Extension
It Starts With Us
Agriculture Awareness and Sustainabilty
Environmental & Agricultural Awareness & Sustainability
Corinne Belton, Regina Browning
Chemical Crop Management Tools
Sustainable Agriculture
Local Food Systems
Chemical Livestock Management Tools
Over the last 15 years, Shelby County has experienced a large influx of growth from Louisville Metro and surrounding counties. This growth has led to a large non-rural population that has limited knowledge of rural environments, natural resources, and sustaining those for future generations. Local leadership identified a need for educational programming in this area to help protect and beautify our county's natural resources.
Local food continues to be in demand from consumers, restaurants, retail outlets and institutions (including schools). However, there is a disconnect between the production, processing, marketing, and distribution segments of the local food system, especially for small and minority farmers. With sales from Kentucky food products expected to increase from $14 million (2014) to $24 million in 2020, Extension has resources to educate agricultural producers in production, value added opportunities, business planning and marketing strategies to expand the local food system for the demand.
Chemical application at its best is simultaneously safe, effective, economical and environmentally-conscious. Achieving each of these attributes for plant and livestock pest management is an ongoing educational process for a variety of groups, including farm managers and workers, point-of-sale employees, gardeners, crop advisors, and industry and government agency representatives. This process will include educational sessions, hands-on demonstrations, test plots, coordinated recommendations, and site-specific farm visits by various extension personnel. In addition to timely and relevant updates on chemicals, focus areas are chemical safety, efficacious usage, and integration of diversified approaches alongside chemicals. Attention to these foci will benefit not only applicators, but anyone who comes in contact with Kentucky livestock for food or enjoyment, with agricultural fields, or who uses Kentucky food, fuel and fiber crops as part of everyday life.
*Increase access to local foods in restaurants, retail outlets, school and other institutions
*Maintain or increase consumer confidence/demand in local foods
*Improve sustainability of animal livestock production systems
*Reduction of drift related complaints and damage
*Reduction of crop injury due to pesticide applications (rate, compatibility, application conditions)
*Develop an Ag Plan using decision making tools
*Diversify the types and varieties of produce grown and sold
*Apply food safety practices and/or procedures
*Home Based Microprocessing Certification
*USDA GAP Certification
*Market agricultural products locally
*Use diagnostic services to identify insects, livestock diseases, plant diseases and weeds
*Use diagnostic agent, specialist, veterinarian, UK VDL recommendations
*Evaluate chemical storage, handling and disposal
*Adopt recommended application techniques
*Review types and varieties of produce
*Interpret food safety handling procedures
*Understand procedures for safe food processing
*Identify production methods and agricultural food products that extend the growing season
*Read and comprehend directions for applying chemicals (timing, application conditions)
*Observe proper chemical handling, storage and cleanup in home, farm or business
*Chemical selection, mixing, compatibility
*Understanding IPM (triggers, thresholds, etc)
*Awareness of concern due to antibiotic resistance in livestock chemicals
*Proper identification of livestock diseases
*Understanding drift mitigation methods
*Identify pesticide-sensitive areas around fields
Initial Outcome: Producers develop KOSA about types of produce, food safety, chemical handling, storage, clean-up and safety, livestock diseases, antibiotic resistance.
Indicator: Increased KOSA about types of produce, food safety, chemical handling, storage, clean-up and safety, livestock diseases, antibiotic resistance.
Method: Self-reporting, end-of-program evaluation
Timeline: Annually and post-training
Intermediate Outcome: Individuals will develop and utilize an ag plan, attain food safety certification, market more products locally, and apply recommended chemical and antibiotic application techniques
Indicator: Increase number of producers with a complete ag plan, with food safety certification, who are marketing more products locally and properly applying chemicals and antibiotics
Method: Self-reporting, surveys
Timeline: Annually
Long-term Outcome: Safe, wholesome, local foods are more widely available to consumers in a variety of marketplaces from sustainable crop and livestock production systems.
Indicator: Greater availability of local foods
Method: Observation, self-reporting
Timeline: Year-to-year over the next decade
Audience: Local producers and consumers
Project or Activity: Rooted in Shelby
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Proud, increasing awareness of local foods
Inputs: Kentucky Proud, local producers, local consumers, restaurants
Date: Year-round
Audience: New-to-Farming and Small Farmers
Project or Activity: For Rookie Series
Content or Curriculum: UK publications
Inputs: UK publications, specialists, agents
Date: Oct/Nov 2018
Audience: Ag and Horticulture producers
Project or Activity: Produce Best Practices Training
Content or Curriculum: PBPT materials
Inputs: Powerpoint, specialists, agents
Date: Year-round
Audience: Livestock Producers
Project or Activity: Beef Quality & Care Assurance (BQCA)
Content or Curriculum: BQCA curriculum
Inputs: BQCA curriculum, video, agents, specialists
Date: Fall 2018, Spring 2019
Audience: Ag and Horticulture Producers
Project or Activity: Private-Use Pesticide Training
Content or Curriculum: Private-Use Pesticide materials
Inputs: Private-use Pesticide materials, video, specialists, agents
Date: January/February 2019
Audience: Grain Producers
Project or Activity: Grain Production Update
Content or Curriculum: Chemical management and safety publications
Inputs: UK publications, specialists, industry representatives, agents
Date: February 2019
Audience: 4-H School Clubs
Project or Activity: Sum of the Parts Lesson
Content or Curriculum: Food, Land, & People curriculum
Inputs: Agents, Staff, F.L.P. curriculum
Date: Nov 2018
Author: Corinne Belton
Major Program: Local Food Systems
With over 1500 farms generating more than $72 million in agriculture receipts, Shelby County agriculture is a viable and thriving component of the local economy. However, members of the Horticulture and Agriculture Advisory Council (HAAC) have identified a growing farm-to-city disconnect, even in our rural Shelby County setting. For the past several years, HAAC efforts have included a focus on bridging the gap and educating local citizens about our agriculture heritage. A newly-devel
