Educational Opportunities for Producers and GardenersPlan of Work

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Webster County CES

Title:
Educational Opportunities for Producers and Gardeners
MAP:
Agriculture and Horticulture Education
Agents Involved:
Shadrick, Alexander
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Grain Crops
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Home & Consumer Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Food Preparation
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Situation:
Webster County is a rural county. In 2012, Webster County had 500 farm operations on 152,431 acres, which represented 71.8% of total county land. The total value for crop sales was $44,319,000 (including agritourism). Farming operations continue to expand and commodity prices and input costs are uncertain from year to year.
There has been an increase in backyard gardens, buying local produce and meat and consumers wanting to know where their food comes from. There has been an increase in the need for a farmer's market. Consumers need to understand GMO's and organic production as it relates to conventional production.
Long-Term Outcomes:

Maximize profits for commercial agriculture producers

Minimize environmental impact of air, soil and living area

Reduction in rate of pesticide resistance development in pests, weeds and pathogens

Continue marketing and growing the Farmer's Market in Webster County

Maintain or increase consumer confidence/demand in local foods

Maintain or increase economic stability of farm operations

Increase in producers utilizing enterprise budgets

Increase positive opinion of GMO/Conventional production of non-farm individuals

Intermediate Outcomes:

Maximize awareness of GMO/Organic Production

Implementation of on-farm trials

Adopt usage of new technology for crop production

Use diagnostic services to identify insects, disease and weeds

Successfully complete PAT and training workers in WPS

Compare chemical options based on time, availability cost, companion tactics

Design effective spray schedules for plant pest management

Develop an AG plan using decision making tools

Apply skills of food safety and food preparation to afford healthy nutritious food choices

Increase certifications in Microprocessing and Produce Best Practices

Initial Outcomes:

Increase understanding of homeowner/gardener pest management tactics

Demonstrate proper use of sprayer and equipment related to application

Identifying active ingredients in chemical products and relate to modes of action

Review types and varieties of produce

Awareness of current land grant research concerning grain crop production

Understanding importance of and frame work for on-farm trials

Understanding organic vs conventional production

Identify herbicide resistant pests and strategies to overcome these pest

Awareness of safe handling of livestock for a safe and nutritious product on the plate

Increase vendors at Farmer's Market

Increase awareness of Plate It Up KY Proud by sampling at Farmer's Market

Evaluation:
Initial Outcome:
Indicator: Participants gained knowledge about organic production as it compares to conventional production
Method: Follow-up survey
Timeline: Immediately after program

Intermediate Outcome:
Indicator: Producers use the Tri-County Grain Improvement Series research trial data as a decision aide for their operation
Method: face to face interviews
Timeline: after growing season

Long-term Outcome:
Indicator: Increase positive opinion of GMO/Conventional production of non-farm individuals
Method: follow-up face to face meeting
Timeline: January 2018 (one year after pasture to plate and more series)
Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Webster County Grain Farmers and Landowners

Project or Activity: Adult Farm Classes (topics decided by committee in August)

Content or Curriculum:

Inputs: UK Extension Agents; UK Specialist, NRCS, Community Partners

Date: December through March


Audience: Webster, McLean and Hopkins County Producers

Project or Activity: Green River Grain Improvement Series

Content or Curriculum: UK publications, seed company corn and soybean variety

Inputs: UK Specialist, agents, local producers

Date: Throughout growing season


Audience: Webster County producers and consumers

Project or Activity: Pasture to Plate and More (Series of 4 classes)

Content or Curriculum: Pasture to Plate, BQA, Food Safety and Preparation publications, Organic and GMO Publications

Inputs: UK Extension Agents, Specialists, Beef Council

Date: January -March 2018


Audience: Webster County Capstone Learning Center Students (WCHS)/ Elementary students/ 4H Horticulture Club

Project or Activity: Gardening; From beginning to the end

Content or Curriculum: Home vegetable gardening

Inputs: Extension Agents, NRCS, Webster County School District, Century 21 Grant for Capstone Learning Center, 4H Council

Date: Spring Annually


Audience: Farmers Market Vendors/gardners

Activity: Fruit and/or vegetable production

Content: Home Vegetable gardening and commercial vegetable production

Inputs: Agents, KDA and Specialists

Date: 2017-2018 program year




Success Stories

Private Applicator Training

Author: Vicki Shadrick

Major Program: Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests

A private applicator is a person certified to use any pesticide, restricted or general use, for purposes of producing any agricultural commodity on property owned or rented by him/her or his/her employer. Each year, Agriculture and Natural Resource agents offer private applicator certification trainings throughout the state. Producers must attend an approved training every three years to keep their certification.  The County Extension Agents for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Web

Full Story

Roots to Riches

Author: Vicki Shadrick

Major Program: Sustainable Agriculture

Farm management relies heavily on realizing the costs of production, proper management and utilization of technology, techniques and research. For the second year agriculture and natural resource agents from Hopkins, Muhlenberg and Webster counties have worked cooperatively with the Madisonville-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation to plan and host the Roots to Riches Agri-preneurial Conference in hopes of promoting increased risk management as well as providing a one-stop shop for lo

Full Story

Webster County Farmers Market Expands

Author: Vicki Shadrick

Major Program: Farmer's Markets

In July 2016, the Webster County Farmers’ Market was established and opened under the name “Webster County Farmers’ Market #1WC”. Over the past two years, the market has had as many as 11 paid vendors that provided locally grown fruits and vegetables, value added products and beef, pork and poultry cuts of meats to many patrons. Webster County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources led the task of organizing and opening the market. Since the marke

Full Story
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