Agriculture Production and MarketingPlan of Work

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Jackson County CES

Title:
Agriculture Production and Marketing
MAP:
Improving Agriculture Sustainability
Agents Involved:
David Coffey, Kim Hornsby
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Agriculture
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Local Food Systems
Situation:

Each Spring, 4-H Classrooms are offered the opportunity to do the 4-H Chick Incubation project from the Science, Engineering and Technology curriculum. Teachers/club leaders wanted youth to learn about life sciences and agriculture and want the youth to get 'hands-on 'experience.

Jackson County's agriculture industry continues to transition from a tobacco-dependent county. Tobacco has become one small fraction of the total farm income. This has led to a need for producers to consider other farm enterprises if the farm family economy is going to be sustained. Funding through the Phase I portion of the Tobacco Settlement has made an impact in helping producers transition into various farm enterprises. The Jackson County AG Development Council continues to provide funding opportunities that will be available to all farmers and farm families. Along with funding, educating producers in these new areas of production and marketing is essential for success.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Producers make creative use of all farm resources to maximize land use for agriculture production. There will be an expansion of agriculture production opportunities into new areas. Producers develop production and marketing skills for new farm enterprises.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Producers practice basic management techniques and learn to incorporate new ones. Producers make transition from tobacco into other agriculture enterprises. Grow quality produce and market locally and regionally as efforts are made to link local producers with local consumers.

Initial Outcomes:


Producers learn about innovative production practices and develop responsible and sustainable attitudes in agriculture enterprises Producers will become aware of new marketing opportunities for farm products.
Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Youth learn about the life science of chickens

Indicator: Knowledge of hatching chickens

Method: Incubator

Timeline: Spring


Intermediate Outcome: Youth learn how to hatch chickens and sell to consumers

Indicator: Number of chickens hatched successfully

Method: Chick incubator/record keeping

Timeline: Fall/Spring


Initial Outcome: Youth learn about different types of soil and drainage needed for specific crops.

Indicator: State 4-H Land Judging Contest Results

Method: Site Test

Timeline: Summer/Fall


Long-Term Outcome: Youth become highly knowledgeable in the adaptation of different soils.

Indicator: National 4-H Land Judging Contest

Method: Site Test

Timeline: Summer/Fall


Long-Term Outcome: Supplemental crop acreages and income opportunities will be available for local producers

Indicator: Increases in crops grown for newly-developed local markets will be noted.

Method: Crop acreage and number of producers participating will be increased.

Timeline: An annual assessment of each crop program will be made.



Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 4-H age youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Embryology

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology

Inputs: 4-H Agent and Leaders

Date: Fall/Spring


Audience: High School youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Land Judging Project

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Land Judging Publication

Resources: Ky 4-H Foundation, and Jackson County FFA program/volunteers.

Inputs: 4-H Leader and Agent

Date: Summer/Fall


Audience: Producers of farm products, tobacco-dependent farmers, 4H’ers

Project or Activity: Continue to conduct all Phase I projects and expand existing activities with local Phase I Committee

Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and AG Development Committee

Date: Monthly and as-needed basis


Project or Activity: Promote the Jackson County Regional Food Center

Content or Curriculum: ANR agent, 3AJC Committee and local resource people

Date: Throughout the Year


Project or Activity: Education Programs for utilizing new Multi-Purpose AG Facility

Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and 3AJC

Date: Throughout the Year


Project or Activity: Winter meetings with area crop producers

Content or Curriculum: WTA ANR Agents and UK Specialists

Date: February

Project or Activity: On-farm Demonstrations with E KY Beef IRM Program and various crops

Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and UK Specialists

Date: Throughout the Year


Project or Activity: Expand Producers Base for Farmers’ Market

Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and Extension staff

Date: Spring and Summer


Project or Activity: Empowerment Zone Agriculture Projects

Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and Local Resource People

Date: 5 per year


Project or Activity: Educational Programs

Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and Jackson County Cattlemen’s Association implementing programs that benefit all beef producers

Date: Quarterly Meetings


Project or Activity: Plant Distribution Program

Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent

Date: Spring


Project or Activity: Conduct Grafting Workshop and Rootstock Distribution

Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent

Date: March


Project or Activity: Promote Beekeeping and bee educational programs

Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and Dark Honey Producers

Date: Monthly Meetings FEB-OCT and a Spring Meeting


Audience: 4-H Age Youth and adults

Project or Activity: Country Ham Project

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Country Ham Project

Inputs: 4-H Agent/Ag Agent/FCS Agent and Snap-Ed Assistant

Date: Fall/Winter



Success Stories

Social Media for Extension

Author: David Coffey

Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy

During a global pandemic, when in person meetings were not possible and the Jackson County Extension Service was closed to the public, the Jackson County Agriculture Agent and the Jackson County 4H agent worked collaboratively with each other, staff assistants, SNAP assistants, UK Specialists, The Jackson County Agriculture Teacher, KY Fish and Wildlife, and other community partners to create a social media presence to reach clientele. This was done through videos and media created by agents and

Full Story

AI School for Jackson County High School Ag Students

Author: David Coffey

Major Program: Agriculture

On February 4, 2020, the Jackson County Agriculture and Natural Resources agent worked with the Jackson County High School Agriculture teacher to teach a Beef Artificial Insemination Class. The agent obtained six cattle reproductive tracts from a local slaughter facility. These tracts were taken to the Jackson County Highschool, along with several breeding kits and other items needed to artificially breed cattle. Ninety Students in three classes were taught the anatomy of the reproductive system

Full Story

Jackson County 4-H Greenhouse Program

Author: Kim Angel

Major Program: Agriculture

Jackson County 4-H Greenhouse Program

During the 2020 Global Pandemic, a need for the ability to grow food locally was realized.  With a majority of today’s U.S. consumers three to four generations removed from agriculture, many do not have a good level of knowledge about agriculture and food production. Jackson County 4-H partnered with a local farmer and his wife who sell produce at local farmers markets to provide a greenhouse program to Jackson County Youth. Ten attendees gathered at the greenhouse for the first sessi

Full Story

Continued Farm Improvements from Extension Programming

Author: David Coffey

Major Program: Beef

In 2017, the Jackson County Agriculture agent worked with local producers with an Interactive Farm Management program. Producers set goals and evaluated their own operations’ efficiency and management. Since then, several producers have continued to work with extension and evaluate their operation. One farm in particular has improved management and farming practices tremendously. In 2017, the farm consisted of 40 head of straight angus cattle that fed hay 120 days a year, continuous grazed

Full Story

County Agriculture Improvement Program (CAIP)

Author: David Coffey

Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy

The Jackson County Agriculture Agent has worked closely with the Ag Development Council, the CAIP program Administrator, and Producers to have another County Agriculture Improvement Program. This year 108 producers were approved for $1427 each on a 75/25 cost-share program. The agriculture agent worked with producers through CAIP application classes that taught producers how to fill out their applications. Over one third of all applicants attended one of the CAIP application classes. The agricul

Full Story
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