Farm Income and Profitability is down resulting from lost income from tobacco production. Most farm families work full time off the farm and try to continue their agriculture enterprises for a major source of income. Extension administered the Grayson County Cattlemen Association’s Livestock Handling Facilities grant program. Phase I money provided assistance to beef and dairy producers to install handling facilities for their operations that would enable them to do health and management practices to their livestock without assistance beyond the family labor force. A more valuable animal is ready for sale and the producer receives increased profit opportunities from their livestock enterprise. The Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent provided education and planning for 544 farmers interested in this program. Two hundred ninety two (292) farmers completed their plan which was viewed and photographed during an on-farm visit by the Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent. All of these producers completed the Beef Quality Assurance course and testing requirement conducted by the Ag NR Agent. Extension staff provided special training and assistance to 3 producers who had reading problems so they could complete the BQA course.
Upon completion, producers were surveyed by mail and random personal interviews about the use of the facility. Safety and ease of administering health practices were immediate benefits cited. Older producers were pleased that they could work their livestock with their physical limitations. Producers reported plans for expanding and adding more production units to their herds. Three hundred sixteen (316) producers invested $335,215 of their own money to match the grant money of $335,215. From farm visits and interviews, Extension learned that producers were actually investing about 3 to 1 of the grant money. Many reported tremendous satisfaction with implementing livestock health and management practices with their systems and are responding to their BQA training. Producers report that they are using it as a marketing tool to receive additional income to their livestock enterprise. These 316 producers will market 9,360 calves with an increased value of $45 per head for an additional return of $421,200 to management.