Fulton County CES

Title:

Increasing Agricultural Stability through Cropping Systems, Marketing, and Pest Management

MAP:

Attaining Agriculture Stability

Agents Involved:

Ben Rudy

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Grains

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Chemical Management

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Farm Management, Economics and Policy

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development

Situation:

Overall, Fulton County ranks 30th in the state in Total Market Value of Ag Products Sold, according to the 2017  Census of Agriculture.  The primary crops grown in the county are:

• Soybeans -  5,620,466 bushels 
  • Ranked 7th in the State
  • Ranked 2nd in the Purchase Area
• Corn - 4,231,350 bushels
  • Ranked 18th in the State
  • Ranked 5th in the Purchase Area
• Wheat - 5229,732 bushels
  • Ranked 26th in the State
  • 6th in the Purchase Area

(Data Source: 2017 Census of Agriculture)

Fulton County's productivity  is due to its rural setting and excellent soils next to the Mississippi River. This allows for consistent yields with moderate rainfall and the ease of accessibility to river grain terminal for marketing the crops. The 2017 Census of Agriculture as indicated there were 146 farms in Fulton County, this was a decrease of 18% in farm numbers, but an increase of 17% in farm acreage. The total farm acreage increased in the same time frame from 91,414 acres to 97,615 acres, this is an increase of 17%. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture the age range of 35-64 has the largest population of producers with 121, the next age range was 65 and old (83) and less than 35 with 33 producers.  In previous Census of Agriculture in 2012, found that that was a higher than average number of younger producers, though the 2017 Census did not reflect this information as many have moved into the 35-65 age grouping.  The producer population remains on the younger side of the average for the state, some of these producers are beginning to take more leadership roles in the family operations. 

With these characteristics of high crop production and less seasoned producers there is need for increasing the stability of the farming operations from day to day decisions to long term planning. These challenges are only compounded by the previously record high grain prices and input costs to the current low grain prices and still high cost inputs. Many of these trends long time producers have not seen since the 1980’s, and the younger generation producers have only heard about them. To add to these conditions, new technology, genetics of the seed, chemical formulation,  and pests are rapidly changing. There are few places in Fulton County where there are no weeds which are not resistant to Round-up and other herbicides. It is imperative that in the future we use the best management practices to insure the viability of all the new technologies in agriculture. In terms of technology “gadgets”, it is changing almost daily, GPS, variable rate seeding, fertilizing, row shut-offs, UAV’s, high speed planting, etc all collect or use some sort of data. All of the information contains both useful and non-useful data. Both the older and younger generations have difficulty sorting through all of this. To top it off, this technology, genetics and gadgets all have a cost. Producers need to know the background information, cost per unit, and other important information to make decision on management, efficiency, and profit decisions.  But, this information is difficult for the producers to access without adequate high speed internet, according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture only 77% of the operations had internet access.  

Long-Term Outcomes:

Maximize profits for the producer.

Minimize the environmental impact of air, soil, or living area.

Improve the sustainability of intensively managed crop production systems.

Retain the family farm operation to the next generation.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Adopt usage of new technology for crop production.

Use diagnostic services to identify, insects, disease, and weeds.

Adopt one or more fertility management recommendations.

Implementation of on-farm trials.

Develop better management and leadership skills for those making decisions and operating the farm.

Develop a long working relationship with Extension.

Initial Outcomes:

Awareness of current land grant research concerning grain crop production.

Identification of IPM practices for grain crop production.

Increase understanding of production regulations.

Understanding of BioTech Traits.

Understanding importance of and framework of on-farm trials.

Identify herbicide resistant pests and strategies to overcome these pests. 

Identify strenghs and weaknesses in the leadership and management skills needed in the operation of the farm.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Producers will gain knowledge of the University of Kentucky’s recommendations relating to crop management, economic management, marketing, USDA Programs, farm-regulations.
Indicator: Producer Investments in technology, Knowledge gained, Increase use of the University of Kentucky’s services relating to crop production.
Method: Surveys, Agent Observations, Site Visits, Agent Contacts
Timeline: Annually

Intermediate Outcome: Producers will adopt improved production methods, management, new technology, and marketing techniques to their operations so that production is economically increased, costs are managed without sacrificing production, or production and/or economic risks are reduced.
Indicator: Improved production, management, technology, and marketing techniques are adopted.
Method: Surveys, Agent Observations, Site Visits, 
Timeline: Changes will be measured annually over the 4-year plan of work.

Long-term Outcome: Producers will increase overall profitability of their operation due to practices changes and implementation of technology made relating to crop production and marketing of their crops.
Indicator: The number of producers that improve their bottom line as a result of the information presented at Extension sponsored events.
Method: Agent Observations, Surveys, Site-visits
Timeline: Accumulative changes will be measured over the 4-year plan of work.

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Fulton, Hickman, Carlisle County Producers
Project or Activity: Wave Ag Event
Content or Curriculum: UK Specialists, Agent, and State/Federal Agencies, Other Ag leaders/businesses in the community.
Inputs: Agent Time, Wave Ag Consultant, Wave Ag Committee
Date: Program Year

Audience: Fulton, Hickman, Carlisle County Producers
Project or Activity: 4 River Counties Women In Ag
Content or Curriculum: UK Specialists, Agent, and State/Federal Agencies, Other Ag leaders/businesses in the community.
Inputs: Agent Time
Date: Program Year

Audience: Fulton, Hickman, Carlisle County Producers
Project or Activity: Early Career Farming Program
Content or Curriculum: UK Specialists, Agent, and State/Federal Agencies, Other Ag leaders/businesses in the community.
Inputs: Agent Time
Date: Program Year

Audience: Fulton County Producers and Homeowners
Project or Activity: Soil & Manure Testing
Content or Curriculum: UK Soil and Manure Test Recommendations
Inputs: Agent Time
Date: Program Year

Audience: Fulton County Producers and Homeowners
Project or Activity: Diagnostic Services
Content or Curriculum: UK Diagnostic Services recommendations
Inputs: Agent Time
Date: Program Year

Audience: Fulton County Producers
Project or Activity: Research Trials
Content or Curriculum: Variety Trials from UK & UT
Inputs: UK Specialists, Agent Time, Producer’s Fields
Date: Program Year

Audience: Fulton County Producers and Homeowners
Project or Activity: Newsletter, News Articles, Facebook, emails, etc
Content or Curriculum: UK and other resource material
Inputs: Agent Time
Date: Program Year

Audience: Fulton County Producers
Project or Activity: Winter Ag Conference
Content or Curriculum: UK and/or Other University Grain production material
Inputs: Agent Time, and Specialist time
Date: Winter Annually

Audience: Fulton County Producers
Project or Activity: Producer Meetings
Content or Curriculum: UK and/or Other University Grain production material
Inputs: Agent Time, and Specialist time
Date: Program Year

Audience: Fulton County Producers
Project or Activity: PAT Training
Content or Curriculum: PAT Program
Inputs: Agent Time
Date: Annually

Success Stories