long-term impacts result from small acreage management programming rikki ruiz samantha graf ariel...

Long-Term Impacts Result from Small Acreage

Management Programming

Rikki Ruiz

Samantha Graf

Ariel Agenbroad

Scott Jensen

History of LOTL

• Started in –University of Nevada, Reno

• Idaho Began program in 2001 (14th year)

• Western SARE Grant funded 2001-2009

• Re-design and revision in 2009

Living n the Land Participants

• 524 people completed the program from 2002-2015– 10 counties in SW

Idaho and 1 Eastern Oregon

http://www.idahogeology.org/

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Class Design Options• 2003-2009 (18 week class) ( U of I Credits).

January-May

• 2010-2013 (15 week class) January-April

• 2012-2015 (8 week class) January-March

• 2013-2015 (6 week class) January- February

LOTL Class Topics

Class Agenda• One Day per Week

• 3 hour sessions

• Breaks (snacks or dinner)

• Networking time

• Homework

LOTL Site Visits

• Best Management Practices– Weed Management– Irrigation– Soil Improvement– Pasture Management/Grazing– Stewardship– Fertilization

Living on the Land- Site Visits

A new wildlife habitat!Rotational grazing with

alpacas!

Weed management with ducks!

• 2008-15 households, 128 BMP implemented• 2009-21 households, 191 BMP implemented • 2010-11 households, 111 BMP implemented • 2011- 14 households, 154 BMP implemented• 2012- 10 households, 115 BMP implemented• 2013- 12 households, 121 BMP implemented• 2014- 6 households, 89 BMP implemented

Total to date- 909 Best Management Practices Implemented on LOTL Alumni Properties

Weed & pest control, water quality, septic systems, land stewardship, etc.

Living on the LandBest Management Practices

LOTL Site Visits

Outcomes from Living on the Land•Increase awareness for landowners

•Knowledge gained of non-agricultural landowners

•Improve management for the long-term health of their land and livestock

Impacts

• To date approx.~ 13,500 acres have been impacted through LOTL programing

Impacts

• Impact results (impact statements cont.)

2009 Alumni Study

• Goal- Level of impact the class had on the management of their property

• 57% response rate

• Answers represent 12,831.5 acres

Years Involved in Small Acreage Management

Knowledge Increase

Grazing Management

• “Banking” Concept

• Root Growth Impact

• How’s & Benefits of MiG

• Electric Fencing

Grazing Management

• “Banking” Concept– Fat Bank– Hay Bank– Feed Bank

• Root Growth Impact– Underground Growth– Solar Panel

Grazing Management

• How’s & Benefits of MiG– Pasture Inventory– When to Move– Soil, Pasture & Animal Health

• Electric Fencing– Portable Systems– Permanent Systems– Fencing Construction

Irrigation Management

• Techniques taught

• Hands on activity utilized

Weed Management

• Weed of the Week

• Weed Biology & How’s of Identification

• Methods of Control

• How to Read a Chemical Label

• Gophers

Weed Management

• Weed of the Week– New Weed Each Week

• Weed Biology & How’s of Identification– Monocot vs Dicot– What Identification Factors to Use

Weed Management• Methods of Control

– Mechanical– Biological– Chemical

• How to Read a Chemical Label– What Those Words Mean

• Gophers– Control

Inventory of Weeds

Weed Management Changes

• Increased Inventory Intervals

• Utilization of Multi-Level Controls

• Working to Remove Chemical Control

Management Practice Changes

New Enterprises• 31% of alumni began a new enterprise

• 33% of alumni plan to begin a new enterprise within a year

New Enterprises

Derived Income

• 54% of alumni derived 0-25% of their income from their property

• 7.8% of alumni derive 50% of their income from their property

• 34.6% of alumni derive 0% of their income from their property

Marketing

• Alumni are selling products at 11 different Farmer’s Markets in Idaho

Marketing

Class Materials and Handouts

• Hand-Out Examples

• Class Binder

Referencing Class Materials

Living n the Land Impacts

– Knowledge- New management and enterprise skills gained

– Behavioral- Improved fertilization, irrigation, grazing and weed management practices

– Economic- Increased produce sales at Farmers Market, on-farm and value-added products

– Environmental- Reduce spread of weeds (noxious & “obnoxious”)

– Social & Civic- Adoption of sustainable agricultural practices

Thank you!

Questions?

Contact info:Rikki Ruiz- rikkiw@uidaho.edu

Samantha Graf- samanthag@uidaho.edu