2020 Model State Program- Oklahoma State University

The learning and action outcomes and impacts of these initiatives are as follows

1.  The 2020 OSU Winter Crop School event focused on winter crops, summer crops and forage production. The WCS consisted of five sessions each with a specific topic. Over the course of WCS a great group of speakers from around the Plains covered topics in Cover Crops and Soil Health, Rain fed Ag research, Wheat production, Nutrient Management and Advanced Agronomy.

2.  The theme of the 2021 Red River Crops Conference was "Planning for Success - Crop Production Information Designed for Southwest Oklahoma and the Texas Rolling Plains." and focused on the following educational information:

             - National Cotton Council Update, Jody Campiche, Ph.D., National Cotton Council director of economics and policy analysis, Memphis, Tennessee.                                                                                          – Cotton Market Update, John Robinson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension cotton marketing economist, Bryan-College Station                                                                                                                                      – Cotton Equipment Technology, John Long, Ph.D., Oklahoma Cooperative Extension agricultural engineer, Stillwater                                                                                                                                          – Herbicide Program Updates, Peter Dotray, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research weed scientist, Lubbock                                                                                                                                                         – Cotton Plant Pathology Update, Tom Isakeit, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension plant pathologist, Bryan-College Station                                                                                                                                               – Cotton Area Program Update, Seth Byrd, Ph.D., Oklahoma Cooperative Extension cotton specialist, Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Kimura.                                                                                                     – Economic Comparison of Perennial and Annual Grazing Systems, Francisco Abello, AgriLife Extension farm management economist, Vernon.                                                                                             – Current Wheat Crop Status and In-Season Management, Fernando Guillen-Portal, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension small grains and oil seed crops specialist, Bryan-College Station                                                           – Brush and Weed Control in Pasture Systems, Laura Goodman, Ph.D., Oklahoma Cooperative Extension range specialist, Stillwater                                                                                                               – Grain and Livestock Markets, Trent Milacek, Ph.D., Oklahoma Cooperative Extension West District area agriculture economist, Enid, Oklahoma                                                                                                                                                    – Grain Sorghum Cropping Systems, Jason Warren, Ph.D., Oklahoma Cooperative Extension soil and water conservation management specialist and OkSARE State Coordinator, Stillwater, and Strickland.

3.  The Great Plains Cotton Conference and the 2021 Cotton Physiology Meeting presented Evapotranspiration and soil water depletion under SDI irrigated cotton in the Oklahoma Panhandle by Jason Warren, Ph.D., Oklahoma Cooperative Extension soil and water conservation management specialist and OkSARE State Coordinator, Stillwater, Oklahoma

The learning and action outcomes of these activities are as follows.

1.  The Green Country Crops Conference included a presentation, Biologicals for soil and soil health presented by Brian Arnall and Jason Warren, OSU State Specialists, Stillwater, Oklahoma
2. The Late Season Cotton Management Seminar included a presentation by Jason Warren entitled, Soil moisture trends under irrigated cotton in SW Oklahoma and the Panhandle of Oklahoma.
3. The OCES Coffee Shop Series included an Update on soil health testing procedures by Jason Warren. 
4. The Master Irrigators Training is a direct result from previous training initiatives of the OkSARE PDP programming.  As previously discussed, in early 2020 an advisory committee was formed to provide guidance in developing the curriculum for training farmers and crop consultant to provide advanced training on irrigation water management, irrigation equipment maintenance, energy conservation, water conservation, and economics of irrigated agriculture. The program includes classroom training, peer-to-peer exchange of information between producers, field demonstrations, and free-of-charge services such as energy audits through mobile irrigation laboratories. The instructors include extension specialists, irrigation specialists, and economists from OSU and adjoining states, producers, crop consultants and NRCS personnel. The overall goal of the program is to facilitate improved water use efficiency and farm income via increased farmer adoption of advanced water management strategies and technologies.

   Participants are required to complete four days of training to be eligible for the following benefits:

   • Four days of basic and advanced training on irrigation, crop choices and irrigation systems.
   • Participants will be eligible for reimbursements of $2000 on purchase of soil moisture sensors. through funding provided by Oklahoma Conservation Commission and Oklahoma Water Resource Board.
   • Free of charge energy and irrigation system efficiency audits will be provided to the participants through mobile irrigation laboratory.

     Use of irrigation scheduling tools to manage irrigation water application can increase water productivity, but with less capital cost than installation of new irrigation systems. However, use of irrigation scheduling technologies and tools, such as soil moisture sensors and/or crop growth model based irrigation schedulers, require advanced knowledge to apply effectively. Prior research in the High Plains region found that using precision irrigation scheduling increased water productivity by 25% compared to conventional irrigation application. This was achieved with a 10% reduction in water use and a 13% yield increase. This suggests that adoption of precision irrigation management could reduce water demand by 76,000 acre-feet/year statewide without impacting, and potentially increasing, productivity.

      

     The Master Irrigator program initially focuses on the declining water levels of the Ogallala Aquifer in the Oklahoma Panhandle region. The Oklahoma Panhandle receives the least rainfall in the state, yet the area is actively farmed for grain production. Irrigation helps with increasing and stabilizing the crop yields therefore supporting the local economy. However, the groundwater table in the region is declining due to water extraction at rates exceeding recharge of the aquifer. As a result, the well capacities have declined. Producers in the area are already combining multiple wells to meet crop water demands, reducing irrigated acreage or exploring alternative crops with low water demand. These water saving technologies and strategies could be used for sustainable use of irrigation water. However, there are limitations in adoption of water conservation strategies including limited technical know-how, inadequate knowledge on cost-to-benefit ratio of the technology, inability to interpret digital data and decision making. The Oklahoma Master Irrigation Program aims at providing training regarding these issues to help producers better manage their limited water and increase the longevity of the aquifer, while maintaining/improving the farm income.

The learning and action outcomes of this initiative along with the impacts from these events are as follows.

1.  The OSU Meat Goat Boot Camp reports.....
2. Goat Herd size and Value of Goat Camp
   • The average herd size was 89.
     • Herd size ranged from 15 to over 500

    

   Each participant were asked to place a value of the education and skills learned at the goat camp. Below is there response.

   • Total value equals $238,305

     Session Rankings

     Each participant was asked to indicate the knowledge learned from each session during the boot camp. A five point scoring system was used were 1 = no knowledge gained and 5 = great deal of knowledge gained. Below are the results.

      

     • Average score for all 22 sessions was 4.45.
     • Session scores ranged from 3.98 to 4.74
     • Top five sessions were:
       • Fecal Egg Count – 4.74
       • Parasite De-wormer Resistance and Eye Scores – 4.72
       • Fecal Egg Count Demo - 4.70
       • Birthing and Neonatal Care - 4.68
       • Parasite Life Cycle Management - 4.66

      

     Adoption of New Skills

     Participants were asked if they planned to adopt any of the practices taught during the 20 sessions. The average adoption rate for all sessions was 76.8%. Across all sessions, the range of planned adoption was 55.3% to 93.6%.

     Session Rankings

     Each participant was asked to indicate the knowledge learned from each session during the boot camp. A five point scoring system was used were 1 = no knowledge gained and 5 = great deal of knowledge gained. Below are the results.

      

     • Average score for all 22 sessions was 4.45.
     • Session scores ranged from 3.98 to 4.74
     • Top five sessions were:
       • Fecal Egg Count – 4.74
       • Parasite De-wormer Resistance and Eye Scores – 4.72
       • Fecal Egg Count Demo - 4.70
       • Birthing and Neonatal Care - 4.68
       • Parasite Life Cycle Management - 4.66

      

     Adoption of New Skills

     Participants were asked if they planned to adopt any of the practices taught during the 20 sessions. The average adoption rate for all sessions was 76.8%. Across all sessions, the range of planned adoption was 55.3% to 93.6%.

      

     Pre and Post Test Score Results

      

     Methodology

     In an attempt to measure the amount of knowledge gained during the Oklahoma Meat Goat Boot Camp, a 30 question test multiple choice/true-false test was developed by the instructors of the Boot Camp. Each question was taken from the material being presented at the Boot Camp. This test was then given to each participant at the beginning and the end of the Boot Camp. The following are the results:

      

     Results

      

     Test                              Average Score                   Range                       % Correct

     Pre-Test                               17.5                            11-24                           58.5%

     Post-Test                             23.0                            15-30                           76.7%

      

     The results show that participants improved their test scores by 31.2%.

     Further, we can group the 30 questions into 7 areas of production and management. Then we can look at the test scores to determine which areas the group were the most and least knowledgeable before the Boot Camp and which areas had the biggest improvement in knowledge gained. The seven areas are as follows:

      

     1. Parasite Management and Control
     2. Record Keeping
     3. General Herd Management including Herd Health
     4. Herd Nutrition
     5. Forages and Forage Production Systems
     6. Marketing
     7. Business Planning

      

     Test Results

                                                               % Correct

     Group                               Pre-Test                      Post-Test                    % Change

     1. Parasite                     70.8%                          89.8%                          26.8%
     2. Record Keeping          85.6%                          78.4%                           -8.3%
     3. Herd Mgmt                 75.2%                         90.2%                          19.9%
     4. Nutrition                     27.4%                         49.5%                          80.7%
     5. Forages                      55.0%                         78.8%                          43.3%
     6. Marketing                   50.6%                         81.7%                          61.3%
     7. Business Planning        36.5%                         50.0%                          36.8%                *Please note:  Some of the data included in this report is a compilation of both the 2019 and 2020 Boot Camp results as submitted by the cooperators of the program.                             

The learning and action outcomes and impact of this initiative are as follows:

1.  The Properly Implementing Agronomy Research and Demo Trials Outdoor Program reports that starting in the summer of 2020, Extension Educators from 42 eastern Oklahoma counties were invited to attend in-service training focusing on revitalizing the use of county-led research trials and demonstrations.  This training series was comprised of three-parts, held chronologically to coincide with events occurring related to forage production.  All invited Educators attended the training series, as well as area and some state specialists.  The goal was to provide training that the Educators could immediately take back to their counties and implement.

   The first part consisted of a discussion on: when to use research vs demos, identifying topics of relevance, identifying stakeholders, sourcing funding for your trials, marketing and promotion, and the proper equipment and techniques for the application of fertility and herbicide treatments.  Educators also assisted in the installation of a research trial.

   The second session reconvened at the same plot locations approximately 30 days later.  Topics included: proper and accurate sampling methods, sample preparation and processing, data recording, spreadsheet preparation and photography.   The Educators then assisted in taking data from the plots they helped establish in the first training.  Before adjourning, Educators were given the materials needed to install fall fertility demonstrations on forage in their respective counties.

   The third session addresses: statistical analysis of data, the initial steps of “building your talking points”, methods of information distribution, recognizing cooperators and the decision-making process of wrap-up or ramp-up of the trial.

   This training gave Educators the required knowledge and skills to manage their own fertility plots assessing the impact of fall fertilization for stockpiled forage production.  The Initial results of this thrust has gathered over 2,200 sample points in 42 Oklahoma counties across three warm season grass species.  On-going work will take this data to Oklahoma producers through news articles, an OSU factsheet, videos, website content and posters.

   SARE funding was used to purchase signage that was installed at each county research plot location offering an increase in outreach and education capabilities.  These signs will continue to be used in future trials hosted by each Educator.  At the initial outservice meeting, a presentation was held to discuss the Southern SARE granting opportunities for on-farm research.  Additionally, the OkSARE PDP program has made provisions to assist with the sharing of supplies between these demonstration sites to further leverage the funds needed for this program. 

   It is important to note that at this time, several of the county educators that have cooperated with this program report that they have had more than 100 site visits by producers and stakeholders.  This is an increase from the normal attendance at county field days and farm tours.  These demonstrations have proven very popular as they allow attendance as an individual schedule allows.  Most of the Educators have printed educational materials available at their sites to explain the demonstration and encourage readers to contact them with any questions. 

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The learning and action outcomes and impact of this initiative thus far are as follows:

1. The biggest challenge to maintaining healthy and productive honey bee colonies is the continuous availability of an adequate quality food supply for bees during the period from April through October.  Food needs include nectar and pollen.  When honey bees cannot find sufficient nectar and pollen supplies, hive growth is slowed, colony strength is reduced, and honey production is limited and may actually be consumed by the bees.  Adequate honey production is critical to get the bees through the winter months when there is no forage available.  In southeastern Oklahoma this is estimated to be about 60 pounds of honey required for an average colony.  In order to harvest honey from the hive for marketing without jeopardizing colony strength, additional honey production is required.  Under ideal conditions, an established hive with ~70,000 bees can produce 50 or more pounds above the 60 pounds required for over-wintering.  Bee population maintenance during the winter is critical not only for winter survival but also to have the early season (April) bee population required for colonies to produce the new season maintenance honey and additional honey for harvest.   If hives are too small the colony is as risk of not surviving.  During a typical summer such small hives produce honey during April and May, bees consume honey in June, and then bees are at risk of starvation by July.  This is especially true of a young (newly established) hive during a “typical” summer when rainfall is scarce after May, resulting in limited summer food availability.  Small hives require supplemental feeding using pure cane sugar solutions containing Honey-B-Healthy to build the required comb and store enough honey for overwintering, which means additional labor and monetary expense for the bee keeper. 

   An initial outreach activity was a presentation on the project overview and preliminary results that was made to County Extension Educators in November of 2019.  During 2020, brief mention of aspects of the project, such as pest incidence in the crops was made from time to time during in-service training sessions for County Extension Educators.  Due to the public health situation of 2020, no on-site training was scheduled. 

   Crop Planting and Honey bee hives in 2020:

   To control Varroa mites, weekly treatments (three total) of Oxalic Acid were applied to each hive starting 10 March 2020.  About 15 March, began feeding using 2 parts pure cane sugar and 1 part water plus Honey-B-Healthy.  Fed five 5-gallon buckets up until 15 April when the honey supers were put on Hives JH-2 and JH-3.  On 19 May, bees in JH #2 swarmed taking a lot of honey and bees from the hive.  Below are selected notes on each hive over the summer of 2020.

   Hive #B

   On 13 May, caught a swarm of bees in Trap Box #44 and transferred it to the Bruton/Morgan Apiary in Atoka to transfer to a Deep Hive Box (Hive #B).  On 22 June, Hive #B was transferred to the Lane Research Station.  Placed inside-hive feeder in the hive and added about one gallon of 1-to-1 sugar

   water plus Honey-B-Healthy. Attempts were made to fill the inside hive feeder on a weekly basis.  On 24 July, the bees were pulling comb on several frames.  This hive was pulling a lot of comb and had a great laying pattern.  Excellent hive.   On 28 August, bees had pulled out 8 of 9 frames in the second deep hive box

   Hive JH#2

   Placed honey supers on Hives JH-2 on 15 April.  On 06 May, JH #2 had about 8 frames of mostly capped honey in honey super #1.  On 09 May put honey super #2 on hive.  On 07 September, there were about 6 frames in honey super #1 with capped honey.  On 27 September, 18 lbs of honey were harvested from honey super #1.

   Hive JH#3

   Placed honey supers on Hives JH-3 on 15 April.  On 06 May, just about all 9 frames in honey super #1 were nearly full of nectar.  Nothing capped yet.  On 09 May, put on honey super #2.  On 31 May, there were 3-4 frames with nectar in honey super #2.  On 08 June, there was some nectar in most frames in honey super #2.  Little Capped Honey in two or three Frames.  On 22 June, there was nectar in about 7 of 9 frames in second honey super.  On 24 July, there were 5-6 frames with some capped honey.  On 07 September, there was about 8 frames of capped honey in honey super #1.  On 27 September, 20 lbs of honey were harvested from honey super #1.

   Hive JH#4

   On 18 May, traveled to Ada, OK to pick up three NUCs (JH-4, OSU #Y, OSU #Z) and set up at the Lane Research Station.  Placed inside-hive feeder in the hive and added about one gallon of 1-to-1 sugar water plus Honey-B-Healthy.  Attempts were made to fill the inside hive feeder on a weekly basis.  On 25 July, bees had pulled comb on 5 frames in second deep hive box.  Couple of frames had capped honey.  On 28 August, bees had pulled out 6 of 8 frames in second deep hive box.

   Hive OSU #Y

   On 18 May, traveled to Ada, OK to pick up three NUCs (JH-4, OSU #Y, OSU #Z) and set up at the Lane Research Station.

   Placed inside-hive feeder in the hive and added about one gallon of 1-to-1 sugar water plus Honey-B-Healthy.  Attempts were made to fill the inside hive feeder on a weekly basis.  On 25 July, bees had pulled comb on 6-7 frames in second deep hive box with a lot of capped honey.  On 28 August, bees had pulled out 6 or 9 frames in second deep hive box. 

   Hive OSU #Z

   On 18 May, traveled to Ada, OK to pick up three NUCs (JH-4, OSU #Y, OSU #Z) and set up at the Lane Research Station.  Placed inside-hive feeder in the hive and added about one gallon of 1-to-1 sugar water plus Honey-B-Healthy.  Attempts were made to fill the inside hive feeder on a weekly basis.  On 25 July, bees had not pulled any comb on the second deep hive box.  On 28 August, bees had not pulled any comb in second deep hive box.  Laying pattern of the queen was no satisfactory.  Too late to buy a queen.  On 15 October, the second deep hive box was removed and an inside hive feeder was placed on top of the frames.  The feeder contained pure cane sugar and wetted with a 1-1 sugar solution plus Honey-B-Healthy.  A spacer was placed on the hive to accommodate the inside hive feeder which is a relatively dry feeder.

   Crops planted in early 2020 included Phycelia, tanacetifolia (tansy), white clover, and sesame (Table 3).  In early spring through the middle of June, white clover appeared to be the primary foraging crop for the bees.  Although crimson clover is reported to be an excellent forage crop for bees, most of the activity was on the white clover.  Tansy was planted in May but it failed to come up.  Sesame is supposed to be pretty good forage plant for bees.  However, there didn’t seem to be a lot of bee activity on the sesame.  Since buckwheat is known to be very attractive to honey bees, plantings were made on an approximately every 30 days from May to September.  One of the problems with buckwheat is that it produces nectar during the morning hours primarily.  It has become clear that more acreage will be required to yield good honey production. 

   Crops Planted in 2021

   The crops planted in 2021 are buckwheat, coriander, and common borage.  The white clover will provide plenty of forage up until about 15 June.

   A minimum of around 10 acres will be required to produce sufficient forage for six hives. (A reduction in nectar and honey was observed after about 15 June.)  Need more acreage!  For honey production, bee population is everything, flower population is everything, nectar production is everything, and season-long availability is everything.  At present, it appears that we have sufficient forage up until around 01 June.  At that point, it will be necessary (in most years) to have about 10 acres of forage from May through October.  A really good hive with plenty of forage can produce 50+ lbs of honey in a season.  A bee producer can make about $750 not counting expenses.