Description
By the year 2060, the U.S. population is expected to reach 417 million, up from 319 million in 2014, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Following historical trends, the U.S. continues to produce more food with a decreasing amount of land. This is possible because of continuous research and innovation of advanced agricultural technologies. Educating farmers of agricultural best practices and the newest resources available to them to improve their operation is vital to improving overall agricultural production. To improve livestock forage and hay production practices, Dade Extension conducted a monthly forage management series. The series covered an entire year of forage management for pastures and hayfields. The goal was to provide timely, how-to information to farmers in advance to when they would need to act on their pastures and hay fields. This was accomplished through monthly face-to-face formal presentations by myself, the Dade County Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent, or fellow colleagues, and through to-the-point “cheat sheets” reflecting the main points of each presentation in which participants collected in a binder throughout the series. Evaluation data of this monthly Extension education program shows producer knowledge of important forage management practices increased as a result of the series. Evaluation data also showed intention of behavior change in producers’ forage management practices.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Improving Forage Production Practices of Livestock and Hay Producers
By the year 2060, the U.S. population is expected to reach 417 million, up from 319 million in 2014, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Following historical trends, the U.S. continues to produce more food with a decreasing amount of land. This is possible because of continuous research and innovation of advanced agricultural technologies. Educating farmers of agricultural best practices and the newest resources available to them to improve their operation is vital to improving overall agricultural production. To improve livestock forage and hay production practices, Dade Extension conducted a monthly forage management series. The series covered an entire year of forage management for pastures and hayfields. The goal was to provide timely, how-to information to farmers in advance to when they would need to act on their pastures and hay fields. This was accomplished through monthly face-to-face formal presentations by myself, the Dade County Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent, or fellow colleagues, and through to-the-point “cheat sheets” reflecting the main points of each presentation in which participants collected in a binder throughout the series. Evaluation data of this monthly Extension education program shows producer knowledge of important forage management practices increased as a result of the series. Evaluation data also showed intention of behavior change in producers’ forage management practices.
