Creating agricultural knowledge and improving agricultural and environmental practices in Hickman CountyPlan of Work

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Hickman County CES

Title:
Creating agricultural knowledge and improving agricultural and environmental practices in Hickman County
MAP:
Improving Agricultural Knowledge and Practices
Agents Involved:
Melissa Goodman, Paula McCuiston, Mattea Mitchell
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Grains
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development
Situation:

In 2017, Hickman County had 246 farm operations on 118,474 acres, which represented 76.0% of total county land. In comparison, Kentucky's farm operations made up 51% of the state's total land area, and U.S. farm operations made up 40% of the total land area in the country. In the year 2017, total crop sales in Hickman County were valued at $56,917,000, whereas the state of Kentucky total was 2.5 billion; total animal sales for Hickman County were valued at $102,692,000, whereas the state of Kentucky total was 3.2 billion.

Grain crop production is facing a downward pressure with severe economic distress (high inputs, low commodity prices, moderate land rent, flooded machinery market) for the foreseeable future. The overall goal is to provide producers with the tools necessary to be profitable and sustainable on their farms. This goal is informed by the Kentucky Extension Community assessment which identified sustainability of family farms, less illegal dumping and littering, and more market opportunities for farmers. 

Many in Hickman County, youth and adults included, are unaware of how agriculture impacts our community. Students are unable to enroll in an agriculture-based course until they elect to do so as a freshman in high school. The overall goal is to increase knowledge of agriculture in the general public. 

It is very important for our population to have an understanding of how daily choices can impact our environment and how important it is to preserve and conserve our natural resources, ensuring a healthy environment for the present and future generations to come. Chemical application at its best is simultaneously safe, effective, economical, and environmentally-conscious. Achieving each of these attributes for plant pest management is an ongoing educational process for a variety of applicator groups, including farm managers and workers, gardeners, crop advisors, ag retail employees, and industry and government agency representatives.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Maximize profits for commercial producers.


Improve the sustainability of crop production systems.


To improve environmental quality in the residential, commercial, and farmland areas in Hickman County.


Improve the sustainability of family farms.


Improved farm economic status.


Creation of new market opportunities for farmers.


Producers save money by making informed selection decisions.


Reduce operating expenses.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Use diagnostic services to identify insects, diseases, and weeds.


Adopt one or more fertility management recommendations.


Producers and residents will implement UK soil tests and recommendations.


Producers will implement recommended practices while applying pesticides.


Implementation of on-farm trials.


Test forage for nutritional quality.


Utilize knowledge to become competitive in the market.


Participate in KBN marketing programs (CPH).

Initial Outcomes:

Awareness of current land grant research concerning grain crop production.


Increased knowledge of upcoming year tax changes and markets.


Identification of IPM practices for grain crop production.


Understanding the importance of and framework of on-farm trials.


Identify herbicide-resistant pests and strategies to overcome these pests.


Knowledge of safety on the farm.


Knowledge and awareness of food sources and ag production in youth.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Knowledge of safety on the farm.

Indicator: Children show a better knowledge of safety on the farm.

Method: Self Reports & Observation

Timeline: Fall 2020


Intermediate Outcome: Maximize profits for commercial producers & Improve the sustainability of crop production systems

Indicator: 50% of participants will indicate knowledge increase

Method: Post Program Evaluation

Timeline: February 2021


Long-Term Outcome: Producers save money by making informed selection decisions

Indicator: 50% of participants will indicate knowledge increase

Method: Post Program Evaluation

Timeline: Winter 2020-2021


Initial Outcome: Increased knowledge of upcoming year tax changes and markets

Indicator: Participants will utilize the Purchase Farm Analysis Groups information, as well as UK AG econ info.

Method: Communication with Farm Analysis Group and UK Ag Economist

Timeline: December 2020


Intermediate Outcome: Better production and marketing of producers products.

Indicator: Producers will utilize resources provided by Ag Extension Agent.

Method: In-person Visits

Timeline: 2020-2021


Long-Term Outcome: Hickman County will continue to strive towards a safe/clean environment.

Indicator: Number of hits on social media campaigns.

Method: Social Media Insights

Timeline: 2020-2021 Program Year


Intermediate Outcome: Producers will implement recommended practices while applying pesticides.

Indicator: Less damage to residential areas.

Method: Observation and Client Feedback

Timeline: 2020 Crop Year


Initial Outcome: Youth gain knowledge of ag production and food sources. 

Indicator: Students can identify sources of food and basic agricultural knowledge.

Method: Communication with students and program evaluations

Timeline: 2020-2021 Program Year


Long-term Outcome: Producers are able to utilize new market opportunities.

Indicator: New markets flourish and producers utilize new opportunities.

Method: Communication with producers and local businesses.

Timeline: 2020-2021 Program Year


Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Pre-K – 6th Grade

Project or Activity: AG Farm Safety Day

Content or Curriculum: UK Educational Materials, Various Farm Safety Materials

Inputs: Extension Staff, Hickman County FFA Advisor and Members, Fire and Rescue, Ambulance Service, Gibson Electric, River Valley Ag Credit, Hickman County Farm Bureau, Various Hickman County Farmers

Date: Fall 2020


Audience: 1st - 3rd Grade

Project or Activity: Food Group

Content or Curriculum: UK Educational Materials (Agriculture, 4-H, SNAP-Ed, MyPlate, FCS)

Inputs: Extension Staff

Date: Fall 2020


Audience: 4th - 6th Grade

Project or Activity: Jr. Chef

Content or Curriculum: UK Educational Materials (Agriculture, 4-H, SNAP-Ed, MyPlate, FCS)

Inputs: Extension Staff

Date: Fall 2020


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Environmental Day Camp

Content or Curriculum: Various 4-H Environmental Curricula

Inputs: Forestry Department, Soil and conservation, KY Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Extension Staff,  Teen and Adult Volunteers, Program Council, local landowners

Date: Summer 2020


Audience: Purchase Area Cattlemen

Project or Activity: Beef Field Day

Content or Curriculum: Supplied by UK Beef Specialist

Inputs: Ag Agent, Young Farmer Advisor, Purchase Area Cattlemen's Association, and Local Sponsors

Date: Summer 2021


Audience: Adult Farm Women and/or Female Landowners

Project or Activity: Women in Agriculture

Content or Curriculum: Issues Affecting Women in Agriculture

Inputs: Four River Counts Extension Ag/FCS Staff, Local Financial Institutions, Commodity Boards, Program Volunteers, Extension Homemakers

Date: Fall 2020


Audience: Beef Producers

Project or Activity: Annual Beef Production Meeting

Content or Curriculum: Murray State University Agriculture Science Professor

Inputs: Ag Agent, Young Farmer Advisors, Local Ag Retailers, Murray State Professors

Date: March 2021


Audience: Hickman County Row Crop Producers

Project or Activity: Early Winter Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Supplied from Ag Agent

Inputs: Ag Agent, Local Banks, Financial Management Representative or Ag Economics Specialist

Date: December 2020


Audience: Purchase Area Grain Crop Producers

Project or Activity: Winter Ag Conference

Content or Curriculum: Supplied from Agents

Inputs: Ag Extension Agents, Young Farmer Advisors, Local Ag Retailers

Date: February 2021


Audience: Hickman/Fulton Grain Crop Producers

Project or Activity: Variety Trials

Content or Curriculum: University of Tennessee Grain Crops

Inputs: Ag Extension Agents (Hickman/Fulton), UT Grain Crop/Variety Trials Specialist, Local Producers

Date: 2020 Crop Year 


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Keep Hickman County Clean

Content or Curriculum: Project Land / Supplied by Agents

Inputs: Leader in Me Programming, Extension Agents, School Faculty, Community Volunteers

Date: 2020-2021 School Year


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Pesticide Certifications

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Department of Agriculture Materials, Record-Keeping Books

Inputs: Ag Agent, Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Date: January-March 2021


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Home/Farm Visits

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Department of Agriculture Materials, University of Kentucky Publications

Inputs: Ag Agent, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, UK Specialist

Date: 2020-2021 Program Year


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Soil Testing

Content or Curriculum: General UK Ag Publications

Inputs: Ag Agent, UK Specialist, UK Ag Publications (Lime & Nutrient Recommendations)

Date: 2020-2021


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Newspaper and Newsletter Articles

Content or Curriculum: University of Kentucky Programming

Inputs: Ag Extension Agent, UK Research Information, eXtension Resources

Date: 2020-2021


Audience: Four River County Producers, General Public

Project or Activity: WAVE Ag Initiative

Content or Curriculum: Created by WAVE Ag Committee and Ag Agents

Inputs: Ag Extension Agents, Local Government, Local Ag Businesses, Local Financial Institutions, Murray State University, West Kentucky Community and Technical College, Local school districts

Date: 2020-2021 Program Year



Success Stories

Hatching Chicks

Author: Paula McCuiston

Major Program: Agriculture

Hickman County 4-H went into the fourth-grade classrooms to provide classroom enrichment with the Chick Incubation/Embryology program this year. This attempt was tried last year but after only a week, schools were dismissed for remote learning because of Covid-19 and I had to take the incubator home and finish hatching the chics, (in my living room!).  Teachers were very excited to add enrichment to their curriculum by enhancing their life cycle curriculum and bring agriculture into the cla

Full Story
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