Drought Recovery Focus At Sterling County Range Field Day

Some ranchers have seen more rain—thus far—in 2012 than had they received last year at this point. It is a time for many to think about recovery of their range and pasture land, as well as gradually rebuilding herds and cattle stocking rates.

The Sterling County Range and Livestock Committee of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service will conduct their annual range field day beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 21 at the Sterling County Community Center in Sterling City, Texas.

Many ranchers across the state are still trying to recover from last year's historic Texas drought, the worst stretch of drought since official recording keeping began 116 years earlier in1895. More than 30,000 wildfires burned across more than 4 million acres of Texas last year in the state's most severe wildfire season. Range and pasture land was heavily damaged during the record drought, and wildfires destroyed multitudes of structures including buildings and many miles of fences.

"Most range field days out our way this year are all about recovering from last year's drought and wildfire, and ours is no exception," says Chad Coburn, Texas AgriLife Extension Service agent in Sterling County. "But we'll also be discussing evaluation results of a mesquite control result demonstration plot on the Horwood River Ranch where we've been testing various rates of a promising new chemical for mesquite management."

Alyson McDonald, Texas AgriLife Extension Service range specialist with headquarters at Fort Stockton, will join Coburn on the range field day, and she will be presenting the latest information in range management.

Three continuing education units will be available for attendees from the Texas Department of Agriculture for pesticide license holders.

Individual registration for the program is just $10 payable upon arrival. For more information, contact Coburn at 325-378-3181 or you can reach him by Email at c-coburn@tamu.edu.