Stiles Farm Foundation holds annual field day

By JULIET BRISKIN | Central Texas Edition

June 28, 2001 -- The Stiles Farm Foundation hosted its 38th annual Field Day June 19 at the Stiles Farm near Thrall. "The purpose of this event is education for area producers and to get research and demonstration results to the hands-on consuming public," said Archie Abrameit, Extension specialist and Stiles Farm manager.

According to Abrameit the Stiles Foundation was set up in 1961 by two Stiles brothers to operate as a demonstration farm to show new techniques and methods for field and livestock operations.

For the past thirty-eight years the Stiles Farm Field Day has served as a forum for members of the agriculture community to gather and share information. The subjects covered at the field day change from year-to-year based on the needs of the industry and current research, said Abrameit.

This year's topics included conservation tillage practices, herbicide effectiveness, Coastal and Tifton 85 bermudagrass, seeded grass, wildlife management for land tax valuation and rodent and pest control.

Close to 800 people attended the day-long event. "We are pleased to see such a diverse audience and we tried to plan a program that would have a lot of appeal to the different segments of the agriculture community," said Abrameit.

Dr. David Bade, professor and Extension forage specialist discussed various hybrid bermudagrass. "As we look at new varieties we want them to do well in a lot of different soil types," said Bade. "We want them to be resistant to diseases, spread well, and be high quality."

According to Bade it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to have one variety of grass that will possess all the qualities desired in every region of Texas. "That is why numerous varieties exist," he said. "But the bottom line is that if a grass is not better than Coastal bermudagrass then I don't have a use for it in Texas."

One grass Bade feels is better than Coastal is the Tifton 85 bermudagrass. "In May the test plot of Tifton 85 at the Stiles Farm was growing about 18 inches a week," he said. "It does good on sand and clay, has a higher yield as far as energy content than Coastal and Tifton 78, does well in drought conditions due to a large root system, and can withstand cold climates as far north as about the Red River."

The down side of 85 is that it is hard to get established according to Bade. But once established "both horses and cattle love it," he said.

Dr. Larry Boleman, Texas A&M University professor and beef cattle specialist, presented preconditioning pointers, information about the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program, and adding and maintaining value in the beef cattle market. "I don't know if you know it or not," he said, "but this is the first time in history that all segments of the beef cattle industry have made money."

Another first according to Boleman is that consumer consumption has gone up despite the rise in beef prices. One major concern in the industry today he said, is how to keep the portion of the market that has been gained.

"Beef Quality Assurance is one way to hold on to the market gains," Boleman said. "It means each producer has a stock in assuring the consumer receives a good product." Each producer must consider how to raise their cattle in a manner that will ensure the consumer returns time after time, he said.

"One way to make things profitable for everybody is to know a lot about the cattle and what has been done to them," he said. "What genetics they are out of, does the producer use the right vaccinations at the right time and location on the cow, and did the cow consume chemicals that were not stored properly on the farm. These are the types of things we address with the BQA program."

In conjunction with Boleman's discussion on beef quality assurance Dr. Buddy Faries, associate professor and Extension program leader for veterinary medicine, discussed proper preconditioning techniques. "When preconditioning calves you need to design a program using production and health management practices," said Faries.

"Producers need to identify the sale at which they are going to market their calves and follow the preconditioned program that is outlined by that sale," he said. According to Faries, if a producer is preconditioning for an open market, not a specific sale, then they must develop their own program.

"The first step in any program, beginning at birth, is to keep written records of everything done to each calf," said Faries. Proper storage of vaccines is also a vital part of preconditioning according to him. "They need to be kept in a closed box to keep them clean, cool and in the dark. If the bottles get dirty, bacteria can be introduced into the vaccine and then into the calf. If exposed to heat and ultraviolet rays the vaccines will be destroyed."

In addition to the various speakers, crop and field tours took place throughout the day. Participants were taken to various fields on the grounds of the farm by bus and on foot to view test plots. Each tour provided a speaker to discuss the methods used and the results gathered to date at each plot.

Fifteen different Central Texas counties were represented this year at the field day by Extension agents. Education exhibits at the event included topics ranging from agricultural and environmental safety to 4-H youth and development.

For more information on the Stiles Farm Foundation and future field days contact the farm at 512-898-2214.