This subject was one of the educational sessions featured at the 2015 Cattle Raisers Convention.
Visit
www.tscra.org and click on the Convention Coverage button for a complete list of the
educational and issues sessions offered this year. Mark your calendar for the
2016 Cattle Raisers Convention, April 8 to 10, Fort Worth.
systems development promotes healthy rangelands and the vegetative structure required for nesting and brood-rearing habitats. Increasing connectivity of ex- isting LPC habitat is also important because they do not like fragmentation. “LPCs also don’t like invasive brush species such
as eastern red cedar and mesquite,” Rollins said. “Im- proved weed and invasive species management can be part of the conservation plan as well as equipping livestock water troughs with bird escape ramps. A conservation plan can include maintaining stability of land use and conserving grassland habitats and prairie chicken lek sites.” Rollins concluded his remarks by stressing that a
conservation plan is fl exible. “It can be changed at any time or cancelled without penalties. By law, the USDA NRCS cannot divulge the information in a conservation plan to other parties, including government agencies. It is a win-win situation for the producer and the LPC.”
Golden-cheeked warbler Following the presentation by Rollins, the discus-
sions changed to another endangered species, the golden-cheeked warbler. “Conservation of golden-cheeked warbler habitat
is part of the Rocosa Ridge Ranch operational plan,” stated Bruce Berg, ranch owner and 2014 winner of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Associa- tion and Texas Section, Society of Range Management
Outstanding Rangeland Stewardship award. “We have excellent warbler habitat on the south
end of the ranch along the Bosque River where slopes are too steep for grazing cattle. Re-growth cedar was mechanically removed in this area to prevent it from destroying the hardwoods. Native grasses were es- tablished where the cedar was removed. Virgin cedar that produces bark for warbler nesting was left undis- turbed. This project is part of the Fort Hood Recovery Credit System.” The Golden-Cheeked Warbler Recovery Credit Sys-
tem is a habitat exchange program whereby industry and other entities benefi t from a predictable value for credits that can be purchased to offset the impacts of development. There is a standard set of rules and regula- tory assurances that projects can move forward – even if a species is listed. Berg sold credits to the Fort Hood Army Base to help defray conservation costs. Final remarks were made by Goodwin, who said
“Good land management supports habitat for numer- ous species, including threatened and endangered species. USDA NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife pro- gram can provide agricultural producers with a path- way for compliance with the Endangered Species Act and population recovery of specifi c declining wildlife species through habitat restoration. The program can also help strengthen and sustain rural economies by restoring and protecting the productive capability of working farms and ranches.”
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