Promoting CommodiesPlan of Work

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Butler County CES

Title:
Promoting Commodies
MAP:
Improving Farm Practices
Agents Involved:
Drake
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Small Ruminants (includes sheep, goats) and Exotic animals
Situation:

Butler County has a large livestock industry. Beef cattle and forages are important parts of our ag economy. There are almost $20 million in livestock sales annually.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Livestock operations are profitable and of improved genetics.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Farmers purchase high quality animals for use on their farm. This increases the productivity of their herd.


Farmers produce higher quality forage for their own use or for sale.

Initial Outcomes:

Farmers learn how to conduct a livestock sale.


Farmers learn what is involved in preparing animals to be sold in a special sale.


Farmers can sell cattle locally.


Farmers learn the benefits of buying animals from known health and management protocol.

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Farmers are able to buy from each other through a livestock directory produced by the stockman’s association.

Evaluation:




Long-term Outcome: Livestock operations are profitable and of improved genetics

Indicator: Cattle farms profitable

Method: Ag states, UK Ag Economy data, Interview

Timeline: June 2023

Learning Opportunities:



Audience: Livestock Farmers

Project or Activity: County Livestock Directory

Content or Curriculum: useful information about livestock farms

Inputs: Volunteer time, Agent time, Volunteer Time, local sponsorship

Date: October 2022







Success Stories

Improving Heifer Development Skills

Author: Gregory Drake

Major Program: Beef

Beef Cattle production is an important enterprise for Butler County farmers.  Butler County is a cow/calf production county that does not have many farms that are selling open or bred heifers.  This causes most of our farmers to go out of county to purchase heifers or develop their own.  The event host has wanted to encourage some young farmers to get into selling heifers.   The agriculture agent organized, promoted, secured sponsors for, arranged volunteers for, and facilita

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Beef Cattle Management Short Course via Zoom

Author: Gregory Drake

Major Program: Beef

 The Simpson and Butler County Extension Agents for Agriculture developed a beef cattle management program that would be held exclusively on Zoom video conferencing technology.  The program was titled, “Beef Cattle Management Short Course” and was comprised of a 3-part series in the months of January and February with each topic featuring University of Kentucky forage and agronomy specialists.  The session titles were as follows:  “Genetics, EPDs, and Genomi

Full Story
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