Stone County Conservation District

06/04/2026

Frequent Prescribed Fires Reduce Turkey Nest Predators

Camera traps gathered data day and night for 10+ years.

Burning every 1-3 years helped reduce predator visitation to turkey nests by armadillos, feral hogs, gray foxes, raccoons, and opossums.

More than 75% of all nests laid are lost to nest predation, nest abandonment, and poult predation.

Locations burned 10 times in 20 years, on average, had lower occurrences of:
- Common nest predators (Raccoon, Virginia Opossum)
- Non-native nest predators (Nine-banded Armadillo, Feral Hog)

Data: Boone et al., 2024. Frequent Prescribed Burns Reduce Mammalian Species Richness and Occurrence in Longleaf Pine Sandhills. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121596

06/04/2026

06/03/2026

BREAKING NEWS

Developing now, USDA says that a case of New World Screwworm may have been detected in South Texas.

The sample is now at USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa for confirmatory testing. USDA has activated personnel on the ground and is working with local partners.

The department did not give any details about where the parasite was found, but Reuters is reporting that samples were taken from two calves on the same ranch in La Pryor, Texas, which is about 50 miles from the Mexican border.

06/03/2026

Do you know the difference between a female and a male black swallowtail?

06/03/2026

There are new details on the fight against New World Screwworm.

USDA is pushing back against a Texas state lawmaker who claims the pest was found within a mile of the U.S. border.

Representative Don McLaughlin issued a press release yesterday, claiming that screwworm was found south of the Texas border just one mile into Mexico.

USDA says that is not true. They took to X and shared that they will share any and all information as it becomes available.
The post read: "This is not true. We have no confirmed case within 1 mile of the border. As we have done for the last 15 months, we will continue to share all information. If a case in proximity is confirmed, we are ready."

This after USDA confirmed a New World Screwworm detection in a sheep in northern Mexico, less than 31 miles from the U.S. border.

06/01/2026

June marks the start of National Pollinator Month, a time to celebrate and support the bees, butterflies, bats, moths, and other pollinators that keep ecosystems and food systems thriving. Many of these important species are in decline, and they need our help.

Support Pollinator Partnership’s on-the-ground conservation work through our Pollinator Month Auction, now live on Zeffy! Browse a variety of unique packages and experiences, from bee-friendly vineyard tours to wildflower field guides and more. Every bid helps protect and restore pollinator habitat while empowering communities to support pollinators nationwide.

Start bidding today and help create a more pollinator-friendly future!
🔗zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/pollinator-partnerships-2026-silent-auction

Photo: Anthony Colangelo, Pollinator Partnership

06/01/2026

Check out the updated 2026 payment rates for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP). As drought conditions continue to impact agricultural operations across the country, LFP provides financial assistance for grazing losses due to drought.

View the LFP Eligibility Dashboard to see if your county is eligible https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/3c9aef9fd4684f948e3bb2375b93cfb9

05/31/2026

05/28/2026

Please join us on June 2nd @ 1:00 PM at the Stone County Extension Office for Pesticide Applicator Training.
Please call 870-269-3336 to register.