Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Austin Wright
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
SituationChristian County conducted a survey on agricultural businesses and farming occupation. It showed a 35% increase in farm businesses between 2007 until 2012. The average farm size is 306 acres with 5% adding value to products and 1% operating community supported agriculture. Current unemployment rate for Christian County is 10.1% which is +6% the national average. The plan that is composed would produce over 150 jobs in Christian County. Partnerships and
Author: Tehran Jewell
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
This agent has worked with a Barren County KY farmer in cooperation with KSU's Small Farm Program. Initially we will work with this farmer in order to assess the cooperator in the feasibility of the USDA Rural Housing Agency’s lending processes; to assess the chances of her being funded through a loan to help secure funding for work needed to be done on her farm home in the year 2017. The farmer’s housing currently needs several upgrades including but not excluding anything not l
Author: Tehran Jewell
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
This agent has worked with a Barren County KY farmer in cooperation with Kentucky State University’s (KSU) Small Farm Program. Initially we will work with this farmer in order to explain and introduce this farmer to land owners needing a tenant-farmer agreement to produce profit on-farm. The tenant-farmer has lived in the West End of Louisville, KY for over 20 years. Fast forward to today and having returned to the farm, this farmer has not ever owned land but wishes to farm an
Author: Austin Wright
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
SituationChristian County conducted a survey on agricultural businesses and farming occupation. It showed a 35% increase in farm businesses between 2007 until 2012. The average farm size is 306 acres with 5% adding value to products and 1% operating community supported agriculture. Current unemployment rate for Christian County is 10.1% which is +6% the national average. New Minority Owned Farms would start a defiant start in the positive direction for small farmers to mo
Author: Edwin Chavous
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
A small farmer in Franklin County, Kentucky, requested assistance in getting a cost share application completed and a Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Plan completed with the Franklin County Conservation District in Frankfort, Kentucky for a pasture renovation on eleven acres for beef cattle. The farmer contacted the Area Agent for Small Farms Program at Kentucky State University to assist him with filling out a cost share application and Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Plan Producer Workbo
Author: Jacob Vincent
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
Beekeeping nationwide is in decline. The past 80 years have seen a steady decrease in the total number of managed bee colonies across the United States. Many reasons have been suggested for this decline but the majority agree that pesticides and pests accumulating in the hive are to blame. In order to help sustain Kentucky beekeepers, Kentucky State University has developed a large, mobile autoclave for the purpose of sterilizing used beehive equipment. This unit will both destroy any parasite,
Author: Edwin Chavous
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
A small farmer in Clark County, Kentucky, requested assistance in getting a application completed for a high tunnel to grow vegetables. The farmer contacted the Area Agent for Small Farms Program at Kentucky State University to assist him with filling out the application in January 2017. On July 2017, the farmer was approved for $10,000 dollars. On October 2017, the farmer had completed installing the high tunnel. The Kentucky State University Small Farm Program is an extension program des
Author: Danny Adams
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
Fifteen Small cattle farmers have added $100.00 per head value to their calves by using the KSU shared use Cattle Handling Equipment and the Wayne County Extension Office Stewardship Verified Program.A $100.00 per head premium can be achieved based upon selling a 500 weight steer that has been castrated, weaned, vaccinated for disease prevention and de-wormed versus a bull calf that has none of this thinks done to the calf, to achieved a .20 cents a pound added valve. KSU's shared use
Author: Austin Wright
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
SituationKSU Small Farms Program in Christian County work with community leaders to educate, build & develop future community leaders in Christian County. Minorities make up 22% of the population of Christian County, minority small farms program have increased another 8%. The average farm size is 306 acres with 5% adding value to products and 1% operating community supported agriculture. Current unemployment rate for Christian County is 7.2 % which is +3% the national avera
Author: Danny Adams
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
Two ladies were interested in purchasing a farm and raising cattle. They had no farming experience except at being at a relatives farm where he was growing vegetables and having a small cow calf herd. They told their relative they wanted to buy a farm and raise cattle. He told them before they buy a farm and buy cows they need to go to the Extension office and talk with the Small Farm Assistant, because he had helped them in growing their vegetables.They called the Extension Office and talk
Author: Edwin Chavous
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
A home owner in Anderson County, Kentucky, requested assistance in getting home repair. The home owner attended a county extension program at the Anderson County Extension office on September 15, 2016. The county extension program was entitled Kentucky State University and University of Kentucky Annual Extension Meeting. The home owner listens to a presentation on USDA Rural Housing. After the meeting the home owner requested an appointment with the Kentucky State University Area Agent for Small
Author: Angela Whitehouse
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
Providing small farmers through the Grow Appalachia program in Eastern, KY their own grape vines through grape propogating demonstrations from the KSU extension and demonstration vineyard. Small farmers and their families are shown how to propogate Concord grape cuttings into their own grape vines to plant and have their own grapes for making jellies and juice. The interest and participation was more than expected and drew a large attendence and future attendences with other events s
Author: Edwin Chavous
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
A home owner in Lincoln County, Kentucky, requested assistance in getting home repair. The home owner attended a county extension program at the Boneyville Baptist Church in Stanford, Kentucky on April 12, 2016. The county extension program was entitled Kentucky State University and University of Kentucky Annual Extension Meeting. The home owner listens to a presentation on USDA Rural Housing during the meeting. After the meeting the home owner requested an appointment with the Kentucky State Un
Author: Marion Simon
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
“The Third Thursday Thing”, an award winning USDA Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Model State Program project of Kentucky State University (KSU), held its 20th Anniversary Field Day on July 20, 2017 at the Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm in Franklin County, KY. The field day had over 600 participants who studied many agriculture topics including the production of aquaculture species, pawpaw trees, fruit and organic vegetable crops,
Author: Danny Adams
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
5 small farmers using KSU's shared use vegetable equipment saves themselves $6000.00 in equipment investments.Wayne County's Small Farm Assistant coordinates the use of the vegetable production equipment among small and beginning farmers to allow them to grow vegetables on a small scale without making the investment themselves.The equipment that the small and beginning farmers use are a Plastic Mulch Laying Machine, Water Wheel Setter, and a Plastic Mulch Lifter allowing farmers to pick
Author: Jacob Vincent
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
KSU mobile autoclave sterilizes beehives for Washington Co. beekeepers Honey bees are a critical component in the agricultural industry in the United States. Honey bees produce hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of honey and the pollination services they provide are worth hundreds of millions as well. The almond industry is completely reliant on the pollination provided by honey bees. Sadly, managed bee colonies have
Author: Laura Rogers
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
Through the Kentucky State University Small Farm Project and Beginning Farmer Grant and a collaborative program with the University of Kentucky Extension limited resource farmers Beginning Beekeeping was taught to inmates in the prison system.Upon the request of several correctional facilities for honeybee classes, 64 inmates in Kentucky now understand basic beekeeping. Three different basic beekeeping series were completed each with 5 different classes. These Classes covered “Sustainabili
Author: William Rogers
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
In today’s world there is a movement of people that are wanting to leave the urban communities, move to a rural environment and make a living from the land. The people doing this are buying small parcels of land on which to build their farms. They want to produce enough food to provide for their families and have more to sell to the community. Many of these people have never farmed before and want help to get started. This transition to farming is the most common issue I deal wit
Author: Laura Rogers
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
Through the Kentucky State University Small Farm Project and Beginning Farmer Grant and a collaborative program with the University of Kentucky Extension limited resource farmers learn the process of grape production and grape value added products.During the 20th century in Kentucky there was a great migration of people from family farms to areas of industry for economical reasons. At one time the knowledge of tending to and preserving grapes was commonplace of the family farm but over time this
Author: Laura Rogers
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
Through the Kentucky State University Small Farm Project and Beginning Farmer Grant and a collaborative program with the University of Kentucky Extension limited resource farmers learn information about honeybees. These classes were taught once a month through the Russell County Bee Club at the Russell County Extension Office.The club over the past 5 years averages now 18 people in attendance at each meeting including several young adults. I instruct beekeepers in topics such as “Bee
Author: Laura Rogers
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
Through the Kentucky State University Small Farm Project and Beginning Farmer Grant and a collaborative program with the University of Kentucky Extension limited resource farmers learn how to produce honeybees upon their farm.For some people honeybees are a hobby. However for others honeybees are a means of supporting their family. Tony Schering, of Pulaski County, wanted to raise queen and produce nucs in order to sell the bees for extra income. Beekeepers have long known honeybees’
