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 (Hidalgo County)
Plan Goals
Improve the profitability of livestock production n Hidalgo County by enhancing decision-making skills of livestock owners and managers.
- Owner
- Related Plans
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Profitable Livestock Production
Impact Reports
The 4th Annual Southwestern NM Cattleman's Survival Course was held on February 26, 2010 in Animas, NM. There were 34 participants. Out of those, 18 of them represented individual ranches in Hidalgo County. A survey conducted at the end of the program in 2010 yielded the following information: 97% of participants increased their level of understanding about Yield and Quality Grade and Marketing Cattle on the Grid; 93% said the presentation on Ranch Insurance Options was informative; 95% thought that the presentation by the USDA Wildlife Services on Feral Hogs and Animal Diseases was helpful and 96% had an increased level of understanding about Bovine Viral Diarrhea, persistently infected animals and the fact that an outbreak can be catastrophic. When producers were asked about utilizing the principles talked about at the 2010 Survival Course, 7% said they were somewhat likely, 35% moderately likely, 43% very likely to use the information presented.
As a tool to help the agent evaluate how the program has helped producers change their management practices over time, an evaluation was given to those participants that attended the program in 2008, 2009 and 2010. 44% of participants in 2009 had attended in 2008 and 65% of participants in 2009 attended in 2010. Although number of participants decreased in 2010, the retention of past attendees has improved. Attendees reported that the information on cattle diseases, specifically Bovine Viral Diarrhea and Trichomoniasis, value added marketing options, Beef Quality Assurance practices, and herd health and nutrition gave them the most valuable information that could be used on their operation. Two of these producers indicated that because of the information received in 2008 on Beef Quality Assurance guidelines, they have changed the way they give cattle vaccinations to follow these guidelines. A quote from a producer: “When I followed the herd health guidelines given and incorporated the Beef Quality Assurance practices, I was able to market my calves with other producers’ similar calves and get a higher sale price for them”. This demonstrates that the information received out of this extension program is going to use to make the producer more profitable.
Along with the key speakers and programs for this event, the agent provides a publication library of extension publications and newsletters with relative issues and information for producers to choose from.
10 producers attended a Range Monitoring Workshop coordinated by the agent. CES range management specialist and BLM Range monitoring specialist presented information on Rangeland monitoring (Rapid Assessment Method) and BLM monitoring procedures. Techniques were demonstrated to the participants with the opportunity for participants to practice the techniques. 95% of participants showed and increase in knowledge on BLM monitoring methods; 90% showed an increase on why range monitoring is important and 100% stated they were moderately likely to very likely to utilize the information presented in the workshop.
20 individual ranch visits with personal face to face communications were by the agent relating to nutrition, herd health, pest management, toxic/noxious weeds, branding, weaning, livestock disease and marking procedures. Along with these, several e-mail and phone communications were made to answer questions by producers.
Southwestern New Mexico Cooperative Weed Management Area (SWNMCWMA) is a diverse group of Hidalgo and Grant County members with the main intention of acquiring funding to educate, locate, identify, map and help treat noxious weed infestations throughout the two counties. The goals of the SWNMCWMA is to ultimately help educated producers and residents on identification and control of noxious weeds in the area and attain funding to possibly help with treatment of infestations.
This group has attained grant funding from three sources in the amount of approximately $166,000 to hire a coordinator, map noxious weed infestations, purchase chemical to treat infestations and most importantly educate county clientele on identification and the importance of noxious weed control and eradication. Since that time eleven state-listed noxious weeds have been identified as being present in the two-county are with over 4500 acres being mapped with GIS technology.
24 private landowners and agricultural producers treated over 1800 acres of noxious weeds using herbicide provided by the group. The SWNMCWMA has on-going monitoring of these areas.
One successful project conducted by the SWNMCWMA was the treatment of African Rue at the Animas Landfill Transfer Station. It is and ongoing project. This 17 acres is surrounded by NM State Land and which is leased to a county cattle producer. Before treatment the african rue was measured at 18% cover (8-26-08) treatment occurred on 4-22-09, after treatment (7-16-09) it was measured that 95% of african rue was eradicated leaving approximately 1.5% cover of the weed. An additional treatment to this site was done on 4-22-10 in which the remaining African rue was treated as well as new plants that had sprouted from seed. A measurement has not been reported since treatment in April 2010, but visually the treatment looks successful.
Supported by a Western Integrated Pest Management Center special issues grant, the SWNMCWMA and the Southeastern Arizona Weed Management Area pulled together stakeholders in December 2009 to continue working on a collaborative strategic plan. This group included participants from NMSU and U of A Cooperative Extension; USDA Forest Service, NRCS, and APHIS-PPQ; USDA BLM; three local Soil and Water Conservation Districts; NM and AZ Departments of Agriculture; NMDOT; Arizona DOT; Black Range and Coronado RC & D; county government; and several local landowners. This group originally developed a clear list of priorities and action items related to identification, mapping and integrated pest management of noxious weeds in Hidalgo and Grant counties in NM and Cochise, Greenlee and Graham counties in Arizona. Since its initiation, the group has requested grand funds to equip and train a rapid response team to deal with noxious weed infestations in the 5 county area. An additional Western Integrated Pest Management grant was applied for to purchase chemical, equipment and educational materials for Hidalgo County. Through this cooperation across state lines, the two groups continue to meet bi-annually and continue to seek and obtain grant monies to deal with noxious weed problems in the 5 county regions.
25 producers attended a Noxious Weed Workshop in Virden, NM presented in conjunction with the Southwestern Cooperative Weed Management Area and Southeastern Arizona Weed Management Area. Speakers at the workshop included specialists from NMSU CES, U of A CES, SWNMCWMA members and Hidalgo CES. Topics covered included: Russian Knapweed identification, response and control; Starthistles in Southwest New Mexico, their identification, life cycle and control; weeds to be on the lookout for; Chemical Safety and use in Riparian areas and an overview of NM and AZ noxious weed programs. Card evaluations were used and results indicated that: 100% of participants said information was somewhat or very useful, the quality of information was good or excellent and the participants gained some to much knowledge on the topics presented.
10 stakeholders attended a tour of Hidalgo County and eastern Cochise County with the purpose of becoming more familiar with noxious weeds found in these areas. The agent coordinated with the agent from Cochise county to make the tour route. Weeds of interest were: African Rue, Tree of Heaven, Malta Starthistle, Hoary Cress, Onion Weed, New Mexico Thistle and Russian Knapweed. The route included Lordsburg, Playas, Animas Landfill, Animas, Rodeo, Portal and San Simon. Stakeholders included people from the following agencies: NMDOT, USDA APHIS, USDA NFS, NRCS (Lordsburg & Safford), U of A Extension, BLM, Greenlee County Government and SWNM Weed Management area.
In 2010 Hidalgo County received ample spring moisture so there were many forbs that had not been seen in recent years. The agent identified over 30 species of forbs that clientele either brought into the office or sent pictures of.
19 meetings were attended by the agent in 2010. These meeting were held by local and statewide groups with whom the agent cooperates with. Groups included were: Hidalgo County Cattle Growers Association, Public Lands Advisory Council, Southwestern New Mexico Cooperative Weed Management Area, AZ-NM Noxious Weed Stakeholders, Malpai Borderlands Group, and Hidalgo Soil and Water Conservation District. Topics discussed included: County Bred and Fed initiative in Hidalgo County, Solar Power, Continental Divide Trail in Hidalgo County and its effects on ranchers, Wilderness Area Designation, Border Fence and water run-off mitigation, noxious weed problems and funding to treat noxious weeds, Beef consumer education, County coordination strategy with federal agencies and Grant writing among many others. The agent served as a member and adviser to these meetings and actively participates in the activities these groups conduct.
As a tool to help the agent evaluate how the program has helped producers change their management practices over time, an evaluation was given to those participants that attended the program in 2008, 2009 and 2010. 44% of participants in 2009 had attended in 2008 and 65% of participants in 2009 attended in 2010. Although number of participants decreased in 2010, the retention of past attendees has improved. Attendees reported that the information on cattle diseases, specifically Bovine Viral Diarrhea and Trichomoniasis, value added marketing options, Beef Quality Assurance practices, and herd health and nutrition gave them the most valuable information that could be used on their operation. Two of these producers indicated that because of the information received in 2008 on Beef Quality Assurance guidelines, they have changed the way they give cattle vaccinations to follow these guidelines. A quote from a producer: “When I followed the herd health guidelines given and incorporated the Beef Quality Assurance practices, I was able to market my calves with other producers’ similar calves and get a higher sale price for them”. This demonstrates that the information received out of this extension program is going to use to make the producer more profitable.
Along with the key speakers and programs for this event, the agent provides a publication library of extension publications and newsletters with relative issues and information for producers to choose from.
10 producers attended a Range Monitoring Workshop coordinated by the agent. CES range management specialist and BLM Range monitoring specialist presented information on Rangeland monitoring (Rapid Assessment Method) and BLM monitoring procedures. Techniques were demonstrated to the participants with the opportunity for participants to practice the techniques. 95% of participants showed and increase in knowledge on BLM monitoring methods; 90% showed an increase on why range monitoring is important and 100% stated they were moderately likely to very likely to utilize the information presented in the workshop.
20 individual ranch visits with personal face to face communications were by the agent relating to nutrition, herd health, pest management, toxic/noxious weeds, branding, weaning, livestock disease and marking procedures. Along with these, several e-mail and phone communications were made to answer questions by producers.
Southwestern New Mexico Cooperative Weed Management Area (SWNMCWMA) is a diverse group of Hidalgo and Grant County members with the main intention of acquiring funding to educate, locate, identify, map and help treat noxious weed infestations throughout the two counties. The goals of the SWNMCWMA is to ultimately help educated producers and residents on identification and control of noxious weeds in the area and attain funding to possibly help with treatment of infestations.
This group has attained grant funding from three sources in the amount of approximately $166,000 to hire a coordinator, map noxious weed infestations, purchase chemical to treat infestations and most importantly educate county clientele on identification and the importance of noxious weed control and eradication. Since that time eleven state-listed noxious weeds have been identified as being present in the two-county are with over 4500 acres being mapped with GIS technology.
24 private landowners and agricultural producers treated over 1800 acres of noxious weeds using herbicide provided by the group. The SWNMCWMA has on-going monitoring of these areas.
One successful project conducted by the SWNMCWMA was the treatment of African Rue at the Animas Landfill Transfer Station. It is and ongoing project. This 17 acres is surrounded by NM State Land and which is leased to a county cattle producer. Before treatment the african rue was measured at 18% cover (8-26-08) treatment occurred on 4-22-09, after treatment (7-16-09) it was measured that 95% of african rue was eradicated leaving approximately 1.5% cover of the weed. An additional treatment to this site was done on 4-22-10 in which the remaining African rue was treated as well as new plants that had sprouted from seed. A measurement has not been reported since treatment in April 2010, but visually the treatment looks successful.
Supported by a Western Integrated Pest Management Center special issues grant, the SWNMCWMA and the Southeastern Arizona Weed Management Area pulled together stakeholders in December 2009 to continue working on a collaborative strategic plan. This group included participants from NMSU and U of A Cooperative Extension; USDA Forest Service, NRCS, and APHIS-PPQ; USDA BLM; three local Soil and Water Conservation Districts; NM and AZ Departments of Agriculture; NMDOT; Arizona DOT; Black Range and Coronado RC & D; county government; and several local landowners. This group originally developed a clear list of priorities and action items related to identification, mapping and integrated pest management of noxious weeds in Hidalgo and Grant counties in NM and Cochise, Greenlee and Graham counties in Arizona. Since its initiation, the group has requested grand funds to equip and train a rapid response team to deal with noxious weed infestations in the 5 county area. An additional Western Integrated Pest Management grant was applied for to purchase chemical, equipment and educational materials for Hidalgo County. Through this cooperation across state lines, the two groups continue to meet bi-annually and continue to seek and obtain grant monies to deal with noxious weed problems in the 5 county regions.
25 producers attended a Noxious Weed Workshop in Virden, NM presented in conjunction with the Southwestern Cooperative Weed Management Area and Southeastern Arizona Weed Management Area. Speakers at the workshop included specialists from NMSU CES, U of A CES, SWNMCWMA members and Hidalgo CES. Topics covered included: Russian Knapweed identification, response and control; Starthistles in Southwest New Mexico, their identification, life cycle and control; weeds to be on the lookout for; Chemical Safety and use in Riparian areas and an overview of NM and AZ noxious weed programs. Card evaluations were used and results indicated that: 100% of participants said information was somewhat or very useful, the quality of information was good or excellent and the participants gained some to much knowledge on the topics presented.
10 stakeholders attended a tour of Hidalgo County and eastern Cochise County with the purpose of becoming more familiar with noxious weeds found in these areas. The agent coordinated with the agent from Cochise county to make the tour route. Weeds of interest were: African Rue, Tree of Heaven, Malta Starthistle, Hoary Cress, Onion Weed, New Mexico Thistle and Russian Knapweed. The route included Lordsburg, Playas, Animas Landfill, Animas, Rodeo, Portal and San Simon. Stakeholders included people from the following agencies: NMDOT, USDA APHIS, USDA NFS, NRCS (Lordsburg & Safford), U of A Extension, BLM, Greenlee County Government and SWNM Weed Management area.
In 2010 Hidalgo County received ample spring moisture so there were many forbs that had not been seen in recent years. The agent identified over 30 species of forbs that clientele either brought into the office or sent pictures of.
19 meetings were attended by the agent in 2010. These meeting were held by local and statewide groups with whom the agent cooperates with. Groups included were: Hidalgo County Cattle Growers Association, Public Lands Advisory Council, Southwestern New Mexico Cooperative Weed Management Area, AZ-NM Noxious Weed Stakeholders, Malpai Borderlands Group, and Hidalgo Soil and Water Conservation District. Topics discussed included: County Bred and Fed initiative in Hidalgo County, Solar Power, Continental Divide Trail in Hidalgo County and its effects on ranchers, Wilderness Area Designation, Border Fence and water run-off mitigation, noxious weed problems and funding to treat noxious weeds, Beef consumer education, County coordination strategy with federal agencies and Grant writing among many others. The agent served as a member and adviser to these meetings and actively participates in the activities these groups conduct.
"I enjoyed the Spring Bootheel Moo’s (Newsletter). There was lots of good information. Thanks for sending it." Email sent from a Hidalgo County cattle producer.
16 individual ranch visits were made by the agent from October 08 to September 09.
22 Cattle producers attended an informational session and questions and answer session on Cattle Pooling for cattle marketability in Hidalgo and Grant counties. Through this effort by stakeholders in Hidalgo County and the agent, there have been at least 5 pooling groups put together in Hidalgo County. These groups were more accessible by potential buyers than they would have been had they sold their cattle individually. There have been verbal comments from these producers stating that this resource has been a positive experience and that it should gain momentum as word gets around about the cattle pooling availability.
5 producers attended a Southwestern New Mexico Cooperative Weed Management Area Workshop. Topics included: Onionweed in NM, Musk Thistle, and Grant monies available to control noxious weeds in Hidalgo and Grant Counties. Presenters included members of the Southwestern NM Cooperative Weed Management Area and USDA-APHIS. Several calls were received by the agent after this workshop pertaining to weed identification and control.