Colorado ranchers can find help to fight back at drought in a special clinic in Burlington July 31 which they can attend online if not in person.

The clinic will provide information on managing drought risk on the ranch, drought planning, forage and livestock management, as well as an overview of pasture, rangeland, and forage insurance, explains Casey Matney, Colorado State University range management Extension specialist.

Eastern Colorado Range and Drought Clinic Set for July 31

"We will also provide information on the regional climate outlook," he adds, "basic ruminant nutrition, what drives forage intake in ruminants, nutrition in eastern Colorado grasses, opportunities in the replacement heifer segment of beef production systems, pointers for grazing in wetland/riparian areas, enterprise budgets, mortality composting, swath grazing and limited irrigation grass forage production."

The Burlington clinic will be held from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Burlington Community and Education Center, 340 S. 14th St.

Specialists addressing the clinic include the following:

n  Cody Knutson, National Drought Mitigation Center, speaking on  "National Drought Risk on the Ranch."

n  Pat Reece, Prairie & Montane Enterprises, "Step by Step," to  help write a drought plan.

n  Jerry Volesky, University of Nebraska-Lincoln West Central Research & Extension Center, "Forage and Livestock Management Considerations for Drought Management Risk."

n  Matt Stockton, UN-L WCREC, "Financial Considerations in Drought Risk Management."

n   Amy Roeder, Risk Management Agency, "RMA Options: Pasture, Rangeland and Forage Insurance."

n  Ted Alexander, Skinner Ranch, "Producer Reality Check. Lessons Learned in Drought Planning for Established and Beginning Ranchers."

USDA technician Pat King and meteorologist Jeanne Schneider perform a soil test on range land to check moisture under drought conditions.

n  Becky Smith, CSU drought specialist, "Regional Climate Outlook."

n  John Deering, CSU regional Extension specialist, "Enterprise Budgets for Yearlings and Cow/Calf on Range," and a second topic: "Mortality Composting."

n  Megan Jedlicka, CSU Extension livestock specialist, "Basic Feed and Nutrition for Cattle, Sheep and Goats."

n  Michael Fisher, CSU Golden Plains area Extension livestock specialist, "What Drives Forage Intake?" and "Nutritional Quality of Eastern Colorado Grasses."

n  Jack Whittier, CSU cow/calf Extension specialist, "Opportunities in the Replacement Heifer Segment of Beef Production Systems."

n  Mae Smith, University of Wyoming Extension rangeland resources educator, "Pointers for Grazing in Riparian and Wetland Areas.'

Matney will speak on two subjects: "Swath Grazing on Western Wheatgrass Pastures," and "Limited Irrigation for Cool Season Grass Forages."

To register on line, go to http://www.range.colostate.edu/CLINICINFO.shtml,  or call Matney at (970) 491-4423. To attend the webinar, a free service, e-mail Tonya Bernadt at [email protected].