COLLEGE STATION – Popeye would be proud. Above-average yields are expected for this year’s spinach crop due to favorable weather, Texas Cooperative Extension reports. “Last year, a lot of mid-winter rain caused high incidence of disease problems,” said Joe Peña, Extension economist-management in Uvalde. “This year rain came early just when the crop was forming…
COLLEGE STATION – One of the main problems facing the Texas floriculture and ornamental horticulture industry today is a lack of qualified growers within the industry. However, Texas A&M, in response to the request of the state’s growers, is planning to take the first step to correct this problem by using the funds from the…
DALLAS — After nearly 12 years of state-wide testing, the Texas A&M Agriculture Program has designated the shantung maple tree as the newest Texas Superstar. “This tree, native to northern China, is one of the finest small trees we’ve found,” said Steve George, Texas Cooperative Extension horticulturist in Dallas. “In suburban/urban areas, yards are getting…
EAST TEXAS Texas Cooperative Extension has named Marty Baker as the new state coordinator for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, Southern Region. Baker, an Extension horticultural specialist and Texas A&M University associate professor, is widely known throughout East Texas for his work promoting profitable, sustainable methods to commercial vegetable and fruit…
SAN ANTONIO — Lynn Rawe, a five-year Texas Cooperative Extension veteran with 25 years of experience in horticulture, is the new county Extension agent for horticulture in Bexar County. She was most recently a horticulture specialist in Extension’s West Texas region, serving a 23-county area and based in Fort Stockton. The Dallas native holds bachelor’s…
EULESS The 2001 Turfgrass America Texas A&M Invitational is set for Sept. 17 at the Texas Star Golf Course in Euless. “The Invitational is supporting turfgrass research, education and Extension programs at Texas A&M University,” said Milt Engelke, Experiment Station turfgrass researcher. “This research will help develop new and better athletic fields, golf courses…
WESLACO National sales of potted, blooming orchids are going through the roof, and the scientist largely responsible for the new phenomenon is working overtime to keep up with the demand for his expertise. Dr. Yin-Tung Wang, a horticulturist at the Texas A&M Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Weslaco in the Lower Rio Grande…
COLLEGE STATION — Students and faculty from Texas A&M University’s department of horticultural sciences swept key leadership positions at the annual meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Science recently in Sacramento, Calif. Dr. Dan Lineberger, Texas A&M horticulture professor, was installed as president of the society whose nearly 4,000 members come from the United…
COLLEGE STATION Colorful maroon and tasty sweet beverages – big attractants for thirsty people may be headed for grocery stores, via a carrot that also slips good nutrition into the mix. Beta Sweet, a maroon carrot developed by Dr. Leonard Pike at Texas A&M University, is being tested by fruit and vegetable juice…
COLLEGE STATION Ideal seasonal conditions have produced an extraordinary peach crop, the Texas Agricultural Extension Service reports. “We’ve got an excellent crop all across the state,” said James Kamas, Extension horticulturist in Fredericksburg. Kamas said the wet fall helped replenish soil moisture and allowed for strong root growth following last year’s harvest. The winter…
