Profitable Livestock /Wildlife Production (Grant County)

The agriculture agent recorded 292 contacts for the past year, with 140 being field or out of office contacts in regards to livestock production/wildlife management. In addition there were approximately 200 that viewed a poster display that agent created on ranching economics in Grant County. This agent feels strongly that one of the CES greatest impacts is one-on-one service that we provide to all clientele including ranch/natural resource managers, state livestock/wildlife specialists, deer hunters, public and private school students and teachers and general public that have questions about livestock and wildlife. Inquiries come from office visits, e-mail, phone calls, field visits and meetings. Questions include, toxic plant Identification, management options, beef cattle marketing meetings and website development, general weed identification, control options, ranching economics poster session, brush management options, questions concerning the New Mexico Big Buck Tournament. Significant strides have been made in the education of the general public and public school students and teachers regarding the facts concerning the outbreak of the Arizona grey fox strain of rabies, resulting in significant increase in vaccinations of cats, dogs and horses. The NMBBT Banquet was well attended with a presentation by Dr. Sam Smallidge on mule deer management as it relates to antler growth. We had mule deer and coues jaws aged by the NMSU Wildlife department and are being used as a field guide in estimating age as the deer are brought in to the tournament. The NMBBT is also being used as a fund raiser for the committee with profits being given as a scholarship to the State winning 4-H Archery team to help with expenses to the National Competition. Chemical recommendations for brush and weed control came from extension weed and brush specialist, publications and agents knowledge. The County Extension Office is unique in offering the general public a place they can walk in or call without an appointment and receive research based information in a timely fashion.

The agriculture agent recorded 736 contacts for the past year in regards to livestock production/wildlife management and rabies. This agent feels strongly that one of the CES greatest impacts is one-on-one service that we provide to all clientele including ranch/natural resource managers, state livestock/wildlife specialists, deer hunters, public and private school students and teachers and general public that have questions about livestock/wildlife/rabies. Inquiries come from office visits, e-mail, phone calls, field visits and meetings. Questions include, toxic plant Identification, management options, beef cattle marketing meetings and website development, general weed identification, control options, ranching economics poster session, brush management options, questions concerning rabies and the New Mexico Big Buck Tournament. Significant strides have been made in the education of the general public and public school students and teachers regarding the facts concerning the outbreak of the Arizona grey fox strain of rabies, resulting in significant increase in vaccinations of cats, dogs and horses. The NMBBT Banquet was well attended with a presentation by the Agriculture Agent on deer aging and its relationship to Gross SCI Score, utilizing the deer jaws that have been collected over the last two years on both Mule Deer and Coues Deer. These jaws were aged by the NMSU Wildlife department and are being used as a field guide in estimating age as the deer are brought in to the tournament. The NMBBT is also being used as a fund raiser for the Grant County 4-H Council with profits of some $1,2500.00 being made this last year. Chemical recommendations for brush and weed control came from extension weed and brush specialist, publications and agents knowledge. The County Extension Office is unique in offering the general public a place they can walk in or call without an appointment and receive research based information in a timely fashion.

Grant County Agriculture Producers face numerous challenges operating their businesses, from the USFS, environmentalists, marketing of their product, noxious plant problems, toxic plant management, and endangered and managed species. Grant county animal agriculture accounts for $10 million in sales annually. Livestock production in Grant County is only marginally profitable. Livestock producers and rural economies recognize the impact of livestock production on the county’s economy. In 2004, the livestock and livestock products accounted for 75 percent of all New Mexico farm and ranch receipts and totaled over 1.6 billion dollars. Beef cattle and calves are major farm and ranch livestock contributors to the economy of the county. Based on data generated from 52 cow-calf operations in New Mexico evaluated through the Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) program over the last 10 years, the average return on investment for cow-calf enterprises is only 1.8%. Other sectors of the beef industry have been only marginally profitable during this period as well. If the profitability of cattle production in Grant County does not improve, the long-term sustainability of ranching is jeopardized. State educational programming like Cattle Growers’ Short Courses, Southwest Beef Symposium, Standard Performance Analysis, Cattlemens’ College, Ranch to Rail and Beef Quality Assurance are avenues for the Cooperative Extension Service to better equip livestock producers with management and marketing knowledge. Additionally, the Grant County CES offers several workshops and programs each year relating to Livestock/Wildlife profitability. In order for producers to improve profitability they must increase revenue at a greater rate that costs increase, or they must decrease costs while maintaining revenue. If extension related efforts are successful during this program of work, livestock producers will become more profitable. Income from wildlife (deer) to private landowners is undocumented and probably under marketed.

The target audience is composed of approximately 50 beef cattle operations in Grant County, government officials, and allied industry employees that service livestock producers. In order to service the educational needs of Grant County producers, county programs are planned and facilitated with direction of the Agriculture/Natural Resources committee of the Advisory Board. Land managers/hunters become better educated on management of deer to increase quality and increase price of hunts. In addition to approximately 60 beef cattle producers and 80 wildlife managers/hunters that attended extension programs, another approximately 120 made contact with the Grant County Extension Service, through office or field visits, telephone calls, or e-mails. Questions and contacts were logged and shared with extension specialists. These contacts are used to develop programming needs for upcoming years.

The major programming goals are to increase awareness of novel management practices and knowledge of current issues by 20% for 10% of Grant County livestock producers through educational programs and direct communications. Increase the number of producers using technology by 5% to evaluate production and financial aspects of cow-calf/wildlife enterprises through participation in workshops. Furthermore to continue the New Mexico Big Buck Tournament (NMBBT) showcasing the quality deer of New Mexico and specifically Southwestern New Mexico along with acquiring age, weight, body condition and antler scores using the SCI scoring method.

Major Programming efforts in Grant County have included a number of workshops and public programming including Beef Marketing, Range 101, Toxic Plant Workshop, Wolf Data Collection, Bull Selection, Beef Quality Assurance, Private pesticide training and licensing, Mule Deer Management Strategies, Wildlife leasing and legalities and the NMBBT. Efforts in Quay County included workshops and programming including Agriculture and Home Economics seminars. These were annually done and covered topics including National Animal I.D. and COOl, irrigated forage crops: also hosted the Southwest Beef Symposium, Livestock Minerals Program and A.I. School. Programs were all announced in the local newspapers and on the two local radio stations. Our newsletters (Agriculture, Home Economics and 4-H) all announced the sessions and before each workshop, interviews by reporters and local television and radio assist this agent to help inform the public of programming efforts . Through program evaluations, it has been found that publicity for programs offered by the Extension Service are best advertised in a variety of media and at least two weeks prior to the program date.

Speakers for program events have been numerous from university specialists, extension county faculty and local county agent. Because of the size of the county, providing a variety of speakers helps to keep the programs fresh. As a consequence of Grant County Advisory Board prioritizing the Mexican Gray Wolf Issue as a major concern for Grant County ranchers along with three other counties, an informational meeting was organized in Beaverhead with a follow up training for producers/outfitters/hunters to gather information on the wolf. Agent trained 35 beef cattle producers on the procedures to collect the data. Thirteen specialists were used in programming efforts with one researcher, one county agent, and three game and fish personnel. Many ranch and field visits were made with producers concerning toxic plant problems, mesquite control, noxious plant identification, and management.

Through program evaluations following new workshops, this agent has been able to provide clientele and businesses with the most desired types of programs. A website was developed with the assistance of agent’s nephew to help with the NMBBT.

Short-term
• Increased awareness of novel management practices and knowledge of current issues for more than 10% of New Mexico livestock producers through educational programs, direct communications, and popular press publications.
• Increased the number of producers using technology to evaluate production and financial aspects of cow-calf enterprises through participation in a Standardized performance analysis workshop.
• More than 90% of attendees surveyed at educational workshops perceive the monetary value of education gained exceeded the cost of attendance.

Medium term
• Improve decision-making skills of more than 500 livestock producers and county Extension agents through educational programs and seminars such that they are more confident in livestock management.

Long Term
• Improved knowledge level of county Extension agents regarding management of sheep and beef cattle through in-service trainings in the area of Range Nutrition and Management.

Ag Agent was made aware of the Mexican Grey Wolf situation in Southwestern New Mexico after taking job in Grant County and after attending sessions at the Joint Stockmans Convention held last December.
Agent has attended several "Wolf" meetings during the year and starting to understand the economic impact that the wolf is making in the region. With documented wolf kills in Grant County, and the likeleyhood they will continue or increas and requests from the Chairman of the Grant County Commissioners Court wanting Best Managment Practices that should be recommended by NMSU Extension. Dr. Sam Smallage and Dr. Jon Boren have been contacted and are currantly working on this problem.
Agriculture is 2nd in New Mexico as an economy, and with the potential of losing a percentage of livestock production in SW New Mexico, papers presented by Drs. Boren and Smallage have been distributed to interested producers.