Extension
It Starts With Us
Agriculture Production and Management
Improving Agriculture Production and Management
Traci Johnson
Grains
Tobacco
Horticulture, Commercial
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Farms make up over three-fourths of the land in Todd County. These farms include a wide variety of enterprises, including vegetables, grain crops, tobacco, hogs, poultry and eggs, milk, and cattle. Todd County ranks 2nd in the state for vegetable production; 3rd in the state for hogs and pigs; 4th in the state for tobacco, and 6th in the state for milk, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture. There are several retail farm markets in Todd County. Most vegetables and many ornamentals are sold through the Fairview Produce Auction and the Miller Valley Produce Auction.
The market value of ag products in 2022 was over 224 million dollars, increasing by 28% since the 2017 Census of Agriculture. From 2017 to 2022, the average net cash farm income increased by 59% to $144,520. Even though the number of farms decreased by 7% to 551 – farmland acreage increased by 11% to 187,183 acres.
Respondents to the University of Kentucky’s 2023 Community Assessment indicated the following county needs: Access to high-speed internet; Sustainability of family farms; Preserving and managing agricultural land; Strengthening and supporting the local food and agriculture industry; and Market support for locally grown and produced foods. Pest issues affecting crops and providing increased marketing opportunities for farmers were also noted as important needs.
Clients have shared that there is pressure on land and land prices due to people moving from the Clarksville, TN area into Todd County. The U.S. Census Bureau shows a population increase from 12,243 residents in 2020 to an estimated 12,494 in 2023.
Farm cooperators will improve their relative net returns or returns per unit of input resources in their agricultural enterprises.
Farm cooperators will adopt improved production, management, and marketing techniques so that production is increased economically, or that costs are managed without sacrificing production.
Cooperators will gain knowledge of University of Kentucky extension recommendations for crop and livestock production, management, and marketing.
Initial Outcome: Cooperators will gain knowledge of University of Kentucky recommendations relating to crop and livestock management, varying from beef cow herd management to tobacco and grain cultural management and pest control. They will also gain knowledge in the areas of economic management, marketing, USDA programs, and farm-related regulations.
Indicators: Knowledge gained, skills acquired, etc.
Method: Producer reports, and/or agent observations, and/or surveys
Timeline: Annually
Intermediate Outcome: Farm cooperators will adopt improved production, management, and marketing techniques so that production is increased economically, costs are managed without sacrificing production, or production and/or economic risks are reduced.
Indicators: Improved production, management, marketing techniques adopted
Method: Producer reports, and/or agent observations, and/or surveys
Timeline: Changes will be measured annually over the 4-year plan of work cycle
Long-term Outcome: Farm cooperators will improve their relative net returns or returns per unit of input resources in their agricultural enterprises.
Indicators: Net profitability, production costs, risk factors
Method: Producer reports, and/or agent observations, and/or surveys
Timeline: Accumulative changes will be measured over the 4-year plan of work
Audience: Farmers and homeowners
Project or Activity: Soil testing
Content or Curriculum: UK soil test recommendations
Inputs: Agent time
Date: Program year
Audience: Farmers and homeowners
Project or Activity: Pest diagnosis and control recommendations
Content or Curriculum: UK pest publications and control recommendations
Inputs: Agent time, UK plant disease and insect diagnostic services
Date: Program year
Audience: Tobacco farmers
Project or Activity: Winter tobacco production meeting
Content or Curriculum: UK tobacco publications and resource material
Inputs: Agent time, UK tobacco specialist time
Date: January 2025
Audience: Grain farmers
Project or Activity: KY/TN Grain Day
Content or Curriculum: UK/UT grain production resource material
Inputs: Agent time, UK and/or UT specialist time
Date: January 2025
Audience: Beef and pork producers
Project or Activity: Raising the Steaks meat animal finishing school
Content or Curriculum: UK extension resource materials, 4- part series
Inputs: Agent, UK extension specialists, local farmers, local meat processor
Date: September 2024
Audience: Cattle farmers
Project or Activity: Beef Quality & Care Assurance Certification
Content or Curriculum: UK/KY Cattlemen's Association training materials
Inputs: Agent, UK extension specialists
Date: September 2024 and April 2025
Audience: Livestock & milk producers
Project or Activity: Forage
Content or Curriculum: UK beef/dairy/forage production resource material
Inputs: Agent time, UK specialist time
Date: Program year
Audience: Greenhouse/High Tunnel producers
Project or Activity: Winter production meeting
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension resource materials
Inputs: Extension Agent and UK Extension Specialists
Date: Winter 2024-2025
Audience: County farmers
Project or Activity: Newsletters, news articles, etc.
Content or Curriculum: UK and other resource material
Inputs: Agent time
Date: Program year
Author: Traci Johnson
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Todd County is home to many types of agriculture enterprises. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, crop and livestock sales are nearly equal, with marketed crop value at 124 million dollars and marketed livestock value at 100 million dollars. Top enterprises include grain crops, tobacco, poultry and eggs, cattle and milk, vegetables, and nursery/greenhouse crops. Strengthening the local food and agriculture industry is one of the top three issues identified in Universit
