operation – Q&A session with Jane and Scott Bagley, owners, Bagley Performance Horses. As members of the American Quarter Horse Association, AQHA, Ranching Heritage Program, the Bagley’s are committed to preserving and promoting the horse’s role as a true working partner on the ranch and continue to advocate for the value and versatility of the working ranch horse.
In the Arena with Dalton Darnell with Ranch Roping Techniques. Darnell, general manager of 3:10 Ranch Life, owner of 3:10 EDU and host of The Art of Suffering podcast, brings his practical ranching knowledge to the arena. Dalton demonstrates how the horse and rope serve as essential tools for managing cattle across a wide range of real-world scenarios. Darnell’s clinic will include opportunities for the audience to practice loops on roping dummies, along with demonstrations of shots on live cattle in the arena.
Uncharacteristically wet weather this year has left many producers across the state with a growing weed problem, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.
An abundance of moisture in some areas has left producers fighting weeds that have outgrown the crop canopy. (Laura McKenzie/Texas A&M AgriLife)
Scott Nolte, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension state weed specialist and associate professor in the Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Bryan-College Station, said widespread drought during previous seasons allowed producers to keep weed growth in check. However, moisture is becoming a challenge this year due to weed growth and producers’ inability to control it.
“Some areas, like the South Plains, have had good moisture, but it has kept them out of their fields,” Nolte said. “They don’t typically have that this time of year, so they have been delayed probably a month getting cotton planted.”
Another problem, he said, is some production areas were dry early, and preemergence herbicide applications did not get good activation. Now, producers are relying on postemergence treatment, but it has been difficult to access fields between rains to spray or cultivate.
Delayed canopy production allows weed growth
Good growing conditions in the Coastal Bend helped crops to reach canopy faster than usual, which prevented many weeds from establishing themselves. But not all areas were able to plant the crops on schedule.
Canopy development typically reduces the amount of sunlight available for weeds to germinate and grow, Nolte said. But repeated rainfall and delays in planting put canopy development behind the rapid growth of weeds in some regions.
Now, producers need to make postemergence herbicide applications to clean up weeds after preemergence herbicide applications were no longer effective and plantings were delayed.
“Typically, we have drier conditions going into July, and it slows weed growth down, giving the canopy time to close up, which takes care of this problem,” he said. “In areas with more rainfall than normal, we’re getting a lot more germination of weeds later in the middle of July.”
If weeds get above the crop canopy in cotton and sorghum, Nolte said producers will face issues during harvest. Producers also need to control those weeds before they produce seeds that could germinate next season.
Weeds to watch for
Producers in the Coastal Bend and areas around College Station are seeing more sedges this year because the rainfall has been steady and above normal, Nolte said. Sedges thrive in high humidity and moist conditions.
Other weed problems reported are Palmer amaranth, some jungle rice and glyphosate-resistant johnsongrass, he said. Johnsongrass causes more issues in years with abundant moisture.
“Roundup is not going to work if they have the resistant johnsongrass, so they just need to know if that is the problem going into the next season,” Nolte said. “Because if they try and spray glyphosate to control it next year, and it doesn’t work, they’re going to be a couple of weeks behind in control. The weeds will get established and be more difficult to control when they are bigger.”
Also, dicamba is not an option this year, he said. Depending on the crop they planted and what they are allowed, 2,4-D, glyphosate or glufosinate will be the treatment choices. Glufosinate is working better in high humidity and good soil moisture this year, Nolte said, although the weeds need to be smaller for it to be effective.
Pay now or pay later
In cotton, the most critical time to control weeds is in the first three to four weeks, when weed competition will reduce the yield the most, Nolte said. But keeping the crop clean before full canopy is also important.
With lower crop prices and higher costs, budgets are tight, and many producers are trying to control their inputs, he said. They may be tempted to leave late-season weeds because they don’t impact yields that much.
But weeds left unmanaged this year will continue to be a problem next year.
“Any weed left will have the potential to produce seed, and that problem is going to be there next year,” Nolte said. “Then you’re going to have higher weed pressure and have to spend potentially more on weed control.”
AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:
Panhandle
A map of the 12 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service districts.
Scattered showers fell across the district. Overall soil moisture levels were reported as short to adequate, and overall crop conditions were fair to good. The delayed wheat harvest was wrapping up. Some corn had begun to tassel, and humid, mild conditions were excellent for pollination. Producers were cultivating and spraying fallow fields behind harvested wheat. Most grain sorghum fields had excellent stands and adequate subsoil moisture to support growth and development until heading. Rangelands were green, and most pasture grasses were in the seed development stage and maturing. Cattle gains on grass were excellent. Pasture and range conditions were fair to good.
South Plains
Spotty showers fell throughout the week and subsoil moisture was good. Cotton was squaring, and sorghum was starting to head out in the earlier-planted fields. Hay grazer and other crops looked good. Pastureland and livestock were in good condition across most areas.
Rolling Plains
Late spring and early summer rains continued to benefit the district; however, topsoil moisture was quickly drying up. Cotton crops, Sudan grass and hay were looking good in most counties. However, with all the previous rains, weed control was a challenge. In addition, multiple counties were reporting a rapid increase in the grasshopper population. Livestock were still in a great grazing position heading into the hottest months of the year.
North
Flooding occurred in some areas, and temperatures were warm with high humidity levels. Cotton looked good, although some fields were slightly behind in development, and some plants were lost to flooding. Hay conditions remained good. Rice conditions were fair to good. Corn matured through the dough stages in most fields and some varieties were drying down rapidly. Sorghum was heading, maturing and turning color. Soybeans were maturing through bloom/flower stages, and some had completed pod set. Insect populations were present but not dramatically high for any crops, except for grasshoppers in pastures, which were increasing to treatable levels. Forage and hay crops were in excellent condition due to additional rainfall. Some producers were working on their second cutting of hay. Range and pasture conditions were mostly good to excellent and continued to improve due to rain. Livestock conditions were excellent. Summer annual weeds were maturing rapidly and exhibiting rapid growth rates with the heat and rainfall. Cattle looked good with more grass than they can eat this time of the year.
East
Most of the district continued to have sporadic rain showers. Subsoil and topsoil conditions were adequate. Hay production slowed due to the constant moisture. Pasture and rangeland conditions were good. Cattle market prices remained strong but with decreasing head counts. Livestock were in fair to good condition.
Far West
Another 1-3 inches of rain fell across the area, accompanied by cooler-than-normal temperatures. Several fields were excessively wet, whereas others were now dry enough to resume fieldwork. Weed control was the primary issue as growers needed to spray and cultivate. Cotton fields needed warmer temperatures and heat units. Most corn was in the dent stage, with dry-down expected soon. Sorghum was either blooming or in the soft dough stage. The melon harvest was in full swing; however, rains continued to keep harvest crews out of the fields. Pecans looked great, with heavy loads and large nuts. Pastures were greening up from the rains, and the grass was recovering better than expected from the prolonged drought.
West Central
Record-breaking rainfall continued to fall, with totals ranging from 5-15 inches over 10 days. The torrential rains left many fields underwater or too muddy to access. Cotton conditions varied, with some fields thriving and others suffering from flooding, particularly in low-lying areas, where up to 60% of the crop was lost in some places. Late planting left some cotton slightly behind schedule. Farmers began chiseling fields in preparation for wheat planting, and overall hay production slowed due to persistent wet conditions. Hay and forage crops benefited greatly from the moisture, with some producers already cutting a second round of coastal hay and preparing to harvest Sudan grass. Pecan trees showed noticeable improvement. Tanks were full or overflowing, and cattle remained in excellent condition with more grass than they could consume.
Central
Counties across the district experienced record rainfall and extremely wet conditions. The abundant rainfall filled stock tanks though flooding occurred in some areas. Corn progressed well toward maturity. Cotton was blooming and maturing bolls, with recent rains helping to maintain a fruit load despite increased pest pressure from bollworms and stinkbugs. The wet weather limited field activities, while corn and cotton needed more sunshine for optimal development. Pasture conditions improved. Hay producers resumed cutting and baling when fields dried sufficiently. Fall armyworms were reported in multiple counties. Livestock remained in good condition.
Southeast
Recent weather across the district brought persistent rainfall and high moisture levels that delayed fieldwork. Soil moisture conditions ranged from adequate to surplus across the district with many areas reporting saturated soil. Crop progress was generally positive despite weather challenges. Corn was silking in many areas, with some counties showing progress toward maturity and harvest. Rice was fully planted and emerged in some locations, with heading in progress across others, though untimely rains raised concerns about interference with flowering and an uptick in weedy rice. Sorghum was nearly fully headed and coloring, showing strong development. Cotton was fully planted and in good condition. Winter wheat and oats were completely harvested. Wet conditions and limited dry intervals slowed hay harvest operations and reduced quality, especially where previously cut hay was exposed to rain. Daily showers and thunderstorms further complicated second cuttings. Standing water in low-lying areas began to recede amid lighter rains. Pasture and rangeland conditions were mixed. Livestock conditions reflected this variation, with reports that ranged from 5% poor to 30% excellent. Overall, the rainfall supported good forage growth, and ponds held adequate water. Cattle and other livestock generally remained in stable condition despite weather-related delays in forage harvesting.
Southwest
Intense storms delivered 3.5-6.5 inches of rain and cooler temperatures. Soil moisture conditions improved with the heavy rain; however, wet conditions delayed fieldwork and harvest. Row crops looked good to excellent. Corn and sorghum harvests were both starting. Some producers expected to lose their grain sorghum due to the excessive rainfall received. Some cut hay will be lost to rotting due to a lack of drying time. Other hay fields and pastures looked good and should produce good hay yields for the upcoming winter. Pasture and range conditions continued to improve. There were some reports of armyworms in improved pastures. Livestock markets were strong to steady. There was a report of stomach worms affecting livestock and whitetail deer. Overall, livestock and wildlife conditions were steadily improving due to better pasture and browse conditions.
Coastal Bend
Rainfall kept farmers out of the fields in some areas and delayed harvest. Combines were steadily harvesting early grain sorghum and a little corn when they could get into fields; producers moved to drier fields as needed. Yields on early planted grain sorghum were decent. Rice was almost all headed. The cotton crop continued to look promising and responded well to recent rains. Haymaking was a challenge, with harvesting as weather allowed, but supplies looked good. Range and pasture conditions remained mostly fair to good with adequate rainfall, though some areas without recent rain were starting to burn up. Pastures were producing forage. Livestock were in good condition for the most part, and calves were gaining weight.
South
The area experienced triple-digit temperatures and high winds, accompanied by above-normal rainfall. Topsoil and subsoil conditions were adequate. Crops looked good with promising yields. Hay producers were cutting and baling. Peanut planting wrapped up. Producers resumed harvesting grain sorghum, sunflowers and corn. Some damage was reported to grain sorghum due to excess moisture. Cotton continued to progress and set bolls. Citrus trees were also doing well as fruit continued to mature. The cantaloupe harvest was wrapping up. Peas were being harvested. Range and pasture conditions continued to improve. The grass was green and growing. Beef cattle, livestock and wildlife were benefiting greatly and were in good condition. Beef cattle producers were scaling back on supplementation, and feed prices were still high. Beef market prices remained high as cattle supplies continued to be low. Wildlife continued to thrive. Whitetail does were fawning, and turkey and quail were beginning to hatch out.
As Special Olympics Texas races into the final heats of summer sports, Texas Roadhouse restaurants in Tyler and Lufkin team up with local police to raise money for the state-wide organization. The fundraiser is part of a state-wide effort with dozens of other Texas Roadhouse locations holding fundraisers the same week.
Police officers will help serve guests at the “Tip-A-Cop” event and collect donations.
Over the past seventeen years, Texas Roadhouse restaurants across the state have raised more than $2,000,000 at this event for Special Olympics.
Cybersecurity, woman and global network code for phishing, ransomware and cyber terrorism search. M.
When international hackers go looking for an easy target—they’re not just aiming for Washington. They’re coming for Main Street, too.
As global tensions increase, the U.S. government and cybersecurity experts are warning of a disturbing trend: Iranian-backed cyber groups are launching attacks on American infrastructure and private businesses. These aren’t just high-level attacks against big corporations. They’re hitting small to mid-sized businesses—the kinds we rely on every day here in East Texas.
Why This Matters Here at Home
Recent reports show that hacking groups linked to Iran are exploiting:
Unpatched computers
Weak passwords and outdated software
Poorly protected internet-connected systems
Their goal? To gain access, cause disruption, and—in some cases—use smaller businesses as a path into larger networks. If you own or manage a business that handles customer data, uses security systems, or connects to municipal, healthcare, or energy operations, you could be at risk.
What Businesses Should Be Doing Now
Castleberry Services, a trusted local IT and security provider, is urging East Texas business owners to take these threats seriously.
Here are a few simple but important steps:
Use strong, unique passwords and change them regularly.
Update your systems—don’t put off that software patch.
Secure your Wi-Fi and remote access points.
Train your team to spot phishing emails and scams.
Schedule a security review to make sure there are no gaps you don’t know about.
Let’s Protect Our Local Economy—One Business at a Time
We may live in a peaceful part of the country, but in the digital world, every device and every business is connected. That means a cyberattack in Houston—or Tehran—can have real effects right here in Lufkin or Nacogdoches.
Call Castleberry Services at (936) 237-3030 or visit castleberryinc.com to schedule a free consultation. Our team will help make sure your business is secure—and stays that way.
This column is provided by Castleberry Services, East Texas’ go-to provider for IT support, low voltage installations, and network security solutions.
Don’t miss Business Armor: Strategies for a Safer Workplace happening Tuesday, July 23rd, from 9–11 a.m. at the Nacogdoches County Chamber Board Room!
Join Bill Kennedy from the Nacogdoches Police Department as he shares essential safety and security strategies to protect your workplace from theft, fraud, and other risks.
2516 North Street, Nacogdoches Presented by Farmers State Bank Secure your spot now: https://conta.cc/3Tf3Lmf
Celebrate our 48th annual fall fest with a full day family fun and a live butterfly release! Enjoy a variety of local vendors, tasty food, exciting games, and festival fall activities for all ages. Bring your friends, bring your family and don’t miss this cherished jasper tradition.
Emerald ash borer has been confirmed in five new Texas counties, including the southernmost point in the U.S. To date, EAB has been confirmed in 31 counties in Texas and continues to spread mostly by human activity.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The presence of the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) has been confirmed in Jack, Navarro, Somervell, Bell and Rockwall counties. Bell County’s confirmation makes it the southernmost confirmed location of EAB in the nation.
First confirmed in Texas in 2016, EAB has spread to 31 counties statewide. In 2024, EAB was confirmed in five new Texas counties.
“EAB is one of the worst invasive insects to impact North American forests,” said Allen Smith, Texas A&M Forest Service Regional Forest Health Coordinator. “EAB does not typically fly far distances naturally. Their expansion across the state and U.S. has been expedited due to human activity, like moving infected firewood and ash tree products across state and county lines.”
Texas A&M Forest Service deploys traps annually beginning in February to proactively monitor EAB. Currently, the agency has 554 traps placed throughout Texas.
Texas A&M Forest annually deploys traps, lined with a sticky surface and attractive colors and smell, which help identify the movement of EAB. Currently 554 traps are deployed throughout Texas.
“Our timing in trapping EAB is important because its emergence is dependent on weather and temperature conditions,” said Smith.
Once the presence of EAB is confirmed in a county, the Texas Department of Agriculture assumes regulatory responsibility which includes the establishment of quarantines. The state’s mandatory quarantine by the Texas Department of Agriculture restricts movement of any woody ash material exiting the county or quarantined area.
The Texas Department of Agriculture also regulates sawmills, kiln dry facilities, mulch products, wood packing material, ash nursery stock and all hardwood firewood.
“Because EAB is transported unintentionally on wood products, the quarantine helps slow the beetle’s spread by restricting the movement of wood in and out of affected areas,” said Demian Gomez, Texas A&M Forest Service Regional Forest Health Coordinator. “Texans can be proactive in preventing the spread of EAB and other pests and diseases by burning firewood where it is bought.”
EAB exiting an ash tree. Adult EAB are dark emerald green, one-half inch long and one-eighth inch wide.
All species of ash are susceptible to EAB. Infested ash trees may show few to no symptoms in early stages.
Larval EAB feed in the phloem of branches and trunks, preventing nutrients from being transported from the leaves to the rest of the tree. Tree mortality can occur five to six years after the beetle is introduced.
Symptoms of infestation may include dead branches near the top of a tree, leafy shoots sprouting from the trunk, bark splits exposing s-shaped larval galleries, extensive woodpecker activity and d-shaped exit holes.
When EAB exit a tree after feeding in the phloem of branches and trunks, they leave behind a distinct d-shaped hole.
Adult EAB are dark emerald green, one-half inch long and one-eighth inch wide. They may be seen near ash trees, especially between May and June in Texas, when they are more likely to fly.
Texans can help minimize the spread of EAB by diversifying tree and plant species on their property, following the 10-20-30 rule—planting no more than 10% of any one species, 20% of any one genus or 30% of any one family.
To report EAB, please call the EAB Hotline at 1-866-322-4512.
About EAB in Texas EAB is a destructive, non‐native, wood‐boring pest that targets all ash tree species. Native to Asia, forest health experts have been monitoring its movement across the United States since 2002. It has spread to more than half the states in America — and killed millions of ash trees. The beetle was first detected in Texas in 2016 in Harrison County in northeast Texas. In 2025, EAB has been confirmed in Jack, Navarro, Somervell, Bell and Rockwall counties.
12-week AgriLife Extension agriculture business and land management course begins Aug. 25
Registration is open for the Generation Next: Our Turn to Ranch 12-week online course offered by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Aug. 25-Nov. 16. (Courtney Sacco/Texas A&M AgriLife)
The course includes expert instruction on starting a new agriculture business or enterprise, tax implications and insurance needs, developing grazing or wildlife leases and more.
“Across Texas, we’re seeing individuals who may or may not have experience in agriculture or natural resource management inheriting or purchasing agricultural lands,” said Megan Clayton, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension range specialist and professor in the Texas A&M Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Uvalde.
“The Generation Next curriculum is specifically designed to empower these landowners with the knowledge and resources needed to start a new agricultural operation, improve an existing one or manage the land to meet their specific stewardship goals.”
Getting started with a business plan
The online school enables participants to work toward developing a business plan with support from professionals who specialize in each field and topic, Clayton said. Participants can expect to spend roughly two hours per week on lessons and activities that can be completed at any time throughout the week.
“We realize participants have busy schedules, so we designed the course with flexibility in mind,” Clayton said. “There are no specific meeting times, so lessons and exercises can be completed at your convenience.”
Enrollees will learn from experts regarding land management techniques and resources, alternative ranching operations, ecotourism opportunities, insurance and tax considerations, direct marketing and more. They will also learn how to set goals with measurable objectives for success.
While the course caters to new or inexperienced landowners, individuals with established operations also benefit from the curriculum.
Upon course completion, participants will have a useful business plan for their operation and receive a Generation Next certificate and T-shirt.
The course provides a financial and ecological foundation
Since its inception in 2019, the online program has reached more than 700 landowners, and improved knowledge is not the only benefit participants can expect.
“On average, participants anticipate the course has an annual economic benefit of about $11,000,” Clayton said.
In addition to business and production-related topics, the course also provides a critical foundation in ecologically and environmentally sound land management.
Our youth camps wrapped up another big summer this past week, and now all our athletics programs are heading toward the new academic and athletic year, which is less than a month away from its kickoff.
We’ve also got some big annual events heading our way, with more info coming soon.
Here’s a quick rundown of the past week’s events, along with what’s coming up next:
Coming Soon: Big Events for Angelina College and AC Athletics
The 18th annual Guy Davis Golf Tournament will take place on Saturday, August 16 at the Crown Colony Country Club in Lufkin. The kickoff dinner will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday, August 15 at Crown Colony.
In addition, AC’s Sixth annual “Dinner at the Diamond” event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27 down on the baseball field at Poland Stadium on the AC campus.
Both of those occasions are important fundraisers for Angelina College and its students – not to mention just a lot of fun for everyone involved.
We’ll have registration links and other information for these events to send out in the coming weeks. We just wanted to give you enough time to mark your calendars for those
Soccer Schedules Set for 2025 Season
The Lady Roadrunner and Roadrunner soccer teams have released their schedules for the upcoming season (which is rapidly approaching), so fans can start making plans to show up and show out while cheering on both AC teams.
Included in the schedule are five home doubleheaders, one of which is the Tuesday, August 12 scrimmage against Wiley College. The ladies kick off at 5 p.m. while the men follow at 7:30 p.m.
The Roadrunner men’s soccer team has added an ID Camp to its busy summer list.
The ID camp, used to identify prospective future Roadrunners, is for grades 9-12 and will take place from 6-8 p.m. on August 1 at the Angelina College soccer pitch on the AC campus.
Click the following link for all registration and other information:
All six Angelina College athletics teams are finalizing their 2025-2026 schedules (both soccer teams’ schedules are available now), and those schedules should be ready for release soon. We’ll send out hard copies in a group email, and we’ll also send the link to the Angelina College Athletics website for further viewing.
Naturally, there may be some changes along the way with teams still looking to add events. The best way to follow any possible changes is to visit the Angelina College Athletics website at www.angelinaathletics.com.
Live Streaming Reminder:
All AC Athletics regular-season home games are live streamed on TSBN Sports (a free streaming service for fans), with most of the conference road games also available for streaming. (This does not include baseball and softball fall games, as those are not considered official games.)
Once TSBN posts its schedules, AC fans simply need to visit the AC Athletics web site, look at the scrolling schedule in the middle of the page and click the blue “Video” link.
TSBN also offers an app great for smart phones, devices and smart TVs. (You’ve GOT to see those matches and games on the big screen.)
Reminder II: Admission to ALL Angelina College Athletics sporting events is free, as is the TSBN live streaming. Any other links offering streaming are scams.
Reminder III: For the most current schedule updates (especially for potential weather issues) visit the official Angelina College Athletics website (angelinaathletics.com). Fans can also receive updates on the AC Athletics Facebook, X/Twitter), and Instagram pages.
Upcoming schedules: No further games scheduled until August.
For any other information, contact Sports Information Director Gary Stallard at gstallard@angelina.edu.
Father showing little son how to use garden sprayer when watering flowers
Our abundance of rainfall this year has been truly remarkable. I know some local orchard owners that haven’t had to turn on their irrigation yet for all of 2025. Cattlemen are bragging about the abundance of grass in their pastures.
On the other hand, some stockmen wanting to bale hay or spray for weeds have found it difficult to find enough dry days in a row (that aligns with their own personal schedule). Wet ground means they have had some difficulty finding time to get into their fields.
As a result of these wetter weather patterns, I have received calls from ranchers wondering if it’s too late to spray weeds. Honestly, that answer depends on the type of weed and what stage it’s in. As we’ll discuss below, timing is crucial for different weeds.
First, knowing whether your target weed is an annual or a perennial will help you make the best management decision. Let’s break it down by weed type and calendar season to see what can still be done.
Annual weeds are those that germinate, grow, set seed, and die all in one year. These are best controlled when they’re young and actively growing. We’re talking about things like bitterweed, goat weed (Wooly croton), and buttercup. They can be either cool- or warm-season annuals, and right now in July, most warm-season annuals are nearing full size or even flowering.
That means spraying summer annuals now would require a higher rate of herbicide as the early season rate and it won’t be nearly as effective as it would have been back in late April or May. In fact, with mature annual plants, you might see them turn brown, but they’ve likely already produced seed and will be back next year.
If you’ve got a handful of small seedlings popping up in bare patches, spot-treating at a higher rate may still be worthwhile. But in most cases, it’s better to hold off and plan for an earlier application next spring.
Perennials are a different animal altogether. These weeds—like broomweed, ironweed, dogfennel, and dewberry—come back every year from the same root system. Because of this, the goal is to get the herbicide all the way into the root zone where it can do the most damage.
The two best windows for perennial weed control are (1) right as they begin to bloom and (2) in late summer to early fall as they start storing up food for winter. In East Texas, we are approaching that second window.
When perennials are transitioning toward dormancy, they naturally move nutrients—and herbicides—down into the roots. That’s the perfect time to spray. If you’ve got trouble spots with established perennials, you’re in a great position to knock them back in the coming weeks.
There’s a temptation to “spray and pray” when pastures look rough in midsummer, but it’s important to make sure the plant is still actively growing. Plants that are stressed from heat or drought don’t absorb herbicide well. And with dryer weather coupled with increasingly higher temps, you run the risk of herbicide volatility or reduced uptake.
Likewise, be cautious not to overuse herbicides this time of year. Always follow the label—and I mean always. Often, more than one product can be effective, but rates matter and so does timing.
Keep in mind that if you use a soil residual herbicide like picloram, you may need to be careful with what follows in that pasture or hayfield. There are plant-back restrictions to watch for if you plan to rotate winter clovers or other sensitive crops.
Here’s my simple takeaway for you: Summer annuals? You’ve likely missed the best time of the year unless you see new seedlings. Used increased rates according to the label but plan to treat earlier next spring.
Perennials? You could be entering the best time. Start identifying and treating those patches while the plants are still green and moving nutrients.
When we get into the pattern of dry weather, hold off until you see signs of new growth. A wilted/ drought stressed weed won’t take up herbicide.
If you want a one-time, silver-bullet solution, I hate to disappoint you. But with a little planning, a sprayer calendar, and close observation of your pastures, you can stay ahead of weed problems.
For more details and specific herbicide suggestions, be sure to check out some of the Texas A&M AgriLife websites. One of my favorites is https://foragefax.tamu.edu/. They’ve got pasture herbicide guides that are tailored for our region and can help you make the best call for your operation.
If you want to learn more about the weather, forecasting and how to plan your outside work, the Angelina County Extension Office is having its Noon Gardening Seminar this Tuesday, July 15, from 12 to 1 pm. Entitled “The sky above and the soil below: Weather’s Impact on Gardening”, the featured speaker is Matthew Addison, a retired USAF Meteorologist and now an Angelina County Master Gardener. Matthew has worked with weather patterns across the globe in service of this country and has a passion for chasing storms!
