The Kentucky Beef Network (KBN) manages state grant funds to provide on-farm support, education, and resources to help Kentucky beef cattle farmers improve animal health, genetics, forages, and marketing opportunities. KBN focuses on enhancing producer profitability through partnerships with University of Kentucky Extension and management of the Eden Shale Farm and Learning Center. Key areas of focus include assisting small farmers in Eastern Kentucky to improve management practices like calving windows and pregnancy rates through hands-on learning. Programs also aim to finish cattle at three locations and provide education on topics from receiving to carcass evaluation through the Pasture to Plate initiative.

1. Kentucky Beef Network
Ag Development funds at work:
Enhancing producer profitability through education,
management, and marketing.

2. 
Help Kentucky beef cattle farmers improve
animal health, genetics, forages, and
marketing opportunities by enhancing
producer profitability.
Goal of
Kentucky Beef Network

3. 
Kentucky Beef Network
 Manage a state grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
 Provide to Kentucky Farmers
 On-Farm Support
 Education
 Resources
 Manage daily operations for the Eden Shale Farm and Learning Center
 Partnership with University of Kentucky Extension- to increase learning
opportunities impact

4. 
Continue Regional Efforts
Eastern Kentucky/SOAR Initiative
Young and Beginning Farmers
KBN VIII
Key Areas of Focus

5.  Emphasis on small farmers to help improve management
practices
 Shorten Calving Window
 Increase Pregnancy Rates
 Increase Record Keeping
 Enhance Efficiency of Production
 Improve Profitability
 Some classroom learning – main focus will be hands-on
learning at the farm
 Concentrated in SOAR Counties
 To date 55 farms participating- “boots on the farm”
Eastern Kentucky IRM
Integrated Reproductive Management

6. 3 locations- Princeton, Eden Shale, Morgan Co.
Finishing 10 head at each location/year
Education Sessions:
 Receiving Phase
 Finishing Phase
 Carcass Evaluation
 Producer End Product Sensory Panels
 Session Focus: Nutrition, Health, Live Animal Evaluation,
Marketing, Environmental, Consumer Preference, Taste test
Pasture to Plate

7. THANK YOU!
Becky Thompson
Kentucky Beef Network
859-278-0899
bthompson@kycattle.org