Lee County CES

Title:

Beef Production/Forage Production

MAP:

Livestock Production

Agents Involved:

Ted Johnson

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Beef

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Forages

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Farm Management, Economics and Policy

Situation:

There are over 2000 mature mother cows in Lee County, resulting in around $2,500,000.00 annually. As prices begin to fall it is very important that beef producers be educated on best management practices to: keep cost down, optimize income through management and marketing, be good stewards of the land and practice good animal welfare. More beef producers in Lee County could benefit from implementing best management practices into their operation, many producers do not understand the input cost on beef herds. The beef producers Lee County do not know the cost of producing a pound of beef on their operation.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Improve farm economic status

Sustainability of farm

Producers save and make money

Increase profits

Reduce expenses

Improve herd quality

Reduce environmental impact

grazing and hay production are managed from an economic and heard health prospective

Improve Forage Quality

Improve Forage Utilization

producers incorporating lespedeza into pastures

Intermediate Outcomes:

Test forage for nutritional quality

Utilize a complete mineral supplemental program

Better understand hay making and marketing

Better utilize forages

Purchase supplements that deliver adequate nutrition to the animals

Improve grazing management

Producers utilize best management practices for forages

Implement forage saving feeding systems

Initial Outcomes:

Increase knowledge of: nutrient needs, the effects of livestock and environmental interaction.

Recognize what factors lead to high quality forage

Understand body condition scoring and how to manage nutrition for a healthy reproductive animal.

Gain knowledge of best management practices

Awareness of recommended forage varieties

Understand forage renovation practices

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Knowledge of best management practices

Indicator: number of producers that gained knowledge

Method: survey

Timeline: winter of 2024

Intermediate Outcome: Number of producers that put in practice some recommendations.

Indicator: increased pounds of beef produced

Method: survey

Timeline: summer of 2024 and 2025

Long-term Outcome: Producers have increased profits

Indicator: profit has increased on the farm

Method: survey

Timeline: Fall 2024 and 2025

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Beef producers

Project or Activity: Hay feeding systems and renovations

Content or Curriculum: Fence line feeder, and filter fabric pads

Inputs: Ted Johnson and Specialist

Date: Fall  2024

Audience: Beef/forage producers

Project or Activity: Utilizing forages

Content or Curriculum:, forage management

Inputs: specialist

Date: fall 2024 and spring 2025

Audience: Beef/Forage Producers

Project or Activity :Hay and pasture field renovation

Content or Curriculum: Renovation

Inputs: Agent and specialist

Date: Fall 2024 and spring 2025

Audience: Beef/forage Producers

Project or Activity: News Letters and mass media

Content or Curriculum: Economics

Inputs: agent and specialist

Date: Fall 2024and spring 2025

Success Stories