Ranch Management University set for April 6-10
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Plans for the next Ranch Management University, to be held April 6-10 at Texas A&M University in College Station, are being finalized and registration is now open.
A collaboration of the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Department of Animal Science, Department of Agricultural Economics and the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, the training will cover everything from soil fertility to animal handling and hay production to wildlife.
Registration is $625, with attendance limited to the first 50 who enroll. To register online and for more information, go to http://agriliferegister.tamu.edu and enter “ranch management” into the search window.
“Our faculty are prepared to provide the latest information to help new and novice landowners improve their understanding of resource management on their ranch properties and maximize all economic opportunities,” said Larry Redmon, Ph.D., soil and crop sciences associate department head and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program leader, College Station.
Workshop attendees will meet at the G. Rollie White Visitor Center, 7707 Raymond Stotzer Parkway on the Texas A&M University campus.
The program will begin with registration at 11:45 a.m. on April 6 and conclude at noon on April 10. Meals and break refreshments will be provided. A resource flash drive containing over 100 publications covering ranch resource management will also be provided.
Topics and speakers for each day will be:
Day 1: Some Basics
- Basic Soils, Soil Fertility, Soil Sampling in the Field – Jake Mowrer, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension state fertility specialist, College Station.
- Forage Establishment – Redmon.
Day 2: Cattle Raisin’
- Ag Laws Texas Landowners Need to Know – Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, AgriLife Extension agricultural law specialist, Amarillo.
- Genetic Strategies for Profitable Production, Nutrient Requirements and Supplementation of Beef Cattle/Body Condition Scores in Beef, Structure of the U.S. Beef Industry, Non-Traditional Production Strategies, Animal Handling Demonstration – Jason Cleere, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, College Station.
- Planning for Profit – David Anderson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension livestock economist, College Station.
Day 3: More Basics
- Horse Production 101 – Jennifer Zoller, AgriLife Extension horse specialist, College Station.
- What Is A Watershed? – Matt Brown, AgriLife Extension forage and water quality program specialist, College Station.
- Hay Sampling and Sprayer Calibration, Hay Production, Importance of Stocking Rate, Options for Wintering Cattle – Redmon.
- Marketing Livestock – Cow-Calf? Stockers? Feedlot? – Anderson.
- Financial Assistance Programs from NRCS – Jason Hohlt, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service range specialist, Kingsville.
Day 4: Wildlife on Your Property
- Using Wildlife as Agriculture for Property Tax Proposes, Rio Grande Turkey Management, Forage Hog Issues/Trap Demonstration, and Managing for Dove – Jim Cathey, Ph.D., Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute associate director, College Station.
- Forage Legumes and Weed and Brush Management – Redmon.
- Beekeeping – Molly Keck, AgriLife Extension entomologist, Bexar County.
- “Path to the Plate” – Dan Hale, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension associate director, College Station.
Day 5: Additional Topics
- White-tailed Deer Management and Northern Bobwhite Issues and Management – Cathey.
- Final Questions.
For additional information, contact Redmon at 979-845-4008 or l-redmon@tamu.edu or Linda Francis at 979-845-2425 or l-francis@tamu.edu.