On December 17, 2019, four ANR agents, four University specialists and thirty-six producers from Laurel, Jackson, Clay, Knox, and Whitley counties came together for an entire day of profit increasing and cost cutting information to be used in their cattle operations. Producers learned how to manage overhead costs, manage the costs of hay production, understand the depreciation of breeding stock, improve winter feeding practices, determine correct stocking rates, and manage farm taxes.

Producers who attended the program gained knowledge on each subject, learning ways to cut costs in their operation and maximize profits. Producers learned how to and will evaluate their operations from a profit viewpoint. Upon evaluation they will implement practices, such as, rotational grazing, extended grazing season, bale grazing, heifer development, etc. Implementing these practices will, in return, increase the number of days of their grazing season, improve soil health, reduce mud and its consequences, shorten calving seasons, and improve overall animal health in their operations.

Producers were asked to evaluate how valuable each category was to them on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being not valuable, to 5 being very valuable to them. The averages for each category were as follows:

• Managing Overhead Costs: 4.79
• Hay Production Costs: 4.38
• Understanding Depreciation of Breeding Stock: 4.75
• Improved Winter Feeding Practices: 4.83
• Determining Correct Stocking Rates: 4.83
• Managing Farm Taxes: 4.25
• Overall Quality of the Cow-Calf Profitability Conference: 4.75

One Producer in Jackson County has begun to work with the Jackson County Agriculture Agent to develop an extended and rotational grazing plan, stocking rate plan, and shorter breeding season for their operation as a result of the information from this conference. With the help of the Jackson county agriculture agent, the producer plans to begin implementation of this plan in the spring of 2020.