Profitable Livestock Production (Socorro County)

Agent consulted with two large livestock producers on rangeland monitoring and stocking rates. Agent spent half a day in the field with producers assessing the ranch conditions and setting up monitoring programs. Publication on Rangeland Monitoring was given and worked from in setting together the producers program. Each producer indicated that monitoring and setting stocking rates was a vital tool, and each was relatively new to ranching and was only working off of hear say from others in the area. This work has lead to these producers being more aware of the needs for an overall ranch plan.

Agent has answered over 60 calls throughout the year with individuals asking about irrigated pastures and rangeland with grazing livestock. The heavy calls and frequent questions are arising from the increase sales of property in the Magdalena area and also in the Rio Grande Valley. “Hobby” farming and ranching is what the issues are concerning mostly. Agent has been able to utilize NMSU publications on Irrigated pastures to assist in many questions. Management of irrigated pastures includes grazing livestock for harvesting and profitability of this program. On rangeland in Magdalena, acreage has been broken down into smaller units with individuals not understanding the grazing management. Agent works directly on stocking rate issues and timing to optimize conditions and profits of those individuals.

Thomas L. Dean has signed on to support Profitable Livestock Production within Socorro County.