Livestock, Poultry, & Crops
Promoting Commodities & Crop Production
Guffey
Beef
Forages
Grains
Tornado Response and Recovery
Livestock and Poultry production make up the majority of farm income for Clinton County producers at $37.57 million, with poultry being the top commodity according to the Census of Agriculture County Profile (2017). Crop sales totaled $3.04 million. A recent positive turn in commodity prices have row crop producers interested in increasing production. Inputs such as fertilize, seed and fuel have increased as well, a need was identified by discussion with producers on the opportunity of increasing grain production in the area. Beef cow/calf producers continue to see declining prices along with rising feed, fuel and fertilizer costs, a need was identified by the Ag program council to assist producers in finding ways to reduce input costs, become more efficient, and improve net farm income.
- Improved input efficiency
- Improved production and profitability of forage-based livestock systems.
- Reducing input costs and increasing profits for grain producers.
- Reduced environmental impact
- Utilize the futures and options market to limit downside market risk.
- Improved cash flow from utilizing budgets to make decisions.
- Be proactive in preventing herbicide resistance in grain crops.
- Improved litter utilization by grain and forage producers.
- Use the feeder cattle futures and options market to make price predictions and predict market direction.
- Develop a grazing plan
- Producers utilize budgeting tools to make purchasing and marketing decisions.
- Group marketing of feeder calves to capture value added pricing.
- Develop proper record keeping techniques for the farming operation.
- Awareness of forage trial information and recommended variety tables.
- Develop marketing strategies that assist producers with price risk.
- Enhance knowledge of grazing management practices for all grazing species.
- Awareness of budgeting tools for Livestock, poultry and grain crop production.
- Determine if Cereal Rye is a viable crop for production in the area.
- Determine the most cost effective Nitrogen source for wheat.
Initial Outcome: Improving knowledge of grazing practices
Indicator: Producers increasing production through grazing techniques.
Method: Surveys and site visits.
Timeline: On-going
Initial Outcome: Participation in county programming increases.
Indicator: Attendance numbers.
Method: Rosters.
Timeline: Spring, Fall, & Winter
Long term Outcome: Improved production and profitability of forage based livestock systems
Indicator: producers reporting improvements in production and profitability
Method: surveys
Timeline: Spring, Fall, & Winter
Initial Outcome: Awareness of budgeting tools available
Indicator: producers utilizing budgeting tools and templates.
Method: Surveys and site visits.
Timeline: On-going
Initial Outcome: Learning basic principles of welding and oxy fuel cutting
Indicator: producers reports of masking simple welding repairs on-farm
Method: Surveys and site visits.
Timeline: On-going
Audience: Cattle Producers
Project or Activity: Beef Quality and Care Assurance Training
Content or Curriculum: Beef Quality and Care Assurance Training Materials
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: Winter 2022/23
Audience: Cattle Producers
Project or Activity: Twin Lakes Cattle Assoc. Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Beef Cattle production topics
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: Quarterly
Audience: Cattle Producers
Project or Activity: Clinton-Cumberland County Cattleman’s Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Beef cattle production topics
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: Quarterly
Audience: Forage Producers
Project or Activity: Production Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Various topics
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: Fall, Winter 2022/23
Audience: Poultry Producers
Project or Activity: Production Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Managing Poultry Litter for Profit
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: TBD
Audience: Grain Producers
Project or Activity: Grain Production Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Various Topics
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: Winter 2022
Audience: All Producers
Project or Activity: CAIP Trainings
Content or Curriculum: Various Topics
Inputs: UK Specialists & industry professionals
Date: As Needed
Audience: All Producers
Activity: Soil Testing
Content or Curriculum: Agr-1 Fertilizer Recommendations
Inputs: Agent, Staff, UK Regulatory Services
Date: Ongoing
Activity: Forage Testing
Audience: Forage Producers
Content or Curriculum: Forage Testing Lab
Inputs: UK forage and Nutrition Specialists
Date: Ongoing
Activity: Introduction of Budgeting tools and templates during production meetings.
Audience: Livestock, poultry and grain crop producers.
Content or Curriculum: UK budgeting tools and templates in Excel.
Inputs: UK Economic Specialists
Date: Winter 22/23
Activity: On-farm trial for Liming products
Audience: Forage and grain producers
Content or Curriculum: UK publications/Specialists
Inputs: UK Soils Specialists
Date: Fall 2022Activity: Basic Welding for Farmers
Audience: All Producers
Content or Curriculum: Area Technology Center Curriculum
Inputs: Area Technology Center Welding Instructor
Date: Fall 2022/Spring 2023
Activity: Natural Disaster Education, Response, & Recovery
Audience: Producers/Families
Content or Curriculum: Extension publications & resources
Inputs: All Agents, Staff, Volunteers
Date: Ongoing
Author: Colby Guffey
Major Program: Grains
ThGrain producers are continually faced with decisions of new products that are marketed to increase bushels per acre or lower input costs per acre etc. In 2022 a grain producer contacted the Clinton Co ANR Agent to inquire about setting up a trial with a product that is marketed as reducing the amount of commercial Nitrogen needed for the corn crop. In collaboration with the Cumberland Co ANR Agent a demonstration trial was setup with four replications 2 treated replications of the
Author: Colby Guffey
Major Program: Beef
Confined beef cow/calf facilities have gained interest in recent years. With the continual increase in land prices, utilizing a structure to partially confine or totally confine cows has gained interest from some local producers. In early 2022 a local beef producer came to the Extension office to inquire about facilities for confined cattle housing. The local ANR agent set up tours for the beef producer to visit producers in other areas that have built similar facilities. The
Author: Colby Guffey
Major Program: Beef
In October of 2022 a group of local beef producers from Clinton, Cumberland, Russell, and Wayne counties toured the Kentucky Cattleman’s Association working beef farm in Owenton, KY. Producers toured working demonstrations that the Eden Shale farm has put into practice. Innovative and practical ways of feeding round bale hay to cows was the main focus of the tour, as well as water harvesting and heavy use areas. Producers that attended the farm tour gained insight into