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 2019/20


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 19, Fall, Winter 2019/20


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 2019/20


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 19/20




Success Stories

Beef Cattle Handling Facility

Author: Colby Guffey

Major Program: Beef

A local beef producer contacted the Extension office with a request for assistance on renovating an old barn to work cattle.  UK Extension bio-systems and Ag engineering specialist along with the local ANR agent made a farm visit to view the existing structure and take measurements. The producer explained their goals, and how they would like the cattle to flow through the system. The UK specialist put together some options for remodeling the old barn to get setup for cattle working.  T

Full Story

Wheat nitrogen source study

Author: Colby Guffey

Major Program: Grain Crops

A local row crop producer contacted the local Extension office enquiring about the best source of Nitrogen for top-dressing wheat.  His goal is to switch to 100% granulated Urea for top-dressing wheat, he is currently using liquid Nitrogen.  The dry Urea will allow him to cover more acres in a timely manner.  The Clinton Co. and Cumberland Co. ANR Agents setup an on-farm Nitrogen study for the producer. The nitrogen plots are replicated 3 times using treated granulated Urea, un-tr

Full Story

Hay storage – proper moisture and temperature

Author: Colby Guffey

Major Program: Forages

Beef producers making round bale hay have been encouraged to protect their investment in the stored forage by limiting exposure to weather.  A couple of young producers have taken advantage of a low interest loan program and built permanent hay storage structures. The hay storage will provide shelter for their baled hay until winter feeding time. One thing that producers often struggle with is, when should they stack the rolled hay in the barn. Baled hay has a tendency to heat soon after ba

Full Story

Wheat for forage

Author: Colby Guffey

Major Program: Forages

Wheat is often used as a source of forage for beef cattle in the area.  With the late freeze events of 2020 producers were concerned about the wheat crop being damaged and increasing the risk for Nitrate concentration in the forage.  Several producers contacted the local ANR Agent about assessing the Nitrate levels in the wheat crop prior to cutting it for forage. The ANR agent made several farm visits to wheat fields using the nitrate test strips provided by UK forage specialist to de

Full Story
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