Extension
It Starts With Us
Enhancing Agriculture Managemet and Marketing
Growing Grayson County through Rural, Youth, and Community Development
Whitney Carman
Forages
Beef
Grain Crops
Commercial Horticulture - Crop Marketing
Agriculture in Grayson County is an integral part of the economic system. In 2012 the total value of crop and livestock cash receipts for Grayson County was 46 million. Balancing input costs, value of crops and livestock, and marketing techniques are always changing, making it harder for farmers and agriculturalists to be profitable. Another issues is the increase in average farmer age, thus the importance of estate transitional planning. Therefore, it is important to educate farmers on the latest information available from the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture food and Environment, and industry partners so they can make educated decisions to help increase the vitality and profitability of their enterprises.
Farmers and Producers will adopt integrated systems of animal and plant production which sustain and/or enhance the economic vitality of their agricultural enterprise. Production methods utilized will increase the amount of commodities produced. There will also be an increase in early career farmers by the year 2018.There will be an increase in farm enterprises who have completed estate planning.
Producers will utilize new management and marketing skills learned from the Cooperative Extension Service programs that can increase the chance of agricultural enterprise profitability. More farmers will make decisions to work on estate plans.
Producers will learn new marketing techniques for livestock and plant production.
Producers will understand ways of controlling their input costs more effectively
Producers will learn new educational tools that they can use to increase efficiency and effectiveness on their agricultural enterprise.
Initial Outcome: Increases awareness of new production methods and techniques
Indicator: education of production methods and techniques
Method: written evaluation
Timeline: 2018
Intermediate Outcome: Improvement in management and production methods
Indicator: Adoption of practices learned in Extension Programs
Method: Survey of Extension Programs
Timeline: 2019
Long-term Outcome: Increased Economic Vitality of Agriculture Enterprises
Indicator: Economic conditions of farmers become more viable
Method: mailed survey
Timeline: 2019
Audience: farmers
Project or Activity: Livestock Marketing
Content or Curriculum: CPH-45 program, Retained Ownership Program, KY Proud
Inputs: UK Specialists, UK Beef Publications, county agents, beef farmers, Cooperative Extension Services, local livestock markets, Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Date: Spring-Winter 2018
Audience: farmers
Project or Activity: Beef and Forage Production Education
Content or Curriculum: Publications and videos on forages and beef production, project demonstration
Inputs: UK publications, UK videos, Specialists,
Date: Winter 2016-2017
Audience: farmers
Project or Activity: Beef and Forage Field Days
Content or Curriculum: Demonstration plot, UK publications and presentations on beef marketing and forage use
Inputs: UK specialists, Local Farmer, Kentucky Beef Network, Agents, Publications, Beef IRM Committee, local farm store
Date: Summer 2017, summer 2018
Audience: farmers
Project or Activity: Variety Plots for crops, forages, and hemp
Content or Curriculum: County variety plots for Corn,
Inputs: UK Specialists, Local seed reps, Local farmers, UK publications
Date: Summer 2017, 2018, 2019
Audience: Early career farmers
Project or Activity: Managing for Today and Tomorrow
Content or Curriculum: UK curriculum for Managing for Today and Tomorrow
Inputs: UK, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky Ag Development Fund, Agents, local businesses
Date: Spring 2018
Audience: Women in Agriculture and Agribusiness
Project or Activity: Annie's Project
Content or Curriculum: financial management and general agribusiness education
Inputs: UK, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky Ag Development Fund, Agents, local businesses, Annie's Project curriculum
Date: Winter 2017
Audience: Grain Producers
Project or Activity: Grain Marketing Education
Content or Curriculum: Information on grain marketing
Inputs: UK publications, UK specialists, local marketing groups, producers
Date: Winter 2018
Audience: Young Farmers
Project or Activity: Young Farmer Program
Content or Curriculum: FarmStart curriculum, UK specialists, local agribusinesses, local farmers, UK Extension agents, commodity organizations
Date: Winter and Spring 2018-2019
Audience: Facebook and Social Media Users/General Public
Project or Activity: Social media posts regarding agriculture marketing and management techniques
Content or Curriculum: various research based resources
Inputs: UK Specialist, paid Extension Staff, social media outlets
Date: Year round 2016-2018
Author: Whitney Carman
Major Program: Forages
Fescue has been the most consistent forage for hay and pasture in Grayson County. Some people will claim that fescue is the only thing keeping Grayson County from eroding into the twin lakes. Although fescue has provided adequate forage and erosion control, it also has its faults when it comes to endophyte, and summer growth. In Kentucky, we have a growth slump in the summer, and for the average producer, that’s an important time of year for cattle growth and reproduction. The Agriculture
Author: Whitney Carman
Major Program: Farm Management
Grayson County is home to over 1400 farms made of over 200,000 acres total (6th in KY), and the average age of the operator is 58 years old. This statistic is one that is not old, but it still has effects on farming in Grayson County. In the last two years, there have been several transitions of farming operators due to death, farm transition, and other related factors. The Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent as well as the USDA Farm Production and Conservation Office had noticed a
Author: Whitney Carman
Major Program: Beef
Based on the 2012 Census of Agriculture, beef production in Grayson County makes up over 52% of total animal sales. Therefore, beef (and forage) education continues to be a top priority for the Grayson County Cooperative Extension Service. Grayson County Cattlemen’s and Grayson County Cooperative Extension Service have had a long standing partnership with beef and forage field days in the county. This year was no different, however the two parties decided to incorporate more educational op
