Success Stories By MajorProgram FY2025Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025
Fall Pasture Management
Author: Gary Stockton
Major Program: Forages
17 farmers and landowners gathered in Boone County to attend a Fall Pasture Management class. With the increasing need for efficient land use and sustainable farming practices, this class was designed to address key challenges in pasture health and productivity.The class covered essential topics such as soil nutrients, overseeding, and grazing management. These elements are critical for improving pasture conditions, increasing forage production, and ultimately enhancing livestock performance.Par
Full Story
Forage Production
Author: Daniel Allen
Major Program: Forages
The Importance of Planning AheadAs part of the services the Cooperative Extension Service offers soil testing for our agriculture community is one of the key services that can make a real difference in a farm’s production. The Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent of Kenton County makes lime and fertilizer recommendations to producers so that they may increase hay yields for their cattle herds. The summer of 2024 proved to be a very dry season that resulted in low quality and
Full Story
Central Kentucky Hay Contest
Author: Brandon Sears
Major Program: Forages
Kentucky has long been known for our Bluegrass Pastures and green, rolling hills. We have an abundance of forages with nearly 5 million acres of hay and pasture lands. Recent programming surveys by the UK Beef Extension group indicate that about only 35% of livestock producers test hay for quality. Utilizing hay testing to determine nutrient content allows for more efficient feeding of livestock through the winter by matching high quality hay with livestock that have the greatest nutrient requir
Full Story
Understanding Forages
Author: Paul Sizemore
Major Program: Forages
With the high prices of fertilizer in the last few years it has been financially difficult for many forage Producers to apply the proper nutrients to the soil to maximize yield and improve quality of their hay, this has led to a steady decline in the quality and yield of the forages they're producing therefore affecting the health of the herd they're feeding it to.Numerous classes were conducted to provide a more detailed explanation into soil testing to our Forage Producers.. Soil
Full Story
Buttercup Spray Program
Author: Gary Hamilton
Major Program: Forages
Pasture forages provide the majority of the nutrients for Montgomery County beef cattle & other livestock. Due to weather conditions, winter feeding areas & in some cases over grazing, weeds such as Buttercup since 2020 have become a major problem in many pastures. These weeds compete with & reduce the availability of our desired grazing forages. The Montgomery County Extension District Board purchased a special sprayer in 2020 for the ANR Agent to make available to Montgomery
Full Story
Forage Field Day
Author: Chelsea Sapp
Major Program: Forages
Describe the Issue or Situation.Farmers are needing information and research to show them how beneficial forages can be and how to save time and money by properly planning and caring for forages they produce. Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).This program reached 110 farmers/agricultural workers in Marion, Nelson and Washington and other Central KY counties. I worked with Makers Mark Distillery in Loretto and KY Forages and Grasslands Counci
Full Story
Forage
Author: Ted Johnson
Major Program: Forages
Describe the Issue or Situation. The majority of Lee County forage producers do not utilize legumes in their hay fields or pastures.Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable). I have conducted several programs and personal farm visits to address this issue. I produced a forage workbook that involved many of our University of Kentucky publication to distribute to all participants, produced several displays to set at the producer meetings. Set up and helped
Full Story
2024 Central Kentucky Hay Contest
Author: Joseph Ray
Major Program: Forages
Understanding forage quality is essential to developing a balanced nutrition plan for livestock. Hay testing provides critical data that helps producers and Cooperative Extension Agents ensure the nutritional needs of animals are met while minimizing waste and unnecessary costs. Without proper analysis, farmers are left to rely on guesswork, often leading to inefficient feeding practices and wasted resources.The Central Kentucky Hay Contest was created to address this challenge, fostering friend
Full Story
East Kentucky Hay Contest, (Boyd County)
Author: Meredith Hall
Major Program: Forages
Livestock owners are responsible for meeting the nutritional needs of livestock throughout the year. Without knowing the nutritional makeup of the hay provided herdsman cannot make an informed decision on what ration will meet the needs of their animals. Forage producers do not know the true value of their product without knowing the nutritional makeup of the hay or haylage produced. The Boyd County Cooperative Extension Service participated with other Kentucky Agriculture Agents in The Ea
Full Story
Chemical Fertility of Cool Season Grasses
Author: Tad Campbell
Major Program: Forages
According to NASS USDA statistics for 2023, Kentucky has over 1.98 million acres of grass hay. Agriculture leaders in Mason County defined a need to demonstrate response of cool season grass hay to chemical fertilizers. The desire was to develop a demonstration of grass hay’s response to fertility levels of varying fertilizer products locally including lime. University of Kentucky Extension Agriculture Agents from the Buffalo Trace counties collaborated with University
Full Story
ANR Project Grants helped Menifee Producers
Author: Mary McCarty
Major Program: Forages
Small farms and limited-acre farms bring different challenges to new residents. Knowing where to begin and how to make all needed purchases puts these farmers in a better starting position. The Menifee ANR Council and ANR/4-H Agent applied and received a small grant through the University of Kentucky ANR Office that will work with new residents and small farmers willing to work with the project. Beef producers, Equine Producers, and small ruminant farmers will be eligible. &nbs
Full Story
2024 Central KY Hay Contest
Author: Lindsay Arthur
Major Program: Forages
The second annual Central Kentucky Hay Contest was a resounding success, showcasing the dedication and collaboration of agricultural agents, specialists, and producers across 14 counties. A total of 236 hay samples were collected, representing the diverse efforts of local farmers to produce high-quality hay. Agricultural agents spent countless hours collecting these samples, an effort that not only provided crucial data but also strengthened relationships with farmers through valuable one-on-one
Full Story
Central KY Hay Contest 2024
Author: Brandon Sears
Major Program: Forages
The second annual Central Kentucky Hay Contest was a resounding success, showcasing the dedication and collaboration of agricultural agents, specialists, and producers across 14 counties. A total of 236 hay samples were collected, representing the diverse efforts of local farmers to produce high-quality hay. Agricultural agents spent countless hours collecting these samples, an effort that not only provided crucial data but also strengthened relationships with farmers through valuable one-on-one
Full Story
Central KY Educational Hay Program
Author: Jessica Barnes
Major Program: Forages
We held the educational portion of the Central KY Hay Program in December and more than 24 participants attended the meeting. This program consisted of recognizing the hay contest category winners as well as an educational component from Dr. Bob Coleman and Dr. Jimmy Henning as well as a producer panel where some of the category winners were able to share their experiences with the group. In the post survey of the program all participants had an increase in knowledge of interpreting hay tes
Full Story
Central KY Hay Contest
Author: Linda McClanahan
Major Program: Forages
The second annual Central Kentucky Hay Contest was a resounding success, showcasing the dedication and collaboration of agricultural agents, specialists, and producers across 14 counties. A total of 236 hay samples were collected, representing the diverse efforts of local farmers to produce high-quality hay. Agricultural agents spent countless hours collecting these samples, an effort that not only provided crucial data but also strengthened relationships with farmers through valuable one-on-one
Full Story
Resources for Using the County’s Shared-Use No-Till Drill
Author: Lane Hall
Major Program: Forages
The Lawrence County Soil Conservation District rents out a No-Till Drill to local farmers. However, most people do not know how to properly calibrate this piece of equipment. Improper calibration and depth settings lead to poor stands and lost profits. A series of things have been done to help farmers accurately calibrate the drill. The Lawrence County ANR Agent worked Dr. Jimmy Henning, UK Forage Specialist, and the ANR Extension agents from Boyd, Elliott, Greenup and Cart
Full Story
2024 Central KY Hay Contest
Author: Levi Berg
Major Program: Forages
The second annual Central Kentucky Hay Contest was a resounding success, showcasing the dedication and collaboration of agricultural agents, specialists, and producers across 14 counties. A total of 236 hay samples were collected, representing the diverse efforts of local farmers to produce high-quality hay. Agricultural agents spent countless hours collecting these samples, an effort that not only provided crucial data but also strengthened relationships with farmers through valuable one-on-one
Full Story
2024 Central KY Hay Contest
Author: Shelby Cleaver
Major Program: Forages
The second annual Central Kentucky Hay Contest was a resounding success, showcasing the dedication and collaboration of agricultural agents, specialists, and producers across 14 counties (Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Harrison, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Nicholas, Powell and Scott County). A total of 236 hay samples were collected, representing the diverse efforts of local farmers to produce high-quality hay. Nicholas county producers had 9 samples submitted for t
Full Story
Central Kentucky Hay Contest
Author: Beau Neal
Major Program: Forages
The second annual Central Kentucky Hay Contest was a resounding success, showcasing the dedication and collaboration of agricultural agents, specialists, and producers across 14 counties. A total of 236 hay samples were collected, representing the diverse efforts of local farmers to produce high-quality hay. Agricultural agents spent countless hours collecting these samples, an effort that not only provided crucial data but also strengthened relationships with farmers through valuable one-on-one
Full Story
2024 Central Kentucky Hay Contest
Author: Jason Vaughn
Major Program: Forages
The second annual Central Kentucky Hay Contest was a resounding success, showcasing the dedication and collaboration of agricultural agents, specialists, and producers across 14 counties. A total of 236 hay samples were collected, representing the diverse efforts of local farmers to produce high-quality hay. Agricultural agents spent countless hours collecting these samples, an effort that not only provided crucial data but also strengthened relationships with farmers through valuable one-on-one
Full Story
Hay Contest
Author: Robert Smith
Major Program: Forages
Describe the Issue or Situation.Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience.Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact. Please note that the outcomes statement must use evaluation data to describe the change(s) that occurred in individuals, groups, families, businesses, or in the community because of the program/outreach.
Full Story
South-Central Kentucky Hay Contest
Author: Taylor Graves
Major Program: Forages
Washington County, with its 44,783 acres dedicated to hay production, plays a significant role in the region's agricultural landscape. Even with such a large number of acres in hay production producers were only utilizing the extension office to send out a handful of forage samples each year. Forage quality plays a vital role in animal nutrition and in a producer's ability to sell hay. The extension agents in old District Five understand the importance of forage quality and wanted to ent
Full Story
2024 Central Kentucky Hay Contest Helps Producers Achieve Improved Hay Quality
Author: Steven Musen
Major Program: Forages
The second annual Central Kentucky Hay Contest was a resounding success, showcasing the dedication and collaboration of agricultural agents, specialists, and producers across 14 counties. A total of 236 hay samples were collected, representing the diverse efforts of local farmers to produce high-quality hay. Agricultural agents spent countless hours collecting these samples, an effort that not only provided crucial data but also strengthened relationships with farmers through valuable one-on-one
Full Story
South-Central KY Hay Contest
Author: Jonathan Oakes
Major Program: Forages
Issue or Situation:Being a hay producer can bring a lot of challenges, such as inconsistent quality, low yields, and poor nutrient content. These issues can cause financial strain for producers who rely on hay to feed their livestock, and in some cases, forcing them to purchase more expensive feed and supplements from other sources. It was evident that the need for better management practices, quality improvement, and education surrounding hay production needed to be addressed.Outreach or Educat
Full Story
South-Central KY Hay Contest
Author: Tracie Goodman
Major Program: Forages
Issue or Situation: Being a hay producer can bring a lot of challenges, such as inconsistent quality, low yields, and poor nutrient content. These issues can cause financial strain for producers who rely on hay to feed their livestock, and in some cases, forcing them to purchase more expensive feed and supplements from other sources. It was evident that the need for better management practices, quality improvement, and education surrounding hay production needed to be addressed.Outreach or
Full Story
Southeast KY Hay Contest
Author: Garrard Coffey
Major Program: Forages
Issue or Situation: Being a hay producer can bring a lot of challenges, such as inconsistent quality, low yields, and poor nutrient content. These issues can cause financial strain for producers who rely on hay to feed their livestock, and in some cases, forcing them to purchase more expensive feed and supplements from other sources. It was evident that the need for better management practices, quality improvement, and education surrounding hay production needed to be addressed.Outreach or
Full Story
- Acting Associate Dean & Director — Craig Wood, Ph.D.
- S107 Ag. Science Center North
- Lexington, KY 40546-0091
- +1 (859) 257-4302
© 2024 University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment