Crop production, Livestock production, & Sustainable AgriculturePlan of Work

Back to Plans for the County

Barren County CES

Title:
Crop production, Livestock production, & Sustainable Agriculture
MAP:
Sustainable & Profitable Crop & Livestock Production
Agents Involved:
Schalk, Stith, Tarry, Drake
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Chemical Management
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Grains
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Agriculture
Situation:

Barren County has traditionally led the region in diverse agriculture production. Producers utilizing these practices help to enhance their profitability & promote sustainability. Forages, grain crops, & tobacco continue to be in place on many Barren County farms. Dairy, beef, poultry, small ruminants, and horses are staples in many operations. Producers continue to be charged with producing commodities in an environmental sustainable manner.


 

Long-Term Outcomes:

-Diversify operations to meet the changing ag products needs

-Efficient use of crop protectants

-Increased producer profits in ag enterprises

-Increase overall efficiency in livestock, grain & forage operations

Intermediate Outcomes:

-Supply new/beginning farmers with skill set to manage farming enterprises

-Implement the use of decision making tools for crop & livestock production

-Convert used/unleased grain crop land back to improved permanent pasture/hay ground

-Maintain high standards and husbandry practices for beef and small ruminant operations

-Increase awareness of manure management and water quality improvement

-Develop unique marketing options for producers

Initial Outcomes:

-Equip producers to reduce risk and get a handle on cost of production

-Develop necessary skill sets

-Provide programs to improve soil health and sustainability

-Realize diversification within livestock enterprises

 


Evaluation:

Long-term Outcome: Evaluate increased number of producers shown to utilize improved management practices in their crop production

Indicator: Note the number of producers utilizing product usage and purchasing habits in their farm management practices

Method: Surveys, farm visits, evaluations

Timeline: July-June


Intermediate Outcome: : Evaluate the effectiveness of marketing hay through tri county hay auction

Indicator: type, quality & price per unit

Method: Survey local farmers who are selling in sale

Timeline: Seasonal, by crop


Initial Outcome: Evaluate changes in grain producers risk management plans

Indicator: Note changes in grain crops producers who attended programming

Method: Farm visits, 1 on 1 interviews, survey

Timeline: after harvest season

Learning Opportunities:

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:

Audience: Tobacco Producers

Project or Activity: Tobacco GAP

Content or Curriculum: UK CAFÉ & GAP Connections

Inputs: GAP materials, specialist(s), GAP connections, US Dept of Labor

Date: Spring


Audience: Crop Producers

Project or Activity: Chemical Management Training

Content or Curriculum: Private Pesticide Training, Specialists

Inputs: UK Specialists, videos, field days

Date: Winter and early Spring


Audience: Animal Commodity Groups

Project or Activity: Monthly meetings

Content or Curriculum: forages, nutrition, health, marketing, management

Inputs: CAFÉ resources, UK & KSU specialists, SRPS

Date: July through June


Audience: Producers & Citizens Interested in Agriculture

Project or Activity: Get the Scoop radio show on WGGC

Content or Curriculum: Timely topics on production, safety, & new technology.

Inputs: Agents, CAFÉ resources, & UK specialists

Date: July through June


Audience: Forage Producers

Project or Activity: Producing profitable forage

Content or Curriculum: Forage best management practices

Inputs: Agents, UK specialists

Date: Fall and Winter


Audience: 4-H Youth Interested in Agriculture

Project or Activity: 4-H projects in horses, dairy, livestock, natural resources, & plant & soil sciences

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Core Curriculum & National 4-H project curriculum

Inputs: CAFÉ resources, UK specialists, 4-H specialists

Date: July through June




Success Stories

Mammoth Cave Virtual Field Day

Author: Christopher Schalk

Major Program: Local Food Systems

The Covid-19 pandemic has presented challenges to many people. It has changed the way we live and work. One of the challenges that has developed for Extension Agents is how do we continue to deliver quality educational programs to our clientele during this health crisis? Most traditional face-to-face program delivery methods are not currently an option.An alternate method is electronic delivery of programs. Because most of our traditional field days were canceled due to Covid, agents collaborate

Full Story

2020 SOKY Commercial Pesticide Training

Author: Christopher Schalk

Major Program: Chemical Management

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed how Extension Agents are able to deliver quality educational programs to our clientele during this health crisis. Most in-person meetings are currently not an option. Agents have become more reliant on virtual programs and social media.The Mammoth Cave ANR/Hort agents in our ten county area have hosted the SOKY Commercial Pesticide Training for several years. This gives agribusinesses, turf professionals, and landscapers an opportunity to obtain their continuing

Full Story

Together for Caves Earth Day and Every Day

Author: LaToya Drake

Major Program: Water and Soil Quality and Conservation

Together for Caves Earth Day and Every Day

The Mammoth Cave Biosphere Region is home to the world’s largest cave system. The Region, that was founded in 1990 as part of the UNESCO Man, exists under a cooperative agreement between Mammoth Cave National Park, the Barren River Area Development District, and Western Kentucky University; it is composed of a 25-member Advisory Council with members from federal, state, and local governments, community groups, conservation groups, universities, local businesses, and agriculture. 

Full Story

Legacy Dairy

Author: Christopher Schalk

Major Program: Dairy

The Mammoth Cave area is the heart of the dairy industry in Kentucky. Over 50% of the state’s total dairies and over 75% of the state’s total dairy cattle are located in south central Kentucky.  Agents from this area joined forces to bring an educational video that not only focuses on dairy production but adding value past the farm gate.   Legacy Dairy owned by the Jones family, bottles the milk from their cows right on the farm.  The non-homogenized, yet pasteurized m

Full Story

Taking Beef Herd to Next Level

Author: Christopher Schalk

Major Program: Beef

Barren County is known as a cattle county.  Barren County leads KY in both beef and dairy production.  The producers in Barren County range from full time farmers to part time farmers to folks new to farming due to retirement and returning to the family farm.  This is the case with Mr. Dennis.  Mr. Dennis reached out to the Barren County Ag Agent to help him get a small commercial beef operation up and running after he returned to the family farm.  Mr. Dennis returned to

Full Story
Back to Plans for the County