Extension
It Starts With Us
Livestock, Poultry & Crops
Promoting Commodities & Crop Production
C. Guffey
Beef
Forages
Grains
Livestock and Poultry production make up the majority of farm income for Clinton County producers at $25.99 million, with poultry being the top commodity according to the Kentucky County Agriculture & Food Profiles (2012). Crop sales totaled $3.78 million. With producers facing declining prices for grain crops and feeder calves, a need was identified by the Ag program council to assist producers in finding ways to reduce input costs, become more efficient, and improve net farm income.
•Improved input efficiency
•Improved production and profitability of forage-based livestock systems.
•Reducing input costs and increasing profits for grain producers.
•Reduced environmental impact
•Utilize the futures and options market to limit downside market risk.
•Improved cash flow from utilizing budgets to make decisions.
•Be proactive in preventing herbicide resistance in grain crops.
•Improved litter utilization by grain and forage producers.
•Use the feeder cattle futures and options market to make price predictions and predict market direction.
•Develop a grazing plan
•Producers utilize budgeting tools to make purchasing and marketing decisions.
•Develop proper record keeping techniques for the farming operation.
•Awareness of forage trial information and recommended variety tables.
•Develop marketing strategies that assist producers with price risk.
•Enhance knowledge of grazing management practices for all grazing species.
•Awareness of budgeting tools for Livestock, poultry and grain crop production.
Initial Outcome: Improving knowledge of grazing practices
Indicator: Producers increasing production through grazing techniques.
Method: Surveys and site visits.
Timeline: Fall
Initial Outcome: Participation in county programming increases.
Indicator: Attendance numbers.
Method: Rosters.
Timeline: Spring, Fall, & Winter
Long term Outcome: Improved production and profitability of forage based livestock systems
Indicator: producers reporting improvements in production and profitability
Method: surveys
Timeline: Spring, Fall, & Winter
Initial Outcome: Awareness of budgeting tools available
Indicator: producers utilizing budgeting tools and templates.
Method: Surveys and site visits.
Timeline: Fall & Winter
Audience: Cattle Producers
Project or Activity: Beef Quality and Care Assurance trainings
Content or Curriculum: Cattle Handling & Care Training Materials
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: Winter 2019/20
Audience: Cattle Producers
Project or Activity: Twin Lakes Cattle Assoc. Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Beef Cattle production topics
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: Quarterly
Audience: Cattle Producers
Project or Activity: Clinton-Cumberland County Cattleman’s Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Beef cattle production topics
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: Quarterly
Audience: Forage Producers
Project or Activity: Production Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Various topics
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: Summer 19, Fall, Winter 2019/20
Audience: Poultry Producers
Project or Activity: Production Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Managing Poultry Litter for Profit
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: TBD
Audience: Grain Producers
Project or Activity: Grain Production Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Various Topics
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: Fall/Winter 2019/20
Audience: All Producers
Project or Activity: CAIP Trainings
Content or Curriculum: Various Topics
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: As Needed
Audience: All Producers
Activity: Soil Testing
Content or Curriculum: Fertilizer Recommendations
Inputs: Agent, Staff, UK Regulatory Services
Date: Ongoing
Activity: Forage Testing
Audience: Forage Producers
Content or Curriculum: Forage Testing Lab
Inputs: UK forage and Nutrition Specialists
Date: Ongoing
Activity: Horse owner forage production
Audience: Horse owners
Content or Curriculum: Pastures please or Horse College
Inputs: UK forage and Equine Specialists
Date: Winter/Spring 19/20
Author: Colby Guffey
Major Program: Beef
Beef cattle production in Clinton County remains a vital part of the Ag economy. In the fall of 2020 a local beef cattle producer identified a need for producers to learn proper palpation techniques to identify open cows in the herd. In recent years a growing number of cattle producers have implemented blood pregnancy testing of cattle to determine stage of gestation, while this is a valuable tool for producers it requires a couple of extra days to know the status of pregnancy.  
Author: Colby Guffey
Major Program: Beef
As a result of the Cattle pregnancy checking school held in November 2020, an Artificial Insemination (AI) School was held in March 2021. Producers that attended the pregnancy school in the fall of 2020 indicated the need for an AI school to be held locally. The Clinton County ANR Agent partnered with the local stockyards and an independent instructor to host an AI school for cattle producers. Participating producers were taught cow reproductive anatomy and physiology, hormone
Author: Colby Guffey
Major Program: Beef
During the 2020 pandemic it became increasingly difficult to host meetings with the social distancing guidelines in place. The Clinton/Cumberland Cattleman’s Association held a virtual meeting with producers attending the meeting via zoom from their own home locations. UK Extension Specialist Dr. Kenny Burdine was the guest speaker also attending via zoom. Participants were able to engage in learning about current cattle market trends and projections during the pandemic from t
Author: Colby Guffey
Major Program: Grains
The ANR Agent helped enroll a cooperating producer in the cereal rye project being conducted by UK Extension and American Farmland Trust. The cooperating producer was already interested growing cereal rye for cover crop seed production. The cereal rye project afforded the producer the opportunity to learn to grow cereal rye with minimal risk. Cereal rye grown in Kentucky is primarily used for cover crops, the intent of the project was to determine the quality of the grain as it
Author: Colby Guffey
Major Program: Beef
The Twin Lakes Cattle Association partnered with Clinton County Extension Service ANR Agent and UK Extension Beef Specialist Kevin Laurent to host a beef heifer development field day. The field day location was Springhaven Farms a local cow/calf operation that has been transitioning to more bred heifer development in recent years. Springhaven farms have been offering bred heifers in the West KY Bred Heifer sale the past couple of years. UK Beef Extension Specialist Kevin Lauren
