Storage and Utilization of Ethanol Co-Products By Small Cattle Operations

View the project final report

• 2008 annual report
• 2009 annual report
• 2010 annual report

Commodities

• Animals: bovine

Practices

• Animal Production: general animal production

Educators from ten states gained knowledge and experience with ethanol co-product storage and utilization. Firsthand experience in storage techniques has prepared educators to teach storage techniques. The conferences in 2008 and 2009 and workshops in 2010 attracted nearly 300 educators. Each was provided a resource packet including pictures, videos, written reports, and interactive spreadsheet tools for use in educational programs. Participant responses in six month and one year post follow up surveys indicate educators have taught more than 5,700 producers and 69% indicate producers they taught have adopted storage practices. Written materials and videos have extended the reach of education through the internet with more than 35,000 individual downloads of educational materials. Resource materials written and web based were expanded and improved in 2011 and will be relevant and available via the web beyond the end of this project.

• Professional development conference for education Extension Educators from Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and South Dakota, as well as NRCS staff, high school agriculture educators and community college animal science educators.
  Demonstrations of mixing and storage. Educators will see storage techniques and issues of spoilage and quality. Storage types will include bunker, bag, and slab storage which are the most Commonly used by small producers.
  Interaction between educators and small livestock producers experimenting with on-farm storage. Interaction between educators and beef/cow calf experts. These producers will be included in planning and teaching the professional development conferences.
  Resources toolbox for use by educators to provide training in their local areas. Toolbox will include PowerPoint presentations, written materials, and CD’s for their future reference.
  Ag educators will become knowledgeable about storage and feeding of co-products in small cattle operations. This knowledge will be passed on to producers and students by use of demonstrations, presentations, and written materials. Producers with this knowledge will make informed decisions and adopt appropriate storage techniques.