ZUNI INDIAN TRIBE EXTENSION AGRICULTURAL-4H YOUTH AGENT PROPOSAL

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: 3D GRANT
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0206706
• Grant No.: 2002-41580-01357
• Proposal No.: 2006-01203
• Project Start Date: Apr 1, 2002
• Project End Date: Mar 31, 2007
• Grant Year: 2006
• Program Code: [LP]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY
1620 STANDLEY DR ACADEMIC RESH A RM 110
LAS CRUCES,NM 88003-1239

Performing Department
EXTENSION ADMINISTRATION

Non Technical Summary
Waning of Zuni agriculture has led to numerous social ills. This project helps enhance environmental stewardship, agricultural profitability, and the health of Zuni culture by the example of positive choices.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

100%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
703	6099	3020	50%
806	6099	3020	50%

Knowledge Area
703 - Nutrition Education and Behavior; 806 - Youth Development;

Subject Of Investigation
6099 - People and communities, general/other;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;

Keywords

livestock/crop profitability

irrigation systems

collaboration

youth

sustainable agriculture

pest management

health/well being

Goals / Objectives
The objectives of this project are: 1) Zuni livestock producers will increase profitability of sheep, cattle and crop enterprise by learning and implementing sustainable livestock, range and resource management practices; 2) Zuni farmers will learn to improve and re-establish irrigation systems and develop skills for long-term use of these systems; 3) Zunis and Extension agents will work to identify needs and work to effect improvements; 4) Zuni youth will develop and learn basic life skills within their cultural framework to help them become productive citizens; 5) to demonstrate/recommend practices for sustainable agricultural systems 6) to set up and integrated pest managaement schedule; 7) to conduct educational programs for economic and social health and well being of Zuni families.

Project Methods
A collaborative approach is critical to avoid duplication of services. This is an opportunity rather than an impediment, because people from both the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Zuni Tribal Department of Natural Resources participate fully in the Zuni Extension Advisory process. Effective communication initiated in the advisory committee process has already fostered a spirit of cooperation that has transferred to other interactions.

Progress 04/01/02 to 03/31/07

Outputs
Veterinary Services: TheRural Area Veterinary Service (RAVS) was in Zuni for 11 days. Range Evaluation: Twenty-seven of ninety-eight units were first evaluated during 2006-2007. A few from the previous year were re-evaluated.

Impacts
Veterinary Services: RAVS has generated the economic benefit data each year for their extensive group. Extrapolating data for extra days of veterinary service this past year amounts to more than $110,000 of economic benefit to the residents of Zuni and the surrounding area, which is double the figure from previous years. Range Evaluation: The tribe is generating much need revenue. Protocols and paperwork for the new process have mostly been resolve so that the Range Technical Team can function smoothly. This savings in time will be supplanted by livestock owner appeals with changing conditions or different needs.

Publications

• No publications reported this period