Extension
It Starts With Us
Efficient and Profitable Corn, Wheat and Soybeans Production for Ballard County Producers
Ballard County Agriculture Stability
Tom Miller
Grains
In Ballard County 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 foreseeable future.
Maximize profits for commercial ag producer
Minimize environmental impact of air, soil, or living area
Improve sustainability of intensively managed crop production systems
Significant percentage of producers implementing IPM practices
Increase positive opinion of GMO/Conventional production of non-farm individuals
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
Awareness of current land grant research concerning grain crop production
Identification of IPM practices for grain crops production
Increase understanding of production regulations
Understanding BioTech traits
Understanding importance of and frame work of on-farm trials
Increase non-farm public understanding of BioTechnology/Organic/ Conventional grains crop production
Identify active ingredients in crop related ag products
Identify herbicide resistant pests and strategies to overcome these pests
Initial Outcome: Farmer knowledge and understanding will increase on Grain Production
Indicator: Higher results on Farmer Survey
Method: Crop Production Team Grower Survey
Timeline: Spring 2017
Intermediate Outcome: New Technology Use will increase
Indicator: Higher sales of products with new technology
Method: Retail dealer survey
Timeline: Fall 2021
Long-term Outcome: Farm Income will Improve
Indicator: Grain Farmer Balance sheet position will be better
Method: Use Kentucky farm Analysis Data for Comparison
Timeline: Fall 2021
Audience: Ballard County Grain Producers
Project or Activity: Ag Newsletter
Content or Curriculum: Up to the minute information on crop production, insect and disease concerns and the latest research from UK
Inputs:Ky Pest News, Extension Specialists, Retail Ag Suppliers
Date: Monthly through year
Audience: Ballard County Grain Producers
Project or Activity: Ballard County Ag Day
Content or Curriculum: Up to date info on various grain topics
Inputs: Extension Specialists
Date: Winter 2021
Audience:
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Content or Curriculum:
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Author: Thomas Miller
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Ballard Counties’ Ag Development Council has put their Master Settlement Agreement to good use over the life of the program. This past year saw the Ballard County Extension office and ANR Agent Tom Miller along with Bob Johnson from Non Profit Dynamic as administrator conducted a County Agricultural Investment Program where 68 producers participated. Grain Storage and Handling was the biggest area of investment, with Precision Agriculture followed closely. Hay storage and
Author: Thomas Miller
Major Program: Emergency Disaster Preparedness
After several years of fruitless searches for a good location, the Ballard Mesonet Station is finally up and running. On May 13, 2022, officials from State Government and Local Government met at the site just south of Bandana, Ky to hold a grand opening. The search for a location started 8 years ago when Ballard ANR Agent Tom Miller and Rick Shanklin from Barkley Weather Service toured Ballard County looking for suitable locations. Nothing was found that suited all the location
