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FARM & RANCH ESTATE PLANNING (SEE INSERT)

LOCAL MEETING JANUARY 20TH IN SPEARMAN CONTACT: DEDE JONES

AMARILLO – Seven Farm and Ranch Estate Planning Workshops are scheduled during January in the Panhan- The following is a schedule of times, dates and other locations: dle, featuring Dr. Wayne Hayenga, professor emeritus and - 6-8 p.m., Jan. 20, O’Laughin Center, 502 S. Brandt St., Spearman. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist from Col- - Noon-2 p.m., Jan. 21, Carson County War Memorial, 500 Main St., lege Station. Panhandle. - 6-8 p.m., Jan. 21, AgriLife Extension office for Randall County, These seminars will provide participants with enough in- 200 Brown Road, Canyon. formation on tax and estate planning matters to assist in - 1-3 p.m., Jan. 22, AgriLife Extension office for Deaf Smith County, making difficult decisions, said DeDe Jones, AgriLife Ex- 903 14th St., Hereford. tension risk management specialist in Amarillo. - 6-8 p.m., Jan. 22, Moore County Community Building, 1600 Mad- dox St., Dumas. Hayenga is an agricultural economist and attorney who - 12:30-2:30 p.m., Jan. 23, Happy State Bank Pioneer Room, 500 works extensively with farmers, ranchers and family Main St., Silverton. owned firms in financial, business and estate tax plan- - 6-8 p.m., Jan. 23, Donley County Activity Center, 4430 State High- ning, Jones said. He will give a thorough analysis of rele- way 70, Clarendon. vant income and estate tax rules as they affect families and agricultural businesses. Topics will include: - The Will: What all is needed?: Selection of executor, paying debts “These seminars are helpful to married couples in that and taxes, “Share and share alike?,” and “Do I need a trust?” they discuss estate administration and tax reporting re- - A living trust: Managing property to take “care of,” not “give to” quirements for the surviving spouse. They are also useful people. Avoiding guardianships and many other benefits. for potential executors and trustees and helpful to all who - Passing on an active farm or ranch: Tips for keeping the business want to make their estate settlements less burdensome going. to their loved ones,” Jones said. - Power of attorney: What if they don’t work? Health care power of attorney. Living wills. The local meeting will be held on January 20th from 6-8 - Taxes: Estate tax, generation-skipping tax, gift tax, income tax and pm at the O’Loughlin Center in Spearman. Hutchinson Social Security tax. and Hansford Extension Offices have secured donors to - Property in different states - avoid probate. cover the cost of the workshop in Spearman, with no pre- - How Not to Let My Kid’s “Ex” Mess With Me registration required. NORTH PLAINS EPIC TEAM RECEIVES SUPERIOR SERVICE AWARD BY: KAY LEDBETTER CONTACT: BRANDON DUKES

AMARILLO — Efficient Profitable Irrigation in Corn, or EPIC, a re- irrigation systems and solid agricultural practices in a production sults demonstration effort conducted in six counties in the north- strategy focusing on maximized yields. ern Panhandle has received the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension “Your team conceived and implemented the EPIC program in coop- Service Superior Service Award in the Team category. eration with agricultural irrigation producers in the northern Texas The award was presented Jan. 8 during the agency’s Centennial Panhandle,” a letter of support read. “The EPIC program shows Conference in College Station. that crop yield and production profitability can be increased in AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agents on the association with timely reductions in applied irrigation water from team were Scott Strawn, Ochiltree County; J.R. Sprague, Lipscomb the aquifer. County; Marcel Fischbacher, Moore County; Michael Bragg, Dal- “Your program demonstrates that conserving the Ogallala Aquifer lam/Hartley counties; Kristy (Synatschk) Slough, Hutchinson for future generations while protecting on-farm economic viability County; and Brad Easterling, Sherman County. can create a win-win scenario for today’s and future aquifer us- The foundation of EPIC is the principle of managing irrigation wa- ers.” ter for maximized profitability as a means for making optimal eco- Superior Service awards are presented to personnel who demon- nomic and agronomic use of the Ogallala Aquifer, the nomination strate outstanding performance or provide exceptional service to stated. AgriLife Extension, an educational outreach agency of The Texas EPIC targets grain corn producers who historically employ efficient A&M University System. VOLUME 4, ISSUE 2 Page 3

2013 NORTH PLAINS EFFICIENT PROFITABLE IRRIGATION IN CORN – HUTCHINSON COUNTY BY: KRISTY SLOUGH

As noted in the 2011 Panhandle Region Water Plan: Agricultural this was not the case. Extension worked with the Lieb Brothers Water Demands, the 2006RWP, calculated that over 92% of all once again but this time they were not blind. They participated in water use in the region occurred by the agricultural sector. Irri- the EPIC program and learned to make management decisions gated crop use accounted for almost 98% of the total agricultur- based on the reports provided by the advanced technology em- al water use, while livestock production used just over two per- ployed by the demonstration. Only one AquaSpy probe was in- cent. The magnitude of the water use in agriculture makes effi- serted in their field and the entire field was considered to be cient and profitable irrigation a necessity. Because of the combi- EPIC managed. Both brothers had the internet access capabili- nation of record setting heat and current drought conditions, ties and were e-mailed the daily reports from Aqua Planner. Us- producers, land owners and local citizens have become more ing this technology the brothers began to make and understand aware of water used for irrigation therefore raising the necessity the management decisions that were needed. to use water efficiently. On June 7th both the EPIC field and the other non-technology Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Hutchinson County managed field of which we were going to compare EPIC’s yields worked to promote wise water use; and demonstrate that using survived a drastic hail storm. The plants were shredded and water wisely can lead to a higher profitability rate in the common insurance was called. Insurance adjusters did not consider the crops of corn and cotton. The North Plains Ground Water Con- fields to be a loss therefore the producers had to carry them to servation District (NPGWCD) had worked independently among harvest. Because the plants had endured a significant amount producers since 2010 with their 200-12 Reduced Irrigation on of damage it was decided that yield would not be a dependable Corn Demonstration. In 2011 they, NPGWCD, partnered with indicator of EPIC success in 2013. The focus of the program Texas AgriLife Extension Service to broaden their audience. The then shifted even more to learning to use the technology availa- board of NPGWCD voted to fund the equipment and technology ble. Agents, cooperators and irrigation management specialist cost associated with Extension’s programming and demonstra- worked together to interpret the data and make the best deci- tions which set out to test the following idea: By closely monitor- sions possible. ing the corn water use and available ground moisture, one can reduce irrigation by one or two inches per acre yet still remain The 2013 Corn Management Conference held in August focused profitable. With over 900,000 acres of corn planted in the upper solely on learning to interpret the technology. The meeting was 21 counties of the Texas Panhandle, 17,400 in Hutchinson attended by 15 people, 3 of which were visitors from neighboring County, and corn alone accounts for over 53% of the water used water districts who wanted to learn how to use the technology to for irrigated crops. Hutchinson County was one of six counties in start programs like EPIC in their area. Producers, water district the Texas Panhandle that participated in the North Plains Effi- officials and the irrigation presenters were in agreement that cient Profitable Irrigation in Corn Project or North Plains E.P.I.C. technology does no good unless producers understand how to in 2011 and one of seven in 2012. Hutchinson County’s North use the information it provides. Plains E.P.I.C. demonstration site was unique due to the type of irrigation; sub-surface drip irrigation. Results from 2011 con- The plot was harvested the week of September 30th. In the end firmed the hypothesis by yielding 10 bu/acre higher on the the plot that had been managed with access to full technology E.P.I.C. plot than the legacy irrigated plot. ended up producing 240 bushels of corn to the acre. The plot that was managed according to traditional standards produced Because of the limited amount of drip irrigation in Hutchinson 230 bushels an acre. The cooperators agreed the technology County in 2012, producers, Hutchinson County Ag Program Area greatly assisted them in managing and timing their irrigations in Committee, and the specialist involved wanted to implement order to have the “most bang for their buck”. Agent Slough as- E.P.I.C. under a traditional circular pivot irrigation system. A will- sisted them through technology training and interpreting the data ing cooperating producer was found. The 2012 producer would and in the end had an irrigation water savings, pumping cost be the Lieb Brothers who were willing to participate with Texas savings and an increased yield. A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the E.P.I.C. program as well as work to split 900 gallon per minute irrigation between the Future Programming: 130 acres of corn in the EPIC demonstration and 100 acres of Should funding of the North Plains EPIC project continue in cotton. The 2012 demonstration and education yielded 7 bu/ 2014, Hutchinson County already has a cooperator and will par- acre higher on the EPIC Managed side with an irrigation savings ticipate in the trial. It has been requested to also see if of 2.5 inches per acre. Hutchinson County can test the nitrogen sensors within the AquaSpy probes along with their EPIC demonstration of irrigation These irrigation savings cannot truly impact the producers management. North Plains EPIC has been beneficial to though unless they know how to use the technology to make the Hutchinson County and will continue to help farmers conserve best management decisions. In the prior 2 years, the EPIC side water and be profitable at the same time. of the field has been solely controlled by Extension as far as when and how much water to apply through irrigation. In 2013, HUTCHINSON COUNTY

500 North Main, Suite 101 P.O. Box 1247 Stinnett, TX 79083

Phone: 806-878-4026 Fax: 806-878-4021 E-mail: [email protected]

We are on the web!

http://hutchinson-tx.tamu.edu

Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin.

The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating

UPCOMING EVENTS– CONTACT KRISTY FOR INFO

January 16th - Corn Conference - Spearman

January 16th - High Plains Irrigation Confrence - Amarillo

January 20th - Marketing & Cotton Meeting - Spearman

January 20th - Farm & Ranch Estate Planning Meeting - Spearman

January 24th - Hutchinson County Junior Livestock Show - Borger

February 3rd - 8th - Fort Worth Livestock Show

February 13th - 21st - San Antonio Livestock Show

February 25th - Sorghum Meeting in Morse - Pending Speaker Schedules

YOU HAVE MAIL!

If you are interested in receiving updates by e-mail about upcoming activities and result demonstrations, please e-mail Kristy at [email protected] and you will be added to the Ag E-Mail Blast list. We have various CEU and programming opportunities and e-mail is the best way to pass them all along in a timely manner!