Impact of an Educational Program on a Year-Round Forage Production and Grazing Management System in Alabama

AbstractRaising animals on supplementary feeds in the lean months is economically unfeasible due to the increasingly high price of grains and commercial feeds. The objective of this study was to estimate the economic impact of educational events on year-round pasture and grazing management. A survey was introduced through SurveyMonkey to 78 trainees to collect data on a pre-structured questionnaire. A conceptual framework of production function was applied to measure the impact of the events using a before vs. after impact assessment approach. Forty-six percent of respondents completed the survey. The results revealed that the educational events had a positive impact on the cultivation of cool and warm season grasses and legumes, rotational grazing, technology adoption, multiplication of acquired knowledge and skills, changes in attitude and behavior, and household income. Reaching out to small-scale livestock farmers with need-based technological support helps them in sustaining their farms.Keywords: Educational Programs, Capacity Building, Year-Round Forage Production, Grazing Management