Crop production, Livestock production, & Sustainable AgriculturePlan of Work

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Barren County CES

Title:
Crop production, Livestock production, & Sustainable Agriculture
MAP:
Sustainable & Profitable Crop & Livestock Production
Agents Involved:
Schalk, Tarry, Drake
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Chemical Management
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Grains
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Agriculture
Situation:

Barren County has traditionally led the region in diverse agriculture production. Producers utilizing these practices help to enhance their profitability & promote sustainability. Forages, grain crops, & tobacco continue to be in place on many Barren County farms. Dairy, beef, poultry, small ruminants, and horses are staples in many operations. Producers continue to be charged with producing commodities in an environmental sustainable manner.


 

Long-Term Outcomes:

-Diversify operations to meet the changing ag products needs

-Efficient use of crop protectants

-Increased producer profits in ag enterprises

-Increase overall efficiency in livestock, grain & forage operations

Intermediate Outcomes:

-Supply new/beginning farmers with skill set to manage farming enterprises

-Implement the use of decision making tools for crop & livestock production

-Convert used/unleased grain crop land back to improved permanent pasture/hay ground

-Maintain high standards and husbandry practices for beef and small ruminant operations

-Increase awareness of manure management and water quality improvement

-Develop unique marketing options for producers

Initial Outcomes:

-Equip producers to reduce risk and get a handle on cost of production

-Develop necessary skill sets

-Provide programs to improve soil health and sustainability

-Realize diversification within livestock enterprises

 


Evaluation:

Long-term Outcome: Evaluate increased number of producers shown to utilize improved management practices in their crop production

Indicator: Note the number of producers utilizing product usage and purchasing habits in their farm management practices

Method: Surveys, farm visits, evaluations

Timeline: July-June


Intermediate Outcome: : Evaluate the effectiveness of marketing hay through tri county hay auction

Indicator: type, quality & price per unit

Method: Survey local farmers who are selling in sale

Timeline: Seasonal, by crop


Initial Outcome: Evaluate changes in grain producers risk management plans

Indicator: Note changes in grain crops producers who attended programming

Method: Farm visits, 1 on 1 interviews, survey

Timeline: after harvest season

Learning Opportunities:

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:

Audience: Tobacco Producers

Project or Activity: Tobacco GAP

Content or Curriculum: UK CAFÉ & GAP Connections

Inputs: GAP materials, specialist(s), GAP connections, US Dept of Labor

Date: Spring


Audience: Crop Producers

Project or Activity: Chemical Management Training

Content or Curriculum: Private Pesticide Training, Specialists

Inputs: UK Specialists, videos, field days

Date: Winter and early Spring


Audience: Animal Commodity Groups

Project or Activity: Monthly meetings

Content or Curriculum: forages, nutrition, health, marketing, management

Inputs: CAFÉ resources, UK & KSU specialists, SRPS

Date: July through June


Audience: Producers & Citizens Interested in Agriculture

Project or Activity: Get the Scoop radio show on WGGC

Content or Curriculum: Timely topics on production, safety, & new technology.

Inputs: Agents, CAFÉ resources, & UK specialists

Date: July through June


Audience: Forage Producers

Project or Activity: Producing profitable forage

Content or Curriculum: Forage best management practices

Inputs: Agents, UK specialists

Date: Fall and Winter


Audience: 4-H Youth Interested in Agriculture

Project or Activity: 4-H projects in horses, dairy, livestock, natural resources, & plant & soil sciences

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Core Curriculum & National 4-H project curriculum

Inputs: CAFÉ resources, UK specialists, 4-H specialists

Date: July through June




Success Stories

Mammoth Cave Small Ruminant Digital Short Course

Author: Christopher Schalk

Major Program: Small Ruminants (includes sheep, goats) and Exotic animals

Mammoth Cave Area Agriculture Agents noticed an increase in small ruminant producers and the production of small ruminants growing in popularity.  It is also noted that many new small ruminant producers may very well be new to agriculture production and farming in general.    The need to bring research based education to new small ruminant producers is further driven by the tendency for new producers to utilize the internet as their sole resource for gaining information.  The

Full Story

Mammoth Cave Area Tobacco GAP

Author: Christopher Schalk

Major Program: Tobacco

The Mammoth Cave Area has historically been at the top in tobacco production in KY.  Agents from Allen, Barren, Hart, Metcalfe and Monroe Counties cooperated to host a regional Tobacco GAP Training.  Tobacco GAP trainings are mandatory yearly trainings required by the major tobacco purchasing companies.  Extension is charged with hosting and facilitating these very important trainings.  Growers who do not receive the annual training run the risk of not being able to market th

Full Story

Get the Scoop Radio Show

Author: Christopher Schalk

Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy

Finding new ways to reach new Extension clients is always a struggle for agents.  Answering the question, “where do folks get their information?” is a tough one.  In 2016 Extension agents began a daily radio show on WGGC.  WGGC is a 100,000-watt FM radio station in Bowling Green, KY.   The show airs each weekday morning at 5:00AM and is the start of the station’s daily programming.  The Get the Scoop radio show has gained in popularity with listeners an

Full Story

Hay & Straw Auction is Back!

Author: Christopher Schalk

Major Program: Forages

Covid-19 caused the cancellation of the 2021 Tri-County Hay & Straw Auction.  The auction returned in 2022, and to the delight of all those involved the event picked right up where it had left off.  Buyers and sellers alike were glad to see the event bring together forage producers with forage buyers. Even in early 2022, producers began to see that the cost of production in the upcoming growing season was going to be significantly higher than 2021.  Cost savvy livestock produc

Full Story
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