TSCRA Talk

Jay Evans joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to share tips for a successful winter at the ranch from planning for feed needs of the cattle to adverse weather events. Evans encourages the listeners to make written plans and discuss them with employees but overall, to remain flexible.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Cattle Health & Well-Being Chairman, Wayne Cockrell of College Station, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, with information about the New World screwworm. Cockrell discusses the threat to the cattle industry as well as the wildlife industry in the United States. Additionally, he shares how producers can be proactive in educating themselves...

Austin Tucker with Specialized Crop Insurance and Matt Makens of Makens Weather, join TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss the importance of strategy in utilizing pasture, rangeland and forage insurance. Tucker shares information about PRF including location, time periods, productivity factors, coverage levels and common misconceptions. Makens comments on factors involved with long-range wea...

Dee Church, vice president of Nutrition Plus, and Noah Jesko, Nutrition Plus range specialist, join TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss utilizing mineral when evaluating the nutritional program at a ranch. Jesko explains how samples are taken and evaluated to create a custom mineral plan. Additionally, Church shares insight into the technological advances utilized in mineral evaluation.   L...

Dr. Ron Gill, professor and extension livestock specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss best practices of cattle transportation. From equipment and facility evaluations to loading considerations, Dr. Gill shares valuable insight for cattlemen.    Resources: RanchTV - https://www.youtube.com/@RanchTV  BQA.org  

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association President Carl Ray Polk joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to recap the 89th Texas Legislative Session. Polk discussed a variety of topics including the new Texas brand database; cell-cultured proteins; wildfire prevention, mitigation and response legislation; and oil and gas waste water.  

Kayla Jennings with Jennings Ventures and Tucker Brown of the R.A. Brown Ranch join TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to share their knowledge and experience in direct-to-consumer beef sales. With two different approaches to beef sales, the conversations provide valuable insight as they share their experiences.   Learn more at jenningsventurescattle.com and rabrownranch.com .   Resources:   Texas Be...

Bill Fox, central region program manager for National Grazing Lands Coalition, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to share about the programs NatGLC offers, including Legacy Landscapes.   The mission of the National Grazing Lands Coalition (NatGLC) is dedicated to providing voluntarily ecologically and economically sound management of all grazing lands for their adaptive uses and multiple benef...

Mike Turner, manager of Blue Ranch located near Dumas, Texas, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss their holistic resource management approach. Turner shares how the conventionally grazed ranch was transformed into a rotational grazing system with focus on forage, wildlife, water and soil health.   The Blue Ranch received the 2024 Texas Outstanding Rangeland Stewardship Award and the 2...

Dr. Kate Rogers, executive director of the Alamo Trust, the non-profit organization responsible for the daily operations of the Alamo historic site, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss the ties of ranching in Texas and the Alamo as well as The Alamo Statewide Stampede.   The public fundraising challenge among the 254 counties in Texas is accepting financial donations as well as procee...

Macy Ledbetter, wildlife biologist and president of Spring Creek Outdoors, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, the best practices, challenges and strategies for landowners looking to balance livestock and wildlife management.  Ledbetter brings his experience with Texas Parks and Wildlife as well as years of consulting for landowners across the state of Texas, to the conversation.  

Sarah Franklin, Texas Farm Credit vice president branch manager in Pleasanton, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss the basics of an ag loan. Franklin outlines both long-term loans and short-term loans such as operating loans, as well as documentation needed for the application process.   She shares the five C’s they take into consideration when evaluating a loan – character, capacity,...

As produced water management and filtration have evolved, so have opportunities for financial incentives. The question of ownership of the produced water now stands with the Texas Supreme Court. Attorney Jim Bradbury joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, with insight into the changing landscape of produced water.  

This thing is legendary! Matt Brockman, director of communications, and Stefan Marchman, livestock show director, both with the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, join TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to share about the history of the FWSSR, which included cattle shows during the Texas Cattle Raisers Association convention in the early 1900s.   Additionally, Brockman and Marchman discuss the growth o...

Utilizing yearling bulls allows the opportunity for accelerated genetic gain and extended working life of a bull.  Dr. Jason Banta, beef cattle specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, joins TSCRA Talk host , Kristen Brown, to explain bulls growth from puberty through sexual maturity and breeding readiness, specifically focused on yearling bulls being turned out with cows at 13-15 months...

A USDA survey revealed Texas landowners lose more than $200 million annually in crop damage and livestock production due to feral hogs. The 87th Texas Legislature tasked Texas A&M AgriLife Extension to determine the effectiveness of warfarin-based toxicant on feral hog; John Tomeček, associate professor of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management at Texas A&M and Texas A&M AgriLife...

Dagan Lynn, executive chef for the Beef Checkoff-funded Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner brand, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, with fresh insight when it comes to cooking beef. He shares the versatility of beef as consumers re-create meals from around the world at home. And he touches on a classic recipe that sparked online debate as every family has their special touch which they feel quite st...

As the Texas Beef Checkoff celebrates 10 years of establishment, TSCRA Talk host Kristen Brown gleans the history of the state Checkoff from former executive vice president of the Texas Beef Checkoff, Richard Wortham. Wortham worked for the Texas Beef Council for 30 years, 23 of which he served in the role of executive vice president. He shared the initial spark of conversation of a state Checkoff...

Gilly Riojas, board member of the TSCRA Leadership Development Foundation joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown to discuss the TSCRA Leadership Development Foundation Working Grant Program.   As the application is open May 1-31 and November 1-30, Riojas shares the importance of investing in the future of the beef industry and providing working capital to do just that. Texans and Oklahomans who are...

Carl Ray Polk, TSCRA President, from Lufkin, Texas, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss his insight in the current challenges of ranching and the future of TSCRA.  Polk’s passion for providing educational opportunities for cattlemen to thrive in the industry is evident. Two top priorities for Polk during his two-year tenure is to provide value for members is number one, keeping a clos...

The latest research shows that consumers love beef! Jessica Finck, Ph. D., who works in the value chain and consumer affairs area of Merck Animal Health, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss the latest trends with consumers and beef.   Finck discusses key factors that impact consumer buying decisions and how they have shifted in the current economic climate. She also breaks down top la...

Frank McLelland, vice president of the executive committee at the National Ranching Heritage Association, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to share about the museum and the latest addition – the Cash Family Ranch Life Learning Center.   The museum encompasses 19 acres and includes 55 historic structures that capture the history of ranching for the past 200 years. McLelland shares that John R....

Dr. Nathan Canaday, 6666 ranch horse division manager and resident veterinarian, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss the importance of properly caring for horses at the ranch which includes routine vaccination programs as well as hoof and teeth care. He emphasizes the value of working with a trusted veterinarian to make a management plan tailored to the work and goals of the ranch.   ...

Scott Williamson, TSCRA Executive Director of Law, Brand and Inspection Services, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss opportunity and awareness around the upcoming total solar eclipse taking place on April 8, 2024. As some ranches will open their gates to welcome visitors, he explains the importance of properly communicating expectations as well as having liability forms signed and th...

James Clement, III, with EarthOptics joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, for a high-level discussion on the impact of carbon on the cattle industry. As a multi-generational rancher, Clement shares his experience with carbon sampling on a variety of land types during his time at the King Ranch which sparked his interest carbon and soil sampling. Clement goes into the detail about the different se...