Kentucky Grain Crops Academy.

Production agriculture has never been more competitive, and producers in Kentucky are always seeking information that would improve profitability and sustainability.  Producers were interested in an in-depth program that addressed the basic scientific principles of grain crops production and application of those principles.  The extension program Kentucky Grain Crops Academy sought to do this through assisting producers in developing a better understanding of the science of grain crops production.  Through the cooperation of a multidisciplinary team of specialists (including agronomists, engineers, entomologists, and pathologists) a group of county extension agents and some of the state’s top grain producers the Kentucky Grain Crops Academy was born.  The pilot Kentucky Grain Crops Academy was held in January and February 2008, and was a success.  Those in attendance consisted of the county agents involved in the planning of the academy and 15 top tier producers (representing 20 000 ha^-1 of grain crop production) selected by those agents.  One hundred percent of the producers in attendance stated that the program helped their farming operation, and that they would recommend the program to others.