Crop and Tobacco Production SystemsPlan of Work

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Trigg County CES

Title:
Crop and Tobacco Production Systems
MAP:
Crop Production
Agents Involved:
Graham Cofield
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Grain Crops
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Forages
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Tobacco
Situation:

In Trigg County over 80% of the revenue generated from the sale of Agricultural commodities comes from the sale of grain crops and tobacco. producers today are facing lower commodity prices, input costs that are not shrinking proportionally to the fall in commodities, and increasing concerns over regulation on the farm. These issues along with new disease and insect pests puts pressure on a producer's bottom lines for the foreseeable future making it all the more important to accurately identify issues and respond appropriately.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Maximize profits for commercial ag producer


Minimize environmental impact of air, soil, or living area


Improve sustainability of intensively managed crop production systems


Significant percentage of producers implementing IPM practices


Increase positive opinion of GMO/Conventional production of non-farm individuals

Intermediate Outcomes:

Maximize awareness of GMO/Organic Production


Use diagnostic services to identify insects, disease and weeds


Adopt one or more fertility management recommendations


Implementation of on-farm trials

Initial Outcomes:

Awareness of current land grant research concerning grain crop production

Identification of IPM practices for grain crops production


Understanding BioTech traits


Increase non-farm public understanding of BioTechnology/Organic/ Conventional grains crop production


Identify active ingredients in crop related ag products


Identify herbicide resistant pests and strategies to overcome these pests

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Producers will improve knowledge of Herbicide resistant weeds, conservation practices, biotech traits, and herbicide selection.

Indicator: number of producers utilizing UK research information and publications, improved understanding of how to Identify active ingredients and efficacy, increased ability to identify problem weeds in fields early.

Method: Observations, Meeting evaluations, Follow up visits/interviews

Timeline: 2019


Intermediate Outcome: Producers will use UK extension recommendations to

Indicator: number of samples submitted to diagnostic lab, number of soil tests submitted, producers better understand Biotech traits and how to use them effectively.

Method: Observations, Meeting evaluations, Follow up visits/interviews,

Timeline: 2019


Long-term Outcome: Producers will adopt new practices to improve environmental quality and profitability.

Indicator: IPM strategies, implement recommended conservation practices, improve public opinion of GMO/conventional cropping systems

Method: Observations, Meeting evaluations, Follow up visits/interviews

Timeline: 2019

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Morning Ag Report

Content or Curriculum: UK recommendations, UK specialists

Inputs: UK research, publications, Specialists, agent.

Date: weekly


Audience: Tobacco Producers

Project or Activity: Tobacco Production Meeting

Content or Curriculum: UK specialists, Publications

Inputs: UK research, publications, Specialists

Date: winter yearly


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Farm Tour

Content or Curriculum: UK specialists, Publication, Local Producers.

Inputs: UK specialists, Volunteers, agent,

Date: July yearly


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: AG Appreciation Dinner

Content or Curriculum: UK specialists, Publications

Inputs: UK specialists, Volunteers, Agent, local Officials

Date: March Yearly




Success Stories

2019 Tobacco Meeting

Author: Samuel Cofield

Major Program: Tobacco

Tobacco production remains a very important part of the Ag economy for many Trigg County producers making up 17% of the total Crop sales.  For producers, new diseases, increased regulations and as always the weather in 2018 made producing a high quality, high yielding crop very difficult.  Trigg and Caldwell Counties have worked together to put on an educational meeting each year to help them find answers to the issues they are facing in the field.  This year more than 60 producer

Full Story

West Ky Hemp Conference

Author: Samuel Cofield

Major Program: Ag Marketing

Industrial Hemp has been a long standing tradition in Kentucky.  In the 19th and 20th century Kentucky was the world leader in hemp production.  Then in the 1970’s the war on drugs outlawed the sale and production of cannabis sativa and made it a schedule 1 substance.  In 2014 a bill was passed that allowed Kentucky to start growing and researching hemp development and production to offset a slowing tobacco industry.  In 2014 there were 20 approved growers and 33 acres

Full Story
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