NKY Cow Calf School Attracts All Levels of Cattle Producers

According to the USDA nearly 1 in 4 farmers are new to farming. Recently, the Extension service has noticed there are a significant number of individuals relocating into northern Kentucky that have an interest in sustainable homesteading.  Since the topography of northern Kentucky is well suited to produce forage & livestock, many of these individuals seek to add cattle production for their own use.

The northern Kentucky Agriculture Agents saw a need to educate these new farmers on the basics of beef cattle production.  

Agents from Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Gallatin, Carroll, Pendleton, Grant, and Owen County Cooperative Extension Services developed and conducted the program through a collaboration with the University of Kentucky Beef Integrated Resource Management Program, the Kentucky Beef Network, and industry professionals.  This program is focused on all aspects of cattle production and marketing.   It is designed to provide cattleman with vital, cutting-edge information that will allow them to maintain profitability in the very competitive cattle industry.

This six session series was attended by 40 cattleman from across the northern Kentucky area. The series attracted new and experienced cattle producers.  These sessions were organized and delivered by agriculture agents, supporting agencies and industry professionals. Participants were asked to complete a follow up survey related to the series. Over 70% of those attending indicated they plan to implement a recordkeeping system in their herd. Nearly 30% indicated updating facilities, pasture improvements and increasing hay yields, to help offset grain cost, are important to sustaining their herd. Fifteen percent (15%) of the producers indicated that herd health and introducing better genetics into their herd was a long term change they were going to implement on their farms.

All agents agreed the success of this series indicates we need to offer more intense and “next level” classroom and field day programs for all our cattle producers. Plans are underway to offer these educational programs in the near future.