Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Larry Redmon, 979-845-4826, l-redmon@tamu.edu
COLLEGE STATION – New landowners can get a crash course on ranch management during the annual Texas AgriLife Extension Service Ranch Management University on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station.
Scheduled April 9-13 at the G. Rollie White Visitor’s Center, this workshop is designed to help new landowners improve their understanding regarding management of the various resources they find on their ranch properties, said Dr. Larry Redmon, AgriLife Extension state forage specialist.
Registration is $500 and attendance is limited to the first 50 people who enroll. To register online and for more information, go to http://agriliferegister.tamu.edu and enter “ranch management” into the search window.
Redmon said they have offered the workshop twice a year for two years. This spring’s topics cover: soils, forages, hay, weeds and brush, winter pastures and livestock production, including cattle, horse, sheep and goats. Chute-side talks will be made on live-animal handling and demonstrations of vaccinating, dehorning and castration of cattle.
An agricultural economist will cover profit plans, marketing plans and alternative enterprises, he said. Additionally, wildlife management topics regarding white-tailed deer, turkeys, fish and feral hogs will be addressed.
Field demonstrations will include learning how to assess body condition scores of cattle, how to take proper soil and hay samples, and how to assess the fish populations in ponds, Redmon said. There will also be a discussion regarding pond weeds and a demonstration on hog-trap design.
Meals and break refreshments are covered by the registration fee, as well as a resource CD containing more than 100 publications covering ranch resource management.
For additional information, contact Redmon at 979-845-4826 or l-redmon@tamu.edu.
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