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Forage Livestock Virtual Town Hall Meetings

Agriculture Awareness and Appreciation Award

James Humphrey
Field Specialist in Livestock
University of Missouri
Savannah

Team Members: Tucker, W1, Tate, V*2, Schleicher, A*3, Scheidt, J*4, Davis, P*5, Dhakal, D*6, Roberts, C7, Schnakenberg, T*8, Herring, M*9, Miller, L10, Bailey, E11, Humphrey, J*12
  1. Field Specialist in Agricultural Business, University of Missouri, Bolivar, Missouri, 65613
  2. Field Specialist in Agronomy, University of Missouri, Linneus, Missouri, 64653
  3. Field Specialist in Livestock, University of Missouri, Rockport, Missouri, 64482
  4. Field Specialist in Agronomy, University of Missouri, Lamar, Missouri, 64759
  5. Field Specialist in Livestock, University of Missouri, Stockton, Missouri, 64850
  6. Field Specialist in Agronomy, University of Missouri, Mexico, Missouri, 65265
  7. Extension Program Director & Professor, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, 65211
  8. Field Specialist in Agronomy, University of Missouri, Galena, Missouri, 65656
  9. Field Specialist in Agronomy, University of Missouri, Union, Missouri, 63084
  10. Director Integrated Pest Management, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, 65211
  11. Extension State Beef Nutrition Specialist, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, 65211
  12. Field Specialist in Livestock, University of Missouri, Savannah, Missouri, 64485

Abstract

To combat the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic brought to in-person educational programs in early 2020, a group of University of Missouri Extension (MUE) Field Specialists in Agronomy, Livestock, Agricultural Business, and State Specialists in Agronomy and Beef found an innovative method to effectively communicate with forage and livestock clientele across Missouri. While observing COVID-19 restrictions, Forage Livestock Virtual Town Hall Meetings, were delivered weekly via Zoom.

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This virtual format and multidisciplinary program allowed current information delivery to individuals who could not attend in-person events. One important role of the program was to address production challenges in 2020, such as drought conditions and cattle markets.   

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Numerous MU and MUE faculty not only gave topic-specific presentations, but also answered producer questions. This allowed the opportunity to have guest speakers on the weekly town hall meetings. The weekly town hall meetings featured a weather update from MU State Climatologist. These weekly sections were followed by a relevant topic and timely “weed of the week" or “feed of the week” session.  Our programming was flexible, with a focus on supporting producers throughout Missouri.  Starting in December, weekly town hall meetings moved to once a month through March 2021. On April 1, 2021, the weekly Forage Livestock Virtual Town Hall meetings will begin at noon each Thursday and will be simulcast via YouTube for producers to view live, virtually or as their schedules allow.

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Thirty-four Town Hall events were presented from April 8 - December 10, 2020, with 1860 total attendees for an average of fifty-five attendees per event. Thirty-five YouTube video clips, were produced from these town hall meetings. As of March 11, 2021, there have been 6,683 views of the Youtube videos and snippets, an average of 196 views per video. The Forage Livestock Virtual Town Hall meetings would not be possible without the behind the scenes support by Jared Fogue and Lee Miller with the MU Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program.

Years of CES Service: 0