Rancher education gets diversified

Published: 2022
By Marc King

Following two years of Covid-19 restrictions and a year of severe drought, Sweet Grass County MSU Extension teamed with the Crazy Mountain Stockgrowers to bring diversified educational programs to producers. The rancher series started with a program on different risk management strategies for cattle producers. Ten attended this seminar and learned about futures contracts, options, the Livestock Risk Protection program, and how to use each product. The next presentation in the series focused on irrigation water measurement, with over 40 producers attending. Irrigators learned about the various devices and structures used to measure irrigation water, how to install them, and how to read each structure's measurements. Producers also learned about water rights and how they are enforced and applied during irrigation season. The third part of the program focused on mental health. Sweet Grass County MSU Extension and the Crazy Mountain Stockgrowers applied for and received a Department of Agriculture grant for $10,000 to invite a speaker to discuss mental health issues faced by producers and youth in rural locations. The guest presenter did a school day presentation to 200 Big Timber Grade School students and Sweet Grass County High School students. He then did an evening presentation for more than 50 adults. Discussion at the end of the program among the adult participants focused on the fact that mental health is a real concern for producers who struggle to discuss this issue, as most of the time they work alone and perceive mental health as an issue that needs to be dealt with internally. The final group discussion of the rancher series focused on the actual use and implementation of the Livestock Risk Protection program for cattle risk management. Thirty-eight producers participated in this evening program, learning about the implementation and requirements for using the government-subsidized LRP program. Eleven ranchers reported implementing the risk management strategies discussed. These collaborative programs between Sweet Grass County MSU Extension and the Crazy Mountain Stockgrowers will continue in the winter months of 2023.