Sustainable FarmingPlan of Work

Back to Plans for the County

Johnson County CES

Title:
Sustainable Farming
MAP:
Agricultural Production
Agents Involved:
Jeffiers, Cockerham
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Home & Consumer Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Commercial Horticulture
Situation:
With tobacco no longer a significant crop in the county, farms have had to expand other areas of operation or grow into new ones. Most farms were previously used for cattle as well as tobacco, so many of these have chosen to increase their beef production. Others have moved into vegetables and goats. Still other farms have organized under new owners since the end of tobacco, and these operations are taking on vegetables, fruits, bees, goats, and poultry. Because these farms are smaller and unable to break into wholesale markets, they are identifying local outlets for their products and working to maximize the income potential from their particular mix of marketing techniques. This has been a recurring theme of council discussions as farmers have considered how to develop opportunities for the next generation of producers.
Long-Term Outcomes:

Agritourism destinations draw visitors from a large area and provide economic opportunity.

Produce, meats, honey, and eggs are marketed profitably to local customers.

Farms are environmentally sustainable.

Commodity groups create strong markets for local products.

Livestock are healthy and efficient.


Intermediate Outcomes:

Agritourism destinations are developed and opened for business with sound marketing plans.

Produce, meats, honey, and eggs are produced by local farmers, yielding quality, safe products.

Livestock producers use proper health, reproduction, and feeding techniques.

Commodity groups organize, meet, and develop plans for their businesses.

Youth apply knowledge gained of home gardening/greenhousing practices and healthy nutrition information and would be able to produce their own vegetable and fruits.

Initial Outcomes:

Farmers learn about agritourism as an opportunity, and some producers choose to investigate further.

Farmers know how to produce quality fruits, vegetables, eggs, and meat.

Farmers understand market options for their products.

Commodity growers learn about the benefits of organizing groups and begin to form them.

Farmers understand proper health, reproduction, and feeding techniques.

Youth gain knowledge about home gardening and healthy nutrition .

Evaluation:

Long-term Outcome: Agritourism destinations draw visitors from a large area and provide economic opportunity.

Indicator: Number of visitors and their origin and approximate spending

Method: Survey of producers’ info on visitors and revenues from agritourism

Timeline: Annually


Intermediate Outcome: Agritourism destinations are developed and opened for business with sound marketing plans.

Indicator: Number of operational businesses in the county and how many have business plans.

Method: Survey of producers

Timeline: Annually


Initial Outcome: Farmers learn about agritourism as an opportunity, and some producers choose to investigate further

Indicator: Participation in educational sessions and the number of businesses who engage in new ideas discussed at planning meetings or with agents

Method: Survey of attendees

Timeline: 2017-2020


Long-term Outcome: Produce, meats, honey, and eggs are marketed profitably to local customers.

Indicator: Farmers report profitable efforts through local markets.

Method: Farm visits & individual consultations

Timeline: 2019


Intermediate Outcome: Producers market their goods locally.

Indicator: Number of producers reporting use of local marketing outlets

Method: Farm visits, producer meetings

Timeline: 2018


Initial Outcome: Producers learn about marketing opportunities and production methods.

Indicator: Number of people reporting aspirations to sell locally.

Method: Post-program surveys

Timeline: Annually


Long-term Outcome: Farms are environmentally sustainable.

Indicator: Groundwater quality is improved and erosion is reduced.

Method: USGS and NRCS information

Timeline: Beyond 2020


Intermediate Outcome: Farmers undertake more environmentally-friendly practices.

Indicator: Farmers exhibit appropriate environmental steps on their farms.

Method: Farm visits, individual consultations

Timeline: 2018-2020


Initial Outcome: Farmers understand sustainability and express an interest in achieving it.

Indicator: Number of people reporting attitudes favoring better environmental practices.

Method: Post-program surveys

Timeline: Annually


Long-term Outcome: Commodity groups create strong markets for local products.

Indicator: Local products are sold in a large geographic area using a variety of marketing techniques.

Method: Grower feedback

Timeline: Beyond 2020


Intermediate Outcome: Commodity groups create plans for marketing products.

Indicator: Number of groups assembling new market strategies.

Method: Group reporting

Timeline: 2018-2020


Initial Outcome: Commodity groups organize and begin meeting.

Indicator: Number of groups organized in the county

Method: Farmer reporting & visits

Timeline: 2017-2020


Long-term outcome: Livestock are healthy and efficient.

Indicator: Farmer reports of death loss, identification methods, and reproductive efficiency.

Method: Farmer reporting & visits

Timeline: 2018-2020


Intermediate outcome: Livestock producers use proper health, reproduction, and feeding techniques.

Indicator: Farmer reports of practices.

Method: Farmer feedback during visits

Timeline: 2017-2020


Intermediate Outcome: 

Youth apply knowledge gained of home gardening/greenhousing practices and healthy nutrition information and would be able to produce their own vegetable and fruits.

Indicator: Number of youth attending follow up gardening sessions and reporting continued gardening practices. 

Method: Continuing 4-H Gardening workshops.

Timeline: Feb - May 2016-2020 as requested by clients

Initial outcome: Farmers understand proper health, reproduction, and feeding techniques.

Initial Outcome: Youth gain knowledge about home gardening and healthy nutrition.

Indicator: Number of youth attending gardening workshops

Method: Beginning 4-H  Gardening workshops

Learning Opportunities:

Program Codes and Major Programs: 1011, 1021, 1031, 1051

Curriculum: Agritourism, Master Cattleman, Good Agricultural Practices, safe egg handling, fruit grafting, UK bull standards


Audience: Egg producers

Project or Activity: Safe egg handling workshops

Content or Curriculum: UK animal science curriculum

Inputs: Extension staff & facilities, farmers’ market materials, CAIP funds

Date: Annually


Audience: Beef producers

Project or Activity: Reproductive management

Content or Curriculum: Bull testing & heifer pregnancy checks

Inputs: Local veterinarian, Morehead State vet science students, farm facilities

Date: Annually


Audience: Vegetable producers

Project or Activity: Production meetings

Content or Curriculum: UK research on varieties, pest control, and management

Inputs: Test plots, CAIP funds

Date: 2017-2020


Audience: Apple producers

Project or Activity: Grafting workshop

Content or Curriculum: UK grafting techniques

Inputs: UK scion wood, rootstock, producers, CAIP funds

Date: Annually


Audience: Beekeepers

Project or Activity: Monthly workshops

Content or curriculum: KSU & UK research; state apiarist; private firms; KSBA

Inputs: County beekeeping equipment & facilities, CAIP funds

Date: Annually


Audience: Potential and existing agritourism sites

Project or Activity: Agritourism development programs

Content or Curriculum: UK research, councils, and committees

Inputs: CAIP funds, local farms


Audience: Commodity groups

Project or Activity: Developing cooperatives and other commodity groups

Content or Curriculum: UK Ag Econ guidelines

Inputs: Extension staff, CAIP funds


Audience: Youth ages 4th-6th grade

Project or Activity: Seeds, Sprouts and Seedlings

Content: 4HCCS and Gardening Curriculum

Input: Extension Staff, School personnel,volunteers and community donors



Success Stories

Extension Helps Establishment of New Agritourism Destination

Author: Brian Jeffiers

Major Program: Agritourism Planning

Farm income can often be enhanced with value-added enterprises. Agritourism has become a leading option for farmers looking to achieve this goal. When one Johnson County farmers' market vendor felt that he could make more money than his vegetable crops were providing, he met with the County Extension Agent to discuss developing a pumpkin patch as a tourism site. Over the next year, they planned marketing and production. Now into its second year of operation, One of A Kind Pumpkin Patch

Full Story

Farmers Learn Techniques for Combatting Black Vultures

Author: Brian Jeffiers

Major Program: Beef

One of the greatest threats to newborn calves is black vultures. These predatory birds are becoming more problematic in the state, attacking vulnerable animals and killing them or injuring them so severely that they must be euthanized. Members of the Johnson Co. Agricultural Advancement Council listed black vultures as a topic of concern for beef producers,Because black vultures are a federally-protected species, there is a complicated process to receive a permit to kill them.Members of the John

Full Story

Extension Program Convinces Cattle Producers Adopt New Mineral Formulation

Author: Brian Jeffiers

Major Program: Beef

Appropriate levels of dietary minerals such as zinc, selenium, and copper are essential for cattle to maintain good immune health and to remain productive. For several years, the Carter County Cooperative Extension Service has collected a group order for mineral mixed according to the University of Kentucky's Integrated Resource Management standards. This allows producers to get a UK-approved product at a better price than they could get individually. The Northeast Livestock Association, Eas

Full Story

4-H Grows Here

Author: Dianna Reed

Major Program: Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum

In 2018, the Johnson County Extension Council identified Gardening/Ag Production/Food Security as a priority for the Plan of Work. To address this issue, County Agent, Dianna Reed and Program Assistant, Valerie LeMaster worked with a local school to provide a three part workshop titled Seeds, Sprouts and Seedlings. In this workshop, session one covered the development of a seed from planting to seedling. As the accompanying hands-on activity, 100 students then planted herbs and tomato seeds in g

Full Story

Kentucky Master Logger WebTV- Live Program Provides Training Closer to Home

Author: Brian Jeffiers

Major Program: Logging Training and Professional Education

On February 6th, 2018 UK Forestry Extension broadcast a live Logger Web TV Program to 25 counties strategically distributed around the state, from the Webcast studio in the Forestry Extension Office. Assistance from the county agents and supporting staff was critical to the success of this program. Counties opened their offices up, assisted with registration, answering and conveying questions, and much more. By hosting this Logger TV program from our webcast studio in the format that we did, we

Full Story

Extension Guides New Farmer Into Successful Start in Syrup Production

Author: Brian Jeffiers

Major Program: Forestry Industry Education

In the years following the tobacco quota buyout and the end of the tobacco program, farms in Eastern Kentucky have been focused on diversification and discovering new ways to generate revenue. This holds true not only for established farmers but also for those who are new to the area.One such new farmer contacted the Johnson Co. Extension Office for advice on enterprises to explore for a plot of roughly 30 acres with significant forest cover. After discussing the farmer’s plans and resourc

Full Story
Back to Plans for the County