Estill County CES

Title:

Marketing, Diversifying, and Managing Local Agriculture

MAP:

Local Foods and Sustainable Agriculture

Agents Involved:

Eric Baker, 4-H agent

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Local Food Systems

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Sustainable Agriculture

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Beef

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Forages

Situation:

Due to lower commodity prices and higher input prices, farms need to diversify and become more efficient in order to insulate against prolonged suppressed pricing.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Stabilize farm incomes using improved marketing techniques, development of a robust local food economy, and diversified enterprises.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Farmers and community members will adopt new technologies and practices based on research by land grant universities that encourage the use of local products, local marketing, practical risk management plans, and smart diversification.

Initial Outcomes:

Increase knowledge, and skills in production techniques, and marketing tools.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge, and skills in production techniques, and marketing tools.
Indicator: Use of marketing tools
Method: Inverviews
Timeline: Fall 2018

Intermediate Outcome: The adoption of new technologies to encourage local marketing.
Indicator: Increased awareness of local food systems in the local community
Method: Increased us of local food market
Timeline: Summer 2020

Long-term Outcome: Development of a robust local food economy
Indicator: stable, diverse local food market
Method: frequency of Farmers Market days and number of vendors
Timeline: Fall 2022

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Crop Production Meeting
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: Winter

Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Livestock Production Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All year

Audience: Community members/ youth
Project or Activity: Horticulture Series
Content or Curriculum:
Date: Winter/Spring

Audience: Youth/Farmers
Project or Activity: Farm Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: Summer/Fall

Audience: Community members/ youth
Project or Activity:New Equipment and Fencing Demonstration
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: September-May

Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Forage Management
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: Winter/Spring

Audience: youth
Project or Activity: Animal Science Project Group/Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: September-May

Audience: Community members
Project or Activity: C.A.I.P Cost Share Program
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All Year

Audience: Community members
Project or Activity: Farmer's Market
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All Year

Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Agriculture Marketing
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All year

Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Financial Management
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: Winter

Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: BQA Training
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: Fall

Audience: Community members/ youth
Project or Activity: Forest Management
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All Year

Audience: Farmers/ Youth
Project or Activity:Farm Tours/ Field Days
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All Year

Audience: Farmers/ Youth
Project or Activity:Ag. Diversification/Sustainability Seminars
Content or Curriculum: Education
Date: All Year

Success Stories