Strengthening Agriculture Production, Management, and Marketing SkillsPlan of Work

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Oldham County CES

Title:
Strengthening Agriculture Production, Management, and Marketing Skills
MAP:
Strengthening Agriculture Production, Management, and Marketing Skills
Agents Involved:
Traci Missun, Kelly Woods
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Equine
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Forages
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Agriculture
Situation:

Farms make up a little less than half of the land in Oldham County. Farms here include a wide variety of enterprises, including grain crops, livestock, horses, hay and pasture, nurseries, greenhouses, poultry, fish and shellfish. With growth of Farmers Markets and Community Supported Agriculture locations, there has also been growth in vegetable, sheep and poultry production over the last 10 years, according to the 2017 Ag Census. Data gathered in the 2019 Oldham County Assessment shows that county residents are concerned with the need for more farm-related jobs, more market opportunities for farmers and better sustainability of family farms. Residents also believe that there needs to be more awareness and support for agriculture and agribusinesses.

The Oldham County Extension Council and Ag Advisory Councils reviewed county needs and identified Agriculture Production, Business Management and Marketing as top priorities in educational programming. These skills are necessary for producers to be financially viable individually, and to support the county's economy. Production programs also meet the needs of many residents who desire to produce their own food.


Long-Term Outcomes:

Participants will experience long-term viability in farming.

Participants will reduce expenses and/or increase profits of farm operations.

Youth will become agriculturally literate.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Participants will implement recommended production practices to successfully produce food and agriculture products.

Participants will implement recommended forage management practices to increase utilization of forages and reduce dependency on purchased feeds and hay.

Participants will use information about local market opportunities to sell products.

Youth will utilize and practice life skills in agricultural projects, clubs, and life situations.


Initial Outcomes:

Participants will indicate understanding of research-based production practices.

Participants will recognize the importance of forage management practices.

Participants will have increased awareness of innovative marketing opportunities.

Youth will develop valuable life skills, including decision making, critical thinking, and wise use of resources relating to agriculture.


Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Youth will develop valuable life skills, including decision making, critical thinking, and wise use of resources relating to agriculture.

Indicator:  Youth participate in an agriculture related project.
Method: 4-H Common Measure Experience Survey
Timeline: June 2022

 

Initial Outcome:   Participants will indicate understanding of research-based production practices.  Participants will recognize the importance of forage management practices.   Participants will have increased awareness of new marketing opportunities.

Indicator:   Participants self-reporting

Method:  Post-program evaluations (use UK provided evaluations when applicable)

Timeline:  Following completion of programs


Intermediate Outcome: Youth will utilize and practice life skills in agricultural projects, clubs and life situations.

Indicator:  Youth complete agriculture related project.
Method: 4-H Common Measure Experience Survey
 Timeline: June 2022


Intermediate Outcome:   Participants will implement recommended production practices to successfully produce food and agriculture products.   Participants will implement recommended forage management practices to increase utilization of forages and reduce dependency on purchased feeds and hay.  Participants will use information about local market opportunities to sell products.

Indicator:  Producers self-reporting

Method:  Post-program evaluations (use UK provided evaluations when applicable)

Timeline:  3 – 9 months post-program



 Long-term Outcome: Youth will become agriculturally literate.

Indicator: Youth plan and implement an agricultural related project.
Method: 4-H Common Measure Experience Survey
 Timeline:  June 2022


Long-term Outcome:   Producer participants will experience long-term viability in farming.  Participants will reduce expenses and/or increase profits of farm operations.

Indicator:  Producers self-reporting

Method:  Post-program evaluations (use UK provided evaluations when applicable)

Timeline:  3 – 12 months post-program

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 4-H Members age 9 to 18

Project or Activity: Horse Club Educational sessions

Content or Curriculum: Horse Educational Kit, Content identified by 4-H Club

Inputs: 4-H Staff, 4-H Certified Volunteers

Date: July 2021- June 2022

 

Audience: 4-H Members age 9 to 18

Project or Activity: Dog Club Educational sessions

Content or Curriculum: Dog Educational Kit, Content identified by 4-H Club

Inputs: 4-H Staff, 4-H Certified Volunteers

Date: July 2021- Jun 2022

 

Audience: 4-H Members age 9 to 18

Project or Activity: Poultry Club Educational sessions

Content or Curriculum: Poultry Educational Kit, Content identified by 4-H Club

Inputs: 4-H Staff, 4-H Volunteers

Date: July 2021- Jun 2022

 

Audience: 4-H Members age 9 to 18

Project or Activity: Rabbit Club Educational sessions

Content or Curriculum: Rabbit Educational Kit, Content identified by 4-H Club

Inputs: 4-H Staff, 4-H Volunteers

Date: July 2021- Jun 2022

 

Audience: Horse Owners and Farm Managers

Project or Activity: Equine Farm Equipment Field Day

Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Equine and Ag Engineering materials; Equipment Dealers’ Materials

Inputs: Agriculture Agents, UK Horse Specialist, UK Ag Engineer; Local Equipment Businesses

Date: September 2021

 

Audience:  Producers and Consumers

Project or Activity:  Oldham County Ag Connection (Agriculture Education for producers and consumers; concentration on local food, plus all Oldham County Agriculture Activity)

Content or Curriculum:  UK/KSU Extension materials; Producer Stories; Ag Census Data; KY Department of Agriculture resources

Inputs:  Agriculture Agent, Local Producers, Local Experts/Guest Speakers

Date:  Quarterly meetings beginning January 2022

 

Audience:  Livestock/Horse Producers

Project or Activity: Pasture Seeding & Management (Pastures Please)

Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Forages 

Inputs: Agriculture Agent, UK Forage Specialist

Date:  January 2022

 

Audience: Cattle Producers

Project or Activity: Oldham County Cattlemen's Association meetings - all meetings include educational speaker

Content or curriculum: UK Extension and other related agency information

Inputs: Agriculture Agents, UK Specialists, Farm Hosts, Other local experts

Date:  Meets Quarterly 2021-2022

 

Audience: Cattle Producers

Project or Activity: Beef Quality & Care Assurance Certification/Cattle Handling and Care Certification

Content or curriculum: UK Extension materials and videos

Inputs: Agriculture Agent

Date:  July 2021, August 2021, November 2021

 

Audience: Farmers

Project or Activity: Private Pesticide Applicator Training/Certification

Content or curriculum: UK Extension materials

Inputs: Agriculture Agent

Date: January 2022, February 2022, March 2022

 

Audience: Farmers

Project or Activity: Produce Best Practices Training

Content or curriculum: UK Extension materials

Inputs: Agriculture Agent

Date: March 2022

 

Audience: Farmers

Project or Activity: Farmers Market Scale Certification

Content or curriculum: KY Dept of Agriculture Farmers Market Manual

Inputs: Agriculture Agent, KDA Scale Inspector

Date: March 2022




Success Stories

Beef Field Day Provides Continued Learning for Area Cattle Producers

Author: Traci Johnson

Major Program: Beef

Beef Field Day Provides Continued Learning for Area Cattle Producers

Educational programs that strengthen agriculture production skills are a continued priority identified by the Oldham County Extension and Agriculture Councils.   In Oldham County, pasture makes up one-third of available farmland and provides grazing for livestock.   Livestock are important to Oldham County’s economy, with cattle alone representing over 2.6 million dollars in sales in 2017, according to the last Census of Agriculture.  Because of the economic importance of ca

Full Story

Farm Tax Basics Provides Necessary Info to Farmers

Author: Traci Johnson

Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy

Programs that help farmers improve management, production and marketing practices are a continued priority identified by the Oldham County Ag Development Council and Extension Council.  Tax information and other farm business management resources were identified as important needed information to assist new and existing farmers, based on client calls.  The Oldham County Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent partnered with the UK Extension Farm Business Management State Coordinator

Full Story

Horse Club Members Qualify for National Competitions

Author: Kelly Woods

Major Program: Agriculture

Ballardsville High Riders Horse Club in Oldham County provides the opportunity for 4-H members to develop leadership, initiative, self-reliance, sportsmanship and other desirable traits of character. 4-H members enhance their horsemanship knowledge, skills and develop an understanding of the equine business of breeding and training.The changes brought on by 2020 and 2021 did not stop the club from continuing their journey.  The club hosted monthly educational virtual meetings taught by seni

Full Story

Inaugural Equine Equipment Field Day Teaches Fundamentals

Author: Traci Johnson

Major Program: Equine

Inaugural Equine Equipment Field Day Teaches Fundamentals

Ranking 6th in Kentucky, the market value of horses sold in Oldham County was over 6.3 million dollars, according to the 2017 U.S. Agriculture Census.  Horses are a leading business and recreational interest, including many thoroughbred breeding farms, training and boarding operations, layup facilities, and pleasure horses.   During a recent area Master Horseman program, tractor and equipment knowledge was identified as a topic that many horse farm managers and owners needed more infor

Full Story
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