Management and MarketingPlan of Work

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Taylor County CES

Title:
Management and Marketing
MAP:
Enhancing Livestock and Crop Profitability
Agents Involved:
Pat Hardesty
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Grains
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Grains
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Forages
Situation:

Agriculture producers must continue to improve management/marketing skills to remain profitable and sustain a strong agricultural economy. Beef, dairy, grains and tobacco generate approximately $29 million. With these production systems, protecting the environment is also a responsibility producers are challenged with! With guidance from the Extension Council, the Taylor County Cattlemen’s Association directors and dairy committee, educational programs are planned which highlight management/marketing skills, protecting the environment and providing local foods.


Long-Term Outcomes:

Producers will sustain profitability through enhanced management and marketing skills by the implementation of technology, marketing strategies, BMP’s and management of expenses.


Intermediate Outcomes:

Producers will enhance profitability through the adoption of best management practices and marketing skills while controlling costs.


Initial Outcomes:

Producers will gain knowledge of how new technology improved practices and marketing strategies will enhance profitability.


Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Producers shall begin to enhance profitability through gained knowledge of improved management and marketing skills

Indicator: Producers are motivated to adopt best management of production and marketing.

Method: Surveys, Observation

Timeline: Throughout the year


Intermediate Outcome: Producers adopt recommended practices that were learned through educational programs.

Indicator: Producers will implement management practices

Method: Surveys, Observation

Timeline: Throughout the year


Long-term Outcome: Producers will improve profitability through enhanced management and marketing skills and adoption of new technology.

Indicator: Profitability is enhanced by using technology, enhanced management and marketing

Method: Ag. statistics, savings, observation

Timeline: Throughout the year

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Tobacco Producers

Project or Activity: Tri-County Tobacco Meeting

Content or Curriculum:  Fertility, GAP Training, Disease Management

Inputs: Specialists, Agents, Publications

Date: February 2024


Audience: Dairy Producers

Project or Activity: Tri-County Dairy Shortcourse

Content or Curriculum: Nutrition, Calf Barns, Dry Cow Management

Inputs: Specialists, Agents, Publications, Leaders

Date: February-March 2024


Audience: Grain Producers

Project or Activity: Tri-County Grain Meeting

Content or Curriculum: Persistent Weeds, Technology, Farm Bill, GPS, Ag. Apps

Inputs: Specialists, Agents, Publications

Date: December 2023


Audience: Commercial Applicators - Category 1, 10, 12

Project or Activity: Tri-County Pesticide Certification 

Content or Curriculum: Pesticide Safety and Proper Usage

Inputs: Specialists, Agents, Publications

Date: November 2023


Audience: Grain Producers

Project or Activity: Grain Marketing Group

Content or Curriculum: Marketing Strategies

Inputs: Specialists, Agents, Publications, Commodity Challenge

Date: Quarterly throughout the year


Audience: Beef Producers

Project or Activity: Pasture to Plate

Content or Curriculum: Feeding techniques from weaning to finish, carcass evaluation, consumer preference

Inputs: Specialists, Agents, Publications, Leaders

Date: Throughout the year


Audience: Beef Producers

Project or Activity: Taylor County Cattlemen's Association Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Management and Marketing Topics

Inputs: Specialists, Agents, Publications, Leaders

Date: September 2023- April 2024


Audience:  Beef Producers

Project or Activity:  Field Day

Content or Curriculum: Livestock Handling, Feeding, and Equipment

Inputs: Specialists, Agents, Leaders

Date: Summer 2023


Audience:  Goat Producers

Project or Activity:  Goat Production

Content or Curriculum: Management & Marketing Topics

Inputs: Specialists, Agents

Date: February 2024






Success Stories

Taylor County Farmers’ Market

Author: Kara Back-Campbell

Major Program: Horticulture, Commercial

     The Taylor County Farmers’ Market has previously had low vendor and customer numbers for several years. Last year there was a considerable increase in the numbers of vendors with a total of ten. This season the numbers of customers and vendors have increased even more to a total of 15 vendors and over one thousand customers as of June twenty-ninth. This has improved the financial well-being of the vendors and allows customers to buy locally grown produce. One vendor sta

Full Story

Enhancing Beef Production

Author: Patrick Hardesty

Major Program: Beef

With approximately 12,000 beef cows, beef cattle income ranks second in the county.  To improve profits and sustainability, beef educational meetings were conducted in cooperation with the Taylor County Cattlemen’s Association.To promote beef in the county, the Association cooked at the C & S, Mission Store customer appreciation, Murakami employee appreciation, Kentucky Christian School fundraiser, Bluegrass Stockyards customer appreciation, Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Diversity

Full Story

Sheep and Goat Production Meeting

Author: Patrick Hardesty

Major Program: Small Ruminants (includes sheep, goats) and Exotic animals

Goat and sheep production are on the rise with many producers new to agriculture.  To address this growing demand, a Small Ruminant Meeting with approximately 70 producers in attendance was held. Participants learned about nutrition, parasite management, foot rot, mastitis and marketing. Participants have requested more educational meetings to be specie specific.

Full Story

Hayfield and Lawn Walk Field Day

Author: Patrick Hardesty

Major Program: Forages

Taylor County has approximately 20,000 acres of pastureland and 9,000 homes with lawns.  The Taylor County Extension Office, Taylor County Cattlemen’s Association, and Taylor County Master Gardeners hosted a Hayfield and Lawn Walk Field Day with 42 participating.  Participants learned how to control weeds in hayfields and lawns through proper identification, cultural and chemical control options. As a result of hosting the field day, the host has taught a weed identification

Full Story

Agriculture Development Council

Author: Patrick Hardesty

Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy

In 2000, the General Assembly through House Bill 611 allocated 50% of Kentucky’s Master Settlement Agreement.  The Taylor County Cooperative Extension Service became administrator of the county Agriculture Development Council to help facilitate the development of short- and long-term plans for agriculture, evaluate and prioritize projects and distribute funds.Through this partnership, projects provided opportunities to increase profitability and promote diversification away from tobac

Full Story
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