OK-FIRE offers multi-use Web site for wildland fire managers
The Oklahoma State University Web site OK-FIRE has caught on and is spreading rapidly throughout Oklahoma, providing much-needed information on a variety of fire-related topics. With an average of 2.5 million acres of wildlands burned through either prescribed burns or wildfire, the OK-FIRE program is critical to Oklahoma, said J.D. Carlson, principal investigator on the OK-FIRE grant and fire meteorologist with OSU's Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. more

First state rainwater conference slated for Mar. 20-21 in Kerrville
A Texas AgriLife Extension Service rainwater harvesting expert said the Texas Rainwater Catchment Association will hold its first statewide conference Mar. 20-21 in Kerrville at the Kerr County Hill Country Youth Exhibit Center. The March 21 program will concentrate on the actual construction of a number of collection systems ranging from a simple rain barrel to rain garden, bog garden, a collection system for wildlife or livestock, a bird bath, drip irrigation system and an in-home system. more

TDA Market Recap, 2-24-09
For the week ending Feb. 21, feeder cattle price trends at Texas auctions were mixed, with some locations steady to $3 higher per hundredweight and others steady to $4 lower. Fed cattle prices also fell $3 in response to weak beef demand. more

Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns, 2-20-09
Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns is a weekly report from Washington, D.C., giving an up-to-date summary of top policy initiatives concerning the cattle industry.
          President Obama signs $787 billion economic stimulus package into law
          NCBA joins Coalition on Agriculture for a Democratic Workplace
          USTR confirmation hearing scheduled for Feb. 26
          PLC to host Western Range Summit Feb. 26-27

Don't miss NCBA's award-winning Cattlemen to Cattlemen
On the episode airing the week of Feb. 24-March 1, spend a day in the life of two Florida cattle operations and catch the highlights from the 2009 NCBA Trade Show in Phoenix, Ariz., as well as tour a unique dry-aging facility in New York City.

NCBA’s Cattlemen toCattlemen on RFD-TV provides weekly news and features for cattle producers across the country. It 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 online at www.CattlementoCattlemen.org.

Calendar
        Feb. 24-25―Texas Farm, Ranch, Wildlife Expo, Taylor County Expo Center, Abilene, Texas. more
        March 3―Watershed Protection Training Program, Pridgeon Community Center, Franklin, Texas. more
        March 4―Urban Wildlife Management Conference, Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center Pavillion, Dallas, Texas. more
        March 5-7―Advanced Prescribed Burn Workshop, Texas AgriLife Research Station, Sonora, Texas. more
        March 20-22―TSCRA's 132nd Annual Convention and Trade Show, Fort Worth, Texas. more
        March 24-26―2009 Overton Pasture and Management Workshop, Texas Agrilife Research and Extension Center, Overton, Texas. more
        March 29-31―Quailmaster 2009, Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch, Roby, Texas. more
        March 31-April 2―2009 Overton Pasture and Management Workshop, Texas Agrilife Research and Extension Center, Overton, Texas. more

TSCRA Political Action Committee seeking auction donations
The TSCRA Political Action Committee (PAC) will host the 2009 TSCRA PAC Dinner and Live Auction during the TSCRA Annual Convention and Trade Show on Friday, March 20 at 7 p.m. at the Worthington Hotel in Fort Worth.  We are currently seeking items for the auction and would greatly appreciate it if you would donate an item. Items such as hunting and fishing trips, college football packages, overnight packages such as a vineyard package or a resort-spa weekend package, cruises, bronze statues and art work, rodeo packages, and ranch equipment and supplies have been successful in the past.  The proceeds from the items sold at the auction go to the TSCRA PAC so that it can support elected officials who support the cattle industry.  For more information or to donate, please contact Jason Skaggs or Carmen Fenton at 512/469-0171.

Introducing the TSCRA Government Connection Web site
TSCRA has launched a Government Connection Web page that allows you to play an active role in government as well as keep you informed on happenings in Austin and Washington. There, TSCRA members can communicate with elected officials, track the progress of legislation and regulations and check voting records. Please register on theTSCRA Government Connection website to receive alert emails from the TSCRA Government and Public Affairs team keeping you updated on the latest legislative and regulatory actions. more

Join TSCRA in Fort Worth for the 2009 Annual Convention and Trade Show March 20-22
Come to Fort Worth for TSCRA's 132nd Annual Convention and 34th Annual Trade Show! go

Country-of-Origin Labeling forms available
Cattle raisers have made forms available for download to help fulfill your part of the country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law. Visit TSCRA's COOL information Web site to download the forms and for more information. go