Extension
It Starts With Us
Improving Profitability and Sustainability of Livestock and Crop Production
Promoting Commodities
Danielle Ford, Christan Miracle
Beef
Forages
Forages
Ag Water Quality Program
According to the 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture Marion County had 1016 farming operations encompassing approximately 166,000 acres of land. These farms had total sales of approximately $56 Million. Of the farms, 870 grew crops on approximately 70,000 acres. Over half of the farms in the county raise livestock with the primary type being a beef cow/calf raising operation. Low prices for crops for several years and rapidly falling cattle prices have made it a challenge for farmers to make money. While profit has become a challenge, farmers want and need to continue to operate in a sustainable manner that minimizes impacts on the environment.
Low cost, profitable farms will survive and provide good living situations for farm families. Farms that emphasize environmental sustainability will have the ability to preserve resources far into the future. Emphasis on soil and water quality and preservation will allow these farms to succeed.
Farmers adopt new practices that lead to more efficient and sustainable operations. Farm incomes and environmental quality improve.
Producers will be educated in practices emphasizing operational efficiency and environmental stewardship. Some of these practices include: rotational grazing, ration balancing, forage utilization and testing, soil testing, time management, record keeping and water quality preservation through emphasis on proper chemical, soil preservation and nutrient management practices.
Initial Outcome: Farmers increase knowledge and implementation efficient and sustainable practices in agriculture
Indicator: Number of farmers educated in efficient sustainable practices
Method: Interviews, verbal comments, and written evaluations
Timeline: 12 months
Intermediate Outcome: Farms adopt efficient, sustainable practices
Indicator: Number of farms adopting practices
Method: Interviews, verbal comments, and written evaluations
Timeline: 36 months
Long-term Outcome: Profitable farms survive into the future
Indicator: Profitability, number of farms, environmental quality
Method: Interviews, verbal comments, and written evaluations
Timeline: 5 years
Audience: Cattle Farmers
Project or Activity: BQCA training, Pesticide Training, Safety programs
Content or Curriculum: Lecture and hands on education
Inputs: Specialists, County Agent
Date. throughout the 2018-2019 year
Audience: Grain Farmers
Project or Activity: Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Demonstrate efficient and sustainable practices
Inputs: Specialists, County agent, local farm operation
Date: Summer 2019
Audience: Marion County Farmers and Citizens
Activity: Newspaper article
Content or Curriculum: Livestock, tobacco, crop and home and commercial horticulture issues
Inputs: Information from specialists, County Agent
Date: Weekly
Author: Christan Miracle
Major Program: Forages
The Fescue Toxicity Project took place in the summer of 2018. All farms that are represented in the project are in Marion Co. KY. This project was spearheaded by a summer intern and myself. 5 farmers were selected to participate in the project with each farmer being able to have 2 different fields to be sampled. The goal was to test the fields for the farmer for fescue toxicity and the Ergovaline levels in the fescue were at the time of the samples. After choosing the farmers and the fields, tes
Author: Christan Miracle
Major Program: Farm Management
NRCS and Extension have made a leap to start working together on what they call demo farms around the state for a program call Profitable Pastures. Doug Corbett, a Marion Co. resident, volunteered to be a part of this program. His farm is limited in some resources and he is wanting to get an idea of changes to make to get his farm to be more profitable. Some of the limitation that were noticed when first visiting the farm are water, shade, and rotational grazing. With the help of other colleague
