Clinton County CES

Title:

Livestock, Poultry, & Crops

MAP:

Promoting Commodities & Crop Production

Agents Involved:

Guffey

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Beef

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Forages

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Grains

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Farm Management, Economics and Policy

Situation:

Livestock and Poultry production make up the majority of farm income for Clinton County producers at $37.57 million, with poultry being the top commodity according to the Census of Agriculture County Profile (2017). Crop sales totaled $3.04 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. 
• Group marketing of feeder calves to capture value added pricing. 

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.
• Determine if Cereal Rye is a viable crop for production in the area. 
• Determine the most cost effective Nitrogen source for wheat.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Improving knowledge of grazing practices

Indicator: Producers increasing production through grazing techniques.

Method: Surveys and site visits.

Timeline: On-going

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: On-going

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Cattle Producers

Project or Activity: Beef Quality and Care Assurance Training

Content or Curriculum: Beef Quality and Care Assurance Training Materials

Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals

Date: Winter 2020/21

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: Fall, Winter 2020/21

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: Winter 2021

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: Agr-1 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: Introduction of Budgeting tools and templates during production meetings. 
 Audience: Livestock, poultry and grain crop producers.  
 Content or Curriculum: UK budgeting tools and templates in Excel.  
 Inputs: UK Economic Specialists 
 Date: Winter 20/21

Activity: On-farm demonstration of Cereal Rye
 Audience: Small grain producers   
 Content or Curriculum: UK publications/Specialists
 Inputs: UK Grain Crop Specialists 
 Date: Fall 2020, Winter, Spring 2021

Activity: On-farm Wheat Nitrogen Source Demonstration
Audience: Wheat producers
Content or Curriculum: UK publications/Specialists
 Inputs: UK Grain and Soil Specialists 

 Date: Spring/Summer 2021