Promoting CommodiesPlan of Work

Back to Plans for the County

Butler County CES

Title:
Promoting Commodies
MAP:
Improving Farm Practices
Agents Involved:
Drake
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Forages
Situation:

Butler County has a large livestock industry. Beef cattle and forages are important parts of our ag economy. There are almost $20 million in livestock sales annually.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Livestock operations are profitable and of improved genetics.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Farmers purchase high quality animals for use on their farm. This increases the productivity of their herd.


Farmers produce higher quality forage for their own use or for sale.

Initial Outcomes:

Farmers learn how to conduct a livestock sale.


Farmers learn what is involved in preparing animals to be sold in a special sale.


Farmers can sell cattle locally.


Farmers learn the benefits of buying animals from known health and management protocol.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Farmers sell cattle locally

Indicator: Number of consignors and cattle in sale

Method: Pull data from catalog

Timeline: March 2020



Long-term Outcome: Livestock operations are profitable and of improved genetics

Indicator: Cattle farms profitable

Method: Ag states, UK Ag Economy data, Interview

Timeline: June 2020

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Livestock Farmers

Project or Activity: County cattle sale

Content or Curriculum: How to conduct sale and prepare cattle for sale

Inputs: Volunteer time, Agent time, City facilities, local sponsorship

Date: March 2020


Audience:  Livestock Farmers

Project or Activity:  Forage Demonstration

Content or Curriculum:  Using warm season annuals for grazing

Inputs:  Volunteer time and farm, Agent Time, 

Date:  Sept. 2019







Success Stories

Extension Forage Management Field Day

Author: Gregory Drake

Major Program: Forages

Forage management is an important skill for Butler County farmers.  A large percentage of Butler County’s 150,000 acres of farmland is used for forage production.  The program focused on forage and farm management.  There was a winter feeding are demonstration, a discussion on using poultry litter in a forage production system, a talk on farming on sensitive areas like reclaimed coal mine sites, a demonstration on warm season annuals, and a presentation on the Kentucky Ag. W

Full Story
Back to Plans for the County