Small Acreage Livestock    

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Livestock on Small Acreages: Protecting Water Resources and Health
A Train-the-trainer Extension Education Program

USDA CSREES Extension Education Grant (Sept. 2006 - Sept. 2009)

View our Project Summary for details about this grant.

Visit our Project Accomplishments page for updates on the progress of this grant.

Situation
Throughout Rhode Island and New England, small acreage livestock and horse owners often “slip through the cracks” for receiving education and assistance that encourages the adoption of livestock Best Management Practices (BMPs). Often, the information you do find applies to large scale livestock operations that may be difficult to understand and simply doesn't fit in with the goals, conditions and resources that small acreage owners have. Properties usually consist of small lots in residential areas that are close to water resources including private drinking water wells and storm drains. All these factors pose challenges with managing manure, livestock yards and pastures.

Developing an Outreach and Education Program
The University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension (URI CE) Home*A*Syst and 4-H Programs, and URI Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Science along with assistance from the URI Department of Communication Studies, are developing an education program for small acreage livestock and horse owners.

A needs assessment of the target audience will identify barriers and incentives for encouraging the adoption of livestock BMPs. A train-the-trainer education program, primarily working with 4-H volunteers, will be developed to increase knowledge about livestock pollution risks, adapt and transfer livestock BMPs at a scale that is appropriate, and ultimately, increase the adoption of livestock BMPs by this target audience.

An existing small acreage livestock fact sheet and self-assessment series was developed in April 2005 as part of the Healthy Landscapes Education Program (a USDA CSREES Extension Education Program, funded Sept. 2002 - Sept. 2006). The series will be utilized and refined based on this needs assessment and program evaluation plan.

View our Project Summary for details about this grant.

Visit our Project Accomplishments page for updates on the progress of this grant.

View our Small Acreage Livestock Fact Sheet Series

Visit our contacts page for more information about the partners involved with this program.

This material is based upon work supported by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Integrated Water Quality Program, under Agreement No. 2006-51130-03654

USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service
CSREES advances knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities through national program leadership and federal assistance.

 

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