Author: David Coffey
Planning Unit: Jackson County CES
Major Program: Beef
Plan of Work: Agriculture Production and Marketing
Outcome: Long-Term Outcome
In 2017, the Jackson County Agriculture agent worked with local producers with an Interactive Farm Management program. Producers set goals and evaluated their own operations’ efficiency and management. Since then, several producers have continued to work with extension and evaluate their operation. One farm in particular has improved management and farming practices tremendously. In 2017, the farm consisted of 40 head of straight angus cattle that fed hay 120 days a year, continuous grazed, and calved year-round. By the end of 2020, this producer has gained knowledge from extension programming and guidance about rotational grazing and is now grazing 7 paddocks. These grazing practices along with learning knowledge about stocking density has allowed the producer to cut days feeding hay down to only 60 days. The producer has also adopted crossbreeding and Artificial Insemination, now using angus and hereford genetics. The producer stated at a recent farm visit that “We can literally see the difference because of extension programs, through our pastures and the quality of our cattle.” The producer now has a controlled spring calving season of 90 days and participates in the CPH-45 special calf sale. Working with this producer and others like him on their own farms and gearing programming specifically to these producers’ needs has created and understanding of how Extension practices can directly benefit their operations by cutting overhead costs, improving heard health, and increasing overall profits.
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