Programming: Cow-Calf Profitability Webinar 2020-21

While University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension has had many good programs focused on beef cattle, we felt that these programs have typically be somewhat fragmented and lacked cohesion: Various specialists from different departments would present on their respective topics.  While programs like this have been valuable, we wanted a program where all the presentations were tied together and focused on what farmers had the most impact on to improve their profitability.  Hence the Cow-Calf Profitability conferences were born.

In 2019-20 we held in-person Cow-Calf Profitability Conferences, which were organized and planned with Kenny Burdine, Greg Halich, and Jonathan Shepherd.  We had conferences at five locations, but unfortunately the rest were cut short by Covid-19 in early March 2020.  We were hoping to be able to continue these conferences during the 2020-21 winter, but the pandemic required us to cancel again, and move to an online format.  We ended up doing a multi-day (March 23-25) two-hour, online webinar.  We had eight presentations including an introduction that set the stage and provided context for the rest of the webinar that included:

1. Key Profit Drivers for Cow-Calf Operations
2. Managing Overhead Costs on the Cow-Calf Operation: Focus on Hay Production
3. Hay Production Costs and their Impact on Cow-Calf Profitability
4. Bale Grazing: Increased Pasture Fertility, Reduced Labor/Equipment Costs, and Improved Cow-Herd Health
5. Keys to Profitable Cow-Herd Management
6. Understanding Breeding Stock Depreciation: How much is too Much for a Bred Heifer?
7. Tax Management Tools and Strategies
8. Optimal Hay Feeding Days and the Consequences of Overstocking

The impact these online conferences had was greater than we originally expected.  The three online sessions were attended by 245, 202, and 195 individuals, respectively. Attendees were from 4 countries, 21 states, and 65 different counties within Kentucky. In addition to those who attended the live webinars, Youtube videos of the 3 sessions have been viewed by 144, 93, and 62 people, respectively.  Quantitative evaluations were extremely positive and qualitative comments spoke to how much attendees appreciated the content.   One of the benefits of the online format was that it allowed cattle farmers from outside Kentucky (21 states) to watch there seminars.  

I had three presentations out of the seven main presentations.  In terms of participant evaluations, my three were #1, #3, and #4 out of seven.   

Here are a few representative comments from the evaluations:

“This was the best overall presentation series I’ve observed yet. Very well done”

“Excellent sessions providing a great learning opportunity for those of us out here on the farms trying to manage our operations”

“This program was excellent! Hope to attend more of the same”

“Appreciate the painful truths ($) regarding some of the management choices we make”  

“Breaking even is impossible for small operators using standard commercial methods so I really will benefit from the strategies that were shared in this programming”

“Overall this is the best educational program I've attended - information was applicable versus overly theoretical”

And our favorite comment from Tennessee which we are currently exploring:

“Have a way to arrange for paid consultations”

Kentucky Cattlemen’s Board member Andy Bishop sent the following email after the conference:

“I wanted to reach out and say that I am really enjoying this webinar series. I even had my daughter watch it last night with me and she wants to go back through and watch it again. Thank you for the information”