Jack Van Laar,
Decatur County extension education director
Situation
With over 23,000 head, Decatur County ranks near the top for Iowa beef cow numbers. Beef cow-calf production and grazing utilization of forages from steep and highly erodable soils, which comprise a large portion of the county land base, represents the major livestock and economic enterprise in the county. This industry, like the rest of agriculture, is very dynamic and producers and industry leaders are in continual need of information and updating on a number of production, management, and marketing issues, which directly affect the profitability of this enterprise..
Response
Decatur County Extension, working in concert with Extension field and campus specialists and the ISU Iowa Beef Center, cooperates and partners with county producers and producer groups (primarily the county Cattlemen‚s Association), other agencies, such as Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and others to provide a variety of programming to address the on-going and emerging issues and educational needs of this industry. Examples include: Hosting a site for the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) videoconference; hosting a meeting site for a Fescue Management seminar; assisting with the Midcrest Area Cattle Evaluation (MACEP) feedlot performance program conducted at a local feedlot and hosting a summary meeting and dinner; cooperating with NRCS in providing pasture walks for producers to see managed grazing and water delivery systems on neighbors‚ farms which are examples of practices eligible for conservation program funding (an outgrowth of a Grass Roots of Grazing conference held a couple of years ago), and individual consultation with producers regarding herd management, nutrition, forage testing, grazing, and feedlot/manure management problems.
Impact
Approximately 100 producers, including several from outside Decatur County
took part in one or more of the meetings or programs held this year. In addition,
over a dozen received individual assistance from the county office or area livestock
field specialists. Producers recognize ISU Extension and the Iowa Beef Center
as credible and important resources for the beef industry and continue to utilize
them well. Producers consistently report (formally and informally) a high degree
of appreciation for the program offerings, as well as an increased understanding
of industry issues and knowledge base to make critical management decisions.
Some examples:
BSE Satellite Conference-This response to the discovery of the first case of
this disease in the U.S. was delivered within two weeks of that announcement
and reached a nationwide audience. At the local site, participant reactions
echoed those of other producers and industry leaders across the country-ISU
Extension responded in a timely and straightforward manner to greatly improve
everyone‚s understanding and provide a balanced and thorough perspective
of this major national issue.
MACEP Cattle Evaluation-Participating producers in this feedlot performance
program continue to gain valuable information about their calves for herd management
and selection decisions and experience first hand the option of retained ownership
and value-added marketing of their calf crop. This year, the 22 producers involved
saw an average value added per head of $82.94 for steers and $112.21 for heifers
in the program (over sale as feeder calves). Of 123 steers, 109 benefited from
the retained ownership, with 45 adding over $100. Of 50 heifers, 49 showed positive
benefit with 30 adding more than $100. One producer with several head in the
test, however, felt the feedback information for herd management and selection
decisions far outweighed the value-added economics. "Every cow-calf producer
in the area should be taking advantage of programs like this," he said.
Managing Fescue Pastures-Decatur County played host to one of several sites
in the area for this program, which featured ISU Extension field and campus
specialists, and a noted researcher from the University of Kentucky. Fescue
is found in most area pastures. It is a very productive, resilient and durable
grass species, but its harboring of the endophyte fungus and potential toxicosis
problems with grazing livestock raises concerns with producers. Actual fescue
plants which were in the early heading stage were dug up near the meeting site
and displayed to help the 40 producers in attendance better identify the plant.
Steps to manage the grass and grazing to minimize toxicity problems were reviewed
as well as latest research on supplementation, nutrition and non-toxic endophyte
varieties were presented. Updated written materials were provided for participants
and Extension workers, which have been used with several clients requesting
information on fescue since the meeting. Producers had a lot of questions and
discussion was excellent throughout the program. Many expressed appreciation
for the program and indicated they had a better understanding of fescue forage
and how to better manage it in their pastures.
Page last updated:
July 8, 2006
Page maintained by Linda Schultz, lschultz@iastate.edu
