Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for the focus of effort for the duration of this project were the farmers and community stakeholders in Northeast Georgia. This included mainly private livetock producers, students of the applicable counties, university extension agents and business owners in Northeast Georgia. Specifically, over the course of the grant period the target audience included middle school students (60 students), undergraduate and veterinary students that were training or shadowed (10students), University Extension Agents (3 agents), and livestock producers (463). The audience that was affected by the information disseminated through word of mouth and email listserves is unknown, but information was sent to over 600 producers in the North Georgia counties served. Changes/Problems:There were no major changes or problems that had significant impact on the program goals. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Professional development and training was provided through the grant by using the equipment that was purchased. We were able to train producers on safe and efficient livestock handling through multiple occasions of hands on working of livestock with portable livestock handling facilities. These trainings and development opened opportunities to discuss livestock health, management practices, biosecurity and public health, as well as producer safety and protocols. These trainings were mainly on farm events that occured on average once weekly where we would discuss safecattle handling and beef quality assurance goals. Through the small ruminant training event held in conjunction with Univeristy Extension, we were able to teach producers about the importance of diagnostic parasitology and how it affects herd health. These trainings were annually and included demonstrations of parsites on fecal samples provided by animal owners in the community. This generated much discussion and development for producers to establish a regiment on parasite testing and treatment strategies. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Yes, the results have been disseminated to the communities of interest through word of mouth and services provided through the veterinary clinic as well as through extension bulletins and publications through their email listserves. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Under the project goals, the Rural Practice Enhancement Grant was able to accomplish reaching the community to provide veterinary services and consultation to increase the health and productivity of livestock in Northeast Georgia. With the equipment purchased through the grant, we were able to provide safe and efficient livestock handlingin order to increase the general health and biosecurity for animals in Northeast Georgia. We were also able to increase productivity with pregnancy diagnosis and herd health management using equipment and resources provided through the grant. We were able to partner with local stakeholders within university extension in order to educate and bring services to the public that were not previously available.On average, 8 producers per week were assisted with farm call services and consultations and over 2000 animals were handled andtreated over the course of the grant period. We partnered with community groups and extension to host two events annually that included small ruminant husbandry classes for Elbert county livestock owners as well asparasite overview presentations with on site fecal analysis services offered. We partnered with University of Georgia extension services with their "Master Small Ruminant Class" in order to contribute the veterinary perspective in animal husbandry and production health. Our area has a robust 4H and FFA program and we were able to partner with the local agriculture educators and host4H and FFA show animal health certificate events and traveling to Madison County Middle School to discuss veterinary careers with their agricultural classes. Over 60 students spent time in some educational capacity with Thousand Hills Mobile Veterinary Services over the time period of the grant and relationships with three University of Georgia Extension Agents were maintained throughout the time period. Thousand Hills Mobile Veterinary Services added on average 5new clients monthly throughout the grant period. The livestock handling and reproductive health assessment equipment purchased through the NIFA grant was used on a weekly basis to increase productivity and decision making abilities for producers in the area. Over the last several years, the finances that the grant provided was extremely helpful to accomplish the goals, but most of all a presence for veterinary care was established in the counties of Northeast Georgia. It can take timefor an impact on the community to be effective, but the lasting effects of having trusted veterinary care will continue to help producers for the long term. This would not have been possible without the help of the Rural Practice Enhancement Grant and the goals were not only accomplished, but built a foundation in the community to increase the health of livestock for years to come. The producers have more information and knowledge and they are able to share that with others as well as have trusted resources in University extension, trusted sources on the internet, and veterinarians that they can access due to the work that the grant supported.
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Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this reporting period is production farmers of food producing animals. These are mainly small beef cattle production farmers (<500 animals) in the Banks, Dawson, Lumpkin, Elbert, counties. This target audience uses these animals for supplemental income and produces and sells to local livestock sales. Changes/Problems:During the last two years the inconsistencies of the beef market has been a major player in some small producers going out of business. With COVID-19 and the supply chain shortages with fertilizer, hay production, and feed commodities there have posed major financial constraints on producers and their ability to provide their animals with sufficient veterinary care. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Partnerships with local extension agencies allowed us to host educational opportunities for small groups of cattle farmers How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Through emails and newsletters from extension services and from the business What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?To continue with these goals in reaching more small beef cattle producers with the equipment and expanded services that the grant has allowed us to offer. We plan on having more educational outreach events partnering with local and government agricultural services as well.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Expansion of services and business hours for the clients in these counties as well as collaboration with organizations in order to bring education and services to cattle producers. The mobile facilities were purchased and used for these farmers and expanded the management they were able to provide for their cattle
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Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:This reporting period (9/2020 - 8/31/2021) the target audience that was reached by the efforts of the Rural Practice Enhancement Grant were farmers, FFA/4H students, and community stakeholders such as university extension services. The target audience were those who received veterinary services and education throughout this past year and benefited from the equipment and time that was provided by the grant. Farmers, students, and community stakeholders were located in Madison, Jackson, Banks, White, Dawson, Elbert, and Lumpkin counties in Georgia. Changes/Problems:The biggest problem in community outreach and approach this past year has been the COVID-19 pandemic. Not being able to gather or host events with groups of people has been the most difficult aspect of trying to utilize equipment or spreading information. Certain events were cancelled or rescheduled and people were hesitant to gather together for larger scale cattle health events. Hopefully this next year we will increase the frequency of these events and people will be more familiar with using tools like online conferencing to host events and share information as well. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?I have seen opportunities to collaborate with producers and offer more reproductive services now that I have portable facilities. Because of this I would like to target more professional development and continuing education towards reproductive services including artificial insemination. Opportunities for continuing education have been mostly virtual this year, but in the future my goals are to focus training and development in these areas. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Clients and producers that are in community together are the best way to utilize and share information. Utilizing the cattle handling facilities among neighbors has been a natural result of the improvements in my business. Also, university extension has spread information and contact about services offered as well. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?I plan on continuing to work on creating community events to bring more producers together to perform herd health evaluations as well as participate in community outreach and education seminars. This has been difficult over this past year as many events have been cancelled or are virtual, but I still plan on participating in these virtually or in creative capacities. I will continue to expand my practice reach and host events where producers can trailer in their cattle for services they would not normally be able to perform without working facilities.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The goals for utilizing the Rural Practice Enhancement grant have been in progress for the past year and I was able to support livestock operators and improve health and productivity of food animal populations. Utilizing equipement purchased, I was able to bring cattle handling facilities to producers' farms in order to perform herd health evaluations and administer vaccinations and deworming. I have been able to increase my hours of availability to perform farm calls and have traveled to more remote areas to serve producers and their food animal populations. I have collaborated with University of Georgia extension services in several counties to distribute information about small ruminant health and maintenance. Most functions have been virtual over the past year due to COVID but different outreach approaches were attempted regardless.
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