Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR)
2000 Annual Reports
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VIRGINIA Significant Activities/Program Highlights 1. Cooperative Production and Marketing of Feeder Cattle
The economic benefits of cooperative marketing of graded feeder cattle are well documented. Despite the fact that cattle are sorted into logical outcome groups according to weight and grade, genetic variability within truck-load lots of cattle often leads to undesirable differences in cattle performance and carcass quality. To help address this problem, Virginia Cooperative Extension initiated a program with members of the Buckingham County Cattlemen’s Association to cooperatively producer feeder cattle of similar breeding by contracting with an artificial breeding company to inseminate cows on multiple cooperator farms with semen from the same bull. In 1997, approximately 850 cows and heifers were bred on 20 farms participating in the program. In the Fall 2000, it is anticipated that 1,300 cows and heifers will be bred on 30 farms participating in the program. In August 2000, 1,086 feeder cattle generated from this program were sold cooperatively in truck-load lots with an average price advantage of $7.63 and $4.19 per hundred weight for five and six weight steers, respectively, compared to other state graded feeder cattle sales held the same week. Contacts: Mr. Jim Myers, Extension Agent, Buckingham County Phone: (804) 969-4261; e-mail: jamyers@vt.edu Mr. Bill McKinnon, Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, VA Tech Phone: (540) 231-9160; e-mail: bmckinno@vt.edu
A new web-based soil test reporting system was implemented in the Summer 2000. This system enables Extension Agents to electronically access soil test information before receiving results in the mail. As a matter of fact, Agents can actually follow the progress of samples as they move through the laboratory for pH, nutrient analysis, etc. As mandated by the Virginia General Assembly in 1999, all commercial farm soil samples must be analyzed at Virginia Tech at no charge. Contact: Dr. Steve Donohue, Extension Soils Specialist, Virginia Tech Phone: (540) 231-9740; e-mail: donohue@vt.edu
New Director of Virginia Cooperative Extension: Dr. J. David Barrett (540) 231-5299 e-mail: davebarr@vt.edu Dr. Barrett become the new director of Virginia Cooperative Extension effective October 1999. He was formerly the Associate Director for Field Services in Extension at Virginia Tech.
As a result of lawsuits brought against the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Virginia is aggressively pursuing the establishment of TMDL plans on over 300 impaired waters. The following administrative steps will be followed in the establishment of TMDL plans:
The Department of Conservation and Recreation has established a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environmental Quality to provide leadership on the non-point source variable of the TMDL equation. Accordingly, they are making every attempt to involve local participation in the development of the TMDL implementation plan. Submitted by: Steven H. Umberger Associate Director, Agriculture and Natural Resources Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech (540) 231-6704; e-mail: steve.umberger@vt.edu |
For more information about the Southern Region Program Leaders, contact Bonnie Teater
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