Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Daniel Allen
Major Program: Ag Water Quality Program
With the decline of dairy farms in Kentucky, following the closing of the Dean milk processing facility in Louisville, it has resulted in the loss of dairy farms across the state of Kentucky. On average, farmers spend $1.92 to produce a gallon of milk and make $1.32 when they sell it to processors. This is the fourth year in a row that farmers’ milk prices have dipped below the cost of production. Diary Farmers like Kenton County’s EdMar is looking for any way to help off
Author: Traci Johnson
Major Program: Ag Water Quality Program
Extension programs that protect natural resources are a continued priority identified by the Oldham County Extension and Agriculture Councils. One way that livestock producers can protect water is proper disposal of deceased farm animals. Proper disposal can be a challenge, especially for producers of large animals like horses and cattle. Proper disposal of large carcasses requires large equipment to bury the carcass in a way that does not negatively impact ground water or surf
Author: Nick Roy
Major Program: Ag Water Quality Program
The winter of 2018-19 set records for the amount of rainfall. In Adair County, the rainfall was especially felt by livestock producers. Excessive rainfall led to extensive damage of pasture fields and zeroed hay inventories on many livestock operations. The impact was not only felt by livestock, but was also a detriment to our water quality as excessive amounts of mud and erosion were observed on livestock farms. As a response, the Adair County Cooperative Extension
Author: Dee Heimgartner
Major Program: Ag Water Quality Program
If you own ten or more acres in Kentucky and are engaged in agricultural or silviculture practices then you need a water quality plan. The Kentucky General Assembly created this law in 1994. Since then farming operations have changed and there are a few new faces to farming, Crittenden County ANR agent has worked with local farmers to update their Ag Water Quality Plan (AWQP).There were two different training times held on how to fill out a AWQP, on in the spring and one in the winter. A total o
Author: Tammy Brewster-Barnes
Major Program: Ag Water Quality Program
Due to changes in the State Cost-Share programs, KYNMPs are now required for producer participation. Many DC staff were unsure about how to develop a KYNMP. Formal and informal trainings were given to staff. After the training, staff felt more confident that they could produce a simple plan for producers and understood that this plan could be used as a teaching tool to help farmers reduce their nutrient application while still maintaining good yields.
Author: Tammy Brewster-Barnes
Major Program: Ag Water Quality Program
Many in the equine industry are unaware that there are State Cost-share and NRCS programs available to them. Through one on one communications, presentations given to the Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club members and to participants at the UK Equine Showcase program and informational booths at farm field days, many subsequent farm visits were made to discuss soil and water conservation. Several of these visits were to small farms and many have communicated with me that they are in the proces
Author: Amanda Gumbert
Major Program: Ag Water Quality Program
2019 Great Lakes to Gulf Watershed Leadership SummitBuilding on the success of the Great Lakes to Gulf Watershed Leadership Summit in 2018, members of the Southern Extension-Research Activity-46 (SERA-46) team hosted a second leadership summit in 2019. The summit was held in Long Beach, Mississippi in February 2019 and brought together farmers, farm advisors, fishermen, state and federal agencies, universities, and NGOs to share ideas and develop partnerships to tackle nutrient losses in th
Author: Matthew Adams
Major Program: Ag Water Quality Program
Pesticide usage is a necessary part of modern conventional agriculture. One issue with pesticide use that most don’t think of is the amount of used plastic containers in which the pesticides are purchased in. A resurgence in use of these smaller containers has also come due to herbicide resistance issues promoting farmers to use different chemicals that are used at lower rates. Many of these containers will have very small traces of pesticides left on the inside of the containers, making t
