Profitable Livestock Production (Cibola County)

Throughout the year the agent has had contact with 16 livestock producers outside of programs in Cibola County and over 20 phone calls. Subjects of questions throughout the year included bovine trich, drought conditions, impacts from winter heavy freeze, permit pasture seed mix, ranch plan help, and effects of high #of grasshoppers on range.

NM Indian Livestock Days

The agent participated in the planning of the annual event. The conference is open to any producers that wish to attend. The conference had an attendance of over 235 producers. There were multiple seminars and some break-out sessions. The event is a great way for extension to present to a large number of producers. The agent was able to make contact with many of the tribal producers within Cibola County.

Sheep Shearing Workshop

This year the agent worked with the McKinley agent and the specialist with teaching wool producers shearing techniques. The two day workshop covered the use of electric shears, wool care, livestock safety, equipment maintenance. The shearing instruction is hands on. There were 15 participants in the workshop.

Acoma Agricultural Day

The agent was actively involved in the planning and implementation of the conference. The one day program was in the Pueblo of Acoma and open to producers of the area. There were presentations on livestock, crops, and healthy foods. There was an attendance of 65 producers.

BQA Training

The agent was involved in the planning and implantation of a BQA training offered to the livestock producers of the Pueblo of Acoma. The training was given to 14 producers. The producers were actively going to pursue achieving the second level of BQA Certified Producer.

Chase Elkins has signed on to support Profitable Livestock Production within Cibola 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.