Program to address rising input costs, critical decisions
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 interested in getting the most for their input dollar can find out the do’s and don’ts during the annual Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Ranch Management University on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station, coordinators said.
Scheduled April 15-19 at the G. Rollie White Visitor’s Center, this workshop is designed to help new landowners improve their understanding of how to manage various resources they find on their ranch properties, said Dr. Larry Redmon, AgriLife Extension state forage specialist.
“Rising input costs make every ranch decision critical,” Redmon said. “We may not be able to do anything about rising input costs, but we can help Ranch Management University attendees understand which decisions are important and how to optimize production.”
Registration is $500 and attendance is limited to the first 50 people who enroll. Slots are going fast this spring, he said, so attendees are encouraged to register as soon as possible. To register online and for more information, go to http://agriliferegister.tamu.edu and enter “ranch management” into the search window.
Redmon said the workshop is offered twice a year, with the spring topics covering 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. Other discussion will cover profit plans, marketing plans and alternative enterprises, and wildlife management of white-tailed deer, turkeys, fish and feral hogs.
Field demonstrations 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 of 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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