Items: Extension Article
2025 Fall KFBM Observations
Published on Oct. 31, 2025
The Kentucky Farm Business Management Program is a program of the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Kentucky.
More Base Acres, More Protection
By Grant Gardner | Assistant Extension Professor
Published on Oct. 31, 2025
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025, makes a landmark change to federal farm programs. For the first time since the 2014 Farm Bill, farmers will have the opportunity to expand their base acres under the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs.
Navigating Carbon Markets: New Extension Resources for Producers
By Jordan Shockley | Associate Extension Professor
Published on Sep. 28, 2025
The landscape of carbon markets continues to evolve, creating new challenges and opportunities for farmers and ranchers. While early interest in voluntary carbon programs was met with limited enrollment, recent shifts are reshaping the conversation.
Fall 2025 Wheat Planting Decision
By Greg Halich | Associate Extension Professor
Published on Sep. 28, 2025
Corn harvest is 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 slight drop in both soybean and wheat prices, stable fuel prices, and a slight increase in fertilizer prices.
Strategic Farm Finance and Tax Management in Profitable Times
By Jonathan Shepherd | Extension Specialist and Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published on Sep. 28, 2025
Authors: Jonathan D. Shepherd, David Bilderback, and Kenny Burdine
Think Before You TikTok
By Meghan Planck | CCD Fellow
Published on Sep. 28, 2025
TikTok has exploded in popularity, and agriculture hasn’t been left behind. In 2023, agriculture-related content on TikTok racked up over 23 billion views, and the platform contributed $24.2 billion to the U.S. GDP. With its short, fast-paced videos and massive reach, it’s easy to wonder: Should your farm be on TikTok?
Cowherd Expansion is Not the Only Way to Capitalize on a Strong Calf Market
By Kenny Burdine | Extension Professor
Published on Aug. 31, 2025
Much has been written recently about the strength of the current cattle market. With beef cow inventory at a 60+ year low and demand being very strong, cow-calf operations are clearly in the driver’s seat.
2025 Farmland Values
By Steve Isaacs | Extension Professor
Published on Aug. 31, 2025
USDA releases the results of their annual survey of farmland values each August. The 2025 report indicates that national farm real estate values increased by 4.3% to an average of $4,350/ac. Kentucky farm real estate values increased 3.4% to an average of $5,480/ac.
2024 Family Living and Net Farm Income
By Tarrah Hardin | KFBM Area Extension Specialist
Published on Aug. 31, 2025
Over the last few years, farmers across the state had to sharpen their pencil when it comes to the farm budget. One part of the budget should be a family living cost. The average family living cost was $100,358 or $8,363 per month in 2024 for the 90 farms in the Kentucky Farm Business (KFBM) family living data set.
Average KFBM Net Farm Income Dips Negative for the First Time in Decades
By Kayla Brashears | KFBM Area Extension Specialist
Published on Jul. 30, 2025
For the first time since the 1980s, the average Net Farm Income (NFI) among Kentucky Farm Business Management (KFBM) cooperators has fallen below zero, closing the production year at an average of ($20,522). This dramatic shift is a sharp reversal from the record high NFI in 2021 of $871,325.