Management and MarketingPlan of Work

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Taylor County CES

Title:
Management and Marketing
MAP:
Enhancing Livestock and Crop Profitability
Agents Involved:
Pat Hardesty
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Grain Crops
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Grain Crops
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Forages
Situation:
Agriculture producers must continue to improve management/marketing skills to remain profitable and sustain a strong agricultural economy. Beef, dairy, grains and tobacco generate approximately $29 million. With these production systems, protecting the environment is also a responsibility producers are challenged with! With guidance from the Extension Council, the Taylor County Cattlemen’s Association directors and dairy committee, educational programs are planned which highlight management/marketing skills, protecting the environment and providing local foods.

Long-Term Outcomes:
Producers will sustain profitability through enhanced management and marketing skills by the implementation of technology, marketing strategies, BMP’s and management of expenses.

Intermediate Outcomes:
Producers will enhance profitability through the adoption of best management practices and marketing skills while controlling costs.

Initial Outcomes:
Producers will gain knowledge of how new technology improved practices and marketing strategies will enhance profitability.

Evaluation:
Initial Outcome: Producers shall begin to enhance profitability through gained knowledge of improved management and marketing skills
Indicator: Producers are motivated to adopt best management of production and marketing.
Method: Surveys, Observation
Timeline: Throughout the year

Intermediate Outcome: Producers adopt recommended practices that were learned through educational programs.
Indicator: Producers will implement management practices
Method: Surveys, Observation
Timeline: Throughout the year

Long-term Outcome: Producers will improve profitability through enhanced management and marketing skills and adoption of new technology.
Indicator: Profitability is enhanced by using technology, enhanced management and marketing
Method: Ag. statistics, savings, observation
Timeline: Throughout the year
Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Tobacco Producers

Project or Activity: Tri-County Tobacco Meeting

Content or Curriculum: Float Bed Management, Fertility, GAP Training

Inputs: Specialists, Agents, Publications

Date: February 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021


Audience: Dairy Producers

Project or Activity: Tri-County Dairy Shortcourse

Content or Curriculum: Nutrition, Calf Barns, Dry Cow Management

Inputs: Specialists, Agents, Publications

Date: February-March 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021


Audience: Grain Producers

Project or Activity: Tri-County Grain Meeting

Content or Curriculum: Persistent Weeds, Technology, Farm Bill, GPS, Ag. Apps

Inputs: Specialists, Agents, Publications

Date: December 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020


Audience: Grain Producers

Project or Activity: Variety Research Trials

Content or Curriculum: Variety Selection

Inputs: Cooperator, Industry, Agents

Date: Summer 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020


Audience: Grain Producers

Project or Activity: Grain Marketing Group

Content or Curriculum: Marketing Strategies

Inputs: Specialists, Agents, Publications, Commodity Challenge

Date: Quarterly throughout the year


Audience: Beef Producers

Project or Activity: Pasture to Plate

Content or Curriculum: Feeding techniques from weaning to finish, carcass evaluation, consumer preference

Inputs: Specialists, Agents, Publications

Date: Throughout the year


Audience: Landowners/Producers

Project or Activity: Ag. Water Quality/Nutrient Plans

Content or Curriculum: Improve water quality through best management practices for soil conservation and nutrient management.

Inputs: Specialists, Agents, NRCS

Date: Winter 2017


Audience: Beef Producers

Project or Activity: Taylor County Cattlemen's Association Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Management and Marketing Topics

Inputs: Specialists, Agents, Publications

Date: September 2017- April 2018


Audience: Producers/Homeowners

Project or Activity:  Organic Sustainable Agriculture Seminar

Content or Curriculum: Enhance Awareness of Organic/Sustainable Agriculture

Inputs: Specialists, Agents

Date: January 2018





Success Stories

Center of Kentucky Sheep & Goat Shortcourse

Author: Patrick Hardesty

Major Program: Small Ruminants

In Taylor County, approximately 40% of the farms are made up of less than 50 acres of land (USDA NASS).  While this size of farm may not be very suitable for grain crops and cattle, farms of this size can support small livestock such as sheep and goat.  Additionally, through improvements made in marketing options and market prices, sheep and goat are a sustainably viable option for many small farms.In 2018, the Adair, Green, and Taylor County Cooperative Extension Service collaborated

Full Story

Beef Production

Author: Patrick Hardesty

Major Program: Beef

With approximately 12,000 beef cows in Taylor County, income ranks third in the state. To improve profits and sustainability, educational meetings were conducted in cooperation with the Taylor County Cattlemen’s Association. These meetings included topics on Nutrition, Beef Updates, Mineral, Sire Selection and Forage Selection. Due to educational meetings and member benefits, membership is at 252. Interest in educational programs has stimulated producers to take advantage of the CAIP progr

Full Story

Center of Kentucky Master Cattlewomen Shortcourse

Author: Patrick Hardesty

Major Program: Beef

According to the 2012 Ag. Census, Taylor County has 5,642 acres on 63 farms with a woman as principal operator. This is a loss of 7 farms and 600 acres from the 2007 Ag Census.  With the loss of women as principal farm operators, Adair, Green and Taylor County Extension Services cooperated in conducting a state pilot Master Cattlewoman Shortcourse. The shortcourse was developed to enhance the participants’ knowledge of beef production, to network with each other and promote leadership

Full Story
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