Extension
It Starts With Us
Management and Marketing
Enhancing Livestock and Crop Profitability
Pat Hardesty
Beef
Grain Crops
Grain Crops
Forages
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.
Producers will sustain profitability through enhanced management and marketing skills by the implementation of technology, marketing strategies, BMP’s and management of expenses.
Producers will enhance profitability through the adoption of best management practices and marketing skills while controlling costs.
Producers will gain knowledge of how new technology improved practices and marketing strategies will enhance profitability.
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
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
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
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
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
