Extension
It Starts With Us
Improved Agriculture Production
Family/Farm Financial Management & Improved Agriculture Production Skills
S. Campbell T. Yankey
Beef
Grain Crops
Forages
Tobacco
Extension District Board Members and Ag Advisory Groups feel strongly that with the decline of tobacco in the county that greater emphasis must be placed on improving the genetics in our beef herds and greater emphasis must be placed on improving our forage base utilizing a mix of cool season grasses, legumes, summer and winter annuals and warm season grasses.
Low commodity prices are impacting planting decisions and currently are providing thin profit margins for most grain producers. The corn market continues to struggle with use which is projected to be 227 million bushels less than the previous marketing year. Exports have been reduced by a strong US Dollar coupled with price competitive exports from Brazil. Increased tariffs from China may reduce the potential for exports even further. While there is a lot of uncertainty about the 2018 corn and soybean crop, producers need to pencil their break-evens to be aware of their production costs and consider protecting a portion of the crop with futures contracts. Many producers are lowering or renegotiating rents and leases for the 2018 crop year. The wet weather across most of the nation has been excessive to to point that 15-20 million acres of corn may not get planted in 2019. This may offer an opportunity for a small rally in prices with a combination of lower acres planted and lower yields suggesting a potential for a futures rally from $5-5.50 for corn per bushel and soybeans expected to rally to between $9-10 per bushel.
Tobacco farmers are struggling to make a profit under the current market conditions. Dependable labor or lack of has left many growers frustrated with trying to produce a crop profitably. Many growers telling me they are only clearing 40 cents per lb for their management efforts. Many of the remaining growers are leaving tobacco and are exploring alternative farm enterprises, i.e., expanding existing cow herds, looking at potential hay sales and possibly hemp.
Grain growers and tobacco growers serve on our Extension Council and Ag advisory councils to provide input.
Agricultural producers use best management practices including current technologies available to beef producers and a mix of grasses and legumes and warm season annuals to increase available carrying capacity of their pastures and at the same time sustaining the farm family competitiveness of their farm operation.
Grain and tobacco growers strive to remain above break-evens for cost of production by carefully evaluating which hybrids to plant, which chemicals to use and by negotiating leases that allow them a fair level of profit. The high cost of inputs demands that crop producers adopt management systems which are sustainable. Adopt new forage varieties and management programs such as Rotational Grazing to increase carrying capacity of the farm. Adopt new technology such as bale grazing to redistribute nutrient load uniformly onto the pasture fields.
Agricultural producers adopt and utilize technology and production practices in livestock production and their forage program to increase overall carrying capacity of the farm to impact long term survival of the farm family.
Clientele will implement a variety of improved crop production practices and marketing techniques utilizing information gathered through Extension training's, workshops, field days, newsletters and publications.
Agricultural producers gain knowledge in current technology at it relates to livestock and forage production . Producers gain knowledge in how to incorporate these technologies into their own farming operations.
Producers will use Progress Reports for selecting varieties for grain crops, tobacco and forages which improve yields, profitability and longevity of forage stands. Producers will use soil testing, IPM practices and best management practices to make their operations more sustainable.
Initial Outcome: Producers learn and adopt new practices in production
Indicator: Number of farm visits, office calls, group meeting attendance
Method: Oral feedback, on farm demonstrations
Timeline: All year
Initial Outcome: Producers will increase their knowledge and develop plans to make practice changes toward improving crop production and marketing for grain crops, tobacco, and forages.
Indicator:The number of producers that indicate an increase in knowledge or implement practice changes as a result of information presented at Extension sponsored events.
Method:By follow up visits and one on one contact with producers.
Timeline:All Year.
Intermediate Outcome:Producers will implement practice changes that improve crop production and marketing for grain crops, tobacco and forage.
Indicator:Farmers reporting changes in their production practices.
Method:One on one contact with Producers
Timeline:Input will be received from farmers year around as changes are implemented.
Intermediate Outcome: Farmers participating in Phase 1 Programs
Indicator: Number of farmers submitting applications for Phase 1 funds
Method: Oral feedback, on farm demonstrations
Timeline: All Year
Audience: Local farmers, beef producers, Cattlemen's Association
Project or Activity: Conduct on farm demonstrations on the following: Chaparral Herbicide Trials, Timed Artificial Insemination Studies, Graze 300 On Farm Rotational Grazing Trial, Seed Novel Endophyte Fescue Plots, Bale Grazing, Feeding Tr5ials from using Distillery By-Products
Content or Curriculum: research based publications, Master Series Programs
Inputs: Publications, UK and USDA Specialist's , Guest Speakers
Date: All Year
Audience: Cattlemen's Association Members and County Wide Beef Producers
Project or Activity: On Farm Field Days and Monthly Cattlemen's Production Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Research based tour locations, Master Series Programs and Local Production Meetings
Inputs: Guest Speakers
Date: All Year
Audience: Beef Producers
Project or Activity: Commodity Meetings, Masters Series Programs
Content or Curriculum: Research based forage and livestock information
Inputs: Publications, guest speakers , agents
Date: All Year
Audience: Grain, tobacco and forage producers
Project or Activity:Tobacco Gap Training, Grain Crop Meeting, Cattlemen's Meeting's on Forage, Alfalfa Conference and Grazing School, Private Applicator Pesticide Certification
Content or Curriculum:Educational Meetings as listed above
Inputs:Agents and University Specialists
Date:Winter and Spring
Audience:Current and Prospective crops producers and tobacco and forage producers
Project or Activity: Tobacco Production and Disease Control Meeting, Pasture Walks and Extension Grain Meetings
Content or Curriculum:Educational information specific to the crop being produced.
Inputs:Agent, Cattlemen's Association and Specialists as needed
Date:Winter and Spring
