Abstracts for volunteer oral and poster papers and for organized symposia, workshops, and forums are due by August 19, 2013 11:59 pm EDT. All abstracts are to be formally submitted online at: http://srm.apexabstracts.com. Information about the 2014 Annual Meeting can be found at: http://www.rangelands.org/events/.

Note: Students have until September 30, 2013 11:59 pm EDT to submit their abstracts. Instructions for student submissions after the general deadline will be provided at a later date. We encourage all students to submit their abstracts by the general deadline if possible.

Please direct your questions to: Mike Turpin at john.turpin@la.usda.gov.

Livestock owners, managers and land owners are invited to attend an informative Ranchers Field Day on Tuesday, June 11. We will meet for the field day at Dwight and Nancy Rockwell's headquarters just west of Wray, CO. Registration, coffee and rolls will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the ranch headquarters. The field day will begin at 9 a.m. and end by 3 p.m.

Plants tell us a lot about how much the drought has affected them, but only if we know how to read them. Once we know what to look for and what we should ignore, we can make decisions that are more informed.

Attendees will learn how the drought of 2012 has affected the plants found on both sandy and hard ground sites. The group will learn how to look at the plants to judge the health of our own rangeland. Most significantly, we will hear what decisions need to be made and what actions should be taken to protect our ground.

Pat Reece will be our instructor. He has over 30 years of experience working with ranchers and the climatic extremes of the high plains. Pat's combined research, extension and consulting experiences will provide unique insight for dealing with drought. He is a great speaker who gives information we can all understand, take home and use.  

If you are leasing rangeland for your cattle, you are encouraged to bring the property owner. If you are a property owner, you are encouraged to bring your lessee. Both of you will gain valuable information from this field day to help you develop a win-win drought management strategy. Young aspiring ranchers are particularly invited to attend.

Grazing management this year is crucial to keeping our rangelands intact. We do not want stories about blowing rangeland.

For more information or to save a lunch, contact the Yuma County Conservation District in Wray, CO, by Thursday, June 6. Please call 970-332-3173 ext.3 or go to the Yuma County Conservation District website at www.ycconservation.com. You may also email julie.elliott@co.usda.gov. There is no registration fee. Late registrations and walk-ins are welcome, but will not be guaranteed lunch.

Ladies get out your favorite pastel Caribbean resort wear and gentlemen dig out your skimpiest speedos to fit in with the European crowd down by the pool! I feel confident that after reading this account of my visit during the May walk-through at the Caribe Royal Hotel (http://www.cariberoyale.com) you will be ready to register for the conference and book your stay.  Let's start from the beginning...

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