Edmonson County CES

Title:

Livestock

MAP:

Agriculture Sustainability

Agents Involved:

David Embrey

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Beef

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Pesticide Safety – Livestock Pests

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Chemical Livestock Management Tools

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Forages

Situation:

According to USDA statistics, Edmonson county has almost 94,000 acres in farms. With 37.5 percent in woodlands, buildings, home gardens, etc and usually no more than 6000-8000 acres used for grain crops, the remainder is in forages and is either pastured or harvested mechanically. Many producers have increased the number of livestock or begun a new livestock enterprise to compensate for lost or reduced income from tobacco and to take advantage of good cattle prices and new marketing opportunities.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Livestock producers will increase profitability by improving production practices, better marketing techniques, and higher levels of management. They will be able to maintain a sustainable operation.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Producers will improve grazing and forage harvesting practices, land management, herd health, animal nutrition, reproduction rates, genetic selection, and facilities. They will also seek to use different marketing opportunities and strategies.

Initial Outcomes:

Producers will increase their knowledge of livestock, forage, and land management and aspire to implement as many of these practices as possible into their own operation.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increase in the number of producers that understand the value of better management practices and want to implement them into their operations.

Indicator: Number of producers that indicate that they gained knowledge and want to implement improved practices.

Method: Written and verbal follow up evaluations

Timeline: Immediately following programs presented and within 1-2 months after programs

Intermediate Outcome: Increase in better management practices, overall herd health and calving rates, and improved handling facilities.

Indicator: Continued construction and improvement of handling facilities, bull and heifer upgrades, fewer herd health problems

Method: Written and verbal follow up evaluations and farm visits.

Timeline: 2-3 years

Long-term Outcome: Increased and sustained incomes from livestock enterprises

Indicator: Increase and expansion of livestock operations and related businesses in the county.

Method: Written and verbal follow up evaluations and farm visits.

Timeline: 3-4+ years

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Established livestock producers and anyone seriously considering starting out.

Project or Activity: Beef Quality Assurance training

Content or Curriculum: Management practices for food safety and awareness

Inputs: County Ag Agent, office meeting room, BQA kit, BQA DVD, BQA manual

Date: November - March

Audience: Established livestock producers and anyone seriously considering starting out.

Project or Activity: Private Pesticide Applicator training

Content or Curriculum: Pest Identification, proper handling, use, and storage of pesticides

Inputs: County Ag Agent, County office meeting room, power point presentations, and pesticide cards

Date: Winter and/or early Spring

Audience: Established livestock producers and anyone seriously considering starting out.

Project or Activity: Beef Cattle Feeding and Nutrition classes

Content or Curriculum: Feeding cattle to provide the proper nutrition at each different stage of life

Inputs: County Ag Agent, County office meeting room, power point presentations derived from Extension Specialist information, Extension Specialists

Date: October - March

Audience: Established livestock producers and anyone seriously considering starting out.

Project or Activity: Pasture and hay field classes and demonstrations

Content or Curriculum: Properly growing and caring for forages, correctly fencing pastures for rotational grazing, proper fertility of forages, forages types and varieties, cutting hay at the proper times for maximum nutritional value

Inputs: County Ag Agent, Specialists, University and Extension facilities, county Master Grazer Demo Farm

Date: Spring and summer of each year

Success Stories