Extension
It Starts With Us
Production Agriculture
Advancing Sustainable Crop Production Systems Big and Small
Shane Bogle, Rhonda Jewell, Ashley White
Grain Crops
Commercial Horticulture
Sustainable Agriculture
4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources
Change is a constant in everything but it especially rings true for production agriculture. The last several years have seen a grain production boom in Caldwell County. Stiff competition for land made cash rents increase to never seen before levels. As prices have lowered sharply in the last year producers that were unprepared and have overspent are feeling the crunch. Lease rates are slower to follow this downward trend as landowners have grown accustomed to being paid more for their ground. Specialty crops such as canola and grain sorghum are a more common sight. Many tobacco producers that have transitioned away from tobacco are still looking for ways to replace that income. A flurry of high tunnel greenhouses have started in Caldwell County helping with this and participation in the Caldwell On-line and traditional farmers market. Phase I and USDA state cost shares have helped this along.
*Producers will improve quality of life by increasing revenue in production agriculture.
*Producers will implement environmentally safe practices for pesticide and fertilizer applications.
*Producers will utilize rinse and return programs to improve the environment.
*Producers will gain a better understanding of grain marketing and futures contracts.
*Producers will explore new crop opportunities.
*Youth will engage in community projects related to natural resource conservation.
*The public will become aware of the importance of agriculture to the community.
*Producers will implement policy changes learned at educational meetings.
*Producers will understand the opportunity to produce alternate crops.
*Youth will make decisions in their daily lives that positively impact natural resources.
*Youth will adopt practices to conserve and protect the environment in their home and community.
*Producers will utilize up-to-date decision making information concerning the field of production agriculture
*Producers will utilize the tools to make important production decisions concerning economics and safe agronomic practices and adoption of new crop enterprises.
*Youth will identify the natural resources that are used within their home and community.
*Youth will develop an interest in environmental sciences and sustainable practices and technologies.
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Audience: Community Leaders, Producers
Project or Activity: Farm to Table program
Content or Curriculum: Hometown Harvest
Inputs: Community, Farmers Market, Extension, Donors
Date: July 2019
Audience: Producers
Project or Activity: Rinse and Return Program
Content or Curriculum: KDA
Inputs: KDA, Extension
Date: August 2019
Audience: Producers, General Public
Project or Activity:Pesticide Applicator Training
Content or Curriculum: PAT-1
Inputs: Agent
Date: Fall, Winter
Audience: Producers, Lenders
Project or Activity: County grain meeting
Content or Curriculum: UK specialists
Inputs: Agent, specialist
Date: Winter each year
Audience: Producers, Lenders ect.
Project or Activity: Tobacco production update
Content or Curriculum: UK/UT Specialist
Inputs: Agent specialists
Date: Winter each year
Audience: Farmers Market Vendors
Project or Activity: Farmers Market Production meeting/GAP training
Content or Curriculum: UK/KDA / Public Health
Inputs: Agent, KDA, UK, Public Health
Date: Spring each year
Audience: Students in Caldwell County Schools
Project or Activity: Trash Sculpture
Content or Curriculum:
Inputs: Youth, Agent, CCS Natural Resources Curriculum
Date: November 2019
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Farm, Food, and Fitness
Content or Curriculum: My Plate
Inputs:County Extension Agents
Date: Summer 2020
Audience: public
Project or Activity: Soil To Shelf Series
Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener
Inputs: Agent, UK
Date: Spring 2020
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Jr. Sr. Forestry Field Day
Content or Curriculum: University of Kentucky Forestry Dept.
Inputs: Agents, UK Forestry Department, KY Division of Forestry, Land Bewteen the Lakes
Date: Fall 2019 and Spring 2020
Audience: Caldwell County Elementary 3rd grade students
Project or Activity:Food For America
Content or Curriculum: Caldwell County FFA, local farmers, Ag related businesses
Inputs: Agents, community, farmers,
Date: Fall 2019
Audience: Caldwell County Teens
Project or Activity: State Forestry Contest
Content or Curriculum: National Forestry Contest
Inputs: Agents, UK Forestry Department, Bernheim National Forest
Date: April 2020
Audience: Caldwell County Teens
Project or Activity: Kentucky Forest Leadership Program
Content or Curriculum: Led by UK Specialist
Inputs: Agents, UK Specialist, UK Department of Forestry
Date: June 2020
Author: Shane Bogle
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
The demand for locally grown fresh produce has increased exponentially over the last few years. With the success of the KY Proud initiative, local Farmers Markets have become the catalyst to provide safe, fresh and nutritious produce to communities across the state. The Caldwell County Extension Service in collaboration with multiple partners including the Caldwell county Farmers Market, County government, City government, and Farmers Market supporters hosted two Farm to Table Dinner
Author: Shane Bogle
Major Program: Equine
While Kentucky is widely thought of as Horse Country some may not realize the number of horses and horse owners that are found in each of the state’s 120 counties. Based on the 2012 Equine survey it is known where the horses and horse owners are, but it can be a challenge to reach those owners with the information they want. To meet this challenge a group of ANR agents from Caldwell, Calloway, Crittenden, Livingston, and Trigg counties joined with specialists from UK to develop a field day
Author: Shane Bogle
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
Livestock production remains a major agriculture enterprise in Caldwell County. The Caldwell/Lyon Cattlemen's Association is a dedicated group of producers that not only promotes and supports the livestock industry but is recognized as a leading civic organization in Caldwell County. They provide catering services for county educational and civic events, sponsor educational programs, mentor young cattle producers, provide multiple scholarships to youth in Caldwell and Lyon County, and
