Cow-Calf Profitability Estimates for 2023 and 2024 (Spring Calving Herd)

By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor, Jonathan Shepherd | Extension Specialist, and Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published on Feb. 28, 2024

The purpose of this article is to examine cow-calf profitability for a spring calving herd that sold weaned calves in the fall of 2023 and provide an estimate of profitability for the upcoming year, 2024.  Table 1 summarizes estimated costs for a well-managed spring-calving cowherd for 2023.  Every operation is different, so producers should eva

The Corporate Transparency Act and its Potential Impact on Kentucky Businesses

By Jonathan Shepherd | Extension Specialist
Published on Nov. 29, 2023

On January 1, 2024, the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) will go into effect, which has a potential impact on many of Kentucky's small businesses. This new law requires nearly all business entities to report their beneficial owners to the federal government.

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

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

Hemp Contract Considerations

By Jonathan Shepherd | Extension Specialist and Tyler Mark | Professor
Published on Mar. 30, 2021

Engaging in production agriculture is a risky profession, even for mature markets, such as corn and poultry, much less one that lacks the market transparency of hemp.

Cow-Calf Profitability Estimates for 2020 and 2021 (Spring Calving Herd)

By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor, Jonathan Shepherd | Extension Specialist, and Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published on Feb. 25, 2021

The purpose of this article is to examine cow-calf profitability for a spring calving herd that sold weaned calves in the fall of 2020 and provide an estimate of profitability for the upcoming year.  Table 1 summarizes estimated costs for a well-managed spring-calving cowherd for 2020.  Every operation is different, so producers should evaluate

Continued Declines in Hemp Profitability Mixed with Marginal Profit Potential for 2021

By Jonathan Shepherd | Extension Specialist and Tyler Mark | Professor
Published on Jan. 28, 2021

According to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky started 2020 with 32,000 approved acres of hemp.

Estimating the Economic Depreciation of Farm Assets

By Jonathan Shepherd | Extension Specialist, Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor, and Robert Ellis | Graduate Student
Published on Jan. 7, 2021

Depreciation can often become an overlooked area for a farming operation. Yet, it plays a major role in both taxes and profitability.  A possible reason could be that when most people hear depreciation, they jump directly to tax depreciation.

Estimates of What it is Going to Cost Me to Destroy my "HOT" Hemp Crop

By Jonathan Shepherd | Extension Specialist and Tyler Mark | Professor
Published on Nov. 25, 2020

We recognize that no one plants a crop with expectations of having to destroy the crop. However, the risk of producing a hemp crop that is non-compliant is a real risk and has a genuine cost associated. As hemp genetics evolve, the risk of destruction will dissipate.

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 | CEDIK 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.