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The
goat industry within Alabama made significant progress in 2007.
Additional marketing opportunities began to develop as plans for a new
large-scale processing facility in North Alabama is expected to become
reality. And, formation of a statewide agriculture marketing cooperative
began. Also taking place during 2007, specialists and scientists from
the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) were making statewide
efforts with educational outreach programs. During the course of the
year they also developed an abundance of educational fact sheets which
addressed areas such as health, management, marketing and reproduction.
As you can see, it has been a busy year for leaders and educators within
the Alabama Meat Goat Industry.
For
years goat producers have been calling for a facility that would
commercially process goats with the potential to process sheep and
rabbits, and for it to be a USDA inspected facility. This would allow
packaged meats to be sold at grocery stores and restaurants across the
nation. In the early part of 2007, various parties with a vested
interest and businessmen from Pennsylvania met several times with the
goal of identifying the potential and a location for a processing
facility. Midsummer 2007 Alabama legislatures approved legislation which
made arrangements for financial resources to secure a commercial
processing facility in North Alabama. As you read this article,
arrangements are being made to renovate this facility with the
anticipation it will be up and running by mid-summer 2008. Imagine that,
goat meat that is graded, USDA approved and a packaged-in-Alabama
product becoming readily available in stores and restaurants across
America.
While
all this was taking place, some of these same Alabamians realized there
was the need for a formal agriculture marketing cooperative to serve
farmers throughout the state. While their primary focus was goat, sheep
and rabbit producers, they have plans to include an array of agriculture
commodities with the potential for state and national distribution. It
is truly amazing what a handful of people can accomplish when they have
unified interests and believe in helping farmers.
Recognizing
the potential for growth in the Alabama meat goat industry Cooperative
Extension’s Urban Affairs and New Nontraditional Programs (UA&NNTP)
has made ongoing efforts to educate potential and existing producers on
various aspects of goat production. A series of seminars, conferences
and workshops took place throughout much of the state. The Annual Small
Ruminant Spring Symposium which took place in Huntsville focused on
health and healthcare issues for goats and sheep. The Annual Small
Ruminant Summer Conference which took place in Talladega addressed
nutrition, feeds and feeding, and natural resource management issues. A
series of workshops taking place in most of the state addressed areas
like parasite identification and management, reproductive management,
marketing, dairy goat production and healthcare. Events were well
attended and producer interest was sincere.
Extension
Scientist and Specialist from both Alabama A&M University and Auburn
University are responsible for developing educational fact sheets which
address a variety of areas including disease and health issues,
reproduction and reproductive management, marketing and so on.
There
currently exist 23 publications on the ACES UA&NNTP website and
eight publications on the ACES Animal Science website. How do you find
this information? There are several ways: visit the UA&NNTP website,
http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/indexes/unpas.tmpl#small;
visit the ACES Animal Science website, http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/indexes/anranisci.tmpl#sheep;
or visit your local county Cooperative Extension Office and ask one of
the office personnel to show you what is available and to provide copies
of the publications you desire. This array of publications will well
serve the fundamental needs of goat and sheep producers.
I
must also give credit to Tuskegee University for conducting their Annual
Goat Day in the spring of each year. Their scientists and specialists
always do an outstanding job of addressing the needs and interest of
goat producers.
The
most impressive aspect of all that has taken place in 2007 is the
concerted efforts of various special interest producer groups, academic
institutions and outreach agencies who hold an interest in the success
of the Alabama Meat Goat Industry. Scientists and specialists from both
units of Alabama Cooperative Extension System; the Alabama Farmers
Federation; the Goat and Sheep Producers of Alabama; Alabama A & M,
Auburn and Tuskegee Universities and The Small Farms Research Center
have made significant efforts to ensure potential and existing small
ruminant producers have the programs, information and fact sheets they
need to enhance their knowledge base, managerial aspects and production
efficiencies. Equally important are the efforts by the Alabama
Department of Agriculture and Industries, state legislatures and others
who have made a unified effort to facilitate the development of
marketing opportunities and producer cooperatives in 2007 and have plans
for them to become operable in 2008.
Thank
you everyone for your concerted efforts. On a personal note, I want to
thank Alabama Farmers Cooperative and my wife (editor) for their
support. Happy Holidays and I wish everyone the best for 2008.
Robert
Spencer is the Urban Regional Extension Specialist in the Urban Affairs
and Nontraditional Programs Unit & The Urban Centers in North
Alabama for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. |
