Training for sustainable year-round forage production and grazing/browsing management in the Southern Region

Training for sustainable year-round forage production and grazing/browsing management in the Southern Region

Summary

Pasture-based goat production is becoming one of the important enterprises for livestock farmers in Alabama and neighboring states. However, most livestock farmers have not adopted sustainable forage programs and depend on hay and supplementary feedstuff during times of reduced forage availability. The goal of this project is to develop a comprehensive training program to increase the productivity, quality, and production duration as well as to improve management of existing pastures for sustainable livestock production. Project objectives are: 1) to develop comprehensive training curricula for year-round forage production and grazing/browsing management in the Southern Region; 2) to train field-level extension and technical-assistance personnel and lead farmers in year-round forage production and grazing/browsing management for the Southern Region. Tuskegee University and PadmaDal Memorial Foundation are collaborating in this project. Other key partners in the project are Alabama Natural Resources Conservation Service, Auburn University, Mississippi State University, Langston University, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Final draft of the training curricula in the form of a handbook is ready, and currently is in press for publication. An educational video is under development. Training date has been set up for March 26 to 28, 2013. Field-level extension and technical-assistance personnel and extension specialists serving the goat producers in different Southern States will participate in the training. Development of several field-level trainers and ready-to-use curricular materials are the expected results which will be evaluated using a set of evaluation tools.

Keywords: Training curricula (handbook), Field-level extension and technical-assistance personnel, Educational video, Training, Southern State

Objectives/Performance Targets

1) To develop comprehensive training curricula for year-round forage production and grazing/browsing management in the Southern Region
2) To train field-level extension and technical-assistance personnel and lead farmers in year-round forage production and grazing/browsing management for the Southern Region

Accomplishments/Milestones

The training curricula in the form of a handbook has been developed and finalized. Currently, this handbook is in press, and will be available for the training, which is scheduled in March 26-28, 2013. This handbook includes a wide range of topics relevant to year-round forage production and its sustainable management through appropriate grazing and browsing techniques. It also includes topics on predator management, disaster management, facilities (waterers, feeders, fencing, and shelter), browse species management, supplement feeding, weed management, soil conservation, health issues of goats on pasture, and economics of traditional versus year-round pasture based operation. Field-level extension and technical-assistance personnel and extension specialists, who are involved in serving the goat producers in different Southern States, have been invited to participate in the training. Most of the training materials and supplies are in place, and remaining few are under the process of procurement. An educational video (sustainable year-round forage production and grazing/browsing management) development is underway, and expected to be completed by August.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Objective1. To develop comprehensive training curricula for year-round forage production and grazing/browsing management in the Southern Region
The training handbook will be ready by March 20, 2013. This handbook will be used to train the field-level extension and technical-assistance personnel and extension specialists, who are serving the goat producers in the Southern Region. Each trainee will get this handbook to take with him or her so that it can be used to conduct similar training targeting the goat producers in his/her working areas. The educational video will be sent to the trainees when it is ready.

Objective 2. To train field-level extension and technical-assistance personnel and lead farmers in year-round forage production and grazing/browsing management for the Southern Region
Field-level extension and technical-assistance personnel and extension specialists from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Texas will be trained and equipped with the training handbook and educational video. These trainees are expected to conduct educational programs for goat producers in their working area after they complete the training by using the training handbook and educational video. Short-term impact of this training will be assessed by conducting the pre- and post-tests. Medium- and long-term impact of this training program will be monitored after the completion of the training.

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