Extension
It Starts With Us
New Agriculture Opportunities
Diversified Agriculture Opportunities
Lindsay Haynes & Madison McAlmond
Local Food Systems
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Nicholas County has traditionally been one of the most tobacco dependent counties in the state, both through history and total county revenue. It is a desperate need to find crops/resources to fill this growing void. The diversification of the agriculture community is the only viable way to combat this issue. Farmers must realize the need to add additional crops to diversify their operations and to keep a consistent flow of income to their operation and to the county.
Create diversified commodities that are sustainable in Nicholas County with markets for them.
Increased acreage of nontraditional crops
Growth in local farmers market with increased customer base
Utilize nontraditional marketing options in the county
Producers investigate marketing options available to them
Increase in microprocessing certificates and farmers market producers
Initial Outcome: Increase in microprocessor certificates
Indicator: Rise in number of microprocessors
Method: Number of participants and graduates
Timeline: Ongoing
Intermediate Outcome: Increased acreage in nontraditional crops
Indicator: Growth in new/nontraditional crops in the county
Method: Census data/farm visits
Timeline: Ongoing
Long-term Outcome: Niche Market Producers
Indicator: Presence of KY Proud Producers in the county
Method: Marketing and presence on KDA website
Timeline: Ongoing
Audience: Nicholas County Residents
Project or Activity: Agriculture Diversification Field Days
Content or Curriculum: Specific diverse crop information
Inputs: UK specialists, collaboration of agents and local organizations (Cattlemen's Asscication, Chamber of Commerce, Community Economic Development)
Date: 2021-2024
Audience: Nicholas County Producers
Project or Activity: Farm Visits
Content or Curriculum: Publications
Inputs: Publications, specialists, diagnostic testing
Date: 2021-2024
Audience: Nicholas County Producers
Project or Activity: Soil samples
Content or Curriculum: Publications
Inputs: Publications, specialists, diagnostic testing
Date: 2021-2024
Audience: Nicholas County Residents
Project or Activity: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up! Recipes
Inputs: Newsletters, recipe cards
Date: 2021 - 2024
Author: Russell Muntifering
Major Program: Horticulture, Commercial
In 2021 a small-scale greenhouse owner/operator in Nicholas County reported some issues with productivity, health and overall appearance of his plants that he attributed without evidence to the municipal water source. He was advised by the UK Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory that his problem was more likely due to elevated soluble-salt concentration in his soilless media resulting from overapplication of Epsom salts. In 2022 he switched his irrigation water source to a rain-fed cistern that a
Author: Russell Muntifering
Major Program: Horticulture, Commercial
A small-scale greenhouse operation in Nicholas County does not have an injection system, and the owner/operator and his family for the past 5 years have been watering and fertilizing out of plastic buckets and empty milk jugs. Their standard liquid-fertilizer mix consists of several commercial products that they had been measuring painstakingly in ounces, teaspoons, tablespoons, etc. of individual product, and then compositing these into a single fertilizer formulation. We have since assisted hi
