Extension
It Starts With Us
Management and Marketing
Agricultural Profitability
J. Little, A. Sheffield, K. Ragland
Beef
Grains
Horticulture, Commercial
Agriculture
The highest rated agricultural issue in the 2019 Boyle County Extension Community Assessment was the sustainability of family farms. Boyle County has lost 20% of its total number of farms in the last 20 years and 32% in the last 50 (US Census of Agriculture). More than 91% of those farms are operated by individuals and families (KBTN). Other highly rated agricultural topics include more awareness and support for agriculture and agribusinesses, more profitable farms, and more market opportunities for farmers. Local agriculture and horticulture advisory councils have requested additional assistance to identify markets and improve economic opportunities. They have also requested more education and personal consulting from Extension staff and professionals to implement best practices. The 4-H Council requested additional efforts to better educate youth about the sources of their food and careers in agriculture.
Agricultural and horticultural producers will increase efficiency, improve sustainability, and increase profits while maintaining sound environmental practices.
Youth will choose careers in agricultural and horticultural fields and will choose food sources based on knowledge of healthy and sustainable food production systems.
Producers will implement best management practices by increased use of soil testing, CPH 45 sales, Master Cattlemen Programs, forage programs, the Phase 1 program and risk management.
Producers will produce better forages through routine soil sampling, diagnostic services to identify pasture weeds, development and use of grazing plans and implementation of recommended hay storage and feeding methods.
Producers will adopt new technologies for crop production, use fertility management recommendations and implement on-farm trials to maximize productivity.
Youth will employ life skills and knowledge of agricultural careers in furthering their educations and entering the workforce.
Youth will apply their knowledge of farms and agribusinesses when making choices about their food sources.
Producers will learn to use risk management to protect their investments.
Producers will learn to increase profitability using better management practices.
Producers will develop more knowledge of marketing opportunities.
Producers will recognize advances in grain crop production.
Producers will learn the impact of biotechnology traits in crops and be able to explain biotechnology vs. conventional grain crop production to the non-farm public.
Producers will identify herbicide resistant pests and control strategies.
Producers will select useful information from forage variety trials. Jerry?
Producers will learn best practices for grazing, harvesting, storing and feeding forages.
Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of agricultural products, decision making, communications, record keeping, and leadership.
Youth will identify the origins of a wide variety of foods and careers associated with agricultural production.
Initial Outcome: Producers will learn to use risk management to protect their investments.
Indicator: Beef 1011; Grain Crops 1071; Tobacco 1073; Commercial Horticulture 1051
Method: Record of clientele participating in workshops; verbal reviews of information; in-program activities; post-program evaluations; follow-up consultations applying practices to enterprises
Timeline: Year-round
Initial Outcome Producers will learn to increase profitability using better management practices.
Indicator: Beef 1011; Grain Crops 1071; Forages 1072; Tobacco 1073; Soils 1074; Commercial Horticulture 1051
Method: Record of clientele participating in programs; in-program reviews; follow-up consultations on implementing practices; post-program evaluations
Timeline: Year-round
Initial Outcome: Producers will develop more knowledge of marketing opportunities.
Indicator: Commercial Horticulture – Crop Marketing 1053; Farmers’ Markets 1054; Ag Marketing 1082
Method: Record of clientele participating in programs; in-program activities and reviews; connecting clientele with marketing opportunities; post-program evaluation
Timeline: Year-round
Initial Outcome: Producers will recognize advances in grain crop production.
Indicator: Grain Crops 1071
Method: Record of clientele participating in educational programs; hands-on application of information with producers hosting on-farm trials.
Timeline: Year-round
Initial Outcome: Producers will learn the impact of biotechnology traits in crops and be able to explain biotechnology vs. conventional grain crop production to the non-farm public.
Indicator: ANR Biotechnology 1091; Grain Crops 1071
Method: Record of producers participating in programs, verbal reviews of information; post-program evaluations.
Timeline: Year-round
Initial Outcome Producers will identify herbicide resistant pests and control strategies.
Indicator: Pesticide Safety/Plant Pests 1041; Chemical Crop Management Tools 1042: Commercial Horticulture 1051
Method: Record of producers participating in programs; verbal review of information; post-program evaluations; follow-up consultations on implementing practices
Timeline: Year round
Initial Outcome: Producers will select useful information from forage variety trials.
Indicator: Forages 1072
Method: Record of producers participating in programs; verbal review of information; post-program evaluations; follow-up consultations on implementing practices
Timeline: Year-round
Initial Outcome: Producers will learn best practices for grazing, harvesting, storing and feeding forages.
Indicator: Forages 1072
Method: Record of producers participating in programs; verbal review of information; post-program evaluations; follow-up consultations on implementing practices
Timeline: Year-round
Initial Outcome: Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of agricultural products, decision making, communications, record keeping, and leadership.
Indicator: 4-H ANRCC 4021
Method: Record of youth participation in production agriculture-related projects and programs; youth scoring and placement in competitive events; number of youth completing record books on projects; number of youth participating in leadership activities and events; in-program hands-on activities; post-program evaluations
Timeline: Year-round
Initial Outcome: Youth will identify the origins of a wide variety of foods and careers associated with agricultural production.
Indicator: 4-H ANRCC 4021
Method: Record of youth participating in Adventures in Agriculture Day and other educational experiences; in-program hands-on activities; post-program evaluations
Timeline: School year
Intermediate Outcome: Producers will implement best management practices by increased use of soil testing, CPH 45 sales, Master Cattlemen Programs, forage programs, the Phase 1 program and risk management.
Indicator: Soils 1074; Beef 1011; Forages 1072; Farm Management 1081; Commercial Horticulture 1051
Method: Number of producers using recommended practices; follow up contacts with program participants
Timeline: 1-2 years
Intermediate Outcome: Producers will produce better forages through routine soil sampling, diagnostic services to identify pasture weeds, development and use of grazing plans and implementation of recommended hay storage and feeding methods.
Indicator: Forages 1072; Soils 1074; Integrated Plant Pest Management 1043; Farm Management 1081
Method: Number of producers using recommended practices; record of improvement in quality or productivity/acre; follow up contacts with program participants
Timeline: 1-2 years
Intermediate Outcome: Producers will adopt new technologies for crop production, use fertility management recommendations and implement on-farm trials to maximize productivity.
Indicator: Grain Crops 1071; Soils 1074; Commercial Horticulture 1051
Method: Number of producers using recommended practices; record of improvement in quality or productivity/acre; follow up contacts with program participants
Timeline: 1-2 years
Intermediate Outcome: Youth will employ life skills and knowledge of agricultural careers in furthering their educations and entering the workforce.
Indicator: 4-H ANRCC 4021
Method: Number of clientele using knowledge, communications, leadership, etc., to obtain jobs or improve their on-the-job performance; college and career choices credited to skills and knowledge gained through program participation; follow up contacts with program participants
Timeline: 1 to 20 years
Intermediate Outcome: Youth will apply their knowledge of farms and agribusinesses when making choices about their food sources.
Indicator: 4-H ANRCC 4021; Local Food Systems 1021; Home and Consumer Horticulture 1031
Method: Increases in businesses, families and individuals purchasing local foods, buying through local CSA markets, and participating in home gardening; follow up contacts with program participants; local survey data
Timeline: 1-10 years
Long-term Outcome: Agricultural and horticultural producers will increase efficiency, improve sustainability, and increase profits while maintaining sound environmental practices.
Indicator: Beef 1011; Grain Crops 1071; Forages 1072; Farm Management 1081; Commercial Horticulture 1051
Method: Rising productivity and profitability of producers
Timeline: 10-20 years
Long-term Outcome: Youth will choose careers in agricultural and horticultural fields and will choose food sources based on knowledge of healthy and sustainable food production systems.
Indicator: 4-H YDP 4001
Method: Clientele employed in these fields and increased use of local food systems
Timeline: 10-20 years
Audience: 4-H Members
Project or Activity: Animal Agriculture projects and clubs
Content or Curriculum: Horse, Beef, Sheep, Goat, Swine and Dairy Resource Handbooks and Record Books; KY Livestock and Horse Volunteer Certification Resource Manuals and Kits; Livestock Discovery CD; Basic Horse Safety Manual; National Avian Bowl Manual; Raising Fancy Poultry; ChickQuest
Inputs: Curricula, Extension professionals, Extension staff, certified volunteers, producers, program support, 4-H Council funding, private and business donations, Extension office and facilities
Date: Year-Round
Audience: 4-H Members
Project or Activity: Hippology, Horse and Avian Bowl, Skillathon and Judging projects
Content or Curriculum: Beef, Sheep, Swine Selection and Evaluation; Dairy Cattle Judging Handout, PDCA Dairy Cow Unified Scorecard; Holstein Foundation Dairy Judging Workbook; KY Horse and Livestock Volunteer Certification Resource Manuals and Kits; Horse Bowl Manuals and Questions; National Avian Bowl Manual
Inputs: Curricula, Extension professionals, Extension staff, certified volunteers, local farms and producers, program support, 4-H Council funding, individual and business donations, project supplies, Extension office and facilities
Date: Year-round
Audience: 5th graders in DCA, KSD, Danville and Boyle County schools
Project or Activity: Adventures in Agriculture Day
Content or Curriculum: Adventures in Agriculture; KY Livestock and Horse Volunteer Certification Resource Manuals and Kits
Inputs: Extension professionals, Extension staff, volunteers, producers, partners (local businesses, Farm Bureau, schools and Boyle County FFA), program support, 4-H Council funding, private and business donations, high school facilities, Extension office and facilities
Date: Fall
Audience: Farmer's Market Vendors
Project or Activity: FSMA, Food Safety, Farmer's Market Orientation, High Tunnel Education
Content or Curriculum: Specialist Field Days, Specialist based training, KDA Farmers Market Mannual
Inputs: OAK staff, Horticulture Council, Extension professionals, Extension staff, certified volunteers, producers, program support, private and business donations, Extension office and facilities
Date: Year- round
Audience: Commercial Horticulture Producers
Project or Activity: Organic transition, farm management, sustainable food systems
Content or Curriculum: OAK staff, KDA organics, Integrated Pest Management trainings, Farm planning
Inputs: OAK staff, Horticulture Council, Extension professionals, Extension staff, certified volunteers, producers, program support, private and business donations, Extension office and facilities
Date: Year - round
Audience:Beef producers
Project or Activity:Area Beef producer educational meetings
Content or Curriculum:Will use input from past years surveys to set program priorities, and adjust to fit the emerging marketing issues in real time. Cow/calf series will be a canned statewide program from the agriculture economics department. Assist producers wanting to use distillery by-products. Assist producers with direct marketing to consumers.
Inputs:Extension staff, Extension specialists, and agricultural companies. Extension offices, and facilities
Date:Winter
Audience:Area Tobacco producers
Project or Activity:Area Tobacco Production meeting
Content or Curriculum:Extension specialist presents an updated crop recommendation on tobacco for the few growers that are left in our area. Integrated Pest Management update.
Inputs:Extension specialists, extension agents, U.S. Department of Labor, and Ag Connections, extension offices, and facilities
Date:Winter
Audience:Area Grain Producers
Project or Activity:Area Grain Production meeting
Content or Curriculum:Extension specialist presents an updated recommendation on grain crops. Integrated Pest Management update with commercial pesticide hours is done at the meetings as well. Extension agents discuss local grain issues and best management practices. The community assessment showed that farmers want more marketing options for their commodities so a marketing component will be added to the area production meetings.
Inputs:Extension specialists, extension agents, and company representatives.Extension offices, and facilities
Date:Winter
Audience:Area Forage producers
Project or Activity:Area Forage meeting
Content or Curriculum:Extension speicalists coupled with the area extension agents present updated information on forage and forage management.
Inputs:Extension specialists, extension agents, extension offices and facilities.
Date:Winter
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Author: Jerry Little
Major Program: Beef
In order to prepare producers to be efficient and profitable, Central Kentucky county Extension Agents for Agriculture and Natural Resources have collaborated with Beef and AgriculturalEconomic Specialists to present the Kentucky Beef Conference annually for over 20 years. The assistance of long time agricultural business sponsors has allowed producers to hear fromnationally known experts in cattle marketing.Covid-19 restrictions forced the team to re-evaluate how to continue providing timely ma
Author: Jerry Little
Major Program: Beef
A producer approached the Agriculture and Natural Resource agent wanting to learn how to A.I. replacement heifers in his herd which consists of 150 cows. Due to Covid-19 cancelling allthe commercially available A.I. schools in 2020 this producer wasn't able to attend one to learn how to use A.I.on the farm. The agent contacted the beef reproductive specialist and we worked with the producer on getting a small group of heifers synchronized and set a date for timed A.I. to be done on the farm.
Author: Jerry Little
Major Program: Beef
The local distillery is looking to expand their bourbon operation and as a result they will need to get rid of several thousand gallons of stillage by product per day. At certain times of the year the distillery doesn't have an issue getting rid of the by product but other times of the year it can be a problem. The distillery only has one days worth of storage so the by product needs to be moved.The distillery contacted the Agriculture and Natural Resources agent and in turn he contacted an
Author: Jerry Little
Major Program: Forages
An increase in the broadleaf weed pressure in pastures has created problems for beef cattle producers in Boyle county. Beef backgrounders need their pastures to be as weed free as possible to increase the weight of gain on calves. With the number of questions the ANR agent gets on controlling these weeds he has worked with the U.K.extension weed specialist on looking at herbicide control measures. A replicated plot was set up looking at several broadleaf weed control herbicides labeled for pastu
