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News Update

February 2, 2012

Ranch Management University Set for April 9-13

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service's Ranch Management University is scheduled April 9-13 at the G. Rollie White Visitor's Center on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station.

"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 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 they 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, chute-side 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.


CHS Inc. Awards National FFA Foundation's National Teach Ag Campaign Largest Single Financial Contribution

Inver Grove Heights, Minn.-headquartered CHS Inc. (Nasdaq: CHSCP) has made the largest financial contribution ever to a special campaign focused on raising awareness for the need for more agricultural teachers in U.S. high schools.

CHS, the nation's leading farmer-owned cooperative, has allocated $104,300 for the National Teach Ag Campaign, an initiative to bring attention to the need for more agricultural educators in the United States. The campaign provides resources for those who wish to help promote the profession of agricultural education and for those interested in pursuing a career in agricultural education.

Led by the National Association of Agricultural Educators, the campaign is sponsored by CHS Foundation, Landmark and Delmar Cengage Learning as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.

"The gift that CHS has provided for the National Teach Ag Campaign is the largest received from any donor since the campaign's inception in 2010," said National FFA Foundation executive director Rob Cooper. "We are extremely grateful that CHS chose to support FFA programs and initiatives that help agriculture teachers."

The CHS Foundation is the major giving entity of CHS Inc. As a part of the CHS stewardship focus, CHS Foundation is committed to investing in the future of rural America, agriculture and cooperative business through education and leadership development.

"Developing the next generation of agriculturists and supporting the important work of agricultural educators is very important to the farmers, ranchers and local cooperatives who own CHS," said William Nelson, president of CHS Foundation and vice president of CHS Corporate Citizenship. "We are pleased to demonstrate this commitment by increasing our support to the National FFA Foundation and the National Association of Agricultural Educators' Teach Ag Ed Campaign."

CHS is a silver sponsor of FFA for 2012. The company has also pledged $145,700 to support FFA initiatives, including proficiencies, career development events, the annual Washington Leadership Conference and post-secondary agricultural education endeavors.


'Passing on the Family Farm or Agri-Business' Conference Planned for March 31 in Concordia

The K-State Research and Extension River Valley District is conducting a Planning for the Future Conference "Passing on the Family Farm or Agri-Business" Saturday, March 31 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. in Concordia.

Designed to help address the needs of farm and agribusiness families and other entities in the transition process, the conference will be on the campus of Cloud County Community College.

"The transition planning process is often hard to begin, so we are offering this conference as a first step where family members and close non-family persons that are to be included in the estate plan can come together, gather background information, and begin to plan," said John Forshee, extension district director.

The program will kick off at 9:30 a.m. with keynote speakers Ron Hanson of the University of Nebraska and Roger McEowen of Iowa State University. Hanson draws on years of experience working with farm families and will share both humorous and serious tales of family farm estate planning. McEowen offers experience working with farmers, farm families, and farm entities on the legal and tax aspects of farm estate planning. He will outline key concepts and issues affecting farm succession planning.

Following a noon meal, participants can attend three breakout sessions from 10 options, including:

The conference is sponsored by K-State Research and Extension's River Valley Extension District; Central National Bank and Central National Wealth and Trust Management Services; Citizens National Bank Trust Department, American Ag Credit, Peoples Exchange Bank, and United Bank & Trust.

Preregistration for the event is required to any River Valley Extension office by March 19. The cost of the workshop is $50 for the first person, which includes morning refreshments, lunch and a proceedings notebook. Additional family members and/or students may attend at a cost of $35.00 without a notebook. Extra notebooks may be purchased for $15.00. Checks should be payable to the River Valley Extension District #4.

More information, including registration brochures and informational flyers, is available at any local extension office or online. The River Valley Extension District is comprised of Republic, Washington, Cloud and Clay counties.


Texas Ag Landowners Help the Environment
and the Gulf of Mexico

For Texas rancher Dallas Ford and other Gulf Coast landowners, the Gulf of Mexico Initiative means an opportunity to make a positive difference not only on their lands, but also in the inland waters that flow into the Gulf of Mexico.

The Gulf of Mexico Initiative (GoMI) is a new program of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and many partners. It is designed to help producers in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas improve water quality and ensure sustainable agriculture production.

Ford, owner of the Smokey Creek Ranch in Tivoli, has been a participant in NRCS conservation programs for many years. He also serves on the Copano Bay Soil and Water Conservation District Board and on the Refugio Groundwater Conservation District Board.

"With this program I have an opportunity to cross-fence and rotate cattle," Ford says. "By having water facilities on the ranch, the cattle won't have to get down into the creeks to drink, which will help with erosion and the water quality."

As part of his rotational grazing plan, Ford applied under GoMI to install a water well and a solar pump to supply water to his cattle. These conservation practices will keep the cattle from entering the creek, which can impair water quality.

In Texas, GoMI project areas include the Kuy Creek–Guadalupe River, the Guadalupe River–South Guadalupe River and the Hynes Bay–San Antonio Bay watersheds in Refugio, Calhoun, Victoria and Aransas counties.

The initiative will improve wildlife and fish habitats, including those of some threatened and endangered species, such as the whooping crane. It will also help communities that depend on the Gulf of Mexico for jobs.

During the next three years, GoMI will provide $50 million to 16 priority watersheds in seven major river basins through a combination of NRCS programs. This investment represents an eleven-fold increase over the current level of conservation assistance in GoMI priority areas. This year $20 million has been allocated for producers in the five Gulf Coast states.

GoMI partners in Texas include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department the Texas General Land Office, the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, the San Antonio River Authority and the U.S. Geological Survey.


 

 
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