Global Warming and its Impact on Ranchers Topic of Nick Petry Workshop Dec. 4

The Western Center for Integrated Resource Management in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Colorado State University and the National Western Stock Show Scholarship Trust Fund will present the annual Nick Petry workshop, “Global Warming: What Every Rancher Needs to Know”, Friday, Dec. 4 at the National Western Stock Complex, Stadium Arena, 4655 Humboldt St., Denver.

The workshop begins at 8:30 a.m. Registration is free, but is required before Nov. 30. Registration is available online at www.wcirm.colostate.edu. Lunch will be provided to all registrants.

Topics include: how climate change works; a scientific overview of global warming; responding to climate change by improving rangeland management; the potential impact of climate change on livestock production; and an update on cap-and-trade energy legislation.

Speakers include: Pat Grant, president and chief executive officer of the National Western Stock Show; Gordon Niswender, director emeritus, Western Center for Integrated Resource Management; Craig Beyrouty, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, Colorado State University; Scott Denning, professor in the Department of Atmospheric Science at CSU; James Taylor, senior fellow of environmental policy at the Heartland Institute; Joel Brown, rangeland management specialist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; and Terry Mader, professor and Extension beef specialist, University of Nebraska, Concord.

Colorado U.S. Senator Mark Udall has also been invited to speak on cap and trade legislation pending in Congress.

“The information about global warming and climate change and how it relates specifically to livestock production can be contradictory and confusing. We have assembled these speakers in an effort to bring some facts to producers who will be affected by policy in this area,” said Kraig Peel, director of the Western Center for Integrated Resource Management at Colorado State University.

The Nick Petry Workshops have been held since 2000. The workshops are held in memory of Petry, a long-time Stock Show president and chairman who was dedicated to the Western way of life, including sponsoring funding to improve National Western facilities. Colorado State’s Western Center for Integrated Resource Management is pleased to offer the 10th annual Nick Petry Workshop in his honor.
 

The Western Center for Integrated Resource Management is designed to improve the competitive position and sustainability of independent livestock producers and the economic and environmental health of rural communities

“The Western Center for Integrated Resource Management has a long tradition of honoring Nick Petry by putting together an annual educational event. He was an important person in western agriculture. Nick Petry had a passion for education and this event is held in his memory,” said Niswender.

For more information, contact Maggie Graham at (970) 491-1610, Margaret.Graham@colostate.edu or www.wcirm.colostate.edu.
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