Custer County Ag-Products Internet Marketing Project

2003 Annual Report for FW00-277

Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2000: $2,160.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2004
Region: Western
State: Colorado
Principal Investigator:

Custer County Ag-Products Internet Marketing Project

Summary

OBJECTIVES
Launch an Internet Web site devoted to marketing livestock and hay produced in Custer County.

SUMMARY
Custer County, Colo., is experiencing tremendous growth with many historical ranches being sold for development. This, combined with low cattle prices, has made it difficult to sustain agriculture. Because Custer County is relatively remote, marketing hay has been difficult. Livestock have been marketed through auction barns and over satellite auctions. The Custer County Stock Growers, a group that raises both hay and cattle, sought the SARE grant to help launch an Internet site that would help the producers market their products to a wider audience.

SPECIFIC RESULTS
Just as the Custer County ag products Internet marketing project was getting off the ground, the technical advisor resigned his position. Nearly a year passed before a new extension agent, Gary Hall, was hired, and the absence resulted in a period of inactivity. Many of the Web pages for the Internet site had been developed and were awaiting posting.

Although the pages were developed for many of the ranches in the West Mountain Valley, they were outdated, having been completed in 2001. So, updates are under construction. The pages – about 20 completed to date – consist of photographs, mostly pictures of livestock for sale, and narratives about the products for sale from each entity.

A host server and Web page name are being secured. Updates are being completed and new pages are being considered. In addition, a digital camera has been purchased and additional pictures taken for the pages.

The project has been extended until July 2003, at which time the Web pages will be posted, with regular updates anticipated.