Promoting CommodiesPlan of Work

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Butler County CES

Title:
Promoting Commodies
MAP:
Improving Farm Practices
Agents Involved:
Drake
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Small Ruminants (includes sheep, goats) and Exotic animals
Situation:

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.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Livestock operations are profitable and of improved genetics.

Intermediate Outcomes:

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.

Initial Outcomes:

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.

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Farmers are able to buy from each other through a livestock directory produced by the stockman’s association.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Farmers sell cattle locally

Indicator: Number of consignors and cattle in sale

Method: Pull data from catalog

Timeline: March 2021



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 2021

Learning Opportunities:

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: County Livestock Directory

Content or Curriculum: useful information about livestock farms

Inputs: Volunteer time, Agent time, Volunteer Time, local sponsorship

Date: June 2021







Success Stories

Service Work During the Pandemic of 2020

Author: Gregory Drake

Major Program: Forages

As the Coronavirus pandemic continues county agriculture agents find new ways to deliver information to clientele, and service work has become more important.  Families have more time at home and to work on their farms and their property.  Call volumes have increased our opportunities to work one on one with producers.  I have had the opportunity to spend more time with producers, research their production issues, and provide detailed solutions than I have in many years.  Dur

Full Story

Meeting Covid Challenges

Author: Lloyd Saylor

Major Program: Civic Engagement

Families have been impacted financially and psychologically by the Coronavirus Pandemic.  The Butler County Extension Service worked with The Kentucky Dairy Development Council and the H&S Dairy Farm to secure a semi-load of fresh dairy products for distribution to Butler County citizens.  The event was organized and promoted by extension service staff and volunteers.  The event was advertised as Dairy Promotion Day.  The Butler County Family Resource Center and youth ser

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Mammoth Cave Field Day Featuring McKinney Farm in Butler County

Author: Gregory Drake

Major Program: Small Farm Diversification

The Mammoth Cave agriculture and horticulture agents collaborated to produce a Virtual Field Day in October of 2020. The agents in our ten county area worked as a team to develop educational farm tour videos of three very different operations across south-central Kentucky.  The concept was to simulate a traditional field day and reach a diverse audience.  McKinney Farms in Butler Co. produces and sells 70 acres ear corn primarily to deer hunters, and is a great example of ag diversific

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