Commercial and Home Horticulture ProductionPlan of Work

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Carroll County CES

Title:
Commercial and Home Horticulture Production
MAP:
Agriculture Enhancement and Sustainability
Agents Involved:
Christin Herbst, Joyce Doyle, Cathy Jansen
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Horticulture, Commercial
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Agriculture
Situation:

According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, Carroll County has 308 farms consisting of 50,908 total acres (58.06% of the total county acreage).  The market value of products sold was reported to be $5,811,000.   Crop sales contributed 57.63% ($3,349,000) of the total value.  Approximately $1,281,000 of those crop sales are a result of nursery and greenhouse crops.

The National Agriculture Statistic Service (NASS) reports the following farms and acreage (if available) in horticulture production:

Vegetables:     12 farms (18 acres)

Fruits:              8 farms (8 acres)

Berries:            2 farms

Horticulture production is an important element of agriculture production in Carroll County, as it has been another opportunity to diversify from traditional crop and livestock production.  Managing this area of production correctly is essential to the success of other production systems in the county, as well as environmental protection.

A 2018 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.

According to Carroll County’s ES-237 only 26 % of students live on a farm.  With that being said, it would be obvious that these students would need to be taught where there food comes from and the impact that agriculture has on his/her daily life.

Agriculture representatives of the County Extension Council, County Agricultural Development Council, and Riverview Farmers’ Market, as well as day-to-day clientele, have identified best management practices, agriculture awareness, and marketing as priorities for Extension programming in Commercial and Home Horticulture Production.

Long-Term Outcomes:
Intermediate Outcomes:
Initial Outcomes:
Evaluation:

Outcome:  

Long term

Indicator:

Increase in horticulture crop cash receipts.   Increase in the number of consumers of the Riverview Farmers Market.  Increase in redemption rates for Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SrFMNP) and Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP).

Method:

NASS information from the Kentucky Field Office—County summary given for each year. Surveys of the members of the Riverview Farmers Market. Yearly county SrFMNP and FMNP redemption reports from Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

Timeline:

2 – 4 years


Outcome:

Intermediate

Indicator:

Increased use of Extension diagnostic services.   Feedback from Riverview Farmers’ Market members.  Increase in the number of Carroll County youth who demonstrated a skill that was learned or improved by participating in 4-H agriculture programming.           

Method:

Record of diagnostic services requested.  Surveys of Riverview Farmers’ Market members. 4-H Common Measures Experience Survey.

Timeline:

1 – 2 years


Outcome:

Initial

Indicator:

Increased participation in educational workshops and classes.

Method:

Attendance Sheets

Timeline:

6 months – 2 years

Learning Opportunities:

Audience:

Carroll County Horticulture Producers

Activity:

Commercial Horticulture Production Meetings

Content or Curriculum:

Focus on the production techniques of horticulture crops seen in the Farmers Market (tomatoes, leafy greens, brambles, etc.).   Also include more involved crops (grapes, fruit trees, etc.) and marketing-related classes.

Inputs:

Extension Agent, Staff Assistant, Extension resources (publications, factsheets, etc.), Equipment (Soil probes, etc.), Time

Date:

Fall 2020

Spring/Fall 2021

Spring/Fall 2022

Spring/Fall 2023

Spring 2024


Audience:

Carroll County Home Horticulture Producers

Activity:

Home Horticulture Production Meetings

Content or Curriculum:

Focus on the production techniques of home horticulture crops and landscaping

Inputs:

Extension Agent, Staff Assistant, Extension resources (publications, factsheets, etc.), Equipment (Soil probes, etc.), Time

Date:

Fall 2020

Spring/Fall 2021

Spring/Fall 2022

Spring/Fall 2023

Spring 2024


Audience:

Carroll County Horticulture Producers, Carroll County Consumers

Activity:

First Fridays

Content or Curriculum:

Plate It Up! recipes and materials, Demonstrations with fresh produce

Inputs:

Extension Agent, Staff Assistant, Riverview Farmer’s Market members, Carroll County Extension Homemakers, Extension resources (publications, factsheets, etc.), SNAP-Ed Incentives, Farmers Market Toolkit, Equipment (Soil probes, etc.), Time, Money

Date:

July/August/September 2020

June/July/August/September 2021

June/July/August/September 2022

June/July/August/September 2023

June 2024


Audience:

Carroll County Horticulture Producers, Carroll County Consumers

Activity:

Farmer’s Market Demonstrations and Sampling

Content or Curriculum:

Demonstrations held during Farmers Market hours, working with fresh produce

Inputs:

Extension Agent, Staff Assistant, Riverview Farmer’s Market members, Carroll County Extension Homemakers, Extension resources (publications, factsheets, etc.), SNAP-Ed Incentives, Farmers Market Toolkit, Equipment (Soil probes, etc.), Time, Money

Date:

Summer 2020-2024


Audience:

Carroll County Horticulture Producers

Activity:

Produce Best Practices Training (PBPT)

Content or Curriculum:

PBPT PowerPoint and Materials

Inputs:

Extension Agent, UK Specialists, Extension resources (publications, factsheets, etc.), Time

Date:

Spring 2021/2022/2023/2024, as needed with new producers


Audience:

Carroll County Horticulture Producers, Carroll County Consumers

Activity:

Farm to Table Dinner

Content or Curriculum:

Spotlight and raise awareness of Riverview Farmers’ Market

Inputs:

Extension Agent, Staff Assistant, Riverview Farmer’s Market members, Time, Money

Date:

July 2021

July 2022

July 2023


Audience:

Carroll County Horticulture Producers, Carroll County Consumers

Activity:

Educational Material (Publications, etc.) Made Available

Content or Curriculum:

Recipes, handling procedures, etc.

Inputs:

Extension Agent, Staff Assistant, Extension Specialists, Extension resources (publications, factsheets, etc.), Time

Date:

All throughout the year


Audience:

Carroll County 4-H Youth (Ages 5-19)

Activity:

Creating Desert Dishes, Terrariums, Hanging Baskets, Herbs

Content or Curriculum:

UK Publications

Inputs:

Extension Agent, Staff Assistant, Carroll County Volunteers, Extension resources (publications, factsheets, etc.), Time, Money

Date:

May 22, 2021

May 21, 2022

May 20, 2023

May 25, 2024


Audience:

Carroll County 4-H Youth (Ages 5-19)

Activity:

Creating a Pollination Garden and Vegetables Gardens

Content or Curriculum:

UK Publications, UK Bee Ambassador Program

Inputs:

Extension Agent, Staff Assistant, Carroll County Volunteers, UK Specialists, Extension resources (publications, factsheets, etc.), Time, Money

Date:

Fall 2020 – Spring 2024


Audience:

Carroll County Horticulture Producers, Carroll County Consumers

Activity:

Development of the Horticulture Portion of the County Website

Content or Curriculum:

Online information pertaining to horticulture production

Inputs:

Extension Agent, Staff Assistant, Extension Specialists, Extension resources (publications, factsheets, etc.), Time

Date:

All throughout the year



Success Stories

Getting off to a hopeful start with paperwhites

Author: Thomas Mann

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

As the new agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) in Carroll County, I wanted to find a way to introduce myself to community members and express my gratitude for what had been a warm welcome to the county.  Additionally, I hoped to advertise the fact that the once-vacant ANR position had been filled.  To address those goals, I arranged a giveaway of paperwhite narcissus bulbs.   Paperwhites are traditionally forced to bloom during the holiday season because—unlike

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