Extension
It Starts With Us
Crops and Livestock
Ag Production, Profitability and Awareness
Jason Phillips, Catherine Webster
Forages
Beef
Sustainable Agriculture
4-H Volunteer Programming
Situation: According to the most recent Agriculture Census, Simpson County has 467 farm operations on 101,530 acres, which represents 67.7% of total county land. In comparison, Kentucky’s farm operations make up 51.6% of the state’s total land area. The majority of Simpson County producers remain reliant on income from traditional commodities such as grain crops, tobacco and livestock production. Public Awareness about agriculture production is increasingly important due to a growing population of citizens without an agricultural background or knowledge about the food production process. The Simpson County Extension Council and Ag Advisory Council identified the importance of providing programming to improve practices and profitability for crop and livestock producers as well as promoting agricultural awareness in these areas.
Long-term Outcomes: Clientele will improve crop and livestock production systems by minimizing costs of production and efficiently utilizing resources. Implementation of these practices along with improved marketing skills will increase profitability. Through increased profitability for local farm families and the local economy, the quality of life for residents in Simpson County will improve. In addition, increased agricultural awareness will allow local citizens to understand the dynamics of our food production systems. This will allow families to make more informed decisions about food consumption and purchases, understand the impact of regulations affecting agricultural production, provide a better overall understanding of production systems, and provide a positive source of information for the public about food production in the U.S. Youth will be advocates for agriculture and healthy & sustainable food systems.
Intermediate Outcomes: Clientele will implement a variety of improved crop and livestock production practices and marketing techniques utilizing knowledge gained through Extension training, workshops, field days, publications, newsletters, newspaper articles and radio programs. Awareness programs will result in accurate and agriculture friendly discussions, social media posts and community leadership. Youth can explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others.
Initial Outcome: Clientele will be better equipped with knowledge to take, follow and implement Extension soil test fertility management recommendations; scout for weeds, insects and diseases; select disease resistant and higher yielding varieties; make timely plantings; research new technologies; enter into sustainable crop lease agreements; improve their marketing decisions; make better management decisions to optimize their individual cropping system; understand how to take a fact-based approach when assessing agriculture and food related information. Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and animal sciences.
Initial Outcome: Producers will increase their knowledge, make practice changes and increase overall profitability while improving the public perception of agriculture and the long-term sustainability of our food systems.
Indicator: The number of producers indicating knowledge, practice, profitability and awareness as a result of information presented at Extension sponsored events. Participants in youth programs will demonstrate a skill that was learned or improved.
Method: Post-meeting evaluations
Timeline: Evaluations will be given immediately following programs and one to twenty four months following training sessions.
Audience: Current & prospective crop producers, agribusiness
representatives
Project or Activity: Grain day
Content or Curriculum: Grain production education
Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, facilities, UK specialists, UK publications
Date: Winter 2020
Audience: Current & prospective grain & forage producers, Agribusiness
representatives
Project or Activity: Promoting UK Performance Trials
Content or Curriculum: small grain, soybean, corn hybrid and forage
performance variety trial information and education; host state corn performance trial
Inputs: radio programs, newsletters, one-on-one consultations
Date: 2019-2020 program year
Audience: Extension Agents, current & prospective crop producers,
landowners, agribusiness representatives
Project or Activity: UK Skype for Business Program Series
Content or Curriculum: Timely grain production information accessible by
agents and clients anywhere there is an internet connection
Inputs: Agent time, paid staff, UK specialists, Computers, Extension pubs
Date: July, August, November, December of 2019; January, February,
March, June of 2020
Audience: Crop and Livestock Producers
Project or Activity: Phase I Programming for Crops/Livestock
Content or Curriculum: Educational information pertaining to crop and
livestock production
Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, newsletters, Governor’s Office of
Agricultural Policy, UK resources
Date: Winter 2019
Audience: Current & Perspective Tobacco Producers, Agribusiness
Representatives
Project or Activity: Tobacco Production & Disease Control
Content or Curriculum: variety selection, pest management, fertility,
tillage, sucker control, GAP training
Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, UK specialists, Extension publications,
newsletters, radio programs
Date: January 2020
Audience: Current beef producers
Project or Activity: Master Cattleman
Content or Curriculum: UK curriculum
Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, UK specialists, Extension publications,
radio programs, newsletters
Date: Fall 2018
Audience: Current & Perspective beef producers, agribusiness
representatives
Project or Activity: Educational Beef Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Cattleman’s Association, UK, industry
educators, Beef Council
Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, meeting facilities, UK specialists,
Industry specialists, Radio programs, Newsletters
Date: 2019-2020
Audience: General public, current and prospective beef producers
Project or Activity: Beef Month Promotion
Content or Curriculum: beef educational information, mass media
awareness, food safety
Inputs: Agent’s time, media outlets, paid staff, newsletters
Date: May 2020
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Ag Awareness Breakfast
Content or Curriculum: agriculture promotion and awareness, showcase
local food products
Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, newsletters, radio programs, local food
producers, Ag Advisory Council
Date: November 2019
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Teach Ky Ag
Content or Curriculum: agriculture promotion and awareness for school age children
Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, newsletters, radio programs, presenters,
UK publications, Ag Advisory Council
Date: August 2019-May 2020
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Franklin-Simpson Boofest
Content or Curriculum: showcase past and present agricultural production
methods and agencies supporting agriculture
Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, media promotion, newsletters, Ag Advisory Council
Date: October 2019
Audience: 4th Grade
Project or Activity: Explore Agriculture
Content or Curriculum: Explore Agriculture
Inputs: Extension Agents, School District, Explore Agriculture Staff,
FFA Members, 4-H Teens, Homemakers, Simpson County Farm Bureau
Federation
Date: March 2020
Author: Jason Phillips
Major Program: Beef
According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, the beef industry in Simpson County accounts for nearly 4 million dollars in annual sales and is home to over 9,000 cattle and calves. Cattle production remains stable in Simpson County with many new producers showing interest. Beef production is an integral portion of both large and small scale farming enterprises in this area.Based on local stakeholders programming requests, the Simpson County Extension Agent for Agriculture held a Beef
