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Texas
Agriculture Archive
February 7, 2003
Forum to explore ag,
wildlife on urban edge
Texas Farm Bureau Organization Director Joe Maley will be speaking on "The Future of Farming" at the fourth annual South Texas Farm and Range Forum, Feb. 28-March 1 in Seguin.
Maley, who grew up on a ranch in Bee County and still owns a ranch near Mineral, has served as Director of Organization for the Texas Farm Bureau since 1994. Prior to that he served as director of Public Affairs. He oversees matters dealing with government relations, policy development, research, education and legal issues, as well as organizational programs. He also coordinates the activities of the political action arm of Texas Bureau known as AGFUND.
The theme for the 2003 South Texas Farm and Range Forum is "Managing to Make a Living: Agriculture and Wildlife on the Urban Edge." The upcoming event builds upon the common interests of the agricultural, wildlife and conservation communities.
Friday's events will begin at noon at the Seguin Outdoor Learning Center with a Cowbird Trapping Workshop conducted by Terry Turney, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Participants will then carpool to the Luling Foundation for a tour of this research station. Dr. Barron Rector and Dr. Larry White, both of Texas A&M University, will present "Reading the Landscape." Upon return to the Outdoor Learning Center, there will be a tour, evening meal, and campfire discussion on common issues for those trying to make a living on the urban edge.
Saturday's events will begin with breakfast at 7:30 am at the Guadalupe County Fairgrounds. Presentations will include "The Anatomy of a Property: What are the Tangible Values?" (Mike Petter, Resource and Land Management), "The Intangible Values" (Dr. Larry White, Texas A&M University), "Economic Value of Wildlife on the Urban Edge" (Dr. Paul Robertson and Meg Goodman, Texas Parks and Wildlife), "Update on Wildlife Valuation Conversion" (Mike Berger, Texas Parks and Wildlife), "Incorporating Habitat for Non-game Bird Species" (Cliff Shackelford, Texas Parks and Wildlife), "Agricultural Diversification" (Judy Fort, Texas Department of Agriculture), "The Future of Farming" (Joe Maley, Texas Farm Bureau), "Cibilo Watershed" (Dr. Rebecca S. Griffith, US Army Corps of Engineers). The keynote lunch speaker, Dr. Larry Butler (USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service), will present "Agriculture, the New Farm Bill, & the Future on the Urban Edge."
The South Texas Farm and Range Forum is sponsored by Bexar Audubon Society, Texas Wildlife Association, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Texas Cooperative Extension, American Farmland Trust, Texas A&M Agriculture Program, San Antonio Water System, Resource & Land Management, Alamo Chapter of Quail Unlimited, Good Food Farms, Soil & Water Conservation Society, Audubon Texas, Edwards Region Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, Holistic Resource Management of Texas, and Texas Section-Society for Range Management.
Registration is $85 for both days (meals included), or $35 for Friday only and $55 for Saturday only. (Student discounts available.) For registration, sponsorship, and exhibitor information, contact Helen Holdsworth, Texas Wildlife Association, at 210-826-2904.
