Crops & Livestock Management & Marketing; Horticulture & Forestry Production, Economics & MarketingPlan of Work

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Ohio County CES

Title:
Crops & Livestock Management & Marketing; Horticulture & Forestry Production, Economics & Marketing
MAP:
Agricultural Sustainability
Agents Involved:
Greg Comer, ANR Agent; Gary Druin, 4-H Agent
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Grain Crops
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Forestry Industry Education
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Beef
Situation:

Ohio County is one of the largest counties in Kentucky, encompassing nearly 381,000 acres. It is also ranked (in top 10%) as one of the largest farm cash receipts generating counties, with over $98 million in farm receipts, according to 2012 NASS statistics. It still has great potential for expansion, with over 100,000 acres of underutilized forages, 50,000 acres of Class II and III land still unimproved and 180,000 acres of undermanaged timber. However, expansion must be accomplished in a sustainable method using improved grazing management, better forestry management techniques, enhanced marketing skills, diversification of enterprises and other sustainable systematic approaches.

Long-Term Outcomes:

•Landowners/producers will adopt integrated production and management systems which are financially and environmentally sustainable.

•Woodland owners will adopt management systems which improve timber/wildlife productivity, while being ecologically sustainable.

•Farmer’s Market vendors will provide safe, nutritious, high quality produce for local consumers.

•Livestock producers will implement livestock marketing avenues which optimize profitability of their operation.

•Youth will use sound animal husbandry practices in maintaining their livestock projects.

Intermediate Outcomes:

•Landowners/producers will follow research based recommendations which protect the environment, while optimizing production.

•Producers will analyze market situations and utilize marketing approaches which optimize pricing opportunities.

•Livestock producers will improve handling facilities and animal handing skills to facilitate improved safety for livestock and handlers.

•Landowners/producers will utilize soil/forage testing, diagnostic services, IPM principles and best management practices which make their operations more sustainable.

•Forest landowners will seek professional assistance when marketing timber and use BMP’s which protect natural resources.

•Youth will care for livestock using proper animal husbandry practices.

•Livestock producers will improve forage utilization management, reduce winter feed needs, and adopt technologies/BMP’s which optimize resources.

•Grain producers will adopt use of new technologies for crop production, which improve efficiency.

Initial Outcomes:

•Producers will improve awareness of land-grant research in grain crop production, grazing management, and forage/grain variety trials.

•Producers will expand adoption of new technologies which improve efficiency, safety, and profitability of enterprises.

•Woodland owners will understand timber marketing options and utilize professional assistance for marketing and timber stand improvement.

•Livestock producers will improve utilization of forages, forage harvest management, and feeding management to reduce losses.

•Youth will use learn proper livestock management thru livestock projects

•Producers will utilize information from Extension, KDA and USDA to analyze market opportunities

•Increase in sales and vendors at Farmer’s Market

Evaluation:

Evaluation:

Outcome: Landowners/producers utilize testing & diagnostic services, IPM principles and BMP to improve sustainability of agricultural enterprises

Indicator: Number of soil & diagnostic requests. Producers use of IPM & BMP’s

Method: Soil & diagnostics requests. Survey of producers on use of IPM & BMP’s

Timeline: Spring 2020


Evaluation:

Outcome: Increase in use of Farmer’s Market

Indicator: Vendor sales at Farmer’s Market

Method: Survey of receipts at Farmer’s Market

Timeline: Summer & fall 2019


Evaluation:

Outcome:  Increase in Youth Agricultural Projects and agricultural knowledge.

Indicator:  Number of youth developing agricultural projects and strengthening partnerships with Cooperative Extension, 4-H and FFA programs.

Method:  Survey of Youth Agriculture Incentives Program

Time Line:  August 2019-July 2020


Learning Opportunities:

Audience:  Ohio County Youth

Project or Activity:  Youth Agricultural Incentives Program

Content or Curriculum:  Kentucky Department of Agriculture Program, 4-H Livestock/Horse curriculum and Extension Publications

Inputs: KDA, Ohio County 4-H, Ohio County FFA, YAIP Committee

Date:  Summer – Fall 2019


Audience: Pesticide users

Project or Activity: Pesticide Applicator training

Content or Curriculum: Pesticide safety training curriculum

Inputs: ANR agent

Date: Jan-March 2020


Audience: Landowners/producers

Project or Activity: Ag Development Cost-Share Educational Program

Content or Curriculum: Enterprise management & economics

Inputs: Agent & specialist

Date: Fall 2019


Audience: Beef/Forage Producers

Project or Activity: Beef/Forage Workshops

Content or Curriculum: Livestock management, herd health, forage utilization, weed control, etc.

Inputs: Agent, specialist, industry reps, NRCS, O.C. Cattlemen’s Assoc., farm suppliers

Date: Year-round


Audience: Landowners & producers

Project or Activity: Demonstrations

Content or Curriculum: field trials to demonstrate recommended practices and research

Inputs: agents, producers

Date: FY 2019-20


Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: Livestock/Horse Club

Content or Curriculum: Livestock/horse project resources, skill-a-thon/judging, show ring

Inputs: Agents, specialist, leaders

Date: Year-round


Audience: Vegetable/fruit producers

Project or Activity: Good Agricultural Practices

Content or Curriculum: GAP curriculum

Inputs: Agent

Date: Winter/spring 2020


Audience: Home Gardeners

Project or Activity: Raising Your Own Vegetables

Content or Curriculum: U.K. pubs & recommendations

Inputs: Agent, specialist

Date: Winter 2019-2020


Audience: Beef producers

Project or Activity: BQCA Beef Quality Cattle Handling Assurance Certification

Content or Curriculum: KY BQA Certification curriculum

Inputs: Agent, BQA Manual, Videos

Date: Multiple times thru year


Audience: 4th Grade Students in Ohio Co. Schools

Project or Activity: Youth Ag Days

Content or Curriculum: KY Agriculture

Inputs: Agents, program assistants, specialist, Ag leaders, Ohio Co. Schools

Date: August-September 2019


Audience: Woodland owners

Project or Activity: Fall Forestry Webinars

Content or Curriculum: Current woodland management topics

Inputs: Extension specialist, agent, industry experts

Date: Fall 2019


Audience: Forage Producers

Project or Activity: W. Ky Summer Forage Tour (Field day)

Content or Curriculum: Pasture management, weed id/control, water quality, grazing management

Inputs: Agent, specialist, industry personnel, NRCS,

Date: Fall 2019


Audience: 6th Grade students

Project or Activity: Ag Camp

Content or Curriculum: Products from agriculture, careers

Inputs: Agents, NRCS, specialist, industry

Date: April-May 2020


Audience: Small farm & garden producers

Project or Activity: Small Farm & Garden Conference

Content or Curriculum: Livestock, crops, vegetables & fruits for small acreage

Inputs: Specialist, agents and leaders from S. Indiana & KY

Date: March 2020


Audience: Grain producers

Project or Activity: Grain Management/Marketing

Content or Curriculum: Grain production, marketing, new technologies, pest control & resistance

Inputs: Specialist, agent, industry personnel, NRCS, FSA, farm suppliers

Date: Winter 2019-2020


Audience: Beef producers

Project or Activity: Regional Beef Field Day (multi county)

Content or Curriculum: Beef management & marketing

Inputs: Area agents, industry personnel, specialist

Date: Sept. 2019


Audience: Woodland Management Personnel

Project or Activity: Fall Forest health Workshop

Content or Curriculum: Forest Health management topics, ie.. insect & disease ID,invasive species management, ect..

Inputs: Woodland specialist & industry professionals

Date: Fall 2019


Audience: Beef producers

Project or Activity: Midwest Beef Summit

Content or Curriculum: Beef management to improve longevity

Inputs: Specialist, industry personnel, 

Date: August, 2019



Success Stories

Improving Beef Cow Longevity

Author: Gregory Comer

Major Program: Beef

         The cost of production, in all aspects of agriculture, continues to increase while prices remain stable or decrease.  This situation requires beef producers to analyze each decision carefully to maximize profit margins.          For beef cow/calf operations, the cost of replacement breeding stock often takes 9 years before a positive return on investment occurs.  The need to cull typically coincides with the conclusion of

Full Story

Improving Cattle Genetics

Author: Gregory Comer

Major Program: Beef

       Genetic evaluation has largely been developed and determined by using seedstock bulls, throughout the beef industry. However, Extension continually educates producers to utilize heterosis to increase the profitability and genetic merit of their progeny.          With an increase in genomic testing and overall understanding of genetic merit, the goal for this project is to help producers adopt a new tool to utilize when selecting traits usi

Full Story

Enhanced Beef Cattle Management

Author: Gregory Comer

Major Program: Beef

         According to the 2018 Kentucky Agriculture Statistics Service, Beef Cattle receipts for Kentucky totaled $750million in 2017. Enhancing management skills for beef producers is critical to the goal of improving profitability in beef enterprises.          In a cooperative effort among the Green River Area counties and U.K. Extension Specialist, including assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and local cattlemen as

Full Story
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