Discussion by UC scientists on different methods available to ranchers and land managers to control invasive weeds such as yellow starthistle, medusahead, and barbed goatgrass. Wolfgang Pittroff, Asst. Professor with the Animal Sciences Dept. at UC Davis shows the different livestock that can be used in vegetation management. Melvin George, Grazing Management Specialist with Agronomy & Range Science at UC Davis presents his research into the spatial considerations for using livestock to control vegetation, and Peter Hujik, Grasslands Manager with The Nature Conservancy, outlines the obstacles and special considerations to using prescribed fire as a vegetation management tool.

This video was produced by Mississsippi State University

 In a recent report by Dr. Tom Field titled “Priorities First: Identifying Management Priorities in the Commercial Cow-Calf Business” pasture and range management was identified as the #2 priority of cow/calf producers in the US (behind herd nutrition – also a pasture/range issue). 

If this is the case why are there few ranchers involved with professional societies like the SRM. Cattleman are often eager to join groups like the NCBA, or their states cattle growers associations, and with good reason; these groups provide a forum for information sharing and provide a voice for cattleman and the beef industry in Washington. The SRM does the same thing only with rangeland issues. In today’s environmentally conscious world cattle grazing on public rangelands is a hotly debated topic. Many ranches rely on public rangelands for a bulk of their forage supply. Still few ranchers find it necessary to be involved with the SRM and support its efforts to promote rangeland use including cattle grazing. SRM meetings are also a great forum for information sharing and networking with like minded producers and professionals much the same as beef organizations.  

So why aren’t more cattle producers involved with the SRM, and what do you think the SRM could do different to attract more ranchers?

The annual Range Beef Cow Symposium will follow the workshop on Dec. 11-13 in Fort Collins, CO, also at at the Larimer County Fairgrounds. Visit http://www.rangebeefcow.com or http://ansci.colostate.edu/ for more information.

Producers and researchers will explore ways to improve the management of grazing land during the CRYSTALYX® Grazing Management Workshop December 10, at the Larimer County Fairgrounds in Fort Collins, Colorado. Don’t Fence Me In: Using Animal Behavior and Low-Moisture Block Supplements to Manage Pastures will feature the latest research from some of the country’s leading authorities on animal behavior and livestock nutrition, as well as producers who have used modified grazing distribution successfully.

The workshop is open to the public and will precede the 2007 Range Beef Cow Symposium in Fort Collins. The program will begin at 1 P.M. in the Thomas M. McKee 4-H Youth & Community Building.To view the complete schedule of the CRYSTALYX® Grazing Management Workshop and to pre-register go to http://www.crystalyx.com 

If you are involved in rangeland, pasture, or forage management you need to be at the joint meeting of the SRM and AFGC January 27-30 in Louisville KY. Vistit www.rangelands.org for more infomation or to sign up.

This is from Purdue University

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