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 Faculty & Staff Listings Mission Statement AgriLife Research AgriLife Extension Journal Publications Weekly Crop Report Field Day Photo Gallery Career Opportunities Foundation Seed Service  Calendar of Events
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Texas AgriLife Research Texas AgriLife Research is the state agency responsible for agricultural research in Texas. Research at the Vernon Center supports the two major agricultural enterprises of the region - dryland farming and ranching Agronomic research has evaluated cropping and tillage systems for cotton, wheat, guar, grain sorghum, and forage crops. Moisture conservation has been investigated through furrow diking, reduced tillage, crop rotations, tillage systems, and crop residue management to enhance moisture storage and conservation by reducing wind and water erosion. New and improved forage crops are being introduced and evaluated to develop grazing systems that are productive throughout the year. Improved varieties of hard red winter wheat and triticale are being developed for the Rolling and High Plains of Texas, through a research effort coordinated by the AgriLife Research wheat breeder at the Amarillo Center. This effort emphasizes development of varieties with resistance to drought, disease and insects and capable of producing high yields of both forage and grain for use as dual-purpose crops that are grazed in fall/winter and harvested for grain, hay or silage in spring. Cotton insects receive major research emphasis, and research efforts have resulted in improved management of the boll weevil through utilization of uniform planting dates and management of potential overwintering habitat. Entomological research has shown that timing irrigations to avoid peak moth flight activity can be used to reduce outbreaks of the bollworm. Current efforts on planting dates, nitrogen fertility levels, and irrigation schedules have significant potential for management of the cotton aphid. Other research efforts are directed to aphids on wheat, rangeland insects and livestock pests. Improved cattle production, nutrition, and economic return has resulted from studies on grazing management and levels and timing of supplement on native range and pasture planted to Old World bluestem. Grazing management research on a production scale has provided a basis for several alternative stocking and grazing strategies for northwest Texas. Related research addresses the economic returns and risks associated with stocker cattle enterprises and evaluates a wide range of agronomic and grazing management practices on beef and grain production from wheat and on subsequent economic returns. Brush control research involving herbicides has contributed directly to the registration of three major products currently available to Texas landowners. Current research integrating prescribed burning with other brush control measures is providing systems to increase economic efficiency in managing levels of brush density and cover on Rolling Plains rangelands. Plant physiology studies have increased the understanding of mesquite water use and aided in the timing of herbicide treatments. Economic analyses are providing a quantitative means of comparing various brush control options. Research has improved management decisions for whole ranch enterprises, through computer modeling. Data from field experiments and previously acquired results are compared with the computer output. The tested model is used to simulate a variety of decision outcomes, that could be made by a producer. These decision support techniques should allow landowners to better understand and choose profitable alternatives in their ranching enterprises. The addition of a wildlife research program at Vernon provides the means for integrating traditional rangeland research with conservation of the wildlife resources of the upper Rolling Plains. As a land use, wildlife management has become an important source of income to land managers in the region, primarily from recreational lease hunting for white-tailed deer and bobwhite quail. The focus of our research deals with the relationship of various wildlife populations to traditional land use practices like cattle grazing and brush management. Understanding these relationships is filling a gap in our knowledge of wildlife population ecology in the upper Rolling Plains, and allowing land managers to better manage the wildlife resources occupying their land.
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 Crop Management Ranch Management
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Copyright (c) 2005
Texas A&M University System
Last Modified -- 11/18/09 14:32 |
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