During an extended drought, ranchers must manage their rangeland to ensure that they do not overgraze the land, causing plant mortality. Due to reduced animal units and current pasture conditions, ranchers have to consider new opportunities other than traditional grazing patterns.
During a Ranchers’ Roundtable on Wednesday, May 21, at New Mexico State University’s Southwest Center for Rangeland Sustainability in Corona, ranchers will learn new ideas and grazing practices to use while they look to the sky for rain.
Panel members will be Brenda Simpson, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service range conservationist; George Douds, Lincoln National Forest rangeland management specialist; Kent Mills, Hi-Pro Feeds range nutrition specialist; and Richard Spencer, retired NRCS rangeland conservationist.
“This will be a lively discussion about best management practices that can be applied to the rangeland as many ranchers experience continued drought conditions on pastures that have experienced above-average use and plant mortality,” said Shad Cox, superintendent of NMSU’s Corona Range and Livestock Research Center. “Participants will be able to take home new ideas and grazing practices to consider while developing future grazing schemes for their ranches.”
The program will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch will be served. For directions to the center, visit the Corona Range and Livestock Research Center’s website at coronasc.nmsu.edu
Information from: NMSU