With over 36,000 acres of pastureland and close proximity to several stockyards, USDA slaughter facilities and urban direct-marketing opportunities through specialty grocery outlets and farmers’ markets, Jessamine County is uniquely positioned to expand and enhance its already strong beef cattle industry. According to the USDA Census of Agriculture, Jessamine County has 238 farms producing beef cattle with a total of 15,570 cattle and calves sold with a total value of over $15 million each year. 

With high interest rates, wide fluctuations in cattle prides and recent threats of international tariffs on agriculture commodities, the risks and an opportunities in beef cattle production have never been greater. With these conditions in in mind, several Jessamine County cattle producers approached the Ag. and Natural Resources Extension Agent, looking for assistance with cattle marketing risk management. Dr. Kenny Burdine, U.K. Agriculture Economics Extension Professor, agree to conduct a two-part training on Advanced Cattle Marketing with an emphasis on Risk Management Strategies in Jessamine County. The program was promoted in the Jessamine County Extension Ag. Newsletter, at the monthly meeting of the Jessamine County Cattlemen's Association, and through the ANR Agents in the surrounding Central Kentucky counties.

The two-part training session included useful information on: Why Risk Management?, Futures Marketing Mechanics, Feeder Cattle Basics, Hedging by Selling Futures, Price Floors through Put Options, Livestock Risk Protection Insurance (LRP), and Advanced Futures and Options Strategies. Real-life scenarios were presented, giving the participants an opportunity try their hand at managing risk in cattle marketing.

A total of twenty beef cattle producers from Jessamine, Woodford and Fayette Counties participated the the 2-part training. Feed-back from participants indicated their increased awareness and willingness to implement risk management strategies in their cattle marketing.