Extension
It Starts With Us
2022 Local Foods/Commercial Horticulture
Production Agriculture
M. Chadwick
Substance Use and Mental Health - ANR
Horticulture, Commercial
Small Farm Diversification
Local Food Systems
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, while also being good steward of the land and water.
-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.
-Applied Extension Resources for Planning and Decision Making
-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 grow and sold
-Apply best management practices in marketing (i.e. pricing)
-Apply food safety practices and/or procedures
-Earn certification(s) for:
-Redeeming USDA script (i.e. WIC or Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program)
-Selling and /or providing samples at farmer’s markets
-Home Based Micro processing
-Micro processing
-Produce Best Management Practices
-USDA GAP
-Created and marketed safe food products
-Apply food safety practices
-Create value added agricultural food items
-Market agricultural products locally
-Review types and varieties of produce
-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)
Initial Outcome: Describe advantages and disadvantages of marketing strategies (i.e. CSA, U-Pick, Farm to School, freezer beef)
Indicator: Development of marketing plans
Method: One on one conversations
Timeline: 2022
Intermediate Outcome: Earn certification
Indicator: Increased amount of request for certification classes/programs
Method: Request count comparison over time
Timeline: 2022-2026
Long-term Outcome: Maintain or increase economic stability of farm operations
Indicator: Local producers reinvest in farm operations overtime
Method: One on one conversation
Timeline: 2022-2026
Audience: Small scale vegetable growers, freezer meat producers, general public,
Project or Activity: Small Farms Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Various Tracks (Vegetable crop production, Bees, small ruminants, etc.)
Inputs: UK and KSU faculty, professional staff, publications, and research information, Center for Crop Diversification, Food Systems Innovation System, State and federal agencies (KDA, Health and Family Services/Public Health) Commodity, grower and farm market associations UK Weather Center
Date: Spring 2022
Audience: Vegetable producers
Project or Activity: PBPT, Sampling certificate training
Content or Curriculum: PBPT and Sampling guideline
Inputs: :UK and KSU faculty, professional staff, publications, and research information,
Date: Annual
Audience: Farmers Market Shoppers and Vendors
Project or Activity: Educational Booth
Content or Curriculum: information about the local shopping, in season produce, and recipes
Inputs: UK and KSU faculty, professional staff, publications, and research information,
Date: Monthly During Market Season
Audience: Producers, Farm Managers, Certified Crop Advisors, Private Agronomist, County Agents, Ag Retailers, Farm Workers, Industry Reps. General Public, Point of Sale Employees
Project or Activity: Quarterly Newsletter, Monthly Newspaper Articles
Content or Curriculum: Timely Information
Inputs: UK/KSU College of Ag Professionals, Publications, Research information, State and Federal Organizations
Date: On-Going
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Author: Matthew Chadwick
Major Program: Master Gardener
Following the success of our initial joint advanced master gardener training in the spring, “Calloway and Marshall County- Advanced Diagnostics Boot Camp”. We developed a short survey to gather detailed information on what classes that master gardeners would like to participate in, in the future. This was distributed to all MG programs throughout the region including the NWTN group that KY agents teach at annually. After reviewing the survey results, we put together a plan to start w
Author: Matthew Chadwick
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership - ANR
The Alpha Upsilon chapter of Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority, of Murray State University, hosts their annual Bale Buddies philanthropy event every year in the spring. 2023 is the second year the Calloway County Extension Office has participated. The proceeds for this event are donated to Bright Life Farms in Princeton, KY. Bright Life Farms is a nonprofit organization that provides housing and learning opportunities for mentally or developmentally challenged adults learning to liv
Author: Matthew Chadwick
Major Program: Small Ruminants (includes sheep, goats) and Exotic animals
From forages to feet! The West KY Small Ruminant Field Day, hosted by the Marshall, McCracken, Gravesand Calloway County Extension Agriculture Agents and sponsored by the Sheep And Goat DevelopmentCheck-off, was a jam packed afternoon teeming with opportunities for producers to learn. Participants wereenthralled with the on farm speeches and demonstrations relating to profitable small ruminant production.There were three sessions which included a speech on feed and reproduction efficiencies, a h
