McLean County CES

Title:

Crop Production

MAP:

Maximizing Farm Profitability in McLean County

Agents Involved:

David Fourqurean

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Grains

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Farm Management, Economics and Policy

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Chemical Management

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Integrated Pest Management

Situation:

Grain crop production is facing a downward pressure with severe economic distress (high inputs, low commodity prices, high land rent, flooded machinery market) for the the foreseeable future. Grain crop producers are also facing factors not related to agriculture(COVID-19,Trade Wars) that affect the markets, exports and their profitability.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Maximize profits for crop producers.

Minimize environmental impact of air, soil or living area.

Improve sustainability of intensively managed crop production systems.

Significant percentage of producers implementing safety and responsibility concerning pesticide use.

Increase the use of sustainable Best Management Practices.

Increase number of farmers more knowledgeable about/comfortable with grain marketing and marketing trends.

Effective utilization of poultry litter by crop producers.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Adopt usage of new technology for crop production.

Utilize social media and/or other outlets to increase awareness of pesticide safety and management practices.

Use diagnostic services to identify insect, disease and weed issues.

Adopt one or more fertility management recommendations.

Increase the number of producers fertility testing poultry litter for more accurate application to crop fields.

Increase number of farmers utilizing UK Extension enterprise budgets.

Initial Outcomes:

Awareness of current land grant research concerning grain crop production.

Increase understanding of production regulations.

Understanding chemical safety and hazards.

Understanding importance of on-farm trials.

Understanding of Organic vs Conventional crop production.

Identify herbicide resistant pest and strategies to overcome these pest.

Understanding of value of social media in promoting production agriculture.

Awareness of UK Extension enterprise budgets/marketing tools.

Increase production due to better utilization of poultry litter.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Farmers will be able to identify new strategies in crop production and IPM knowledge.

Indicator: Number of farmers reporting an increase in knowledge of new crop production strategies.

Method: Written Evaluation, Verbal Evaluation, face to face visits

Timeline: 8-11 months

Intermediate Outcome: Farmers will implement one or more practice that was learned at an Extension program.

Indicator: Farmers report implementing one or more new practice.

Method: Pre/Post Evaluation, Observation

Timeline: 1-2 years

Long-term Outcome: Farmers are able to minimize cost and maximize profits utilizing Extension research, publications and services with local yield trials as research as well as IPM information.

Indicator: Farmers will report decrease in input cost and increase in profits.

Method: Written Evaluation, Farm Business Analysis Reports, Face to face meetings

Timeline: 2-3 years

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Crop Producers

Project or Activity: Annual Grain Day Program

Content or Curriculum: Research Plot Data, Specialist Talks/Presentations

Inputs: Agents, Specialist, On-Farm Research Trials, Publications

Date: 2020

Audience: Crop Producers

Project or Activity: Grain Marketing/Farm Management Programs

Content or Curriculum: Grain Marketing Strategies, Ag Marketing Clubs, Farm Management, IPM curriculum 

Inputs: Agents, Specialist, Extension Pubs, Farm Analysis Group, IPM materials

Date: yearly

Audience: poultry and grain producers

Project or Activity: Litter Management Program

Content or Curriculum: Litter analysis, management strategies, Budgets and research publication

Inputs: University Specialists

Date: Winter 2021/ winter 2022

Success Stories