Decision-Making in a Declining Economy

By Michael Forsythe | KFBM Area Extension Specialist
Published on Oct. 31, 2024

As the farming economy enters a period of decline, farmers are facing issues many of them have not had to deal with in recent years. Net Farm Incomes are low or even negative in many cases. Cash flows are becoming extremely tight. Some farmers are having difficulty renewing operating loans.

AgriBusiness Club: Creating Connections for Students

Published on Oct. 18, 2024

Student success is at the heart of what we do, and it starts with creating meaningful connections that prepare students for their futures.

Building Bridges in Agriculture: Highlights from the 2024 Agribusiness & Industry Career Fair

Published on Oct. 16, 2024

Agriculture is more than farming; it's a vast network of interconnected industries that relies on relationships, collaboration, and shared knowledge.

Braden Porter: University of Kentucky Law Student

Published on Oct. 14, 2024

We're shining a spotlight on Braden Porter, one of our distinguished alumni who exemplifies the spirit of the Agricultural Economics program.

Fall 2024 Wheat Planting Decision

By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor
Published on Sep. 27, 2024

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 drop in both soybean and wheat prices, a drop in fuel price, and mostly stable fertilizer prices.

Family Living and Net Farm Income

By Suzy Martin | KFBM Area Extension Specialist
Published on Sep. 27, 2024

The average family living costs for the 119 Kentucky Farm Business Management (KFBM) farm families whose 2023 living expenses were included in the family living study was $88,522 or $7,375 per month. Their average Net Farm Income (NFI) was $123,618.

Understanding ESG and Its Impact on Agriculture

By Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor
Published on Sep. 27, 2024

As companies continue their quest to mitigate their carbon footprint, achieving a “net-zero” goal is one slice of their sustainability pursuit. There are three main factors that are used to assess the sustainability and ethical impact of a company’s operation.

Brannon International Fund Opens Global Opportunities for Students: Graduate Team Competes in Spain and Gains Real-World Experience

Published on Sep. 4, 2024

The Brannon International Fund continues to open doors for students, faculty, and staff within our department, offering life-changing opportunities for global engagement and experiential learning.

To Store or Not to Store? Old Crop Exit Strategies

By Grant Gardner | Assistant Extension Professor
Published on Aug. 29, 2024

The June Grain Stocks report indicated 37% more corn and 44% more soybeans stored on-farm than last year, indicating that many producers still have grain in storage (Maples, 2024). Some of this stock has likely been sold, but many producers are still sitting on old crops, trying to determine whether to hold through harvest or sell.

2024 Farmland Values

By Steve Isaacs | Extension Professor
Published on Aug. 29, 2024

According to USDA estimates from their annual Land Values Summary, Kentucky’s average Farm Real Estate Values increased 7.5% in 2024 to $5,300/acre, up from $4,930 in 2023. Figure 1 is a comparison of Kentucky land values with the national trend since 2000.