PPP Loan Forgiveness

By Jennifer Rogers | KFBM Area Extension Specialist
Published on May. 27, 2020

Several weeks ago, Congress passed the CARES Act, which included legislation to provide loans to small businesses.  One of the loans administered through the Small Business Administration (SBA) became commonly referred to as PPP loans, or Paycheck Protection Program.  According to the SBA, the PPP loan “is designed to provide a direct incentive

Economic Factors Affecting Agricultural Trade

By Will Snell | Extension Professor
Published on Apr. 1, 2020

With 95% of the world’s population residing outside of the United States, coupled with around 20% of U.S. farm production (or 1/3 of ag cash receipts) being purchased by foreign consumers, agricultural trade is a critical component of the U.S. farm economy.

Economic Costs for Establishing and Terminating Cover Crops

By Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor and Robert Ellis | Graduate Student
Published on Jun. 1, 2019

This decision tool has been created to assist producers in calculating the direct cost of implementing cover crops into their current rotation. This tool uses input and machinery costs to generate an estimated cost associated with growing cover crops. No revenue streams or beneficial factors were taken into account in this tool. 

Resources Available to Farmers Struggling with Farm Financial Stress

By Alison Davis | Extension Professor, Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor, Jerry Pierce | KFBM Program Coordinator, Jonathan Shepherd | Extension Specialist, Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor, Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor, Sarah Bowker | Blueprint Kentucky Managing Director, and Steve Isaacs | Extension Professor
Published on Apr. 1, 2019

Farmers have been facing many financial stress issues related to commodity prices and the overall farm economy.

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill)

By Will Snell | Extension Professor
Published on Jan. 1, 2019

The 2018 Farm Bill was passed by Congress and signed by the President last month. In reality, the structure of the 2018 Farm Bill is not much different than the previous farm bill (2014) with crop insurance, Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) remaining the main safety net components for program crops.

Post-Harvest Management: The Economics of Grain Drying

By Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor
Published on Oct. 1, 2018

Kentucky has over 200 million bushels of on-farm grain storage capacity as of 2016. Since 2002, total on-farm grain storage capacity has increased each year (USDA-NASS, 2017). As a producer evaluates there storage capabilities and post-harvest management strategy, investing in a new grain drying system may be a part of that evaluation.

Economic Costs for Baling Wheat Straw

By Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor
Published on Oct. 1, 2018

This decision tool has been created to assist producers in calculating costs based on owning the equipment or custom hire rates. It is assumed that the baling operation follows the combine during (or soon after) the harvesting of wheat for grain.  Author(s) Contact Information: 

Kentucky ANR Agent Land Value and Cash Rent Survey (2018)

By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor and Samantha Kindred | Extension Associate
Published on Feb. 1, 2018

In 2018 Agriculture and Natural Resource (ANR) agents were surveyed to estimate land values and rental rates for various types of farmland.  A total of 70 ANR agents completed this survey out of 120 counties, representing approximately 60% of the state total.

Surviving the Farm Economy Downturn

Published on Dec. 1, 2017

This collection of papers is the result of efforts by a group of Extension economists across the South.  The genesis for these educational programs began where all good extension education programs begin: the needs of farmers and ranchers in the region.  Booms and busts in the agricultural economy are not new.

The Unique Qualities of the Southern Milk Marketing Orders

Published on Sep. 1, 2017

Milk is a heavily regulated commodity, and therefore there are a large number of rules that pertain to its production and processing. These regulations are enforced within regional boundaries called federal milk marketing orders.