Extension
It Starts With Us
Agriculture Production and Marketing
Improving Agriculture Sustainability
David Coffey, Kim Hornsby
Beef
Agriculture
Local Food Systems
Equine
Jackson County's agriculture industry continues to transition from a tobacco-dependent county. Tobacco has become one small fraction of the total farm income. This has led to a need for producers to consider other farm enterprises if the farm family economy is going to be sustained. Funding through the Phase I portion of the Tobacco Settlement has made an impact in helping producers transition into various farm enterprises. The Jackson County AG Development Council continues to provide funding opportunities that will be available to all farmers and farm families. Along with funding, educating producers in these new areas of production and marketing is essential for success.
Producers make creative use of all farm resources to maximize land use for agriculture production. There will be an expansion of agriculture production opportunities into new areas. Producers develop production and marketing skills for new farm enterprises.
Producers practice basic management techniques and learn to incorporate new ones. Producers make transition from tobacco into other agriculture enterprises. Grow quality produce and market locally and regionally as efforts are made to link local producers with local consumers.
Producers learn about innovative production practices and develop responsible and sustainable attitudes in agriculture enterprises Producers will become aware of new marketing opportunities for farm products.
Initial Outcome: Youth learn about all aspects of livestock
Indicator: Knowledge of livestock
Method: 4-H Livestock Club
Timeline: Spring
Intermediate Outcome: Youth learn how to sell livestock to consumers
Indicator: Number of animals sold
Method: Livestock record keeping
Timeline: Fall/Spring
Initial Outcome: Youth learn about all aspects of equine
Indicator: Knowledge of equine
Method: 4-H Horse Club
Timeline: Spring
Intermediate Outcome: Youth learn how to train and sell equine to consumers
Indicator: Training checklists/number of animals trained
Method: Horse record keeping
Timeline: Fall/Spring
Initial Outcome: Youth learn about different types of soil and drainage needed for specific crops.
Indicator: State 4-H Land Judging Contest Results
Method: Site Test
Timeline: Summer/Fall
Long-Term Outcome: Youth become highly knowledgeable in the adaptation of different soils.
Indicator: National 4-H Land Judging Contest
Method: Site Test
Timeline: Summer/Fall
Long-Term Outcome: Supplemental crop acreages and income opportunities will be available for local producers
Indicator: Increases in crops grown for newly-developed local markets will be noted.
Method: Crop acreage and number of producers participating will be increased.
Timeline: An annual assessment of each crop program will be made.
Audience: 4-H age youth
Project or Activity: Livestock Projects
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Livestock Club kit materials
Inputs: 4-H Agent and Leaders
Date: Fall/Spring
Audience: High School youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Land Judging Project
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Land Judging Publication
Resources: Ky 4-H Foundation, and Jackson County FFA program/volunteers.
Inputs: 4-H Leader and Agent
Date: Summer/Fall
Audience: Producers of farm products, tobacco-dependent farmers, 4H’ers
Project or Activity: Continue to conduct all Phase I projects and expand existing activities with local Phase I Committee
Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and AG Development Committee
Date: Monthly and as-needed basis
Project or Activity: Education Programs for utilizing new Multi-Purpose AG Facility
Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and 3AJC
Date: Throughout the Year
Project or Activity: Winter meetings with area crop producers
Content or Curriculum: WTA ANR Agents and UK Specialists
Date: February
Project or Activity: On-farm Demonstrations with E KY Beef IRM Program and various crops
Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and UK Specialists
Date: Throughout the Year
Project or Activity: Expand Producers Base for Farmers’ Market
Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and Extension staff
Date: Spring and Summer
Project or Activity: Jackson County Cattleman's Association
Content or Curriculum: Educational Meetings about grazing, reproduction, nutrition, and farm management ANR Publications from UK
Inputs: ANR Agent and Extension staff
Date: Spring and Summer
Project or Activity: Educational Programs
Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and Jackson County Cattlemen’s Association implementing programs that benefit all beef producers
Date: Quarterly Meetings
Project or Activity: Plant Distribution Program
Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent
Date: Spring
Project or Activity: Conduct Grafting Workshop and Rootstock Distribution
Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent
Date: March
Project or Activity: Promote Beekeeping and bee educational programs
Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and Dark Honey Producers
Date: Monthly Meetings FEB-OCT and a Spring Meeting
Audience: 4-H Age Youth and adults
Project or Activity: Country Ham Project
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Country Ham Project
Inputs: 4-H Agent/Ag Agent
Date: Fall/Winter
Audience: 4-H Age Youth
Project or Activity: Weanling Project
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Horse Club kit materials
Inputs: 4-H Agent/Ag Agent
Date: Spring
Author: David Coffey
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
The Jackson County Agriculture Agent worked alongside the agriculture development council and the CAIP administrator to help implement a CAIP program in Jackson County. The program approved 108 producers to receive 75% cost share on up to $1900.00. Producers were eligible to invest in 11 different program areas to improve their farms. These projects ranged from superior bulls to hay sheds and fencing. Over $200,000.00 was spent in 2020-2021 by producers to improve agriculture in Jackson County,
Author: Kim Angel
Major Program: Agriculture
Horse packing involves interacting with a horse for a long amount of time, but also preparing for a lengthy trail ride with them. It can consist of packing two horses with gear to camp on the trail for one night or up to a week at a time. Horse packing can lead to potential job opportunities that aren’t widely publicized, especially in other states with large amounts of land with cattle. In 2019, there were 902,900 Agricultural Worker positions in America according to the U.S. Bureau of La
Author: David Coffey
Major Program: Soil testing
In continuation of an existing program, the Jackson county agriculture agent has partnered with the Jackson county soil conservation district to offer free soil testing services once again. In a year like 2022, when fertilizer prices are at record highs, soil testing and correct nutrient application are more important than ever. This year with, in addition to the soil testing services, the Jackson county agriculture agent has offered three programs about fertilizer and soil testing to help produ
Author: David Coffey
Major Program: Agriculture
For the 21-22 school year, the Jackson county agriculture agent has worked with the Jackson County Highschool Agriculture teacher and the Jackson County 4-H agent to do a educating ag students series. This series included artificial insemination, fruit tree grafting, BQCA, and a cattle management workshop and demonstration. Twenty-six high school ag students were taught artificial insemination and learned to pass a breeding rod through a bovine reproductive tract, 32 students were taught to graf
Author: David Coffey
Major Program: Beef
Since 2017, the Jackson County Agriculture agent has been working with a local producer and their beef operation. The producer started without a cattle background and relied heavy on the extension office for guidance. Since 2017, the producer has attended nearly all cattlemen meetings and several educational workshops including but not limited to, Artificial insemination certification, freezer beef boot camp, rotational grazing work shops, and fencing school. This producer has went from starting
