Profitable Livestock Production (Roosevelt County)

Profitable Livestock Production – This agent assists a local cow/calf producer each year artificially inseminate his cows in hopes of improving his genetics and herd performance. This program has been a valuable tool for the producer and aids in improving his profitability. This agent was also asked to help the Curry County agent with a Reproductive Physiology Workshop at the Farm Bureau Summer meeting. This agent presented information on

Range Management – Due to the severe drought this year conditions were primed for high fire danger and multiple fire did occur. Over 100,000 acres of Roosevelt County did burn this year. This agent in conjunction with the Curry County agent hosted a informational meeting with various government and private entities. The meeting saw 20 producers from various locations impacted by fire attend. The purpose of this meeting was to provide information to growers on how to deal with the fire damage and what if any recourse was available in private or government assistance. 100% of those that were in attendance left with the information necessary to effectively make management decisions.

As the drought has intensified over the course of the summer, the lack of forage resources and high feed costs have begun to severely impact producers at numerous levels. This agent hosted a drought management workshop in mid-August to assist producers in making management decisions regarding their land and cattle. Twenty produers from this area participated in seminars on drought awareness and management, hay and forage management and, cattle nutrition and herd management. All in attendance said the program provided useful information that would help them make decisions in the coming months.
This agent has been involved with 4-H livestock projects since starting with Extension eight years ago and has served as an instructor at 4-H Livestock School for the past 7 years. This agent feels well informed and intelligent young people are the next generation of producers and business owners. This agent firmly believes that assisting young people with livestock projects provides them with the fundamental skills to be better prepared for life. Decision making is a critical skill for young people to learn and making the right decisions can forever change the direction of their life. This agent feels 50% of those in attendance will make the right choice when faced with a dilemma in their life because of their involvement with this program. Long term these individuals will make a greater impact on society and their personal sustainability because of involvement with 4-H livestock projects.

This agent along with two 4-H parents began a hands-on beef production project in Roosevelt County in the spring of 2005. The program was started as an alternative to the traditional show steer project. Cattle are weighed in the spring and again at the fair to determine average daily gain. Steers are ultrasounded to determine backfat and ribeye area and that data is added to a grid formula which determines total carcass profitability. The steers are also evaluated by a three member panel of cattlemen from around the state to determine their acceptability in the cattle feeding sector. New in 2008 was the addition of a written test about the beef industry given to project participants. All of these components are added together in an index to determine an overall winner. The program has included forty-two steers and eleven different youth over the past four years. 25% of the youth that have been involved in the project have learned about the importance of managing cattle on feed. To be successful in the project, cattle have to excel in all areas of the program. Through involvement in this program youth have learned more about basic animal nutrition, animal selection, and the cattle feeding industry. This program has proved to be a successful alternative to the show ring while providing practical real world experiences. This agent has been contacted by several agents from across New Mexico that are interested in the program and feels it provides more relevance to the beef project.

This agent attended a Media Training Day sponsored by Dairy Max in Lubbock. It was for Extension Agents from West Texas and New Mexico counties that have a large dairy segment within their county. This agent has been to many different training programs on various subjects but this one was good! Even though it was geared toward dairy it was an excellent training tool for anyone dealing with the media. It really made you think and prepare so that you are not caught off guard when confronted with some perceived issue by the media. Agents had to practice at both video and radio situations from the interviewee as well as critiquing other agents as they gave their interviews. 100% satisfaction on this training and greater prepared to impact producers with this information.

This agent assists a local cow/calf producer each year artificially inseminate his cows in hopes of improving his genetics and herd performance. This program has been a valuable tool for the producer and aids in improving his profitability.

Rancher’s Workshop – 65 people attended from 7 counties and two states a cattle production workshop sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim. This agent assisted the Curry County Agent as well as the local company representative to plan and host the event. Producers participated in seminars on vaccine/health management as well as deworming practices presented by a BI veterinarian. They then heard talks from Cargill Meat Solutions representative about the packing industry and the need for producers to be conscious of raising cattle that fit the box. At the conclusion of the lecture producers were treated to a steak dinner and then a tour of the Cargill Packing Plant at Friona. 50% of those in attendance gained knowledge of production practices that can impact their bottom line. This agent is better equipped to serve the county because of this training.

Kids, Kows, and More is an outstanding educational program which brings local fourth graders from around Curry and Roosevelt Counties and exposes them to agriculture. This is an annual program that occurs in the late spring of each year bringing together all agents from both counties no matter what their discipline in order to successfully complete this event. Kids, Kows, and More offers students the opportunity to participate in hands on learning with educational stations about such things as milk production, row crops, beef production, and vegetables. This agent firmly believes that our job is not only to serve county clientele that already know about agriculture but also to educate the general public about agriculture. Without education of the general public there would be no basis to explain the need for agriculture in the United States. Many students today have no concept of the means required to produce the food they eat everyday. This learning experience exposes them to many of these agriculture practices and products that make a huge impact on the local economy. This agent also knows that because of their participation in this program roughly 1000 students a year have a greater understanding of the role of agriculture in their daily lives.

Kids, Kows, and More provides a platform from which students can establish basic knowledge about local agriculture. Hopefully with these building blocks in place students can build on this knowledge base as they grow and they will better understand how agriculture impacts their lives. Kids, Kows, and More brings roughly 1000 students, teachers, volunteers, and instructors together from Curry and Roosevelt Counties and Parmer County, Texas for this two day event. Kids, Kows, and More also provides a great opportunity for senior 4-H members to serve in leadership roles such as group leaders. This agent has served in multiple capacities and as a co-coordinator for this event in order to see the program through successfully.

Livestock production in various forms is a vital part of the Roosevelt County economy. As new issues arise in production agriculture, it is important to keep producers informed and educated about topics that can and do affect their profitability. This agent secured the services of the NMSU Cooperative Extension Veterinarian to present a lecture on Beef Cow Health Management. Through dialogue and visual observations during the lecture this agent determined that five producers left with more knowledge and felt better prepared to make decisions regarding health management options for their beef cattle herds.

This agent coordinated the Tuberculosis Update held in Portales in March 2009. This meeting was sponsored by the New Mexico Livestock Board and New Mexico State Veterinarian in order to provide updates to livestock producers about the changing status of disease and animal movement issues in New Mexico. The New Mexico State Veterinary and New Mexico Livestock Board representatives spoke on a variety of issues affecting farmers and ranchers. This agent polled producers that attended the meeting to determine knowledge gained. Multiple producers felt the meeting was helpful and provided information that could help them make better decisions on their livestock operations.