Describe the Issue or Situation.  Low prices for grain crops in 2024 and probably 2025 make it imperative that grain farmers market their crops for maximum return.

Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable). The Muhlenberg County Cooperative Extension Service Office utilized Dr. Grant Gardner, Grain Crops marketing specialist from the University of Kentucky Martin Gatton College of Agriculture Food and Environment to host a grain market outlook and marketing meeting.

Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience. Eight Producers attended the program.

Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact. Please note that the outcomes statement must use evaluation data to describe the change(s) that occurred in individuals, groups, families, businesses, or in the community because of the program/outreach. 

A survey was utilized at the end of the program to gauge the knowledge gained by the producers. After hearing the market forecast for corn and soybeans, five of the seven survey respondents said that they would not change their crop rotation. Four of the seven respondents said that they would price new crop corn and five of the seven said they would price new crop soybeans in the next three months. Six of the survey respondents said that they would use what they learned in the marketing lesson to price the 2025 grain crop. Four said that they would use what they learned to price the 2026 crop. When asked to place a value on the program, three farmers valued it at $100, one at $150, One at $50, and three did not reply.