ISSUE DATE: 09/10/2012
By Jennifer M. Latzke
Jimmy and Susan Wedel don't consider themselves "radical environmentalists."
"I'm not a radical environmentalist, I'm a reasonable environmentalist," Jimmy Wedel said. It's that "reasonable environmentalism" that has the Wedels farming 3,700 acres of organic crops--including forage corn--near the Texas-New Mexico border in the southern Texas Panhandle.
A change in production
The Wedel family has been farming near Muleshoe, Texas, for three generations. Up until 1993 the operation was a typical conventional farming operation in the Panhandle with a rotation of cotton, wheat, and corn with a few other crops thrown into the mix.
But one pheasant and her nest changed all that.
Wedel told the story of how one day in the early 1990s his father had been applying a pesticide in a field near their house. As he was driving along he saw a pheasant hen sitting on a nest of eggs. He didn't want to disturb the nest, so he maneuvered around it in the field and continued applying the pesticide.
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Ag export coalition opposes amendment to cut MAP funding Ag groups celebrate U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Brownback, George conduct trade mission to Germany Delegating can help your business grow Economist: Expect 8 percent food price increase in 2013 Examining farmland value data sources for accuracy and reliability Farm Bill Now coalition pushes for new legislation Farmers want to stop the flood of federal regulations FCA Board considers impact of drought on farmers, Farm Credit System FSA offers wildfire disaster assistance Holistic Resource Management workshop to be held in Bison House, Senate urge EPA to adjust ethanol mandate Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout champion crowned at state fair Managing low oxygen problems in ponds NCBA urges EPA not to lower the dust standard Next Food Dialogues event set for Nov. 15 in New York NFO: Grain reserve needed Producers affected by disasters urged to keep good records Researcher seeks to update fiber recommendation for children Researchers investigate natural compounds in cranberries USDA seeks applications for grants UW ag student barbecue raises money for scholarships, organizations CROPS
Agencies measure wheat quality, losses to disease Aquaculture Field Day set for Oct. 4 Avoid early grazing of wheat Balancing environmentalism and profits works for Texas farmers Bob Budd Honored with the Kurt Bucholz Conservation Award CFC tells story of modern corn farming Continuing field resistance in western corn rootworm confirmed in Illinois Effectively scout, manage gray leaf spot Expert: Irrigation controllers' performance 'inconsistent' Extended drought could lead to Aspergillus ear rot in corn Fall Field Day held Funds available for woodland improvements Gold: Surviving in a drought market is possible with planning Iowa Farm Bureau wraps up summer policy conference Kansas Corn celebrates farmers, educates crowd at state fair Kansas Workforce Summit set for January 2013 KARL Program names new vice president K-State Weed Science Team wins regional contest NDA hosts dry bean seminar in China Noble director selected as Crop Science Society Fellow Northwest Oklahoma Women in Agriculture Seminar set for Sept. 18 Noxious Weed Advisory Committee nominations due Photography contest showcases state's ag heritage Preventing harvest fires Protecting ag commodities from pests focus of new resource Rain delays corn harvest Research farm will host field day Oct. 5 Scientist finds a greener way to fertilize nursery crops Shawnee County Corn Test plot tour held Steve Azar joins Farm American Famous Farmers team UNL Ag Research Division offers Big Idea Seminars USDA Undersecretary Michael Scuse visits drought-stricken areas Wamego named host for Kan. Sampler Festival Webcast covers 300-bushel corn LIVESTOCK
American Sheep Industry Association approves budget Animal Disease Center produces vaccine against FMD Auction raises $14,390 for Jersey Research Foundation Awareness key to preventing illness from H3N2 Beef Quality Assurance audit assesses management practices CDA reminds cattle owners to test herds Colorado Beef Profit Alliance field day set for Sept. 15 Grazing cattle on harvested corn fields Heifer sale to benefit Hereford Research Foundation Kansas Cattlemen hold field day Kansas Dairy Ingredients breaks ground for Hugoton plant National Bison Association committed to bison genetics Oklahoma BQA award winners announced Optimize cattle health on arrival Quality Beef by the Numbers may help producers rebuild herds Ranch manager: Success lies in planning, tracking, evaluating Rise in export values is good news for livestock feeding industry RVED 4-H team places second at state livestock judging contest Shorthorn releases three new value indexes UNL 'Strengthening the State of Beef' at Husker Harvest Days EDITOR
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CRP emergency grazing extended to Nov. 30 Diversity keeps grasslands resilient to drought, climate change Drought lingers, out-of-state hay required again Drought spurs interest in grass management Drought-stricken pastures concern for cattle Extension offers guidance on grassland restoration Fire ant quarantines still in effect during hay emergency Get creative with feeding options Improving digestibility of corn stover, other feed alternatives 'Life after Drought' is theme of grazing school at MU FSRC MU FSRC adds drought topics to field day program NMSU to host Rancher's Roundtable on pasture assessment Use caution when using treated soybeans for grazing, forage FAMILY
Burgers: The all-American favorite Canning, freezing fruits and vegetables safely Dividing and planting peonies Empty nesters Fall Into Agriculture art contest underway Horticulture tips for September Identifying ripe melons Kansas 4-H offering family-friendly activities Kansas implements quarantine zone to prevent further spread of emerald ash borer Klamath attractive inside and out Klamath's attractive facade makes it eye-appealing Knowledge key to preventing snakebites Manage prostrate spurge in landscapes New Mexico 4-H Hall of Fame honors 7 volunteer leaders
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