The Land Steward Podcast

In this episode, BW discusses the threat Texas is facing as the parasitic New World screwworm (NWS) advances northward through Central America and Mexico. The latest fact sheet from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, "Wildlife Monitoring and Management for New World Screwworm," discusses this emerging threat and what knowledge both urban and rural Texans need to properly monitor, detect, and report signs of NWS infestations to help protect wildlife.Produced and Hosted by Brittany WegnerProduced and Edited by Abigail Holmes HuddlestonContact Marcus Blum regarding NWS questions and concerns: [email protected] transcript: https://nri.tamu.edu/the-land-steward-podcast/the-land-steward-podcast-season-2/episode-12-monitoring-wildlife-for-new-world-screwworm/Episode Resources:Wildlife Monitoring and Management for New World Screwworm (https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/wildlife-monitoring-and-management-for-new-world-screwworm/)Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Find a Wildlife Biologist (https://tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/habitat-management/find-a-wildlife-biologist/)Texas Animal Health Commission - Protocols for the Potential Detection of New World Screwworm in Livestock (https://www.tahc.texas.gov/animal_health/feverticks-pests/EMGuide_NWS-ProducerGuidance.pdf)Texas A&M AgriLife Extension County Offices (https://agrilifepeople.tamu.edu/contact-lists/public/units/p-counties)Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Specialists (https://agrilifepeople.tamu.edu/people/browse/role/3)Visit NRI:Website (https://nri.tamu.edu/)Medium (https://medium.com/@tamu-nri)YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/TexasAMNaturalResourcesInstitute)Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tamuNRI/)Instagram (@tamu_nri)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/tamu-natural-resources-institute/)

In this episode, we’re joined by Jenny Sanders, Coordinator of the Texas Longleaf Team, to explore the revival of one of the southeast’s most iconic and ecologically rich landscapes: the longleaf pine ecosystem. Jenny shares how the Texas Longleaf Team fits into the broader America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative and what makes this habitat so vital for biodiversity, water conservation, and even ecosystem services like carbon storage. We discuss how the team works with private landowners, the importance of prescribed fire, and the unique challenges and opportunities of restoring longleaf in East Texas. Jenny also reflects on what drew her to this work and what’s ahead for longleaf restoration over the next decade. Whether you're a seasoned land steward or just curious about conservation, this conversation offers insight into a powerful collaboration rooted in history, science, and a shared love for the land.Produced and Hosted by Brittany WegnerProduced and Edited by Abigail Holmes HuddlestonEpisode transcript: https://nri.tamu.edu/the-land-steward-podcast/the-land-steward-podcast-season-2/episode-11-restoring-a-legacy-the-texas-longleaf-team-with-jenny-sanders/Episode Resources:Texas Longleaf Team website (https://txlongleaf.org/)America's Longleaf Restoration Initiative website (https://www.americaslongleaf.org/)Texan by Nature (https://texanbynature.org/)Texas A&M Forest Service Funding Connector (https://texasforestinfo.tamu.edu/fundingconnector/)Visit NRI:Website (https://nri.tamu.edu/)Medium (https://medium.com/@tamu-nri)YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/TexasAMNaturalResourcesInstitute)Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tamuNRI/)Instagram (@tamu_nri)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/tamu-natural-resources-institute/)

In part 2 of our series on the celebrated Texas Land Trends program, we’re joined by Dr. Roel Lopez, NRI’s director and head of A&M’s Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management. He reminisces on the program’s inception, the last 25 years of data, partnerships, influence, and a vision for the future. We also have a special announcement—after a year of hard work under wraps, we’re finally announcing the launch of our online Map Store! Featuring the work of our Texas Land Trends geospatial analysts, our sought-after maps offer a new way for land stewards to understand Texas through data, history, and design. View the collection at https://nri.tamu.edu/store/.Episode transcript here: https://nri.tamu.edu/the-land-steward-podcast/the-land-steward-podcast-season-2/episode-10-25-years-of-texas-land-trends-with-roel-lopez-phd-part-2/Connect with us @landstewardpod on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠!Produced and Hosted by Brittany WegnerProduced and Edited by Abigail Holmes Huddleston Episode Resources:Texas Land Trends website (https://txlandtrends.org/)NRI Store (https://nri.tamu.edu/store/Visit NRI:Website (https://nri.tamu.edu/)Medium (https://medium.com/@tamu-nri)YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/TexasAMNaturalResourcesInstitute)Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tamuNRI/)Instagram (@tamu_nri)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/tamu-natural-resources-institute/)

Texas lands are changing drastically day by day, driven by some of the fastest population growth in the country. For the last 25 years, the Texas Land Trends program has been monitoring the status and changes of land use, ownership size, land values, and more across the state. In part 1, BW discusses some program background and the four highlights that came out of the 25th anniversary iteration of the Texas Land Trends report.We are also joined by Meghan Riley in the very first installation of the Land Steward Book Club, where we share the written practices that we're applying in our day-to-day work as land stewards. In this episode, we discuss A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold - a classic piece of literature that introduced the concept of a "land ethic" and taught the inherent value of land. To listen to the book club, skip to 31:00.Episode transcript here: https://nri.tamu.edu/the-land-steward-podcast-transcripts/the-land-steward-podcast/episode-9-25-years-of-texas-land-trends-part-1Connect with us @landstewardpod on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠!Produced and Hosted by Brittany WegnerProduced and Edited by Abigail Holmes HuddlestonEpisode Resources:Texas Land Trends website (https://txlandtrends.org/)USDA NASS Census of Agriculture (https://www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus/)Texas State Comptroller of Public Accounts Property Tax Assistance Division (https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/)Visit NRI:Website (https://nri.tamu.edu/)Medium (https://medium.com/@tamu-nri)YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/TexasAMNaturalResourcesInstitute)Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tamuNRI/)Instagram (@tamu_nri)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/tamu-natural-resources-institute/)

For our season 2 premiere, we’re joined by Erin Davis and George Clendenin from the Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to discuss the conservation of Sentinel Landscapes in Texas. They share a little bit about the program area, their expertise, and their passion for working with landowners to create landscape-wide conservation impacts around military lands. Funding is available in 2025 for landowners in the Camp Bullis RCPP area seeking to implement sustainable land management practices on their property, and a virtual workshop is taking place on January 29, 2025 to provide landowners with more information about the program’s goals and the application process (see episode resources for more details). If you are a landowner primarily in Comal, Kendall, Medina, Bandera, or Bexar county and want step-by-step details on the application process, skip ahead to 31:41. Episode transcript here: https://nri.tamu.edu/the-land-steward-podcast-transcripts/the-land-steward-podcast/episode-8-camp-bullis-sentinel-landscape-rcpp/⁠. Connect with us @landstewardpod on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠! Produced and Hosted by Brittany Wegner Produced and Edited by Abigail Holmes Huddleston Guest Hosts: Erin Davis, George Clendenin Note from the editor: At 3:49, BW shares that the DOD manages about 1.7 million acres in Texas - the exact number is 1,662,040 acres. Episode Resources: Camp Bullis RCPP (http://campbullisrcpp.nri.tamu.edu) Regional Conservation Partnership Program - Texas (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/rcpp-regional-conservation-partnership-program/texas/regional-conservation) Land management landowner application (https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=CljXn3JknE2hQtEx06ehFunKLXIT28JBtRha2K_NqLNUQVI0QU5GUTRJRzI1MlBWNVU5WUFRVE5aNS4u&route=shorturl) Camp Bullis Regional Conservation Partnership Program Online Workshop (1/29/25) (https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/6cf5a76c-9e9b-40be-b9cd-6cdb1b339dbc@9fd7580a-6472-4d9c-a142-d131d3a7a116) Create farm records with the Farm Service Agency (https://www.fsa.usda.gov/) Leopold Live: Dark Sky Conservation (video) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8l2CAYdS8M) Visit NRI: Website (nri.tamu.edu) Medium (https://medium.com/@tamu-nri) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/TexasAMNaturalResourcesInstitute) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tamuNRI/) Instagram (@tamu_nri) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/tamu-natural-resources-institute/) ⁠ ⁠ ⁠

In this episode, we discuss the Managed Lands Deer Program and properly managing deer populations on your land. BW has a rainy-day chat with her family about their land before and after joining the program and how one decision became the spring board for a new kind of family partnership. She walks through the value of deer management for habitat health, and their experiences as a family—with no shortage of comedy. We also take you into the blind to give you the full Hill Country hunting season experience. Episode transcript here (https://nri.tamu.edu/the-land-steward-podcast-transcripts/the-land-steward-podcast/episode-7-managed-lands-deer-program-and-hunting-in-texas/)⁠. Connect with us @landstewardpod on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠! Produced and Hosted by Brittany Wegner Produced and Edited by Abigail Holmes Huddleston Episode Resources: MLDP - Managed Lands Deer Program (TPWD) (https://nri.tamu.edu/the-land-steward-podcast-transcripts/the-land-steward-podcast/episode-7-managed-lands-deer-program-and-hunting-in-texas/) Hunting Licenses, Permits & Endorsements (TPWD) (https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/licenses/hunting-licenses-and-permits) How to Find Natural Resource Professionals in Texas (https://rise.articulate.com/share/M8W0_Y5-YXTTiSJMFkZ5VGiDI0xqBf5w) Visit NRI: ⁠Website (https://nri.tamu.edu/)⁠ ⁠Medium (https://tamu-nri.medium.com/) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/TexasAMNaturalResourcesInstitute)⁠ ⁠Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tamuNRI/)⁠ ⁠Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tamu_nri/)⁠⁠ ⁠LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/tamu-natural-resources-institute/)

Small but mighty: Small acreage landowners—land stewards who own about 100 acres or less—represent more than half of the operations in Texas (and counting!). In this episode, we chat with Chase Brooke, a small acreage wildlife management program specialist, whose role is to help new and small acreage landowners develop strategies for their land and get connected with the resources and expertise they need to succeed. We hope this thoughtful, funny conversation is encouraging to land stewards who are seeking out help from experts like Chase, looking to fulfill the lifelong dream of caring for a slice of Texas. Episode transcript here⁠. Connect with us @landstewardpod on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠! Produced and Hosted by Brittany Wegner Produced and Edited by Abigail Holmes Huddleston Guest Host: Chase Brooke   Episode Resources: Chase Brooke (https://rwfm.tamu.edu/people/brooke-chase/) Texas A&M AgriLife Extension County offices (https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/counties/) Texas Land Trends (https://txlandtrends.org/) Aggie Horticulture Production guides (https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/) Texas A&M AgriLife Learn publications (https://agrilifelearn.tamu.edu/s/category/browse-by-product-type/publications/0ZG4x00000095lJGAQ?c__results_layout_state=%7B%7D) Small Acreage Big Opportunity (https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/asset-local/small-acreage-big-opportunity/) Visit NRI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website (https://nri.tamu.edu/)⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Medium (https://tamu-nri.medium.com/)⁠ ⁠YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/TexasAMNaturalResourcesInstitute)⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tamuNRI/)⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tamu_nri/)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/tamu-natural-resources-institute/)

In earlier episodes, we spent some time talking about endangered species and the act that binds each careful decision by landowners and specialists to preserve and rehabilitate entire ecosystems depending on disappearing wildlife. We took the trapeze to the other end of the spectrum in this month's episode to talk about one of the most abundant and costly wildlife species in Texas—the wild pig. NRI's Jay Long, who oversees the grant dollars dedicated to educating landowners about controlling wild pig populations and their negative impacts on natural spaces, especially water resources, joins us to share some ideas about methods and his experiences in the field. It's a wild ride! We also want to take a moment to thank our veterans like Jay who have served, sacrificed and brought their skills to the workforce to make people and places better every day through their leadership and positive impacts. Thank you, servicemen and women, and thank you to the families who support them every step of the way. Content note: At 35:38, Jay reflects on the two methods for reducing pig populations if pigs are caught in a trap, including descriptions of dispatching pigs. This discussion ends at 38:34. Episode transcript here⁠. Connect with us @landstewardpod on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠! Produced and Hosted by Brittany Wegner Produced and Edited by Abigail Holmes Huddleston Guest Host: Jay Long   Mentioned in this episode: NRI's wild pig control outreach and education (https://wildpigs.nri.tamu.edu/) Private Land Stewardship education lessons: Wild Pig Biological and Behavioral Drivers (https://rise.articulate.com/share/nZ8XOvl45n9OfUbWh5PsaMfrDez7hXRZ#/) Wild Pigs Negatively Impact Water Quality (https://rise.articulate.com/share/F_9EdNilyGKbqXbDkRejiWRovjyAi4o-#/) Exclusion Fencing for Wild Pig Management (https://rise.articulate.com/share/u9E6-5atKreAx3SpWJBggIbbOwJpIrA2#/) Interspecific Competition Between Invasive Wild Pigs and White-tailed Deer (https://rise.articulate.com/share/3pCaXkl-AlllGAJpTtKBmTnPXH_Can6s#/) Differences Between Wild Pigs and Javelinas (https://rise.articulate.com/share/0y0sjNcXoaFqeQ1GSIaKyEL7uYDMkNcy#/) Field to Table Safety Precautions for Wild Pigs (https://rise.articulate.com/share/BI93DEAKwNK1mdW0ZtEVpblSoXM9X2Yh#/) Visit NRI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website (https://nri.tamu.edu/)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Medium (https://tamu-nri.medium.com/)⁠⁠ ⁠⁠YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/TexasAMNaturalResourcesInstitute)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tamuNRI/)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tamu_nri/)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/tamu-natural-resources-institute/)⁠

Land and wildlife stewardship is hardly a solo show. Whether you own or manage land, recreate or depend on land for your livelihood or are simply interested in contributing to the open spaces that offer so much more than fresh air and room to roam, there's a natural resource professional in Texas waiting for your call (at no cost to you). This episode is a journey through some experiences, personal to BW, and to those who grace the NRI Inbox with questions, with a route to finding the natural resource professional who can provide guidance and resources for the land steward you are. Thank you to Dr. Jim Cathey for joining us in Episode 4 to cover a critical tax valuation consideration for landowners in Texas; his interview starts around 45:15. Episode transcript ⁠here⁠. Connect with us @landstewardpod on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠! Produced and Hosted by Brittany Wegner Produced and Edited by Abigail Holmes Huddleston Guest Host: Dr. Jim Cathey Mentioned in this episode: ⁠How⁠ to Find Natural Resource Professionals in Texas ⁠Bennett⁠ Trust Land Stewardship Conferences at 8:18 GenerationNext: 12-week course at 11:20 Beef Cattle Short Course at 19:56 ⁠The Landowner Longleaf Challenge case study at 25:43 Wildlife Management as Agriculture Use for Property Tax Valuation in Texas at 46:55 Visit NRI: ⁠Website⁠ ⁠Medium YouTube⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠LinkedIn Editor's note: Around 26:15, BW claims that longleaf pine are one of the fastest growing pine species. Longleaf pine start their growth very slowly in what is called a "grass stage," but after a few years of maturation they will begin to grow at a rate of upwards of 3 feet per year (that's fast!), according to The Longleaf Alliance.

Welcome back to the Land Steward Podcast, and thank you for joining us for part 2 of our episode on the Endangered Species Act. This week we're taking you behind the scenes of the Endangered Species Act 50th Anniversary Symposium that took place in Austin, TX in November. BW recaps the event and interviews a few different guests at the event about their experiences being in the room with some major players in the field of conservation and some key takeaways from the three panels covering the past, present, and future of the ESA. Thank you to all our interviewees—Mike Marshall (NRI), Shelby McCay (NRI), Roel Lopez (NRI, Texas A&M Department of Rangeland Wildlife and Fisheries Management), Mike Leahy (National Wildlife Federation), and Lindsay Martinez (East Foundation). Episode transcript here. Connect with us @landstewardpod on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠! Produced and Hosted by Brittany Wegner Produced and Edited by Abigail Holmes Huddleston Mentioned in this episode: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center James G. Teer Conservation Leadership Institute Mountain & Prairie Podcast Recover Texas Ocelots Visit NRI: Website Medium Facebook Instagram LinkedIn

Welcome back to the Land Steward Podcast. This week we’re excited to dive in with our first guest host, expert in conservation education and endangered species processes, Shelby McCay, to talk about the Endangered Species Act, its legacy over the past 50 years, and what the future of endangered species conservation looks like as a new generation of leaders take the helm. We discuss the upcoming ESA 50-year Anniversary Symposium taking place in Austin, Texas in November, give a little bit of background on the original history and purpose of the ESA, and hear stories from Shelby about her experiences working with endangered species in the field so that you, the land steward, can feel equipped with a new perspective and the best information about the Endangered Species Act. Episode transcript ⁠here⁠. Connect with us @landstewardpod on ⁠Instagram⁠! Produced and Hosted by Brittany Wegner Produced and Edited by Abigail Holmes Huddleston Guest Host: Shelby McCay Mentioned in this episode: Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Shelby McCay - Master's degree work James G. Teer Conservation Leadership Institute Mountain & Prairie Podcast Recover Texas Ocelots Shelby McCay – Fauna Silvestre Studio NRI Texas freshwater mussel research   Visit NRI: Website Medium Facebook LinkedIn Instagram

Welcome to The Land Steward Podcast. We're excited to get this new podcast off the ground to provide a space for land stewards who are looking to learn, no matter how they relate to the land, and a library of relatable conversations and resources around stewardship. At the Institute, we're fortunate to be in a unique space between research on the landscape and teaching within the College of Ag and Life Sciences. Our vision is that landowners, managers, and students find something in every episode whether it's a new perspective, a glint of expertise or a tool they have yet to try. We cover a little about your host, the Institute, and where you can find resources from the Institute and our partners.  Episode transcript here. Connect with us @landstewardpod on Instagram! Produced and Hosted by Brittany Wegner Produced and Edited by Abigail Holmes Huddleston Mentioned in this episode: Texan by Nature Texan by Nature Interview NRI Sourcebooks Visit NRI: Website Medium Facebook ⁠LinkedIn Instagram