As New Mexico beef producers continue to manage through one of the state's most severe droughts, New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service is offering a free Ranch Management Series across northeastern New Mexico. The series is focused on managing cattle and the ranch through these challenging times.

The series, which will begin Thursday, Oct. 25, in Clayton, will be hosted by the Cooperative Extension Service in Colfax, Guadalupe, Harding, Quay and Union counties through March.

"The bottom line is the drought is taking a toll on the country, the cattle and the people," said Manny Encinias, NMSU Extension beef cattle specialist.

The sessions are designed to be driven by questions from program attendees into a discussion with experts and fellow ranch managers on timely management topics.

"The inventory of cattle in northeastern New Mexico is greatly reduced and the remaining cattle left or being brought into the country are likely drought-stressed and thinner than usual," Encinias said.

The first Ranch Management educational workshop will focus on winter nutrition programs for drought-stressed cattle grazing native and improved pastures, such as wheat. The first session will also address the nutritional management of drought-stressed calves being weaned and pre-conditioned on pasture or in a dry lot.

The Oct. 25 session will be at the Elks Lodge, 201 Main St., in Clayton. Meeting start time will be 4:30 p.m. A supper will also be provided at all sessions.

Encinias, who will moderate the Oct. 25 session, will be joined on the panel by Ted McCollum, Texas Agri-Life beef cattle specialist in Amarillo, Texas; Kip Karges, nutritionist with AC Nutrition in Winters, Texas; and Kris Wilson, ranch manager of the Bell Ranch in Mosquero, N.M.

November's topic will be "A Cattle Enterprise After the Cowherd has Gone to Town." Sessions will be held Wednesday, Nov. 28, in Roy, N.M., and Thursday, Nov. 29, in Santa Rosa, N.M.

January's topic will be "Calving Management for Drought-Impacted Cowherds." Sessions will be held Wednesday, Jan. 2, in Las Vegas, N.M., and Thursday, Jan. 3, in Clayton.

February's topic will be "Managing Cattle on Weed-Infested Pastures." Sessions will be held Tuesday, Feb. 12, in Raton, N.M., and Wednesday, Feb. 13, in Santa Rosa.

March's topics will be "The Dollars and Sense of Beef Quality Assurance on the Ranch." Sessions will be Wednesday, March 6, in Roy and Thursday, March 7, in Tucumcari, N.M.

For more information on locations and to register for one of the sessions visit the New Mexico Ranch Management Series website at http:// nmbeef.nmsu.edu