Marketing, Diversifying, and Managing Local AgriculturePlan of Work

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Estill County CES

Title:
Marketing, Diversifying, and Managing Local Agriculture
MAP:
Local Foods and Sustainable Agriculture
Agents Involved:
Eric Baker, Isaac Hollon, Thays Flores
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Sustainable Agriculture
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Forages
Situation:
Due to lower commodity prices and higher input prices, farms need to diversify and become more efficient in order to insulate against prolonged suppressed pricing.
Long-Term Outcomes:
Stabilize farm incomes using improved marketing techniques, development of a robust local food economy, and diversified enterprises.
Intermediate Outcomes:
Farmers and community members will adopt new technologies and practices based on research by land grant universities that encourage the use of local products, local marketing, practical risk management plans, and smart diversification.
Initial Outcomes:
Increase knowledge, and skills in production techniques, and marketing tools.
Evaluation:
Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge, and skills in production techniques, and marketing tools.
Indicator: Use of marketing tools
Method: Inverviews
Timeline: Fall 2018

Intermediate Outcome: The adoption of new technologies to encourage local marketing.
Indicator: Increased awareness of local food systems in the local community
Method: Increased us of local food market
Timeline: Summer 2020

Long-term Outcome: Development of a robust local food economy
Indicator: stable, diverse local food market
Method: frequency of Farmers Market days and number of vendors
Timeline: Fall 2022
Learning Opportunities:
Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Crop Production Meeting
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: Winter

Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Livestock Production Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All year

Audience: Community members/ youth
Project or Activity: Horticulture Series
Content or Curriculum:
Date: Winter/Spring

Audience: Youth/Farmers
Project or Activity: Farm Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: Summer/Fall

Audience: Community members/ youth
Project or Activity:New Equipment and Fencing Demonstration
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: September-May

Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Forage Management
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: Winter/Spring

Audience: youth
Project or Activity: Animal Science Project Group/Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: September-May

Audience: Community members
Project or Activity: C.A.I.P Cost Share Program
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All Year

Audience: Community members
Project or Activity: Farmer's Market
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All Year

Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Agriculture Marketing
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All year

Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Financial Management
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: Winter

Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: BQA Training
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: Fall

Audience: Community members/ youth
Project or Activity: Forest Management
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All Year

Audience: Farmers/ Youth
Project or Activity:Farm Tours/ Field Days
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All Year

Audience: Farmers/ Youth
Project or Activity:Ag. Diversification/Sustainability Seminars
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All Year



Success Stories

Cattle Market Outlook

Author: Eric Baker

Major Program: Beef

With the expanding U.S. beef cattle herds and more beef supply, producers are dealing with lower market prices including reduced fed-cattle futures. In this environment, producers often ask what factors impact cattle prices so they can make the best marketing decisions. In response, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Agriculture/Natural Resources agent for Estill County organized a Cattle Outlook seminar for August 10, 2017. University of Kentucky Extension Livestock Marketing Econ

Full Story

Ag Policy Program

Author: Isaac Hilpp

Major Program: Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum

Ag Policy Program

The Estill County Extension Council identified Diversifying local agriculture as an important need in Estill County. To address this need the local 4-H Youth Development Agent developed a program to introduce youth to how Ag. policy is created and how that relates to the crops grown in Estill County. Youth attended workshops teaching basic ag policy as we as how policy moved through government. At the end of this program, youth participated in an Ag Policy trip to Washington D.C. While in DC you

Full Story

Madison/Estill Hay Production Short Course

Author: Eric Baker

Major Program: Forages

In the post-burley tobacco era, livestock and forage production are a major portion of the agricultural economy in Estill and Madison County. Madison County harvests 52,000 acres of hay not including alfalfa each year and Estill County harvests 8,410 acres. Most livestock producers invest significant time, machinery, infrastructure, and finances into forage production. With this investment, producers look for more efficient ways to produce more tonnage of stored forages with higher nutritional v

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Eastern Bluegrass Bee School

Author: Eric Baker

Major Program: Bees/Beekeeping

Beekeeping is a great way to further diversify the farm, or homestead. Bees can be used to make a variety of products including honey, wax, and a variety of value added products such as soaps, lotions, and many others. These products can supply additional revenue streams to small farms or homesteads. Bees are also important for their role in pollinating various crops such as vegetables, flowers, fruit trees, and others. Several research studies have also indicated that pollinator insects, includ

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Estill County Fair 4-H Exhibits

Author: Isaac Hilpp

Major Program: 4-H Youth Development Programming

Estill County Fair 4-H Exhibits

The Estill County Agricultural Fair has been a long-standing event in the local community. Allowing youth and adults of all ages to participate and exhibit their hard work from the past year. With six livestock shows, three divisions for exhibit entries and countless displays and events it is a hallmark of community pride. SituationThe 4-H exhibits and shows had seen a steady decline from 2005 to 2013 dwindling down to less than three hundred exhibits in total. The County Fair Board, County

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