Extension
It Starts With Us
Strengthening Adair County's Agriculture Industry
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Nick Roy
Beef
Ag Marketing
Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum
Grain Crops
In Adair County, crops and livestock generate nearly 50 million dollars into the local economy each year. Adair County ranks 10th in Kentucky in the number of beef cows and 2nd in dairy cattle. Crops generate 25% of agriculture cash receipts and crop acreage has increased by 30% since 2010.
The Adair County Agriculture Advisory council developed a list of concerns which pose the greatest risk to Adair County's Agriculture Industry. From that list, the council has assisted the Adair County Cooperative Extension Service develop the following plan of work to address those concerns.
Wise use of cover crops and animal waste nutrients will lead to improved soil fertility, soil health, and reduced soil erosion therefore reducing the environmental impact of agriculture.
The next generation of farmers in Adair County will be well prepared to take over and continue the success of one of the largest industries in Adair County.
Improved forage management practices will lead to increased profitability and sustainability of Adair County Beef producers.
Through improved marketing, farmers will become more profitable by opening up new markets for their crops.
Farmers will adapt the use of cover crops to increase soil health and decrease soil erosion.
Livestock farmers will develop nutrient management plans to ensure efficient use of animal waste.
Adair County youth and young farmers will participate in educational and leadership programs
Farmers will identify new marketing options for their products.
Livestock Farmers will increase their forage resources through improved management practices.
Farmers will learn develop strategies for best utilizing animal waste products.
Farmers will learn how to utilize cover crops in crop rotation.
Adair County young farmers and youth will develop networks to encourage growth and development.
Farmers will learn about marketing techniques, avenues, and options for their products.
Livestock producers will learn and develop best practices for forage management.
Intermediate Outcome: Increased Use of Cover Crops
Indicator: Acres in cover crops
Method: Survey
Timeline: September 2018-May 2019
Long Term Outcome: Improved Soil Fertility Management
Indicator: Soil Testing
Method: UK Soil Data
Timeline: September 2018-May 2019
Initial Outcome: Youth & Young Farmers Participation
Indicator: Number of youth & young farmers networking
Method: Survey
Timeline: September 2018-May 2019
Intermediate Outcome: Improved Marketing of Farm Products
Indicator: Market Reports, new markets created, sale bills.
Method: producer survey
Timeline: September 2018-May 2019
Intermediate Outcome: Improved forage Management
Indicator: Forage yields and grazing days
Method: surveys
Timeline: September 2018-May 2019
Audience: Burley Growers
Activity: Center of KY Tobacco Meeting/GAP
Content or Curriculum: GAP, KY Tobacco Guide
Inputs: Agents, Specialists, Volunteer Farm, Sponsors
Date: Winter 2019
Audience: Dairy Producers
Activity: Center of Kentucky Dairy Short course/Center of KY Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Reproduction, Dry Cow Mgt, Heifer Mgt, Animal Well being
Inputs: Agents, Specialists, Volunteer Farm, Sponsors
Date: Winter 2018-19
Activity: DHIA Testing
Audience: Dairy Producers
Content or Curriculum: Production Record Keeping
Inputs: DHIA testers
Date: July 2018- June 2019
Activity: Adair County Cattlemen’s Meetings
Audience: Cattle Producers
Content or Curriculum: Enterprise improvement through genetics, health, and pre-conditioning.
Inputs: Agent & Volunteers
Date: July 2018- June 2019Activity: Adair County Junior Cattlemen Association
Audience: Youth Cattle Producers
Content or Curriculum: 4H Livestock curriculum
Inputs: Agent & Volunteers
Date: July 2018- June 2019
Activity: Adair County Feeder Cattle Program
Audience: Cattle Producers
Content or Curriculum: Feeder Calf Protocol
Inputs: Agent & Volunteers
Date: July 2018- June 2019
Activity: Adair County Young Farmer ProgramAudience: Young Farmers
Content or Curriculum: UK Specialists
Inputs: Agent & Volunteers
Date: Winter 2018-19
Activity: Commercial Vegetable Production Seminars
Audience: Hort Growers
Content or Curriculum: UK Specialists
Inputs: Agent & Volunteers
Date: Winter 2019
Activity: Forage Testing
Audience: Forage Producers
Content or Curriculum: Forage Testing Lab
Inputs: Dairy One Forage Lab
Date: July 2018- June 2019
Audience: Beef
Activity: Pasture Walk
Content or Curriculum: Selected by participants
Inputs: Agent & Specialists
Date: Fall 2019
Audience: Horticulture Producers
Activity: Farmer’s Market
Content or Curriculum: Marketing
Inputs: Agents & Volunteers
Date: Summer 2018
Audience: Horticulture Producers/Home hort
Activity: Garden Shortcourse/Garden Club Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener publications
Inputs: Agents & Volunteers
Date: Winter 2018-19
Audience: All Producers
Activity: Soil Testing
Content or Curriculum: Fertilizer Recommendations
Inputs: Agent, Staff, UK Regulatory Services
Date: July 2018- June 2019
Activity: Adair County Grain Field Day/Center of KY Grain Crops Meeting
Audience: Grain Producers
Content or Curriculum: Fertility, Plant Population, Weed Control
Inputs: Agents, Specialists, Volunteer Farm, Sponsors
Date: Summer 2018/Winter 2019
Activity: Animal Waste Nutrient Testing
Content or Curriculum: AGR-1
Inputs; UK Regulatory Services
Date: July 2018- June 2019
Audience: All Producers
Activity: Phase I Cost Share Programs
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
Input: Cattleman’s Association, Agents, & Staff
Date: July 2018- June 2019Audience: Youth Farmers
Activity: CAIP for Youth
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications/GOAP
Input: Cattleman’s Association, Agents, & Staff
Date: July 2018- June 2019
Audience: All Producers
Activity: Pesticide Certification
Content or Curriculum: KY Pesticide Safety Training Program
Input: Agents, UK Publications
Date: Spring 2019
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Animal Science/Livestock Club
Content or Curriculum: Approved 4-H Curriculum
Date: September 2018-May 2019
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Country Ham Project
Content or Curriculum: Approved 4-H Curriculum and Trained Volunteers and
Specialist
Inputs: Volunteer Leaders, Parents, Specialist, Community Leaders, Office Staff
Date: September 2018-May 2019
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Gardening Program
Curriculum: Approved 4-H Curriculum and Gardening related publications
Inputs: Volunteer Leaders, Community Leaders, Parents, Office Staff
Date: January-August 2019
Author: Nick Roy
Major Program: Beef
The UK Beef IRM Farm Program is a collaborative effort between UK Extension Agents and beef Specialists in the UK CAFE designed to increase the use of production practices that favor high reproductive rates in the cow herd. This program is delivered through on-farm learning to demonstrate the benefits of implementing these production practices.Adair County beef producer Mr. Lee Graves has been a part of the program since early spring 2017. Before enrolling in the program, the calving season was
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: Nick Roy
Major Program: Forages
In Adair County, 52,000 acres or roughly 30% of the land used for agriculture is utilized for pasture. In recent years, several farmers had reported an unfamiliar troublesome weed invading their pastures. With the diagnostic assistance of UK Weed Scientists, the weed was identified as Arrowleaf Sida. As many of the farmers had already discovered, Arrowleaf Sida is very difficult to control. Very little research data existed evaluating the effectiveness of different herbic
Author: Nick Roy
Major Program: Community Leadership Development
In Adair County, the average age of the farmer continues to increase leaving a short supply of upcoming leaders in agriculture. As part of a grassroots effort, in 2010 the Adair County Cooperative Extension Service collaborated with multiple local agriculture organizations including the Cattleman’s Association, Farm Bureau, Ag Development Council, and Extension Ag Advisory Council to develop a strategy to recruit, develop, and educate young farmers in leadership. The result was the Adair C
Author: Nick Roy
Major Program: Economic Development
In Adair County, agriculture is arguably the largest industry present contributing nearly 70 million dollars to the economy in 2017 (USDA Ag Census). Because of it's impact on the local economy, agriculture has the potential of serving as a key competent of recruiting new industries and businesses. Not only will new ag businesses create new jobs, but it will also help further strengthen the existing agriculture industry. In 2012, a grassroots effort by local farmers formed the Ag
