Kentucky and Tennessee are both large grain crop producing states, boasting a combined  total of 9,804,901 acres and $4,921,112,000 in annual grain crop sales, according to the 2022 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 counties (KY) and Montgomery & Robertson counties (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: Grain Market Update & Risk Management Insights; Weed Management: 5 Keys to Profitability in Corn & Soybeans; Use of Drones in Pesticide Applications; Soil Fertility & Sulphur Research in Corn; and Weather Extremes & Weather Impacts on Agriculture from a nationally recognized Meteorologist perspective. 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 190 people attended the educational programming and trade show in 2024. Participants submitted 90 evaluations expressing knowledge gained in 90% of respondents and 39% indicated planned changes in their current operations. The indicated personal economic impact on the knowledge gained from attending the KY-TN Grain Improvement Conference totaled a minimum of $545,000.