Loose Ends

USDA has rescheduled a public meeting to discuss a potential sheep industry checkoff program from May 3 to May 25. The public meeting will be conducted at the Crystal Inn, 3300 N. Ouray St., Aurora, Colo., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More information is available from Ralph L. Tapp, Chief, Marketing Programs Branch, Livestock and Seed Program, AMS, USDA, Washington, D.C., or (202) 720-1115.

*****

The regular election of a member to the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board to represent Districts One, Three and Five is set for May 4 in the respective districts.

*****

The Heart of Texas Cow-Calf Clinic, now in its 21st year, is set for May 6 in the Brownwood Coliseum in Brownwood, Texas. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., the program at 8 a.m. There is no registration fee.

The morning program features topics like "Positioning Yourself To Be A Viable Producer In The Future", and "Making the Tough Decisions to Stay Viable".

Paul Coleman, vice president of Cactus Feeders, Amarillo, will give his views on the future of feedlots.

The afternoon program will focus on beef marketing alternatives, complementary enterprises and branding and herd health.

More information is available from the Brown County Extension office at (915) 646-0386.

*****

The Texas Agricultural Extension Service in Castro County will host a one-day Fed Cattle Marketing Simulation seminar May 10 in the Assembly Room of the Castro County Courthouse (basement level).

This national award-winning workshop allows participants to play the role of a feedlot marketing manager and a meat packing plant cattle buyer. A large portion of the game involves interaction among teams in trading cattle.

The program begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. Registration is $25 per person. Couples attending only pay one registration fee. Interested persons should pre-register for the seminar by Thursday, May 6. More information is available from the Castro County Extension office at (806) 647-4115.

*****

Tom Green, Coke and Sterling county Extension offices have planned a range and wildlife field day May 12 at the San Angelo State School Recreation area at Carlsbad beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Topics to be discussed include eco-tourism opportunities for West Texas, range management for wildlife and livestock, and a look at the ranch research at the state school.

Following a catered lunch, the group will travel to Little F Ranch at Broome, where participants will learn about brush sculpting as a tool for wildlife management. The tour will adjourn at 3 p.m.

Interested persons must RSVP to the county Extension office at (915) 659-6522 before May 7. A registration fee of $10 will cover lunch and educational materials. Three CEU's will be issued to holders of pesticide applicator licenses.

*****

West Texas Rehabilitation Center will hold its 10th annual Club Lamb/Meat Goat Sale Saturday, June 12 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Wylie FFA Showbarn in Abilene. Last year’s sale raised more than $19,000 for WTRC, which provides services to more than 17,000 patients each year.

Sheep chairmen John Helmer, Merkel; Charlie Palmer, Clyde; Gaines Price, Roscoe; and Wade Stephens, Cross Plains, are expecting about 150 lambs from donors throughout the state as well as Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri and Illinois. Jennifer Morris, Colorado City, is the goat chairman and is expecting 75 goats from top Texas breeders for the goat show. Only lambs and goats purchased at this show will be able to participate in the Rehab Jackpot Show Dec. 11.

More information is available from Danny Isbell, Abilene, at (915) 793-3507, or Dee Lackey, San Angelo, at (915) 223-6311.

*****

Dr. Dan Waldron, research geneticist at the Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center in San Angelo, was recently promoted to the rank of associate professor effective September 1.

Waldron has been the research and animal geneticist in San Angelo since 1993. He came to San Angelo from the Ruakura Agricultural Centre at Hamilton, New Zealand, where he was a research geneticist from 1990 to 1993.

Waldron is best known for his work with the Sonora Angora goat and Rambouillet ram performance tests. The scientist oversees and coordinates both the performance-related tests.

*****

Five one-day schools at various locations around the state are being added to Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association's popular School for Successful Ranching.

Schools are scheduled for May 22 in Huntsville; June 19 in Paris; June 29 in Canyon; June 30 in Brady; and July 22 in Vernon. The schools are designed to help novice and experienced ranchers learn more about animal health, range and pasture management and marketing. The information presented at each school will differ based on the needs of each specific locality.

The schools are open to the public and a free lunch will be served. There is no charge to attend; however, to help organizers plan for the correct number of people, please RSVP to TSCRA's voice mail reservation system at (800)242-7820 or ext. 192.

More information is available from TSCRA staff Sharla Ishmael, ext. 134 or Todd Tippett ex. 145.

*****

Cody C. Stone has been named the new District 7 Extension 4-H specialist. He is headquartered in the Texas A&M University Research and Extension center located just north of San Angelo on U.S. Hwy. 87.

Stone's major responsibility is to provide support for the overall 4-H and Youth Development Program in District 7's 23 counties.

The new specialist comes to San Angelo from Fredericksburg, where he served as Gillespie County's assistant agricultural Extension agent. Stone was reared in the rural community of Gail and grew up working on his grandfather's cattle and cotton operations.

*****