Extension
It Starts With Us
Enhancing Agriculture Management and Marketing
Growing Grayson County through Rural, Youth, and Community Development
Whitney Carman
Forages
Beef
Grains
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Agriculture in Grayson County is an integral part of the economic system. In 2017 the total value of crop and livestock cash receipts for Grayson County was 59.5 million dollars. Balancing input costs, value of crops and livestock, and marketing techniques are always changing, making it harder for farmers and agriculturalists to be profitable. Another issue is the increase in average farmer age, thus the importance of estate transitional planning. Therefore, it is important to educate farmers on the latest information available from the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture food and Environment, and industry partners so they can make educated decisions to help increase the vitality and profitability of their enterprises.
Farmers and Producers will adopt integrated systems of animal and plant production which sustain and/or enhance the economic vitality of their agricultural enterprise. Production methods utilized will increase the amount of commodities produced and enhance their economic value. It is anticipated that there will continue to be an increase in inexperienced farmers and new farmers in 2020 and beyond.
Producers will utilize new management and marketing skills learned from the Cooperative Extension Service programs that can increase the chance of agricultural enterprise profitability. More farmers will make decisions to work on estate plans, succession plans, and avenues to diversify if the need arises.
Producers will learn new marketing techniques for livestock, grain and forage production. Producers will understand ways of controlling their input costs more effectively. Producers will learn new educational tools that they can use to increase efficiency and effectiveness on their agricultural enterprise.
Initial Outcome: Increases awareness of new production methods and techniques
Indicator: education of production methods and techniques
Method: written and online program evaluation
Timeline: Spring 2023, Fall 2022-2023
Intermediate Outcome: Improvement in management and production methods
Indicator: Adoption of practices learned in Extension Programs
Method: Survey of Extension Programs, on-site visits, new producers showing increased profits and value, producers showing change in methods learned from programs involved in.
Timeline: Fall 2023
Long-term Outcome: Increased Economic Vitality of Agriculture Enterprises
Indicator: Economic conditions of farmers become more viable
Method: mailed survey, online survey, and e-mail survey, on-site visits, client adoption of practices
Timeline: Fall 2023
Audience: farmers
Project or Activity: Livestock Marketing
Content or Curriculum: CPH-45 program, Yellow-Tag program, Retained Ownership Program, KY Proud, KY Beef IRM, Beef PVAP program
Inputs: UK Specialists, UK Beef Publications, county agents, beef farmers, Cooperative Extension Services, local livestock markets, Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Date: Spring-Winter 2023
Audience: farmers
Project or Activity: Beef and Forage Production Education
Content or Curriculum: Publications and videos on forages and beef production, project demonstrations on crabgrass and summer annuals
Inputs: UK publications, UK videos, Specialists, social media outlets
Date: Winter
Audience: beef farmers
Project or Activity: Beef and Forage Field Days
Content or Curriculum: Demonstration plot, UK publications and presentations on beef marketing and forage use
Inputs: UK specialists, Local Farmer, Kentucky Beef Network, Agents, Publications, Beef IRM Committee, local farm stores, industry representatives
Date: Fall 2022, Summer 2023
Audience: commodity farmers
Project or Activity: Variety Plots and demonstrations for crops, forages, and vegetables
Content or Curriculum: County variety plots for Corn, soybeans, summer and winter forages, and vegetables
Inputs: UK Specialists, Local seed reps, Local farmers, UK publications
Date: Summer 2022, 2023
Audience: Early career farmers
Project or Activity: Farm Financial Management
Content or Curriculum: UK curriculum for Managing for Today and Tomorrow
Inputs: UK, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky Ag Development Fund, Agents, local businesses
Date: Summer 2023
Audience: Women in Agriculture and Agribusiness
Project or Activity: Farm Management Basics for Women
Content or Curriculum: financial management and general agribusiness education
Inputs: UK, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky Ag Development Fund, Agents, local businesses, Annie's Project curriculum, Kentucky Women in Agriculture programming
Date: Fall- Winter 2024
Audience: Grain Producers
Project or Activity: Grain Marketing Education
Content or Curriculum: Information on grain marketing
Inputs: UK publications, UK specialists, local marketing groups, producers
Date: Summer 2023
Audience: Young Farmers
Project or Activity: Young Farmer Leadership Program
Content or Curriculum: FarmStart curriculum, UK specialists, local agribusinesses, local farmers, UK Extension agents, commodity organizations
Date: Meet Quarterly
Audience: Facebook and Social Media Users/General Public
Project or Activity: Social media posts regarding agriculture marketing and management techniques
Content or Curriculum: various research-based resources
Inputs: UK Specialist, paid Extension Staff, social media outlets
Date: Monthly 2022-24
Author: Whitney Carman
Major Program: Small Ruminants (includes sheep, goats) and Exotic animals
Grayson County and surrounding counties are quickly growing diverse in agriculture practices. Increasing age, new farmers, new landownership, input costs, etc. have made people step away from the traditional cattle, hay and crop production we are used to seeing. One of the fastest growing production practices is in the area small ruminants. Based on the 2017 USDA Census of Agriculture, Grayson County ranks 36th in the state in small ruminant production, with around $100,000 in gross sales each y
