"This unique landowner 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 to obtain additional information, please 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, and so far attendance has been tremendous. Attendees say they are very satisfied with the program and indicate on exit surveys they expect to receive great economic benefits from what they learned, he said.

"Our attendees have said there were impressed with the knowledge they gained about managing their natural resources in an ecologically sound manner," Redmon said. "In fact, one participant noted after attending the program she felt she could retain ownership of the ranch and not be forced to sell."

Spring program topics will be: soils and soil fertility, forage species selection, hay production, weed and brush management, winter pasture establishment and utilization, beef cattle breed selection, nutrient requirements and feeding strategies for livestock, grazing management strategies, chuteside talk live animal handling and demonstrations of vaccinating, dehorning and castration of cattle. Horse, sheep and goat production also will be covered.

An agricultural economist will cover profit plans, marketing plans and alternative enterprises, he said. Additionally, wildlife management topics such as white-tailed deer and turkey management, fisheries management in ranch ponds, and what to do with the feral hog will be addressed.

Field demonstrations will include learning how to assess body condition scores for cattle, how to obtain proper soil and hay samples, and how to assess the fish populations in the pond, 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 cost, 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. 

 — From Agrilife Today news release; http://agrilife.org/today