Loose Ends...

The Concho Valley Cotton Conference is set for March 30 at the San Angelo Convention Center. The conference offers a host of up-to-date production tips, new technology findings, a commercial exhibit display and five continuing education units (CEUs). The Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association's annual meeting will round out the day-long program.

Further information and pre-registration are available through Jeff Ripley at (915) 659-6524, or Rick Minzenmayer at (915) 365-5212.

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Predator Awareness workshops have been scheduled in four area counties for 1999. The four programs, all with similar content, are designed to bring landowners and livestock producers up-to-date on the latest news concerning the management of livestock and wildlife depredations.

The hosting counties, their meeting locations and dates are: Brown County, March 30 in Brownwood's National Guard Armory; Kimble County, March 31 in Junction's Coke Stevenson Memorial Center; Fisher County, August 27 in Roby; and Midland County, November in Midland. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Participants who complete any of the four programs are eligible to earn a maximum of six continuing education units toward a private applicator license re-certification.

Further information is available from county agents in the respective counties.

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A regional beef herd management seminar will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 25 at the Gillespie County Livestock Auction in Fredericksburg. The free program will emphasize options for realizing higher values for feeder calves and cull cows.

Producers will receive a beef checkoff program report from Richard Wortham, TBC executive vice president, and an update on TSCRA activities from a TSCRA spokesman.

A beef meal will be provided to all those who attend. TBC asks participants to call (800)846-4113 to confirm attendance.

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Cattle producers across the United States will be taking advantage of the opportunity to impact policy decisions when they travel to the nation's capital for the Washington Spring Conference, March 24-27. Cattlemen and women will be meeting with their elected representatives at the Capitol as well as with administrative officials.

Congressman Jerry Moran, R-Kan., will address speakers during the NCBA executive committee lunch on Wednesday, March 24. Congressman Larry Combest, R-Texas, will address cattle producers during the legislative briefing March 25, and John Podesta, White House chief of staff, has been invited to speak during the regulatory briefing the following day.

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A Cattlemen's Field Day is set at the South Gate Ranch west of Floresville, Texas on April 14, 1999, beginning with registration at 9:30 a.m. and concluding at 3:45 p.m. Topics of this interactive program with live cattle will include bull and heifer selection and development, herd health and starting program, brood cow nutrition, Brangus carcass data and how a total systems approach to cattle management can help producers survive change in the cattle industry.

Reservations may be made at (800) 749-2469. More information is available at (817) 878-0220.

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Dr. Joseph L. Schuster, Bryan, Texas, received the Frederick G. Renner Award at the recent Society for Range Management's 52nd annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. The award is the highest award bestowed by the Society.

Throughout a career covering 45 years as an administrator, educator and researcher, Schuster has provided leadership as the head of the range departments at Texas Tech and Texas A&M universities. The undergraduate and graduate curriculums were expanded significantly under his guidance, and more than 80 scientific and technical papers were published.

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