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Educating Dairy Producers of Puerto Rico in Automatized Equipment

Extension Education

Suzika Pagán Riestra
Agricultural Extension Agent
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
Sabana Hoyos

Abstract

In Puerto Rico, dairy milk production represents the main agricultural enterprise. Producers are facing increases in feedstuff, electricity, among other input costs, while at the same time labor resources are decreasing. This has forced producers to become more efficient and technological. Innovators have adopted automatized systems in their dairies. However, most producers still need to understand how these new technologies work. Therefore, a field day (FD) to educate producers in automatized systems, like calf’s feeder (ACF), milking systems (AMS), supplement feeder (ASF) and manure collector (AMC) was organized. The field day provided a theoretical component where the basic functionality of the automatized equipment, advantages and considerations to take into account for adoption of the technologies mentioned were discussed. Also, there was a walk through the dairy with the producer to watch the equipment working while the producer shared experiences with the technologies. At the end of the educational activity a questionnaire was delivered to participants. When asked the participants about their knowledge previous to the field day related to ACF, 10% of the participants reported neutral, 30% reported a few knowledge, while no knowledge was 10%. For AMS, 20% reported neutral knowledge and 50% reported a few knowledge. In the case of ASF 30% reported neutral knowledge, and 40% a few knowledge. Lastly, knowledge related to AMC was reported neutral at 10%, 50% few knowledge, and 10% no knowledge. However, when asked about technologies after field day, an increase in knowledge was observed. For ACF, participants reported some knowledge (10%) and a lot of knowledge (90%). For AMS and ASF, it was reported some knowledge (30%) and a lot of knowledge was obtained (70%). In the case of AMC some knowledge (20%) and a lot of knowledge (80%) was obtained. In addition, 47% of the participants are willing to share what they learned with other people; 40% are willing to talk with their Extension Agent for more information. Therefore, the field day accomplished the goal of increasing the knowledge in automatized equipment for dairies, and that would help in the decision-making during adoption of such technologies by dairy producers.

Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC

This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.

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Authors: Suzika Pagán Riestra, Angélica Alvarado Narváez, Yomar Vélez Robles, Gabriela Soriano Varela
  1. Pagán Riestra, S. Agricultural Extension Agent, UPRM Agricultural Extension Service, Puerto Rico, 00688
  2. Alvarado Narváez, A. Agricultural Extension Agent, UPRM Agricultural Extension Service, Puerto Rico, 00685
  3. Vélez Robles, Y. Agricultural Extension Agent, UPRM Agricultural Extension Service, Puerto Rico, 00669
  4. Soriano Varela, G. Agricultural Extension Agent, UPRM Agricultural Extension Service, Puerto Rico, 00641