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Lane DeHaven, the ranch manager of Cross Creek Cattle Company, attended the 2011 Beef Cattle Short Course last week at Texas A&M University.  He had a great time and learned a lot.  Lane really enjoyed listening to Dr. Temple Grandin speak.  The audience must have enjoyed her speech as much as Lane since they gave her a standing ovation.

He also attended a session about the drought conditions in Texas.  Climatologists have been studying weather patterns for decades and recording the temperatures, rainfall, and other meteorological information.  I was astounded by their hypotheses for the future.  Personally, I knew that we were in the midst of a three year drought.  This year has been the worst.  Earlier this week I read an article from The Texas Tribune by Chris Hooks called, “State Climatologist: Drought Officially Worst on Record.”  It just states what is visible to the layman’s eye.  It is bad.

The unfortunate news is that it doesn’t look like it is going to get any better any time soon.  I kept looking for rain.  Thought like, “Maybe we would have a tropical storm to break the drought.  Maybe this fall would be cool and wet.  Next year would be better.  The drought could not continue, could it?” all circulated in my mind.  However according to these climatologists, this drought cycle will continue for 15 more years.

Are you still standing up or did you pass out?  The current drought cycle began in 1995.  I know that we have had rain since 1995, but we have also had some of our driest years.  Instead of this year being more wet since it is over the midway point, it has been the most severe in recorded history.  So the question is, have we hit the bottom or are we still on the downward slope?

No one seems to know.  Evelyn Browning-Garriss, the climatologist who spoke at the Short Course, writes The Browning Newsletter. You can download a sample copy at her website.  In her newsletter, she explains the climate change and its impact on Texas and the Southwest.  Colored diagrams, charts, and maps help you visualize the weather patterns.  If you are interested in trying to understand the why, then this newsletter would be valuable.

However if you are like myself, all you want to know is when is the drought going to be memory.  There is no answer except for a possible fifteen more years of dry conditions.

The forecast for this winter is unfortunate.  Climatologists are expecting an extremely cold and ironically wet winter in Texas.  Ms. Browning-Garriss was clear that the amount of rain would not come close to breaking the drought.  It would be just enough to make everyone miserable.

So what does a rancher do with this information?  Right now I do not have a definitive answer.  I am honestly still processing the information.  It is time to make hard decisions.  The one thing I do know is that Cross Creek Cattle Company is committed to ranching.  It is in our blood.  We cannot deny it regardless of the weather forecast.  However, we don’t know what the future holds.  At least we have expert opinions on what might be in store for us so we can plan accordingly.  I thought it was information worth sharing.

Texas A&M University hosts an annual Beef Cattle Short Course in August.  It is a three-day event filled with a variety of sessions, vendors, and food.  It also provides opportunities to meet other ranchers and cattlemen from all over the United States.

Dr. Temple Grandin is a keynote speaker this year.  She will be discussing what she is best known for, “Cattle Behavior and Proper Handling Techniques.”  We are excited about the opportunity to listen to her speak in person.  If you are not familiar with Dr. Grandin’s work, then read my article, “Thank You, Dr. Temple Grandin,” to see why we are such fans.

Other sessions that caught my eye include: Marketing Grass Fed Beef, Landowner Issues such as water rights and eminent domain, and Range Management-Recovery from Wildfire and Drought.  There are many more sessions available.  To check out the tentative schedule for the Beef Cattle Short Course, click here.  Many of the sessions offer continuing education credits.

The course also offers live cattle demonstrations including cattle handling, dehorning, castrating, etc.  It also has a class to learn how to grade beef and where different cuts come from off a hanging carcass.

Cross Creek Cattle Company proudly sends our ranch manager to the three-day course every year.  We find it beneficial for the ranch.  We are also happy to see so many sessions that address current issues in the cattle industry.

If any of this interests you, consider attending the short course.  You have until July 26th to register.  We highly recommend it, and guarantee that you will learn something new.

If you are the proud owner of any number of animals, then you know that knowing a good veterinarian is invaluable. At Cross Creek Cattle Company, we know several. Luckily, we do not have to use them often. Our cattle and horses are healthy. Occasionally we will have a minor medical emergency usually concerning a horse that can usually be handled with just a phone call. We follow the vet’s instructions and everything is alright.

In the January issue of “Texas Co-op Power”, the lead article is “Emergency Call: Texas Grappling with Critical Shortages of Rural Veterinarians” by Wes Ferguson and Camille Wheeler. In the article they interview three rural vets from across Texas.

The amount of debt that graduating veterinarians accumulate to just get their degree is crippling. It can amount to more than $100,000.00. Therefore, most newly graduated veterinarians are looking for work in urban areas where the pay is typically higher.

Rural vets will work on a wide variety of animals where most urban vets work with small domesticated animals. As our population has shifted to be more urban, our veterinarians are making the same shift. The problem is that large areas in South Texas, West Texas, and the Panhandle ranchers find themselves without a veterinarian.

In our area, we have several large animal veterinarians. We have not experienced the shortage for ourselves. But will this trend continue? Will veterinarians continue leaving the rural areas?

Just like you cannot practice medicine without a license, you cannot practice veterinary medicine either. However, there are procedures you can learn to do without having to involve a vet. Schools teach and will certify you to palpate cattle. You can learn to vaccinate and worm your own cattle. You can learn to dehorn and castrate without a vet.

Texas A&M University hosts an annual Beef Cattle Short Course in August. During the three day event, the provide classes to learn most of the skills mentioned above. Our ranch manager always goes to learn something new each year. It is a great course for any cattle rancher.

As more veterinarians move to the cities, the ones that remain in the rural areas are apt to find themselves swamped and over-worked. Learn how to perform these procedures and free the veterinarians to do true medical work. Let them see to the emergencies.