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Member Producer Program

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Member Producer Program

 

Program Goals:

1. Provide information and education in the areas of enterprise management, nutrition, health, breeding practices, lambing techniques, facility design and layout, marketing, economics of production and record keeping that will lead to greater bottom line profits.
2. Assist members in implementing sound, profitable management practices.
3. Keep members informed of the latest research findings and new technologies available.
4. Assist in identifying superior genetics and acquiring sound, high quality, productive breeding stock.
5. Educate members on breeding, feeding and marketing methods that will produce a uniform, high quality market lamb and wool clip that will receive a premium price.
6. Assist members in developing and using effective financial and production record systems.

Pipestone Lamb and Wool Production Program Options
 

Farm Visits – Each producer will receive farm visits based on selected program option. Farm visits are scheduled throughout the year. Each visit is approximately two hours in length and covers questions and concerns pertaining to each individual sheep operation and assists them in applying new technology.

Meetings – Meetings on various management topics are presented during the year. Several meetings offer guest speakers as well as hands-on demonstrations. Meetings are held at Pipestone, Minnesota and other sites as enrollment warrants. Some of the meeting presentation are also available through the Internet (webinar).

Phone Access – Instructors are available to answer specific management questions at any time. A toll-free number is provided for calls made during office hours.

E-mail update – Weekly lamb carcass price and popular commodity price updates will be e-mailed out to each producer. Additional timely information will also be sent through e-mail. Individuals can also e-mail questions and pictures to instructors.

Newsletter – Members receive periodic newsletters which cover upcoming events, current industry news, and management information.

Home Study Course – Includes 14 lessons which cover all aspects of modern sheep production. After completion of the course, lessons make good reference material.

Sheep Central – A password protected Internet site that provides current sheep management information. Includes health, nutrition, and facility information along with carcass price trends and enterprise analysis summaries.

Enterprise Analysis – Members are encouraged to submit financial and production records to be analyzed. Enterprise Analysis is valuable in determining management strategies.

On-Farm Demonstrations – Periodic sessions are held on member farms to demonstrate new management technologies.

Lambing Time Short course and Bus Tour – Designed to cover specific lambing time management topics and view successful lambing operations. Program members and Long distance members attend at a reduced fee (Meal and Bus cost only) once minimum enrollment is met. Small and Intermediate flock members pay full rate for Lambing Time Short course and Bus Tour.

Sheep Facility Tour – The purpose of the tour will be to show the latest innovations in sheep buildings, handling systems, feeding systems and facility layout. Program members and Long distance members attend at a reduced fee (Meal and Bus cost only) once minimum enrollment is met. Small and Intermediate flock members pay full rate for Sheep Facility Tour. This tour is only offered every other year. Tour is offered again June 2010.