Livestock, Poultry & CropsPlan of Work

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Clinton County CES

Title:
Livestock, Poultry & Crops
MAP:
Promoting Commodities & Crop Production
Agents Involved:
C. Guffey
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Forages
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Grain Crops
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Ag Marketing
Situation:

Livestock and Poultry production make up the majority of farm income for Clinton County producers at $25.99 million, with poultry being the top commodity according to the Kentucky County Agriculture & Food Profiles (2012). Crop sales totaled $3.78 million. With producers facing declining prices for grain crops and feeder calves, a need was identified by the Ag program council to assist producers in finding ways to reduce input costs, become more efficient, and improve net farm income.

Long-Term Outcomes:

•Improved input efficiency

•Improved production and profitability of forage-based livestock systems.

•Reducing input costs and increasing profits for grain producers.

•Reduced environmental impact

•Utilize the futures and options market to limit downside market risk.

•Improved cash flow from utilizing budgets to make decisions.

Intermediate Outcomes:

•Be proactive in preventing herbicide resistance in grain crops.

•Improved litter utilization by grain and forage producers.

•Use the feeder cattle futures and options market to make price predictions and predict market direction.

•Develop a grazing plan

•Producers utilize budgeting tools to make purchasing and marketing decisions.


Initial Outcomes:

•Develop proper record keeping techniques for the farming operation.

•Awareness of forage trial information and recommended variety tables.

•Develop marketing strategies that assist producers with price risk.

•Enhance knowledge of grazing management practices for all grazing species.

•Awareness of budgeting tools for Livestock, poultry and grain crop production.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Improving knowledge of grazing practices

Indicator: Producers increasing production through grazing techniques.

Method: Surveys and site visits.

Timeline: Fall


Initial Outcome: Participation in county programming increases.

Indicator: Attendance numbers.

Method: Rosters.

Timeline: Spring, Fall, & Winter


Long term Outcome: Improved production and profitability of forage based livestock systems

Indicator: producers reporting improvements in production and profitability

Method: surveys

Timeline: Spring, Fall, & Winter


Initial Outcome: Awareness of budgeting tools available

Indicator: producers utilizing budgeting tools and templates.

Method: Surveys and site visits.

Timeline: Fall & Winter

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Cattle Producers

Project or Activity: Beef Quality and Care Assurance trainings

Content or Curriculum: Cattle Handling & Care Training Materials

Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals

Date: Winter 2018/19


Audience: Cattle Producers

Project or Activity: Twin Lakes Cattle Assoc. Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Beef Cattle production topics

Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals

Date: Quarterly


Audience: Cattle Producers

Project or Activity: Clinton-Cumberland County Cattleman’s Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Beef cattle production topics

Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals

Date: Quarterly


Audience: Forage Producers

Project or Activity: Production Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Various topics

Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals

Date: Summer 18, Fall, Winter 2018/19


Audience: Poultry Producers

Project or Activity: Production Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Managing Poultry Litter for Profit

Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals

Date: TBD


Audience: Grain Producers

Project or Activity: Grain Production Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Various Topics

Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals

Date: Fall/Winter 2018/19


Audience: All Producers

Project or Activity: CAIP Trainings

Content or Curriculum: Various Topics

Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals

Date: As Needed


Audience: All Producers

Activity: Soil Testing

Content or Curriculum: Fertilizer Recommendations

Inputs: Agent, Staff, UK Regulatory Services

Date: Ongoing


Activity: Forage Testing

Audience: Forage Producers

Content or Curriculum: Forage Testing Lab

Inputs: UK forage and Nutrition Specialists

Date: Ongoing


Activity: Horse owner forage production 

Audience: Horse owners

Content or Curriculum: Pastures please or Horse College

Inputs: UK forage and Equine Specialists

Date: Winter/Spring 19




Success Stories

Livestock and Forage Farm Field Day

Author: Colby Guffey

Major Program: Forages

The Clinton County Extension service partnered with the Twin Lakes Cattle Association to hold a beef field day in July 2018. Clinton County is home to around 10,000 head of beef cattle, making cow/calf production a vital part of the Ag economy. Beef producers rely on grazing multiple forages to supply nutrition to the cows and calves. Tall fescue is the predominant forage for beef cattle, however growth will slow and the grass will go dormant in the heat of the summer. Producers are continually

Full Story

Work and Play Safely

Author: James Cecil

Major Program: Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum

I partnered with our local County Agriculture Agent and FFA Teacher to help put on a farm safety day.  We had our 4-H Adventure Club Kids and FFA Students to help us set up, tear down and teach stations for all of the 5th and 6th grade students.  We had live stock safety, grain bin safety, tractor roll over safety, 4-Wheeler safety and chainsaw safety.  The students taught all the stations.  They came two hours before the safety day begun and were trained on their station so

Full Story

Fencing School

Author: Colby Guffey

Major Program: Farm Management

An all-day fencing school was held in Cumberland County on April 11th in collaboration with Cumberland County Extension. This was one of three regional schools held in the state. The school consisted of speakers from the University of Kentucky, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Stay-Tuff, Gallagher, and ACI. In total 25 participated in the day long schooling while representing eight different counties in the state. Participants stated that they learned new techniques for fencing using fix

Full Story

Beef Cow/Calf Series

Author: Colby Guffey

Major Program: Beef

The Clinton and Cumberland County Extension services partnered to host a series of Beef cow/calf related meetings in the winter of 2019.  A total of six sessions were conducted utilizing UK beef, forage and Ag engineering specialists.  The educational session topics were on utilizing co-product feeds to stretch the hay supply, cattle handling/bud box systems, vaccination protocols and pinkeye prevention, record keeping systems and technology, pasture renovation following a wet winter,

Full Story
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