Articles Archive
Displaying 111 - 120 of 221 items
Fall 2021 Wheat Planting Decision
By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor
Published
on Sep. 30, 2021
Corn harvest is now underway and Kentucky grain farmers will soon decide if and how much wheat they will plant this fall. Compared to last year there is a significant increase in wheat and soybean prices, as well as major increases in all fertilizer prices. The following analysis quantifies these relative changes to estimate the profitability
Tools to Manage Risk for Dairy Producers
By Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published
on Sep. 30, 2021
Much discussion in the dairy sector last year was focused on the impacts of COVID-19 and the pricing issues that came with it. Mailbox prices in the Appalachian region, which includes Kentucky, typically exceed US All Milk price due to class I differentials and high class I utilization.
The Steer-Bull Price Differential: A Historical Perspective
By Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published
on Aug. 31, 2021
In extension settings, I am often asked whether I think it pays for a cow-calf operator to castrate bulls and sell steers. Castration is not without cost as it requires time and facilities and does stress calves for a period of time.
Characteristics of Higher Profit Farms
By Lauren Omer Turley | KFBM Area Extension Specialist
Published
on Aug. 31, 2021
In today’s farming culture, the goal of most producers is to be at the top of the profitability curve in order to stay competitive. A period of lower commodity prices led to tight margins and producers had to work on being as efficient as possible to maximize returns.
Small Fruit, Big Local Demand
By Brett Wolff | Extension Specialist
Published
on Aug. 31, 2021
In discussions with Direct Marketers (including farmers markets, on-farm and roadside markets, as well as Community Supported Agriculture operations) across the state an informal theme that continually arises is the popularity and demand for fresh local fruit, and particularly small fruit like strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries
Economic Value of Poultry Litter Tool: Grain Crops
By Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor
Published
on Aug. 25, 2021
This decision tool has been created to help producers determine the economic value of poultry litter. The tool is customizable to reflect each individuals situation when selling, purchasing, and/or applying poultry litter.
2021 Land Values
By Steve Isaacs | Extension Professor
Published
on Aug. 16, 2021
Average Kentucky farm real estate values were $4,000/acre as reported in the annual Land Values Summary released by USDA on August 6. This was 2.0% higher than 2020 and the first-time average values have reached $4,000.
Grain Market Shift and Profit Implications
By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor
Published
on Jul. 28, 2021
The grain markets have been on a tear for the last year and have exceeded just about everyone’s expectations as to where they would be going into the summer of 2021. Current prices for 2021 fall delivery are near $5.50/bu for corn and $13.50/bu for soybeans in many areas in Kentucky (7/22/21). This is an increase of around $2/bu and $5/bu resp
“There’s an App for That”
By Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor
Published
on Jul. 27, 2021
Have you ever pulled your smartphone out and thought, “I sure wish there was an app for that”? Well, you are not alone. The development of new mobile apps for just about anything is fast-paced. Why? According to comScore, 89% of all mobile minutes are mobile app minutes. The top two categories for mobile app users are social media and news/
Mid-year Inventory Report Suggests Opposite Trends for Beef and Dairy Numbers
By Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published
on Jul. 27, 2021
On Friday, July 23rd, USDA-NASS released their mid-year estimates of US cattle inventory. Most all beef-related inventory categories were lower, with all cattle and calves down 1.3% from July 1, 2020. I tend to focus more on beef cow inventory, which was off a little more than 2% from last year.