Extension
It Starts With Us
Fixating the Focus on the Local Food Supply
Elevating Local Food Systems
Price, 4H agent, Ammerman
Local Food Systems
Horticulture, Commercial
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Volunteer Development
Recent community needs assessment coupled with the global pandemic have shifted consumers focus from large chain grocery stores toward locally sourced items to fulfill their need for food staples.
Consumer demand for locally grown and processed foods continues to climb. Farmers recognize and respond to consumer demand and retaliate by matching with supply.
Farmer's look toward alternative methods of production and sales of off farm products. Farm respond quicker to consumer demands.
Farmers acquire knowledge to understand new and emerging markets. Farmer's also adjust production and marketing practices to reach new consumer populous.
Increase in farm gate revenues, More consumers purchase locally raised foods.
Audience: Cattle Owners
Project or Activity: Building Better Beef
Content or Curriculum: UK Beef IRM
Inputs: Agent and UK website
Date: monthly throughout the year
Audience: Beef Farmers
Project of Activity: Master Cattlemen
Content or Curriculum: UK Beef IRM and UK Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists
Date: Fall 2021
Audience: Goat Producers
Project of Activity: Meat Goat Updates
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications
Inputs: UK publications, KSU specialists
Date: March 2021
Audience: Sheep and Goat Farmers
Project of Activity: Small Ruminant Workshop
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications
Inputs: UK publications KSU specialists
Date: March 2021
Audience: 4H Livestock Youth
Project of Activity: 4H Youth Livestock Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Getting your Goat, Stepping Out, Showing the Way
Inputs: Dairy Goat Club members and leader
Date: All year Long
Audience: Forage Farmers
Project or Activity: Controlling Weeds in Pastures and Hayfields
Content or Curriculum: UK Agronomy
Inputs: Agent and UK website
Date: March 2021
Audience: Forage Farmers
Project or Activity: Pasture Renovation
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists
Date: Feb 2021
Audience: County Ag Investment Program Farmers
Project of Activity: Hay Storage to increase profits
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists
Date: Fall 2020
Audience: Dairy and Beef Farmers
Project of Activity: Silage Production Update
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
Inputs: UK publications,
Date: March 2021
Audience: Grain Farmers
Project of Activity: Early Bird Grain Meeting
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists
Date: Jan 2021
Audience: Vegetable Farmers
Project of Activity: Extending the Growing Season
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists
Date: Feb - March 2021
Audience: Vegetable Farmers
Project of Activity: Producers Best Practices Training
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists
Date: Feb 2021
Audience: Farmer’s Markets
Project of Activity: SNAP-Ed, WIC and Senior Coupons
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists
Date: winter 2021 throughout the growing season
Audience: Farmer’s Markets SNAP-Ed
Project of Activity: Sampling
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists
Date: ongoing throughout the year
Audience: 6,7, & 8 Graders
Project of Activity: GCMS Garden
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists, agent and volunteers
Date: March –Sept 2021
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project of Activity: 4-H Horticulture Club
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists, agents and volunteers
Date: March – Oct 2021
Author: Rachael Price
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected our communities. Empty shelves at the supermarket, and growing concerns for food insecurity has shifted the consumers focus toward the farm stand and self-sustaining agriculture. The Grant County Extension Service has started several new initiatives to increase food security in our community as well as encourage families to learn how to become self-reliant and supplement through small personal gardens.A Green Thumb program was planned as an
Author: Chris Ammerman
Major Program: Beef
Cattle farmers in Grant County cattle farms have experienced a downward trend to prices received for their products at market. The worldwide pandemic this year created a more dismal outlook as consumer dining perspectives have changed and processing plant delays have created an unbalanced situation of supply and demand at the grocery stores.Many Grant County cattle farmer have looked toward an effort to further decrease their costs of feeding cattle outside of the growing season. Cat
Author: Chris Ammerman
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Consumer choice has shifted away from the grocery store shelves and many local farmers markets have become the target to provide safe, fresh, and nutritious food for communities across the state, and Grant County is experiencing this trend as well. The past 18 months have shifted many individual’s life choices to shift away from the current food supply. As a result an increase in the demand for locally grown fresh produce, meat, and eggs. The Grant County Farm Bureau Fed
Author: Chris Ammerman
Major Program: Local Food Systems
Consumer choice has shifted away from the grocery store shelves and many local farmers markets have become the target to provide safe, fresh, and nutritious food for communities across the state, and Grant County is experiencing this trend as well. The past 18 months have shifted many individual’s life choices to shift away from the current food supply. As a result an increase in the demand for locally grown fresh produce, meat, and eggs. A community wide effort was plan
