Crop production, Livestock production, & Sustainable AgriculturePlan of Work

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Barren County CES

Title:
Crop production, Livestock production, & Sustainable Agriculture
MAP:
Sustainable & Profitable Crop & Livestock Production
Agents Involved:
Schalk,Tarry
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Chemical Crop Management Tools
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Grain Crops
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Ag Marketing
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 operations
Intermediate Outcomes:
-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 dairy calf and replacement heifer production
-Balancing soil test results with manure applications to prevent over application of nutrients
Initial Outcomes:
-Informed decisions on crop inputs reduce input cost per acre
-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 animal manure application habits
Indicator: Type, crop, & application time
Method: Survey local farmers who are using manure & farm visits
Timeline: Seasonal, by crop

Initial Outcome: Evaluate input cost/acre for grain crops
Indicator: Note changes in grain crops producers who attended programming
Method: Farm visits, 1 on 1 interviews, survey
Timeline: after harvest season
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: Column in Sunday edition of Glasgow Daily Times
Content or Curriculum: Timely topics on production, safety, & new technology.
Inputs: Agents, CAFÉ resources, & UK specialists
Date: July through June

Audience: Dairy Producers
Project or Activity: Management practices for production & cow comfort.
Content or Curriculum: Cow comfort, nutrition, herd health,
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

Tobacco GAP

Author: Christopher Schalk

Major Program: Tobacco

Barren and Metcalfe counties are two of the top tobacco producing counties in Kentucky. Although, total production is down compared to previous years, tobacco still maintains it's spot as one of the top agricultural commodities in the region. Since 2014 all major tobacco companies have required producers to be trained in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in order to market tobacco. This is due to an increasing concern for consumer health as well as the health and safety of those that work in

Full Story

SOKY Commercial Pesticide Training

Author: Christopher Schalk

Major Program: Integrated Plant Pest Management

Commercial pesticide applicators are called upon by farmer's, businesses, golf courses, homeowners, and many others to control pests in a number of situations. These applicators are required to obtain continuing education credits to maintain their licenses. In 2017 the ANR and horticulture agents in the east part of district 6 provided applicators an opportunity to continue their education by hosting the SOKY Pesticide Training. This was the third year that this two day training opportunity,

Full Story

Focusing on Forage in Cattle Counties

Author: Christopher Schalk

Major Program: Forages

Barren, Metcalfe and Monroe County are nestled in the rolling hills of the Eastern Mammoth Cave Area in South Central Kentucky. In these counties, beef cattle are a major agriculture commodity. These three county account for over 77,500 brood cows (USDA-NASS, 2015) and over $48 million dollars of cash sales. In the fall of 2017 Agriculture Extension Agents in these counties identified a need to redirect producer’s attention back to the basics of forage production. The Forage 101 serie

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Farm, Home and Garden Expo

Author: Christopher Schalk

Major Program: Local Food Systems

The face of agriculture is changing event in Barren County, one of Kentucky’s most prolific agriculture counties. An event to honor the rich tradition of production agriculture was needs, but fewer and fewer Barren County citizens have the direct contact with the farm. As folks loose direct contact with farm life, they understand the real story of farm to fork. The Barren County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with the Glasgow Barren County Chamber of Commerce to host the Barren Co

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