Extension
It Starts With Us
Measuring the Agriculture Business
Agriculture, Management and Decision Process
ANR
Beef
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Forages
Soil testing
Many producers focus on production and do not measure any aspect of the business. In order to make profitable decisions, producers need data to measure the cost and revenue from their agricultural enterprise. The need to improve farm record keeping and data collection is a focus of the ag finance businesses as farmers are ask more and more to provide information for capital needs
Farmers implement systems that will help record, track, and analysis the economic viability of their decisions and be able to make necessary changes to reflect the changing market and weather conditions.
Farmers realize how information can affect the results of the enterprise with increased profitability. They continue to look at data to make informed decisions.
Farmers start to measure and record data from each enterprise, such as calf weights, cow reproductive performance, crop yields per field, per acre, and other crop measures of quality.
Initial Outcome: Data Recording
Indicator: Various collection methods are used to measure ag performance
Method: Farm Record Keeping classes
Timeline: Winter of 2021
Intermediate Outcome: Data Analysis
Indicator: Farmers make informed decisions based on information from measuring of agriculture production and cost
Method: Decision making classes
Timeline:2021-2022
Long-term Outcome: Record Keeping Systems
Indicator: Records are a permanent part of the management of the farm operation.
Method: Producer visits and reports to learn how the business uses data, Beef Producers that employ I-COW
Timeline: 2023
Audience: Farmers wanting to improve profitability
Project or Activity: Basic Farm Record Keeping Class
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Date: Winter 2021
Audience: Data Analysis
Project or Activity: Class to evaluate information and make informed decisions on
Content or Curriculum:
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Date: Fall 2022
Audience: Record Keeping Systems
Project or Activity: Learn about various systems from hand written forms to computer programs
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Date: winter 2023
Author: David Appelman
Major Program: Forages
Field productivity had declined over time for a local producer and he requested advice on reseeding of his hay fields to increase production. After a site visit, it appeared that grass stands were sufficient, but lacked the growth he wanted. We had a discussion about his goals and plans to use the forage. I knew that he recently sold his cattle and only planned for cash hay sales. Most of the hay would be for beef cattle, so grass or grass clover hay would be all that was
Author: David Appelman
Major Program: Forages
Knowing the nutritional content of your hay is key to the profitability of any livestock operation. Without this information, producers will not know if they are providing the correct nutrients to meet the animal’s needs or if they are overfeeding the animals, hurting their profitability.The Bracken County Extension Service has always encouraged producers to test their hay and offered to option of two labs to meet their testing needs. In 2019, Bracken County received an invita
Author: David Appelman
Major Program: Forages
The District 1 ANR Agents hosted a seven series virtual Master Haymaker program in winter of 2021. This program came to fruition due to COVID-19 restrictions and the need to continue programming that would enhance the lives of agriculture producers in Eastern Kentucky. The seven sessions covered topics such as: weed control in forages, producing quality hay, warm and cool season forages, soil fertility, marketing hay, machinery options for hay production, and the production of
Author: David Appelman
Major Program: Grains
Left over seed often happens on farms due to many unforeseen circumstances. Planting delays due to weather, loss of crop acres due to property sales, or changes in market that alters planting decisions. The problem with left over seed is that it will have lower germination rates if any at all. One local producer brought seed to the Bracken County Extension office for a germination test to determine if it could be salvages after a year in storage. This seed was treated wit
