Production AgriculturePlan of Work

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Caldwell County CES

Title:
Production Agriculture
MAP:
Advancing Sustainable Crop Production Systems Big and Small
Agents Involved:
Shane Bogle, Rhonda Jewell, Ashley White
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Grain Crops
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Commercial Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Sustainable Agriculture
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
Situation:

Change is a constant in everything but it especially rings true for production agriculture. the last several years have seen a grain production boom in Caldwell County. Stiff competition for land made cash rents increase to never seen before levels. As prices have lowered sharply in the last year producers that were unprepared and have overspent are feeling the crunch. Lease rates are slower to follow this downward trend as landowners have grown accustomed to being paid more for their ground. Specialty crops such as canola and grain sorghum are a more common sight. Many tobacco producers that have transitioned away from tobacco are still looking for ways to replace that income. A flurry of high tunnel greenhouses have started in Caldwell County helping with this and participation in the Caldwell On-line and traditional farmers market. Phase I and USDA state cost shares have helped this along.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Producers will improve quality of life by increasing revenue in production agriculture.

Producers will implement environmentally safe practices for pesticide and fertilizer applications.

Producers will utilize rinse and return programs to improve the environment.

Producers will gain a better understanding of grain marketing and futures contracts.

Producers will explore new crop opportunities.

Youth will engage in community projects related to natural resource conservation.

Intermediate Outcomes:

The public will become aware of the importance of agriculture to the community.

Producers will implement policy changes learned at educational meetings.

Producers will understand the opportunity to produce alternate crops.

Youth will make decisions in their daily lives that positively impact natural resources.

Youth will adopt practices to conserve and protect the environment in their home and community.

Initial Outcomes:

Producers will utilize up-to-date decision making information concerning the field of production agriculture

Producers will utilize the tools to make important production decisions concerning economics and safe agronomic practices and adoption of new crop enterprises.

Youth will identify the natural resources that are used within their home and community.

Youth will develop an interest in environmental sciences and sustainable practices and technologies.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Producers will gain a better understanding of grain marketing and new production practices utilizing the latest research.

Indicator: Producers that change current marketing and production practices as a result of grain, beef, forage, tobacco, and vegetable production education meetings.

Method: observations, Kentucky Ag Statistics, on farm visits

Timeline: 1-4 years


Intermediate Outcome: Producers will see increased profits

Indicator: cash receipts

Method: UK Farm analysis data, USDA Survey data

Timeline: 1-4 years


Long-term Outcome: operations are thriving and expanding

Indicator: cash receipts, farm expansion and quality of living increase

Method: farm visits, USDA survey data

Timeline: 1-4 years

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Community Leaders, Producers

Project or Activity: Farm to Table program

Content or Curriculum: Hometown Harvest

Inputs: Community, Farmers Market, Extension, Donors

Date: July 2018


Audience: Producers

Project or Activity: Rinse and Return Program

Content or Curriculum: KDA

Inputs: KDA, Extension

Date: August 2018


Audience: Producers, General Public

Project or Activity:Pesticide Applicator Training

Content or Curriculum: PAT-1

Inputs: Agent

Date: Fall, Winter


Audience: Producers, Lenders

Project or Activity: County grain meeting

Content or Curriculum: UK specialists

Inputs: Agent, specialist

Date: Winter each year


Audience: Producers, Lenders ect.

Project or Activity: Tobacco production update

Content or Curriculum: UK/UT Specialist

Inputs: Agent specialists

Date: Winter each year


Audience: Farmers Market Vendors

Project or Activity: Farmers market Production meeting/GAP training

Content or Curriculum: UK/KDA / Public Health

Inputs: Agent, KDA, UK, Public Health

Date: Spring each year


Audience: Students in Caldwell County Schools

Project or Activity: Trash Sculpture

Content or Curriculum: 

Inputs: Youth, Agent, CCS Natural Resources Curriculum

Date: November 2018


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Farm, Food, and Fitness

Content or Curriculum: My Plate

Inputs: Agents

Date: Summer 2019


Audience: public

Project or Activity: Soil To Shelf Series

Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener

Inputs: Agent, UK

Date: Spring 2019


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Jr. Sr. Forestry Field Day

Content or Curriculum: University of Kentucky Forestry Dept.

Inputs: Agents, UK Forestry Department, KY Division of Forestry, Land Bewteen the Lakes

Date: Fall 2018  and Spring 2019


Audience: Caldwell County Elementary 3rd grade students

Project or Activity:Food For America

Content or Curriculum: Caldwell County FFA, local farmers, Ag related businesses

Inputs: Agents, community, farmers,

Date: Fall 2018


Audience: Caldwell County Teens

Project or Activity: State Forestry Contest

Content or Curriculum: National Forestry Contest 

Inputs: Agents, UK Forestry Department, Bernheim National Forest

Date: April 2019


Audience: Caldwell County Teens 

Project or Activity: Kentucky Forest Leadership Program

Content or Curriculum: Led by UK Specialist 

Inputs: Agents, UK Specialist, UK Department of Forestry

Date: June 2019



Success Stories

Master Horse Owner Course

Author: Shane Bogle

Major Program: Equine

Horses are an important part of the agricultural economy in Kentucky and the Caldwell County area has numerous working quarter horse farms that greatly add a to the local economy. In addition to the economic value of the horse industry, they hold a significant social value and western pleasure horse clientele make up the largest percentage and many horse owners are turning to the horse as a means of family recreation.  Many of these horse owners have limited experience with horses and are o

Full Story

Using Pesticide Certification Training For More

Author: Shane Bogle

Major Program: Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests

In recent years west Kentucky has seen a drastic increase in Glyphosate-resistant marestail which is our most common resistant weed, but most farmers have learned to manage it. More serious resistance issues exist with Italian ryegrass, Palmar amaranth, waterhemp, etc. Producers have always tended to use the pesticides that work for them, and they sometimes use them over and over. But the increase in herbicide-resistant weeds has forced producers to think more carefully how their chemical choice

Full Story
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