Agriculture Production, Management, and Environment
Agriculture Production, Management, and Environment
Hardy, Heisdorffer
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Grains
Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development
Equity in farm business has been on a path of decline since approximately 2014, as net revenues have fallen due to inventory supply expansion and demand destruction related to trade policy and COVID-19-induced economic recession. Rapid increase in farmland values have leveled from the 2006 to 2013 period, while at the same time, revenues from grain and livestock receipts have declined, forcing many to acquire farm operating loans based on collateral rather than cash flow lending standards, further eroding equity in their land holdings. COVID-19 has arrived to bring further trouble to the agricultural economy. Restrictions on travel have reduced motor vehicle travel and subsequent ethanol consumption, the sink for nearly 40% of the U.S. corn crop, during a period when South America is capitalizing on Chinese agricultural tariffs of imported agricultural commodities from the United States. In the past two years, nearly 20% of net farm income has been comprised of government subsidies. This non-recurring income has kept farms going but has become essential for survival, rather than the safety net as designed. Continuation or curtailing quantitative easing could be how the future of some businesses are determined.
In 2018 the National Gardening Survey indicated that 77% of American households garden in some way. Recent trends indicate that more and more Americans are growing their own food (35% of households), while interests in ornamentals remains high, particularly in the area of gardening to support pollinators and other ecological uses of plants. American gardeners will continue to look to Cooperative Extension for specific answers to their gardening questions while protecting the environment
Maintain or increase ag profit or reduce expense and/or risk
Minimize environmental impact
Sustain family farms
Minimize environmental impact by following recommended use of pesticides, herbicides, and/or fertilizers
Implement one or more best practices
Practice one or more recommendations
Make decisions based on Extension information
Evaluate their home or farm operation to determine which recommendations are appropriate
ROI
Use Integrated Pest Management practices
Observe best practices related to production and financial management
Identify three practices to protect environment, such as water, chemicals, or pollinators
Increase their knowledge of horticulture and best practices in soil health, water conservation, chemical use, plant selection for pollinators, selection of trees, and maintenance of the landscape
Recognize the value of diagnostic testing
Gain knowledge of native plants
Initial Outcome: Participants will identify what is required to attract pollinators and butters.
Indicator: Number of people who can list 2 requirements to attract pollinators and butters.
Method: Self-reporting survey after meeting
Timeline: Summer-Fall 2021 and Late Spring 2022
Intermediate Outcome: People will use Extension information to maintain gardens properly
Indicator: Number of people using Extension information to maintain gardens properly
Method: Follow up self-reporting survey
Timeline: July-October 2021 and March-June 2022
Long-term Outcome: Maintain or increase ag profit or reduce expense and/or risk
Indicator: Financial reporting
Method: Observation of KFBM summaries
Timeline: Summer 2022
Audience: Newspaper and Newsletter Audience and Gardeners
Project or Activity: Best Management Practices to Protect the Environment, such as: Rain gardens, IPM, and protecting pollinators
Content or Curriculum: Extension publications
Inputs: Agent, Extension Master Gardeners
Date: July-December 2021 and January-June 2022
Audience: Grain Farm Business Managers
Project or Activity: Ag Expo
Content or Curriculum: Research-based discussion of production challenges
Inputs: Extension Specialists and Curriculum
Date: January 2022
Audience: Beef Farm Business Managers
Project or Activity: CPH 45 Feeder Calf Marketing
Content or Curriculum: Beef IRM committee recommendations
Inputs: Extension Specialists and Local Sale Committee
Date: 2021/2022
Audience: Agronomists, Seed Dealers, Grain Producers
Project or Activity: Daviess County Grain Research and Demonstration Plots
Content or Curriculum: Provide unbiased data supporting the efficacy of seed brands promoted in our area
Inputs: Seed companies and local plot planning committee
Date: 2022
Audience: Gardeners, General Public
Project or Activity: Vegetable Gardening
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
Inputs: Agent, Extension Master Gardeners
Date: July-October 2021 and February-June 2022
Audience: Gardeners, General Public
Project or Activity: Attracting Pollinators and Butterflies
Content or Curriculum: Extension Publications
Inputs: Agent, Extension Master Gardeners
Date: July - September 2021 and March 2022
Audience: Gardeners, General Public
Project or Activity: Advanced Gardening Topics
Content or Curriculum: Extension Publications including Extension Master Gardener Manual
Inputs: Agent, Extension Specialists
Date: 2021/2022
Author: Clinton Hardy
Major Program: Chemical Management
Nearly 16 million dollars are invested annually on pesticides applied to Daviess County corn and soybean land for control of insects, weeds, and disease. In addition to the decision of how to most effectively utilize pesticide resources for the greatest return on investment, farms must include employee and personal protection, environmental stewardship, and nearby sensitive area considerations in their pesticide management decisions. Above all, the seasonality of outdoor activity lim
Author: Clinton Hardy
Major Program: Pest ID
Grain production is the primary agricultural enterprise in Daviess County encompassing more than 150,000 acres annually; nearly half the land surface of the county. An important task assigned to farmers, production salespeople, extension agents, and agronomists each growing season is the evaluation of growing crops for pest control issues related to insect, disease, and weed problems. Crop evaluation of these occurrences requires time, training, and knowledge. Most non-farm cr
Author: Clinton Hardy
Major Program: Grains
Land utilized for corn and soybean production comprises approximately 148,000 acres, nearly 50%, of Daviess County’s land surface. Combined, their gross value annually meets or exceeds 200 million dollars. The Daviess County Extension grain variety demonstration plots for corn and soybeans are the most trusted and relied upon source of data chosen by farmers and landowners when selecting brands to plant on their farms. Major regional and national seed suppliers contact th
Author: Annette Heisdorffer
Major Program: Master Gardener
Extension Master Gardener volunteers play a vital role in the outreach of the Cooperative Extension Service into the community. They seek opportunities to fulfill their goal of helping others through sharing science-based gardening knowledge gained through this extension program taught by the horticulture agent in Daviess County. A total of 50 Extension Master Gardeners reported that they volunteered 3,393 hours toward educational projects involving horticulture in the community this
Author: Annette Heisdorffer
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Due to the pandemic, a different way to reach people with local science-based gardening information was needed. Therefore, a partnership between the Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service and the Daviess County Public Library was developed. Gardening programs were presented by the horticulture agent through PowerPoint during Facebook Live and recorded by the library. During the second year of the partnership, eight presentations were delivered on topics such as Dividing Perennials;
Author: Annette Heisdorffer
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Horticulture Webinar Wednesday virtual programming was developed by Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service Agents for Horticulture Education in March of 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic to reach citizens of the Commonwealth. The Daviess County Horticulture Agent serves as one of those team members. Webinars were presented live through the virtual format of Zoom on Wednesdays and recorded. The format includes a question-and-answer period after the live presentati