The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service will hold “early bird” meetings across the state in November to help farmers make the best decisions about their pre-pay dollars.Every year farmers are asked to make decisions for the next year’s crop earlier and earlier in the fall in order to take advantage of pricing opportunities on seeds and other production inputs, commonly referred to as pre-paying. Pre-paying can also aid in income tax planning.While commodity prices are higher than in some previous years, production costs are also increasing rapidly, making net profit a challenge, said Chad Lee, extension grains crop specialist with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. With the high costs of farm inputs, it is important for farmers to carefully consider what products they will need for their operations and maximize the use of their pre-pay dollars. The meetings, in Sedalia, Owensboro and Shelbyville, will target issues relating to pre-pay decisions on seed, seed treatments, foliar fungicides, hybrids and fertilizer options. Each of these meetings will also include information on grain storage options. The first meeting is Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Sedalia Restaurant, Sedalia. Contact Lincoln Martin, Marshall County extension agent for agriculture and natural resources at 270-527-3285 for information. Daviess County Extension Office in Owensboro will host the Friday, Nov. 16 meeting. Contact Clint Hardy, extension agent for agriculture and natural resources, at 270-685-8480. The final meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 20, at the Shelby County Extension Office. Contact Brittany Edelson, county extension agent for agriculture and natural resources, at 502-633-4593.The meetings will begin at 9 a.m. local time and will conclude between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Lunch is sponsored by the Kentucky Soybean Board and Kentucky Corn Growers Association. Pesticide education credits and certified crop advisor continuing education credits have been requested.