Success StoryForage to Cash



Forage to Cash

Author: Adam Barnes

Planning Unit: Livingston County CES

Major Program: Forages

Plan of Work: Grain marketing, environmental sustainability, and natural resources.

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Forage to cash


Owning and operating a farming operation can be one of the most rewarding challenges a person can have. As with everything in life, success leaves clues. Farmers who have found success in running a farming operation develops strategies for creating new marketing opportunities. This is just what one of Livingston County farmers has done for his operation. With crop prices down and rent prices up he was looking to maximize his acres for clear income not gross income.

This farmer wanted to convert some of his marginal and erodible crop ground back into forage based crops. He had experienced a good market in value added hay crops in alfalfa, and wheat straw. Over the past several years grain from his wheat crop has not brought him as much as his straw has this made him take notice. Livingston ANR offers the first 25 soil and or forage test free per producer. With these two simple tools being offered he has managed to make better decisions that has helped him covert marginal crop ground into cash forage crops.

This farmer continues to operate a successful row crop operation, which makes the most of his erodible and marginal ground for forage production. Over the past several years his forage operation has expanded from just alfalfa and wheat straw, to timothy and orchard grass production. His forage operation now has grown to be as big a part of his income as his row crop operation. With just two simple tools that U.K. Extension had to offer it has helped his operation in making informed decisions.






Stories by Adam Barnes


2023 4H camp success

2023 4H camp success

about 1 years ago by Adam Barnes

Now Entering the 2023 4-H Camp Time WarpLivingston County 4-H entered the 2023 4-H Camp Time Warp wi... Read More


Equine success

Equine success

about 1 years ago by Adam Barnes

On March 2nd, 2023, Extension Agriculture Agents from the Purchase and Pennyrile collaborated to off... Read More


Stories by Livingston County CES


2023 4H camp success

2023 4H camp success

about 1 years ago by Adam Barnes

Now Entering the 2023 4-H Camp Time WarpLivingston County 4-H entered the 2023 4-H Camp Time Warp wi... Read More


Spring Break in Georgia: Jekyll Island, and Savannah

Spring Break in Georgia: Jekyll Island, and Savannah

about 1 years ago by Sharee Schoonover

According to the article “Why Is Environmental Education Important for Kids” on the website Rubricon... Read More