Livestock, Poultry, & Crops
Promoting Commodities & Crop Production
Guffey
Beef
Forages
Grains
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Livestock and Poultry production make up the majority of farm income for Clinton County producers at $37.57 million, with poultry being the top commodity according to the Census of Agriculture County Profile (2017). Crop sales totaled $3.04 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.
- Group marketing of feeder calves to capture value added pricing.
- 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.
- Determine if Cereal Rye is a viable crop for production in the area.
- Determine the most cost effective Nitrogen source for wheat.
Initial Outcome: Improving knowledge of grazing practices
Indicator: Producers increasing production through grazing techniques.
Method: Surveys and site visits.
Timeline: On-going
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: On-going
Audience: Cattle Producers
Project or Activity: Beef Quality and Care Assurance Training
Content or Curriculum: Beef Quality and Care Assurance Training Materials
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: Winter 2020/21
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: Fall, Winter 2020/21
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: Winter 2021
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: Agr-1 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: Introduction of Budgeting tools and templates during production meetings.
Audience: Livestock, poultry and grain crop producers.
Content or Curriculum: UK budgeting tools and templates in Excel.
Inputs: UK Economic Specialists
Date: Winter 20/21
Activity: On-farm demonstration of Cereal Rye
Audience: Small grain producers
Content or Curriculum: UK publications/Specialists
Inputs: UK Grain Crop Specialists
Date: Fall 2020, Winter, Spring 2021
Activity: On-farm Wheat Nitrogen Source Demonstration
Audience: Wheat producers
Content or Curriculum: UK publications/Specialists
Inputs: UK Grain and Soil SpecialistsDate: Spring/Summer 2021