Fixating the Focus on the Local Food SupplyPlan of Work

Back to Plans for the County

Grant County CES

Title:
Fixating the Focus on the Local Food Supply
MAP:
Elevating Local Food Systems
Agents Involved:
Price, 4H agent, Ammerman
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Horticulture, Commercial
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Nutrition and Food Systems General
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Volunteer Development
Situation:

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.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Consumer demand for locally grown and processed foods continues to climb.  Farmers recognize and respond to consumer demand and retaliate by matching with supply.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Farmer's look toward alternative methods of production and sales of off farm products.  Farm respond quicker to consumer demands.

Initial Outcomes:

Farmers acquire knowledge to understand new and emerging markets.  Farmer's also adjust production and marketing practices to reach new consumer populous. 

Evaluation:

Increase in farm gate revenues, More consumers purchase locally raised foods. 

Learning Opportunities:

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



Success Stories

Combatting Food Insecurity in a Pandemic

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

Full Story

Reducing the cost of raising beef

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

Full Story

Corn Teen Farm Field Day

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

Full Story

Growing your garden starts on the inside

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

Full Story
Back to Plans for the County