Hancock County CES

Title:

Dealing with Market Fluctuations

MAP:

Grain Crop Systems and Environmental Stewardship

Agents Involved:

Evan Tate - ANR

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Grain Crops

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Farm Management

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Integrated Plant Pest Management

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Ag Marketing

Situation:

Hancock County has several well established grain production units with many younger producers well invested in infrastructure. Fertile river bottom ground in Hancock County has been well utilized to produce corn and soybeans. Currently, Grain crop production is facing a downward pressure with severe economic distress (high inputs, low commodity prices, high land rent, flooded machinery market) for the foreseeable future. Producers, now more than ever need to be inventive in management practices to perpetuate sustainability.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Producers continue to adopt soil conservation techniques in order to conserve valuable topsoil while maximizing profits due to better marketing tactics. Farm Management tools will be utilized more often in order to better asses production and cost of operation.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Producers will apply new technology for crop production. Producers will use a variety of diagnostic services to identify insects, disease and weeds. Producers will acquire and utilize test plot data.

Initial Outcomes:

Producers Identify active ingredients in crop related ag products. Producers recognize herbicide resistant pests and strategies to overcome these pest. Producers understanding of production regulation increases. Producers look for opportunities to update current equipment to offset new purchases.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increased participation in Private Applicator training

Indicator: Increased number of licenses

Method: Compare registrations to previous years

Timeline: Spring 2018

Intermediate Outcome: Producers utilize test plot data to make seed selection

Indicator: Hancock Co Extension has an increase in interest form producers for test plot data

Method: Survey

Timeline: Fall 2017

Long-term Outcome: Producers adhere to better farm management and record keeping skills

Indicator: Producers are better able to project cost and production parameters

Method: Survey

Timeline: Fall 2018

Learning Opportunities:

Audience:Producers

Project or Activity: Producers see differences in variety performance on land within the county

Content or Curriculum: Field day for producers to see varieties

Inputs: County Agent,UK Specialist, Producers

Date: Fall 2017

Audience:Producers

Project or Activity: Producers gain information on pest control

Content or Curriculum: Private Application Course

Inputs: Count Agent, UK Specialist, producers

Date: Fall 2017

Audience: Producers

Project or Activity: Shop Talk Field Day

Content or Curriculum: Learn about options to retrofit old equipment with new technology

Inputs: UK specialist, county agent, equipment manufacturer, farmers

Date:Spring 2018

Success Stories