Greenhouse gas emissions regulations and current economic issues will be the main focus of two guest speakers at the ranch management department’s annual Roundup Saturday.

Ron Gill, associate department head for extension at Texas A&M University, said he plans to talk about emerging issues in animal agriculture and different regulatory programs that impact Texas agriculture.

Mark Welch, an assistant professor and Texas AgriLife Extension Economist at Texas A&M University, will give an update on the economy as it pertains to ranchers.

Gill said he will talk about the new cap-and-trade regulations, which deal with how agriculture can fit into the current effort to regulate greenhouse gasses. The regulations require ranchers to limit the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted by their operations, Gill said. The new cap on emissions, set by the government, went into effect Jan. 1.

“If (the ranchers) can’t stay.under those caps, then they have to purchase or trade what they call offsets in industries that utilize carbon dioxide,” Gill said. “It’s a very complicated process.”

Gill said he would also discuss Trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted disease that causes infertility and occasionally abortions in cattle.

Welch will talk about ethanol regulations and use as well as what it means for corn prices in the future, said Chris Farley, assistant director of the ranch management program.

Welch could not be reached for comment.

Farley said the all-day event will also include breakfast and a rodeo, along with music, dinner and dancing in the evening. He said the event’s main purpose is the alumni scholarship auction in the evening, which will auction off items people bring to put up for bid. The money received from the auction will go toward next year’s Ranch Management students. Farley said the event is a way for the ranching community to stay informed and alumni to stay in touch.

“We have two events every year that we try to get together as TCU Ranch Management alumni,” Farley said. “A lot of them will go to the rodeo. We offer them rodeo tickets in the afternoon, and then we hold a night social event.”

Craig Cowden, a first year certificate ranch management student, said he was looking forward to attending the Roundup.

“It’s a good time for the alumni to come back and for us to network with them, build relationships and stay connected,” Cowden said.

Farley said he remembers his days as a student in the ranch management program and how the Roundup has changed.

“I went through the program in 1996 and had a Roundup,” Farley continued. “(I’ve) just been back here teaching since 2007. In the past we’ve had a DJ, and we’ve had some alumni that have wanted to sponsor a band.”

This year, Billy Mata, an award-winning country music artist, and The Texas Tradition will be playing at the Roundup.

Tickets are $5 for breakfast, $22 for the rodeo and $22 for dinner, auction and dance and can be purchased through the ranch management department.

Roundup 2010

All-day Saturday

Morning session starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Brown-Lupton University Union

Afternoon session starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Fort Worth Stockyards Station

For more information, contact the ranch management department at 817-257-7145, or go to ranch.tcu.edu.