Kentucky and Tennessee are both large grain crop producing states, boasting a total of 11,916,769 acres and $3,147,933,000 in annual grain crop sales, according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture from the United States Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistic Services. Seeing the importance of continued growth in both production yields and personal attributes of the grain crop producer, the Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agents in Logan & Todd County (KY) and Montgomery County (TN) partner together to host their annual KY-TN Grain Improvement Conference. 

The Agents were able to coordinate a diverse program with speakers from both, the University of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee, on topics of: Prices, Costs & Profitability: Where are Grain Markets Headed & How Can Risk Be Mitigated?; Weed Management: Grasses & Vine Control in Corn and Dicamba Resistant Pigweed in Soybeans; Economics of Grain Storage & Storage Options; How Severe Weather & Severe Weather Events Impact Agriculture; and Wildlife Issues & Management in Row Crops. Continuing education units (CEU’s) were also available for Kentucky and Tennessee Commercial Pesticide Applicators as well as Certified Crop Advisors. 

Regional agricultural industry leaders compiled an outstanding trade show to provide producers additional educational opportunities, financial options on input costs, and financial risk management possibilities. 

A total of 144 people attended the educational programming and trade show in 2023. Participants submitted 67 evaluations expressing knowledge gained in 96% of respondents and 28% indicated planned changes in their current operations including utilizing traps for wildlife issues, scouting fields for voles, spraying fields later to control pigweed, and building grain storage. The indicated personal economic impact on the knowledge gained from attending the KY-TN Grain Improvement Conference totaled $395,000.