Loose Ends

The Texas Agricultural and Natural Resources Summit Initiative, "Financing Texas Agriculture in the Future," is set for Wednesday, May 27, at the Omni Hotel Southpark in Austin.

The summit will feature some of the state’s and nation’s leading agricultural economists, as well as knowledgeable representatives from all sectors of the agricultural financing industry.

Throughout the course of the meeting, participants and presenters will identify key trends and changes impacting Texas agriculture and set priorities for responding to those changes.

The agenda will be divided into five parts: the changing Texas agricultural scene — developments affecting risk and financing; changes in agricultural lenders — new players and new rules; changing how loans are made — new strategies for managing risk; what high-priority responds are needed, and how do we implement them?

Registration is $75 per person. Registration or other information is available at (409) 845-2519.

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The West Texas Deer Study Group, a new gathering of people interested in fostering proper deer management, will hold their first annual meeting June 8-9 at San Angelo’s Texas A&M Research and Extension Center. Registration is from 10 to 11 a.m.

The formal program begins at 1 p.m. The first afternoon’s session will include "Why a West Texas Deer Study Group?"; "Economics of Deer Management"; "Food Plot Management in Semiarid Regions"; and "Aging Deer: Art or Science?"

The afternoon session resumes with "Deer Management on the Internet"; "Summary of Deer Genetics Symposium at TAMU"; and "An Independent Review of Deer Genetics Data Sets."

The evening session begins at 7 p.m. with a discussion focusing on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s deer management permit policies.

The June 9th session meets at 7:30 a.m. on the Lipan Springs Ranch southeast of San Angelo. At 8 a.m. participants will be given a demonstration of the helicopter net-gunning technique used to capture deer. They will also be taught deer necropsy techniques and be given a tour of the ranch and its deer management program. A "hands-on" plant identification session for deer managers will also be conducted.

A noon lunch will be catered on the ranch.

Registration received by June 1 is $20 and $30 at the door. Further information is available from Dr. Dale Rollins at (915) 653-4576, e-mail: d-rollins@tamu.edu.

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Members, directors and interested sheep and goat producers in Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association District 5 will meet Friday, May 15, at Isaac’s Restaurant in Junction. The meeting begins at 10:30 a.m.

TSGRA first vice president Carl Menzies will report on association activities, the increase in imports, animal health issues and private property/environmental rights matters. State Representative Bob Turner of Coleman will report on legislative matters at the state level, and William Edmiston, DVM, president of the Sheep and Goat Predator Management Board, will report on board activities in the area of predator control. Directors to serve the district for the 1998-99 term will be elected at the close of the meeting. District 5 is made up of Kimble, Menard, Schleicher and Sutton counties.

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The 12th Annual Brazos Valley Cattleman’s Clinic and Trade Show is set for Friday, May 15, at the Brazos Valley Livestock Commission Company, Bryan, Texas. Topics to be discussed include "Buying vs. Raising Hay"; "Opportunities to Increase Your Grazing Capacity"; "Herbicide Application for Weed Control"; "Economic Outlook;" "Buying vs. Raising Replacement Heifers"; "Bull-Added Value to Calves"; and "Chute Side Manners — Working Cattle."

Registration is $10 and will be from 8-9 a.m. More information is available from Eric Zimmerman at (409) 823-0129.

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The Texas Animal Health Commission reports that for the month of April, 224,792 cattle entered Texas from other states while 154,095 were exported. Also, 6535 sheep entered Texas and 7086 were exported.

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New Mexico’s soil and water conservation commission and the water quality control commission will sponsor an open public forum from 9 a.m. to noon on May 12 at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces. The general public and interested parties are invited to attend to provide input on water quality issues in New Mexico. Additional information is available at NMDA’s division of agricultural programs and resources at (505) 646-2642.

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A PredatorWatch report says a hiker in the Louviers, Colo. area is recovering from wounds but still alive after a close-combat battle with an attacking mountain lion. The attack followed a 30-minute standoff in Roxborough State Park; when the hiker finally ran, the cat chased him down. The intended prey responded by gouging the big cat’s eye with his thumb and ventilating its hide with his pocketknife.

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The Kansas Livestock Association, citing an annual Kansas Ag Statistics survey, reports lease rates for Flint Hills bluestem pasture higher this year. The survey found 57 percent of pastures under full season contracts, 19 percent under short season grazing, and 24 percent leased year-around.

Full season contracts for steers and heifers under 700 pounds averaged $61.90 per head, up $1.60 from last year; those for heavier cattle were up $2.50 at $74.60. The per-acre value was $17.80 for leases providing salt, water and care, $16.20 without services.

Short season leases averaged $52.90 per head for weights under 700 pounds, up $4.30, heavier weights $64. The per-acre rates was $22 with services, $17.90 without.

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The American Farm Bureau Federation is opposing a change in federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration laws that would allow OSHA to investigate small agricultural operations following fatal accidents. Current law allows OSHA only onto farms with 10 or more employees and/or a temporary labor camp. The proposed change, backed by Rhode Island Sens. Jack Reed, a Democrat, and John Chafee, a liberal Republican, is contained in an OSHA funding bill.

AFBF says local authorities already investigate accidental deaths and contends the proposal was precipitated by a single Rhode Island accident.

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The City of Monterey, Calif. is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that found its land-use restrictions constituted a "taking" of private property. As incredible as it may sound, Monterey is arguing that the city itself should have the power to decide whether it has committed a "taking." ("Yes, Your Honor, I hit that guy with a pipe — three times — but I’m satisfied that it wasn’t assault.")