Extension
It Starts With Us
Sustainable Farming
Agricultural Production
Jeffiers, Reed
Beef
Local Food Systems
4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources
Commercial Horticulture
With tobacco no longer a significant crop in the county, farms have had to expand other areas of operation or grow into new ones. Most farms were previously used for cattle as well as tobacco, so many of these have chosen to increase their beef production. Others have moved into vegetables and goats. Still other farms have organized under new owners since the end of tobacco, and these operations are taking on vegetables, fruits, bees, goats, and poultry. Because these farms are smaller and unable to break into wholesale markets, they are identifying local outlets for their products and working to maximize the income potential from their particular mix of marketing techniques. This has been a recurring theme of council discussions as farmers have considered how to develop opportunities for the next generation of producers. Council members have also identified the need to introduce gardening and agriculture concepts to youth in hopes they will learn where their food comes from and how to grow it at home.
Agritourism destinations draw visitors from a large area and provide economic opportunity.
Produce, meats, honey, and eggs are marketed profitably to local customers.
Farms are environmentally sustainable.
Commodity groups create strong markets for local products.
Livestock are healthy and efficient.
4-H Youth will be able to grow vegetables and fruits as adults if needed to contribute to household food sources.
4-H Youth will have practice starting backyard poultry if desired through participation in classroom and after-school Incubation projects
Agritourism destinations are developed and opened for business with sound marketing plans.
Produce, meats, honey, and eggs are produced by local farmers, yielding quality, safe products.
Livestock producers use proper health, reproduction, and feeding techniques.
Commodity groups organize, meet, and develop plans for their businesses.
4-H Youth apply knowledge gained of home gardening/greenhousing practices and healthy nutrition information and would be able to produce their own vegetable and fruits.
4-H Youth will incubate poultry eggs in incubators and be introduced to poultry meat and egg production topics.
Farmers learn about agritourism as an opportunity, and some producers choose to investigate further.
Farmers know how to produce quality fruits, vegetables, eggs, and meat.
Farmers understand market options for their products.
Commodity growers learn about the benefits of organizing groups and begin to form them.
Farmers understand proper health, reproduction, and feeding techniques.
4-H Youth gain knowledge about home gardening and healthy nutrition.
4-H youth gain knowledge about agriculture, the development cycle of a baby chick from fertilization to hatching and the care of poultry via brooder boxes, and what purposes poultry serve in agriculture.
Long-term Outcome: Agritourism destinations draw visitors from a large area and provide economic opportunity.
Indicator: Number of visitors and their origin and approximate spending
Method: Survey of producers’ info on visitors and revenues from agritourism
Timeline: Annually
Intermediate Outcome: Agritourism destinations are developed and opened for business with sound marketing plans.
Indicator: Number of operational businesses in the county and how many have business plans.
Method: Survey of producers
Timeline: Annually
Initial Outcome: Farmers learn about agritourism as an opportunity, and some producers choose to investigate further
Indicator: Participation in educational sessions and the number of businesses who engage in new ideas discussed at planning meetings or with agents
Method: Survey of attendees
Timeline: 2017-2020
Long-term Outcome: Produce, meats, honey, and eggs are marketed profitably to local customers.
Indicator: Farmers report profitable efforts through local markets.
Method: Farm visits & individual consultations
Timeline: 2019
Intermediate Outcome: Producers market their goods locally.
Indicator: Number of producers reporting use of local marketing outlets
Method: Farm visits, producer meetings
Timeline: 2018
Initial Outcome: Producers learn about marketing opportunities and production methods.
Indicator: Number of people reporting aspirations to sell locally.
Method: Post-program surveys
Timeline: Annually
Long-term Outcome: Farms are environmentally sustainable.
Indicator: Groundwater quality is improved and erosion is reduced.
Method: USGS and NRCS information
Timeline: Beyond 2020
Intermediate Outcome: Farmers undertake more environmentally-friendly practices.
Indicator: Farmers exhibit appropriate environmental steps on their farms.
Method: Farm visits, individual consultations
Timeline: 2018-2020
Initial Outcome: Farmers understand sustainability and express an interest in achieving it.
Indicator: Number of people reporting attitudes favoring better environmental practices.
Method: Post-program surveys
Timeline: Annually
Long-term Outcome: Commodity groups create strong markets for local products.
Indicator: Local products are sold in a large geographic area using a variety of marketing techniques.
Method: Grower feedback
Timeline: Beyond 2020
Intermediate Outcome: Commodity groups create plans for marketing products.
Indicator: Number of groups assembling new market strategies.
Method: Group reporting
Timeline: 2018-2020
Initial Outcome: Commodity groups organize and begin meeting.
Indicator: Number of groups organized in the county
Method: Farmer reporting & visits
Timeline: 2017-2020
Long-term outcome: Livestock are healthy and efficient.
Indicator: Farmer reports of death loss, identification methods, and reproductive efficiency.
Method: Farmer reporting & visits
Timeline: 2018-2020
Intermediate outcome: Livestock producers use proper health, reproduction, and feeding techniques.
Indicator: Farmer reports of practices.
Method: Farmer feedback during visits
Timeline: 2017-2020
Intermediate Outcome: Youth apply knowledge gained of home gardening/greenhousing practices, healthy nutrition information and poultry production would be able to produce their own vegetable and fruits and start backyard flocks if desired.
Indicator: Number of youth attending follow up sessions and reporting continued practices.
Method: 4-H Gardening workshops, classroom and after-school incubation project series.
Timeline: Feb - May 2016-2020 as requested by clients
Initial outcome: 4-H Youth gain knowledge about agriculture, gardening and healthy nutrition
Indicator: Number of youth attending gardening workshops
Method: 4-H Gardening workshops, classroom incubation project series
Timeline: Feb-May 2016-2010 as requested by clients
Program Codes and Major Programs: 1011, 1021, 4021, 1051
Curriculum: Agritourism, Master Cattleman, Good Agricultural Practices, safe egg handling, fruit grafting, UK bull standards
Audience: Egg producers
Project or Activity: Safe egg handling workshops
Content or Curriculum: UK animal science curriculum
Inputs: Extension staff & facilities, farmers’ market materials, CAIP funds
Date: Annually
Audience: Beef producers
Project or Activity: Reproductive management
Content or Curriculum: Bull testing & heifer pregnancy checks
Inputs: Local veterinarian, Morehead State vet science students, farm facilities
Date: Annually
Audience: Vegetable producers
Project or Activity: Production meetings
Content or Curriculum: UK research on varieties, pest control, and management
Inputs: Test plots, CAIP funds
Date: 2017-2020
Audience: Apple producers
Project or Activity: Grafting workshop
Content or Curriculum: UK grafting techniques
Inputs: UK scion wood, rootstock, producers, CAIP funds
Date: Annually
Audience: Beekeepers
Project or Activity: Bi-monthly workshops
Content or curriculum: KSU & UK research; state apiarist; private firms; KSBA
Inputs: County beekeeping equipment & facilities, CAIP funds
Date: Annually
Audience: Potential and existing agritourism sites
Project or Activity: Agritourism development programs
Content or Curriculum: UK research, councils, and committees
Inputs: CAIP funds, local farms
Date:Annually
Audience: Commodity groups
Project or Activity: Developing cooperatives and other commodity groups
Content or Curriculum: UK Ag Econ guidelines
Inputs: Extension staff, CAIP funds
Date:Annually
Audience: Youth ages 4th-12th grade
Project or Activity: 4-H Seeds, Sprouts and Seedlings, Classroom and After-School Poultry Incubation Projects
Content: 4HCCS and Gardening Curriculum, 4-H Raised beds at the Extension Office and 4-H Greenhouse program at the Extension Office, Poultry Incubation curriculum
Input: Extension Staff, School personnel,volunteers and community donors
Date: February -May as requested by schools
Audience: Hobby farm owners
Project or Activity: "Fun Farm" Series
Content: Production basics on bees, fish, syrup, pawpaws, mushrooms, etc
Input: UK specialists, producers, KDA staff
Date: Annually
Author: Brian Jeffiers
Major Program: Sustainable Agriculture
The legal backdrop for hemp production is rapidly changing, with both state and federal laws relaxed to permit regulated cultivation of the crop. University of Kentucky specialists in multiple disciplines held a Hemp Field Day in August 2019 to update potential producers and other interested parties on the research being conducted on campus. The ANR agent promoted the event through a newsletter and social media, and transportation was provided for county residents who wished to attend. Fiv
Author: Brian Jeffiers
Major Program: Forestry Industry Education
Eastern Kentucky includes thousands of acres of trees, many of which are various maples. Yet despite the presence of this obvious resource, few landowners have explored the possibility of producing maple syrup. This began to change in the late 2010's, when a few farms began to produce maple syrup. Their success has begun to draw the attention of other interested producers while simultaneously highlighting the deficit of knowledge about production of maple syrup.To address these needs, the Co
Author: Brian Jeffiers
Major Program: Bees/Beekeeping
The early months of each year are critical to bee health and productivity. The normal pressures of the winter season, combined with the ongoing issues of mites and colony collapse disorder, have created particularly challenging circumstances for beekeepers. To address this situation, Johnson Co. Extension hosted an educational session for county beekeepers. State apiarist Tammy Horn gave a presentation on the special considerations producers should make to start the season with strong hives, inc
Author: Brian Jeffiers
Major Program: Forages
With many acres of strip-mined land dedicated to hay production, Johnson County farmers requested education on the special requirements of this cropping system. Members of the Johnson Co. Agricultural Advancement Council worked with the Highlands Beef Cattle Association to develop the Mountain Master Forager program, held in 2019, with an evening dedicated to the topic. One farmer who attended recently reported that he had implemented the program's fertilizer recommendations and increased hi
Author: Brian Jeffiers
Major Program: Beef
With outbreaks of coronavirus at commercial processing facilities, beef consumers and producers could find very few options for slaughter. When one Johnson County family was forced to book slaughter appointments beyond their planned dates, they sought the assistance of the Cooperative Extension Service to find an appropriate ration to maintain the appropriate weight for the eight animals until their harvest dates several months down the road. The CEA for ANR contacted the UK beef nutrition speci
Author: Dianna Reed
Major Program: 4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources
The Johnson County Extension Council, 4-H Program Council and State 4-H Office identified Agriculture and Natural Resource Education as a program priority for 4-H Youth Development Education. This long-term project begun in February 2020 was part of our Seeds, Sprouts and Seedlings Workshop Series with 155 Paintsville Elementary 4th-6th graders at the Extension Office and the Eagle and 4-H Enrichment partnership with Johnson Central High School and Middle School's Afterschool School 21st Cen
