Devising an Extension Program to Meet the Needs of Animal Producers in Gooding County By Christi Falen

Gooding County  In 2006 Gooding 1 st in the State - cattle & calves totaled 246,500. (National Agriculture Statistics Service - NASS)  Dairy industry stabilized unemployment - per capita income higher than state average. (Idaho Commerce and Labor)  In 2006 Idaho ranked 4 th in the nation producing 5.99% of the milk. (NASS)  On-farm cash receipts from milk (2005) on ID farms = $1.439 billion - largest single sector in the state’s Ag industry. (United Dairymen of ID)

Gooding County  Corn and alfalfa = largest acres of crops.  One of largest trout producing areas in US. The scenic Thousand Springs and temperate weather of Hagerman make tourism a significant industry. (Idaho Commerce and Labor)

Gooding County  Environmental concerns for livestock operations are critical to address for individuals and producers alike. *nutrient and waste mgmt. *water quantity and quality *air quality and odor mgmt.

Strategy Formation and Impact StrategiesTacticsTechnologyAdoptionManagementPhilosophyResources EnvironmentalImplicationsFinancialImplications modified by chooses enables allow havehave Source: Blackmore, EurIng B.S., et al The role of precision farming in sustainable agriculture: a European perspective. 2nd International Conference on Site-Specific Management for Agricultural Systems.

Identification of Clientele Needs  Form an Advisory Committee (good cross section of community people).  Utilize their input to guide and direct the Extension program.  Evaluate research/programs (in progress and completed) related to clientele needs.

Programs to Meet Needs  Develop Extension/Research Programs based on Advisory Committee input.  Cooperate with multi-disciplinary groups as an active team member for Research & Extension programs.  Embrace new challenges to create cooperative programs that enhance communication among livestock and crop producers, technical specialists and impacted communities.

Accountability  Provide regular progress reports, Impact Statements, Current Information Series (CIS) publications, etc. to the Advisory Committee and County Commissioners.  Accountability and positive relationships with producers and other leaders in the community is critical for a successful Extension program.  Research-based information is crucial for conflict resolution.

Dairy Compost Research  Positive impacts – utilize waste as resource, maintain/improve water quality, provide crop nutrients, increase water/nutrient holding capacity of soils.  Utilized on corn, potatoes, malt barley, and sugarbeets  2.5 to 20 tons/acre (T/A) initial compost  2.5 to 5 T/A compost each fall  Nitrogen fertilizer to meet crop demands

Returns - Initial Compost Application  Highest return from 2.5 T/A initial compost lbs. N/A with a $297.52/A gain over the control.  20 T/A initial compost gained $283.32/A.  5 T/A and 10 T/A compost lbs. N/A gained $ and $204.49, respectively.  20 T/A compost lbs. N/A had a decreasing effect, $ gain/A. Potato Crop Dollar Return

Extension’s Role to Balance  Provide educational programs for small, and large producers and urban clientele.  Facilitate communication between groups with diverse interests - task force development?  Present research based information to clientele/media on key environmental Ag issues through field tours, workshops, seminars, publications, internet?

No Fences Whole Community Approach (WCA)  If agriculture is more socially responsive, will it be more competitive?  Environmental Stewardship Awards Program - general public, crop & livestock producers?  Ecosystem exploration seminar?  Nutrient management education curriculum?  Odor evaluation workshop for the public?  Land-use planning classes?

Whole Community Approach  Sunrise Team Building for producers?  Crop production luncheons or producer luncheons to foster sustainable agricultural systems?  New or modified ways to foster environmentally sound by-product usage with economic returns?

Whole Community Approach Economic Impacts  Sustainable Dairy Systems - Anaerobic Digesters - methane for electricity, no odor, struvite - slow release fertilizer, ash for fertilizer, and/or horticultural fiber to replace sphagnum moss in nursery industry?  Landscaping with horticultural fiber as a natural mulch?  Soldier fly larvae production from manure for the trout industry?

Whole Community Approach  Liquid manure application to cropland for wind erosion control?  Monitoring dairy rations to minimize excess nutrients in manure and exporting forage or other crops off the farm?  Rotational grazing for dairy and beef producers?

Whole Community Approach  Landscape design / application for dairies?  Concerned citizens dairy landscape team?  Multi-disciplinary team approach to come up with environmental and economically sound strategies for the future?

Environmental Education OOOOn-farm research with simple to scientific journal publications WWhole Community Approach EEEEnvironmental Stewardship Award Program – Sunrise Team Building, Producer Luncheon, Ecosystem Exploration Seminar, Nutrient Mgmt. Curriculum, Odor Workshop RRRRotational grazing EEEEnergy production and by-product utilization

Being an Extension Educator is Not Just a Job, But an Opportunity to Make a Difference!

Environmental Youth Education Important?

Response to Advisory Committee Initiated Agricultural Tent

Compost Nutrients  Each ton of compost contained about 30 lbs. of total nitrogen (N).  Field mineralization showed about 15 lbs. of N available during the growing season from each ton of compost.  Additional N and other nutrients would be released in subsequent years.  P = 8 lb/T K = 19 lb/TCa = 27lb/T Mg = 11 lb/T S = 6 lb/TNa = 6 lb/T Fe = 17 lb/T

 Adequate nutrients for sweet corn for seed from the compost.  Malt barley had the highest yields, low proteins and low screenings with for 2.5 T/A compost + 60 lb N/A.  The 2.5 T/A compost and 100 lb N/A was optimum for sugarbeets. Crop Results from Compost