Farm Management
Agricultural Economics
Susan Fox
Grain Crops
Beef
Tobacco
Farm prices in grain crops, livestock and tobacco cycle. In the last two years grain crops and tobacco have come off of very good highs and returned to average situations with tight margins. Discussions of management for profitability in these times will be very important and have been requested by members of the Ag Extension Council.
Farmers will make decisions that improve profitability and sustainability on the farm. They will know their costs and make informed decisions. They will not cut short term costs that will negatively impact intermediate and long-term profitability.
Farmers will understand the impact of various management practices. They will make decisions based on science and profitability measures.
Producers will learn the basics of farm management and understand the value of basic management practices on the farm. They will be encouraged to use on-farm test strips to determine if a practice is valuable for that farm.
Intermediate Outcome: Use of risk management tools.
Indicator: Tools and information used in decision making.
Method: Workshops evaluations, outcome of individual assistance's.
Timeline: Winter 2018, throughout the year.
Audience: Grain Crop
Project or Activity: Grain Crop Meeting
Content or Curriculum: Marketing and management decision tools
Inputs: UK specialists, Extension publications, online tools
Date: February 2018
Audience: Tobacco farmers
Project or Activity: Dark Tobacco Update/ Mailings
Content or Curriculum: UK/UT budgets, economic outlook
Inputs: UK specialists, publications
Date: January/February 2018
Audience: Beef producers
Project or Activity: Beef IRM program
Content or Curriculum: Individually determined with participating farmers
Inputs: UK specialists, publications, individual farm data
Date: Throughout the year, 2017-2021
Author: Susan Fox
Major Program: Equine
In response to questions from local people, the Agriculture and 4-H Agents partnered to sponsor an educational meeting covering the laws, new and old, that govern transporting horses and livestock. The meeting, promoted through the 4-H and agriculture programs, was led by Sergeant Jason Morris with the Kentucky State Police. Twenty-one people from eight counties attended the meeting to determine whether they were within the law’s requirements for truck and trailer combinations to haul