Agriculture Production and MarketingPlan of Work

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Jackson County CES

Title:
Agriculture Production and Marketing
MAP:
Improving Agriculture Sustainability
Agents Involved:
David Coffey, Kim Hornsby
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Agriculture
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Equine
Situation:

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.  

Long-Term Outcomes:

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.

Intermediate Outcomes:

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.

Initial Outcomes:


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.
Evaluation:

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.



Learning Opportunities:

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



Success Stories

CAIP

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,

Full Story

4-H Horsepacking Clinic

Author: Kim Angel

Major Program: Agriculture

4-H Horsepacking Clinic

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

Full Story

Fertilizer- Getting the Most For your dollar

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

Full Story

Agriculture Education Series

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

Full Story

Freezer Beef From Local Producer in Local Grocery Story

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

Full Story
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