To help landowners, stockmen, and wildlife ranch operators fight Cattle Fever Tick, two workshops have been scheduled to discuss technical and financial assistance available through the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The first workshop will be held Mon., Aug. 10, 2009 at the International Center for Trade, 3295 Bob Rogers Drive, in Eagle Pass and the second workshop is scheduled for Tues., Aug. 11, at the La Salle County Fair Building, Hwy. 97, in Cotulla.

Both workshops will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided for the first 100 participants to RSVP for each workshop. There will be a charge of $8 for all who RSVP after the first 100. CEUs will be offered.

The USDA-NRCS is providing technical and financial assistance to ranchers in a 17-county area to help fight the spread of the cattle fever tick. The conservation assistance will be available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for the Rio Grande Domestic Animal Stress/Mortality Statewide Resource Concern, since the cattle fever ticks can carry and transmit a tiny blood parasite called, ‘babesia,’ that can be deadly to cattle.

The 17 counties included are Brooks, Cameron, Dimmit, Duval, Frio, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, La Salle, Kinney, Maverick, Starr, Val Verde, Webb, Willacy, Zapata, and Zavala.

Workshop topics include Texas Fever Tick History & Effects; Conservation Planning & the Texas Fever Tick; Texas Fever Tick NRCS EQIP Special Emphasis Program; Texas Fever Tick Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Program; Prescribed Burning – Laws, Regulation and Liabilities; Texas Fever Tick and Wildlife Concerns; Range Improvements through Chemical Brush Control; and a wrap up with questions and answers.

Sponsors include Rio Grande-Nueces Resource Conservation & Development Council (RFC&D), City of Eagle Pass, Capital Farm Credit, Stockman’s National Bank, Medina Electric Cooperative, Texas-Mexico Border Coalition, USDA-NRCS, Maverick County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), and La Salle County SWCD. Also supporting this effort are Texas AgriLife Extension Service, and the SWCDs of Devil’s River, Dimmit County, Upper Nueces, West-Nueces-Las Moras, and Winter Garden.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Mario Morales or Leigh Ann Sanderlin at the Rio Grande-Nueces RC&D at 830-279-0164. If anyone needs special assistance please contact us.