Extension
It Starts With Us
Creating agricultural knowledge and improving agricultural and environmental practices in Hickman County
Improving Agricultural Knowledge and Practices
Melissa Goodman, Paula McCuiston, Mattea Mitchell
Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
Grains
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development
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.
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.
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).
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.
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
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
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
