COSHOCTON COUNTY FORAGE AND PASTURE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Extension Education
David Marrison
Professor
The Ohio State University
Coshocton
Abstract
The development of county-based Extension programs are tied closely to local needs assessments and to the commodities raised by producers. This educational program emphasis was undertaken by the Educator after a program review was completed in 2018-2019. The 2017 Census of Agriculture reports that 68,997 acres or 49.7% of the cropland in Coshocton County, Ohio is dedicated to pasture or forage production. The 2018-2019 Coshocton County Needs Assessment also revealed the top educational need as expressed by producers was forage, hay & pasture management. Sixty-five percent (65.5%) of the respondents to the survey listed this area as the top educational need. To help address this need, the Educator has worked to increase the programming emphasis in forage production. Two forage quality workshops have been held in which 35 producers attended. As a result, 100% of attendees reported they felt more confident on how to take a forage sample and 81.3% reported they felt more confident on understanding the results of the test. Only 11.8% reported taking a forage sample of their hay in 2019. Of which, 50% reported they would test their hay in the upcoming year. As a result of the program, the Educator allocated program money to conduct free forage testing for area farmers. Thirty-two forage samples were taken in 2019-2020 with individual instruction letters written to each producer. Additionally, a county forage quality report was published. The Educator also continued the long-standing tradition of holding summer pasture walks in conjunction with the Coshocton Soil and Water Conservation District and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Since 2019, four pasture walks were held in which 112 producers attended. Additionally, a weekly electronic County Agricultural & Natural Resources newsletter has been established as another avenue to share forage education. Future plans include offering a forage field day and expanding the forage testing program.
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: D. L. Marrison
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Marrison, D. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, Ohio, 43812