Increasing Crop Production in Green CountyPlan of Work

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Green County CES

Title:
Increasing Crop Production in Green County
MAP:
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Agents Involved:
Ricky Arnett
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Pesticide Safety – Livestock Pests
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Forages
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Ag Marketing
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Farm Management
Situation:

With the sharp decrease in prices over the last year, grain production has decreased slightly in Green County. With the production of grain being stable and prices being lower has had a large effect on the economy of central Kentucky. The Green County Extension Council has set a priority on helping farmers to learn to increase yields, decrease input cost, and be as efficient as possible.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Farmers will seek out assistance from extension resources before making decisions. Famers will accomplish on-farm what they have learned and seen demonstrated resulting in controlled costs and greater returns.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Make educated decisions demonstrating their knowledge of plant physiology and growth stages. They will be able to use practices such as: soil testing and fertilizing according to results, appropriate tillage drainage methods to avoid compaction, appropriate plant populations and row widths.


Cropping systems will be developed to reduce weed, disease, wildlife, and environmental impact utilizing pesticides.


Farmers will investigate marketing strategies allowing them to take advantages of price premiums and giving them marketing variables rather than being locked in to regional prices

Initial Outcomes:

Demonstrate increased knowledge in areas of: soils, crop development, marketing, management, storage, and information management.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Producer participation in educational programs

Indicator: Programs and educational materials being distributed

Method: Survey & Analysis

Timeline: Annually


Intermediate Outcome: Producers implementing new production and marketing strategies

Indicator: Participation in new and alternate market venues

Method: Survey & Analysis

Timeline: Annually

ally

Long-term Outcome: Increase yields and house hold income

Indicator: Yields increase and production cost decrease

Method: Survey & Analysis

Timeline: Annually 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Tobacco Producers

Project or Activity: Center of KY Tobacco Meeting & GAP Training

Content or Curriculum: Ky Tobacco Guide and GAP

Inputs: Agents, Specialists, GAP, Sponsors

Date: Winter 2018/19


Audience: Forage Producers

Project or Activity: Forage Testing

Content or Curriculum: KY Forage Testing Lab

Inputs: Dept. of Ag Forage Lab

Date: Summer 2018/19


Audience: All Producers

Project or Activity: Soil Testing

Content or Curriculum: Soil Analysis and Fertilize Recommendations

Inputs: Agent, Staff, UK Regulatory Services

Date: Ongoing


Audience: All Producers

Project or Activity: Phase I Cost Share

Content or Curriculum: UK Publications

Inputs: Agent, Cattlemen's Association, Staff

Date: Ongoing


Audience: All Producers

Project or Activity: Pesticide Certification

Content or Curriculum: KY Pesticide Safety Training Program

Inputs: Agent, Specialists, UK Publications

Date: Spring 2019


Audience: Grain Producers

Project or Activity: Center of KY Grain Crops Meeting

Content or Curriculum: Marketing and research updates

Inputs: Agents, Specialists

Date: Winter 2018/19


Audience: All Producers

Project or Activity: Weed and Disease Identification

Content or Curriculum: Situation Control

Inputs: Agent, Staff, Specialists, UK Regulatory Services

Date: Ongoing


Audience: Grain Producers

Project or Activity: Strategic Marketing Program

Content or Curriculum: Understanding Grain Markets

Inputs: Agents, Specialists, Sponsors

Date: Ongoing


Audience: Grain Producers

Project or Activity: Green County Grain Field Day

Content or Curriculum: Grain Technologies update

Inputs: Agent, Volunteers, Sponsors

Date: Fall 2018


Audience: All Producers

Project or Activity: Agriculture Development Council

Content or Curriculum: Planning the Investment of Local Phase I Dollars

Inputs: Agent, Ag Development Council

Date: Ongoing


Audience: All Producers

Project or Activity: Silage Plots

Content or Curriculum: Analysis on Corn Varieties

Inputs: Agents, Specialists, Sponsors, Volunteers

Date: Ongoing


Audience: All Producers

Project or Activity: Estate Planning

Content or Curriculum: Planning for the Future

Inputs: Agent, Sponsor

Date: Fall 2018



Success Stories

Silage Plots

Author: Ricky Arnett

Major Program: Forages

Since 2015 the dairy industry has declined greatly. In the last three years Green County alone has declined from 19 to 11 dairy’s county wide. Although the dairy industry is a declining industry the University of Kentucky along with the Cooperative Extension Service still sees this industry as a great value to our counties and our state.Many of these dairies rely on corn silage as the main part of their feed ration because of the yield and quality of the forage.  A group of UK Coopera

Full Story

Tobacco Production

Author: Ricky Arnett

Major Program: Tobacco

Even with the changes that much of the tobacco industry has seen across the state of Kentucky since the tobacco buyout in 2001, and the weather conditions tobacco farmers has faced over the last three to five years, tobacco remains a strong and vital component of Green County. According to the Kentucky Agriculture statistics, this $10 million annual crop makes up over 33 % of Green County’s Agriculture economy. A strong joint effort has been implemented by Green, Adair, and Taylor counties

Full Story

Hemp Production

Author: Ricky Arnett

Major Program: Farm Management

Over the past 4 years Hemp Production has been an increasing adventure for Green County farmers. In 2016 Green County started with two Hemp growers. In 2017 we had 4, in 2018 we had 8, and in 2019 we have 33 farmers growing Hemp in Green County. In 2017 and 2018 crop year I continually had more and more request for information and question on Hemp Production. So in 2018 I invested several hour and days gathering research. This included visiting Hemp companies, producers, online searches, an

Full Story
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