Kentucky is home to more than 1 million beef cows, the largest state inventory east of the Mississippi River. To help the state’s more than 33,000 cattle producers improve their operations, University of Kentucky agricultural economists will host traveling cow-calf profitability conferences. The conferences will provide interactive, continuing education opportunities.

The first workshop will be Dec. 17 in London at the Laurel County Cooperative Extension office. The program begins at 9 a.m. EST.

“The workshops will be one-day intensive seminars focused on key topics for cow-calf operations,” said Kenny Burdine, agricultural economist for the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “There are so many factors to having a more efficient, profitable enterprise. We want to give producers the tools they need to be successful.”

Economists will identify key profit drivers in the cow-calf budgeting process. They will provide information about how hay production costs impact profitability and help producers understand breeding stock depreciation.

Other topics include improving winter feeding practices, controlling production costs, optimizing stocking rates, managing the cowherd with profit in mind, and general farm management strategies.

“Cattle producers may live in different areas with some unique challenges, but they all have some key things in common when it comes to being profitable.” Burdine said. “We want to meet them where they are and provide information they can put into practice right away.”

The workshop sponsors include UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Kentucky Beef Network and the Kentucky Agriculture Development Fund.

2020 workshop dates and locations include:

• Jan. 8, Grand Rivers, Grand Rivers Community Center
• Jan. 9, Madisonville, Hopkins County Cooperative Extension office
• Jan. 22 Morehead, Derrickson Center at Morehead State University
• Jan. 29, Shelbyville, Shelby County Extension office
• March 16, Monticello, Wayne County Extension office
• March 17, Campbellsville, Taylor County Extension office
• March 18, Bowling Green, Warren County Extension office
• March 19, Elizabethtown, Hardin County Extension office

Economists will schedule a spring conference at the Madison County Extension office and fall conferences at the Boone County Extension office and the Boyle County Extension office.

For specific times, contact a local office of the UK Cooperative Extension Service.