Extension
It Starts With Us
Improving the efficiency of producers' marketing abilities and production practices.
Improving Agricultural Profitability by Using Proper Marketing and Management Skills
Melissa Goodman, Paula McCuiston, Mattea Mitchell
Beef
Grain Crops
Farm Management
Ag Marketing
It is easy to say that Kentucky is an agriculture based state. There are over 40,000 beef cattle producers in Kentucky and over one million head of beef cows. Kentucky is the eighth largest beef state in the U.S. and has the largest herd east of the Mississippi River. Even with high prices it is important to continue to educate beef producers on best management practices to: keep costs down, optimize income through management and marketing, be good stewards of the land and practice good animal welfare. The overall goal is to provide Hickman County beef producers with the tools necessary to be profitable and sustainable.
While cattle prices continue to rise, grain crop production is facing a downward pressure with severe economic distress (high inputs, low commodity prices, high land rent, flooded machinery market) for the foreseeable future. Using the same strategies as with beef production, the overall goal for grain producers is to provide them with the tools necessary to be profitable and sustainable throughout the duration of the economic distress. Hickman County is a rural county that is predominantly crop fields. Excellent soils next to the Mississippi River allow farmers opportunities for good yields with moderate rainfall.
In 2012, Hickman County had 298 farm operations on 141,131 acres, which represented 91.0% of total county land. In comparison, Kentucky's farm operations made up 51.6% of the state's total land area, and U.S. farm operations made up 40.5% of total land area in the country. In the year 2012, total crop sales in Hickman County were valued at $56,841,000, whereas the state of Kentucky total was 2.3 billion; total animal sales for Hickman County were valued at $102,398,000, whereas the state of Kentucky total was 2.8 billion.
Maximize profits for commercial producers.
Improve sustainability of crop production systems.
Improved farm economic status.
Producers save money by making informed selection decisions.
Reduce operating expenses.
Use diagnostic services to identify insects, disease and weeds.
Adopt one or more fertility management recommendations.
Implementation of on-farm trials.
Test forage for nutritional quality.
Employ record systems to track drug use, vaccines, chemicals, feed additives, and the movement of cattle on and off operations.
Use proper cattle handling and movement techniques.
Construct a cattle handling facility.
Utilize knowledge to become competitive in the market.
Use the feeder cattle futures and options market to make price predictions and predict market direction.
Participate in KBN marketing programs (CPH, MAG 60).
Awareness of current land grant research concerning grain crop production.
Increased knowledge of upcoming year tax changes and markets.
Identification of IPM practices for grain crops production.
Understanding importance of and frame work of on-farm trials.
Identify herbicide resistant pests and strategies to overcome these pests.
Gain knowledge of the beef industry and information and tools to succeed in beef production.
Knowledge of safety on the farm.
Initial Outcome: Knowledge of safety on the farm.
Indicator: Children show a better knowledge of safety on the farm.
Method: Self Reports & Observation
Timeline: Fall 2019
Intermediate Outcome: Maximize profits for commercial producers & Improve sustainability of crop production systems
Indicator: 50% of participants will indicate knowledge increase
Method: Post Program Evaluation
Timeline: February 2020
Long-Term Outcome: Producers save money by making informed selection decisions
Indicator: 50% of participants will indicate knowledge increase
Method: Post Program Evaluation
Timeline: Fall 2019
Initial Outcome: Increased knowledge of upcoming year tax changes and markets
Indicator: Participants will utilize the Purchase Farm Analysis Groups information
Method: Communication with Farm Analysis Group
Timeline: December 2019
Intermediate Outcome: Better production and marketing of producers products.
Indicator: Producers will utilize resources provided by Ag Extension Agent.
Method: Bi-Annual Visits
Timeline: 2019-2020
Audience: 1st – 6th Grade
Project or Activity: AG Farm Safety Day
Content or Curriculum: UK Educational Materials, Various Farm Safety Materials
Inputs: Extension Staff, Hickman County FFA Advisor and Members, Fire and Rescue, Ambulance Service, Gibson Electric, River Valley Ag Credit, Hickman County Farm Bureau, Various Hickman County Farmers
Date: Fall 2019
Audience: Purchase Area Cattlemen
Project or Activity: Beef Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Supplied by Ag Agent
Inputs: Ag Agents (Hickman, Fulton, and Carlisle), Young Farmer Advisor, Purchase Area Cattlemen's Association, and Local Sponsors
Date: Summer 2020
Audience: Adult Farm Women and/or Female Landowners
Project or Activity: Women in Agriculture
Content or Curriculum: Issues Affecting Women in Agriculture
Inputs: Four River Counts Extension Ag/FCS Staff, Local Banks, Soybean Board, River Valley Ag Credit, Program Volunteer, Extension Homemakers
Date: Fall 2019
Audience: Beef Producers
Project or Activity: Annual Beef Production Meeting
Content or Curriculum: Murray State University Agriculture Science Professor
Inputs: Ag Agent, Young Farmer Advisors, Local Ag Retailers, Murray State Professors
Date: March 2019
Audience: Hickman County Row Crop Producers
Project or Activity: Early Winter Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Supplied from Ag Agent
Inputs: Ag Agent, Local Banks, Financial Management Representative or Ag Economics Specialist
Date: December 2019
Audience: Purchase Area Grain Crop Producers
Project or Activity: Winter Ag Conference
Content or Curriculum: Supplied from Agents
Inputs: Ag Extension Agents, Young Farmer Advisors, Local Ag Retailers
Date: February 2020
Audience: Purchase Area Cattle Producers & Ag Agents
Project or Activity: PACA Nebraska Trip
Content or Curriculum: Agent Developed Curriculum
Inputs: PACA Committee Members, Hickman County & Graves County Extension Agents, Young Farmer Advisors, Local Beef Producer,
Date: July 2019
Audience: Hickman/Fulton Grain Crop Producers
Project or Activity: Variety Trials
Content or Curriculum: University of Tennessee Grain Crops
Inputs: Ag Extension Agents (Hickman/Fulton), UT Grain Crop/Variety Trials Specialist, Local Banks
Date: Crop Year 2019
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Newspaper and Newsletter Articles
Content or Curriculum: University of Kentucky Programming
Inputs: Ag Extension Agent, UK Research Information, eXtension Resources
Date: 2019-2020
Audience: Hickman County Producers
Project or Activity: Kentucky Beginning Farmer / DEAL Mentor
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Ag Finance Corporation
Inputs: Ag Extension Agent, Kentucky Ag Finance Corporation
Date: 2019-2020
Author: Mattea Mitchell
Major Program: Ag Policy
With 83.53% of the land in all four river counties used for crop production, agriculture holds a strong presence. It was proposed to highlight agriculture in Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, and Hickman County. The first of its kind event WAVE River Counties AG Day was held at Fort Jefferson Cross Memorial in Wickliffe on July 13 from 7:30 am to 2:00 pm. The theme “Lets Grow With It”, was chosen. The WAVE Ag Day is a joint venture including all four county judge execu
Author: Mattea Mitchell
Major Program: Ag Policy
Early Career Farming Program (ECFP) - Local Government Carlisle, Fulton and Hickman County had a market value of $337 million in agricultural products last year – equal to the single largest producing county in the state. This region spent over $70 million on fertilizer, seed and chemicals alone last year. After discussing with our CEC boards and Ag councils, the three agents wanted to offer a program geared toward younger farmers getting ready to transition toward making farm decisions wh
Author: Mattea Mitchell
Major Program: Commercial Horticulture
A local commercial tomato producer has struggled for the last two years with his production on his lower ground in Hickman County. After working with specialists, pathologists, and several different labs (including UK), the producer is on his way to healthier tomato production and solve problems for his lower production ground. Working with him from his starters, all the way up to mature plants, many issues were able to be addressed in regards to production. He wrote a response to the assis
