Horticulture Production PracticesPlan of Work

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Bourbon County CES

Title:
Horticulture Production Practices
MAP:
Horticulture Production and Marketing
Agents Involved:
Tackett, Slusher
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Horticulture, Commercial
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Community Gardens and Horticulture Therapy
Situation:

Numerous local and national surveys and  studies have shown that the demand for locally produced food continues to grow.  Some studies conducted in population centers located close to Bourbon County indicate that local fruit and vegetable production does not even meet current consumer demand.  Local producers need to continually evaluate their operations and production practices in order to efficiently meet the current and future demand for food products. Through direct observation on numerous local  production site visits it has been observed that new and experienced producers could easily expand their existing production capacity by adopting more advanced horticulture production practices (pulse irrigation, fertigation, high tunnel season extension, etc.)  Extension has resources to educate horticulture producers in production, value added opportunities, business planning, and marketing strategies to expand production  for the demand.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Increase in the production of local horticulture products through the use of advanced production practices


Producer sales and/or profits at farmer’s markets, road side stands, and/or community supported agriculture increase.


Maintain or increase economic stability of farm operations.

Intermediate Outcomes:
Initial Outcomes:
Evaluation:

Initial Outcome:

Number of producers reporting increase in awareness of issues noted in 'short term outcomes'

Indicator:

number of producers reporting: growing variety of produce based on market demand,  reviewing/attending programs on extending growing seasons, fertigation, plasticulture, etc.

Method:

end of meeting evaluations, follow up online evaluations, site visits

Timeline:

2021-24


Intermediate Outcome:

number of commercial producers reporting practice changes made in the areas outlined in 'medium term outcomes'

Indicator:

number of producers who: increse usage of plasticulture, drip irrigation, fertigation, season extension structures, advanced production practices

Method: pre/post meting evaluations, 3 month follow up online surveys

Timeline:

2021-24


Long-term Outcome:


Indicator: total increase in production through use of advanced production practices

Method: pre/post meeting evaluations, 6 month meeting follow up surveys, site visits,

Timeline: 2021-2022

Learning Opportunities:

Audience:

Commercial Producers

Project or Activity:

tomato trellising field demonstrations

Content or Curriculum:

Extension 'Florida Weave' trellising publication

Inputs: stakes, twine, etc.

Date: Spring 2022


Audience:

commercial producers

Project or Activity: alternative hort crop mtgs

Content or Curriculum: UK Center for Crop Diversification information

Inputs: Local office resources, UK specialists/research materials

Date: Winter 2021


Audience:

commercial producers

Project or Activity:

season extension techniques

Content or Curriculum:

UK publications

Inputs: Agents time, local Extension Office resources, Specialists/research publications

Date: Spring 2022


Audience:

commercial producers

Project or Activity:

 drip irrigation demonstration

Content or Curriculum:

UK publications

Inputs: drip irrigation supplies

Date: spring 2022


Audience:

commercial producers

Project or Activity:

 insect and disease spray demos

Content or Curriculum:

UK publications/Other Extension publications

Inputs: small scale power spray equipment

Date: spring-summer 2022


Audience:

commercial producers

Project or Activity:

general vegetable productions meeting(s)

Content or Curriculum: UK production publications, Center for Crop Diversification crop profiles

Inputs: Agent time, specialists

Date: Ongoing 2021-24


Audience:

commercial producers

Project or Activity:

 high tunnel production demo

Content or Curriculum:

UK publications

Inputs: irrigation/plant material supplies

Date: fall/winter/spring 2023



Success Stories

Community Gardens

Author: Anthony Tackett

Major Program: Local Food Systems

The Bourbon County Extension Service was fortunate to receive a 2021 Agriculture Mini Grant through the Kentucky 4-H Foundation.   This grant was a $1000 grant that required matching funds.   The Extension Office decided to use these funds to promote gardening among youth and families.  4-H, FCS, Horticulture/Ag and SNAP/NEP partnered in this interdisciplinary program to teach gardening skills, the value of growing your own food, simple food preparation skills, nutrition, the econ

Full Story

Everyday Gardener Webinar Series II

Author: Anthony Tackett

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

Continuing efforts to meet the public desire for horticultural educational classes in the ever-changing climate of the post pandemic world, horticulture agents in 7 counties of Central Region collaborated in the Fall of 2021 to offer the Everyday Gardener Webinar Series once again. The series, taught by agents and specialist, provided educational classes related to horticulture under the fields of: Insects: The Good , the Bad and the Ugly, Wildlife and Woodlands, and Season to Season Horticultur

Full Story

Bourbon County Cooperative Extension Office Open House

Author: Anthony Tackett

Major Program: Local Food Systems

Our mission, to make a difference in the lives of Kentucky citizens through research-based education, is fulfilled daily at the Bourbon County Cooperative Extension office by each of our programmatic areas comprised of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Horticulture, Family and Consumer Science, 4-H Youth Development and SNAP Ed. These programs by themselves provide impactful education to their corresponding clientele and reach further horizons when combined. A group effort was achieved as we we

Full Story

Direct to consumer educational outreach

Author: Anthony Tackett

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

The Bourbon County Extension Service serves local communities through a wide variety of outreach activities.  We continued to face challenges during the past year due to the ongoing COVID-19 related ussies.  Despite these hurdles the Bourbon Extension Office has never been closed and we have continued our work in new and innovative ways to help keep everyone safe.  Outreach efforts continued but, in some cases, looked different this year.   Direct educational field outreach c

Full Story

Bizzy Bee Ag Crop Garden

Author: Anthony Tackett

Major Program: Community Gardens and Horticulture Therapy

Master Gardeners continued to develop new outreach opportunities at the Bizzy Bee community gardens.  The Bizzy Bee urban gardens are located at a local adult day care and retirement center.  The original intent of this project was to act as a therapeutic garden for the residents of the center to provide additional sensory stimulation and physical activity.  The garden has been expanded each of the last several years to include different activities and plantings.  Volunteers

Full Story
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