Union County CES

Title:

Grain Crops

MAP:

Agriculture Production, Profit, and Management

Agents Involved:

ANR Agent

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Farm Management, Economics and Policy

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Grains

Situation:

The number of Union County farms has decreased while the average farm size has increased according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture from the USDA. 93% of Union County farms are family businesses with 27% hiring labor. 58% of Union County farmers are between the age of 35 and 64. 8% of Union County farmers are below 35. Union County producers over 16.8 million bushels of grain annually with 88.7% of total land designated as farms.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Maintain family farms. Reduce risk in farming. Maintain or improve marketing opportunities for farmers.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Applied marketing techniques using futures or options to reduce risk levels for crops. Use of Extension diagnostic services. Implement on-farm trials for new grain variety production. Developed or implemented nutrient management plans. Adopt farm management practices based on UK research and recommendations.

Initial Outcomes:

Understand importance and frame work of on-farm trials. Improve or maintain record keeping practices. Incorporate technology to effectively manage farm operations. Understand the value in a variety of marketing techniques.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Land available to be put into UK trials from producers.

Indicator: 1071.9, 1071.10

Method: UK researchers, observations

Timeline: 1 year

Intermediate Outcome: Implementation of advanced marketing plans and techniques.

Indicator: 1082.3, 1082.4, 1082.6

Method: Transactions used at local elevators

Timeline: 2 years

Long-term Outcome: Increase profits per bushel or per acre.

Indicator: 1081.7, 1082.6

Method: NASS

Timeline: 4 years

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Grain Producers

Project or Activity: Marketing Assistance Program

Content or Curriculum: Agent developed

Inputs: UK specialists and publications, agribusinesses

Date: Winter

Project or Activity: Yield Survey and Contest

Content or Curriculum: UK publications

Inputs: UK specialists and publications

Date: June through October

Audience: Grain Producers, Agribusinesses

Project or Activity: Field Day and Demonstration

Content or Curriculum: UK specialists and publications, agent developed

Inputs: UK specialists and publications, agribusinesses

Date: Summer

Project or Activity: Grain Day

Content or Curriculum: Agent developed, UK specialists

Inputs: Agribusinesses, UK specialists and publications

Date: January/February

Success Stories

Union County Grain Day

Author: Katie Hughes

Major Program: Grains

The problem: The Union County Grain Day has been around for several years for producers to attend this meeting in the winter and also earn their private applicator card for the year. The educational program response: this past year was the first year to do the training for private applicators to seat through the whole program to listen to speakers and then training at the end of the program. The past the training was at the start and then people would leave without attending the educational

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