Gained more experience with the controls of the Forklift. Throughout the week I was able to check on conditions of the Cattle. One of the barbed wire gates was destroyed and so we spliced the broken pieces to re attach the fence. Moved cattle to a different pasture using cotton seed to lure them. Pulled several weeds that were hanging over the metal trimming of the office landscape. During the week Bobby and I made a trip to a local grain store to pick up several 50-pound bags of S-Sul Sprayable Ammonium Sulfate that would be mixed into the tractor sprayer tank. Ryan introduced me to “Enlist One “(Herbicide), “Stance” Plant Regulator,” Nuprid 4F Max” (Insecticide) and “Smoke” Herbicide Activator and Water Conditioner as I handed over full containers to my boss where he would pour calculated amounts into the Tractor sprayer Tank. Later in the week I was trained on operating the Tractor shredder to mow plots of land where the horses roam and around main entrances and gates. Learned how to attach the shredder to the Front-End Loader and operate the PTO shaft to turn the blades along with folding up the sides of the shredder. Checked on several of the crops to see conditions and signs of insects in the net traps. Checked on our main pasture of Cattle. One of the Neighbors bulls got into our pasture. Drove along the Fence lines to see if there were any low spots or areas where fencing had fallen. Could not figure out how the Bull was entering the Pasture. Maintained the landscapes around the sign and office buildings, picked weeds within the beds. Dismantles one of the main gates to the land plots and raised it so the fence could be swung open with ease using a socket wrench to re-attach it. Trained on the Hand sprayer, how to operate and mix round Up to kill weeds. Calculated the percentage of Round up to pour in with 2 gallons of water. Sprayed several weeds around the driveways and along some of the main buildings as well as parking. Helped attach a large sprayer to the Polaris for spraying off Mesquite in the fields and along fences. Attached another Large Sprayer to the truck bed of the Frontier. Filtered water through the sprayer several times and rinsed off the outside of the tank. Made another trip to Helena where we picked up several 2 ½ containers of DuPont Prevathon insect control. The Fuse went out in the Tractor Sprayer and so I was able to observe that being replaced.  Week 8

Parker Benavides Summer Intern 2019

Last week, I trapped and banded 1 hatch-year mourning dove over 3 days of trapping (if I had been attempting to capture mockingbirds or brown-headed cowbirds, I would have considered the week quite fruitful). To maximize dove captures and minimize bycatch, I measured the pronged openings of the two traps that have so far been successful for doves and adjusted the other traps to match. Hopefully, this week will see more banding progress.

An aerial spray for mesquite control was conducted early Wednesday morning in the southwest corner of the farm, so on Friday, Ryan provided me with training on how to safely and effectively mix and apply chemicals, specifically Sendero for mesquite control, and we half-filled a 25-gallon spray tank that was loaded on the back of the 4-wheeler. I spent the morning applying Sendero, using the leaf spray method on individual plants in sections not targeted by the aerial spray. This week will involve more individual plant treatment to fully cover the target area, as well as an assessment of the extent of coverage of the aerial spray (see photo).

I am in the planning stages of a reptile and amphibian (herp) sampling project that will start with coverboards, and will eventually include turtle traps and various nighttime surveys, and possibly some combination of other traps. To begin, I will be placing 4-board arrays at various points across the farm, with each array consisting of two plywood boards and two roofing tin sections of equal size, all set in a square formation and equidistant from each other. The sites will reflect the variety of habitats to be found at the farm, from bottomland waterways to upland grazing pastures, as well as areas that are expected to experience significant change over time, such as the pastures scheduled for native grassland reintroduction. I expect to start placing coverboards very soon and will include updates here accordingly.

Dani Miller

Wildlife Biologist

Stiles Farm Foundation

Week 6 blog

In the beginning of the week, the chickens were switched over to layered feed as the hens started to lay eggs. A total of six Guinea eggs hatched on the farm and so I was able to set up a little section in the chicken barn to care for the newborn chicks. I set up a heat lamp, new water and food dispenser as well as padding. Guineas are known for not doing so well with their newborns, so it was best to care for them in a secluded area. Throughout the week I gained hands on experience with the 4-wheelers, checked the condition of cattle and maintained some of the weeds that were growing into one side of the flowerbed within the office landscape. I also went on another trip with Erin Buttler (Horticulture Consultant). She showed me one of the projects she was currently working on in Austin. An expensive home with several plants being incorporated into the front and back yard. Got to meet some of the head crew leaders from Whittlesey Landscape Supplies as they delivered pallets of soil. Helped unload several plants delivered from a local Nursery and get an idea for where they would be going. Also met with some of Erin’s consultant friends that owned installation businesses and got great entail on how that sort of business runs. Visited one of Erin’s other projects she is working on in Austin, met with one of the Landscape Architects that she is working with on the project around a newly build skyscraper. Learning the bidding process and how she goes about choosing what company for plant installation and labor. Later in the week Cody, Bobby, and I drove around the Farm Perimeters to record all the crops that are surrounding the border, (Stiles Farm LIP project area & Practices). Started the day early around 6:30 Am to begin working the cattle as they become stressed out with too much heat. Set up the Cattle Chute with the help of Cody (intern) and Bobby (Farm Employee). The cattle chute is a strongly built stall that squeezes the cattle when entered that way you can apply vaccinations, remove old tags etc. First, we used the 4-wheelers and Frontier to move the cattle into a section of the stalls. We then separated the cattle that needed to be re-tagged and needed vaccination by groups up to 6 at a time into a single file line between two sides of fencing where we applied “Ivermax” from the shoulder to the hip of the cows; which prevents disease from a specific type of worm. As the cows were in a single file line, we let the cows into the cattle chute one by one where I was able to gain experience tagging the cows as well as applying vaccinations to the hip area. We continued this process until the heat conditions got too bad and forced us to stop as the cattle were getting too stressed out. There were a total of 4 heifers and 2 steers that were dropped off at the marketplace in Cameron, Tx about 35 minutes out from where we are located. From there the cowboys unloaded the cattle and gave us a ticket slip.

Week 7 Blog

Checked on the conditions of the plants in the landscape, there were a few plants that were getting too much water and so I needed to adjust the soaker hose. Checked up on the chickens, several hens have started laying eggs at this point. The 4 hatched Guineas have gotten to the point where they can begin flying and do not need a heat lamp. Deciding on where to implement a few more landscapes, possibly a raised bed garden of some sort. Helped move a few large pieces of equipment using the forklift that way we could mow the large weeds growing around the area. Always be cautious for snakes curling up near these pieces of equipment. Dismantled a large diesel tank from an older Farm truck that is no longer in use and helped attach it to the 4×4 dodge Farm Vehicle. This will save hours of having to come back and forth from the planting fields to fill up on diesel.  I learned how to replace the pump hose which is ¾’’ static bonded (Aggie Gas) hose. Also learned how to re wire the gas pump and attach it to the car battery. The Dodge Truck now has a fully functional diesel tank attachment. All it needs now is an air compressor attachment. Later in the week I was able to Purchased 2 watering timers for the landscape around the main office, since it is getting a lot hotter outside, I decided to set the watering time a lot earlier that way the roots can absorb the water without it instantly being evaporated in this Texas heat. Gained a lot of tractor experience with the front-End loader, we spent pretty much the whole day loading up hay bales onto the hay trailer and making trips back and forth to headquarters to drop off the hay. (4 bales at a time) Learned how to hook up the front and back fork attachment on the front-end loader to carry 2 bales at the same time. Also learned how to work the hay trailer in which one of the sides has levers to flip over the bales of hay. When lifting the hay bales with the front end loader you have to make sure to keep accelerating while picking up the bale (lifting it just above so that it stays all the way on the fork and also to load the bales on the trailer in the order 3,2,4,1 so that the weight of the bales doesn’t bend the axel of the truck or cause any problems with the hitch. The breaks on the tractor are very touchy and so the first few loads took me a while longer until I soon got the hang of lifting and dropping the bales.

Week 5:

The week started off with a lovely road trip to East Texas to attend a SARE workshop for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension agents, led by Dr. Tomeček and focused on providing resources for agents to assist landowners in managing their property for wildlife, with emphasis on promoting rangeland development that functionally serves agricultural interests as well. We visited numerous sites across three properties, the Gus Engeling WMA, the Richland Creek WMA, and the 77 Ranch, in order to observe and discuss ideal habitat parameters and management methods for target species such as white-tailed deer, bobwhite quail, and turkey, and well as various waterfowl. The trip was highly educational for me, both in terms of insight into the AgriLife Extension structure and the problem-solving and investigative nature of a county agent’s duties, as well as the topic of the workshop itself. The importance of partnerships between Extension agents, local Texas Parks & Wildlife biologists and other regional experts involved in wildlife management and research, and committed landowners such as Mr. and Mrs. Gary Price of the 77 Ranch, was highlighted again and again during the workshop, and it was very clear to me how valuable those relationships can be working within and between the wildlife and agricultural fields.

Side note: We visited a pitcher plant bog while on the Gus Engeling WMA, and it was an incredibly cool site. I believe the specific species was Sarracenia alata, a carnivorous native plant commonly known as the yellow trumpet or pale pitcher plant.

Wednesday was my first dove trapping day, and it was a success! Two mourning doves were captured in a single trap, so Dr. Tomeček modeled the banding process with the first, and I banded the second under his supervision.* The remainder of the week was a holiday, so I am resuming trapping this week and look forward to further improving my banding skills.

*All animals were handled in accordance with animal care and use procedures in applicable state and federal permits.

Dani Miller

Wildlife Biologist

Stiles Farm Foundation

Last week I went with Ryan down to the interim USDA complex in Georgetown, while the offices are being renovated, to pay a visit to the Williamson County FSA and turn in crop reports. During the office visit I had a chance to walk over to the NRCS extension office and chat with the resident natural resources manager as well as the district soil conservationist. I let them know that I was interested in a career with NRCS, and we had a great talk about ways to get involved as well as the benefits associated with a job as a soil scientist or soil conservationist. I left with a valuable contact in Temple, TX whom I definitely plan on giving a call to hopefully set up an in-semester student trainee program.

Towards the end of the week, we had to take a day to put a stretch of the fence-line back up over on county road 424, where we’re currently

keeping the “heifer herd.” It had previously been knocked down by a presumably drunk driver some time earlier. All it took was driving in t-posts in place of the wo

oden posts that were taken out by the car, removing the old stays to untangle the strands, stretching and splicing the broken wires, stapling and clipping the wire back to the posts, and putting in new stays to raise up and keep tension on the stretch of fence we put back up.

The beginning of this week involved putting out open traps at 4 dove bait sites that showed strong evidence of activity, either through camera captures (2) or significant bait consumption (2). The traps were set out upright with the top hatch wired open and were then weighed down with a medium rock and baited. I will begin setting the traps to capture and band doves after July 1^st, when the TPWD banding permit goes into effect. So far, only mourning doves have been observed on and around the sites, but I hope to see white-winged doves visiting soon.

Later in the week, I accompanied my supervisor, Dr. Tomeček, to the Llano River Field Station in Junction, TX, where he taught a seminar on trapping mesomammals to Texas Tech undergraduates attending field school there. He focused on the effective, appropriate, and ethical use of leg-hold traps, traditional snares, and collarum snares (the latter for canids only). Camilla Tusché, a short-stay graduate student of Dr. Tomeček’s, also traveled with us and presented her research regarding camera trapping ungulates in the Bavarian Prealps of Germany. I found both Dr. Tomeček’s lessons and Camilla’s presentation to be extremely informative and I look forward to applying and practicing camera trapping and various physical trapping methods at the farm in order to continue surveying efforts there.

Ash-throated flycatcher release

While at the field station, I had the opportunity to participate in mist netting birds and learned how to properly hold a captured bird (ash-throated flycatcher in the video) in order to take measurements and band it.* This initial experience will serve me well when I begin trapping and banding doves next week under Dr. Tomeček’s guidance, and I thank Dr.

Warren Conway, Dr. Blake Grisham, and Dr. James Morel, as well as the undergraduate students of the TTU Field School for their warm welcome and inclusion of Dr. Tomeček, Camilla, and me in their activities.

*All animals were handled in accordance with animal care and use procedures in applicable state and federal permits.

Dani Miller

Wildlife Biologist

Stiles Farm Foundation

P.S.

Photo credit for Dr. Tomeček teaching collarum snare-setting: Dr. Blake Grisham

Video credit for ash-throated flycatcher release: Camilla Tusché

Between all of the preparations that went into the weeks leading up to Field Day and wrapping up Summer classes before Finals, it’s been a challenge to find the time to write-up entries for the intern blog as often as I should. With Field Day in the books, and a success at that, now however I’ll take a moment to catch y’all up on everything you’ve missed.

The farm purchased a new spray-rig for herbicide applications. Parker and I assisted in setting up the nozzles on the boom and calibrating the application rate before it could be filled up, driven into the field, and put to work. Though we didn’t handle any of the chemicals ourselves, we were trained on chemical safety and allowed to observe the process of mixing chemical into the spray tank for application, as well as the proper clean-up procedures.

Parker and I finished the landscaping at headquarters by installing a raised bed around the sign on the side of Highway 79. As Field Day quickly approached, we began to focus on manicuring the property to show off all of the landscaping work near the office, and the research being conducted in the fields. Parker and I first removed a few unwanted trees on the roadside fence at headquarters. We then trimmed back all of trees on the inside of the fence-line for more ease of access when mowing before moving on to hand-chopping weeds in some of the smaller research plots. I gained a good bit of experience servicing and operating the groundsmaster riding mower and the shredder implement hooked up to the 110c tractor, which certainly did wonders for my both my competence and confidence in handling equipment before, during, and after use.

Field Day was quite a success, with one of the largest turn-outs in the last few years. Case, John Deer, Kubota, and New Holland dropped off a few tractors along with some equipment to showcase at registration. Several vendors came out for the morning, as well. We had a very informative fencing demonstration from Stay-Tuff fence, and several great talks from various experts in the soil and crops industry on topics such as pest management, cultural practices to increases nutrient availability, among others. The day was brought to an end with a few more talks from some guest speakers from the surrounding county extensions and the presentation of this year’s awards over a chicken-fry lunch.

Later in the week, Parker and I accompanied Ryan to the ‘BIG’ committee meeting in Waco to network with professionals from all different areas of specialty – including production in various crops, beef, wildlife and rural land management, and horticulture – and sit-in on the planning discussion for the upcoming meeting in January. We got to hear about some of the current issues plaguing the industries, along with the many solutions that researchers and produces are working together on to continue developing a more sustainable future for agriculture.

Just last week I the pleasure of accompanying Jimmy out in the cotton fields with the side-dresser to incorporate some fertilizer into the soil. I had the opportunity to operate the tractor and run the side-dresser down the rows myself before the day was over. We’re now looking at gearing back up to plant more sesame with the influx of moisture coming in this week, once the fields are dry enough to get the planter out.

And, of course, throughout the days leading up to and following Field Day Bobby and I have been checking up on each of the Brangus herds and rotating them from pasture to pasture to keep the grazing pressure down. We supplemented them with molasses and mineral again, as well as coastal hay. Hopefully we’ll have the opportunity to work the herds and cut calves to take to sale, soon. It’s definitely been a busy few weeks, but all in all it’s been a good time. Here’s to more to come.”

Respectfully,

Stiles Farm Summer Intern

Cody Garcia ’21 | PSSC | TGSC

College of Agriculture

Texas A&M University | Corps of Cadets

Squadron 23

During my first three weeks at Stiles Farm, I divided much of my time between exploring the property and preparing sites for dove trapping and banding. I navigated to each pasture and field to familiarize myself with the overall layout of the farm, including usage per section, access points, and routes from Point A to Point B, while also noting the plant communities and observable wildlife species present. During my investigations, I also visited dove bait sites previously prepared by my predecessor to continue monitoring and baiting tasks as well as assessed and prepared new sites that seemed ideal for potential dove activity. Throughout this time, I was shown how to safely use a variety of equipment and vehicles, as well as the required maintenance for each, and received training on handling chemicals properly as a first step in learning how to control mesquite.

This description of my initial tasks seems simple enough on paper, but the depth of knowledge I have gained in just three weeks, between the lessons and mentorship offered by my supervisor, Dr. John Tomećek, and the information imparted by the employees of the farm and the interns, the documentation and other resources provided by the previous wildlife biologist, AnMarie, and my own discoveries, has enhanced my anticipation of what this year-long adventure has in store for me. It has been a whirlwind of wonderful new experiences and skill building so far, and I look forward to continuing into this next week and beyond.

Dani Miller Wildlife Biologist

My name is Dani Miller and I am the new wildlife biologist at Stiles Farm Foundation. I was born and raised in Temple, TX

and recently graduated from Texas A&M University with my B.S. in Wildlife Ecology