Extension
It Starts With Us
Agriculture Production and Management
Improving Agriculture Production and Management
Curt Judy
Grains
Tobacco
Horticulture, Commercial
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
The 2017 Census of Agriculture indicates there were 593 farms (167,953 acres) in Todd County that year, decreasing from 603 farms and 181,001 acres in 2012. These declines reflect both the state and national trends, where the number of farms has been on a long, steady decline. Average farm size in 2017 was 283 acres, down 17 acres from 300 acres in 2012. About 51 percent of county farmers (480) list farming as their principal occupation.
Farm products produced by Todd County farmers in 2017 ranked 7th statewide in cash receipts, generating over $175 million. This is down about 3 percent from the 2012 Census. Crop receipts accounted for almost $83 million (ranked 7th in Kentucky) and livestock receipts totaled almost $93 million (ranked 8th).
Major crops produced by Todd County farmers include corn, soybeans, wheat, dark fired tobacco, dark air-cured tobacco, burley tobacco, hay, and vegetables. Major livestock enterprises include beef cattle (mostly cow-calf production), dairying, and hog and poultry production (including eggs).
The major challenge for producers at this time is low commodity prices for corn, soybeans, wheat, beef cattle, hogs, and milk. Costs of production have moderated some in the past 5 years, particularly for land rent and fertilizer. However seed and equipment costs have continued to rise. The tobacco buyout in 2005 brought about a significant restructuring of the tobacco business. Production is now almost completely limited to contract production, and producers have made significant new investments, particularly in dark-fired tobacco barns. Growers are being asked to meet higher standards for their tobacco crops in terms of quality and cleanliness, etc. Demand for dark and burley tobaccos is declining, and some dark growers experienced large contract cuts or were not able to obtain dark contracts for 2020. New types of tobacco (Connecticut Broadleaf, etc.) are filling in some of the contract shortages, but these tobaccos have less yield potential and no disease resistance.
In 2017, Todd County ranked 3rd in acres of vegetable production in Kentucky. Most are sold through the Fairview Produce Auction and the Miller Valley Produce Auction. Most producers receive their production education through the Fairview Auction (Extension education coordinated by the horticulture agent in Christian County). Direct support services for growers are provided by both Todd and Christian County Extension Offices.
Farm cooperators will improve their relative net returns or returns per unit of input resources in their agricultural enterprises.
Farm cooperators will adopt improved production, management, and marketing techniques in the areas of grain, beef, dairy, forage, tobacco, or horticulture production so that production is increased economically, or that costs are managed without sacrificing production.
Cooperators will gain knowledge on University of Kentucky recommendations relating to crop and livestock management, varying from beef cow herd management to tobacco and grain cultural management and pest control. They will also gain knowledge in the areas of livestock and crop marketing.
Initial Outcome: Cooperators will gain knowledge of University of Kentucky recommendations relating to crop and livestock management, varying from beef cow herd management to tobacco and grain cultural management and pest control. They will also gain knowledge in the areas of economic management, marketing, USDA programs, and farm-related regulations.
Indicators: Knowledge gained, skills acquired, etc.
Method: Producer reports, and/or agent observations, and/or surveys
Timeline: Annually
Intermediate Outcome: Farm cooperators will adopt improved production, management, and marketing techniques in the areas of grain, beef, dairy, forage, tobacco, or horticulture production so that production is increased economically, costs are managed without sacrificing production, or production and/or economic risks are reduced.
Indicators: Improved production, management, marketing techniques adopted
Method: Producer reports, and/or agent observations, and/or surveys
Timeline: Changes will be measured annually over the 4-year plan of work cycle
Long-term Outcome: Farm cooperators will improve their relative net returns or returns per unit of input resources in their agricultural enterprises.
Indicators: Net profitability, production costs, risk factors
Method: Producer reports, and/or agent observations, and/or surveys
Timeline: Accumulative changes will be measured over the 4-year plan of work
Audience: Farmers and homeowners
Project or Activity: Soil testing
Content or Curriculum: UK soil test recommendations
Inputs: Agent time
Date: Program year
Audience: Farmers and homeowners
Project or Activity: Pest diagnosis and control recommendations
Content or Curriculum: UK pest publications and control recommendations
Inputs: Agent time, UK plant disease and insect diagnostic services
Date: Program year
Audience: Tobacco farmers
Project or Activity: Winter tobacco production meeting
Content or Curriculum: UK tobacco publications and resource material
Inputs: Agent time, UK tobacco specialist time
Date: Program year
Audience: Grain farmers
Project or Activity: Grain production/marketing meeting(s)
Content or Curriculum: UK/UT grain production resource material
Inputs: Agent time, UK and/or UT specialist time
Date: Program year
Audience: Beef and Dairy farmers
Project or Activity: Beef production and/or forage meeting(s)
Content or Curriculum: UK beef/dairy/forage production resource material
Inputs: Agent time, UK specialist time
Date: Program year
Audience: County farmers
Project or Activity: Explore the use of small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) in agriculture
Content or Curriculum: UK and other resource material, or custom designed program
Inputs: Agent time
Date: Program year
Audience: County farmers
Project or Activity: Newsletters, news articles, etc.
Content or Curriculum: UK and other resource material
Inputs: Agent time
Date: Program year
Author: Curtis Judy
Major Program: Grains
Covid-19 had a large impact on Agricultural Extension programming over the past year. Work rules have dictated that we have minimal contact with people when possible, and that we wear face masks and social distance around clients. These circumstances created unique opportunities to be involved in Extension projects that required minimal direct contact with clients. This year, plant pathology specialist Dr. Carl Bradley requested soil samples from soybean fields to survey for pl
Author: Curtis Judy
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
The Todd County Conservation District is administering Todd County’s seventh offering of the Phase I County Agricultural Improvement Program (CAIP) this program year. The program was approved for $235,000 in Todd County Ag. Development funds, with a maximum cost-share reimbursement limit of $3,500 per farm. The actual reimbursement cap will be a pro-rated number, based upon the number of people who complete projects and the amount of cost-share eligible money they spend. CAIP s
Author: Curtis Judy
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
July 1, 2020 marked the beginning of a new two-year term for Todd County’s Phase I Ag. Development Council. Of the nine members on the 2020-22 Council, six were totally new this term, having never served before. At their first meeting, members received training related to their responsibilities on the Council, including a short history of the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund and the projects and programs that have been funded in Todd County. The County Council has d
Author: Curtis Judy
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Nutrition education is a program responsibility of all Kentucky Extension agents. For many ANR agents the bulk of their SNAP efforts are done through organized farmers’ markets. But since dozens of retail produce growers sell directly off the farm here, there is no farmers market to work with in Todd County. Therefore, I utilize other avenues to conduct nutrition education activities. Twice in the past I have worked with residents o
