Extension
It Starts With Us
Livestock & Crop Production
Increasing Agriculture Awareness & Profitability
Joanna Coles &Kristin Hildabrand
Commercial Horticulture
Beef
Grain Crops
Integrated Plant Pest Management
In 2012, Warren County’s total value of crop sales was $54,967,000 and total value of livestock sales was $59,738,000. With this large emphasis and economic impact, livestock and crop programming is important to Warren County farmers.
The 2012 Ag Census ranks Warren County as #1 in fruit, nut and berry production and #31 in vegetable production. It also includes 1,715 acres of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture and sod.
•Livestock operations will reports increased profitability and sustainability
•Crop producers will improve profitability through better production and marketing management
•Individuals will improve environmental quality through reducing, reusing and recycling and best management conservation practices
•Farmers will adopt Extension recommendations, utilize best management practices and marketing strategies
•Farmers will apply new technologies
•Farmers will recycle pesticide containers and dispose of pesticides in the proper manner
•Consumers will conserve water and follow best management practices to improve water quality
•Consumers will reduce nonpoint source pollution
•Farmers will increase husbandry knowledge, learn recommended production practices and aspire to implement them in their farming operation to improve profitability
•Farmers will gain knowledge in recommended production and marketing practices for grain, forage and woodland crops
•Individuals will learn benefits of recycling, responsible use of pesticides, conservation practices, nonpoint source pollution and energy & natural resource conservation
Initial Outcome: Gained knowledge in the areas of animal husbandry and production practices. Producers will learn about best management & production practices
Indicator: Individuals state they gained knowledge and aspire to implement practices on their farm
Method: Post educational activity evaluation
Timeline: Throughout the year
Intermediate Outcomes: Individuals implement production practices learned during educational activities to increase profitability
Indicator: Number of practices adopted and implemented
Method: Post evaluations and follow up surveys
Timeline: 6-8 weeks after educational activity
Long-term Outcomes: Farmers will be more profitable by applying learned marketing strategies and production practices
Indicator: Number of participants who adopt recommended practices and impact increased profitability
Method: Evaluations, follow up surveys and testimony
Timeline: On going
Audience: Beef Producers
Project or Activity: Beef Quality Assurance
Content or Curriculum: Best Management Practices and Consumer Confidence
Inputs: BQA manual, facilities
Date: Fall 2018
Audience: Beef Producers, Industry Representatives
Project or Activity: Beef Field Day
Content or Curriculum: cover crops, herd health, health facilities
Inputs: Farm operator, facilities, sponsors, tables, av equipment
Date: September 19, 2019
Audience: Beef Producers
Project or Activity: Educational Beef Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Nutrition, health, marketing, policies
Inputs: Agents time, facilities, sponsors, industry reps, volunteers
Date: October 17, November 21, December 19, January 16, February 20, March 19, April 16, May 21, 2019-20
Audience: Crop & Livestock Producers
Project or Activity: Rinse & Return
Content or Curriculum: Proper disposal of pesticide containers
Inputs: KDA staff, facilities, advertisements, volunteers
Date: September 2019 & May 2020
Audience: Homeowners, Crop & Livestock Producers
Project or Activity: Private Pesticide Applicators Training
Content or Curriculum: Pesticide Safety, Worker Protection Standards,
recordkeeping, Understanding Pesticide Labels, crop related pests,
restricted use pesticides
Inputs: Facilities, videos, publications
Date: January – February 2020
Audience: Industry Representatives
Project or Activity: SoKY Commercial Pesticide Training
Content or Curriculum: General Pesticide Use
Inputs: Agents time, specialist, facilities
Date: December 2019
Audience: Commercial Beekeepers
Project or Activity: Warren Co. Beekeepers Association monthly meetings
Content or Curriculum: Local beekeepers, Extension specialists and agents
Inputs: Meeting space, time and mail outs
Date: July 2019 – June 2020
Audience: Commercial & Sustainable Horticulture Producers
Project or Activity: Warren County Beekeepers Association
Content or Curriculum: Hive health & management, honey products & marketing
Inputs: Meeting space, time, mail outs
Date: 4th Tuesday of each month
Audience: Commercial Producers and Horticulture Enthusiasts
Project or Activity: Media Appearances via Radio and Television
Content or Curriculum: Up-to-date information for producers
Inputs: Promotional materials, visual aids
Date: Ongoing throughout the year
Audience: Commercial Growers and Landscapers
Project or Activity: SOKY Pesticide Training
Content or Curriculum: General pesticide use
Inputs: Speakers, conference area, food, materials
Date: December 2019
Audience: Home and Commercial Gardeners
Project or Activity: Horticulture Happenings Newsletter
Content or Curriculum: Commercial and consumer gardening
Inputs: material, postage, envelopes, time
Date: Throughout the year
Author: Joanna Coles
Major Program: Farm Management
Due to the increased amount of interest in hemp production, the Mammoth Cave Area Ag Agents hosted a district hemp educational meeting.One hundred percent of the participants increased their knowledge among the topics of Hemp Production, Hemp Economics, and the Hemp Application process. Sixty-five percent plan to implement the knowledge gained during the training in their hemp farming operation.Sometimes our educational meetings help farmers decide whether or not a product would be a viabl
Author: Joanna Coles
Major Program: Beef
In extension just being a resource for clients is an important part of what we do that adds value to our community. This spring a local trucking company contacted me about a load of spinach that was rejected due to lack of workers available to offload it when it arrived at the store. The company was going to receive an insurance payment for the loss but would have to dump it in the landfill if I couldn’t come up with a use for the 42,000 lbs. of spinach. I first contacte
