Profitable Livestock Production (Socorro County)

Beef Quality Assurance programs were developed to enhance the producers knowledge of the industry and help to ensure quality products by identifying problems with in the industry. Many cow/calf producers or cowboys focus on getting cattle worked quickly, not correctly. After attending the Beef Quality Assurance program two producers left saying they needed to slow down and work cattle better, and five others were interested in making changes in their vaccination handling procedures. All producers passed the final exam to receive certificates. 90% of participants will make changes in the livestock handling process.

The agent worked with several other agents and committee members on the Beef Initiative. The committee was identifying ways to help producers statewide, and then focused in on trying to help the industry by training potential new producers. The first ever “Ranch Camp” was set up to provide education to high school students. Focusing on all aspects of ranching, this week long camp provided an in-depth college course with plenty of hands on activities. Twenty-nine youth developed leadership and communication skills, as well as, gaining valuable knowledge to assist them in gaining or maintaining a career in ranching.

Many producers have anxiety when it comes to taking exams, but all have found that the pesticide training provided by the Agent are very beneficial. Nearly 95% of producers have been able to obtain a private applicators license from the courses offered. One hundred forty-three producers were provided pesticide trainings through six different workshops. Each training focused on Integrated Pest Management, Biology of plants and insects, proper ID, Formulations, Proper Protective Equipment, reading labels, and Laws and Regulations. Workshops consisted of 3-5 total CEU’s with the majority having 4 CEU’s. Socorro producers are very happy about the in-depth half-day trainings with no fees and are requesting workshops frequently. The CEU’s have decreased the number of private applicators that do not stay current and have to re-test after five years. Sessions included NMDA participation for laws and reqs sections and testing if needed. Producers commonly state, “this was a good refresher course and I learned some new things”. Many producers feel that the course made taking the exam a lot easier and did not have the anxiety of dealing with taking an exam.

The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow program utilizes members of the communities to collect precipitation data across the state and nation. This program provides a platform for many producers who are currently collecting data to have credible data that reflects what is actually happening on particular parcels of land. Socorro and Catron County residence received training on collection of data and received a rain gauge if records were kept and turned into the website. With an effort from the FSA and NRCS a total of 21 producers are collecting rainfall data. Emphasis was placed on the program due to the lack of data going into the national drought monitor, which is the model being utilized to establish criteria for payments to be made to producers through USDA programs.

Trichomoniasis has become a serious issue for beef producers in New Mexico. This venereal disease in cattle can cause some devastating economic losses for producers if they are not aware of the potential for it to become a problem in their herd. Calf crop percentages drop to 40-60 percent or below in problem herds, and many producers have blamed poor nutrition when it has not been the cause. Forty-eight beef producers attended a Trichomoniasis workshop in August and gained insist into this problem for the beef industry. Dr. Wenzel and Dr. Hanosh presented the workshop going into great detail about the disease and management practices. This was a collaboration between Catron, Sierra, and Socorro Extension Services and Farm Bureau. Producer’s were evaluated with all gaining knowledge, and several producers were going to implement testing of bulls and others were going to make some larger management decisions, such as starting a breeding program and only turning bulls out at certain times rather than continuously being out.