agriculture

Rosa Lee and Ben Castro won the award for largest pumpkin with “Big Max.” (Photos Courtesy Williamson County AgriLife Extension Office)

Rosa Lee and Ben Castro won the award for largest pumpkin with “Big Max.” (Photos Courtesy Williamson County AgriLife Extension Office)

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Wilco shows off vegetable growing skills

Kaitlyn Wilkes
Monday, November 11, 2024
Williamson County’s AgriLife Extension Office awarded residents with prizes for mini, giant and decorated pumpkins, best vegetables and best “wonky vegetables.” Earlier this year, the office offered pumpkin seeds and seedlings to residents. The vegetable show was new this year.
Stetson Mathson, who will be 2-years-old in October, enjoyed running through the aisles during the Grand Opening of Georgetown High School's new Ag barn on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. Photo by Andy Sharp.

Stetson Mathson, who will be 2-years-old in October, enjoyed running through the aisles during the Grand Opening of Georgetown High School's new Ag barn on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. Photo by Andy Sharp.

Georgetown ISD debuts new Ag Barn

Andy Sharp
Monday, October 7, 2024
Waterloo Gin co-owner David Wollett drives a truckload of cotton from a field onto a scale on Friday, September 13, 2024. Clement Strmiska and David Wollett are co-owners of the Waterloo Gin, located on County Road 414 east of Taylor. Photo by Andy Sharp.

Waterloo Gin co-owner David Wollett drives a truckload of cotton from a field onto a scale on Friday, September 13, 2024. Clement Strmiska and David Wollett are co-owners of the Waterloo Gin, located on County Road 414 east of Taylor. Photo by Andy Sharp.

Photos: Cotton collections progress in Williamson County

Andy Sharp
Friday, September 20, 2024
The Waterloo Cotton Gin, a few minutes east of Taylor, along County Road 414, is beginning cotton harvest season on a high note this year, after last summer’s combination of triple digit heat and drought made it hard for farmers and cotton gins in 2023.
Aaron Martinka navigates his combine through a field of cotton along F.M. 972 east of Walburg on Tuesday, September 10, 2024. Martinka is harvesting 1,100 acres of cotton this year. Photo by Andy Sharp.

Aaron Martinka navigates his combine through a field of cotton along F.M. 972 east of Walburg on Tuesday, September 10, 2024. Martinka is harvesting 1,100 acres of cotton this year. Photo by Andy Sharp.

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Cotton harvest time in Williamson County

Andy Sharp
Monday, September 16, 2024

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Taking care of common Christmas plants

Kaitlyn Wilkes
Monday, December 18, 2023
During the winter months, plants can add some extra festivities to the holiday season. The most popular of which include poinsettias and Christmas trees.  Taking care of winter plants, as all other plants, can at times be difficult. To take care of poinsettias and Chrstmas trees.
Both livestock and crops have seen the impacts of the over 40 days of triple digit weather Central Texas experienced this summer. (Sun Archive)

Both livestock and crops have seen the impacts of the over 40 days of triple digit weather Central Texas experienced this summer. (Sun Archive)

Drought affects Wilco farmers, ranchers

Kaitlyn Wilkes
Monday, October 23, 2023
Despite the rapid growth of technological businesses in Williamson County, agriculture remains a top industry, providing jobs and food for both those in and outside of the county. According to the Farm Service Agency there are 291,000 acres of cropland in Williamson County.
A mostly-dry creek bed, a water source for cattle, is seen along Farm to Market Road 971 just east of Granger on Monday evening, August 14. The area today experienced its 38th consecutive day of temperatures over 100 degrees, with no measurable rain during that period, taking a toll on livestock, crops and plants. Photo by Andy Sharp

A mostly-dry creek bed, a water source for cattle, is seen along Farm to Market Road 971 just east of Granger on Monday evening, August 14. The area today experienced its 38th consecutive day of temperatures over 100 degrees, with no measurable rain during that period, taking a toll on livestock, crops and plants. Photo by Andy Sharp

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Cows search for water near Granger

Andy Sharp
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
A mostly-dry creek bed, a water source for cattle, is seen along Farm to Market Road 971 just east of Granger on Monday evening, August 14.
Larry Svehlak, 70, guides his combine through a cornfield along County Road 340 July 8, as he continues his final harvest before retiring. Svehlak and his brother August are harvesting 450 acres this summer.

Larry Svehlak, 70, guides his combine through a cornfield along County Road 340 July 8, as he continues his final harvest before retiring. Svehlak and his brother August are harvesting 450 acres this summer.

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450-acre harvest a last for retiring Williamson County farmer

Andy Sharp
Friday, July 14, 2023
“I was driving a tractor when I was 7-years-old,” farmer Larry Svehlak mentioned while I rode along in his combine this week.  Mr. Svehlak, 70, is a Granger native who’s lived in Taylor for decades. He’s tilled the soil for a long time, but he’s retiring after finishing this year’s corn harvest.
Crop breeder Wenwei Xu shows off his new corn variety at a July 7 presentation.

Crop breeder Wenwei Xu shows off his new corn variety at a July 7 presentation.

Williamson County farmers learn about purple corn

Abbey Archer
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
The Williamson County AgriLife branch had a presentation July 7 about a new breed of corn, TAMZ102, that is higher in antioxidants and anthocyanins than traditional corn.
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