Crops & Livestock Management & Marketing; Horticulture & Forestry Production, Economics & MarketingPlan of Work

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Ohio County CES

Title:
Crops & Livestock Management & Marketing; Horticulture & Forestry Production, Economics & Marketing
MAP:
Agricultural Sustainability
Agents Involved:
Greg Comer, ANR Agent; Gary Druin, 4-H Agent
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Grain Crops
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Forestry Industry Education
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Beef
Situation:
Ohio County is one of the largest counties in Kentucky, encompassing nearly 381,000 acres. It is also ranked (in top 12%) as one of the largest farm cash receipts generating counties, with over $98 million in farm receipts, according to 2012 NASS statistics. It still has great potential for expansion, with over 100,000 acres of underutilized forages, 50,000 acres of Class II and III land still unimproved and 180,000 acres of undermanaged timber. However, expansion must be accomplished in a sustainable method using improved grazing management, better forestry management techniques, enhanced marketing skills, diversification of enterprises and other sustainable systematic approaches.
Long-Term Outcomes:
• Landowners/producers will adopt integrated production and management systems which are financially and environmentally sustainable.
• Woodland owners will adopt management systems which improve timber/wildlife productivity, while being ecologically sustainable.
• Farmer’s Market vendors will provide safe, nutritious, high quality produce for local consumers.
• Livestock producers will implement livestock marketing avenues which optimize profitability of their operation.
• Youth will use sound animal husbandry practices in maintaining their livestock projects.
Intermediate Outcomes:
• Landowners/producers will follow research based recommendations which protect the environment, while optimizing production.
• Producers will analyze market situations and utilize marketing approaches which optimize pricing opportunities.
• Livestock producers will improve handling facilities and animal handing skills to facilitate improved safety for livestock and handlers.
• Landowners/producers will utilize soil/forage testing, diagnostic services, IPM principles and best management practices which make their operations more sustainable.
• Forest landowners will seek professional assistance when marketing timber and use BMP’s which protect natural resources.
• Youth will care for livestock using proper animal husbandry practices.
• Livestock producers will improve forage utilization management, reduce winter feed needs, and adopt technologies/BMP’s which optimize resources.
• Grain producers will adopt use of new technologies for crop production, which improve efficiency.
Initial Outcomes:
• Producers will improve awareness of land-grant research in grain crop production, grazing management, and forage/grain variety trials.
• Producers will expand adoption of new technologies which improve efficiency, safety, and profitability of enterprises.
• Woodland owners will understand timber marketing options and utilize professional assistance for marketing and timber stand improvement.
• Livestock producers will improve utilization of forages, forage harvest management, and feeding management to reduce losses.
• Youth will use learn proper livestock management thru livestock projects
• Producers will utilize information from Extension, KDA and USDA to analyze market opportunities
• Increase in sales and vendors at Farmer’s Market
Evaluation:

Evaluation:

Outcome: Landowners/producers utilize testing & diagnostic services, IPM principles and BMP to improve sustainability of agricultural enterprises

Indicator: Number of soil & diagnostic requests. Producers use of IPM & BMP’s

Method: Soil & diagnostics requests. Survey of producers on use of IPM & BMP’s

Timeline: Winter 2017


Evaluation:

Outcome: Increase in use of Farmer’s Market

Indicator: Vendor sales at Farmer’s Market

Method: Survey of receipts at Farmer’s Market

Timeline: Winter 2017


Evaluation:

Outcome:  Increase in Youth Agricultural Projects and agricultural knowledge.

Indicator:  Number of youth developing agricultural projects and strengthening partnerships with Cooperative Extension, 4-H and FFA programs.

Method:  Survey of Youth Agriculture Incentives Program

Time Line:  Summer- Fall 2017


Learning Opportunities:

Audience:  Ohio County Youth

Project or Activity:  Youth Agricultural Incentives Program

Content or Curriculum:  Kentucky Department of Agriculture Program, 4-H Livestock/Horse curriculum and Extension Publications

Inputs: KDA, Ohio County 4-H, Ohio County FFA,  YAIP Committee

Date:  Summer - Fall 2017


Audience: Pesticide users

Project or Activity: Pesticide Applicator training

Content or Curriculum: Pesticide safety training curriculum

Inputs: ANR agent

Date: Jan-March 2018


Audience: Landowners/producers

Project or Activity: Ag Development Cost-Share Educational Program

Content or Curriculum: Enterprise management & economics

Inputs: Agent & specialist

Date: All year


Audience: Beef/Forage Producers

Project or Activity: Beef/Forage Field Day

Content or Curriculum: Livestock management, herd health, forage utilization, weed control, etc.

Inputs: Agent, specialist, industry reps, NRCS, O.C. Cattlemen’s Assoc., farm suppliers

Date: Fall 2017


Audience: Landowners & producers

Project or Activity: Demonstrations

Content or Curriculum: field trials to demonstrate recommended practices and research

Inputs: agents, producers

Date: summer, fall 2017-18


Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: Livestock/Horse Club

Content or Curriculum: Livestock/horse project resources, skillathon/judging, show ring

Inputs: Agents, specialist, leaders

Date: year round


Audience: Vegetable/fruit producers

Project or Activity: Good Agricultural Practices

Content or Curriculum: GAP curriculum

Inputs: Agent

Date: Winter/spring 2018


Audience: Home Gardeners

Project or Activity: Raising Your Own Vegetabless

Content or Curriculum: U.K. pubs & recommendations

Inputs: Agent, specialist

Date: Winter/spring 2017-18


Audience: Beef producers

Project or Activity: Beef Quality Assurance Certification

Content or Curriculum: KY BQA Certification curriculum

Inputs: Agent, BQA Manual, Videos

Date: Multiple times thru year


Audience: 4th Grade Students in Ohio Co. Schools

Project or Activity: Youth Ag Days

Content or Curriculum: KY Agriculture

Inputs: Agents, program assistants, specialist, Ag leaders, Ohio Co. Schools

Date: September 2017


Audience: Woodland owners

Project or Activity: Fall Forestry Webinars

Content or Curriculum: Current woodland management topics

Inputs: Extension specialist, agent, industry experts

Date: Fall 2017


Audience: Forage producers

Project or Activity: Pasture Walk

Content or Curriculum: Pasture management, weed id/control, water quality, grazing management

Inputs: Agent, specialist, industry personnel, NRCS,

Date: Fall 2017, spring 2018


Audience: 6th Grade students

Project or Activity: Ag Camp

Content or Curriculum: Products from agriculture, careers

Inputs: Agents, NRCS, specialist, industry

Date: Spring 2018


Audience: Beef producers

Project or Activity: Midwest Beef Summit

Content or Curriculum: Improving the longevity of beef cows & making herds more profitable

Inputs: Specialist, agents, industry

Date: August 2017


Audience: Small farm & garden producers

Project or Activity: Small Farm & Garden Conference

Content or Curriculum: Livestock, crops, vegetables & fruits for small acreage

Inputs: Specialist, agents and leaders from S. Indiana & Ky

Date: March 2018


Audience: Grain producers

Project or Activity: Grain Management/Marketing

Content or Curriculum: Grain production, marketing, new technologies, pest control & resistance

Inputs: Specialist, agent, industry personnel, NRCS, FSA, farm suppliers

Date: Winter 2017-18


Audience: Young grain producers

Project or Activity: Grain Management Group

Content or Curriculum: Grain management & marketing

Inputs: Specialist, agent, industry

Date: Year round




Success Stories

Increasing Cow Longevity = Increased Profitability

Author: Gregory Comer

Major Program: Beef

Cow longevity is a trait that can have great economic importance to commercial beef cattle producers. Typically, the costs associated with developing replacement females requires 8-9 years of productivity before a positive return on investment occurs. Thus, the increased costs associated with early culling of a female from the herd negatively impacts profitability. Beef producers in Ohio County and the Green River Area have identified the need to extend animal productivity by 2-3 years, thu

Full Story

Ky Master Logger Web TV

Author: Gregory Comer

Major Program: Logging Training and Professional Education

  The timber industry in Ohio County is of major economic importance to both landowners, with about 49% of the county’s landmass still in trees, as well as, employers, with 7 wood industry facilities in the county. Kentucky’s largest primary wood industry, Dunaway Timber, is also located in the county.  These primary wood industries are supported by the 50-60 Master Loggers located in Ohio County, which must maintain a level of educational CEU’s to remain in business.

Full Story
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