Enhance the Strong Agicultural and Natural Resource BasePlan of Work

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Lawrence County CES

Title:
Enhance the Strong Agicultural and Natural Resource Base
MAP:
Agriculture and Natural Resource Development
Agents Involved:
Maggard, McCreary
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Forages
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Ag Water Quality Program
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum
Situation:

Lawrence County has almost 42,000 acres used for farm operations. Crop sales in Lawrence County total $835,000 with 69% of that being hay and animal sales totalled $ 729,00 with cattle covering 87%. Hay production and beef production are the leading agriculture operations in the county. (CEDIK) The extension service educates beef producers on best management practices to help keep costs down, optimize income throught management and marketing, be good stewards of the land and practice good animal health. To also assist producers in being more successful farmers, extension offers educational programs that enhance forage productivity and optimizing animal performance with improving forage quality. With agriculture being a large area of Lawrence County, land owners need to be educated on how agricultural operations lead to water pollution. The Lawrence County Extension Service will help land owners develop and implement Agriculture Water Quality plans and nutrient management plans to help protect water quality, improve farm operations and maximize profits.

Long-Term Outcomes:

*Improve sustainability of forage-based livestock systems

*Improve forage stands due to proper establishment practices

*Increase profits and operation and reduce expenses

*Improve cattle herd quality, genetics and efficiency

*Improve animal welfare and build build the reputation and value of KY cattle

*Reduce environmental impact to water, soil or air

*Protect and improve water quality

*Youth will master skills in raising and showing livestock and small animals.

Intermediate Outcomes:

*Develop grazing plans

*Implement practices to control the breeding season and enhance production efficiency

*Utilize a complete mineral supplement program

*Create improved livestock handling equipment/facilities

*Improve heifer development

*Evaluate problem areas during seasons of challenging weather

*Adopt proper manure handling practices

*Youth will demonstrate their abilities to put their education into motion through livestock camps, certification trainings, and more.

Initial Outcomes:

*Understanding pasture renovation and forage establishment practices

*Awareness of forage harvest, storage, and feeding management to reduce losses

*Increased awareness of reproduction, genetics, nutrition, herd management and overall health.


*Understand body condition scoring and how to manage nutrition for a healthy reproductive animal

*Understand the importance of clean water

*Increase knowledge of best management practices for protecting and improving water quality

*Youth will develop skills in raising their animals as well as in showmanship.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Understanding practices to optimize forage production and quality and improve harvesting, storage and feeding practices to reduce losses

Indicator: Number of participants who test their forage quality and show quality improvement

Method: Observation and Survey

Timeline: 2016-2020


Initial Outcome: Understanding importance of clean water and how to protect and improve water quality

Indicator: Number of program participants that show changes in practices

Method: Observation and Survey

Timeline: 2016-2020


Initial Outcome: Understanding how to manage overall health, nutrition, reproduction and herd management in beef operations

Indicator: Number of program participants that show improvement in their cattle operation

Indicator: Observation, Survey and Farm Visits

Timeline: 2016-2020


Intermediate Outcome: Control breeding season and enhance production efficiency with a complete mineral supplement program

Indicator: Number of program participants that indicate change in their operation

Method: Survey and Observation

Timeline: 2016-2020


Intermediate Outcome: Improve manure handling practices and improve problem areas during challenging weather seasons.

Indicator: Number of participants who show improvement on their farm and land

Method: Observation and Farm Visits

Timeline: 2016-2020


Long-term Outcome: Show improvement of water quality and reduce environmental impact to water, soil and air

Indicator: Number of participants who create and implement a Agricultural Water Quality Plan

Method: Observation and Survey

Timeline: 2016-2020


Initial Outcome: Youth will develop skills in raising their animals as well as in showmanship.

Indicator: Number of youth expressing interest in livestock related specialty clubs, number of youth and volunteers participating in such

Method: animal club participation, observation

Timeline: 2016-2020 (year-round)


Intermediate Outcome: Youth will demonstrate their abilities to put their education into motion through livestock camps, certification trainings, and more.

Indicator: Number of youth demonstrating improvement in their skills of showmanship as well as finding more ease in the upbringing and care of their animal(s)

Method: animal club participation, observation

Timeline: 2016-2020 (year-round)


Long-term Outcome: Youth will master skills in raising and showing livestock and small animals.

Indicator: Number of youth who show an animal at the County Fair, raise their animal for food consumption, or breed their animal to reproduce and continue projects at a later time

Method: animal club participation, observation, demonstration and showmanship

Timeline: 2016-2020 (year-round)

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Land Owners/Forage Producers/Livestock Producers

Project or Activity: Educational programs, Field Days, Farm Visits and Conferences

Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Resources

Inputs: UK CES

Date: 2016-2020


Audience: Land Owners

Project or Activity: Field Days, Demonstrations, Educational Programs

Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Resources and NRCS

Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, ANR Agents, NRCS, and Soil Conservation District

Date: 2016-2020


Audience: Beef Cattle Producers

Project or Activity: Master Cattlemen, BQA Trainings, KY Heifer Development Program, Genetic Improvement Program

Content or Curriculum:UK Extension Resources

Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, ANR Agents, Research Information

Date: 2016-2020


Audience: Youth ages 5 and up

Program/Activity: Livestock Club

Content/Curriculum: Relevant 4-H Livestock Curriculum

Inputs: County-level certified volunteers, UK Extension Agents, UK Specialists, Local Veterinarians

Date: 2016-2020 (year-round)


Audience: Youth ages 9 and up

Program/Activity: 4-H Poultry and incubation

Content/Curriculum: 4-H Poultry Curriculum

Inputs: County volunteers, UK Extension Agents, UK State Specialists

Date: 2016-2020, June - August


Audience: Youth ages 5 and up

Program/Activity: Lawrence County Fair/Kentucky State Fair

Content/Curriculum: 4-H Animal Curriculum

Inputs: County Volunteers, UK Extension Agents, UK State Specialists, Local Veterinarians

Date: July, 2016-2020

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