Success StoryForage Management is Key to a Profitable Beef Business



Forage Management is Key to a Profitable Beef Business

Author: Curtis Dame

Planning Unit: Hopkins County CES

Major Program: Beef

Plan of Work: Expanding Opportunities for Technology, Sustainability, and Environmental Stewardship

Outcome: Initial Outcome

Feed is the number one cost associated with producing beef cattle. Therefore; forage management is a key component to reducing that cost. This agent and Darrell Simpson, Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Muhlenberg County hosted a farm tour in September 2018 on local producer's farm located in White Plains, Kentucky. Thirteen producers participated in the evening tour and gained information regarding the body condition scores of cows, brood cow management, utilizing hay testing to determine nutritional value. They also gained information regarding the utilization of technology to identify soil types in the farm fields and historical precipitation data as well as an overview of a warm season forages demonstration plot. Tour participants also compared information regarding past management practices utilized by the farm owner as well as new management practices being utilized due to cooperating with University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Food and Environment agents and specialists. A survey was conducted immediately after the tour. Seven program participants responded to the survey. When asked how helpful the topics were to them, six producers responded very helpful and one responded helpful. When asked if the information was relevant to their needs as forage and beef producers, all seven producers said that the information was relevant and would be used to analyze current practices and formulate new approaches to current management hurdles. Information that producers said would  be utilized included hay testing, rotational grazing, and utilization of warm season forage species to name a few.  One tour participant has already made plans to seed and graze an improved crabgrass for the summer of 2019. The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Food and Environment Cooperative Extension helps to educate people and make their lives better.






Stories by Curtis Dame


Forage Management is Key to a Profitable Beef Business

about 5 years ago by Curtis Dame

Feed is the number one cost associated with producing beef cattle. Therefore; forage management is a... Read More


Community College Agriculture Program Development

about 5 years ago by Curtis Dame

Skilled labor is a highly debated and sought after need for business development and expansion in Ho... Read More


Stories by Hopkins County CES


Master Gardeners Make a Difference

Master Gardeners Make a Difference

about 5 years ago by Erika Wood

The Master Gardener program is a volunteer organization dedicated to teaching and training people ab... Read More


Trial Gardens Benefit Gardeners

Trial Gardens Benefit Gardeners

about 5 years ago by Erika Wood

Each year, several counties across the state participate in the bedding plant trials. These trials c... Read More


Stories by Beef


Purchase Area Cattlemen's Association Summer Tour

Purchase Area Cattlemen's Association Summer Tour

about 5 years ago by Samantha Anderson

While the Purchase area is typically noted for excellence in row crop production, the livestock indu... Read More


Grading Feeder Cattle

Grading Feeder Cattle

about 5 years ago by Eric Baker

KDA beef marketing specialist Tim Dietrich discusses grading feeder cattle at the Estill County Exte... Read More