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

Beef Cattle Numbers Continue to Decline

By Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published on Feb. 22, 2022

USDA-NASS released their January 1, 2022 cattle inventory estimates on January 31st. Beef cow slaughter was significantly higher in 2021, so expectations were for continued contraction of cattle inventory. The USDA report confirmed that and provided some perspective on the magnitude of these decreases.

IRS Extends March 1 Filing Date for Kentucky Farmers Affected by December Tornadoes

By Jerry Pierce | KFBM Program Coordinator
Published on Feb. 1, 2022

The Internal Revenue Service has announced that certain farms affected by the December 10th severe storms and tornadoes now have until May 16, 2022 to file 2021 returns and pay tax due.

Price Risk Management Tools for Cattle Producers

By Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published on Jan. 28, 2022

The last few years are unlikely to be remembered fondly by many cattle producers. Large cattle supplies, a global pandemic, weather challenges, and a sharp increase in feed prices have all impacted feeder cattle values. However, 2022 has brought optimism for a significantly better cattle market.

Demand for Certified Kitchen Use Nationally and in Kentucky

By Camille Stevens | Extension Associate
Published on Jan. 28, 2022

Many Certified Kitchens saw a shock to their system and a halting of kitchen rentals and revenue as COVID-19 made its impact.

The Dairy Gauge Benchmarking Tool

By Jerry Pierce | KFBM Program Coordinator
Published on Jan. 28, 2022

Benchmarking compares your farm’s performance to past performance or to established measures of success. The benchmark is some measure of a goal, or a range of what is desirable and what is not. You do this all the time, comparing this year’s yields to past years or this cow’s performance to others in the herd.

Inflation – “Good” or “Bad” for Agricultural Producers and Consumers?

By Will Snell | Extension Professor
Published on Jan. 28, 2022

Inflation has been headline news for several months and certainly an issue impacting all businesses, industries, and all of us as consumers.  

Update on Agriculture Exemption Number for Sales Tax Exemption on Farm Purchases

By Jerry Pierce | KFBM Program Coordinator
Published on Jan. 28, 2022

The application deadline for farms with existing Exemption Certificates on file with farm suppliers was January 1, 2022. Applications are still being accepted for existing farms.

Building a Farm Balance Sheet

By Kayla Brashears | KFBM Area Extension Specialist
Published on Nov. 23, 2021

As December 31 approaches, producers should work towards developing a quality balance sheet. Doing so is critical to measure business growth year over year, liquidity, solvency, and borrowing power.

Opportunity or Obligation

By Steve Isaacs | Extension Professor
Published on Nov. 23, 2021

Baby Boomers are in the process of transitioning trillions of dollars of assets to Millennials and Gen Zers. This includes farming Baby Boomers. USDA’s Farmland Ownership and Tenure survey indicates that about ten percent of farm assets transition to new owners every five years.