9:30 am- 11:15 am
RM 104 – IRM:Putting the System to Work – Ivan Rush, University of Nebraska; Connee Quinn, Nebraska; Jim Akers, University of Kentucky; Jeff Settles, Kentucky

IRM: Putting the System to Work

Human resources are important to cattle production, says Jim Akers, University of Kentucky Extension Specialist and coordinator for that state’s Integrated Resource Management (IRM) effort. Cited as an example of IRM in action, the Kentucky program stresses continuing education of county extension personnel and access to production and marketing specialists as steps toward providing education and leadership development for the state’s 44,000 beef producers.

"But it’s not a program that’s driven from the top, down. We’re not out there trying to push the same programs to all producers," stressed Akers. "At the county level, producers identify their priorities. Local leaders and specialists develop support programs to address local needs."

Washington County producer and local team leader Jeff Settles credited grass-roots input for growing participation among cattlemen. Settles said the IRM program has fostered a record-keeping program and a group purchasing alliance, through which producers collectively buy supplies such as animal health products and mineral supplements specially formulated for the local area.

"We also came together to establish a sale of certified pre-conditioned and weaned feeder calves, and we’re working toward a premium meat marketing initiative that would merchandise locally produced beef to restaurants," added Settles. "The idea for each program started locally, and we’ve drawn on the resources of county, state and national specialists to help make it happen."

South Dakota rancher Connee Quinn said she relies on IRM resources to access information needed to implement research-based management decisions.

"Your decisions are only as good as your information and we want information from research that is factual, unbiased and balanced," stated Quinn. "We don’t want resource people to tell us what to do, but we want to know what can be done."

On Quinn’s ranch, the flow if information has influenced implementation better record-keeping, extended grazing and protein supplementation practices to optimize forage utilization, mineral supplementation to address deficiencies specific to the local environment.

— by Troy Smith