Goat field day opens doors for production, consumptions options

Goat producers from across the state exchanged ideas and learned new strategies Saturday at the Southern University Ag Center's annual goat field day. Ag Center research associate and retired USDA meat specialist Curtis Chisley (pictured) surveyed participants' opinion of goat sausage. Chisley and Albert Howard, meat manager, made four samples of goat sausage from 100% goat meat to a 50%-50% goat meat and pork combination. Fatemeh Malekian, Ag Center food scientist, analyzed the nutritional value of the variations and provided the findings to the producers. The group most preferred the 100% goat sausage and a sausage with goat and pork. "This shows promise for goat producers," said Chisley. "There is a market for goat products in the state." For complete coverage, see Advocate article SU hosts Goat Day <http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/43733417.html> .

Goat Field Day photos available

Southern University Ag Center's goat researchers, farm managers, and research assistants, along with LSU staff, conducted a successful goat field day today.

The day brought a taste of goat and lessons on herd management for adults and children.

See a few photos on our Facebook page.

Goat field day slated for Saturday

Louisiana goat producers are invited to learn more about basic goat health care, including artificial insemination, during the 4th Annual Goat Field Day, Saturday, April 25, 2009, at the Southern University Ag Center in Baton Rouge.

The field day will feature presentations on basic goat health care, direct marketing and product development, cost benefit analysis, artificial insemination, forage based production, parasite control including, and FAMACHA training. The day will also include demonstrations and hands-on learning for a number of basic goat husbandry tasks.

A fee of $5 (pre-registration) and $10 (on-site registration) will be charged. Those who are interested in becoming FAMACHA trained will incur and additional $10 for the color guide chart. Registration will begin at 7:30 am in the Ag Center, A.O. Williams Hall, and the  program will begin at 8 am.

Contact: Lisa Gray, research assistant, (225) 771-2242 ext. 316 or lisa_gray@suagcenter.com

Local producers attend national conference

By Bridget Udoh

Local producers from Louisiana attended the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group’s (SSAWG) 18th Annual Practical Tools and Solutions for Sustaining Family Farms conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee, January 21-24.

Forty-five producers, students, extension agents and other agricultural professionals received scholarships from the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program to attend the conference.

The conference provided 56 educational sessions, five field trips, five intensive short courses, four mini courses, and a bonus USDA grant writing workshop. The meeting consisted of farm tours and presentations on numerous topics including organic production, cut flowers, pastured poultry, goat production, and farm management.

Fifty-year veteran peach farmer Jonathan Jackson, from Shreveport, was accompanied by his mentee Rafeeq Naji on the trip. The duo are neighbors and Naji attended the conference to garner additional information on starting an organic vegetable farm. Jackson invited Naji because he was aware of the benefits associated with the conference attendance through networking with other producers and professionals.

Participants expressed appreciation for the networking opportunities at the conference, and many said they were greatly inspired because they received information that would benefit their farming operations and enhance their professional capabilities. 

“I have learned valuable lessons from the conference by talking to other farmers and attending the sessions. I will start small and expand gradually,” Naji said.

Jackson attributes his success in farming to information provided by his local extension agents. “I highly commend all extension agents for the work they do. Keep up the good work,” he said.

Our own Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives assisted with the recruitment and registration of local farmers and agricultural producers and high school students from its 10-parish region to attend the conference. LaVonya Malveaux, Southwest Center director, co-sponsored the trip for Louisiana participants.

The group traveled under the leadership of Owusu Bandele, Ph.D., professor, horticulture, Southern University Ag Center, and Carl Motsenbocker, Ph.D, professor, horticulture, LSU. The two professors served as the state coordinators.

>By Bridget Udoh,Ph.D., communications specialist, bridget_udoh@suagcenter.com