Grace Jenkins: May 2023 Graduate

Published on Apr. 7, 2023

Grace Jenkins is a recent Spring 2023 graduate from the Agricultural Economics Department at the University of Kentucky. Hailing from Hopkinsville, KY, Grace earned dual degrees in Agricultural Economics and Business Management, reflecting her broad interests and commitment to the agriculture industry.

Tobacco Economics Update

By Will Snell | Extension Professor
Published on Apr. 6, 2023

The 2023 Kentucky-Tennessee tobacco budgets for burley, dark air-cured, dark fire-cured, cigar wrapper tobaccos are available on the UK Ag Economics

Stocker Outlook for 2023

By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor and Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published on Mar. 30, 2023

Spring has officially arrived in the Commonwealth, which always brings questions about stocker profitability.  Calf prices typically increase seasonally as we move into spring, but have increased at a larger-than-normal rate since the end of 2022.

Maximizing Value: 2023 Spring Application of Broiler Litter for Grain Crop Production

By Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor
Published on Mar. 30, 2023

Spring is here and grain producers across the state are gearing up for planting.  One of the many decisions producers have to make before planting is in regard to their nutrient management plan.  Broiler litter provides a great opportunity as a complete fertilizer and is being produced and used throughout the state in grain production.  However,

Bale Grazing Grant Comes to Kentucky and Beyond

By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor
Published on Mar. 30, 2023

“Bale Grazing: A Practical, Low-Cost, and Environmentally-Sound Management Strategy to Winter Beef Cattle”, is a NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant that has been funded for six states – Kentucky, North Carolina, West Virginia, Missouri, Virginia, and New York (see figure 1).  The grant started in 2022 and will end February 2028. 

Cow-Calf Profitability Estimates for 2022 and 2023 (Spring Calving Herd)

By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor, Jonathan Shepherd | Extension Specialist, and Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published on Feb. 28, 2023

The purpose of this article is to examine cow-calf profitability for a spring calving herd that sold weaned calves in the fall of 2022 and provide an estimate of profitability for the upcoming year, 2023.  Table 1 summarizes estimated costs for a well-managed spring-calving cowherd for 2022.  Every operation is different, so producers should eva

Changes in Kentucky Sales Tax That Apply to Farming

By Jerry Pierce | KFBM Program Coordinator
Published on Feb. 28, 2023

Legislation went into effect on the first of 2023 that made many services subject to Kentucky’s 6% sales tax. One change was to the qualifications for residential use exemption from sales tax on utilities.

Grain Profitability Outlook 2023

By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor
Published on Feb. 28, 2023

The grain markets surged to a new level after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February 24, 2022.  Prices have come down since their peak last spring, but they are still extremely high.  Current prices for 2023 new-crop delivery are around $5.60/bu for corn, $14/bu for soybeans (2/22/23).  This is an increase of around $.30/bu for corn and $

Valentine’s Day: One of a Flower Grower’s Favorite Holidays

By Savannah Columbia | Extension Associate
Published on Feb. 28, 2023

Valentine’s Day has topped its historical spending record for the second year in a row. Many consumers show love for their partners, family members, and even pets through gift-giving on Valentine’s Day. Popular gift items include candy or chocolate, flowers, greeting cards, jewelry, and/or dinner reservations.

U.S. Beef Cow Herd at Lowest Level Since 1962

By Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published on Feb. 2, 2023

USDA-NASS released their January 1, 2023, cattle inventory estimates on the afternoon of January 31st. There was really no question that the beef cattle herd had gotten smaller; it was really just a question of how much smaller it had gotten.