Educational Opportunities for Producers and GardenersPlan of Work

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Webster County CES

Title:
Educational Opportunities for Producers and Gardeners
MAP:
Agriculture and Horticulture Education
Agents Involved:
Shadrick, Alexander
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Grain Crops
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Home & Consumer Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Food Preparation
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Situation:

Webster County is a rural county. In 2012, Webster County had 500 farm operations on 152,431 acres, which represented 71.8% of total county land. The total value for crop sales was $44,319,000 (including agritourism). Farming operations continue to expand and commodity prices and input costs are uncertain from year to year.

There has been an increase in backyard gardens, buying local produce and meat and consumers wanting to know where their food comes from. There has been an increase in the need for a farmer's market. Consumers need to understand GMO's and organic production as it relates to conventional production.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Maximize profits for commercial agriculture producers

Minimize environmental impact of air, soil and living area

Reduction in rate of pesticide resistance development in pests, weeds and pathogens

Farmer's Market in Webster County expands to meed needs of community

Maintain or increase consumer confidence/demand in local foods

Maintain or increase economic stability of farm operations

Increase in producers utilizing enterprise budgets

Increase positive opinion of GMO/Conventional production of non-farm individuals

Intermediate Outcomes:

Maximize awareness of GMO/Organic Production

Implementation of on-farm trials

Adopt usage of new technology for crop production

Use diagnostic services to identify insects, disease and weeds

Successfully complete PAT and training workers in WPS

Compare chemical options based on time, availability cost, companion tactics

Design effective spray schedules for plant pest management

Develop an AG plan using decision making tools

Apply skills of food safety and food preparation to afford healthy nutritious food choices

Increase certifications in Microprocessing and Produce Best Practices

Initial Outcomes:

Increase understanding of homeowner/gardener pest management tactics

Demonstrate proper use of sprayer and equipment related to application

Identifying active ingredients in chemical products and relate to modes of action

Review types and varieties of produce

Awareness of current land grant research concerning grain crop production

Understanding importance of and frame work for on-farm trials

Understanding organic vs conventional production

Identify herbicide resistant pests and strategies to overcome these pest

Awareness of safe handling of livestock for a safe and nutritious product on the plate

Increase vendors at Farmer's Market

Increase awareness of Plate It Up KY Proud by sampling at Farmer's Market

Increase customer support of farmers market

Increase redemption rate of SFMNP Vouchers

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome:

Indicator: Participants increase use of SFMNP senior vouchers through more accessible markets and educational programs at senior center.

Method: Redemption rate provided by KDA

Timeline: End of farmers market reporting year; Nov-Dec. 2019


Intermediate Outcome:

Indicator: Producers use the Tri-County Grain Improvement Series research trial data as a decision aide for their operation

Method: face to face interviews

Timeline: after growing season


Long-term Outcome:

Indicator: Webster County Farmers' market meets needs of clientele at multiple days/locations

Method: follow-up interviews with customers and vendors; online survey tools through social media

Timeline: October/November 2019

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Webster County Grain Farmers and Landowners

Project or Activity: Adult Farm Classes (topics decided by committee in August)

Content or Curriculum:

Inputs: UK Extension Agents; UK Specialist, NRCS, Community Partners

Date: December through March


Audience: Webster, McLean and Hopkins County Producers

Project or Activity: Green River Grain Improvement Series

Content or Curriculum: UK publications, seed company corn and soybean variety

Inputs: UK Specialist, agents, local producers

Date: Throughout growing season


Audience: Webster County Capstone Learning Center Students (WCHS)/ Elementary students/ 4H Horticulture Club

Project or Activity: Gardening; From beginning to the end

Content or Curriculum: Home vegetable gardening

Inputs: Extension Agents, NRCS, Webster County School District, Century 21 Grant for Capstone Learning Center, 4H Council

Date: Spring Annually


Audience: Farmers Market Vendors/gardners

Activity: Fruit and/or vegetable production

Content: Home Vegetable gardening and commercial vegetable production, high tunnel publications

Inputs: Agents, KDA and Specialists

Date: 2019-2020 gorwing season


Audience:  Webster County Grain and Livestock Producers

Activity:  Recognizing the health and mental stresses of farming and how to handle them

Content:  Dr. Reed

Inputs:  UK Extension, Dr. Reed

Date:  Winter 2020




Success Stories

Reaching out through social media while working healthy at home

Author: Vicki Shadrick

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

In March 2020, a global pandemic changed how families interact, how businesses operate, how students attended classes and how basic needs were purchased.  Basically, Covid-19 changed everything.“The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service provides practical education you can trust to help people, businesses, and communities solve problems, develop skills, and build a better future”.                        

Full Story

Making Extension part of the team

Author: Vicki Shadrick

Major Program: Sustainable Agriculture

Webster County, Kentucky is a diverse agricultural county.  Corn, soybeans, tobacco, hay, wheat grain sorghum, industrial hemp, beef cattle, poultry, fruits, vegetables and beekeepers can all be found throughout this rural area of the commonwealth.There is approximately 170,000 acres of cropland in Webster County with about seventy-five percent of that in row crops and tobacco.  Animal agriculture has a major financial impact in the county.  In 2017, animal sales totaled 88.7 mill

Full Story
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