Enhancing Farm ProductionPlan of Work

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Grant County CES

Title:
Enhancing Farm Production
MAP:
Feeding the Family, Feeding the World
Agents Involved:
Price, Fowler, Ammerman
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Commercial Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum
Situation:
Grant County farmers have experienced record high market prices and the increase in production costs associated with high prices. Since record highs have occurred market prices have returned more to the average while production costs have remained at all-time highs. To maintain agriculture as a viable income source for farms operators have realized the necessity to increase overall farm production from crop to remain profitable
Long-Term Outcomes:
Farmers will realize reduced expenses and increased profits from operations. Farmers will save money by making informed production decisions. Farmers recognize an increase in overall long term viability and sustainability of the farm.
Intermediate Outcomes:
Best management practices are embraced by the residents and land owners. These practices are sought after as the “norm” in stewardship of land ownership.
Initial Outcomes:
Implement practicum to control expenses and enhance production efficiency. Implement programs that optimize production. Better utilization of inputs.
Evaluation:

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Cattle Owners

Project or Activity: Building Better Beef

Content or Curriculum: UK Beef IRM

Inputs: Agent and UK website

Date: ongoing


Audience: Cattle Farmers

Project or Activity: Master Cattlemen

Content or Curriculum: UK Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: 10 sessions beginning in 2017


Audience: Backgrounder and Stocker Operators

Project of Activity: Master Stocker

Content or Curriculum: UK Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: session beginning in 2019


Audience: Goat Producers

Project of Activity: Meat Goat Updates

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications, KSU specialists

Date: Dec 2017


Audience: Sheep and Goat Farmers

Project of Activity: Small Ruminant Workshop

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications KSU specialists

Date: March 2018


Audience: 4H Livestock Youth

Project of Activity: Dairy Goat Club

Content or Curriculum: Getting your Goat, Stepping Out, Showing the Way

Inputs: Dairy Goat Club members and leader

Date: All year Long


Audience: 4H Livestock Youth

Project of Activity: Market Goat Club

Content or Curriculum: Just Browsing, Growing with Meat Goats,

Inputs: Market Goat Club members and leader

Date: All year Long


Audience: 4H Livestock Youth

Project of Activity: Poultry Club

Content or Curriculum: Scratching the Surface, Testing your wings

Inputs: Poultry Club members and leader

Date: All year Long


Audience: 4H Livestock Youth

Project of Activity: Horse Club

Content or Curriculum: Horse Achievement Level 1, 2, 3, 4

Inputs: Horse Club members and leader

Date: All year Long


Audience: 4H Livestock Youth

Project of Activity: Rabbit Club

Content or Curriculum: What’s Hoppening?, Making Tracks, All Ears

Inputs: Rabbit Club members and leader

Date: All year Long


Audience: 4H Livestock Youth

Project of Activity: Sheep Club

Content or Curriculum: Sheep Resource Handbook

Inputs: Sheep Club members and leader

Date: All year Long


Audience: 4H Livestock Youth

Project of Activity: Swine Club

Content or Curriculum: Swine Resource Handbook

Inputs: Swine Club members and leader

Date: All year Long


Audience: 4H Livestock Youth

Project of Activity: Beef and Feeder Calf

Content or Curriculum: Market Beef Resource Handbook

Inputs: Beef Club members and leader, GC Cattlemen

Date: All year Long


Audience: 4H Livestock Youth

Project of Activity: Dairy Cow Club

Content or Curriculum: Cowabunga, Mooving Ahead, Rising to the Top

Inputs: Dairy Cow Club members and leader

Date: All year Long

Audience: 4H Livestock Youth and Adults

Project of Activity: Horse College

Content or Curriculum: UK Animal Science curriculum

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: April 2018


Audience: Hay Farmers

Project or Activity: Controlling Weeds in Pastures and Hayfields

Content or Curriculum: UK Agronomy

Inputs: Agent and UK website

Date: March 2018


Audience: Forage Grazers

Project or Activity: Pasture Renovation

Content or Curriculum: UK Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: Feb 2018


Audience: Hay Farmers

Project of Activity: Hay Storage to increase profits

Content or Curriculum: UK Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: Oct 2017


Audience: Cattle farmers

Project of Activity: Silage Production Update

Content or Curriculum: UK Publications

Inputs: UK publications,

Date: April 2018


Audience: Tobacco Farmers

Project of Activity: Tobacco Production Update

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: March 2018


Audience: Tobacco Farmers

Project of Activity: Tobacco Production Research

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: March – Dec 2017


Audience: Grain Farmers

Project of Activity: Early Bird Grain Meeting

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: Jan 2018


Audience: Grain Farmers

Project of Activity: Grain Production Trials

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists, Southern States Agronomists

Date: March- Dec 2017


Audience: Tobacco Farmers

Project of Activity: Good Agriculture Practices

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: March 2018


Audience: Vegetable Farmers

Project of Activity: Extending the Growing Season

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: Nov 2017


Audience: Vegetable Farmers

Project of Activity: Good Agriculture Practices

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: June 2017


Audience: Farmer’s Markets

Project of Activity: SNAP-Ed, WIC and Senior Coupons

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: March 2018


Audience: Farmer’s Markets SNAP-Ed

Project of Activity: Sampling

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: 2017 growing season


Audience: Tobacco Farmers

Project of Activity: Tobacco Production Update

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: March 2018


Audience: 6,7, & 8 Graders

Project of Activity: GCMS Garden

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists, agent and volunteers

Date: March –Sept 2017


Audience: Adults

Project of Activity: Satellite Community Gardens

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists, agent and volunteers, City of Williamstown, Master Gardeners

Date: March – Sept 2017


Audience: 4-H Youth

Project of Activity: 4-H Horticulture Club

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists, agents and volunteers

Date: March – Oct 2017



Success Stories

Farm and Family Field Day

Author: Chris Ammerman

Major Program: Sustainable Agriculture

Animal agriculture is the last stable agriculture industry left in Grant County and it is currently facing a large amount of scrutiny from the consumers in the grocery store aisle.  Bad actors caught on camera and broadcast across the nation have painted the entire animal agriculture industry in a bad light.The Grant County Farm Bureau Federation and the Grant County Extension Service partnered together to educate our friends and neighbors about the negatives and the opposition that the ind

Full Story

Finding the forest among the trees

Author: Chris Ammerman

Major Program: Woodland Education

Grant County has nearly 100,000 privately owned forested acres, representing 59.6% of the total number of acres in the county.  Understanding the importance of educating landowners to best utilize and enjoy these potentially valuable assets. In recent years repeated inquiries about management of forested areas and developing woodland coupled with the presence of Master Loggers in the county, Grant County participated in the Fall Forestry Webinar Series in November and December 2017.The 2017

Full Story

Beef Quality and Care Series

Author: Chris Ammerman

Major Program: Beef

In recent years traditional livestock husbandry has come under attack by the media and special interest groups. A few bad actors have further perpetuated a negative mindset of modern livestock practices in the minds of consumers. Maintain a positive image of cattle farms and farm families in the mind of consumers is paramount for farmers to continue to realize all time market highs.Extension specialists and agents from the University of Kentucky collaborated with farmer leaders from ar

Full Story

Main Street Farm to Table

Author: Chris Ammerman

Major Program: Local Food Systems

Consumer demand for locally grown fresh produce continues to gain momentum. Successful ventures as KY Proud and HomeGrown by Heros have shifted the consumers focus away from the grocery store and toward the farm stand. Local farmers markets have become the consumer’s choice to provide safe, fresh and nutritious produce for communities across the state.To raise awareness and increase community participation in the local farmers market, Grant County Cooperative Extension, City of W

Full Story

Master Cattlemen

Author: Chris Ammerman

Major Program: Beef

The topography of northern Kentucky is will suited for the production of forage & livestock. As farmers look to diversify their farming operation, many logically consider the expansion of their cattle production.The Grant County Cooperative Extension Service in collaboration with the University of Kentucky Beef Integrated Resource Management Program, the Kentucky Beef Network, and Extension Service Offices in Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Gallatin, Carroll, Pendleton, and Owen counties conducted

Full Story
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