News Update

News Update
March 11, 2008

Gasoline Prices Only the Beginning

Today’s record gas prices will likely continue to increase in the coming weeks, a CNN.com article reports. According to the article, the national average retail price for gas has risen 27¢ in the last month to $3.227 per gallon and is expected to hit $4 per gallon before subsiding in late spring.

Three analysts quoted in the article suggested that prices will peak in April or May, then decline as the economy worsens. High prices are due in part to a 20% jump in crude oil price in just more than a month’s time thanks to investments flooding commodities of all types, the article noted.

In fact, oil hit a record $109.72 per barrel yesterday on the New York Mercantile Exchange before falling to $107.25 per barrel this morning, according to The Associated Press.

Barnes, Rove, Samuelson to Headline TSCRA Convention

Fred Barnes, Karl Rove and Orion Samuelson will be featured speakers at the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Annual Convention and Trade Show March 14-17 in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Barnes is executive director of The Weekly Standard, co-host of The Beltway Boys and a Fox News commentator.

Rove is a former deputy chief of staff and senior advisor to President Bush.

Orion Samuelson is agribusiness director for WGN Radio in Chicago and is host of the National Farm Report and can be seen weekly on RFD-TV as co-host of This Week in Agri-Business.

For more information about the TSCRA Annual Convention and Trade Show, visit www.texascattleraisers.org/corpusconvention2008.

Agricultural Conference Set for March 26 in Snyder

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service will sponsor a multi-county “Lower Rolling Plains Ag Conference” from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on March 26 at the Scurry Coliseum in Snyder. The program is to be a clearinghouse of information sought by area producers, said Ed Bynum, AgriLife Extension integrated pest management agent at Sweetwater. “The program will touch on everything from the Farm Bill to herbicide-resistant weed control,” Bynum said. “Our aim is to provide information on matters affecting crop and livestock producers in this region, though much of the information will also be applicable to almost anywhere in Texas.”

Morning topics will include: “Farm Bill Update,” “Laws and Regulations” and “Weed Resistance to Herbicides–Why and How.” Following a catered lunch, the program will split into two concurrent sessions. Session A presentations will be: “Cotton Weed Management–Goals for Economical Yields,” “Grain Sorghum Production and Insect Control” and “Drift Management.” Session B presentations will be: “Wildlife Management for Fun and/or Profit,” “How to Find Good Herbicide Recommendations for Range Systems,” “Summer Annual Forage Sorghum Management” and “Herd Health Issues.” The Texas Department of Agriculture will offer seven continuing education units. Also, persons needing a Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator’s license can receive the necessary training from 9 a.m. to noon with the testing to follow at 1 p.m. For this training, RSVP by March 21 by calling 325-573-5423. Individual registration for the Ag Conference is $10 by March 21 and $15 thereafter.

For more information and to register, call Bynum at 325-236-9011 or the AgriLife Extension office in Scurry County at 325-573-5423. AgriLife Extension offices involved with conducting the program are in Borden, Fisher, Garza, Mitchell, Nolan and Scurry counties.

— Release provided by Texas A&M University.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.