PUBLISHED BY THE TEXAS SECTION SOCIETY FOR RANGE

Grass Roots
PUBLISHED BY THE TEXAS SECTION SOCIETY
FOR RANGE MANAGEMENT
Providing Leadership for the Stewardship of Rangelands
Based on Sound Ecological Principles
SEP—OCT 2014
Dr. John Walker—TSSRM President
The annual meeting of the Texas
Section Society for Range Management in Marfa and Alpine is less
than two weeks away! If you haven’t registered it’s not too late to
join the over 150 people that already have, including a sizable
group from Mexico. The theme of
this year’s meeting is “Borderland
Conservation: Two Countries One
Cause.” The annual meeting committee is working hard to finalize
the details and I promise you will
not want to miss this one. In addition to the excellent educational
opportunities and chance to see
old friends and make new ones,
the committee has made an extra
special effort to ensure you have
Volume 66, Number 5
the opportunity to experience the
culture, hospitality and beauty of
the West Texas Highlands by featuring a variety of field tours, local
venues and food vendors. For
more information go to: http://
www.rangelands.org/texas/
aminfo.shtml.
No group is working harder at this
than the Sul Ross State University
Range and Wildlife Club. Their
efforts will include a barbeque and
band on Wednesday evening for
students. This year promises to
have more students attending
than ever.
The Texas Section as well as the
parent Society for Range Management, were blessed this year with
a significant endowment of over
$350,000 from the estate of Don
Pendleton. Mr. Pendleton was
born in Breckenridge, Texas on
December 19, 1933 and grew up
on a stock farm in Stephens County. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Range Management from
Texas Tech in 1957 and a Master’s
Degree in Public Administration
from Harvard University in 1974.
Mr. Pendleton worked for the Soil
Conservation Service (SCS, now
NRCS) and became the agency’s
National Range Conservationist in
1976. He was instrumental in
getting the SCS involved in prescribed burning. He also served in
foreign assignments in Sudan and
Senegal. Don served on the board
of directors for the Texas Section
SRM in 1972 and again from 1993
– 1995.
As with all gifts comes responsibility. The Texas Section SRM must
use these funds in a responsible
manner to both honor the
memory of Mr. Pendleton and
other donors to our endowment
funds and to demonstrate to other
potential donors that should they
choose to gift our organization
that those gifts will be used efficiently and in a manner that promotes rangeland stewardship and
growth of our organization.
The current balance in our endowment fund is over $400,000, which
will provide the resources to promote rangeland conservation that
we have not had in the past. The
officers and board of directors of
the section are responsible for
administering these funds, but
they belong to all members, and
Sep—Oct 2014
Texas Section Officer and Directors
John W. Walker, President
7887 US Highway 87 N
San Angelo, TX 76901
H: (325) 947-2886 O: (325) 653-4576
C: (325) 450-2440
E: [email protected]
Dr. Cody Scott, 1st Vice President
Box #10888 ASU Station
San Angelo, TX 76909
H: (325) 656-1851
E: [email protected]
William “Willy” Conrad, 2nd Vice President
2825 Frate Barker Rd
Austin, TX 78748
P: (512) 826-4132
E: [email protected]
Jeff Goodwin, Past President
3501 CR 356
Gatesville, TX 76528
C: (254) 977-2663 O: (254) 742-9951
E: [email protected]
Natalie Bartek, Secrtry, Admin Handbook, Web
107 Wyoming Blvd
Pleasanton, TX 78064-4401
C: (210) 288-6898 F: (830) 569-6140
E: [email protected]
Robert Moen, Treasurer
PO Box 43
Sonora, TX 76950-0043
H: (325) 387-2942 W: (325) 387-3168
E : [email protected]
Tyson Hart, Newsletter Editor
4613 NW Stallings Dr
Nacogdoches, TX 75961
W: (936) 462-8185 H: (979) 571-5885
E: [email protected]
Jeremy Hasty, Social Media
12821 Carillon Way
Manor, TX 78653
H: (512) 382-9683 O: (512) 459-1623
E: [email protected]
Lee A. Knox, Archivist
361 Foothill Rd
Abilene, TX 79602
H: (325) 692-1026
E: [email protected]
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you the members, need to provide input with innovative ideas
of how they can best be used to
grow our section and its impact
on rangeland conservation.
Speaking of impact, the public
affairs committee and the board
have been busy this year developing resolutions and providing
public comment on issues that
affect rangelands. The Board
sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency supporting
the reregistration of aminopyralid and commented on the Texas
Water Supply Enhancement Program. The Public Affairs committee has drafted a resolutions
on the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative and participation
in prescribed fire by NRCS employees (I feel certain that Don
Pendleton would be particularly
proud of the latter).
I hope to see you in Alpine.
- John Walker
Mandi M. Ligon, Director 2012-14
103 W Florida Ave
Sweetwater, TX 79556
H: (325) 766-2029 O: (940) 733-0120
E: [email protected]
Brian Hays, Director 2012-14
PO Box 1066
Gatesville, TX 76528
O: (254) 865-2061 H: (254) 865-8585
C: (254) 216-0774
E: [email protected]
Dr. Jim Ansley, 2013-15
PO Box 1066
Gatesville, TX 76528
O: (940) 552-9941 x 234
E: [email protected]
Dandy Kothman, Director 2013-15
PO Box 243
Menard, TX 76859
C: (325) 212-8944
E: [email protected]
Frank Price, Director 2014-16
PO Box 907 (mailing)
11100 SH 158 West (shipping)
Sterling City, TX 76951
C: (325) 277-4680 H: (325) 378-4368
E: [email protected]
Melissa Teague, Director 2014-16
912 Avenue G NW
Childress, TX 79201
H: 940-937-0075 C: 940-674-5310
O: 580-688-3456 x 112
E: [email protected]
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Annual Meeting Fundraiser
A fundraiser will be held during the upcoming annual meeting in Marfa/Alpine
will benefit the scholarship endowment. The fundraiser is a reverse raffle held
on Tuesday evening during the mixer/social. There are 200 tickets, of which 199
will be sold for $20 a ticket. The final ticket will be sold ‘live’ at the reception
when there are only two tickets left in the hopper, making it a guaranteed winning ticket.
For those not familiar with a reverse raffle, all of the tickets will be placed in the
hopper and will be drawn out one at a time. Every 10th ticket drawn will win a
prize. These prizes include gift cards, Mooremaker knives, a small Yeti cooler,
and other fun items from local merchants. The final three tickets will win the big
prizes which include an Ice Hole Cooler, an antelope hunt in the Texas Panhandle, and a $1,000 Visa gift card
Thanks,
Haley Baumgardner
Jan—Feb 2011
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2011
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2014
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The 60th TSSRM Youth Range Workshop
- Barron S. Rector The 2014 TSSRM Youth Range Workshop was held on June 22-27, 2014 at Junction and the Texas Tech University
Junction campus. The workshop, formerly named “Range Camp” from 1955 until 1983, was coordinated by Dr. Barron S. Rector, Extension Range Specialist at College Station, and Mr. Hoyt Seidensticker, rancher and septic system
designer in Kendall County. The co-coordinators were proud and honored to have the following individuals serve as
Directors for the 60th workshop and included Dr. Robert Knight, Mrs. Jenny Pluhar, Mr. Paul Loeffler, Mr. Keith
Blair, Mr. Jeff Goodwin, Mrs. Dandy Kothmann, Mr. Lee Knox, Dr. Aaron Sumrall, Dr. Dean Wiemers, Ms. Kim Peters, Mrs. Marianne Sumrall, Mr. James Jackson, Dr. Jake Landers, Dr. Morgan Russell, Mr. Ryan Reitz and Dr. Jason
Johnson (Figure 1). Junior Directors included Myca Reed, Mark Zoeller, Ryanne Lewis and Clay Burkham. On a special note, visitors to the workshop included TSSRM President Dr. John Walker and First Vice President Mr. Willie
Conrad. The workshop also has a special working relationship with many ranches, agencies and interested individuals who work and help to make this flagship program of the Texas Section Society for Range Management an educational success.
Figure 1. 60th Annual Youth Range Workshop Directors. Front row: Barron Rector, Marianne Sumrall, Hoyt Seidensticker, Dean Weimers, Kim Peters. Back row: Bob Knight, Jenny Pluhar, Aaron Sumrall, Paul Loeffler, Keith Blair,
James Jackson and Jeff Goodwin. (Not pictured – Dandy Kothmann, Lee Knox, Jake Landers, Ryan Reitz, Jason Johnson and Morgan Russell).
The workshop invites 4-H and FFA youth to apply for participation in the workshop and these youth are recommended by their County Extension Agent or Agricultural Science teacher as having the desire and interest to learn
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2014
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about the proper management of our State’s rangelands and natural resources or would benefit from a program
that has a curriculum that is complimentary to Ag classes, the 4-H Range Science Project area or range and plant
identification and judging contests. For the 60th workshop, 38 4-H and FFA youth participated (Figure 2) and came
from the Texas counties including Harris, Presidio, Kimble, Bosque, Newton, Kendall, Menard, Palo Pinto, Maverick,
Medina, Randall, Crockett, Goliad, Comal, Comanche, Bandera, Jasper, Burnet, Brazoria, Live Oak, Young, Lampasas, Ector, and Motley.
Figure 2. The 2014 Youth Range Workshop participants represented 24 Texas counties and respective 4-H and FFA
programs.
The purpose of the Youth Range Workshop is to recognize outstanding youth, develop leadership skills, and provide advanced training to 4-H and FFA youth interested in practical range ecology, ranch and natural resource management. A premier goal of the Workshop is that youth participants will return to their local communities and can
serve as leaders to educate youth and other audiences about the value and management of the rangeland resource. The basic curriculum of the workshop covers 26 teaching areas in 6 days. The workshop curriculum is structured to provide knowledge and understanding in the following areas; land stewardship, range ecology, plant identification, plant growth, plant-soil-water relations, primary and secondary plant succession, watershed management, livestock and wildlife needs, tools of range and natural resource management, prescribed burning, and the
impact of management decisions on the range resource and the landowner. Hands-on activities provide curriculum
reinforcement, visual examples and opportunities to learn skills in plant identification, plant collecting, plant species composition, total resource planning, stocking rate determinations, estimating forage standing crops, and estimating brush densities and ecological trend. Special sessions on water and range health provide the participants
with skills for teaching youth and adults in their home communities. A media program is conducted which encour-
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ages youth participants to use and train others on what they have learned. Extending the knowledge learned or
gained to others is one of the highest goals of this program.
Participants are required to make a plant collection, prepare a useful notebook of notes and resources, lead fellow
participants, assist with Workshop Stewardship program, participate in public speaking opportunities and complete
all requirements of the workshop. For 2014, all participants completed the required work and were recognized in
the final award ceremony by Texas Section Society for Range Management President Dr. John Walker (Figure 3). To
be recognized for completion of the workshop is the highest award given by the TSSRM for this event. Each year,
the youth that provides the greatest leadership to the staff and other participants is recognized with the Roger Q.
Landers Sr. Trail Boss Award. Dr. Jake Landers was present to recognize Lauren Biggs from Randall County with this
award (Figure 4). The Sam Coleman Award of Excellence for outstanding work on a plant collection and notebook
was presented by Mr. Art Mudge with the Upper Llanos Soil and Water Conservation District to Randi Buckalew
from Jasper County (Figure 5).
Figure 3. TSSRM President Dr. John Walker recognizing workshop participant Kamryn Adair of Young County for
completion of the Youth Range Workshop curriculum.
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2014
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Figure 4. Workshop Director Dr. Jake Landers recognizes the 2014 recipient of the Roger Q. Landers Trail Boss
Award, Lauren Biggs of Randall County. This award recognizes Roger Q. Landers Sr. who was President of the Texas
Section in 1954 when the idea and work for establishing a camp or workshop for Texas youth was begun.
Figure 5. Mr. Art Mudge with the Upper Llanos Soil and Water Conservation District recognizes Randi Buckalew of
Jasper County with the 2014 Sam Coleman Award of Excellence. The award recognizes Mr. Sam Coleman, one of the
original range camp directors in 1955.
65th Annual Texas Section SRM Meeting
Alpine and Marfa, TX
October 7-9th 2014
“Borderland Conservation: Two Countries, One Cause”
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Alligare
Dow Agro Sciences
Dupont
Texas Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative
SILVER SPONSORS
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Turner Seed Company
Bamert Seed Company
BRONZE SPONSORS
H. Yturria Land & Cattle Co.
Highlands Soil and Water Conservation District
DK & Santana McMullan
Tom Green Soil and Water Conservation District
Exhibitors
Alligare
Bamert Seed Company
Capital Farm Credit
Dow Agro Sciences
DuPont
Red River Specialties
Stay Tuff Fence
Truax Company, Inc.
Turner Seed Company
Texas Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Contributors
Alco
Atascosa Soil and Water Conservation District
Big Bend Regional Medical Center
Big Bend Saddlery
Big Bend Soil and Water Conservation District
Edwards Plateau Soil and Water Conservation District
Ellis Prairie Soil and Water Conservation District
Far Flung Outdoor Center
Gail Smith
Garza Soil and Water Conservation District
Johnson Feed & Western Wear
Judy & Maude Schmitt
Kendall Soil and Water Conservation District
La Casita Restaurant
Lower Clear Fork of the Brazos Soil and Water Conservation District
Middle Concho Soil and Water Conservation District
Miller Brazos Soil and Water Conservation District
Navarro Soil and Water Conservation District
Parker Soil and Water Conservation District
Pizza Hut
Raymond Schimcek
Reata Restaurant
Robert Murphy
Sul Ross State University Range & Wildlife Club
Sweet B’s Bakery
Upper Llano Soil and Water Conservation District
Victoria Soil and Water Conservation District
Wilbarger Soil and Water Conservation District
Wilson Scaling
Young Soil and Water Conservation District
“Thank You” to all Sponsors, Contributors, & Exhibitors for
supporting and being part of the TSSRM 2014 Annual
Meeting!
Schedule of Events
Tuesday, October 7th Marfa, TX
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8:15 am
1:30 pm
5:00 pm
6:00 pm
Ecological Site Workshop – Crowley Theater and Mimms Ranch (bring a sack lunch)
Binational Symposium – Crowley Theater
Registration setup at Planet Marfa
Social/Mixer at Planet Marfa
Wednesday, October 8th Alpine, TX
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6:00 am
8:00 am
8:00 am
9:00 am
5:30 pm
6:30 pm
7:30 pm
Evening
Board Meeting - Sul Ross State University [SRSU], Range Animal Science (RAS) Building
Membership Business Meeting - SRSU RAS Building
Registration setup - SRSU RAS Building Foyer. Registration ends at 9:00 am
Buses/vans depart from SRSU RAS parking lot for field tours.
Plant ID Contest - SRSU RAS Building
URME Contest - SRSU RAS Building
Student/Young Professional BBQ/Social at Camp Mitre Peak hosted by SRSU Range Club
Free Time
Thursday, October 9th Alpine, TX
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6:00 am
6:30 am
7:00 am
7:00 am
8:15 am
12:00 pm
1:50 pm
5:00 pm
7:00 pm
9:00 pm
Exhibitor set-up - SRSU Morgan University Center - Espino Conference Center Foyer
Past President’s Breakfast (University Center, Room 210)
Young Professionals Breakfast (University Center, Espino D)
Registration setup (Espino Conference Center Foyer)
Plenary Session (Espino Conference Center)
Awards Lunch at Kokernot Lodge
Student and Young Professional Presentations (Espino Conference Center)
Trade Show (Espino Conference Center Foyer)
Awards Banquet (Granada Theatre)
The Colton O’Neill Band (Granada Theatre)
*A Rancher’s Workshop hosted by Texas Tech University will be held at the Hotel Paisano Ballroom, Marfa,
beginning Monday, October 6th from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm and from 8:30 am -12:15 pm on Tuesday, October 7th.
Espino Conference Center is located on the second floor of the SRSU Morgan University Center.
Marfa Venues
Crowley Theater
Located at the corner of West El Paso St. and South Austin St.
Planet Marfa
Located at the corner of West San Antonio St. (Hwy 90) and South Abbot St.
Alpine Venues
Granada Theater
207 East Holland Ave, Alpine, TX
Camp Mitre Peak
200 Mitre Peak Camp Rd, Fort Davis, TX 79734
From Alpine: drive north on TX-118 for 10 miles. Turn left on Ranch Rd 1837. Turn right on Mitre Peak Camp
Road.
Program
Rancher’s Workshop (Hosted by Texas Tech University)
Monday, October 6th 2014
Hotel Paisano, Marfa TX
Moderator: Carlos Villalobos
3:00 pm
Welcome
Carlos Villalobos, Associate Professor, Texas Tech University
3:10 pm
Is Re-seeding a Viable Practice?
Ron Sosebee, Professor Emeritus, Texas Tech University
4:20 pm
Break
4:30 pm
Ecological Site Concepts
Michael Margo, USDA-NRCS, Marfa, TX
5:15 pm
Ranching for Profit in The Chihuahuan Desert
Carlos Villalobos, Associate Professor, Texas Tech University
TX SRM Rancher’s Workshop
Tuesday, October 7th 2014
Hotel Paisano, Marfa TX
Concurrent with ESD Workshop
Moderator: Carlos Villalobos
8:30 am
Welcome
Carlos Villalobos, Associate Professor, Texas Tech University
8:40 am
Successful Control of Noxious Brush and Weeds
Ron Sosebee, Professor Emeritus, Texas Tech University
10:15 am
Strategies and Management of Livestock Enterprises: A Look at Successful Experiences
on Brazilian Rangelands.
Aldo Sales, Graduate Student, Texas Tech University
11:00 am
Break
11:15 am
Proper Grazing and Cattle Nutritional Management Considerations Before, During,
and After the Drought
Carlos Villalobos, Associate Professor, Texas Tech University
12:15 pm
Lunch (on your own)
TX SRM Ecological Site Workshop
Tuesday, October 7th 2014
Crowley Theater, Marfa TX
Concurrent with Rancher’s Workshop
8:30 am
Controls on Soils and Vegetation
Lynn Loomis, Soil Scientist, USDA-NRCS, Marfa, TX
9:00 am
Soil Survey Process and Product
Jim Clausen, Retired Soil Scientist, USDA-NRCS, Alpine, TX
9:30 am
Development of Ecological Sites: Data collection, Analysis
Michael Margo, Rangeland Management Specialist, USDA-NRCS, Marfa, TX
10:00 am
Contents of an Ecological Site Description
Michael Margo, Rangeland Management Specialist, USDA-NRCS, Marfa, TX
10:30 am
Utility of Ecological sites for Conservation Planning
Jeff Goodwin, State Rangeland Management Specialist, USDA-NRCS, Temple, TX
11:00 am
Site visit to Mimms Ranch
Field recognition of ecological sites, soil interpretation, map unit design, soil inclusions.
12:30 pm
Lunch in the field (bring your own).
TX SRM Binational Symposium
Tuesday, October 7th 2014
Crowley Theater, Marfa TX
Moderator: J. Alfonso Ortega
1:30 pm
Welcome
J. Alfonso Ortega, Moderator and John Walker, President TX SRM
1:40 pm
The Role of Exotic Grasses for Cattle and Wildlife (Mexico Perspective)
Fernando A. Ibarra-Flores, División de Ciencias Administrativas, Contables y Agropecuaria,
Unidad Regional Norte Campus Santa Ana, Universidad Autónoma de Sonora, Mexico.
2:00 pm
The Role of Exotic Grasses for Cattle and Wildlife (US perspective)
Tim Fulbright, Research Scientist and Professor, Ceasar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute,
Texas A&M University Kingsville, TX.
2:20 pm
Questions/Discussions (Exotic Grasses)
Presenters on stage
2:40 pm
Rangeland Restoration Efforts (Mexico Perspective)
Cuenca Palo Blanco Restoration Project
Jorge Villarreal, Consejo Estatal de Flora y Fauna Silvestre de Nuevo Leon, Mexico
3:00 pm
Rangeland Restoration Efforts (US Perspective)
Forrest Smith, Director, South Texas Natives and Texas Native Seeds TAMUK, Kingsville, TX
&
Bonnie Warnock, Professor, College of Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, SRSU,
Alpine, TX
3:30 pm
Questions/Discussions (Restoration)
Presenters on stage
3:50 pm
Break
4:10 pm
Technology Transfer on Grazing Management: Successes and Failures
(Mexico perspective)
Eduardo A. Gonzalez V. Universidad Autonóma de Tamaulipas and Carlos Ortega
Universidad de Chihuahua
4:30 pm
Technology Transfer on Grazing Management: Successes and Failures
(US perspective)
Charles A. Taylor, Texas A&M AgriLife Research Station, Sonora, TX
4:50 pm
Questions/Discussions (Technology Transfer)
Presenters on stage
5:10 pm
The Future of Rangeland Education (Mexico Perspective)
Edmundo Garcia Moya, Colegio de Postgraduados de Chapingo, Mexico
5:30 pm
The Future of Rangeland Education (US Perspective)
Laurie Abbott, Associate Professor of Range Science, New Mexico State University, Las
Cruces, NM.
5:50 pm
Questions/Discussions (Rangeland Education)
Presenters on Stage
Closing Remarks
J. Alfonso Ortega
6:00 pm
Social/Mixer at Planet Marfa
Wednesday, October 8th, Field Trips
1. Dixon Water Foundation Lands
• Mimms Ranch (Marfa):
o Excellent opportunity to view Marfa Plateau blue grama/black grama mixed prairie.
o Overview of ranch history, vision, vegetation, grazing system.
o Presentations on effects of 2011 Rock House fire on wildlife, soil, and vegetation.
o Presentations on pronghorn antelope research and management.
• Kennedy Ranch (Alamito Creek)
o Unique Trans-Pecos cottonwood riparian habitat.
o Discussions on riparian grazing issues, fencing, and wildlife.
• Presenters:
o Robert Potts, President, Dixon Water Foundation
o Casey Wade, Ranch Manager, Mimms Ranch
o Bonnie Warnock, Professor, Sul Ross State University
o James Weaver, Biologist, Texas Parks & Wildlife
o Shawn Gray, Biologist, Texas Parks & Wildlife
o Mike Sullins, Biologist, Texas Parks & Wildlife
o Ryan McClintock, Area Biologist, USDA-NRCS, San Angelo, TX
o John Edwards, Graduate Student, Sul Ross State University
o Bobby Allcorn, Graduate Student, Sul Ross State University
2. Rangeland Restoration
• CF Ranch (5 miles south of Alpine)
o Overview of Texas Native Seeds program and tour of field plots.
• O2 Ranch (35 miles south of Alpine)
o Overview of ranch history, current management, and university partnerships.
o Presentations on Chihuahuan Desert restoration research.
• Presenters
o Colin Shackelford, Texas Native Seeds, Caesar Kleberg, Wildlife Research Institute
o Homer Mills, Ranch Manager, O2 Ranch
o Will Juett, Soil Conservation Technician, USDA-NRCS
o Kendal Smith, Rangeland Management Specialist, USDA-NRCS
o Chris Jackson, Graduate Student, Sul Ross State University
3. Davis Mountains Preserve:
• The Davis Mountains is considered one of the most scenic areas of Texas. Rising above the Chihuahuan
desert, the range forms a unique “sky island” surrounded by the lowland desert. Mexican pinyon pine,
ponderosa pine, alligator juniper, and gray oak are common trees found at the Preserve.
• Presentations on the history of the Preserve, plant communities, and management.
• Presentations on burn severity project and ponderosa pine research.
• Presenters:
o Jason Wrinkle, The Nature Conservancy
o Ed Rhodes, Texas A&M University
o Clay Bales, Texas Forest Service
o Chris Pipes, Sul Ross State University
4. Big Bend Tour
• Guided driving tour (Alpine, Lajitas, Presidio, Marfa, back to Alpine).
• Planned stops: Barton Warnock Visitor Center; Big Hill; Fort Leaton, Cibolo Creek Ranch.
• Discussions on landforms, geology, vegetation, and Terlingua and Shafter mining history.
• National Geographic magazine calls FM 170 from Study Butte to Presidio “Top 10 Scenic Highways in
North America.
• Presenters:
o Lynn Loomis, Soil Scientist, USDA NRCS
o Michael Margo, Rangeland Management Specialist, USDA NRCS
TX SRM Plenary Session
Thursday, October 9th 2014
Espino Center - Sul Ross State University, Alpine TX
Moderators : Robert Kinucan (Morning) and Morgan Russell (Afternoon)
8:15 am
Welcome
Robert Kinucan, Moderator and John Walker, President TX SRM
8:25 am
Geology, Soils, and Climate of the Trans-Pecos Region
Lynn Loomis USDA-NRCS, Marfa, TX
8:55 am
Vegetation and Community Types of the Trans-Pecos Region
A. Michael Powell, Emeritus Professor, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, TX
9:25 am
Genevieve Lykes Duncan Archeological Site (O2 Ranch): Increasing the Value of your
Ranch
Robert Mallouf, Center for Big Bend Studies, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, TX
Homer Mills, Manager - O2 Ranch
9:55 am
Break
10:25 am
Ranching in the Chihuahuan Desert – Rancher Experience (Mexico Perspective)
Carlos Ortega, Chihuahua, Mexico
10:55 am
Ranching in the Chihuahuan Desert – Rancher Experience (US Perspective)
Miller Ranch (Presidio and Jeff Davis Counties) Clay, Albert, Bill
11:25 am
Texas Climate Outlook
John Nielsen-Gammon, Regents Professor and Texas State Climatologist, Texas A&M
University, College Station
12:00 am
Awards Lunch
Kokernot Lodge
1:50 pm
Borderlands Research Institute (Overview, Current Research)
Louis Harveson, Professor and Director of Borderlands Research Institute, Sul Ross
State University, Alpine
2:10 pm
Vegetation Assessment on Short Grass Prairies Using VLSA Imagery
Megan Boatright, Graduate Student, Sul Ross State University, Alpine
2:30 pm
Effects of prescribed fire on tanglehead seedling density and forage quality in the
Texas Coastal Sandsheet: A pilot study
Joshua Grace, Invasive Species Specialist, Texas A&M University, Kingsville
2:50 pm
Evaluation of Herbicide Treatments in Mesquite-Dominated Pastures of South Texas,
and the Effects on Forage Production
Alfonso Ortega Jr., Wildlife and Research Manager, East Wildlife Foundation Ranches,
South TX
3:10 pm
Break
3:40 pm
Seed Bank Characteristics of Stock-Piled Topsoils in the Western Rio Grande Plains
Mylea Lovell, Graduate Student, Texas A&M University Kingsville
4:00 pm
Season of Prescribed Burning on Old World Bluestem Mortality
Adam Toomey, Graduate Student, Texas A&M University Kingsville
4:20 pm
International Collaboration Integral to Bighorn Restoration
Thomas Janke, Graduate Student, Sul Ross State University, Alpine
4:40 pm
Thermal Environment is Important in Habitat Selection by Male White-tailed Deer
during Summer
Dean Wiemers, Adjunct Professor, Texas A&M University San Antonio