Extension
It Starts With Us
Marketing & Profitability
Sustainable Agriculture
Mike Meyer, Jessica Barnes, Jessica Sayre
Beef
Grain Crops
Commercial Horticulture
4-H Volunteer Programming
Agriculture is in a transitional phase and tobacco production has continued to diminish in Harrison County. However, agriculture production and agri-business remain to be a viable economic opportunity for those who choose to be involved. Therefore, new options and opportunities need to be developed. Proper production practices are important. The need to adopt new and improved methods becomes essential.
Ag Development funds have provided more marketing opportunities in the county. Agri-business opportunities are being developed such as vegetables, new technology, and proper production practices. The farms in Harrison County are small with limited income. Farmers and spouses are now working in off-farm jobs for family income and benefits. Farmers are aging so the need for additional labor is essential.
- Much of the good production land will be converted to corn, soybeans, hay production and horticulture crops.
- A renewed interest in beef cattle has been created by the high demand for production of our cow/calf herds.
- Producers and families will find ways to develop new and better products.
- Ideas will be stimulated on ways to market products more efficiently and utilize new technology.
- Apply for and use Ag Development funds.
- Individuals will attend demonstrations and meetings.
- Individuals will begin implementing new technology practices.
Initial Outcome: Number of people adopting new and improved techniques.
Indicator: Returning and new participants, new endeavors started
Method: Observation, personal visits, income increased, verbal comments, increased participation
Timeline: All year
Intermediate Outcome: Number of people selling new products and number adapting to change
Indicator: Returning new participants, new endeavors started. Growth in CPH sales and Farmer's Market participation. Increase of youth livestock participants
Method: Income realized, verbal comments, observation, personal visits, and increased participation.
Timeline: All year
Long-term Outcome: Number of participants in production agriculture has stayed the same or increased, with a greater diversity of production types.
Indicator: Returning and new participants, new endeavors started
Method: Observation, personal visits, increased participation in educational opportunities available
Timeline: All year
Audience: Cattle Producers
Project or Activity: CPH Sales
Content or Curriculum: Marketing livestock cooperatively. Income increased
Inputs: volunteers, stockyards
Date: July - June
Audience: Local Farmers
Project or Activity: Phase I
Content or Curriculum: Replication of programs for all producers
Inputs: Ag Development Fund
Date: All Year
Audience: Community members, producers
Project or Activity: Farmer's Market
Content or Curriculum: Merchandising Skills Development, New Sales Facility Improved, Recruiting New Members.
Inputs: Farmer's Market Members
Date: July - June
Audience: Local farmers, community members
Project or Activity: Transitioning crops to grain program
Content or Curriculum: Developing new crops, marketing and added income
Inputs: Local Farmers
Date: All Year
Audience: Local farmers and producers
Project or Activity: Economic Update
Content or Curriculum: Develop marketing strategies
Inputs: University of Kentucky Ag Econ staff
Date: Fall
Audience: Local farmers and producers
Project or Activity: Equipment Rental
Content or Curriculum: Use of improved equipment: 2 livestock headgates, chute and electronic scales, 2 Great Plains and 4 Haybuster No-Til seeders, 2 Vegetable Bed Shapers, Water Wheel Setter and Plastic Lifter, Tree Planter, 4 sets of Livestock Panels, and 2 pull type boomless sprayers.
Inputs: Harrison County Beef Cattle Association
Date: All Year
Audience: Local farmers and producers
Project or Activity: Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Demonstrations and training to help farmers gain knowledge.
Inputs: University of Kentucky Extension Specialist
Date: Fall
Audience: Community, producers
Project or Activity: Transition crops (vegetable, flowers, horticulture crops)
Content or Curriculum: Demonstration for adoption of new crops
Inputs: UK Specialists, Extension Agents, Farmer's Market Members
Date: All Year
Audience: Local farmers, producers, contractors, and homeowners
Project or Activity: Soil Tests
Content or Curriculum: Prepare testing, proper nutrient needs and saving money by proper application.
Inputs: paid staff, UK regulatory services
Date: All Year
Audience: Tobacco Farmers
Project or Activity: Tobacco Meeting
Content or Curriculum: Update new techniques and chemicals
Inputs: Extension Specialists and Agents
Date: Jan to March
Audience: 4-H Members
Project or Activity: 4-H Animal Science Projects, Equine Education projects and job opportunities in agriculture. Quality assurance through meats judging through Kentucky 4-H Volunteer leaders certification
Content or Curriculum:KLVCR Certification, Kentucky 4-H Equine Volunteer Certification, Ky 4-H Equine Curriculum, Kentucky 4-H Crop Projects Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H volunteers, specialists, agents
Date: All Year
Audience: 4-H Members
Project or Activity: 4-H Judging Groups; Livestock, Dairy, Land, Meats, Horse and Skillathon Teams
Content or Curriculum: Marketing, production, public speaking and communications, selection and decision making, livestock certification kit, local producers and services, 4-H animal science curriculum.
Inputs: 4-H volunteers, agents
Date: All Year
Audience: 4-H members, community members
Project or Activity: Country Ham Project
Content or Curriculum: Production, food preservation, marketing, communication, livestock certification kit, UK Extension Specialists
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, volunteers, paid staff
Date: January to August
Audience: 4-H members
Project or Activity: Livestock Club
Content or Curriculum: Education, promotion, marketing, production, economics, Livestock certification kit, local businesses / producers, UK Specialist resources
Inputs: UK Specialists, volunteers
Date: All Year
Audience: 4-H members
Project or Activity: Horse Club
Content or Curriculum: Education, promotion, marketing, production, economics, Livestock certification kit, local businesses / producers, UK Specialist resources
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, volunteers
Date: All Year
Audience: 4-H members
Project or Activity: Livestock Shows
Content or Curriculum: Selection, ethics, production, marketing, livestock certification kit, competitions, judging/selection, showing professionals
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, volunteers, KDA
Date: All Year
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Ag Reality
Content or Curriculum: Youth participate in a multi-county, hands-on reality simulation where they learn about financial planning, income, expenses, and budgets.
Inputs: Agents and members from ag industry from Harrison and neighboring counties
Date: Spring
Author: Jessica Wells
Major Program: Commercial Horticulture
In an effort to offer more educational classes to commercial horticulture producers, specialists and agents with the university teamed up to offer a series of webinars on a variety of horticulture topics. The first series was offered in September and focused on Growing Strawberries in Kentucky. The first session was an introduction to growing strawberries and the second session discussed insect, disease, and weed management. A combination of specialists and agents presented the info
Author: Mike Meyer
Major Program: 4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources
Nine years after first attending practice in Harrison County, Will Banks could experienced the highest success. For the first time in program history, the Kentucky 4-H Livestock Judging Team earned the overall top honor at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky. Will has been a member of the Harrison County Livestock Judging Team for nine years. Each year, members practice 6 hours per month from January until June, completing their time at
Author: Jessica Wells
Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture
In the spring of 2020, with the ongoing threat of COVID-19, in an effort to control the virus, Extension Offices, along with countless other places of business were forced to close their doors to foot traffic, in-person meetings, and classes for over two months. With so much traditional face-to-face interaction with clientele, this made the job of an extension agent quite challenging. During this time agents were encouraged to use virtual means to communicate with and provide virtua
Author: Jessica Barnes
Major Program: Beef
An on-farm mineral study was conducted in collaboration with the Beef IRM team and eight county extension agents and producers across the state. This mineral study was to look at how cattle behaved at a mineral feeder with both the lid on the feeder as well as with the lid removed. Trail cameras as well as site visits were utilized to determine how often the cattle visited the feeders as well as how they behaved while at the feeders. The portion of the study completed in Harrison Cou
Author: Jessica Barnes
Major Program: Beef
Beef Bash 2019 was held at the Oran C. Little Research Farm in Woodford County in the Fall of 2019 and 12 producers from Harrison County made the trip. There was a total of around 400- 450 participants at the event and several great speakers and vendors to learn from. Stations were setup around the farm to discuss different aspects of the beef industry and participants were free to chose the speakers they wanted to listen too in order to best benefit their operation. Producers from H
Author: Jessica Barnes
Major Program: Grain Crops
BASF, a local producer, as well as the Cooperative Extension Service partnered together to plant a soybean plot that showcased a new line of soybeans that could allow producers another option when choosing what varieties to plant. The Credenz soybean plot was at Butch Case's farm and was planted in order according to their Group number. This allowed us to show producers at the field day how different varieties in different groups look side by side. We also had pamphlets available
