Madison County currently has an agriculture economy that is largely based on beef cattle production. Approximately 86% of current farm gate receipts are from livestock sales. This is a drastic change from twenty years ago when Madison County ranked third in the state for burley tobacco production and the agriculture economy was based on tobacco.

Madison County Extension has provided research based information to agriculture producers as they transitioned from tobacco farming to livestock operations. The Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent sends 1,100 monthly newsletters, conducts workshops and field days, and consults with individual producers on their farms. 

He has worked with the Bluegrass Stockyards of Richmond to create and improve marketing opportunities for Madison County and Central Kentucky beef cattle producers. 

One goal of the livestock programs has been to improve the genetics of Madison County heifers and bulls. Madison County producers have seen an increase in weaning weights, increases in purchase of calving ease bulls, and improved cow/replacement heifer quality. 

On October 15th, 2018 the “Top of the Crop” bred replacement heifer sale was held at the Bluegrass Stockyards of Richmond. Heifers offered for sale were developed and managed under KY Department of Agriculture and Madison County Heifer Sale Committee guidelines and were bred to easy calving bulls. A total of 146 bred heifers were sold for an average of $1,425.00 per head. A premium of approximately $250.00 per head was realized on heifers sold in this sale versus similar bred heifers on the regular livestock market that week. Approximately $26,750 was the combined above regular market premium for the sale. This sale provides discovery and reference pricing for similar replacement heifers to be sold farmer to farmer in the region.