Livestock & CropsPlan of Work

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Cumberland County CES

Title:
Livestock & Crops
MAP:
Promoting Commodities & Crop Production
Agents Involved:
Anderson
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Small Ruminants (includes sheep, goats) and Exotic animals
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Grains
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Forages
Situation:

According to the 2017 Agriculture Census, cattle and calves lead the county in livestock inventory. Poultry would be a close second, if they haven’t passed it by now. The biggest hurdle for livestock producers across commodity groups to overcome is a market for their animals. Cumberland County is home to zero markets for livestock except direct to consumer sales. Cattle producers have to travel to Barren, Clinton, or Russell County to sale (those are the closest). Small ruminant producers would have to go further than that. Commercial poultry producers have contracts with either Tyson or Cobb located in Clinton and Wayne counties respectively. 


For grain producers, markets are located in Clinton County (Cobb feed mill) or an elevator would be in northern or western Kentucky. Producers have a lot of trucking costs for this reason.


Something else that spans over all commodity groups is health and well-being of producers. Many farmers work long hours to get done what they need to. This often wears them down physically and mentally.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Minimize environmental impact of air, soil, or living area. 

Increased profit margin and/or reduce expenses. 

Increase positive opinion of GMO/conventional production of non-farm individuals. 

Intermediate Outcomes:

Implement routine soil sampling and follow soil fertility recommendations. 

Test forage for nutritional quality.  

Implement on farm trials of grain crops.

Initial Outcomes:

Develop proper record keeping techniques for the farming operation.

Awareness of forage variety trial information.

Awareness of current land grant research concerning grain crop production. 

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Develop proper record keeping techniques for the farming operation. 

Indicator: Number of respondents on survey. 

Method: Survey

Timeline: Annually 


Initial Outcome: Awareness of forage variety trial information. 

Indicator: Number asking for the trial information. 

Method: Copies handed out. 

Timeline: Annually. 


Initial Outcome: Awareness of current land grant research concerning grain crop production. 

Indicator: Number asking for information. 

Method: Copies handed out. 

Timeline: Annually.

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Beef Cattle Producers

Project or Activity: BQCA Training

Content or Curriculum: BQCA Training Materials

Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals

Date: January, February, March, and October

 

Audience: Beef Cattle Producers

Project or Activity: Clinton-Cumberland Cattlemen’s Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Various Topics

Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals

Date: Quarterly (March, June, September, & December)

 

Audience: Forage Producers

Project or Activity: Production Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Various Topics

Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals

Date: Late Fall or Late Winter

 

Audience: Poultry Producers

Project or Activity: Production Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Various Topics

Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals

Date: Bi-Annual

 

Audience: Small Ruminant Producers

Project or Activity: Production Meeting

Content or Curriculum: Various Topics

Inputs: UK Specialists, Purdue Specialists, industry professionals, etc.

Date: Early Spring

 

Audience: Bee Keepers

Project or Activity: Production Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Various Topics

Inputs: Industry Professionals, State Apiarist, etc.

Date: Monthly

 

Audience: Grain Producers

Project or Activity: Production Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Various Topics

Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals

Date: Annually (multi-county program in Wayne Co.)

 

Audience: Tobacco Producers

Project or Activity: GAP Training

Content or Curriculum: GAP Training Materials

Inputs: UK specialists & industry professionals

Date: January or February (in Clinton Co.)

 

Audience: Hay Producers

Project or Activity: Lime Plot

Content or Curriculum: Specialist Materials

Inputs: UK Specialists

Date: Summer 2021 and Summer 2022

 

Audience: All Producers

Project or Activity: Private Applicator Training

Content or Curriculum: Private Applicator Training Materials

Inputs: UK specialists & industry professionals

Date: December and February

 

Audience: All Producers

Project or Activity: Dinner Theater

Content or Curriculum: Ag. Safety in general

Inputs: UK specialists, industry professionals, local producers, etc.

Date: Early Spring

 

Audience: All Producers

Project or Activity: CAIP Trainings

Content or Curriculum: Various Topics

Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals

Date: Fall & Spring



Success Stories

QPR

Author: Chelsey Anderson

Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health - ANR

During the summer of 2021, an email blast was sent out to various agents asking if they would be interested in getting trained in QPR (Question. Persuade. Refer.). This training is to bring awareness to mental health, specifically suicide, within the farming community. The Cumberland County Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) agent decided it was a good fit for the county to be able to offer this programming. The ANR agent partnered with the Family and Consumer Science (FCS) agent and they j

Full Story

Hay Feeding Systems

Author: Chelsey Anderson

Major Program: Beef

During the 2019 CAIP program, two producers installed fenceline feeder systems. One installed the system just prior to hay usage for the winter of 2019-2020. According to that producer, he was saving somewhere between $1,800 - $2,100 in hay by utilizing the feeding system. In June 2021, a follow-up field day was held on this farm to demonstrate the use of a fenceline feeder system with numbers to back up the operation. Prior to the 2019-2020 hay feeding season, the producer was feeding 399 rolls

Full Story

Farmers' Dinner Theater

Author: Chelsey Anderson

Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health - ANR

With the age increasing every year for the average farmer, the effects of COVID on mental health, and recent farming accidents across the nation, it was decided to host a farmers’ dinner theater. This event took place on March 8th, 2022 at the Cumberland County Extension Office in conjunction with the Clinton County Extension Office. The audience, which consisted of 45 from three counties, listened and watched two skits put on by local farmers that covered hearing loss, sun safety, hydrati

Full Story

Welding

Author: Chelsey Anderson

Major Program: Small Farm Management

In January, it was brought to the ANR agent in Clinton County’s attention about holding a basic welding course for beginners. After discussion with the Cumberland County ANR agent and the Albany Technology center welding instructor, it was decided to offer the program as a combined effort for a total of 12 participants. The class filled up within a few days of advertising. There is now a waitlist for a class in the fall at the same center. For the spring class, a total of 12 participants t

Full Story
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