Barren, Metcalfe and Monroe County are nestled in the rolling hills of the Eastern Mammoth Cave Area in South Central Kentucky. In these counties, beef cattle are a major agriculture commodity. These three county account for over 77,500 brood cows (USDA-NASS, 2015) and over $48 million dollars of cash sales. In the fall of 2017 Agriculture Extension Agents in these counties identified a need to redirect producer’s attention back to the basics of forage production. 

The Forage 101 series was planned to draw attention back to the basics of forage production. Three educational meetings were planning to bring beef producers and Extension specialists together at a time when planning decisions could be made for the following growing season. The first session dealt with soils and soil fertility, with special emphasis on soil testing and using that information. The second session was on establishing forages and using improved varieties. The third and final session focused on weed management in forage fields. The average attendance each night was 44 participants.  All three of these events were held around other forage events in Southcentral KY. The Tri-County Hay and Straw Auction and the KY Alfalfa & Stored Forage conference were promoted during the Forage 101 series.

Forage 101 was very warmly received and participants were very appreciative for this type of programming. Producer G. Byrd, who attended all three classes said, “These classes were right on. Next year we need programs to focus on grazing and harvesting. I guess these are the next step” Another producer, L. Daniels stated, “We are trying to be more natural and chemical free, but I now see the need of spot spraying things like poison hemlock.”

Surveys were distributed each session. After reviewing the completed evaluations, 21 participants reported this was their first program they had attended at the Extension office. The majority of the participants reported the program had a value of around $100 per acre in there operation. Collectively that equates to over $2.1 million of value for the 21,250 acres reported by the program participants.