Texas -

To help landowners, stockmen, and wildlife ranch operators fight the Cattle Fever Tick, two workshops have been scheduled to discuss technical and financial assistance available through the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The first workshop will be held Aug. 10 at the International Center for Trade (3295 Bob Rogers Drive, in Eagle Pass) and the second workshop is scheduled for Aug. 11, at the La Salle County Fair Building (Hwy. 97, in Cotulla.)

Workshops will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided for the first 100 participants to RSVP for each workshop. There will be a charge of $8 for all who RSVP after the first 100. CEUs will be offered.

Workshop topics include:

    * Texas Fever Tick History & Effects
    * Conservation Planning and the Texas Fever Tick
    * Texas Fever Tick NRCS EQIP Special Empasis Prgrogram
    * Texas Fever Tick Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Program 
    * Prescribed Burning-Laws
    * Regulations and Liabilities
    * Texas Fever Tick and Wildlife Concerns
    * Range Improvements through Chemical Brush Control
    * Q & A

The conservation assistance will be provided to ranchers in 17 counties through the USDA-NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for the Rio Grande Domestic Animal Stress/Mortality State Resource Concern. The 17 counties included are Brooks, Cameron, Dimmit, Duval, Frio, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, La Salle, Kinney, Maverick, Starr, Val Verde, Webb, Willacy, Zapata, and Zavala.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Mario Morales or Leigh Ann Sanderlin at the Rio Grande-Nueces RC&D at 830-279-0164.