The Uvalde Extension Rangeland Management program supports landowners and land managers in South Texas and Edwards Plateau to promote healthy soils and vegetation according to land goals for livestock and/or wildlife.
Megan K. Clayton, Ph.D.
Professor and Extension Range Specialist
Department of Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management
Email: Megan.Clayton@ag.tamu.edu
Office: (830)988-6123
SouthTexasRangelands.tamu.edu
Virtual Plants Database: rangeplants.tamu.edu
Noxious and Invasive Plant Species Management
Rangeland managers often encourage plant diversity for the long-term health of the land and best use for livestock and wildlife species. When noxious or invasive plant species start encroaching, there are oftentimes management techniques, such as herbicide, mechanical, prescribed fire, or grazing management solutions (or combinations!) that can help to regain this diverse plant community. Dr. Clayton conducts research throughout South Texas and the Edwards Plateau to provide new technologies and proven solutions for many of these noxious plant issues, such as huisache, honey mesquite, old man’s beard, King Ranch bluestem, prickly pear, and many more.
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS, drone) Use on Ranches
Drones have become popular for both hobby flying and agriculture management. Dr. Clayton is partnered with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas A&M – Corpus Christi to research the use of drones on rangelands, to support management decisions. She also educates on drone selection and how to understand the rules for flying, set by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Grazing Management
Productive rangelands are often the result of a healthy grazing management program. Just as livestock can be used as a tool to improve land, overgrazing or poor planning can also be detrimental to land productivity. Dr. Clayton believes understanding cattle behavior, how to manage for better grazing grasses, and how to effectively graze native plant communities for long-term success is a win-win for both land health and the financial sustainability of the operation.
Generation Next: Our Turn to Ranch Online School
The Generation Next curriculum targets new landowners, those who are inheriting land, or those who are looking to start a new agricultural operation on an existing ranch. It is taught as an online school where participants will cover a new business topic each week and work towards developing a business plan with plenty of support from professionals who specialize in different fields.
For more information: GenerationNext.tamu.edu
Plant Party Webinars
Plant Party is a FUN, INFORMAL, and FREE program! Each quarterly webinar has 5 short presentations from experts in the field and lots of DOOR PRIZES! For more information about the next Plant Party, or to view our archived webinars, visit: Plant Party
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