Profitable Livestock Production (Curry County)

Profitable Livestock Production – This agent assisted five local cow/calf producers with artificially insemination of their cows in hopes of improving genetics and herd performance. This program has been a valuable tool for the producers and aids in improving their profitability. This agent was also asked to help the Roosevelt County agent with a Reproductive Physiology Workshop at the Farm Bureau Summer meeting. Topics were covered from the Artificial Insemination workshops and then producers were provided reproduction tracts and equipment to allow them to practice what was taught.

Range Management – Due to the severe drought this year, conditions were primed for high fire danger and multiple fires did occur. Over 60,000 acres of Curry County did burn this year. This agent in conjunction with the Roosevelt County agent hosted an 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.

This agent has been involved with 4-H livestock projects since starting his career. 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 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.

Rancher’s Workshop – 65 people attended from 7 counties and two states a cattle production workshop sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim. This agent assisted the agents across Eastern New Mexico 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. 100% 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 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 every day. 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.

Area producers gained knowledge and current information for control and management from Extension Wildlife Specialist on prairie dogs and gophers. From this program, several producers started control measures to help make their operations more profitable. Several hours were also spent on prairie dog surveys over the county.

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.

Stanley H. Jones has signed on to support Profitable Livestock Production within Curry County.