Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. 18 Southern Colorado Ag and Range Newsletter Page 1 ISSUE Inside this Issue Ag Agent Introduction ........................... 1 Drought Monitors .................................. 2 Director Introduction ............................. 3 Know a Native ...................................... 3 Rabies in Colorado ................................ 4 Tumbleweeds ................................... 4-5 Worker Protection Training .................... 5 County Animal Rescue Team ................. 6 Database Update Request ..................... 6 CoCoRaHS ............................................ 7 Calendar of Events & Announcements .... 8 Tom Laca is the Extension Agent for Small Acreage/Range/Natural Resources Management in the Colorado State University Extension Pueblo County office. He can be reached at (719) 583-6566 or [email protected]Office Hours: Monday—Friday 8 a.m.—5 p.m. (excluding holidays) CSU Extension Pueblo County 701 Court St., Suite C Pueblo, CO 81003 Phone: (719) 583-6566 Fax: (719) 583-6582 http://pueblo.colostate.edu www.facebook.com/ CSUExtensionPueblo All articles written by Tom Laca unless otherwise indicated. Ag Agent Introduction March 2014 Well, hello everyone. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I am Tom Laca and I am the new Ag and Natural Resources Extension Agent for Pueblo County. I was born and raised in Fallon, NV on a small cow/calf and hay operation. Growing up I was involved in 4-H and FFA as well as High School Rodeo. I graduated from CSU with a B.S. Degree in Animal Science with a minor in Ag Economics. From there I went on to manage a 2000+ acre ranch in Del Norte, CO for absentee owners. Currently, I own a small ranch in Monte Vista, but we are looking to relocate to Pueblo County. My wife Jill, and I have two kids, Zeb who is nine and Lacie is seven. In this transition to a new job and home I am looking forward to meeting the people of this community as well as learning the challenges that you face. Being new to the area I know that there is great deal to learn about the natural resources available as well as the issues that face the producers and land owners of the county. It is my intent to be involved in the community and to help you find ways to remain sustainable in these times of increased economic and regulative pressure. These first several months here I will spend the majority of my time learning the area and the issues you face. I feel this is important so that we can then design our programs to fit the needs of this community. As I begin my tenure here in Pueblo County, I see myself as your agent. I am here to help you be successful. Please feel free to e- mail, call or stop by the office to discuss any issues you may have, or even just to chat. Also, if there is anything in particular that you would like to see in this newsletter as well as classes or educational opportunities that you would like to have in the area, let me know and I will do my best to make it happen. I am looking forward to meeting everyone and developing working relationships within the community. Together we can become successful and preserve our way of life. I can be contacted at 719-583-6566 or by e-mail: [email protected]. You can always stop by the CSU Extension/Pueblo County office at 701 Court St, 2nd Floor, in Pueblo.
Transcript
Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
18 Southern Colorado
Ag and Range Newsletter Page 1
ISSUE
Inside this Issue
Ag Agent Introduction ........................... 1
Tom Laca is the Extension Agent for Small Acreage/Range/Natural Resources Management in the Colorado State University Extension Pueblo County office. He can be reached at (719) 583-6566 or [email protected]
Office Hours:
Monday—Friday 8 a.m.—5 p.m.
(excluding holidays)
CSU Extension Pueblo County
701 Court St., Suite C
Pueblo, CO 81003
Phone:
(719) 583-6566
Fax:
(719) 583-6582
http://pueblo.colostate.edu
www.facebook.com/
CSUExtensionPueblo
All articles written by Tom Laca unless otherwise indicated.
Ag Agent Introduction
March 2014
Well, hello everyone. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I am Tom Laca and I am the new Ag and Natural Resources Extension Agent for Pueblo County. I was born and raised in Fallon, NV on a small cow/calf and hay operation. Growing up I was involved in 4-H and FFA as well as High School Rodeo. I graduated from CSU with a B.S. Degree in Animal Science with a minor in Ag Economics. From there I went on to manage a 2000+ acre ranch in Del Norte, CO for absentee owners. Currently, I own a small ranch in Monte Vista, but we are looking to relocate to Pueblo County. My wife Jill, and I have two kids, Zeb who is nine and Lacie is seven.
In this transition to a new job and home I am looking forward to meeting the people of this community as well as learning the challenges that you face. Being new to the area I know that there is great deal to learn about the natural resources available as well as the issues that face the producers and land owners of the county. It is my intent to be involved in the community and to help you find ways to remain sustainable in these times of increased economic and regulative pressure. These first several months here I will spend the majority of my time learning the area and the issues you face. I feel this is important so that we can then design our programs to fit the needs of this community.
As I begin my tenure here in Pueblo County, I see myself as your agent. I am here to help you be successful. Please feel free to e-mail, call or stop by the office to discuss any issues you may have, or even just to chat. Also, if there is anything in particular that you would like to see in this newsletter as well as classes or educational opportunities that you would like to have in the area, let me know and I will do my best to make it happen. I am looking forward to meeting everyone and developing working relationships within the community. Together we can become successful and preserve our way of life. I can be contacted at 719-583-6566 or by e-mail: [email protected]. You can always stop by the CSU Extension/Pueblo County office at 701 Court St, 2nd Floor, in Pueblo.
Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
Page 3 Southern Colorado
Ag and Range
Facts:
Native, Warm Season, Perennial Moderately drought tolerant Deep rooted with short, stout rhizomes Medium sized bunchgrass Grows 15-30 inches tall Spikes dangle from one side of the zigzag stalk High quality, nutritious forage Not as resistant to grazing as Blue Grama Moderately palatable in winter Fair to good erosion control
Sources: Kiowa Conservation District and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Photos courtesy of: USDA.gov and Kiowa Conservation District
Know a Native— Sideoats Grama, Bouteloua curtipendula
Hello. I am the Pueblo County Extension Director, Michael Fisher, but you are welcome
to call me MJ. Tom asked me to tell you a little about my past. I am originally from a
diversified family farming operation in central Iowa. We raised corn, soybeans, and hay.
We also had a cow/calf herd, beef feedlot, and sheep flock. My degrees are a BS in
Animal Sciences from Iowa State University and a MS in Animal Sciences-Ruminant
Nutrition from Oregon State University. Currently, I am a fellow in the Colorado
Agricultural Leadership Program. Prior to moving to Colorado I’ve worked as an
assistant manager of a feedlot, a field technician conducting feed additive research and
development, a feed sales representative, the meat animal evaluation judging coach for
the University of Georgia, and a County Ag Agent in Virginia. In 2007, I moved to
Colorado to be the Area Livestock Extension Agent for five counties in Northeastern Colorado, serving in that
role for six years. Additionally, I was Colorado State University Extension’s Agricultural Program Area Leader
during the last two years that I was a Livestock Agent. In July 2013 I began as the CSU Extension Director
for Pueblo County. While my new position is mostly administrative, I hope to stay involved in some livestock
and range programming, as well as work on some ag related community development efforts.
CSU Extension/Pueblo County Director Introduction
Noxious Weed Control Plan
50% Cost Share is available to property owners who apply and are afflicted with a species of weed listed on the Colorado Noxious Weed A or B List.
Turkey Creek Conservation District highlights their role in Pueblo County’s Noxious Weed Control Program.
User friendly method of making this cost share an easy reality for landowners.
Contact Turkey Creek Conservation District at 719-543-8386 ext. 116 or email: [email protected]
Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
Page 4 Southern Colorado
Ag and Range Newsletter
Continued page 5
We have all seen the mess that the tumbleweeds have made across Pueblo County this winter. As the winds blow, these plants roll across the landscape scattering their seeds while looking for a place to come to rest. They drift along fences and windbreaks, up against houses, and I’ve even seen a few lean-tos filled full. It is too late to fix this problem this winter but there are ways to help control these plants in the future.
Generally, there are two plants here that make up what we refer to as tumbleweeds. These are kochia and Russian thistle. Both of these plants are non-native annual plants that reproduce only from seed. Kochia is a summer annual that can grow to six feet or taller. It has many branches that form a pyramidal or conical shaped plant. Leaves are often hairy and are .5 to 2 inches long. When the plant matures, it will break off at the base and then become a tumbleweed. Kochia seeds germinate in early spring and will continue to germinate throughout the growing season.
Russian thistle is a large, bushy summer annual. As the plant matures, it becomes spiny and will be prickly to touch. It can grow to 3’ tall and a diameter of 18” up to 6’ in good growing conditions. As seedlings emerge, it will look similar to grass having small, alternating narrow leaves. Seeds are spread when the wind blows the mature plant across the landscape.
There are many ways to control these plants and a planned integrated approach utilizing several methods may be the best bet. Both plans have fair forage quality when young and can be grazed by livestock but they become unpalatable as they reach maturity. During early stages of growth they can be easily pulled or hoed. Light tillage can also displace the roots from the soil, but note that this produces a favorable condition for future tumbleweeds. Mowing is an option and is
Tumbleweeds
Rabies in Colorado
Rabies is on the rise in Colorado. In 2013 the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment reported that there
were 191 lab confirmed cases in Colorado. Of these cases, 70
were in bats, 102 in skunks, 10 in foxes and raccoons and 9
cases in domestic animals. This includes four horses and one
bull. The rise in these cases is due primarily to a form of rabies
that is being carried in skunks mainly, but has been seen in foxes
and raccoons. Rabies can only be diagnosed with a lab test
performed after death. The risk of your animals getting rabies is
low, but the consequence is fatal. Vaccination is the best method in preventing the disease from
spreading. Consult your veterinarian for more information and vaccination options.
Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
Date: Thursday, March 27, 2014 Time: 8 a.m.—11:30 a.m. Location: CSU Extension Regional Office 830 N. Main Street, lower level Pueblo, CO 81003 Cost: $50.00 (includes tools for pesticide safety training of workers) Registration: www.cepep.colostate.edu Presented by: Thia Walker, CSU Extension Specialist—Pesticide Safety Education
Learn how to comply with the Federal Worker Protection Standard for all agricultural employers. As an agricultural employer, you’re responsible for pesticide safety training, what information must be exchanged between producers, commercial applicators and ag consultants, decontamination supplies you must provide to workers, restrictions for workers during/after an application and proposed changes in WPS for 2014. For more information call Tom at 583-6566.
Page 5 Worker Protection Training Southern Colorado
Ag and Range Newsletter
best done when the plant is beginning to produce seed. Be aware that some plants will continue to produce seed below mowing levels but this may reduce the spread of the seed from blowing plants.
Herbicides can be used effectively to control kochia and Russian thistle. For kochia it is recommended to use fluroxypyr (Vista and Starane), dicamba and glyphosate. Russian thistle can be controlled with 2,4-D, dicamba or glyphosate. Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide that can kill or injure any vegetation it comes in contact with; therefore, use caution when applying near other plants and trees. For best results on stands that contain both species a mixture of dicamba and 2,4-D or dicamba and fluroxypyr are recommended. Please read and comply with all herbicide labels.
Competition from other plants will limit the establishment and dominance of kochia and
Russian thistle, thus maintaining healthy environments would be beneficial. Managing to promote
Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
Page 6 Southern Colorado
Ag and Range Newsletter County Animal Response Team (CART) by Julie Justman, Pueblo Animal Services
During a disaster, people and property protection is usually the first to come to the mind of most citizens. From the word “Go”, steps to protect public and private property from the hazards are put in place. Shelters may be established, evacuations may be initiated, and information is shared with the responders and the public. However, there is a team in Pueblo County who has another priority to add to that list, the County Animal Response Team (CART). The CART is a network of government, non-profits, businesses, and volunteers who work to address the needs of the animals in Pueblo County during a crisis.
While owner preparedness is a key message of the group, they also know there will be situations where animals will be at risk during a crisis and the group works to reduce those risks. Estimates are 70% of Pueblo County residents are pet/livestock owners and most of those own more than one animal. Pet owners can learn more about disaster preparedness for pets at www.ready.gov/caring-animals.
The CART team works in advance of the emergency to train volunteers, establish shelter locations, and identify the response and messaging needs of pet and livestock owners in our community. The group is looking for volunteers NOW, so they can be response ready in 2014 and beyond.
CART is a unique and rewarding volunteer opportunity, but just like other volunteer programs, there is a pre-screening/orientation process. They WILL NOT take on spontaneous volunteers during a disaster, so if you want to help then, you need to act now. Volunteers can indicate if they would like to specialize in small or large animals. There are several practical exercises planned already for 2014, so sign up now to start the training process. Those interested can volunteer for CART by contacting either of these organizations.
CSU Extension/Pueblo County Pueblo Animal Services 701 Court St., Ste C 4600 Eagleridge Pl. Pueblo, CO 81003 Pueblo, CO 81008 719-583-6566 719-544-3005 x 5415 [email protected][email protected]
This will be a quarterly newsletter that is currently being mailed, emailed and posted to our website, http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/Pueblo/agr/agri.shtml.
We’d appreciate you taking a couple minutes to let us know how you’d like to receive this newsletter. We hope to cut back on our postage costs but will continue to mail it if there is enough response to do so.
Please contact Carolyn at 719-583-6574 or [email protected] today and tell her if you prefer to receive this newsletter by mail or email. If we don’t receive your response by April 15, we’ll remove you from our mailing list.
Database Update
Food Preservation Classes Offered
Lois Illick, Family and Consumer Science Agent for CSU Extension-Pueblo County, will be offering a series of food preservation classes. The series called “Preserving the Harvest” offers a variety of classes (including some hands-on sessions) on water bath, pressure canning, freezing and dehydrating and jams and jellies. For more information, contact Christine at 719-583-6566 for a full brochure.
Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
Page 7 Southern Colorado
Ag and Range Newsletter The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network
What is CoCoRaHS? The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, is a non-profit community based, high density network of volunteers who take daily measurements of rain, hail and snow in their backyards.
A brief History. CoCoRaHS came about as a result of a devastating flash flood that hit Fort Collins, Colorado in July 1997. A very localized storm dumped over a foot of rain in several hours while other portions of the city had only modest rainfall. The ensuing flood caught many by surprise and caused $200 million in damages. CoCoRaHS was born in 1998 with the intent of doing a better job of mapping and reporting intense storms. As more volunteers participated, rain, hail, and snow maps were produced for every storm showing fascinating local patterns that were of great interest to scientists and the public. By 2010 CoCoRaHS became a nationwide volunteer network.
Volunteers of all ages welcome! The foundation of the CoCoRaHS network are individuals and family volunteers of all ages, from all walks of life, willing to spend a few minutes each day measuring and reporting precipitation. This is a project we can all help with.
Why is there so much interest in rain, hail and snow? Precipitation is essential for life. It varies greatly with topography, storm type and season. It really is true that it may pour on one side of the street and be dry on the other. A portion of a field may be pounded by hail while others nearby receive no damage. Snowfall may pile up in one neighborhood and only dust another. Rain, hail and snow are fairly easy to measure, and the data collected are very important. Meteorologists, hydrologists, engineers, builders . . . you name it, everyone seems to care about rain, hail, and snow. And for some, like farmers, it is their very livelihood. Training is the key to our success! Training is provided to teach new observers how to install their instruments, properly measure precipitation and send in reports. Volunteers post their daily observations on the CoCoRaHS website, www.cocorahs.org. Observations are immediately available on maps and reports for the public to view. By providing high quality, accurate measurements, the observers are able to supplement existing networks and provide useful results to scientists, resource managers, decision makers and other users.
Join CoCoRaHS Today! CoCoRaHS is a practical, enjoyable and useful activity. If you have an interest in weather and would like to help your local community, as well as scientists and others interested in precipitation, then CoCoRaHS is for you. It only takes a few minutes a day and gives you the chance to participate in real hands-on science. You’ll be amazed at what you learn as you become more aware of the variable weather that impacts you, your neighbors, your state and our entire country.
For more information contact CSU Extension in Pueblo County or go to the CoCoRaHS website at http://www.cocorahs.org
Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
Page 8 Southern Colorado
Ag and Range Newsletter Calendar of Events
March
26, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPS) Training, Wednesday, March 26. For more information
contact Jennifer Wells, 719-254-7608
27, Worker Protection Standards Training, Thursday, March 27, 8:30—11:30 a.m., CSU Extension Regional Office, 830 N. Main St., cost is $50, go to www.cepep.colostate.edu for
registration information.
30, Last day to order Seedling Trees, contact CSU Extension Pueblo County for an application.
April
26, Interesting Insects, Yard and Garden Class, 9 a.m—2 p.m., SE Colorado Water
Conservancy District, $20/person registration due April 18. Contact CSU Extension,
719-583-6566.
28, Ag Fest, April 28-30, Palace of Agriculture, Colorado State Fairgrounds, open to 5th and
6th grade students. Contact Devin Engle at 719-583-6566.
Monthly meetings:
Pueblo County Stockmen’s Association meets the first Thursday of each month at Mesa Vet
Clinic at 7 p.m.
Turkey Creek Conservation District meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month, Time: 2:30 p.m.
Location: 200 S. Santa Fe Ave., 4th floor, Call: (719) 543-8386 Ext. 116 for details.
South Pueblo Conservation District meets the 3rd Thursday of every month, Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: 200 S. Santa Fe Ave., 4th floor, Call: (719) 543-8386 Ext. 3 for details.
Announcements
Seedling Tree—Time is running out to order your trees from the Colorado
State Forest Service Seedling Program. These trees are available to land owners for conservation purposes only. This is a great way to establish windbreaks for
livestock and property protection as well as habitat for wildlife. There are many options from shrubs to aspen to evergreens. Order forms are available at the
Extension office and are due by March 30th. The trees will be available for pick up on May 1st and 2nd. For more information call us at (719)583-6566. Information can also be found at www.csfs.colostate.edu.
Advisory Committee—Pueblo County Extension is currently in the process of forming
advisory committees. These committees serve a vital role in assisting Extension in identifying the needs of the community as well as the programming desired to meet these needs. We are
seeking people who have an interest in livestock, range, natural resource and small acreage management to be a part of this committee. Extension begins at the local level and this
community support is essential to ensure that we work as “your” Extension office. If you or anyone you know would like more information on this opportunity, please give us a call at (719)583-6566.
