Texas Agrilife Extension Activities in Support of Fever

Tick Education

Joe C. Paschal Livestock Specialist

Texas AgriLife Extension

County Extension Programs

•  In collaboration with the TAHC, since 2007 19 County Extension Agents have conducted 29 educational meetings where the fever tick situation was presented – 2007 9 meetings (167 attendees) – 2008 10 meetings (179 attendees) – 2009 10 meetings as of 10/01/09 (404

attendees) – One meeting in Bastrop Co. reported an 86%

increase in knowledge of the situation (2009)

Counties Reporting Fever Tick Eradication Educational Efforts

•  Bastrop •  Bexar •  Caldwell •  Dallas •  Dimmitt •  Duval •  Frio •  Guadalupe •  Hidalgo

•  Jack •  Jim Wells (2) •  Jim Hogg (2) •  Limestone •  Maverick (2) •  Presidio •  Starr (2) •  Victoria •  Webb (3) •  Zapata (4)

Other County Extension Efforts

•  In addition to county educational programs County Extension Agents have produced numerous news letters or news releases, conducted ranch visits and assisted elected officials or agencies engaged in the fever tick eradication effort

Regional and Statewide Extension Since 2007

•  Livestock Specialists based in Uvalde and Corpus Christi have conducted over 24 educational programs with County Extension Agents in which the fever tick eradication issue was addressed to over 1,000 ranchers and landowners

•  The issue was also covered at 2008 and 2009 TAMU Beef Cattle Short Course to a total of over 2,800 participants

•  Texas AgriLife Research Center at Uvalde is planning a research project in Webb County to evaluate the potential for wildlife to carry fever and other ticks

Regional and Statewide Extension

•  In 2009, a joint effort among several agencies is producing two posters that will be widely distributed to increase awareness and education

•  One will enlist the aid of hunters in fever tick awareness and be distributed to hunting supply stores that sell licenses (ready to be sent)

•  The second will be directed at ranchers and landowners and will be displayed in livestock markets and County Extension offices through out the state (in process of development)

Concluding Comments •  Ranchers in and along the PQZ and TQZ understand the

fever tick problem and its associated costs –  One rancher in Webb County documented a $165 per head cost

to ranch in and along the PQZ (over and above usual cow costs) •  New ranchers/landowners and hunters in South Texas

often do not understand the implications of having the fever tick outside the PQZ

•  Ranchers outside the South Texas area have little understanding of the fever tick or the problems and costs of the eradication effort

•  Texas AgriLife County Extension Agents are assisting in the educational effort with other agency partners, especially the Texas Animal Health Commission