Livestock, Poultry & Crops
Promoting Commodities & Crop Production
C. Guffey
Beef
Forages
Grain Crops
Ag Marketing
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.
•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.
•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.
•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.
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
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
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
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
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
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,