Hot, dry weather continues at most farms
I hate to lead with a headline talking about hot, dry weather when the city of McMinnville has registered weekly rainfall totals over 1-1/2 inches the last few weeks. However, if you want I can take you to some large areas here in the county who haven?t totaled an inch and a half or rain since the end of May. A June drought is often worse than a late summer drought because it gets all crops as they are developing. Corn, soybeans, pastures nursery even vegetables are just getting started well in June where in July or August many of the crops are maturing.
Some farmers have fields where corn will have to be chopped because there is no grain. In fields like these we need to be aware of nitrate poisoning. Many farms have little if any prospect for a second cutting of hay. There just hasn?t been enough moisture available to get any re-growth in many areas. I hope we get a good rain this week.
FEEDER SALE PRICES STRONG
Many producers took advantage of last week?s feeder calf sale at the local barn to move several late fall calves off the farm and they oughta been pretty happy with the prices. Over 2,500 head went through the sale ring Wednesday night. Black calves were strongly favored by buyers Wednesday night by $3-7 per cwt. Most all the steer calves over six hundred pounds were bringing over $700.00 per calf. Prices are listed below for steers and heifers from the black, black white face and Charolais cross calves.
Med and Lg 1
Steers Heifers
350-400 lbs ————— 116.00-123.00
400-450 lbs 128.50-141.50 111.00-111.50
450-500 lbs 128.75-136.00 111.75-115.50
500-550 lbs 123.00-123.50 107.00-107.50
550-600 lbs 115.50-118.75 102.00-103.50
600-700 lbs 107.25-115.10 98.00-100.00
700-800 lbs 100.00-103.25 92.00-96.50
(Last year during the same July sale #1 steers weighing 600-700 lbs brought 115.00-117.50)
Med & Lg 2
Steers Heifers
350-400 lbs 131.00-138.00 112.50-114.50
400-450 lbs 126.00-129.00 109.50-110.50
450-500 lbs 118.00-125.00 107.50-108.00
500-600 lbs 114.00-117.75 101.50-102.00
600-700 lbs 105.00-109.50 93.50-96.00
700-800 lbs 100.00-102.75 ————-
Area beef producers should realize that the feeder calf sale here in McMinnville enables them to sell their calves in load lots. That?s worth several dollars per calf and its worth even more as the cost of trucking increases. Large groups of similar cattle, graded, and sold in large lots means more money for the farmer.
The local barn will have another sale on Aug. 2, and on Aug. 9 the local barn will have a weaned and pre-conditioned sale. Also known as the Pfizer sale all the cattle in the sale on Aug. 9 will be weaned and pre-conditioned a minimum of 45 days. These cattle will also be subjected to a two shot health program featuring Pfizer vaccines so that when they hit the feedlot they will not get sick and they will gain weight efficiently. This a nationally advertised sale by the Pfizer company and will be a good one. There shouldn?t be any calves bawling for their mommas at this sale. sale.
Continue to hope for rain, sell cows and calves that are running out of grass. Livestock needs to be gaining weight and value faster that the market falls.
My Crape Myrtle Aren?t Blooming
My crape myrtle doesn?t bloom like the others in town. Why? The number one reason crape myrtles and most other summer blooming shrubs fail to flower is too little direct sunlight. Check out the pretty red ones in front of the McMinnville Fire Department downtown.
Crape Myrtles are great trees for summer color. Contrary to popular belief, these trees do not need to be pruned to enhance flowering. If your tree is in a situation that receives filtered sunlight or no direct afternoon sun, consider moving it to a position better suited for flowering. They are tough trees and usually survive transplanting. The only pruning needed is to train them into statuesque trees by removing lower limbs, dead limbs, and any limbs that grow inward or cross other branches.
Bacterial Speck and Spotted Wilt of Tomatoes
Dr. Steve Bost, UT Extension Plant Pathologist, damage from bacterial speck and tomato spotted wilt virus is appearing on some tomato plants in Tennessee.
Spotted wilt symptoms on tomatoes vary, but usually it blights new growth. On peppers, infected plants show light-green bud leaves and black blighting of young growth. But there are no effective controls for spotted wilt virus on tomatoes or peppers.
For suppression of bacterial speck and bacterial spot, spray plants with a fixed copper pesticide. Gardeners who have bacterial speck should avoid sprinkler irrigation. This disease should not cause much damage in dry weather. Give us a call for more information.