Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.
Profitable Livestock Production (Taos County)
Plan Goals
Improve the profitability of livestock production by enhancing decision-making skills of livestock owners and managers.
- Owner
- Related Plans
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Profitable Livestock Production
Impact Reports
There are just under 5000 head of beef cattle and less than 2500 head of sheep within Taos County. Keeping these livestock healthy and helping producers identify markets and develop strategies that can help their business is a major component of the Taos County Extension Agent.
--The County Agent met with a small group of producers and businessmen interested in reviving the Taos Mountain Beef organization. Several efforts were made toward this end, however by the end of the year no major inroads have been made.
--The County Agent and Extension Program Assistant were invited to participate in a regional meeting/retreat along with several producers of the grass-fed beef industry. Most producers present were already established and were not to enthusiastic about sharing ideas or knowledge about markets with each other and, especially with the small scale producers. The main positive outcome became the identification of such scale producers in the Northern New Mexico area.
--The County Agent worked with the Southwest Border Food and Safety Defense Center to obtain and distribute livestock herd health first aid kits to over 90 livestock producers. Each was given a kit, including an instructional compact disc, and a brief review of the materials provided and how they can be used. Twenty-two percent of the producers contacted the County Agent directly and reported how often the kit was used and the benefit of having access to such a tool.
--The County Agent served as a moderator and a scribe during the New Mexico Beef Industry Improvement Summit III. The NMB II group, which is charged with developing a strategic plan for enhancing and rebuilding comprehensive methods for promoting and growing the beef industry in New Mexico met in Albuquerque to fine tune the process and begin developing a workable plan to promote New Mexico Beef.
--The County Agent worked with the Northern New Mexico Stockman’s Association in handling part of the logistics for the NNMSA’s annual meeting.
--The County Agent met with a small group of producers and businessmen interested in reviving the Taos Mountain Beef organization. Several efforts were made toward this end, however by the end of the year no major inroads have been made.
--The County Agent and Extension Program Assistant were invited to participate in a regional meeting/retreat along with several producers of the grass-fed beef industry. Most producers present were already established and were not to enthusiastic about sharing ideas or knowledge about markets with each other and, especially with the small scale producers. The main positive outcome became the identification of such scale producers in the Northern New Mexico area.
--The County Agent worked with the Southwest Border Food and Safety Defense Center to obtain and distribute livestock herd health first aid kits to over 90 livestock producers. Each was given a kit, including an instructional compact disc, and a brief review of the materials provided and how they can be used. Twenty-two percent of the producers contacted the County Agent directly and reported how often the kit was used and the benefit of having access to such a tool.
--The County Agent served as a moderator and a scribe during the New Mexico Beef Industry Improvement Summit III. The NMB II group, which is charged with developing a strategic plan for enhancing and rebuilding comprehensive methods for promoting and growing the beef industry in New Mexico met in Albuquerque to fine tune the process and begin developing a workable plan to promote New Mexico Beef.
--The County Agent worked with the Northern New Mexico Stockman’s Association in handling part of the logistics for the NNMSA’s annual meeting.
Working with producers to succeed in small scale livestock production presents a challenge from a timing and educational perspective. There are just under 5000 head of beef cattle and less than 2500 head of sheep within Taos County. Concerns about livestock herd health have long existed in Taos County. Although we have several veterinarians within the County, all but two work on small pets. Of the two that work on large livestock, one works exclusively on horses leaving a very limited amount of resources available to livestock producers.
--The County Agent worked with the Southwest Border Food and Safety Defense Center to obtain and distribute livestock herd health first aid kits to over 160 livestock producers. Each was given a kit, including an instructional compact disc, and a brief review of the materials provided and how they can be used. Fifteen percent of the producers contacted the County Agent directly and reported how often the kit was used and the benefit of having access to such a tool.
--The County Agent served as a moderator and a scribe during the New Mexico Beef Industry Improvement Summits I and II. The NMB II which is charged with developing a strategic plan for enhancing and rebuilding comprehensive methods for promoting and growing the beef industry in New Mexico.
--The County Agent worked with the Northern New Mexico Stockman’s Association in handling part of the logistics for the NNMSA’s annual meeting.
--The County Agent worked with the Southwest Border Food and Safety Defense Center to obtain and distribute livestock herd health first aid kits to over 160 livestock producers. Each was given a kit, including an instructional compact disc, and a brief review of the materials provided and how they can be used. Fifteen percent of the producers contacted the County Agent directly and reported how often the kit was used and the benefit of having access to such a tool.
--The County Agent served as a moderator and a scribe during the New Mexico Beef Industry Improvement Summits I and II. The NMB II which is charged with developing a strategic plan for enhancing and rebuilding comprehensive methods for promoting and growing the beef industry in New Mexico.
--The County Agent worked with the Northern New Mexico Stockman’s Association in handling part of the logistics for the NNMSA’s annual meeting.
As a follow up to the previous year's efforts to establish the Taos Mountain Beef program, unfortunately ther were differnces of opinions and pesonalities that got in the way of this programs survival. After several meetings with the board of directors, the Taos Mountain Beef program fizzled and came to an abupt end.
After some time had lapsed, Associate Vice-Provost Chacon, along with Extension Economists, Extension Beef Specialists, the County Agent and representatives of the Taos Community Foundation met to begin assessing the feasiblity of a Grass Fed Beef program that could potentially provide economic opportunities for small scale ranchers in north central New Mexico and even into southern Colorado. The meeting and subsequent communications and interviews resulted in publication entitled "Study of Grass Fed Beef as a Value Chain in North Central New Mexico and the San Luis Valley". Input for this study was provided by a number of experts including local ranchers, Extension Specialists, the County Agent, and numerous market analysts. Follow up discussions are planned for later this year.
After some time had lapsed, Associate Vice-Provost Chacon, along with Extension Economists, Extension Beef Specialists, the County Agent and representatives of the Taos Community Foundation met to begin assessing the feasiblity of a Grass Fed Beef program that could potentially provide economic opportunities for small scale ranchers in north central New Mexico and even into southern Colorado. The meeting and subsequent communications and interviews resulted in publication entitled "Study of Grass Fed Beef as a Value Chain in North Central New Mexico and the San Luis Valley". Input for this study was provided by a number of experts including local ranchers, Extension Specialists, the County Agent, and numerous market analysts. Follow up discussions are planned for later this year.
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.
• 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.
Economic development opportunities are rare and difficult to establish in rural areas. A group of local cattle producers and business people began to organize and formulate a plan to focus on marketing locally raised beef under the Taos Mountain Beef Brand. The motivation for this campaign was the preservation on agrarian lands by providing a premium price as the incentive to keep ranchers in business, and thereby utilizing the lands that can easily be turned into speculative property.
The County Agent was invited to work with this group to help identify and establish strategies and guidelines under which this program might work best for long term benefit and growth. The County Agent met on a monthly basis with the group who, thus far, had established a non-profit entity to receive grant funds to help with the educational component of this program. This was followed by the establishment of a separate entity that will work as a limited liability corporation for the secondary portion of this group.
One area which will be key for ranchers to become successful, in this or any portion of their livestock operations, is participation in a beef quality assurance program. The County Agent worked with Extension Livestock Specialist Dr. Clay Mathis, to set the stage for, and present the BQA program as a basis for all livestock producers as well as for producers involved with the Taos Mountain Beef endeavor.
Although there is much to be done, the group had, at one time, begun selling beef to local restaurants, particularly high-end cuts, and beef packs to individuals on an as-ordered basis. There were stores that in negotiation to purchase this grass-fed, hormone-free, antibiotic free beef for sale in their meat departments in several places in New Mexico.
The group and organization are at a crossroads on determining how to control their options without losing opportunities and the ability to deliver on what they started. This will be an ongoing program. Thirty-three producers participated in this Beef Quality Assurance Program which was co-sponsored and co-presented by NMSU Extension Livestock Specialist, Dr. Clay Mathis.
The County Agent was invited to work with this group to help identify and establish strategies and guidelines under which this program might work best for long term benefit and growth. The County Agent met on a monthly basis with the group who, thus far, had established a non-profit entity to receive grant funds to help with the educational component of this program. This was followed by the establishment of a separate entity that will work as a limited liability corporation for the secondary portion of this group.
One area which will be key for ranchers to become successful, in this or any portion of their livestock operations, is participation in a beef quality assurance program. The County Agent worked with Extension Livestock Specialist Dr. Clay Mathis, to set the stage for, and present the BQA program as a basis for all livestock producers as well as for producers involved with the Taos Mountain Beef endeavor.
Although there is much to be done, the group had, at one time, begun selling beef to local restaurants, particularly high-end cuts, and beef packs to individuals on an as-ordered basis. There were stores that in negotiation to purchase this grass-fed, hormone-free, antibiotic free beef for sale in their meat departments in several places in New Mexico.
The group and organization are at a crossroads on determining how to control their options without losing opportunities and the ability to deliver on what they started. This will be an ongoing program. Thirty-three producers participated in this Beef Quality Assurance Program which was co-sponsored and co-presented by NMSU Extension Livestock Specialist, Dr. Clay Mathis.