Matt Garrett: Fish Management Strategies webinar scheduled for April 16 | Lifestyles

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts will present an educational, how-to webinar focused on growing and supporting healthy fish populations in ponds and lakes from 6-7:30 p.m. on April 16.

Cost is $35, and advanced registration is required at https://tx.ag/FishManagement.

Todd Sink, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension aquaculture specialist and associate professor in the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, will be the featured speaker. Sink is also director of the AgriLife Extension Aquatic Diagnostics Laboratory in Bryan-College Station.

Management topics will include:

• The pond food chain
• Requirements to grow abundant or large fish
• Fertilization programs
• Available feeds and feeding regimens
• Maximum production strategies
• How to sample a fish population
• Common problems found within a population
• How to determine if a pond is suffering from stunted fish growth

In addition to this material, Sink said the webinar will also cover optimal production and trophy management strategies for bass, bluegill/sunfish, catfish and black crappie.

Further, the types of structures and fish attractors that can be added to a pond or lake to improve fishing will also be discussed.

A 30-minute Q&A session will conclude the hourlong webinar.

For more information, contact Brittany Chesser, AgriLife Extension aquatic vegetation program specialist and lead diagnostic scientist at AgriLife Extension’s Aquatic Diagnostics Laboratory, Bryan-College Station, at [email protected].

Cattleman’s Association

The Harrison County Cattleman’s Association spring meeting is scheduled for April 16 at the Harrison County Agrilife Extension Office, starting at 6 p.m. The event will take place at 2005 Warren Drive in Marshall.

This year’s keynote speaker is William Baule, a world-renowned climatologist from the Southern Region Climate Center at Texas A&M University. Baule will present on current weather trends and what to expect in the future.

Following Baule’s presentation, there will be a brief Q&A session with Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Agent Matt Garrett. A meal will be provided, so attendees are required to RSVP to Susan at (903) 930-0829 or Ann at (903) 930-7248 by April 8.

Mid Sabine Cattlemen’s Conference

The Mid Sabine Cattlemen’s Conference, hosted by the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Office in Panola and Harrison County, is scheduled for April 26 at the Carthage Civic Center in Carthage. The event begins with registration and vendor visits at 8:30 a.m., followed by a series of informative sessions starting at 9 a.m.

Vanessa Corriher-Olson, an Agrilife Extension Forage Specialist, will kick off the conference with a presentation on IPM Strategies for growing warm season forages. Following that, Rob Brooks from Envu Range and Pasture Specialist will host a training session on picolinic acid.

After a sponsored lunch by Heritage Land Bank, Clint Perkins, County Extension Agent for Smith County, will present on weed identification and control options. The afternoon will feature a fun weed identification review and quiz, engaging participants in an interactive learning experience.

The conference will conclude with Darren Rozell presenting feral hog stewardship training this is a session for those interested in purchasing and using the new feral hog control method.

Four CEU’s will be available for those with a Texas Department of Agriculture Private Applicator License.

Registration for the event is $20, and participants are required to pre-register by April 22 by calling (903) 693-0380 or (903) 935-8413.

State Validation Tags

If you or someone you know is planning on showing livestock at the State Fair this fall or any of the Spring Major Stock Shows, you need to order your validation tags now. Steer and heifer tags are $25 per head March 1-April 5. From April 6 to June 15, they will be $30.

Lambs and goat tags are $15 from March 1-April 8 and $25 from April 9-June 15.

Swine tags are $15 each now til April 30, and $20 each May 1 to June 7.

Tags must be ordered by your ag science teacher or county agent.

— Matt Garrett is the county agent for agriculture and natural resources in Harrison County.