Promoting Commodies
Improving Farm Practices
Drake
Beef
Small Ruminants (includes sheep, goats) and Exotic animals
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.
Livestock operations are profitable and of improved genetics.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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