Ask Andy Wisdom what makes his West Texas cotton farm a success, and he will tell you the secret can't be found just in his soil or in any particular crop input.
It's teamwork that makes his Levelland, Texas, cotton farm run like clockwork.
"It's a team mentality with me," Wisdom said. "I'm very hands-on. I don't ask my people to do things that I wouldn't do myself. I can run any piece of equipment on this place, from the planter to the stripper. I have a great support system, from the people I work with to the people I farm for, and I can't do what I need to do out here without that support."
This team concept works for this fifth generation cotton farmer, who consistently brings in yields in the 2 to 4 bale range year after year.
In just over 10 years, the contagious bacterial disease of the intestinal tract known as Johne's disease has become prevalent in as many as 70 percent of U.S. dairy herds.
National Animal Disease Center (NADC) microbiologist Judy Stable said this increase is due to the fast expansion of large dairy herds throughout the country.
"Studies showed that in 1996, Johne's disease was in about 22 percent of the U.S. herds, but because of rapid expansion of herds across the country, producers unknowingly purchased young heifers and older cows which were infected with the disease and thus has raised the prevalence of Johne's to be present in nearly 70 percent of the herds," she said.
14th annual "Battle of the Salsas" winners announced at State Fair 2010 David G. and Lucille S. Rice Legislative Internship accepting applications 2010 Kirk Hanna Cattlemen's Leadership College starts in January 2010 National Western 4-H Catch-A-Calf applicants wanted 25th annual Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show starts Dec. 1 3 million acres taken out of conservation program 4-H cookies of appreciation go to 700 peace officers Aberdeen cattle sales report ACGA calls for completion of Senate climate bill Ada livestock auction report AFBF, Ag Library to create information clearinghouse for beginning farmers AFBF: S. 1733 fails farmers and consumers Ag foundation's teacher of the year award deadline Dec. 4 Alfalfa conditions remain mostly good Although steady prices, hay moving slow Amarillo livestock sales report Angus champions named at 2009 American Royal ROV Show Annual Small Ruminant Program to be held Nov. 14 Apache livestock sales report Arkansas farmers assess damage; look to drier days ahead ARS releases first hard winter wheat varieties for eastern U.S. production As cows eat, so grow the calves ASA celebrates 90th year as grassroots voice of soybean farmers ASA submits concerns and issues for climate change legislation Aspen rescue effort has saved 95 horses Avoid soil compaction when harvesting wet fields Banner year for water resource projects in Kansas Bayer CropScience claims nearly half of U.S. cotton seed market Bobwhite quail in need of 'living space' Breaking land or altering wetlands? Brownback: USDA lab will bring companies to Kansas Bug-borne disease lab heading to Kansas Cattlemen urge EPA not to regulate agriculture out of business CDA urges pet safety during cold weather CDC: Tainted ground beef may be linked to 2 deaths Chicot County: 'We are going to be lucky to make half a crop' China agrees to reopen market to U.S. pork Colorado feeder cattle report Commercial pigs test positive for H1N1 Commissioner Staples welcomes announcement that China will soon re-open market to U.S. pork Computer modeling can contribute to Thai soybean production Control of Eastern red cedar urged Cost of drying wet corn Cotton farmer credits team for successful crop Counting the chickens Crop scouting In space Current status of southeast Kansas aquifers topic of Nov. 9 informational meeting Dairy farmers tell Congress more must be done Dalhart livestock sales report Denison feeder cattle report Dodge City cattle sales report Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh to visit Cowley County Nov. 19 Drenching rains further delay crop activities Dry bean breeding specialist wins excellence award Drying the 2009 crop Economist: Cattle producers predicted to see profitable outlook in 2010 Elk Foundation grants for Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma awarded Elliott has only open spaces Ellison elected to national Red Angus board EPA hits the accelerator Equine piroplasmosis disease investigation continues in Texas Ericson livestock auction report Ethanol plants using hops to eliminate bacteria EU OKs millions for dairy farmers amid protests Excessive moisture slows harvest Extension Council Election set for Nov. 10 Faith livestock sales report Fall color in an evergreen? Fall for taste-full salads Farm Bureau Convention set for Nov. 6 to 8 Farm Bureau petitions U.S. Supreme Court on pesticide case Farm states may copy Ohio vote on livestock rules Farmers flock to low-interest USDA loans-Should assistance be targeted to only certain types of farm Farmers growing electricity along with their crops Feral hog population on the rise in Arkansas First Montana license issued to hemp grower First San Antonio International Farm and Ranch Show a success, say organizers Foley Equipment Company acquires Martin Tractor Company Food writer Pollan at California school upsets big ag Former New Mexico bull rider now breeding top bucking bulls FSA Administrator Coppess urges farmers, ranchers to vote in county committee elections Gills honored as 2009 Pioneer Breeder of the Year Goldthwaite sheep sales report Grain market close Grain storage, temperature important Grain transport waiver issued for Missouri farmers Grains see sharp gains Grow Your Farm program is growing Hawaii regulators approve first U.S. tuna farm Hay trade slow to moderate Heavy rainfall complicates soybean harvest and storage Helping developing nations requires humility, focus Herbicide resistant sorghum in development stages Herd expansion leads to more Johne's High Plains slaughter news High tech research seeks climate change answers down on the farm Huron cattle sales report Hydrology study shows benefits of traditional acequia irrigation systems IBBA officers attend World Brangus Congress in Paraguay In other agribusiness news.... ISU agriculture pavilion project receives jump-start from Walter gift Joanne Lupton elected to Institute of Medicine Joplin regional cattle sales report Just a scoop full Kansas Department of Agriculture launches new online business license site Kansas Soybean Commission schedules meeting Kansas, Oklahoma conduct joint livestock disease drill K-State professor of agronomy receives Commerce Bank Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award K-State researchers creating tools to show how Ogallala Aquifer decisions affect people, local econo LaMoure company provides bucking bulls Lexington livestock market report Livestock disease plan to be presented soon Livestock judging team having busy, successful fall Livestock producers urged to have plan Maddux named nation's top rancher McAlester livestock auction report McCook Farm and Ranch Expo Nov. 18 and 19 Meat Industry Hall of Fame inducts first group of charter members Meditation for 11-9-09 Mentors for youth needed MGGA travels state seeking producer input Millions of newly released acres flood markets Missouri ethanol mandate is self-enforcing Missouri farmers report tough fall Missouri Livestock Symposium to be held Dec. 4 and 5 in Kirksville Moisture slows harvest More wet weather National 4-H Month focuses on youth contribution to community NCBA continues to call for death tax reform NCBA member testifies Nebraska rancher wins national award New Census of Agriculture tabulation by unicameral district now available New meat cuts add value to beef New soybean varieties debut Newell sheep sales report Nitty Gritty Dirt Band to perform at Commodity Classic NM calf fitted with prosthetic legs North Arkansas livestock market report November is National Peanut Butter Lovers' Month October average rainfall tops 10 inches, a near record OKC West livestock sales report Oklahoma made cheese takes the gold prize OSU to host global horticulture conference OSU Viticulture and Enology Program awarded national grant Pears and apples love each other Phosphorus system to assist Kansas farmers, feedlots Pioneer Hi-Bred announces new inoculant platform for forages Pratt 3 p.m. cattle sales Pratt livestock sales report Program helps farmers who help the environment Program offers tips on turning a home recipe into a business Recent rainfall, cool temps improve wheat growing conditions Referendum proposes amendments to Cotton Research, Promotion Order Ride the Range Beef Cow Symposium XXI bus to Casper with the CSU Beef Team Salina cattle sales report School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences OK'd by commission Schwarzenegger says California cows can keep tails Searching for ways to reduce agriculture's climate change footprint Snow storm halts harvest Snowstorm brings harvest to a halt Solar power waters cattle on Washington ranch South Central direct sheep Soybean seed treatment offers benefits St. Onge livestock sales report Staples announces first-ever young farmer grant program Staples announces support of critical projects to bring broadband to the underserved in Texas Starting a business? Do your homework Stressed cows give less milk, force imports for Puerto Rico Study: Lidar sensing gives researchers clearer view of forests Sugar beet harvest behind normal Sun, dry forecast prompt harvest hopes, even for submerged crops Sustainable Ranching Workshop Nov. 23 at Kimball Taiwan's Ma seeks to calm uproar over U.S. beef TAMU Fit-to-Finish Show Cattle Camp Dec. 12 and 13 Texas cattle industry groups meet to discuss tick fever prevention The top line Tulia livestock sales report Tulsa livestock sales report U.S. Pork Center of Excellence receives grant U.S. Wheat releases annual report USDA announces $17 million in grants to train beginning farmers, ranchers USDA seeks applications for value added producer grants USDA: Six pigs tested positive for H1N1 USDA-funded swine genome sequencing project succeeds in completing first draft USTR, Vilsack announce China's intent to re-open market to U.S. pork products Washington County Farm Bureau receives funding Watch out for nitrate poisoning in forages, forbes Watertown cattle sales report West Plains regional cattle sales Wet fall increases grain sprouting before harvest, causing storage problems, says MU agronomist Wet fields limit fieldwork Wet weather affecting fall-born calves Wet weather continues to stall harvest Wet weather keeps producers out of fields When times get tough, manage financial stress by having a plan to attack it Witness: Processing plant manager hired illegals Woodward livestock sales report Wyobraska cattle sales report
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