There is an ongoing program for a number of years concerning the eradication of fever ticks in Texas.  Could that be what he was talking about?

A couple of articles here and here.

Thanks for the aricles, especially "Ticking Away". I can build one of those troughs and see about getting the potion to use. I don't have cattle of my own, I lease the grazing rights to a cattler owner, but I do have a problem with ticks on deer and hogs. You can't even start cleaning them and your sleeves are already coverd with them. I had gone to using boiling water on the animals before I start cleaning them, and that helped some. But you still have them around, they get onto your boots, clothes, etc. As much as we try to remove our boots outside, we still get them inside the cabin. I set off an insect bomb about every three months or so just to keep the carpet free of ticks. When Whirly told me about the program he got involved with, I thought he was kidding me. The article claims that the program is mostly prevalent along the border. My property is in Edwards county, just north of Del Rio. Again, I sure appreciate the information and I will follow up on it.

If you want to try something natural, neem oil is a natural pesticide/fungicide that is reported to repel fleas and ticks, and also clears up ringworm and mange mites. You can get it in hydroponic/hoticulture stores, they use it for keeping bugs off exotic plants. You dilute it with grapeseed oil for spot treatments, or mix it in shampoo for full coverage. It smells a little like roasted garlic and sesame oil, not too bad. Phoebe had a spot of mange or rignworm on her face and it cleared it up in a few weeks, and it is supposed to be just as effective on fleas and ticks, obviously not as effective as the Vet prescribed chemicals, but neem oil is also safe and natural. Not to be used around pregnant women though, that is one danger of neem oil.

pest control