Extension
It Starts With Us
Livestock & Crops
Promoting Commodities & Crop Production
Anderson
Beef
Small Ruminants (includes sheep, goats) and Exotic animals
Grains
Forages
According to the 2017 Agriculture Census, cattle and calves lead the county in livestock inventory. Poultry would be a close second, if they haven’t passed it by now. The biggest hurdle for livestock producers across commodity groups to overcome is a market for their animals. Cumberland County is home to zero markets for livestock except direct to consumer sales. Cattle producers have to travel to Barren, Clinton, or Russell County to sale (those are the closest). Small ruminant producers would have to go further than that. Commercial poultry producers have contracts with either Tyson or Cobb located in Clinton and Wayne counties respectively.
For grain producers, markets are located in Clinton County (Cobb feed mill) or an elevator would be in northern or western Kentucky. Producers have a lot of trucking costs for this reason.
Something else that spans over all commodity groups is health and well-being of producers. Many farmers work long hours to get done what they need to. This often wears them down physically and mentally.
Minimize environmental impact of air, soil, or living area.
Increased profit margin and/or reduce expenses.
Increase positive opinion of GMO/conventional production of non-farm individuals.
Implement routine soil sampling and follow soil fertility recommendations.
Test forage for nutritional quality.
Implement on farm trials of grain crops.
Develop proper record keeping techniques for the farming operation.
Awareness of forage variety trial information.
Awareness of current land grant research concerning grain crop production.
Initial Outcome: Develop proper record keeping techniques for the farming operation.
Indicator: Number of respondents on survey.
Method: Survey
Timeline: Annually
Initial Outcome: Awareness of forage variety trial information.
Indicator: Number asking for the trial information.
Method: Copies handed out.
Timeline: Annually.
Initial Outcome: Awareness of current land grant research concerning grain crop production.
Indicator: Number asking for information.
Method: Copies handed out.
Timeline: Annually.
Audience: Beef Cattle Producers
Project or Activity: BQCA Training
Content or Curriculum: BQCA Training Materials
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: January, February, March, and October
Audience: Beef Cattle Producers
Project or Activity: Clinton-Cumberland Cattlemen’s Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Various Topics
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: Quarterly (March, June, September, & December)
Audience: Forage Producers
Project or Activity: Production Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Various Topics
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: Late Fall or Late Winter
Audience: Poultry Producers
Project or Activity: Production Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Various Topics
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: Bi-Annual
Audience: Small Ruminant Producers
Project or Activity: Production Meeting
Content or Curriculum: Various Topics
Inputs: UK Specialists, Purdue Specialists, industry professionals, etc.
Date: Early Spring
Audience: Bee Keepers
Project or Activity: Production Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Various Topics
Inputs: Industry Professionals, State Apiarist, etc.
Date: Monthly
Audience: Grain Producers
Project or Activity: Production Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Various Topics
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: Annually (multi-county program in Wayne Co.)
Audience: Tobacco Producers
Project or Activity: GAP Training
Content or Curriculum: GAP Training Materials
Inputs: UK specialists & industry professionals
Date: January or February (in Clinton Co.)
Audience: Hay Producers
Project or Activity: Lime Plot
Content or Curriculum: Specialist Materials
Inputs: UK Specialists
Date: Summer 2021 and Summer 2022
Audience: All Producers
Project or Activity: Private Applicator Training
Content or Curriculum: Private Applicator Training Materials
Inputs: UK specialists & industry professionals
Date: December and February
Audience: All Producers
Project or Activity: Dinner Theater
Content or Curriculum: Ag. Safety in general
Inputs: UK specialists, industry professionals, local producers, etc.
Date: Early Spring
Audience: All Producers
Project or Activity: CAIP Trainings
Content or Curriculum: Various Topics
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: Fall & Spring
Author: Chelsey Anderson
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health - ANR
During the summer of 2021, an email blast was sent out to various agents asking if they would be interested in getting trained in QPR (Question. Persuade. Refer.). This training is to bring awareness to mental health, specifically suicide, within the farming community. The Cumberland County Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) agent decided it was a good fit for the county to be able to offer this programming. The ANR agent partnered with the Family and Consumer Science (FCS) agent and they j
Author: Chelsey Anderson
Major Program: Beef
During the 2019 CAIP program, two producers installed fenceline feeder systems. One installed the system just prior to hay usage for the winter of 2019-2020. According to that producer, he was saving somewhere between $1,800 - $2,100 in hay by utilizing the feeding system. In June 2021, a follow-up field day was held on this farm to demonstrate the use of a fenceline feeder system with numbers to back up the operation. Prior to the 2019-2020 hay feeding season, the producer was feeding 399 rolls
Author: Chelsey Anderson
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health - ANR
With the age increasing every year for the average farmer, the effects of COVID on mental health, and recent farming accidents across the nation, it was decided to host a farmers’ dinner theater. This event took place on March 8th, 2022 at the Cumberland County Extension Office in conjunction with the Clinton County Extension Office. The audience, which consisted of 45 from three counties, listened and watched two skits put on by local farmers that covered hearing loss, sun safety, hydrati
Author: Chelsey Anderson
Major Program: Small Farm Management
In January, it was brought to the ANR agent in Clinton County’s attention about holding a basic welding course for beginners. After discussion with the Cumberland County ANR agent and the Albany Technology center welding instructor, it was decided to offer the program as a combined effort for a total of 12 participants. The class filled up within a few days of advertising. There is now a waitlist for a class in the fall at the same center. For the spring class, a total of 12 participants t
