Equipping Farmers with Drought Management Strategies through Multi- Agency Collaborative Education.
Extension Education
Alexandria Smith
Ag & Natural Resources Extension Agent
WVU Extension Service
Moorefield
Abstract
From the Summer through the Fall of 2024, West Virginia experienced a record-breaking drought, which led to the declaration of a state of emergency for most of the state. Producers spent a large portion of their time hauling water and feeding hay or grain as early as mid-June. The length and severity of the drought prompted farmers to take drastic measures and reduce livestock numbers or completely disperse their herds.
WVU Extension Agents from across the state provide outreach to livestock producers with a two-fold strategy. All stakeholders such as the USDA funding bodies, WV Department of Agriculture and WVU Extension were brought to the table, and a list of resources, and a plan was developed to promote Drought Management Education. In-person meetings across the state were hosted regionally and topics such as drought management techniques, stress management, federal assistance, and technical support from supporting agencies were covered.
In total, eleven (11) in-person meetings and a four-part webinar series were hosted, yielding more than 550 views/attendance, multiple articles, and three podcast episodes. The topics gave farmers tools to get through the current and future droughts.
Farming is a high stress career, and the addition of a severe drought had many farmers overwhelmed. Stress management is not a common topic that a farmer will attend, but at several meetings, a portion of the education was spent on stress management. The stress management was positively received and noted when several farmers called thanking us for reminding them they were not alone in this devastating weather event.
As a result of these meetings, the collaboration between agencies has seen an influx of new producers signing up through the USDA Farm Service Agency. WV Department of Agriculture was able to allocate 10 million dollars to producers who signed up for the programs and NRCS has increased the weather stations around the state for better monitoring. WVU Extension Agents are currently in the process of analyzing data from a post-program evaluation to determine the impact of the programming and how farms invested the government payments, and the effectiveness of the collaborating agencies.
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: Alexandria Smith, Daisy Daisy Bailey, Brandy Brabham, Jodi Richmond, Brad Smith, JJ Barrett, Evan Wilson, lisa Jones
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Smith, A. Ag & Natural Resources Extension Agent, WVU, West Virginia, 26836
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Daisy Bailey, D. Ag & Natural Resources Extension Agent, WVU, West Virginia,
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Brabham, B. Ag & Natural Resources Extension Agent, WVU, West Virginia, 25276
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Richmond, J. Ag & Natural Resources Extension Agent, Wvu, West Virginia, 24740
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Smith, B. Ag & Natural Resources Extension Agent, WVU, West Virginia, 26847
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Barrett, J. Ag & Natural Resources Extension Agent, WVU, West Virginia, 26351
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Wilson, E. Program Coordinator Ag and Natural Resources, WVU, West Virginia, 25550
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Jones, L. Program Coordinator Small Farm Center, WVU, West Virginia, 26506