It’s hard to quantify the challenges farmers face under the pressure of coronavirus. Crushed markets, busted supply chains and other factors are reshaping agriculture. In Nevada, Extension service leaders are stepping up to help make a difference.
Under the guidance of Lindsay Chichester, Extension educator in Douglas County, Nev., educators and experts are coming together in a series of webinars designed to tackle different challenges. Chichester is also known as “Dr. Lindsay” to many in Extension and through social media. In announcing the program, she notes that there are many unknowns facing agriculture, with farmers and ranchers struggling to navigate this changing market. “Talking to colleagues and friends from around the country, I realized we are all asking the same questions and wanting more guidance,” she says. “So, we’re providing this online series to bring in boots-on-the-ground, grassroots speakers who are involved in their respective industries to offer some insight and support.”
The events are produced using Zoom, but streamed online at the Douglas County Facebook page. Each session opens with a brief introduction about the current issues surround that session’s topic, followed by brief presentations by the speakers. Then, the majority of each session is driven by questions from participants.
Watching the sessions
If you just want to watch the event, you can stream it from Facebook. If you want to sit in on the live Zoom event you need to register in advance. The program started April 28, with weekly sessions that continued May 5 and May 12. Two more are scheduled. To watch past webinars, you do not need to register, and you can view them on Facebook.
For example, the first session tackled ag risk and ag law, with a range of speakers including a lawyer, a consultant from the Nebraska Farm Hotline, and a professor of counseling and educational psychology from the University of Nevada-Reno.
The second session dealt with meat packers, pricing and availability, with experts from the industry dealing with what remains a challenging part of the industry.
The session at 10 a.m. today deals with backyard poultry production. On May 19, speakers will dig into the pork industry challenge. And the May 26 program will look at milk dumping and National Dairy Month. Register to be part of the programs at the Zoom link above, or you can check out the recordings by visiting the Douglas County Facebook Video page.