Spider mite infestations across the Texas High Plains were among the worst producers have had to deal with in years, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologist.

Ed Bynum, AgriLife Extension entomologist, said corn producers primarily saw populations of the Banks grass mite, which “are supposedly easier to control than the two-spotted spider mite.”

But, Bynum said, this year many producers had a hard time controlling any mites with a single miticide application.

AMBRACO is offering a new wrap for round hay bales.

Vegetated drainage ditches can help capture pesticide and nutrient loads in field runoff, USDA scientists report. These ditches – as common in the country as the fields they drain – give farmers a low-cost alternative for managing agricultural pollutants and protecting natural resources.

Despite getting some big storms last month, much of the U.S. is still desperate for relief from the nation's longest dry spell in decades. And experts say it will take an absurd amount of snow to ease the woes of farmers and ranchers.

Management is an explicit process. It can be taught, and it can be learned. It takes time, dedication and self-discipline. Management is often the difference between success and failure.