Producers are invited to attend a USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) working called “Managing My Piece of Texas,” in Crockett on Aug. 21, 2009.

The GLCI program is sponsoring the workshop that will include presentations and outdoor demonstrations by NRCS and Texas AgriLife Extension Service. The morning workshop will be held at the East Texas Livestock Auction on Hwy. 7 West, two miles from Loop 304 in Crockett. The afternoon session will be located Jimmy Shaw’s ranch two miles west of the East Texas Livestock Auction on Hwy. 7 West.

Landowners can expect to receive valuable information on managing grazing lands through classroom instruction during the morning session, followed in the afternoon with practical demonstrations providing hands-on forage production and management instruction in the field.

8:00 Registration

8:50 Welcome and Introductions

9:00 Grazing Basics

9:45 Inventory and Getting Started

10:30 Break

10:45 Implementation

11:30 Follow Through

12:15 Catered Lunch

1:15 Field Exercises - Evaluation of forages, calculating stocking rates, rangeland health

4:15 Adjourn

A $25 registration fee will include lunch and the newly published handbook titled, Managing My Piece of Texas or $35 per couple (2 lunches & 1 book) and $10 (lunch only & no book).

The how-to handbook was developed to assist landowners in managing grazing lands across Texas. Landowners will learn to estimate forage production, grazeable acres, and setting proper stocking rates, among other grazing management principles.

To register for the workshop, call the Houston County AgriLife Extension Service office at 936-544-3255, ext 265.

Deadline for registration will be Aug. 17. Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations and/or alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) associated with this meeting should contact Stan Murff with NRCS at 936-544-3759 ext. 3 or let AgriLife Extension Service know their request when registering for the meeting.

For more information on managing grazing lands, visit the GLCI Web site at www.GLCI.org or the Texas NRCS Web site at www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov.