Extension
It Starts With Us
Promoting Commodies
Improving Farm Practices
Drake
Beef
Forages
Butler County has a large livestock industry. Beef cattle and forages are important parts of our ag economy. There are almost $20 million in livestock sales annually.
Livestock operations are profitable and of improved genetics.
Farmers purchase high quality animals for use on their farm. This increases the productivity of their herd.
Farmers produce higher quality forage for their own use or for sale.
Farmers learn how to conduct a livestock sale.
Farmers learn what is involved in preparing animals to be sold in a special sale.
Farmers can sell cattle locally.
Farmers learn the benefits of buying animals from known health and management protocol.
Initial Outcome: Farmers sell cattle locally
Indicator: Number of consignors and cattle in sale
Method: Pull data from catalog
Timeline: March 2020
Long-term Outcome: Livestock operations are profitable and of improved genetics
Indicator: Cattle farms profitable
Method: Ag states, UK Ag Economy data, Interview
Timeline: June 2020
Audience: Livestock Farmers
Project or Activity: County cattle sale
Content or Curriculum: How to conduct sale and prepare cattle for sale
Inputs: Volunteer time, Agent time, City facilities, local sponsorship
Date: March 2020
Audience: Livestock Farmers
Project or Activity: Forage Demonstration
Content or Curriculum: Using warm season annuals for grazing
Inputs: Volunteer time and farm, Agent Time,
Date: Sept. 2019
Author: Gregory Drake
Major Program: Forages
Forage management is an important skill for Butler County farmers. A large percentage of Butler County’s 150,000 acres of farmland is used for forage production. The program focused on forage and farm management. There was a winter feeding are demonstration, a discussion on using poultry litter in a forage production system, a talk on farming on sensitive areas like reclaimed coal mine sites, a demonstration on warm season annuals, and a presentation on the Kentucky Ag. W
