Increasing Knowledge in Agriculture, Home and Community EnvironmentPlan of Work

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Crittenden County CES

Title:
Increasing Knowledge in Agriculture, Home and Community Environment
MAP:
Farm, Home and Community Economic Development
Agents Involved:
Barnes 4-H, Heimgartner ANR
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Volunteer Development
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Agriculture
Situation:

Agriculture is Kentucky's largest employer and accounts for the greatest amount of revenue in Kentucky's economy. Every person is impacted by Agriculture everyday in the foods that they eat and the fibers that are used in their clothes, homes, work places and vehicles.

Water and soil quality and health along with compliance of chemical use is vital for agriculture. Non-compliance can impact eligibility for cost share and/or federal funding, result in legal ramification, and loss of business. Extension encourages Integrated Pest Management and promotes the Kentucky Pollinator Protection Plan.

In 2018 the National Gardening Survey indicated that 77% of American households garden in some way. Other estimates reveal that consumer horticulture and supporting industries contribute nearly $200 billion to the US economy each year and support over 2 million jobs. Recent trends indicate that more and more Americans are growing their own food (35% of households) while interests in ornamentals remains high, particularly in the area of gardening to support pollinators and other ecological uses of plants. American gardeners will continue to look to Cooperative Extension for specific answers to their gardening questions.

Forage and Livestock management are vital to Kentucky’s Agricultural economy. As livestock margins tighten, management strategies that enhance forage productivity, utilization and persistence along with efforts to optimize animal performance will improve long-term viability of forage-based livestock systems in the state.

It is estimated at in 2017, Kentucky had 48,000 head of sheep, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous year. Breeding sheep and lambs were estimated at 38,000 and market sheet and lambs were estimated at 10,000 head. Lamb from increased by 3,000 between 2016 and 2017. The goat inventory decreased by 3,000 between 2016 and 2017 for an estimated 56,000 head. Milk goat (5,500 head) increased by 500 from the previous year. Crittenden County is the second highest county in the state for total small ruminant numbers

Local food continues to be in demand from consumers, restaurants, retail outlets and institutions (including schools). However, there is a disconnection between the production, processing, marketing and distribution segments of the local food system, especially for small and minority farmers. With sales from Kentucky food products expected to increase from $14 million (2014) to $24 million in 2020, Extension has resources to educate agricultural producers in production, value added opportunities, business planning, and marketing strategies to expand the local food system for the demand.


Long-Term Outcomes:

-Increase in the number of vendors, variety of local food products, sales and/or profits at farmer’s markets, road side stands, or community supported agriculture

-Increase access to local foods in restaurants, retail outlets, school and other institutions

-Maintain or increase consumer confidence/ demand in local foods

-Maintain or increase economic stability of farm operations

-Improved farm economic status

-Sustainability of farm

-Long term viability

-Producers save money by making better selection decisions

-Reduce expenses

-Improved herd quality

-Increased profits of operation

-Build the reputation and value of KY cattle

-Improved end product quality and food safety

-Enhanced consumer confidence

-Youth will engage in entrepreneurial enterprise

-Youth will gain and maintain employment through life skill development

-Youth will be advocates for agriculture and healthy and sustainable food systems

Intermediate Outcomes:

-Develop an Ag Plan using decision making tools ( i.e. cost efficiency)

-Create a budget and/or marketing plan

-Diversify the types and varieties of produce grown and sold

-Apply best management practices in marketing (i.e. pricing)

-Apply food safety practices and/or procedures

Earn certification(s) for:

-selling and /or providing samples at farmer’s markets

-Home Based Microprocessing

-Better Processing Control School

-USDA GAP

-Created and market safe food products

-Apply food safety practices

-Create value added agricultural food items

-Market agricultural products locally

Implement practices to control the breeding season and enhance production efficiency

-Test forage for nutritional quality

-Utilize a complete mineral supplement program

-Implement crossbreeding program

-Make EPD and selection decisions

-Implement practices to perform examinations of pelvic areas, reproductive tract scores, AI, pregnancy diagnosis, and/or animal evaluation

-Appraise management practice changes; employ record systems to track drug use, vaccines, chemicals, feed additives, and the movement of cattle on and off operations

-Youth will practice and apply skills and knowledge in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant science, horticulture and animal science

-Youth will adopt and practice skills that contribute to employability.

-Youth can explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others.

-Youth will set a goal and accomplish it.

-Youth can influence the purchase of Kentucky Proud products

-Youth can practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems

Initial Outcomes:

-Locate crop profiles, decision tools and resources

-Describe advantages and disadvantages of marketing strategies (i.e. CSA, U-Pick, Farm to School, freezer beef)

-Interpret food safety handling procedures

-Understand procedures for safe food processing

-Interpret purchasing rules and regulations from contract buyers

-Research liability issues related to food safety

-Identify production methods and agricultural food products that extend the growing season (i.e. high tunnels, hydroponics)

-Participants become certified KY Master Cattleman

-Increased awareness of the following beef practices: reproduction, genetics, nutrition, health, end product, general herd management, and economics and marketing

-Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant science, horticulture and animal science

-Youth will gain an understanding of healthy and sustainable food systems

-Youth will develop valuable life skills, including decision making, communications, record keeping, leadership and service

Evaluation:

Intermediate Outcome: Test Forage for nutritional quality

Indicator: number of forage tests increase in office

Method: samples

Timeline: annually during the summer


Initial Outcome: clients learn to identify the safety and accessibility of their homes

Indicator: how many people attend the program

Method: educational programs

Timeline: 2022-2025


Intermediate Outcome: evaluate the home to optimize safety and independence

Indicator: continued attendance of program

Method: survey

Timeline: Winter 2022-2025


Long-term Outcome: homes become more accessible

Indicator: clients change any barrier that prevents their home from being accessible and secure

Method: survey

Timeline: Spring 2022-2025


Initial Outcome: Clubs and/or daycamps that provide youth with agriculture education and hands on opportunities

Indicator: Number of youth involved in clubs and programs

Method: educational programs/curriculum/visits to agriculture industries

Timeline: 2022-2025


Intermediate Outcome: Youth will apply their knowledge to start their own agriculture projects at their homes

Indicator: Number of youth involved in clubs and programs

Method: survey; educational programs/curriculum/visits to agriculture industries

Timeline: 2022-2025


Long-term Outcome: Youth will gain knowledge and skills they can use to become productive members of society and learn the importance of agriculture to the economy

Method: survey;educational programs/curriculum/visits to agriculture industries

Timeline: 2022-2025


Initial Outcome: School Enrichment that provide youth with agriculture education and hands on opportunities

Indicator: Number of youth in the school system

Method: educational programs/curriculum

Timeline: 2022-2025


Intermediate Outcome: Youth will apply their knowledge they have learned in school to start their own agriculture projects at their homes

Indicator: Number of youth increasing agriculture projects within their home

Method: survey; educational programs/curriculum

Timeline: 2022-2025


Long-term Outcome: Youth will gain knowledge and skills they can use to become productive members of society and learn the importance of agriculture to the economy

Method: survey; educational programs/curriculum

Timeline: 2022-2025

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Forage Producers

Project or Activity: Forage Contest during County Fair

Content or Curriculum: Forage publications

Inputs: specialists, agents

Date: Summer 2022


Audience: Home and Consumer Horticulturists

Project or Activity: various field days and meetings

Content or Curriculum: University Publications

Inputs: specialists, cooperating producers, agents

Date: Spring 2022-2025


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Clubs such as Jr. Beekeepers, Livestock, Dog,Tractor/Clubs promoting Ag Literacy within the community, Judging Contests, Skill-a-thons, Field Trips, Shows and Competitive events

Content or Curriculum: Curriculum

Inputs: Extension Agent, School, Agriculture Industry, Certified Volunteers, Volunteers, Businesses

Date: 2022-2025


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Day camps such as Farm Safety Days and day camps at Extension Office, Programs such as YELP, School Enrichment providing Ag Literacy in the Classroom

Content or Curriculum: Curriculum

Inputs: Extension Agent, School, Agriculture Industry, Certified Volunteers, Volunteers, Businesses

Date: 2022-2025


Audience: adults

Project or Activity: Microprocessing Certification 

Content or Curriculum: So Easy to Preserve Videos

Inputs: agents, specialist

Date: 2022-2025


Audience: adults

Project or Activity: Food Preservation Classes  

Content or Curriculum: So Easy to Preserve book, Extension Publication 

Inputs: agents, specialist

Date: 2022-2025



Success Stories

Retired Military Couple are Beginning Farmers

Author: Dee Heimgartner

Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy

A military couple bought some farm ground in Crittenden County for hunting purposes but had other plans for the property after retirement. They reached out to the ANR agent Dee Heimgartner for soil sampling. During a conversation the couple asked many questions about farming and were wanting to try a broad range of farm production from goats, chickens to produce. The couple stayed in contact with the agent while they were stationed in another state. Once they both retired they moved full time to

Full Story

Soil Testing Numbers UP

Author: Dee Heimgartner

Major Program: Soil testing

Crittenden County Extension District Board voted years ago to pay for up to 12 samples for each landowner. This program had been utilized by many in the past, however in recent years the amount of soil samples had declined. The cost of fertilizer has risen and producers are seeing a decline in production due to various issues including low soil fertility. Crittenden County ANR agent Dee Heimgartner has pushed for several to get soil test, just to know where the fertility levels are. Hay producer

Full Story
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