Fort Stockton Field Day to Center on Rangeland Water Harvesting
Aug 23, 2007 6:02 PM,
By Steve Byrns
Texas A&M University
Texas Cooperative Extension's Pecos County office will be conducting a Rangeland Water Harvesting Field Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 27 at the Sherman Hammond Ranch.
"With an annual rainfall of only 12 inches, water conservation is very important to us here in far West Texas," said Jed Elrod, Extension agent in Pecos County. "Last year, the Hammond ranch only received about 7 inches of moisture, yet Hammond still has more forage than his adjacent neighbors."
Hammond started water conservation measures on his ranch back in 1964 and remains excited about the long-term results of his efforts, Elrod said. Since then, he has developed and implemented a variety of water-saving techniques that have made his place an oasis for livestock and wildlife, even in times of prolonged drought.
"This field day will allow participants to see firsthand what he does and how he does it, mostly as a one-man operation," Elrod said. "Don't miss this field day if you are interested in innovative rangeland management or large-scale rangeland water harvesting."
Along with the rangeland water harvesting theme, the field day will also include talks on feral hogs, deer, game birds important rangeland insects, range seeding, importance of soils, range plant identification, range site descriptions and aquifer recharge capability.
Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be offered.
Individual pre-registration is $15 on or before Sept.21and $25 thereafter.
To reach the ranch, Elrod said go west on Railroad Avenue (which parallels the railroad tracks all the way to the Hammond Ranch). The ranch headquarters is about 25 miles from Fort Stockton's landmark Roadrunner statue. Signs will be posted.
For more information and to register, contact Elrod at 432-336-2541 or djelrod@ag.tamu.edu.
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