Hay Production Cost Increases in 2022 and Management Implications

By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor
Published on Jul. 29, 2022

Costs for hay production have skyrocketed in 2022.  Fertilizer is driving the bulk of the overall increase, followed by fuel, and then general cost increases for other categories (what could be considered “general inflation”).  While we can debate the exact causes of all these increases (i.e.

Grain Profitability Outlook 2022

By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor
Published on Mar. 31, 2022

The grain markets had already been climbing before Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th.  Since then, prices have been on a tear, particularly for wheat and corn.  Current prices for 2022 new-crop delivery are around $6.50/bu for corn, $15/bu for soybeans, and $10/bu for wheat in Kentucky (3/25/22).  This is an increase of around $2.25/bu for

Summer Stocker Outlook for 2022

By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor and Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published on Mar. 31, 2022

Driving through the Commonwealth it is clear that spring has arrived and we are seeing signs of pastures growing.  Stocker operators are starting to place calves on pasture, which typically pushes calf prices to their seasonal highs.  As of late March, calf prices have increased by more than $20 per cwt from their lows last fall.

Reducing Your Dependency on Commercial Fertilizers Strategies for Cattle Farms in 2022 and Beyond

By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor
Published on Feb. 28, 2022

Fertilizer prices have risen to all-time high levels in the last few months.  Table 1 shows these increases over the last year for the most common commercial fertilizer sources used by cattle farmers.  Nitrogen and potassium fertilizers have both more than doubled over the last year.   

Cow-Calf Profitability Estimates for 2021 and 2022 (Spring Calving Herd)

By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor, Jonathan Shepherd | Extension Specialist, and Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published on Feb. 28, 2022

The purpose of this article is to examine cow-calf profitability for a spring calving herd that sold weaned calves in the fall of 2021 and provide an estimate of profitability for the upcoming year.  Table 1 summarizes estimated costs for a well-managed spring-calving cowherd for 2021.  Every operation is different, so producers should evaluate

New Features to Enterprise Budgets

By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor
Published on Oct. 28, 2021

Enterprise budgets are designed to help farmers estimate profitability in the current and future growing seasons, and are also used by lenders and other agricultural-related professionals.  Expected year-to-year changes in profitability can help farmers make decisions related to cropping decisions (e.g.

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

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

How Hay Became a Four-Letter Word

By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor
Published on May. 28, 2021

I've been waiting patiently for the inevitable to happen — for the word “hay” to morph into the word “haye,” or something similar.

Specialty Corn Budgets | 2021

By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor and Samantha Kindred | Extension Associate
Published on Apr. 1, 2021

Purpose: This Decision Aid has been constructed to help budget for GMO, Heirloom, and Non-GMO corn production.  Machinery Options Evaluated: No-Till and Conventional production of GMO, Heirloom, and Non-GMO corn varieties. Author(s) Contact Information: