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Agronomic Crop and Improved Pasture System Development (Hidalgo County)

Plan Goal

Improve the sustainability and production potential of agronomic crops and improved pastures in Hidalgo county. This will be done by focusing on water management, soil tilth, yield capability, crop or forage quality, nutrient management or any other inpu

Situation Statement

In Hidalgo county there is approximately 39,000 acres available for crop production and pasture systems. Crops in Hidalgo county have a value over 10 million dollars and makes up a large portion of the agricultural industry here in Hidalgo county. Changing markets are driving agricultural producers in the area to use new technologies and produce crops different than those traditionally grown in recent years. With the exploration of the dairy industry grain crops and hay crops are going to be grown in increasing amounts of acres in the future. Acreages in cotton and chile are decreasing due to changes in market structure. With an increasing number of environmental constraints, decreasing available water, and changing agricultural markets many producers in Hidalgo county are making numerous changes in cropping systems or selling out. This change could present itself as an opportunity to help producers manage their resources to help increase their economic and environmental benefits.

Target Audience and Actions

All producers of crop commodities in Hidalgo county interested in improving the sustainability and production potential of agronomic crops and improved pastures. Producers with operations of all sizes can be benefitted.

Short-Term Objectives

Conduct a needs assesment of agricultural producers in Hidalgo county and help determine where efforts can be concentrated to best help the clientele. Express those findings to specialists at the University to provide direction in programs being developed. Provide one educational seminar in the next year on a resource concern of the clientele. Provide up to date research and information to agricultural producers provided by specialists at the University.

Medium-Term Objectives

Make agricultural producers in Hidalgo county aware of workshop and educational seminar opportunities beneficial to the improvement of their current management practices. Work with agricultural producers to help implement management techniques promoting the conservation of resources. Provide agricultural producers with latest research on crop responses to water deficits and irrigation, seeding rates, row spacing, plant growth regulators, crop chemicals, fertilizers and other inputs helping improve crop growth efficiency or lowering cropping costs. Discuss this research with agricultural producers to determine if change in management technique will be beneficial to the producer.

Long-Term Objectives

Work with an agricultural producer to create demonstration plots on changing a specific management technique from traditional techniques to help increase revenue and decrease input costs. Use this demonstration plot to get agricultural producers together to discuss which changes in management techniques seem beneficial to the Hidalgo county area.

Evaluation Plan

Meet with agricultural producers after attending educational seminars and workshops attended to discuss the relevance and importance of information gained from their attendance. Provide evaluations at any field days, seminars, or workshops provided in the county to determine the effectiveness of the method of delivery. Make visual confirmation of effectiveness of management techniques being used during the growing season. Visit clientele and receive verbal commentary on effectiveness in change or lack of change in management techniques. Observe the statistical evidence of whether cash receipts for crops in Hidalgo county are increased realizing that crop acreage must be maintained to make comparisons. Mantain a record of yield data to evaluate whether inputs are increasing yields to a dollar value more than their cost.