65th Annual Texas Section SRM Meeting Alpine and · PDF file65th Annual Texas Section SRM Meeting . Alpine and Marfa, TX . ... • The Davis Mountains is considered one of the most

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 8:15 am Ecological Site Workshop – Crowley Theater and Mimms Ranch (bring a sack lunch) 1:30 pm Binational Symposium – Crowley Theater 5:00 pm Registration setup at Planet Marfa 6:00 pm Social/Mixer at Planet Marfa

Wednesday, October 8th Alpine, TX 6:00 am Board Meeting - Sul Ross State University [SRSU], Range Animal Science (RAS) Building 8:00 am Membership Business Meeting - SRSU RAS Building 8:00 am Registration setup - SRSU RAS Building Foyer. Registration ends at 9:00 am 9:00 am Buses/vans depart from SRSU RAS parking lot for field tours. 5:30 pm Plant ID Contest - SRSU RAS Building 6:30 pm URME Contest - SRSU RAS Building 7:30 pm Student/Young Professional BBQ/Social at Camp Mitre Peak hosted by SRSU Range Club Evening Free Time

Thursday, October 9th Alpine, TX 6:00 am Exhibitor set-up - SRSU Morgan University Center - Espino Conference Center Foyer 6:30 am Past President’s Breakfast (University Center, Room 210) 7:00 am Young Professionals Breakfast (University Center, Espino D) 7:00 am Registration setup (Espino Conference Center Foyer) 8:15 am Plenary Session (Espino Conference Center) 12:00 pm Awards Lunch at Kokernot Lodge 1:50 pm Student and Young Professional Presentations (Espino Conference Center) 5:00 pm Trade Show (Espino Conference Center Foyer) 7:00 pm Awards Banquet (Granada Theatre) 9:00 pm 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