Gov. Perry visits counties affected by wildfires in North Texas
Gov. Rick Perry has requested a major presidential disaster declaration for Callahan, Clay, Jack, Montague, Wichita and Young counties, and reiterated the need for an emergency declaration for 199 Texas counties due to recent wildfires. The governor met with local officials Friday and toured areas in North Texas recently devastated by wildfires. more

Texas drought information site launched
A new Web site has been launched by the Drought Joint Information Center, a group of state and federal agency public information officers led by Texas AgriLife Communications. This group was activated by the Governor's Division of Emergency Management. The Web site will provide a central clearing house of drought-related public information and education to help each of the participating agencies perform their designated public service roles. All information on the Web site is public information and is available for producers, industry groups, county officials, the media and anyone needing creditable, consistent Texas drought-related information. more

TSCRA New Leader Orientation Day takes place in Fort Worth
TSCRA's new leaders and recently elected directors attended an orientation session April 16-17 at headquarters in Fort Worth. In order for folks to understand their charge as new leaders of TSCRA, a small workshop was put together to help them understand the workings of the Association, and how each of them can help us benefit from their leadership through interaction with the media. more

AgriLife Extension seeks to make good cattle operations better through SPA program
The Standardized Performance Analysis or 'SPA' program measures individual operations and compares them to a pool of similar operations. The idea is to help producers improve their operations with a hard dollars-and-cents approach and by learning from others' experiences. Participants will complete an in-depth financial and production analysis of their cow herd, specifically the calves weaned in 2008. more

Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns, 4-16-09
Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns is National Cattlemen's Beef Association's (NCBA) weekly report from Washington, D.C., giving an up-to-date summary of top policy initiatives concerning the cattle industry.
          NCBA submits comments, files petition for stay of action on Enhanced Feed Ban Rule

Don't miss NCBA's award-winning Cattlemen to Cattlemen
On the episode airing the week of April 21- 25, spend a day in the life of NCBA's lobbyists in Washington, D.C., and learn more about the importance of belonging to a state cattlemen's association from the president of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association. Plus, get an easy-to-make beef recipe from Chef Michaele Musel that your family will love!

NCBA’s on RFD-TV provides weekly news and features for cattle producers across the country. The show is now an hour long and airs every Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time, with repeat episodes on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. and Sundays at midnight (all times Eastern). It is also available any time online at www.CattlementoCattlemen.org.

Calendar
       April 21―Beef Quality Producer Training, Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Lubbock, Texas. more
       April 22―Texas Trichomoniasis Program, Mid-Tex Livestock Auction, Navasota, Texas. more
       April 23―Producing "Efficient" Cattle During "Tough" Times:Bull Selection/Management, Pontotoc Extension Office, Ada. Okla. more
        April 25―"Operation No Fences" volunteer relief effort, Southeast Texas. more
        April 27―Texas Trichomoniasis Program, Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba, Texas. more
        April 28―Texas Trichomoniasis Program, County Livestock Facility, Graham, Texas. more
        April 30―Texas Trichomoniasis Program, Texas Cattle Exchange, Eastland, Texas. more
        May 1―Texas Trichomoniasis Program, Bonds Ranch, Marlin, Texas. more
        May 2―. more
        May 4―Texas Trichomoniasis Program, Bowie Livestock Auction, Bowie, Texas. more
        May 7―Texas Trichomoniasis Program, Cagle's Steak House, Lubbock, Texas. more
        May 9―Tri-County Beef Cattle Field Day, Boysville, Converse, Texas. more
        May 14―Producing "Efficient" Cattle During "Tough" Times:Improving Marketability and Value of Calves, Pontotoc Extension Office, Ada. Okla. more
        May 26―Advanced Topics in Wildlife Management: Introduction and Ecosystems, Miami Community Center, Miami, Texas. more
        June 17-19―TSCRA Summer Meeting, La Torretta Del Lago, Montgomery, Texas. more
        June 30―Advanced Topics in Wildlife Management: Weather and Climate; Panhandle Plants, Hemphill County Exhibition Center, Canadian, Texas. more
        July 14-18―NCBA Summer Conference, Denver, Colo. more
        July 28―Advanced Topics in Wildlife Management: Rangeland Ecology and Management, Miami Community Center, Miami, Texas. more
        July 31-August 2―Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association 56th Annual Convention and Trade Show, Midwest City, Okla. more

TDA Disaster Resource Information Packet available online
To assist agricultural producers during and after drought or any natural disaster, the Texas Department of Agricultures' (TDA) Disaster Resource Information Packet (DRIP) provides current information and contacts for state, federal and private agricultural disaster assistance programs. TDA's Hay Hotline is also available at 877/429-1998. more

Operation Cow Thief
You can help catch a thief! go