 Managing the number of deer in Texas is no joking matter. Too many deer causes the deer population to suffer from a shortage of food and water, can expedite animal diseases, can cause damage to agricultural operations and can create pressure on other types of native wildlife. Too few deer can cut sharply into a $1.5 billion Texas deer hunting industry, cause revenue losses to thousands of property owners statewide, and could wreak havoc on a support industry that depends on deer hunting season to survive and prosper. For most of our central Texas area we have too many deer. In most instances landowners/hunters probably need to take more doe this year to try to bring the buck-to-doe ratio closer into balance.
About 650,000 hunters will head to thousands of deer leases or to their own rural property this year to harvest well over a half-million deer, an annual ritual that many laud while others criticize for various reasons on both sides of the issue. Like it or not, deer hunting in Texas is big business, and more importantly, wildlife management specialists say hunting is absolutely necessary to ensure the number of deer in the state remain steady, manageable and in good health. Managing deer, however, is a science that requires more than a casual understanding.
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Convenience means different things to different people; to many it means saving time. Food delivered by mail is a popular, convenient gift idea. Because ordering food through the mail may cause concern about food safety, it's imperative to develop some mental checklists for how both food and packaging should look when it arrives. This is especially true for perishable foods that must be handled in a timely manner to prevent food borne illness.
The following will help determine if the foods have been handled properly:
* Make sure the company meets state or federal requirements for mail delivery.
* Make sure the company sends perishable foods with a cold source, such as dry ice.
* Make sure perishable items and the outer package are labeled "Keep Refrigerated" to alert the recipient. Food should be delivered as quickly as possible ideally, overnight.
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 Brown County 4-H is supported by Brown County United Way
DATES TO REMEMBER
October
30 - Food Challenge Practice 4:30p.m. at Extension Office
November
5 - Major Stock Show Entry Night 5:00p.m. at Extension Office
6 - Bangs 4-H Club Meeting 6:00p.m. at Bangs ISD FCS Classroom
10 - Swine Validation 8:00a.m. at the Youth Fair Barns
13 - Brownwood 4-H Club Meeting 6:30p.m. at Extension Office
13 - Early 4-H Club Meeting 6:30p.m. at Early First Baptist Church
19 - Major Stock Show Entry Night 5:00p.m. at Extension Office
20 - Rabbit Project Club Meeting 7:00p.m. at Extension Office
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Brown County 4-H is supported by Brown County United Way
DATES TO REMEMBER
October
21 - Sheep Project Club Meeting 6:00p.m. at the Youth Fair Barns
23 - Food Challenge Practice 4:30p.m. at Extension Office
23 - Food and Nutrition Quiz Bowl Practice 6:00p.m. at Extension Office
25 - Livestock Judging Meeting 6:30p.m. at Extension Office
27 - County Food Show 2:00p.m. at Extension Office
November
5 - Major Stock Show Entry Night 5:00p.m. at Extension Office
10 - Swine Validation 8:00a.m. at the Youth Fair Barns
13 - Brownwood 4-H Club Meeting 6:30p.m. at Extension Office
13 - Early 4-H Club Meeting 6:30p.m. at Early First Baptist Church
19 - Major Stock Show Entry Night 5:00p.m. at Extension Office
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 With Halloween and Thanksgiving just around the corner, the fruits and veggies available in your supermarket's produce department will change. There's no need to lament the loss of summer's fruit & veggies choices. There are many healthy and delicious options in stores during the fall. Pumpkin is a great choice. Pumpkin is packed full of nutrition. One-half cup of canned pumpkin has just 40 calories and is a good source of several nutrients, including dietary fiber and potassium.
Its hallmark orange color means it is an excellent source of vitamin A, essential for many bodily functions. Orange fruits and vegetables not only promote good eyesight, they have antioxidant properties too. Vitamin A can help protect against certain types of cancer and cardiovascular disease and may even promote healthy skin.
Pumpkin is a versatile ingredient that can be used in either sweet or savory dishes. You can even use canned and fresh pumpkin cooked and pureed interchangeably in recipes. Studies have shown that the nutritional content of canned fruits and vegetables is similar to or better than fresh produce. If you are going to use canned pumpkin, though, remember to look for 100 percent canned pumpkin. It's easy to mistakenly buy pumpkin pie filling, which has other ingredients added.
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A requirement for adult cattle in Texas to have an approved form of permanent identification in place at change of ownership will go into effect January 1, 2013 according to the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC). The Commission amended its rules in June of this year to enhance the effective traceability of beef cattle movements in Texas, which is the cornerstone of disease control activities. Implementation of the changes was delayed by the Commission to ensure cattle producers understand the requirements and can prepare for the changes. This does not mean you have to "tag" every animal in the heard. You only have to identify adult breeding age beef cattle when you sell them.
The amended rule permanently cancels the brucellosis test requirement for adult cattle at change of ownership, which was unofficially suspended in the summer of 2011. Although testing of adult cattle is no longer required with the rule change, all sexually intact cattle, parturient or post parturient, or 18 months of age and older changing ownership must still be officially identified with Commission approved permanent identification. This change primarily affects beef cattle, as dairy cattle in Texas have had an even more stringent identification requirement in place since 2008.
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A typical family dinner takes about 25 minutes to prepare and lasts about 20 minutes. Family roles are changing. Often, the entire burden of food shopping, planning, and preparation does not fall to the wife alone. Family members, including husbands, are helping in the kitchen, too.
Eating family dinner improves nutrition, and there is a solid link between nutrition and improved health. Nutrition is not only related to health in the short term, such as improved immune functioning, but to long-term health as well, such as chronic disease prevention. Both adults and children benefit from improved diet quality. Research demonstrates that people who eat at home more frequently have better quality diets than people who eat out frequently. When meals are eaten at home, calcium, fruit, vegetable, whole grain, and milk intakes increase. Also, soda and high-fat food consumption decreases compared to when meals are eaten away from home.
In addition to the nutritional benefits of family dinner, there are social benefits as well. When asked, children and even teens say that they enjoy family dinner. Research associates higher levels of emotional well-being and fewer inappropriate weight-control behaviors with a greater frequency of family meals. Interestingly, the benefits associated with family meals are independent of socio-economic status.
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Brown County 4-H is supported by Brown County United Way
DATES TO REMEMBER
October
14 - May 4-H Club Meeting 4:00p.m. at May Methodist Church
16 - Rabbit Project Meeting 7:00p.m. at Extension Office
19 - Deadline to Enter County Food Show
20 - Lamb Validation 8:00a.m.- 10:00a.m. at the Youth Fair Barns
20 - Goat Validation 11:00a.m. - 2:00p.m. at the Youth Fair Barns
21 - Sheep Project Club Meeting 6:00p.m. at the Youth Fair Barns
25 - Livestock Judging Meeting 6:30p.m. at Extension Office
27 - County Food Show 2:00p.m. at Extension Office
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is a great time to focus on health and wellness. An important part of staying "cancer free" is maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly. If you are overweight, inactive and post-menopausal, your risk for breast cancer increases. Whether you are 25 or 75, there is a fitness plan that is right for you to promote a healthy lifestyle.
As women, many of us dread aging. But regular exercise can help make you feel and look a lot younger than you really are. There are many benefits to exercise at any age. For example, exercising regularly can help you manage your weight. Regular exercise can raise your metabolic rate. An increased metabolism means your body will get more efficient at burning calories. Overall, you'll burn more calories all the time, even when you're not working out.
It's never too late to commit to a regular fitness program. The challenge is tailoring your exercise to the limitation and challenges of your current age. You've probably heard the standard disclaimer "consult with your doctor before starting an exercise program." That's good advice under any circumstances. This is especially true if you've been inactive for a while. Also, if you have or suspect a heart condition, high blood pressure, diabetes or any other serious ailment, a stress test conducted by your doctor is in order.
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Brownwood News is supported by Brown County United Way
DATES TO REMEMBER
October
7-13 - National 4-H Week
8 - Extension Office Closed for Holiday
9 - Brownwood 4-H Club Meeting 6:30p.m. at Extension Office
9 - Early 4-H Club Meeting 6:30p.m. at Early First Baptist Church
9 - Food Challenge Orientation Meeting 4:30p.m. at Extension Office
9 - Bangs 4-H Club Meeting 6:00p.m. at Bangs FCS Classroom
9 - Brookesmith 4-H Club Meeting 6:00p.m. at Brookesmith ISD
16 - Rabbit Project Meeting 7:00p.m. at Extension Office
19 - Deadline to Enter County Food Show
20 - Lamb Validation 8:00a.m.- 10:00a.m. at the Youth Fair Barns
20 - Goat Validation 11:00a.m. - 2:00p.m. at the Youth Fair Barns
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Need winter grazing but there's not enough soil moisture to plant? Dusting it in could be worth the risk. Dusting in refers to planting when there is not enough soil moisture present to get the crop emerged, but with hope of receiving a rain later.
Typical recommendations are to plant small grains for early winter grazing six to eight weeks before the first frost. If you're looking at Central and South Texas, we're still in good shape as far as the planting date.
An El Niño currently developing in the tropical Pacific promises a cool and wet winter for Texas, according to Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon, state climatologist and regents professor at Texas A&M University.
However, the El Niño has yet to deliver on that promise to large parts of the state, particularly the Far West, Panhandle and Rolling Plains, making planting winter pastures chancy.
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Brown County 4-H is supported by Brown County United Way
DATES TO REMEMBER
October
8 - Extension Office Closed for Holiday
8-12 - National 4-H Week
9 - Brownwood 4-H Club Meeting 6:30p.m. at Extension Office
9 - Early 4-H Club Meeting 6:30p.m. at Early First Baptist Church
9 - Food Challenge Orientation Meeting 4:30p.m. at Extension Office
9 - Bangs 4-H Club Meeting 6:00p.m. at Bangs FCS Classroom
16 - Rabbit Project Meeting 7:00p.m. at Extension Office
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According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Farm Bureau sources, the law currently governing the nation's farm and food aid policy now seems destined to expire at the end of this month, with congressional leaders opting to delay a fight over how to reauthorize those programs until after the elections. Barring last-minute developments, this means the 2008 law (PL 110-246) will expire Sept. 30, because the House goes into recess at the end of this week and will stay out until after the Nov. 6 elections. This would be the first time since 1973—considered the starting point for the modern era of farm policy—that a farm bill will have expired. Major activities authorized in the farm bill, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), would continue. Legislation to keep the federal government funded until March 27 includes money for SNAP, formerly known as food stamps.
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