Extension
It Starts With Us
Agriculture Production and Marketing
Improving Agriculture Sustainability
David Coffey, Kim Hornsby
Beef
Agriculture
Local Food Systems
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
Author: Kim Angel
Major Program: Agriculture
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
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
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
