Lincoln County CES

Title:

Management and Marketing

MAP:

Agriculture Profitabililty

Agents Involved:

Courtney Brock, Will Stallard, Rita Stewart

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Beef

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Chemical Crop Management Tools

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum

Situation:

Farmers need to have profitable farming operations to have a sustainable income. The county is dependent on a strong agricultural economy as around 30% of the county’s economy is directly related to agriculture. Farming generates over $35 million of gross receipts annually. Tobacco has been the main income producer for decades, but due to decreased demand, it is now of lesser importance and is grown on about 65 farms. The largest income producing commodity is beef production. It involves over 600 farm operations that have over 26,000 head of cows and over 57,000 head of all cattle and calves The county is one of the state’s largest dairy producing counties with 36 operations. Lincoln is a large alfalfa producer with over 11,000 acres. There is also over 34,000 acres of improved hay crops. There are over 17,000 acres of grain crops for cash and livestock useage. Farmers need to manage their cash crops and forages for the best production results. Farmers need to take advantage of the county’s strong forage base and expand the livestock enterprises. More efficient management of livestock production needs to be worked on to provide better profits. Farmers need to evaluate non-traditional farming enterprises to determine if they can fit into their operations but most importantly, be profitable. Increased production leads to a need for better marketing. Efficient and improved marketing systems can offer better opportunities for greater profits for farmers. The County Agricultural Extension Council and farm organization leadership have worked with the agent to determine program priorities and given input into developing educational and service programs to help farmers improvement management and marketing skills.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Farmers will improve their profitability through better production and marketing management; thus maintaining a strong agricultural economy in the county. Farm profitability is enhanced and farmers obtain sustainability of their agriculture and economic development.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Farmers will adopt Extension recommendation, utilize best management practices and apply new technology to increase agricultural production, enhance marketing efforts and create greater profitability.

Initial Outcomes:

Farmers will increase knowledge of improved management systems and learn how to better utilize marketing opportunities for crops and livestock.

Evaluation:

Long-Term Outcome: Farmers will improve their profitability through better production and marketing management; thus maintaining a strong agricultural economy in the county. Farm profitability is enhanced and farmers obtain sustainability of their agriculture and economic development.Evidence that farmers have improved profitability through adopting recommended practices leading to better production and marketing management.

Method: Observations and ag statistics

Timeline: All Year

Intermediate Outcome: Farmers will adopt Extension recommendation, utilize best management practices and apply new technology to increase agricultural production, enhance marketing efforts and create greater profitability.

Indicator: Producers will implement improved management practices.

Method: Observations, case studies, participation in cost-share programs to adopt recommended practices.

Timeline: All Year, evaluation of cost-share programs at the end of the year.

Initial Outcome: Farmers will increase knowledge of improved management systems and learn how to better utilize marketing opportunities for crops and livestock.

Indicator: Gain evidence through observations and testimonies with producers determining their knowledge of recommended practices and marketing opportunities.

Method: Observations, discussions with farmers, case studies

Timeline: All Year

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 4-H members and leaders

Activity: Incubation and Embryology Programs

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: Demonstration supplies, UK Poultry Farm fertilized eggs, and financial support from the Lincoln County Extension District Board.

Facilities used: Lincoln County Extension Office for meeting facilities; Lincoln County Schools, UK Poultry Farm

Date: Spring

Audience: 4-H members, leaders, and parents

Activity: 4-H AG Field Day

Content or Curriculum: The Annual 4-H Adventures in Agriculture Field Day helps provide agriculture education to all county 3rd grade students

Inputs: Community Partners include 4-H Council Members, local business owners, county banks, Lincoln County Schools, Lincoln County Cattlemen’s Association, Lincoln County Fairgrounds, and others

Facilities used: Lincoln County Extension Office, Lincoln County Fairgrounds, Lincoln County Schools, etc.

Date: Spring

Audience: 4-H members, leaders and parents

Activity: 4-H County/District Beef, Lamb, Goat, Poultry, Rabbit, Horse, and Dairy Shows

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum & KDA Materials

Inputs: Financial resources include GOAP cost share programs, demonstration supplies from participating companies. Lincoln County Farm Bureau and commodity organization grants, banks and lending institution grants. Farm supply and agribusiness grants and support finances from the Lincoln County Extension District Board.

Facilities used:

Local farms for demonstrations, tours and field days; Lincoln County Extension Office for meeting facilities; Lincoln County Fairgrounds for meetings, shows and other activities; Cedar Creek Sportsman Club for activities and meetings; Produce Auction facilities for demonstrations and meetings; Farmers Market Station and local church facilities.

Date: Spring and Summer

Audience: 4-H members, leaders and parents

Activity: 4-H Judging and Quiz Bowl Teams

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: Financial resources include GOAP cost share programs, demonstration supplies from participating companies. Lincoln County Farm Bureau and commodity organization grants, banks and lending institution grants. Farm supply and agribusiness grants and support finances from the Lincoln County Extension District Board.

Facilities used:

Local farms for demonstrations, tours and field days; Lincoln County Extension Office for meeting facilities; Lincoln County Fairgrounds for meetings, shows and other activities; Cedar Creek Sportsman Club for activities and meetings; Produce Auction facilities for demonstrations and meetings; Farmers Market Station and local church facilities.

Date: Spring and Summer

Audience: 4-H members, leaders and parents

Activity: 4-H Country Ham Project

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: Financial resources include GOAP cost share programs, demonstration supplies from participating companies. Lincoln County Farm Bureau and commodity organization grants, banks and lending institution grants. Farm supply and agribusiness grants and support finances from the Lincoln County Extension District Board.

Facilities used:

Local farms for demonstrations, tours and field days; Lincoln County Extension Office for meeting facilities; Lincoln County Fairgrounds for meetings, shows and other activities; Cedar Creek Sportsman Club for activities and meetings; Produce Auction facilities for demonstrations and meetings; Farmers Market Station and local church facilities.

Date: January-August

Audience: Farmers, Agribusinesses

Activity-Demonstrations

Content or Curriculum: Forage, Tobacco, Livestock Systems, Horticulture

Inputs: Financial resources include GOAP cost share programs, demonstration supplies from participating companies. Lincoln County Farm Bureau and commodity organization grants, banks and lending institution grants. Farm supply and agribusiness grants and support finances from the Lincoln County Extension District Board.

Facilities used:

Local farms for demonstrations, tours and field days; Lincoln County Extension Office for meeting facilities; Lincoln County Fairgrounds for meetings, shows and other activities; Cedar Creek Sportsman Club for activities and meetings; Produce Auction facilities for demonstrations and meetings; Farmers Market Station and local church facilities.

Date: All year

Audience: Farmers and agribusiness

Activity: State Corn Silage Variety Test

Content: Corn silage production management

Inputs: I serve as project leader securing seed corn entries and funding from agribusinesses. Team of agents and Dr. Lee plant and harvest plot and secure quality tests. Dr. Lee, Nick Roy and I prepare research report and farmer bulletin and present information to the media.

Facilities: 3 farms for test plots, Extension Offices, U.K. ag equipment

Date: March-December

Audience-Farmers, Agribusinesses

Activity: Farmer Educational Conferences

Content or Curriculum: Dairy and Forage Topics

Inputs: Financial resources include GOAP cost share programs, demonstration supplies from participating companies. Lincoln County Farm Bureau and commodity organization grants, banks and lending institution grants. Farm supply and agribusiness grants and support finances from the Lincoln County Extension District Board.

Facilities used:

Local farms for demonstrations, tours and field days; Lincoln County Extension Office for meeting facilities; Lincoln County Fairgrounds for meetings, shows and other activities; Cedar Creek Sportsman Club for activities and meetings; Produce Auction facilities for demonstrations and meetings; Farmers Market Station and local church facilities.

Date: February

Audience: Farmers and agribusiness

Activity: Farmer-Lender-Extension Field Day

Content: Farming updates and management information on crops and livestock

Inputs: Agent and specialist presentations, on farm demo supplies and funding from Extension and agribusiness, operational funding from agricultural lenders, farm families providing host farm and demo and event labor and facilities.

Facilities: host farm for demos, tours, and meal

Date: July/August

Audience: Farmers and Agribusinesses representatives in Lincoln, Boyle, Garrard, Casey and Mercer County

Activity: Crops Conferences

Content or Curriculum: Forage and Grain Topics

Inputs: Financial resources include GOAP cost share programs, demonstration supplies from participating companies. Lincoln County Farm Bureau and commodity organization grants, banks and lending institution grants. Farm supply and agribusiness grants and support finances from the Lincoln County Extension District Board.

Facilities used:

Local farms for demonstrations, tours and field days; Extension Offices for meeting facilities; Lincoln County Fairgrounds for meetings, shows and other activities.

Date: January

Audience-Farmers and Agribusiness representatives in Lincoln, Boyle, Garrard, Rockcastle, Pulaski, Casey, Madison and Mercer County

Activity: Tobacco Updates

Content or Curriculum: Tobacco Topics

Inputs: Financial resources include GOAP cost share programs, demonstration supplies from participating companies. Lincoln County Farm Bureau and commodity organization grants, banks and lending institution grants. Farm supply and agribusiness grants and support finances from the Lincoln County Extension District Board.

Facilities used:

Local farms for demonstrations, tours and field days;Extension Offices for meeting facilities.

Date: January

Audience: Farmers and Agribusinesses (Local and or 5 county)

Activity: Beef Update Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Cow Calf Management and Backgrounding Management & Marketing

Inputs: Financial resources include GOAP cost share programs, demonstration supplies from participating companies. Lincoln County Farm Bureau and commodity organization grants, banks and lending institution grants. Farm supply and agribusiness grants and support finances from the Lincoln County Extension District Board.

Facilities used:

Local farms for demonstrations, tours and field days;Extension Offices for meeting facilities; Lincoln County Fairgrounds for meetings, shows and other activities.

Date: January & February

Audience: Farmers and agribusiness

Activity: Lincoln County Beef Expo

Content: beef educational demos and updates on production, marketing and promotion, Cattlemen's Annual Meeting, agribusiness trade show.

Facilities: Lincoln County Fairgrounds, agribusiness equipment, Cattlemen's materials and equipment.

Date: September/October

Audience: Cattlemen's Board and Ag Development Board

Activity: Beef production spring educational tour for LCCA Board and LCADB; fall educational tour for LCCA Board

Content: Spring-1 day tour to Kentucky county with agent and producers showing improved practices. Fall-2 day out of state tour with agents, specialists and producers showing improved practices.

Inputs: Finances provided by Extension Lincoln County Ag Development Board and LCCA and participants.

Facilities: Extension vans, host farms, Extension facilities, agri business facilities.

Date: April & October

Audience: Farmers, agribusiness, general public

Activity: Fairs (county, state, NAILE)

Content: Livestock shows and floral exhibits

Inputs: Financing from fair association and KDA. Agents, assistants and leaders operating the activities.

Facilities: fairgrounds, Extension facilities

Date: July, August, November

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