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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 |
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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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