McCracken County Commercial Agricultural Enterprises
Agriculture and Natural Resources Education
Anderson, Wimberley
Grains
Horticulture, Commercial
Hemp
Plant Disease ID
Situation 1: Grain crop production is facing a downward pressure with severe economic distress (high inputs, low commodity prices, high land rent, flooded machinery market) for the foreseeable future.
Situation 2: Consumers and Producers lack accurate knowledge in status of their soil nutrients and pH.
Situation 3: Producers need information or production of forages.
Situation 4: Producers need information on production of hemp.
- Maximize profits for commercial ag producer
- Minimize environmental impact of air, soil, or living area
- Improve sustainability of intensively managed crop production systems
- Significant percentage of consumers and producers implementing IPM practices
- Increase positive opinion of GMO/Conventional production of non-farm individuals
- Adopt usage of new technology for crop production
- Maximize awareness of GMO/Organic Production
- Use diagnostic services to identify insects, disease and weeds
- Adopt one or more fertility management recommendations
- Implementation of on-farm trials
- Awareness of current land grant research concerning grain crop production
- Identification of IPM practices for grain crops production
- Increase understanding of production regulations
- Understanding BioTech traits
- Understanding importance of and frame work of on-farm trials
- Understanding of Organic vs Conventional crop production
- Increase non-farm public understanding of BioTechnology/Organic/ Conventional grains crop production
- Identify active ingredients in crop related ag products
- Identify herbicide resistant pests and strategies to overcome these pests
- Knowledge of UK Soil Test program
Initial Outcome: Identification of IPM practices for grain crops production
Indicator: Number of producers reporting an understanding of IPM practices increase.
Method: survey, formative assessment
Timeline: ongoing
Intermediate Outcome: Adopt usage of new technology for crop production
Indicator: Producers report using at least one new use of technology in their operation.
Method: survey, formative assessment
Timeline: ongoing
Long-term Outcome: Maximize profits for commercial ag producer
Indicator: Number of producers report an increase in profit margin
Method: survey, formative assessment
Timeline: ongoing
Audience: Home owners, farmers, Paducah/McCracken County Schools (non-commercial)
Project or Activity: “Cheaper than Dirt” program and soil test program, including soil testing coupons
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications, Demonstrations, Soil Analysis reports
Inputs: Agents, UK/KSU Specialists, Soil sampling coupons, soil sample analysis, UK/KSU publications, UK/KSU Specialists,UK/KSU College of Ag Professionals (agents, specialists, Publications Research Information, Diagnostic Centers, UK Weather Center Commodity Associations, (ex: Soybean Board, Corn Growers, Small Grain Growers),State and Federal Agencies(ex: KDA, NRCS, EPA), Ag Advisory Councils, Farmers/Producers
Date: Ongoing
Audience: residents
Project or Activity: Commodity Breakfast
Content or Curriculum:
Inputs: UK/KSU College of Ag Professionals, commodity organizations, State and Federal Agencies, farmers/producers, volunteers, agents
Date: fall
Audience: Producers and landlords
Project or Activity: Lease Agreement program
Content or Curriculum: publications, lease agreements
Inputs: UK/KSU College of Ag Professionals, commodity organizations, State and Federal Agencies, farmers/producers, volunteers, agents
Date: ongoing
Author: Samantha Anderson
Major Program: Grains
Soybean production in Kentucky comprises approximately 1.3 million acres of agricultural land use. Revenue from this crop accounts for $300 million statewide. Since the 1950s, soybean production began to gain popularity. In the American production agriculture system. Currently, soybean production constitutes for the second largest row crop (based on acreage) in the Untied States Beginning in 1980, an annual soybean yield contest has been held in Kentucky. Administered by the University of K
Author: Samantha Anderson
Major Program: Horticulture, Commercial
The University of Kentucky Center for Crop Diversification reports that Kentucky, an active adapter of high tunnel production systems, comprises over 2.8 million ft ² of production capacity across more than 1,200 tunnels. High tunnel production systems allow growres to facilitate growing season extension as well as provide supplemental field production for small scale producers. In partnership with the University of Kentucky Extension Entomology department, McCracken County Agent for
Author: Samantha Anderson
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
With a recent nationwide renewed interest in local food production, information on homesteading practices have become a common request for many County Extension Service offices. Seeing a need for relevant, research-based information to be available to the public, area agents for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Caldwell, Calloway, Crittenden, Livingston, Marshall, McCracken and Trigg Counties, partnered to host the Small Diversified Farm series. Through an interest survey, monthly educa