Crop and Livestock Production, Gardening and Horticulture, and Local Food SystemsPlan of Work

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Carlisle County CES

Title:
Crop and Livestock Production, Gardening and Horticulture, and Local Food Systems
MAP:
Increasing Agricultural Literacy
Agents Involved:
Flowers, Hogancamp,
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Volunteer Development
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Grains
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Situation:

Kentucky is home to 85,500 farms, tied with Oklahoma as the 4th ranking state in the number of farms (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2012). The average farm size in Kentucky is 164 acres, compared to the national average of 421 (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2012). Between 2007 and 2012, the Bluegrass State had a 6.7% decrease in the number of acres of farmland, which is the greatest percentage decrease any state in the country (Census of Agriculture, 2012). A farm is defined by the United States government as “any place that produced and sold, or normally would produce and sell, $1,000 or more of agricultural products during the census year.” While Kentucky’s population is increasing, the number of people living on farms is decreasing. Therefore, the need exists to educate people, particularly youth, about the impact that it makes on their daily lives, as well as the importance of agriculture to the commonwealth. The top agricultural products produced on Kentucky farms are changing. In 2012, the Top 10 agriculture products in Kentucky were: Broilers, Corn, Horses & Mules, Soybeans, Cattle & Calves, Tobacco, Dairy Products & Milk, Wheat, Hay and Chicken Eggs (United States Department of Agriculture – Kentucky, 2012).


The Carlisle County 4-H Council, the Carlisle County Agricultural Advisory Council, and the Carlisle County Extension Council all identified increasing agricultural literacy as a programming priority for Carlisle County Extension. According to the CEDIK Agriculture and Food County Profile for Carlisle County, in 2012, Carlisle County had 325 farm operations on 98,620 acres, which represented 81.3% of total county land. In comparison, Kentucky’s farm operations made up 51.6% of the state’s total land area, and U.S. farm operations made up 40.5% of total land area in the country. As a result, the agricultural industry is important to the economy and people of Carlisle County.

Long-Term Outcomes:

- Youth will engage in entrepreneurial enterprise.

- Youth will gain and maintain employment resulting from life skill development through 4-H.

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

- Community will see an 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.

- Community will see increased access to local foods in restaurants, retail outlets, school and other institutions.

- Producers will maintain or increase consumer confidence/demand in local foods.

- Producers will maintain or increase economic stability of farm operations.

Intermediate Outcomes:

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

- 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.

- Consumers will purchase local food and food products.

- Consumers will advocate for local food producers.

- Producers will adopt usage of new technology for production.

- Producers will use diagnostic services to enhance production decision-making.

- Producers will adopt one or more production management recommendations.

- Producers will implement on-farm trials.

Initial Outcomes:

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

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

- Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, communications, recordkeeping,

leadership and service.

- Consumers will identify/ locate local food producers and processors.

- Consumers will explain local food needs and purchasing procedures (i.e. quantity, quality, deliver, etc.).

- Consumers will purchase local food and food products.

- Consumers will advocate for local food producers.

- Producers will increase awareness of current land grant research concerning production.

- Producers will increase understanding of production regulations.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcomes:

Indicator: Written or verbal acknowledgement of increased awareness and knowledge related to agricultural literacy and practices

Method: Pre-/post-tests, observation, participation

Timeline: After programming opportunities


Intermediate Outcomes:

Indicator: Change in behavior or practice related to agriculture

Method: Pre-/post-tests, observation, participation, self-reporting, number of Kentucky Proud producers, local agriculture statistics, production outcomes

Timeline: After programming opportunities


Long-term Outcomes:

Indicator: Long-term results stemming from changes in behavior or practice related to agriculture sustained over time

Method: 4-H project participation, youth employment after high school, local agriculture sales and production statistics and outcomes, community statistics

Timeline: 2016-2023

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 3rd grade youth

Project or Activity: Adventures in Agriculture Day

Content or Curriculum: Soils, crops, livestock, horticulture, 4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum, Ag in the Classroom

Date: Spring 2023


Audience: Agricultural producers

Project or Activity: WAVE Ag Day

Content or Curriculum: Production agricultural information

Date: Summer 2023


Audience: Women of Carlisle County

Project or Activity: Women in Agriculture

Content or Curriculum: Extension agriculture information and publications

Date: 2022-2023


Audience: Agricultural producers

Project or Activity: Winter Ag Conference

Content or Curriculum: Production agriculture information

Date: Winter 2023


Audience: Carlisle County Families

Project or Activity: Food Preservation

Content or Curriculum: So Easy to Preserve, All Dried Up, FCS publications

Date: Spring 2023


Audience: Youth ages 9-18

Project or Activity: Dog Club

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Dog curriculum

Date: 2022-2023


Inputs:

Agents

Agribusinesses

Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Carlisle County Conservation District

Producers

Carlisle County Road Department/Fiscal Court

USDA Farm Service Agency

Carlisle County Schools

Extension volunteers

Specialists



Success Stories

Crop Guidance- Winter Ag Conference

Author: Chuck Flowers

Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy

Crop Guidance- Winter Ag Conference

Crop Guidance–Winter Ag Conference 2023This year our Winter Ag Conference focused on grain markets, sulfur in crop use, disease of crops, and the power of a handshake.  81% of the land in Carlisle County is in row crop production along with 91% in Hickman and 63% in Fulton County.  Farmers must make decisions in time for high yield results.  Crop sales just in Carlisle County is $34,054,000.  The need for new information to share is necessary to our producers.  We

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