Publications, Budgets & Decision Aids

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. We are dedicated to providing farmers, producers, and other agricultural professionals with the tools and resources they need to make informed decisions about their operations.

Through our publications, we offer in-depth analysis of market trends, production techniques, and regulatory changes that can impact the profitability of farming enterprises. Our budgeting tools are designed to help users track expenses, monitor revenue streams, and maximize their financial efficiency. Additionally, our decision aids provide guidance on crop selection, resource allocation, and risk management strategies.

All Resources

Browse our full library of resources including articles, publications, budgets, decision aids, and departmental announcements with options to search by topic, category, and author.

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Publications

Grains

Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor

Published on Apr. 17, 2024

These custom rates are based on reported surveys in Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Kansas. The rates calculated here are averages for these states and are adjusted to account for changes in fuel price, machinery costs1, and wages2 from the time of the reported surveys.

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Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor 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.

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Authored by: Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor Tyler Mark | Professor

Published on Sep. 1, 2017

Weather risk plays a unique role and influences many decisions made on the farm. Weather determines when you can get into the field and your ability to perform timely operations such as planting, fertilizing, spraying, and harvesting. Delays from weather events of time-sensitive operations will result in substantial yield and economic losses.

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Authored by: Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor

Published on Sep. 1, 2016

While transporting grain to the market may be the last input cost in the production of grain, it is a critical decision a producer has to make, especially when margins are thin. Determining which market to sell your grain (if you have options) can be a complex decision.

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Authored by: Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor

Published on Jul. 1, 2016

A custom Google Map has been created to include the 80+ locations of grain and oilseed markets across Kentucky and into Tennessee and Ohio. Author(s) Contact Information:

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Forages

Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor

Published on Apr. 17, 2024

These custom rates are based on reported surveys in Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Kansas. The rates calculated here are averages for these states and are adjusted to account for changes in fuel price, machinery costs1, and wages2 from the time of the reported surveys.

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Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor 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.

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Authored by: Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor Tyler Mark | Professor

Published on Sep. 1, 2017

Weather risk plays a unique role and influences many decisions made on the farm. Weather determines when you can get into the field and your ability to perform timely operations such as planting, fertilizing, spraying, and harvesting. Delays from weather events of time-sensitive operations will result in substantial yield and economic losses.

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Published on Jul. 30, 2015

The winter of 2014-2015 will be remembered for a long time by cattle producers. Multiple large snow storms and several rounds of extremely low temperatures created management challenges and led to increased hay feeding over the winter.

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Published on Aug. 28, 2014

Corn silage has historically been an attractive alternative for livestock producers when grain prices are relatively low (pre-2006). Corn prices have been extremely high in the last half-dozen years and as a consequence, provided fewer opportunities for profitably feeding silage for beef cattle.

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Livestock

Published on Feb. 1, 2021

Cattlemen in Kentucky have an opportunity to participate in the most rigorous educational programming in the United States.

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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.

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Published on Sep. 1, 2017

The regulation of milk is an important part of the development of the milk industry and an understanding of the history of milk regulation is critical to understanding the pros and cons of the current industry. Additionally, to understand milk pricing it is important to understand the history of the federal milk marketing orders.

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Published on Nov. 1, 2015

Beef cattle were routinely finished locally in Kentucky and other parts of the upper south before the 1950s, primarily on pasture with some grain or by-products from distilleries and grain processing mills.

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Published on Aug. 28, 2014

Corn silage has historically been an attractive alternative for livestock producers when grain prices are relatively low (pre-2006). Corn prices have been extremely high in the last half-dozen years and as a consequence, provided fewer opportunities for profitably feeding silage for beef cattle.

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Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor

Published on Aug. 1, 2013

Futures markets are used by cattle producers in three ways. First, the futures market is an excellent source of price information. It responds very quickly to information that affects supply and demand in the marketplace and can be used as a rough gauge as to what is going on in these markets.

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Authored by: Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor

Published on Mar. 1, 2013

Price volatility in feeder cattle markets has greatly increased over the last several years. While there are many reasons for the increase in price volatility, some of the more common factors include volatility in grain and fed cattle prices, variability in weather, and an increased dependence on exports.

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Authored by: Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor

Published on Feb. 1, 2013

Price volatility in feeder cattle markets has greatly increased since 2007. While there are many reasons for the increase in price volatility, some of the more common factors include volatility in grain and fed cattle prices, variability in weather, and an increased dependence on exports.

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Management

Authored by: Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor

Published on Apr. 1, 2021

We have smartphone apps for everything these days, including apps for farmers and producers in areas such as marketing, management, policy, agribusiness, and economic development. This publication provides an overview of apps designed to aid in these areas, which topics they cover, and their availability via Apple or Google smartphones.

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Authored by: Jonathan Shepherd | Extension Specialist Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor 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.

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Authored by: Alison Davis | Extension Professor

Published on Sep. 1, 2020

An effort to rely on renewable resources instead of nonrenewable has the potential to meet the increased global demand for electricity. Both solar and wind energy have the potential to offset a significant fraction of non-renewable electricity demands, yet it occupies extensive land when deployed at levels large enough to meet global demand.

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Published on Apr. 1, 2019

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

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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.

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Authored by: Steve Isaacs | Extension Professor Tim Woods | Extension Professor

Published on Aug. 1, 2000

This publication is designed to help producers evaluate new enterprises for their farms or family businesses. It is based on a set of worksheets to help evaluate the Profitability, Resource requirements, Information needs, Marketing decisions, Enthusiasm for, and the Risk associated with a new enterprise.

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Policy & Trade

Authored by: Will Snell | Extension Professor

Published on May. 12, 2021

Farmers and agribusinesses closely monitor changes in commodity and input prices, crop yields, rates of gains on livestock, the latest technology, and of course, the weather. However, changes in macroeconomic variables such as interest rates, inflation, income growth, and exchange rates, often have a much greater impact on their bottom line.

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Authored 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.

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Authored 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.

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Authored by: Will Snell | Extension Professor

Published on Mar. 1, 2014

After several years of debate, extensions and much uncertainty the 2014 Farm Bill --- The Agricultural Act of 2014 was signed into law by President Obama on February 7, 2014 which establishes nutrition, commodity, crop insurance, conservation, and other ag/food programs for next five years (2014-2018).

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Specialty Crops

General, Crop-specific, and System-specific publications are available through the Center for Crop Diversification.

Budgets & Decision Aids

Grains

Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor

Published on Mar. 31, 2024

Purpose: This Decision Aid has been constructed to help producers budget for corn and soybean production. Machinery Options Evaluated: No-Till Corn, Conventional Tillage Corn, No-Till Soybeans

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Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor

Published on Mar. 31, 2024

Purpose: This Decision Aid has been constructed to help producers budget for corn and soybean production. Machinery Options Evaluated: No-Till Corn, Conventional Tillage Corn, Customized Corn, No-Till Soybeans, Conventional Soybeans, Customized Soybeans.

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Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor

Published on Mar. 31, 2024

Purpose: This Decision Aid has been constructed to help producers budget for corn and soybean production. Machinery Options Evaluated: No-Till Corn, Conventional Tillage Corn, No-Till Soybeans

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Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor

Published on Oct. 1, 2023

Purpose: This Decision Aid has been constructed to help budget for wheat or wheat double-crop soybean production. Machinery Options Evaluated: No-Till Wheat, No-Till Weat and No-Till Soybeans Author(s) Contact Information:

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Authored 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.

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Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor 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:

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Authored by: Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor 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.

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Authored 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:

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Authored 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.

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Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor

Published on Apr. 21, 2016

Purpose: This Decision Aid has been constructed to help producers decide between sorghum and corn production.

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Authored by: Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor

Published on Apr. 1, 2016

This decision tool has been created to help producers choose what buyer to sell their grain to based on the hauling cost to each location, cash price each buyer is offering, and the moisture discount method each buyer implements. Author(s) Contact Information:

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Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor Samantha Kindred | Extension Associate

Published on Mar. 1, 2016

This spreadsheet is designed to assist the land owner and producer in deciding if a flexible cash lease can accommodate their situation. The user determines the expected flex rent based on a series of input questions and then compares it to a typical cash lease. The spreadsheet also estimates the gross profit per year based on this input.

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Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor Samantha Kindred | Extension Associate

Published on Jul. 29, 2015

This decision tool has been created to aid producers in calculating the price of fertilizers. Author(s) Contact Information:

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Forages

Authored by: Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor

Published on Aug. 15, 2016

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.

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Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor Samantha Kindred | Extension Associate

Published on Aug. 21, 2015

This budget tool has been constructed to estimate the grazing cost on a per cow per day basis, hay feeding costs on a per cow per day basis, the fertilizer value of feeding hay to a cow for a day, and the labor and machinery costs for grazing and hay feeding. Author(s) Contact Information:

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Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor Samantha Kindred | Extension Associate

Published on Jul. 29, 2015

This decision tool has been created to aid producers in calculating the price of fertilizers. Author(s) Contact Information:

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Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor

Published on Mar. 31, 2010

This decision tool has been created to help budget for switchgrass biomass production and to compare profitability to hay production (both with either large round or large square bales). Author(s) Contact Information:

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Authored by: Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor

Published on Apr. 1, 2006

Included in this publication is an Alfalfa Hay budget, a Grass / Mixed Hay budget, a basic pasture maintenance budget, and an E+ Fescue Replacement budget.

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Livestock

Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor Steve Isaacs | Extension Professor

Published on Nov. 1, 2023

This publication contains budgets for production of selected livestock enterprises in Kentucky. The purpose of these budgets is to serve as a management and decision-making guide for current and prospective producers of these enterprises.

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Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor Samantha Kindred | Extension Associate

Published on Jun. 10, 2017

Purpose: This decision tool was developed to assist current and potential producers with estimating their costs and returns for a small scale layer enterprise.

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Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor Samantha Kindred | Extension Associate

Published on Jun. 4, 2017

Purpose: This decision tool was developed to assist current and potential producers with estimating their costs and returns for a small scale broiler enterprise. Options Evaluated: The management style options are broken down into two categories: stationary and mobile housing.

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Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor

Published on Mar. 31, 2016

This spreadsheet has been created to help plan systems for finishing beef cattle and evaluate the potential profitability of various pasture-based production systems. The user inputs calving/weaning dates, weaning weight, gains during the year, and desired finish weight.

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Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor Samantha Kindred | Extension Associate

Published on Jan. 14, 2016

This spreadsheet is designed to evaluate the investment potential for bred heifers. The user estimates expected revenue based on a series of input questions as well as cow maintenance costs. The spreadsheet then estimates the gross profit per year based on this input.

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Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor Samantha Kindred | Extension Associate

Published on Aug. 21, 2015

This budget tool has been constructed to estimate the grazing cost on a per cow per day basis, hay feeding costs on a per cow per day basis, the fertilizer value of feeding hay to a cow for a day, and the labor and machinery costs for grazing and hay feeding. Author(s) Contact Information:

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Authored by: Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor Samantha Kindred | Extension Associate

Published on Jul. 29, 2015

This decision tool has been created to aid producers in calculating the price of fertilizers. Author(s) Contact Information:

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Authored by: Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor Steve Isaacs | Extension Professor

Published on Mar. 1, 2006

This publication contains budgets for production of selected equine enterprises in Kentucky. The purpose of these budgets is to serve as a management and decision-making guide for current and prospective horse owners. These budgets are not intended to replace an owner's own records and estimates.

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Published on Apr. 29, 2003

This publication contains budgets for production of meat goat enterprises in Kentucky. The purpose of these budgets is to serve as a management and decision-making guide for current and prospective producers of these enterprises.

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