Progress 04/01/06 to 03/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The growth of our 4-H / Youth program has been slow and steady with our office support. With a 4-H club it is best to take the 4-H motto "learn by doing" we have made it our goal to provide resources to each club while allowing them to find their own way to flourish. Outputs include coordinating a livestock Quality Assurance meeting for livestock projects, newsletters of upcoming 4-H workshops in their respective county, phone call reminders and sending interested leaders to project workshops. The FRTEP project provides full sets of project manuals, providing starter project kits (livestock and leather) and many resource books related to beef, sheep, horses, goat, rabbits, and dogs. The most important output we deliver is encouragement to let them know they are on the right path. Each club is progressing well and has members that are taking on additional challenges of breeding projects and Jr. Leadership roles. We have coordinated with local programs/ individuals implementing the following youth events: 2 horsemanship clinics, the "NO Meth youth rodeo summer series, 2 -one day youth rodeos, 2 demo days of basic horse courses at Northern Cheyenne Tribal School. All of these events were supported by flyers, or with fun fact learning pages on horsemanship and our presence to lend a hand where needed. The agricultural component of the Northern Cheyenne FRTEP project utilized newsletters, ranch visits and phone contacts to notify, recruit and disseminate information to our clientele. The program tries to send out newsletters monthly discussing pertinent issues by which we report outcomes or opportunities to our producers. The data compiled for theTrich project is currently being summarized for a poster and brochures. These documents will illustrate the projects outcomes since inception in 2004. Initially producers were contacted and invited to attend a workshop regarding the disease. Area veterinarians and animal health suppliers provided two hours of education to area producers. The agent followed up with ranch contacts for folks unable to attend the initial training. Workshop attendees and our entire producer base received copies of the journal article authored by J.A. Schnackel, D.V.M. 1989 titled Trichomonas foetus- Vaccine Immunogenicity Trial. Reseeding Russian knapweed infested cropland was a primary effort of the Northern Cheyenne project. Outputs associated with this activity included identifying infested land and cooperating producers. Individualized management protocols were developed for each tract of land. Protocols included a timeline and critical processes to ensure seeding success. Once we achieved 330 acres of various species and stages of development. The FRTEP project held a public workshop to educate USDA NRCS employees, Private Pesticide Applicators, landowners, ranchers and Tribal land managers. More than 20 people attended the training from the reservation and surrounding region. The workshop trained participants to identify various noxious weeds, outlined the pros and cons of reseeding as a management tool. Participants explored results of various grass species and mixes. PARTICIPANTS: Chief Dull Knife College FSA Reservation Ag Producers MSU Animal and Range Specialists TARGET AUDIENCES: The Northern Cheyenne Reservation, located in the southern most portions of Rosebud and Big Horn counties of Montana, is 454,000 acres of which 85% is owned by the tribe as an entity. Allotted lands make up an additional 10-12%. The remaining 3% is in fee status with only eight non-Cheyenne entities owning fee land. The Cheyenne Reservation has approximately 5,500 residents. An estimated 10,000 people reside in the bordering service area of Rosebud and Big Horn Counties. The Cheyenne tribal enrollment shows that 53% of the Northern Cheyenne population is nineteen years of age or younger. These figures indicate that an increasing number of Cheyenne will depend upon the Reservations natural resource base directly and indirectly. These young people attend one of the four K-12 schools in our area. The reservation extension program provides enrichment activities primarily with the two reservation school systems in Lame Deer and Busby. The Northern Cheyenne Reservation is predominantly used for agriculture production consisting of cow calf producers, hay producers and small scale grain producers. The tribe possesses a substantial timber base and forestry program however the local tribally owned sawmill is no longer in business. The Northern Cheyenne Reservation has nearly 12,000 potentially irrigable acres in the Tongue River Basin. Two hundred and forty acres are being irrigated, yet the Tribe owns 20,000 acre feet of water in the Tongue River Reservoir. The Northern Cheyenne Reservation has substantial potential for expanding irrigated crop production. The expensive equipment and input costs associated with irrigated farming preclude most Cheyenne from developing their lands. The Northern Cheyenne uplands are a mosaic of Ponderosa pine forest and rangeland. The uplands are currently used by around 40 ranchers to run cow-calf pairs and yearlings. Drought conditions over the last ten years have forced the Tribe to reduce stocking rates by about 25%. The reservation currently stocks about 7500 mother cows compared to nearly 10,000 head previously. Cheyenne ranchers have been the primary target audience for the reservation extension project. Ranching is the dominant private industry on our reservation generating $600,000 in grazing rentals for the tribe and allottees. The FRTEP project will focus specifically on agriculture and youth programming because our Tribal College extension office is focused on community and economic development. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
We have two clubs that are stabilized and perennially participating in county 4-H. Membership has nearly tripled and each year at least one member has earned awards in the market animal class with each member selling market ready hogs after the fair. Some have earned state awards in leather craft and wood working. They have been invited to perform native dancing for the MT 4-H alumni council and tribal council. The FRTEP agent has advised 9 youth through the USDA youth loan program since inception, receiving $68,500. He has cooperated with three land owners to rehabilitate 450 acres of infested and abandoned cropland. Over the past 5 years we have identified a need and designed and implemented restoration projects. 120 acres were new projects starting in 2007 and were new seedings in 2008. The knapweed was reduced by 95% while production was increased tremendously. In 2007, 380 acres of fully established improved grasslands were utilized as grass hay. These formerly abandoned fields produced 488 ton of dryland hay or about $29,000 ($118 per acre). In 2008 these 380 acres of established seeding produced 620 ton of grass hay ($62,000 in hay or $163/acre.) The 120 acres of new seeding for 2008 established at 98 % and will be harvestable in 2009. The competitive herbicide resistant restored pastures require 1/3 less herbicide to maintain. Programs previously utilized were the Livestock Assistance Program, the Livestock Compensation Program. After five years of persistent education and participation, the Trichomonas Fetus project has tested 24,881 cows with 3,394 open. Nearly all of these open cows were sold as non-producers saving these ranchers an estimated $170 each in wasted winter feed costs; a total savings of $576,980. These non-fertile females are no longer on the reservation to harbor the disease. We have raised the female pregnancy rate by 2.7% for four years which equates to 621additional females retained in the herd. If net replacement cost is $450 each this savings is $279,450. The project has currently trich tested a total 750 bulls. Unfortunately this is not 100% participatory. Bull testing reached its highest participation in 2008 testing 191 bulls. Combined savings in feed and females is $876,430. The relationships we have created combined with our continuing momentum from this project have created a great opportunity to build future ranching projects in the areas associated with Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) sampling as well as source verification. The FRTEP program trains producers to build budgets for loan renewals.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 04/01/07 to 03/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In 2006, Northern Cheyenne FRTEP administered $50,000 from the Livestock Compensation Program in disaster aid. That, coupled with the success of the trichomoniasis program, has increased the credibility and trust of the office. As a result, producers have adopted increased herd surveillance and our education efforts have also changed ranchers' management practices regarding noxious weeds. Cheyenne youth completed market projects in horses, leather, cooking photography, sewing and exhibited at two county fairs. These youth are building diverse life skills, which is especially important because so many Cheyenne ranchers are reaching retirement age. Specific goals to be addressed in agriculture include encouraging youth to participate in the ag loan program; rehabilitate at least 120 acres of noxious weed infestations annually; and to continue Beef management education with an emphasis on Trich, BVD and National ID. Those to be addressed for youth include: maintaining clubs and
help any members new to the 4-H program; have at least two youth attend a clinic or training to further knowledge in their project area; continue one-on-one time with youth to help further project progress; and to partner with one community youth activity.
PARTICIPANTS: The FRTEP program and Chief Dull Knife College have cooperatively trained and assisted ranchers for four years on livestock disease management and eradication.
TARGET AUDIENCES: People with agricultural interests and youth on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.
PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The only project modification is to expand the acreage to be treated for noxious weed infestation and to continue to improve herd health.
Impacts
The Trichomoniasis project pregnancy tested 6,300 cows (82 percent of the total reservation herd). 900 cows were open (14.2 percent) which is a 2.6 percent improvement over 2002. Selling 900 open cows saves ranchers $160/cow in wasted winter feed totaling $144,000 for 2007. The project also trich tested 131 bulls (1/3 of total bulls) multiple times and found one positive animal in a herd that did not previously participate. The program also tested cattle for 3 ranchers that have never participated. Testing and removal of this animal and his peers helps prevent resurgence of the disease and saves all ranchers from economic harm. Unfortunately, this trich positive herd indicates we have not yet eradicated the disease. Most producers have adopted increased surveillance and our education efforts have changed ranchers' management practices. In 2007, only 7 ranchers have not participated yet. Nineteen ranches follow the complete test protocol and manage 4900 cows. These
ranches had 531 dry cows (10.8 percent open rate). On the contrary, eleven ranchers test cows but don't test for trich and own 1400 cows with 369 open (26.4 percent). Full participants have 15.6 percent fewer open females. Non-breeding females cost ranchers $500 per head to replace. Implementation of the trichomoniasis fetus awareness project has greatly improved ranchers management in general. Over the past 5 years we have implemented seeding projects on 500 acres of Tribal and allotted lands that were dominated by Russian knapweed. 120 acres were new projects in 2007. The knapweed was reduced by 95 percent while production was increased tremendously. In 2007, 380 acres of fully established improved grasslands were utilized as grass hay. These formerly abandoned fields produced 975,000 pounds of hay or about $29,000 ($118 per acre). The restored pastures require 1/3 less herbicide to maintain. The fields now provide substantial production of hay and/or pasture. The fields are now
producing lease and/or production income to the owners and lessees. The Northern Cheyenne FRTEP agent implemented prescribed rehabilitation strategies suggested by noxious weed researchers Tom Whitson and Roger Sheley PhD. 4-H Montana Mavericks has 6 members, with the following accomplishments: all members showed at Big Horn County Fair, 6 members showed market hogs; One member won the Carcass award; One showed a market steer; 3 showed in Horse Project. The Northern Lights Club has 15 members, with the following accomplishments: 14 members participated at Rosebud/Treasure County Fair; 9 members showed in assorted animal projects (rabbit, poultry, goat, market sheep, and market hog); Two members had indoor projects qualify to show at the Miles City Fair; Provided entertainment at the 4-H Foundation gathering in October; One member was awarded Scholarship Registered breeding ewe; One member was awarded Scholarship Market steer.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 04/01/06 to 03/31/07
Outputs
The agent coordinated project for Cheyenne and surrounding area; had 48 ranchers participate covering in excess of 10,000 cows. The program paid ranchers about $5 for each cow. FRTEP helped deliver $50,000 in disaster aid. Trichomoniasis is a venereal disease that causes infertility and early term abortion in cattle. Non-pregnant cows represent three-fold loss: wasted winter feed, lost calf income and breeding stock replacement cost. In 2006, the project pregnancy tested 5731 cows (82% of the total herd). 834 cows were open (14.6%) which is a 2.4% improvement over 2002. Selling 834 open cows saves ranchers $160/cow in wasted winter feed totaling $133,400 for 2006. The project also trich tested 144 bulls (52% of total bulls) multiple times and found one positive animal. Testing and removal of this animal prevents resurgence of the disease and saves all ranchers from economic harm. Producers have adopted increased surveillance and our education efforts have changed
ranchers' management practices. Ranchers that follow the complete test protocol average 10% better pregnancy rates than producers that do not aggressively manage their herds. Participating Cheyenne ranchers also are utilizing the FRTEP project more for production management because of the Trich projects success in their herds. Russian knapweed, a perennial noxious weed, infests thousands of acres of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. The Northern Cheyenne FRTEP extension agent implemented prescribed rehabilitation strategies suggested by noxious weed researchers Tom Whitson and Dr. Roger Sheley. The prescriptions utilize improved pasture species and mixes to establish highly competitive and productive grasslands. These manmade grasslands were established on 380 acres of Tribal and allotted lands that were dominated by Russian knapweed. 150 acres were new projects in 2006. The knapweed was reduced by 95% while production was increased tremendously. The restored pastures require 1/3
less herbicide to maintain. The fields now yield up to 3 ton per acre of tame forage for hay or pasture. The fields are now providing lease and/or production income to the owners and lessees. One 80 acre parcel has produced $16,000 in hay over two years. The sites are also utilized as training sites for regional land managers, landowners and educators. 23 ranchers and NRCS professionals attended the June 2006 rehab tour. The Cheyenne 4-H youth completed market projects, horses, leather, cooking, photography, sewing and exhibited them at two county fairs. They are building life skills in responsibility, animal husbandry and communication.16 meth team awareness activities including a youth rodeo and a Parelli workshop were conducted. The anti-Meth effort involved 457 youth attendees. FRTEP is actively supporting the anti-meth campaign locally. 4-H and ag enrichment activities are ideal alternatives for preventing drug use. The educational youth rodeo and Parelli workshop were planned
and implemented by FRTEP. These events alone trained 52 kids in natural horsemanship, sportsmanship and community involvement.
Impacts
The extension program proposes to accomplish three primary youth development objectives and four agricultural objectives. The objectives are broad yet contain specific diverse goals for improving the lives and ranches of Northern Cheyennes. Funding of this proposed project will: 1) Enrich the understanding and curiosity of 100 Cheyenne K-12 students in agriculture and natural resources; 2)Develop and enhance two 4-H clubs and its members; 3) Train and advise 5 youth through the USDA youth loan program; 4) Restore 400 new acres of noxious weed infested idle crop land; 5) Educate, consult and involve 45 ranchers annually in USDA-FSA programs; 6) Educate, consult and train 45 ranchers in improved beef management strategies; and 7)Implement the National animal ID standard with 45 Cheyenne ranchers.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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