Extension
It Starts With Us
Improving Profitability and Sustainability of Livestock and Crop Production
Promoting Commodities
Chelsea Sapp
Beef
Forages
Small Ruminants (includes sheep, goats) and Exotic animals
Grains
According to the 2017 USDA Census of Agriculture Marion County had 954 farming operations encompassing approximately 163,000 acres of land. These farms had total sales of approximately $60 Million. Of the farms, 814 grew crops on approximately 85,000 acres. Over half of the farms in the county raise livestock with the primary type being a beef cow/calf raising operation. Low prices for crops for several years and rapidly falling cattle prices have made it a challenge for farmers to make money. While profit has become a challenge, farmers want and need to continue to operate in a sustainable manner that minimizes impacts on the environment.
Low cost, profitable farms will have long term viability and sustainability. Farms that emphasize environmental sustainability will have the ability to preserve resources far into the future. Farm Families will have reduced expenses and will be able to expand their operation. Emphasis on soil and water quality and preservation will allow these farms to succeed.
Farmers adopt new practices that lead to more efficient and sustainable operations including performing examinations of pelvic areas, reproductive tract scores, AI, pregnancy diagnosis, and/or animal evaluation Farm incomes and environmental quality improve. Farmers will improve their herd by implementing a crossbreeding program and make EPD and selection decisions.
Producers will be educated in practices emphasizing operational efficiency and environmental stewardship. Some of these practices include: rotational grazing, ration balancing, forage utilization and testing, soil testing, time management, record keeping and water quality preservation through emphasis on proper chemical, soil preservation and nutrient management practices. Farmers will have an understanding of the importance of and frame work of on-farm trials and be able to identify herbicide resistant pests and strategies to overcome these pests.
Initial Outcome:
Indicator:Producer learns or adopts new skill
Method:Follow-up Visits after initial Visit has been made
Timeline:4-6 Weeks after initial visit
Intermediate Outcome:
Indicator:Producer learns or adopts new skill, Producer reports that new practices have improved his/her farms profitability
Method: Pre/Post Survey/Follow-up Visit
Timeline:4-6 Months
Long-term Outcome:
Indicator:Producer adopts new practices/reports farm is more economically succesful
Method: Pre/Post Survey/Foloow-up visit
Timeline:1 Year
Audience: Cattle Farmers
Project or Activity: BQCA training
Content or Curriculum: Lecture and hands on education
Inputs: Specialists, County Agent
Date: Fall 2022
Audience: Grain Crop Producers/Cattle Farmers
Project or Activity: Pesticide Training
Content or Curriculum: Lecture and hands on education
Inputs: Specialists, County Agent
Date: Winter/Spring 2022-2023
Audience: Grain Farmers
Project or Activity: Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Demonstrate efficient and sustainable practices and implement other Extension Programming areas such as 4-H, FCS, EDNEP
Inputs: Specialists, County agent, local farm operation
Date: Fall 2022
Audience: Small Ruminant Farmers
Project or Activity: Bi-Monthly Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Educate Producers on grazing, nutrition, and breeding of small ruminants
Inputs: Specialist, County Agent, Publication, Farmers/Producers
Date: Throughout the year 2022-2023
Audience: Sheep/Goat Producers
Project or Activity: Small Ruminant Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Lecture and hands on education
Inputs: Specialists, County Agent
Date: Spring 2022-2023
Audience: Young/Beginning Farmers
Project or Activity: Young Farmers Beginning Farming Class Series
Content or Curriculum: Lecture and hands on education
Inputs: Specialists, County Agent, Publications, Farmers/Producers
Date: Throughout the year 2022-2023
Audience: Cattle Farmers
Project or Activity: Beef Cattle Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Presentation and Q and A Sessions
Inputs: Specialists, County Agent
Date: Throughout the year 2022-2023
Audience: Cattle Farmers/Forage Producers
Project or Activity: Forage Field Walks
Content or Curriculum: Lecture and hands on education
Inputs: Specialists, County Agent
Date: Summer/Fall 2022-2023
Audience: Marion County Farmers and Citizens
Activity: Newspaper article
Content or Curriculum: Livestock, tobacco, crop and home and commercial horticulture issues
Inputs: Information from specialists, County Agent
Date: Weekly 2022-2023
