Tuesday, October 21, 1997

Taylor County Sheep and Goat Raisers meet tonight

By J.T. SMITH / Farm Editor

Taylor County Sheep & Goat Raisers' Association will hold its annual meeting in Abilene at 6:30 tonight in Harlow's Steakhouse, 2002 N. Clack.

Dr. Carl Menzies, president of the Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers' Association, will speak. In addition to Menzies, Marvin Shurley, also of the TS&GRA, will speak.

Dr. Frank Cradduck, Texas A&M sheep and goat specialist, will discuss timely subjects for sheep and goat raisers. Ross Stultz of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service also will visit with local sheep and goat producers.

Topics will be:

-- Benefits of Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers Association for meat goat producers.

-- Basic care and management of meat goats.

-- Marketing potential.

-- The impact of ranchers' lamb processing plant on marketing.

Kyle W. Miller, assistant Taylor County Extension agent, said annual membership dues will be collected at the meeting. The dues are used to sponsor the Sheep Showmanship award during the annual Taylor County Livestock Show in the winter.

For more information on tonight's meeting, call Miller at 674-1321.

Nolan County Pecan Show

The Nolan County Pecan Show is Nov. 25 at the Nolan County Courthouse Foyer in Sweetwater.

Entries are made up of 42 pecans of one variety. Pecans may be delivered to the Nolan County Extension Office any time prior to the show or can be brought directly to the show before 9 a.m. Nov. 25.

Entries will be weighed, processed and judged that day, said Zachary Wilcox, Nolan County Extension agent. Winning entries of each variety will advance to the Regional Pecan Show slated for Dec. 8-9 in San Angelo.

For more, you may contact Wilcox at (915) 236-6912.

EPA taking aim at farm vehicles

Farm vehicles and equipment would be included in EPA's proposed rule to control emissions of air pollution from non-road diesel engines.

If standards are implemented as proposed, EPA indicates that standards for oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter would be reduced by up to two-thirds from current standards.

A study by the Equipment Manufacturers Institute found this will cost agriculture at least $1 billion per year for the next 10 years. The National Cotton Council reports that the action also will affect implementation of of new PM standards.

Comments on the proposal are due by Nov. 24.