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