Measuring the Agriculture BusinessPlan of Work

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Bracken County CES

Title:
Measuring the Agriculture Business
MAP:
Agriculture, Management and Decision Process
Agents Involved:
ANR
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Forages
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Soil testing
Situation:

Many producers focus on production and do not measure any aspect of the business.  In order to make profitable decisions, producers need data to measure the cost and revenue from their agricultural enterprise.  The need to improve farm record keeping and data collection is a focus of the ag finance businesses as farmers are ask more and more to provide information for capital needs

Long-Term Outcomes:

Farmers implement systems that will help record, track, and analysis the economic viability of their decisions and be able to make necessary changes to reflect the changing market and weather conditions. 

Intermediate Outcomes:

Farmers realize how information can affect the results of the enterprise with increased profitability.  They continue to look at data to make informed decisions.

Initial Outcomes:

Farmers start to measure and record data from each enterprise, such as calf weights, cow reproductive performance, crop yields per field, per acre, and other crop measures of quality.  

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome:  Data Recording

Indicator:  Various collection methods are used to measure ag performance

Method:  Farm Record Keeping classes

Timeline:  Winter of 2021

Intermediate Outcome:  Data Analysis

Indicator:  Farmers make informed decisions based on information from measuring of agriculture production and cost

Method:  Decision making classes

Timeline:2021-2022


Long-term Outcome:  Record Keeping Systems 

Indicator:  Records are a permanent part of the management of the farm operation.

Method:  Producer visits and reports to learn how the business uses data,  Beef Producers that employ I-COW

Timeline: 2023

Learning Opportunities:

Audience:  Farmers wanting to improve profitability

Project or Activity:  Basic Farm Record Keeping Class

Content or Curriculum:

Inputs:

Date:  Winter 2021


Audience:  Data Analysis

Project or Activity:  Class to evaluate information and make informed decisions on

Content or Curriculum:

Inputs:

Date: Fall  2022


Audience:  Record Keeping Systems

Project or Activity:  Learn about various systems from hand written forms to computer programs

Content or Curriculum:

Inputs:

Date:  winter 2023



Success Stories

Hay Production and Soil Testing

Author: David Appelman

Major Program: Forages

Field productivity had declined over time for a local producer and he requested advice on reseeding of his hay fields to increase production.  After a site visit, it appeared that grass stands were sufficient, but lacked the growth he wanted.  We had a discussion about his goals and plans to use the forage.  I knew that he recently sold his cattle and only planned for cash hay sales.  Most of the hay would be for beef cattle, so grass or grass clover hay would be all that was

Full Story

Hay Testing

Author: David Appelman

Major Program: Forages

Knowing the nutritional content of your hay is key to the profitability of any livestock operation.   Without this information, producers will not know if they are providing the correct nutrients to meet the animal’s needs or if they are overfeeding the animals, hurting their profitability.The Bracken County Extension Service has always encouraged producers to test their hay and offered to option of two labs to meet their testing needs.  In 2019, Bracken County received an invita

Full Story

Master Haymaker

Author: David Appelman

Major Program: Forages

The District 1 ANR Agents hosted a seven series virtual Master Haymaker program in winter of 2021.   This program came to fruition due to COVID-19 restrictions and the need to continue programming that would enhance the lives of agriculture producers in Eastern Kentucky.  The seven sessions covered topics such as:  weed control in forages, producing quality hay, warm and cool season forages, soil fertility, marketing hay, machinery options for hay production, and the production of

Full Story

Seed Savings

Author: David Appelman

Major Program: Grains

Left over seed often happens on farms due to many unforeseen circumstances.  Planting delays due to weather, loss of crop acres due to property sales, or changes in market that alters planting decisions.  The problem with left over seed is that it will have lower germination rates if any at all.  One local producer brought seed to the Bracken County Extension office for a germination test to determine if it could be salvages after a year in storage.  This seed was treated wit

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