Southern Colorado Ag and Range Newsletter
I S SU E
11 June 2011 Page 1
Dry Days of Summer Inside this Issue Message from Emily ................ 1 Drought Resources ............... 1-2 Know a Native ........................ 2 EVH-1 ................................ 3-4 Applications for Energy Audit and Feasibility Study Projects ......... 5 Animal Health Network ............ 5 Drought Grazing Strategies ...... 6 Ethanol Co-Products for Feed.... 7
This has been a busy spring with some great workshops! This summer and fall will be just as packed with great learning opportunities. I’m very excited to announce that I’ve secured CO GLCI grant funds to allow me to bring Kathy Voth and Kit Pharo to speak in Pueblo. See page 9 and 10 for more details on both events. The topic everyone is talking about is drought. In this newsletter I’ve listed resources to help with management decisions and outlined a few things you can do now to protect your rangelands from further damage. While the outlook may not be positive this year, there are management techniques that can mitigate damage to rangelands for the future. Best wishes,
Event Announcements ........ 8-11 Calendar of Events ................ 12 Office Hours: Monday—Friday 8 a.m.—5 p.m. (excluding holidays)
Emily Lockard Extension Agent Range and Natural Resources Management
Drought Resources
It is dry in Pueblo County, but that isn’t anything new. While the following resources aren’t new either, they can be helpful when CSU Extension making management decisions. Pueblo County CSU Extension Ag & Business Management Drought Resources 701 Court St., Suite C http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/ Pueblo, CO 81003 tranel/Drought%20Resources.htm The CSU Extension Ag & Business Management Drought Phone: Resources page has links to the following tools: (719) 583-6566 • “What To Do With My Cows” is a set of spreadsheets Fax: “designed to help cow-calf producers make more informed (719) 583-6582 decisions about managing their cattle during drought and other times of little or no feed.” http://pueblo.colostate.edu • “Breeding Cattle Liquidations Due To Drought: To Recognize or Not To Recognize Additional Capital Gains” All articles written by Emily Lockard unless otherwise indicated. • Using Partial Budgeting to Analyze Drought Management Strategies http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/abm/ abmdroughtstrategies.pdf Continued page 2 Emily Lockard is the Extension Agent for Range and Natural Resources Management in the Colorado State University Extension Pueblo County office. She can be reached at (719) 583-6566 or Emily.Lockard@colostate.edu. Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
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Southern Colorado Ag and Range Newsletter
Drought Continued from Page 1
The CSU Extension Drought Management Tools site includes some of the sites listed below that help explain our current weather conditions and make predictions for our area. NOAA— National Weather Service Forecast Office http://www.weather.gov/climate/ index.php?wfo=pub Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network http://www.cocorahs.org/State.aspx?state=CO US Drought Monitor http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html
Know a Native—Western wheatgrass Western wheatgrass, Pascopyrum smithii • Cool season perennial • Spreading rhizomes, sod former • Can reach 1-3 feet in height • Adapted to fine and very fine soils • Common in areas with 10-14 inches of annual precipitation and 1,000 to 9,000 ft in elevation. • Can tolerate saline and saline-sodic soils • 18% protein in May, declines to 4% by October • Digestible carbohydrates 40% in May to 50% in October • Well cured hay, cut late in the leaf stage will be 60% digestible. • Growth starts early spring, dormant in summer, will grow again in fall if soil moisture is adequate. • Good forage for livestock, fair for wildlife, cures well for winter forage. USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, Sources:
N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 1: 284.
Plant Species: From Montana Interagency Plant Materials Handbook By S. Smoliak, R.L. Ditterline, J.D. Scheetz, L.K. Holzworth, J.R. Sims, L.E. Wiesner, D.E. Baldridge, and G.L. Tibke http://animalrangeextension.montana.edu/articles/forage/species/grasses/Western-wheatgrass.htm Hart, R.H., O.M. Abdalla, D.H. Clark, M.B. Marshall, M.H. Hamid, J.A. Hager, and J.W. Waggoner, Jr. 1983. Quality of forage and cattle diets on the Wyoming High Plains. J. Range Manage. 36:46-51.
Stubbendieck, James, Stephan L. Hatch, and L.M. Landholt. North American Wildland Plants. Lincoln and London: University of Nebraska Press, 2003. Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
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Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1)
For media release www.colorado.gov/ag June 13, 2011
Southern Colorado Ag and Range Newsletter
Colorado Department of Agriculture FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EHV-1 Update “The encouraging news for us is that we have not seen any new confirmed cases in Colorado since May 20th, 2011 and we hope that trend continues but we still cannot let down our guard as we work to mitigate and control EHV-1.” --Dr. Keith Roehr, Colorado State Veterinarian LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Colorado Department of Agriculture continues to investigate the spread of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) in the state. As of 6/13/2011: • 9 confirmed cases of horses with EHV-1 • Two horses, which tested positive for EHV-1, were euthanized after showing severe neurological signs associated with the disease. • 22 suspect cases. NOTE: Suspect cases are those horses that are believed to have been exposed to EHV-1, show consistent clinical signs of the disease, and have confirmatory tests pending OR are horses showing clinical signs and located in a quarantined facility with a horse confirmed to have EHV-1 in which case, the decision to test will be made by the horse owner and their veterinarian. Release of the quarantined facilities will require EHV-1 testing to assure freedom of the disease. • 12 quarantine and hold orders have been issued in 8 counties (Bent, Boulder, Garfield, Gunnison, Larimer, Mesa, Morgan, & Weld) The Department is not making recommendations concerning the cancellation of events but reminds horse owners and event organizers that static EHV-1 case numbers do not signify the end of the spread of EHV-1. There are many factors to consider when deciding whether to attend or host an event including the “herd health” of the incoming horses, the history of exposure, travel history of the horses, the management’s health requirements for the horses entered in the event, the type of event, how the horses will be housed, the level of contact that the public has to the horses, and the degree to which horse equipment and tack will be shared. There are specific disease prevention practices or biosecurity procedures that can address each of these risk factors. The University of California, Davis has produced an informative white paper on EHV-1, “Awakening the Dormant Dragon: Neurological Form of Equine Herpesvirus-1,” that horse owners and event organizers may find especially useful in developing biosecurity practices to reduce risk of EHV-1 infection and other equine infectious diseases: http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ceh/docs/EHV-1WhitePaper.pdf It is also recommended that all people within the horse industry regularly visit CDA’s website at www.colorado.gov/ag for the latest information and resources. Another vital resource for horse owners is their private practicing veterinarian. Their advice will be invaluable for horse health and to reduce the risk of EHV-1 and other equine diseases. BACKGROUND Facts about EHV-1 Vaccines The common vaccines available for EHV-1 immunization do not protect against the neurological form of EHV-1 disease which is commonly called equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM). These immunizations do protect against the respiratory and abortion forms of the disease. The EHV-1 vaccines are thought to reduce the shedding of the virus and may decrease the amount of circulating virus in the system of infected horses. So, vaccinations prior to infection may help reduce the severity of an outbreak. In the face of an EHV-1 outbreak, the value of vaccinating EHV-1 affected horses or exposed horses is questionable and may be detrimental to the horse. When an EHV-1 outbreak occurs, it may be helpful to give an EHV-1 booster immunization in a previously vaccinated, unexposed horse. Continued page 4 Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
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EHV-1 Continued from Page 3
Southern Colorado Ag and Range Newsletter
Consult with your veterinarian to determine the best vaccination and treatment strategy for your horses in your particular situation. New Travel Requirements for Horses Entering Colorado Standard requirements for horses entering Colorado include a health certificate issued within 30 days of their arrival and a negative Coggins test within 12 months. The new requirement consists of a permit to enter the state. Horse owners who wish to bring their horse into Colorado must first call their veterinarian. That veterinarian can then contact the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s State Veterinarian’s Office at (303) 239-4161 and request a permit number. That number would then be included on the health certificate. Additional Travel Tips for Horse Owners Traveling To or From Colorado • Contact the State Veterinarian’s Office of the destination state to find out if travel requirements have changed for that state. • Call organizers of the event to see if they have new health requirements or if it has been cancelled. • If traveling, practice appropriate biosecurity measures. Biosecurity tips may be found at www.colorado.gov/ag. • Isolate any new animals and those returning to the home premises for three weeks when possible. • Use separate water, feed supplies and equipment. • Continue to monitor the CDA webpage at www.colorado.gov/ag for further information to aid in the decision making for transporting horses. If your horse attended the Ogden, Utah event: CDA encourages all horse owners who attended the Ogden, UT event to notify their veterinarian and isolate and monitor their horses for clinical signs of the disease. These horses should have their temperature taken twice a day. Horses with elevated temperatures can be sampled by a veterinarian to analyze whether their horse is shedding EHV-1. Individual horse and barn bio-security is very important. Some horses may not show signs of the disease but may still be a carrier. Those owners are also encouraged to restrict movement of their horses. General Disease Information EHV-1 is not transmissible to people; it can be a serious equine disease that can cause respiratory and neurological clinical signs; it can even result in death. The most common way for EHV-1 to spread is by direct horse-to-horse contact. It can also be spread by contaminated tack, equipment, and people’s clothing. In addition, the virus can be spread through aerosols (airborne) for a limited distance. Symptoms include fever, decreased coordination, nasal discharge, urine dribbling, loss of tail tone, hind limb weakness, leaning against a wall or fence to maintain balance, lethargy, and the inability to rise. While there is no cure, the symptoms of the disease may be treatable. Horse owners should isolate any sick horses and immediately contact their veterinarian. Any individual horse with clinical signs consistent with neurological EHV-1 infection should be removed immediately from the area and placed in a separate enclosure for isolation. Additional resources can be found at www.colorado.gov/ag. The Department has received numerous calls from veterinarians, horse owners and media. To help facilitate a timely response, please see the following list. 1. If veterinarians or horse owners have questions about the disease, testing, or other aspects of the investigation: a. Contact your local veterinarian b. Dr. Kate Anderson, 303-239-4161, Kate.Anderson@ag.state.co.us c. Dr. Carl Heckendorf, 303-239-4161, Carl.Heckendorf@ag.state.co.us 2. If you are a media outlet and would like to set up an interview: contact Christi Lightcap, 303-239-4190, Christi.Lightcap@ag.state.co.us.
Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
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Applications Being Accepted for Grants for Energy Audit and Feasibility Study Projects
Southern Colorado Ag and Range Newsletter
DENVER, CO – Agricultural producers or rural small businesses interested in conducting an energy improvements audit or a feasibility study of renewable energy systems should consider applying for a grant through the USDA Rural Development Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP). Since the inception of this program in 2003, more than 6,000 local businesses have created jobs and made energy efficiency improvements in rural areas nationwide. Energy Audit Grants up to $100,000 are awarded on a competitive basis. Recipients are required to pay at least 25% of the cost of the audit. This type of assistance typically allows agriculture producers and rural small businesses the opportunity to become more energy efficient through the use of renewable technologies. In Fiscal Year 2010, La Plata Electric Association was awarded a $100,000 Energy Audit Grant to further their efforts in helping members “save their energy.” The funds were designated to assist rural small businesses, including irrigators, with energy audits and renewable energy development. USDA Rural Development can also help with grant funds for Feasibility Studies. Grants can be up to $50,000, are nationally competitive, and can be used to fund up to 25% of the total eligible cost of the study. Agricultural producers, including farmers and ranchers, who gain 50% or more of their gross income from the agricultural operations are eligible. Additionally, small businesses located in a rural area and rural electric cooperatives may be eligible to apply. Some examples of eligible feasibility studies for renewable energy systems include projects that will produce energy from wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydro power and hydrogen-based sources. In Fiscal Year 2010, Vagabond Community Partners, LLC received a $1,500 grant to evaluate the feasibility of installing a 25kW biomass unit for water heating and powering some combination of the existing buildings at Vagabond Ranch located outside of Granby, CO. Applications for both of these grant programs, Energy Audit and/or Feasibility Studies, are due on June 30, 2011. For information on how to apply for assistance, contact your local office in Colorado at www.rurdev.usda.gov/co. You can also refer to the April 14, 2011 edition of the Federal Register, http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2011/pdf/2011-8456.pdf for assistance. USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.
Animal Health Network As I mentioned in a previous newsletter, I have become involved in the Animal Health Network. When an animal health concern such as the recent EHV-1 outbreak occurs, I will send the stores listed below announcements from the Colorado State Vet’s Office. These stores have agreed to post this information. The hope is that this will get important animal health information out to more people in a timely manner. If you would like to learn more about the Animal Health Network you can go to http://animalhealthnetwork.org/. The following feed/general stores are participating in the Animal Health Network. Sweeny’s Feed Mill: 403 E. 4th St., Pueblo and 1811 Santa Fe Dr., Pueblo Sweeny’s Feed West: 621 E. Enterprise Dr., Pueblo West Beulah General Store: 8869 Grand Ave., Beulah Big R: 1020 Bonforte Blvd., Pueblo Feel free to contact me with questions about this new program. Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
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Grazing Strategies During Drought
Southern Colorado Ag and Range Newsletter
The following are tips and suggestions for reducing drought related impact on the land. While we can’t control the weather we can work with what we have to minimize future problems. Feeding hay or supplementing? If you are going to feed or supplement, you have a few options to reduce negative impacts on drought stricken plants. If you cannot remove livestock from pasture or rangeland, you can establish a smaller sacrifice area. While this area will be damaged and not usable as grazing land for the rest of the year, if not longer, it will reduce wider negative impact. If you must keep your livestock on pasture or rangeland, move the place you are feeding them every few days, if not daily. This will reduce prolonged and repeated animal impact on struggling plants. Keeping livestock in one place during drought can cause too much impact on plants by opening up the crown and weakening the plant. What about weeds and poisonous plants? Did you have problems before the drought or are weeds and poisonous plants more of a problem as a result of the drought? While there may be confounding issues contributing to individual weed or poisonous plant issues, drought can intensify these issues and if the area is grazed too hard weeds and poisonous plants can become a larger problem after drought. Remember this as you create and implement grazing plans during a drought. Were some areas grazed harder last year? Be cautious on areas that had greater livestock impact in previous years as these plants may need more resources and time to recover compared to areas that were grazed lightly. During a normal precipitation year grazing heavily or even severely won’t affect the plants if only done once, but plants will be negatively impacted if they can’t recover due to drought or if livestock are brought back to the area before plants have had time to recover. What about when plants are dormant vs actively growing? When plants have gone dormant, they can withstand heavier grazing. This is because they aren’t constantly attempting to re-grow what has been grazed. Keep this in mind because as the year progresses you may be able to graze when plants have gone dormant. The plants most stressed by drought will be those that are grazed during the growing season or too soon after much needed rain. This is because they were unable to recover from the stress of a lack of moisture. Beware of grazing even dormant plants too much. Maintain enough plant material and litter on the ground to keep soil erosion to a minimum. If plants are growing but stressed, rotate more frequently. You will need to be particularly aware of how much recovery time is necessary if the plants are stressed. Remember, recovery time may be much longer than usual in a prolonged drought. You have a few options on how you manage your livestock, but what can you do to reduce the amount of forage you need to support your livestock? Can you graze elsewhere or feed something else? With less production you will either need more acreage or another location. Irrigated pasture can give you more grazing when non irrigated sites are less productive. Moving livestock to another location is another option that should be considered. Factsheet no. 1.626 “Alternative Feeds for Cattle During Drought” found at http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ pubs/pubs.html can also be a helpful resource. Culling - Reducing numbers or selling off replacements you may have kept in wetter years could be a good option. Be sure to do the cost analysis mentioned below. Consider the cost of each option, especially reducing numbers. Help with cost analysis and other drought resources can be found on the Drought Management page of the CSU Extension Agriculture and Business Management website at http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/tranel/ Drought%20Resources.htm or by contacting your local Extension Office. Keeping drought related damage to your land at a minimum in times of drought will reduce the lasting affects of drought in the future and help you maintain more productive pastures or rangelands. Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
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Using Ethanol Co-Products for Beef Cattle Feed
Southern Colorado Ag and Range Newsletter
by Marvin Reynolds, County Director, CSU Extension/Pueblo County
For the last several years the ethanol industry has produced oil that can be used for vehicles and equipment and co-products that can be used for feed. These co-products offer the cattle industry a chance to reduce feed costs without hurting performance. The majority of plants in the U.S. use a dry milling process to produce ethanol from corn. The corn is cleaned, ground with water and enzymes then added to the corn to create a mash. The mash is cooked and sterilized. The mash is fermented to separate the ethanol, carbon dioxide and the residual grain particles. Distillation removes the ethanol. The remainder of the grain is centrifuged to remove as much liquid as possible. Dry milling co-products start with condensed distiller’s soluble (CDS), or syrup. The remaining solid fraction is called wet distiller’s grains (WDG). The WDG may be sold as livestock feed or dehydrated and sold as dried distiller’s grain (DDG). The CDS, WDG and DDG can be reformatted into different feeds. If the name of the co-product you consider feeding is different, make sure you know the necessary information to safely feed it. One of the first challenges is to determine the feed value or nutrient content of the coproduct. The nutrient content can be highly variable. Distiller’s grains with or without soluble are a medium protein feed. They can be fed as a replacement for other protein sources (such as soybean meal, urea or Sunflower meal, etc.) in beef cattle diets. Kansas and Iowa research indicates that feeding distiller’s grains at or above 40% of the diet dry matter may reduce performance and efficiency of gain and may reduce carcass quality when compared to lower levels. Table 1 and 2 show the nutrient content and feed value of some common corn ethanol co-products. Table 1. Nutrient concentrations for corn co-products expressed on a dry matter basis CDS WDG DDG Dry Matter (DM), %
30-50
25-35
88-90
Crude Protein (CP), %
20-30
30-35
25-35
50
45-53
40-50
9-15
8-12
8-10
10-23
30-5-
40-44
75-120
70-110
77-88
Net energy for maintenance (Nem), Mcal/lb
1.00-1.15
0.90-1.10
0.89-1.00
Net energy for gain (Neg), Mcal/lb
0.80-0.93
0.70-0.80
0.67-0.70
Calcium, %
0.03-0.17
0.02-0.03
0.11-0.20
1.3-1.45
0.5-0.8
0.41-0.80
Degradable intake protein (DIP), % of CP Fat, % Neutral detergent fiber (NDF), % Total digestible nutrients (TDN), %
Phosphorus, %
Adapted from the National Research Council and industry publications Table 2. Maximum inclusion rate fo rates of co-products for different cattle types Weight range Cattle Type CDS WDG DDG (lb) Growing calf 500 - 700 4.0-6.0 10-12 3.0-3.5 Finishing steer 900 - 1200 7.5-10 15-20 4.5-6.0 Cow 1200 - 1500 8-10 16-20 5.0-7.0 Assuming maximum inclusion rate is 20% of dry matter intaker; WDG, 30%, DDG, 90% DM. Assuming maximum inclusion rate is 10% of dry matter intake; CDS, 30% DM. Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
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Event Announcements
Southern Colorado Ag and Range Newsletter
Arkansas River Watershed Invasive Plant Partnership
3rd Annual ARKWIPP Conference Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Restoration Approaches for Tamarisk Control Location: Date: Time: Cost:
Pueblo West at the Colorado Rural Water Association 176 W. Palmer Lake Drive, Pueblo West, CO Wednesday, July 27, 2011 9:30 a.m.— 3:30 p.m. $10/per person (to cover lunch and presenter fees *Registration is requested by July 22, 2011
AGENDA 9:30 a.m. 10:00 10:15
Registration Introductions Biocontrol for Tamarisk and Russian Knapweed—hire them to do your dirty work
Dr. Dan Bean, Colorado Department of Agriculture 11:00 Post Beetle Restoration—restoration strategies following successful Biocontrol Dr. Anna Sher, Denver University (tentative) 12:00 p.m. Lunch provided 12:45 Biocontrol Success on the Western Slope of Colorado Bill Cooper, Tamarisk Coalition 1:15 Arkansas Basin Tamarisk Projects ARKWIPP Partners 2:15 Break 2:30 NPDES Update—EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System-this permitting policy will potentially affect uses of aquatic labeled herbicides in Colorado
3:00 3:30
JR Philips, Fremont County Weed Control Herbicide Updates—updates on herbicides labeled for invasive weed control Rick Roehm, Helena Chemical Adjourn For Conference information call 719-383-5780 For Registration information call 719-583-6566
Arkansas River Watershed Invasive Plant Partnership—ARKWIPP www.arkwipp.org Planning Committee: CO State Forest Service, Rocky Mtn. Bird Observatory, CO Division of Wildlife, Natural Resources Conservation Service, CSU Extension Pueblo Co., Southeastern CO Water Conservancy District, The Nature Conservancy, CO Dept. of Agriculture, Tamarisk Coalition, Fremont Co. Weed Control Sponsored By: Rocky Mtn. Bird Observatory and Helena Chemical
Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
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Event Announcements
Southern Colorado Ag and Range Newsletter
Controlling Weeds with Livestock and Planning for Drought Saturday, August 6, 2011 9:30 a.m.—2:30 p.m. Lunch included! 9:30– noon: Kathy Voth, Livestock for Landscapes
Teaching Cattle to Eat Weeds • Learn the behavioral science behind why livestock avoid weeds and the training process. You will learn the individual training steps. You will also learn what we know about using our new tool (effectiveness, animal health and productivity, economics, etc.).
• Weed-eating cows aren’t limited to traditional forages. Economist John Morley estimated that some producers could have as much as 43% more forage.
• Using Kathy’s process a cattle producer can teach cows to eat weeds in as little as 10 hours over 10 days and then sit back and relax while the cows get to work. A small group of trainees will teach their calves and herd mates to eat weeds, creating a weed eating army in the course of one grazing season.
Noon-1 p.m. Lunch 1-2:30 p.m.: Dr. Casey Matney, Regional Range CSU Extension Specialist, NE CO
Planning for Drought: Rangeland Management and Grazing • How to plan for drought now and in the future. • Techniques for dealing with drought and what to do after drought to protect your land from long term damage. Where: Pueblo County Conference Room 1001 North Santa Fe Ave., Pueblo, CO 81003 Register by Friday, July 29th, Cost is $10/ person, $15/ couple Bring/ mail check or cash to CSU Extension—Pueblo County 701 Court St., Ste C Pueblo, CO 81003
Funded with a grant from:
No payments will be taken at the door Call (719) 583-6566 for more information Monthly meetings: Pueblo County Stockmen’s Association Meets the first Thursday of each month at Mesa Vet Clinic at 7:30 p.m. Turkey Creek Conservation District meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month, Time: 2:30 p.m. Location: 200 S. Santa Fe Ave., 4th floor, Call: (719) 543-8386 Ext. 116 for details South Pueblo Conservation District meets the 3rd Thursday of every month, Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: 200 S. Santa Fe Ave., 4th floor, Call: (719) 543-8386 Ext. 3 for details Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
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Event Announcements
Southern Colorado Ag and Range Newsletter
Low Input Sustainable Grazing Workshop
Moving from Production to Profit in Ranching Farmers and ranchers in North America are more productive than ever before – but it is not showing up on their bottom line. Profit is not the only thing that is deteriorating. The land we are using is also deteriorating (losing organic matter and fertility). High-production agriculture is NOT sustainable – but no one wants to address this issue. Kit Pharo will challenge ranchers to think outside the box (paradigm) they have put themselves in. He will provide some time-tested, no-nonsense information that can readily and easily be put to use. Kit will start out by discussing the difference between being production-driven and being profit-driven. There is a BIG difference! He will emphasize that the only way for agriculture to be sustainable is for it to be profitable and enjoyable. Next, Kit will discuss the Three Keys to making the most efficient use of your available forage resources. They are: • Planned Rotational Grazing • Matching Your Production Cycle (calving, weaning, etc.) to fit your Available Forage Resources • Matching Cow Size and Type to fit your Available Forage Resources When: 10 a.m.—2 p.m., Saturday, October 8, 2011 Lunch included! Where: Pueblo County Conference Room 1001 North Santa Fe Ave., Pueblo, CO 81003 Registration/Cost: Due Friday, September 30th $10/ person, $15/ couple Bring/mail check or cash to: CSU Extension—Pueblo County 701 Court St., Ste C Pueblo, CO 81003 No payments will be taken at the door
Funded with a grant from:
For questions or more information, please call (719)583-6566 NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL PLAN • 50% Cost Share is available to property owners who apply and are afflicted with a species of
weed listed on the Colorado Noxious Weed A or B List. • Turkey Creek Conservation District highlights their role in Pueblo County’s Noxious Weed
Control Program. • User friendly method of making this cost share an easy reality for landowners. • Contact Turkey Creek Conservation District at 719-543-8386 ext. 116 or email:
info@puebloweeds.com
www.puebloweeds.com Colorado State University, U.S. Departmentwebsite: of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
2011 Pueblo County Building Farmers and Ranchers Program Building Capacity Building Community
Program Lineup Dinner 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Presentations 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Wed, Oct 26 – “Business Planning and Farmers’/ Ranchers’ Perspectives” Wed, Nov 2 – “Activation Energy” and “Intro to Local Resources” Wed, Nov 9 – “Wholesale and Institutional Marketing: Farm to School, Restaurants, and Stores” Wed, Nov 16 – “Direct Marketing: Roadside Stands, CSA, Farmers Markets” Wed, Nov 23 – “Alternative Livestock Business” and “Budgeting and Planning Software Applications” Wed, Nov 30 – “Succeeding as a Livestock Producer” and “Labor, Equipment, Land Leasing, and Federal Programs” Wed, Dec 7 and Dec 14 – Presentation of Class Participant Business Plans* *Certificates of completion are awarded after presentation of business plan. Those with certificates of completion may apply in December to the 2012 mentorship program. Application and Registration Application and registration forms are available online at: http://pueblo.colostate.edu or request at (719) 583-6566 Deadline for Applications: Friday, October 14, 2011 for full consideration.
Farmers and Ranchers Teaching Farmers and Ranchers Cost **Registration Limited to 30** New and Int Farmers and Ranchers - $160 for all 8 sessions ($240 for 2 with one set of handouts) Experienced Farmers and Ranchers - $80 for all 8 sessions or $25 á la carte
All classes held at Applicants will receive notice of receipt.
Farmers and Ranchers of all levels of experience are encouraged to participate!
Pueblo County CSU Extension Office 701 Court St., Suite C (Second floor) Call Emily Lockard with questions (719) 583-6566
This material is based upon work supported by USDA/CSREES under Award Number 2007-49200-03892. CSU Extension programs are available to all without discrimination
Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pueblo County cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
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Calendar of Events
Southern Colorado Ag and Range Newsletter
June Thursday, June 30th 9:30 a.m.-3:30/4 p.m. in La Junta. June 28 in Fort Morgan. Colorado Pollinator Conservation Planning Short Course Register by contacting Patty Knupp at (719) 543-6639, ext. 112 or patty.knupp@co.usda.gov July Friday, July 8 to Saturday July 16 Pueblo County Fair at the Colorado State Fairgrounds Saturday, July 9 Pueblo County Stockmen’s Ranch Rodeo. Location Colorado State Fairgrounds. Free to attend, $250 to enter, entry deadline July 5th. Call Dan Hendricks at (719) 947-3579 for more information. Saturdays, July 9, 16, and 23, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., Native Plant Master-Session 3, Ed Roland and Penny Bieber, YMCA Camp Jackson, $90 for non-volunteer option, $50 for volunteer option, sign up by noon the Friday before the start date (7/1). Must have minimum of 5 participants to hold class. Call CSU Extension at (719) 583-6566 for more information. Tuesday, July 12, 7-9 pm, Colorado Update, Diagnosing Sprinkler Problems, Dr. Tony Koski. Location: CSU Extension-Pueblo County, $2.00 per person, sign up by noon the day before (7/11), no money taken at the door. Must have a minimum of 5 participants to hold class. Call CSU Extension at (719) 583-6566 for more information. Wednesday, July 27 9:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m. Arkansas River Watershed Invasive Plant Partnership (ARKWIPP) 3rd Annual ARKWIPP Conference: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Restoration Approaches for Tamarisk Control Pueblo West at the Colorado Rural Water Association, 176 W. Palmer Lake Dr., Pueblo West, CO. Cost/Registration: $10/ person, register by July 22nd. Bring check or cash to CSU Extension at 701 Court St., Ste. C, Pueblo, CO 81003. For registration questions call (719) 583-6566. For more information on the conference, please call (719) 383-5780. Thursday, July 28 9 a.m.—2 p.m. ARKWIPP Conference Tamarisk Leaf Beetle Monitoring Workshop, Meet at 176 W. Palmer Lake Dr., Pueblo West, CO. We will meet in the Colorado Rural Water Association parking lot at 9 a.m. and then travel to a field training location. For more information and to reserve a space at training, please contact Bill Cooper at (970)256-7400 or wcooper@tamariskcoalition.org. More info about the TC’s tamarisk leaf beetle monitoring program is at http://tamariskcoalition.org/BeetleMonitoring.html August Saturday, August 6 10 a.m.—2 p.m. Controlling Weeds with Livestock and Planning for Drought. Kathy Voth, Teaching Cattle to Eat Weeds and Dr. Casey Matney, Planning for Drought. Pueblo County Conference Room 1001 North Santa Fe Ave., Pueblo, CO 81003. Mail/bring cash or check to CSU Extension at 701 Court St., Ste C, Pueblo CO, 81003. Registration/cost: $10/ person, $15/ couple, register by July 29th. Call (719) 583-6566 for more information. October Saturday, October 8 Kit Pharo, Moving From Production to Profit. Location: Pueblo County Conference Room, 1001 N. Santa Fe Ave Registration/cost: $10/person, $15 couple (lunch included), register by September 30th. Mail/bring check or cash to CSU Extension 701 Court St., Ste C Pueblo, CO 81003. Call (719) 583-6566 for more information. Applications Due October 14, 2011 and Classes Start October 26, 2011, Building Farmer and Rancher Program Learn from local experts and create a business plan. Dinner included! Location: Pueblo CSU Extension Office, 701 Court St., Suite C. Contact: Emily Lockard (719) 583 -6566 Download an application from our website http://pueblo.colostate.edu and check us out on facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Colorado-Building-Farmers/220025304677481 Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture andmeetings Pueblo County cooperating. are available to all without discrimination. Monthly listed onExtension page programs 9