Extension
It Starts With Us
Improved Agriculture Production
Family/Farm Financial Management & Improved Agriculture Production Skills
S. Campbell T. Yankey
Beef
Grain Crops
Forages
Tobacco
Extension District Board Members and Ag Advisory Groups feel strongly that with the decline of tobacco in the county that greater emphasis must be placed on improving the genetics in our beef herds and greater emphasis must be placed on improving our forage base utilizing a mix of cool season grasses, legumes, summer and winter annuals and warm season grasses.
Low commodity prices are impacting planting decisions and currently are providing thin profit margins for most grain producers. The corn market continues to struggle with use which is projected to be 227 million bushels less than the previous marketing year. Exports have been reduced by a strong US Dollar coupled with price competitive exports from Brazil. While there is a lot of uncertainty about the 2017 corn and soybean crop, producers need to pencil their break-evens to be aware of their production costs and consider protecting a portion of the crop with futures contracts. Many producers are lowering or renegotiating rents and leases for the 2017 crop year.
Tobacco farmers are struggling to make a profit under the current market conditions. Dependable labor or lack of has left many growers frustrated with trying to produce a crop profitably. Many growers telling me they are only clearing 40 cents per lb for their management efforts.
Grain growers and tobacco growers serve on our Extension Council and Ag advisory councils to provide input.
Agricultural producers use best management practices including current technologies available to beef producers and a mix of grasses and legumes and warm season annuals to increase available carrying capacity of their pastures and at the same time sustaining the farm family competitiveness of their farm operation.
Grain and tobacco growers strive to remain above break-evens for cost of production by carefully evaluating which hybrids to plant, which chemicals to use and by negotiating leases that allow them a fair level of profit. The high cost of inputs demands that crop producers adopt management systems which are sustainable. Adopt new forage varieties and management programs such as Rotational Grazing to increase carrying capacity of the farm.
Agricultural producers adopt and utilize technology and production practices in livestock production and their forage program to increase overall carrying cacacity of the farm to impact long term survival of the farm family.
Clientele will implement a variety of improved crop production practices and marketing techniques utilizing information gathered through Extension training's, workshops, field days, newsletters and publications.
Agricultural producers gain knowledge in current technology at it relates to livestock and forage production . Producers gain knowledge in how to incorporate these technologies into their own farming operations.
Producers will use Progress Reports for selecting varieties for grain crops, tobacco and forages which improve yields, profitability and longevity of forage stands. Producers will use soil testing, IPM practices and best management practices to make their operations more sustainable.
Initial Outcome: Producers learn and adopt new practices in production
Indicator: Number of farm visits, office calls, group meeting attendance
Method: Oral feedback, on farm demonstrations
Timeline: All year
Initial Outcome: Producers will increase their knowledge and develop plans to make practice changes toward improving crop production and marketing for grain crops, tobacco, and forages.
Indicator:The number of producers that indicate an increase in knowledge or implement practice changes as a result of information presented at Extension sponsored events.
Method:By follow up visits and one on one contact with producers.
Timeline:All Year.
Intermediate Outcome:Producers will implement practice changes that improve crop production and marketing for grain crops, tobacco and forage.
Indicator:Farmers reporting changes in their production practices.
Method:One on one contact with Producers
Timeline:Input will be received from farmers year around as changes are implemented.
Intermediate Outcome: Farmers participating in Phase 1 Programs
Indicator: Number of farmers submitting applications for Phase 1 funds
Method: Oral feedback, on farm demonstrations
Timeline: All Year
Audience: Local farmers, beef producers, Cattlemen's Association
Project or Activity: Conduct on farm demonstrations on the following: Chaparral Herbicide Trials, Timed Artificial Insemination Studies, Graze 300 On Farm Rotational Grazing Trial, Seed Novel Endophyte Fescue Plots
Content or Curriculum: research based publications, Master Series Programs
Inputs: Publications, UK and USDA Specialist's , Guest Speakers
Date: All Year
Audience: Cattlemen's Association Members and County Wide Beef Producers
Project or Activity: On Farm Field Days and Annual Cattlemen's Tour
Content or Curriculum: Research based tour locations, Master Series Programs and Local Production Meetings
Inputs: Guest Speakers
Date: All Year
Audience: Beef Producers
Project or Activity: Commodity Meetings, Masters Series Programs
Content or Curriculum: Research based forage and livestock information
Inputs: Publications, guest speakers , agents
Date: All Year
Audience: Grain, tobacco and forage producers
Project or Activity:Tobacco Gap Training, Grain Crop Meeting, Cattlemen's Meeting's on Forage, Alfalfa Conference and Grazing School
Content or Curriculum:Educational Meetings as listed above
Inputs:Agents and University Specialists
Date:Winter and Spring
Audience:Current and Prospective crops producers and tobacco and forage producers
Project or Activity: Tobacco Production and Disease Control Meeting, Pasture Walks and Extension Grain Meetings
Content or Curriculum:Educational information specific to the crop being produced.
Inputs:Agent, Cattlemen's Association and Specialists as needed
Date:Winter and Spring
Author: Tommy Yankey
Major Program: Forages
Tall Fescue, a cool season perennial grass, is the most predominant forage in the U.S. covering over 36 million acres. It is extremely prevalent because it possesses desirable characteristics including tolerance to drought, flooding, heavy grazing pressure and a long growing season. However, tall fescue can have a negative effect on livestock. A fungal endophyte that grows in the plant is responsible for producing ergot alkaloids, that proves to be toxic to livestock causing ta
Author: Tommy Yankey
Major Program: Beef
Three years ago our office expanded the Beef Integrated Reproductive Management Program from 2 beef herds to 19 herds. The objective of the study is to stimulate long term behavioral changes in management practices designed to increase reproductive performance. The preferred production practices were demonstrated on each farm and the economic benefits were illustrated to help sustain the management changes. Vaccination and de-worming protocols were all adjusted as needed.  
Author: Tommy Yankey
Major Program: Forages
Rotational grazing is a management strategy used to maximize forage growth. Generally, the leaves of plants are much more palatable and nutritious than stems. In order to maximize forage growth, livestock are strategically moved through a series of fresh pastures in order to provide a grazing rest period for plants to regrow their leaves; which in turn photosysthensize more plant tissue; which then grow at a faster rate because there is more leaf material.After a period of significan
Author: Tommy Yankey
Major Program: Forages
For most of my career farmers have been reluctant to spray pastures for weed control using herbicides for fear of losing their legumes. Even though in many cases the farmers overestimate the actual percentage of legumes in their pastures and would be ahead to spray hard to control weeds such as Tall Ironweed, cocklebur, etc. In many cases the weeds make up 30-40% of the pasture. Costing the farmer decreased carrying capacity and the loss of additional lbs of gain. This ag
