Extension
It Starts With Us
Adapting to Changing Agricultural Markets
Securing Agricultural Profitability and Sustainability
Thrasher, Wilhoit, FCS Vacant
Local Food Systems
Horticulture, Commercial
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Volunteer Development
Over the past 20 years agricultural production in Fleming County has changed significantly. The heavy decline in tobacco and dairy production has found the need for agriculture diversification and sustainability. Agribusinesses supporting agriculture production have also found the need to adapt to changing markets and opportunities. With the ever-changing agriculture markets, diversification and sustainability, is needed for farm families to remain profitable and sustainable for years to come. Educational opportunities are important to keep farmers moving forward with profitability and relevant in the current agriculture climate, as well as introduction of new agriculture production opportunities. Additionally, emphasis should be placed on educational opportunities for young farmers to be successful in the current agriculture climate. For agriculture to remain sustainable for many years to come, youth educational opportunities geared toward agriculture production is imperative to keep agriculture alive through farming and through interest in agriculture careers.
-Agricultural producers will adapt to the changing agricultural markets
-Producers will continue to be profitable in a changing agricultural market
-Producers will modify their operations in order to produce a commodity that is marketable
-Producers will become more efficient and effective in their farm management and implementation of good management practices
-Farmers will create operations that include sustainable agricultural practices to weather fluctuating agricultural markets and remain profitable
-Youth will be educated on the current agricultural markets through 4-H
-Youth will gain and maintain employment resulting from life skill development through 4-H Projects, record keeping and activities.
-Agricultural producers will implement changes needed in their operations according to the needs of the fluctuating markets
-Producers will make changes necessary to continue being profitable in their enterprises
-Producers will implement techniques and strategies learned from research and extension to become more effective and produce higher quality products
-Youth can explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others.
-Producers will gain knowledge of new and changing agricultural markets
-Producers will become more open minded to new and changing markets for beef, dairy, crops and horticultural products
-Producers will learn how they can change their operations to become more efficient
-Producers will learn how they can change their operations to produce a higher quality product
-Producers will become familiar with cultural practices that will allow them to make more profit from their products
-Youth will gain knowledge and skills in production in the areas of plant sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.
-Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, communications, record keeping, leadership and service.
Outcome: Increase efficiency and profits on the farm
Indicator: Number of individuals that report; knowledge and skills gained about new efficient ways to manage the farm and increase profits
Method: self-report survey
Timeline: pre-post implementing curriculum or program evaluations
Outcome: Increase knowledge of changing agricultural markets and opportunities for providing higher quality products
Indicator: Number of individuals that report; Number of individuals that gain and renew certifications in production areas (I.e. Tobacco GAP, BQCA, Private Pesticide, PBPT, etc...); increase in knowledge and skills gained in agricultural market opportunities and high-quality production
Method: Self-report surveys; specific curricula or program evaluations
Timeline: Pre-post implementing curricula or program
Outcome: -Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, communications, record keeping, leadership and service.
Indicator: Number of individuals participating in 4-H Youth Livestock Projects
Method: Self-Report; Personal Testimony via Record Book
Timeline: September Annually
Audience: Local Beef Farmers
Project or Activity: Master Cattleman (Master Stocker, Master Grazer, Master Marketer Programs; Master Hay Maker)
Content or Curriculum: UK Master Cattleman Curriculum, BQA, Cattle Handling and Care
Inputs: UK Beef & Forage Specialists, Agents
Date: January-December (every 3 years)
Audience: Crop Farmers
Project or Activity: Crop Classes
Content or Curriculum: Private Pesticide Applicator Training, Market Updates, Production Information, Farmers Market, PBPT
Inputs: Agent, UK specialists
Date: January- December
Audience: Local Tobacco Farmers
Project or Activity: Annual GAP Meetings
Content or Curriculum: GAP Training curriculum
Inputs: University Specialists, Tobacco GAP Connections
Date: February-June
Audience: Vegetable Growers
Project or Activity: Farmer’s Market Vendor Meetings & Trainings
Content or Curriculum: Information chosen by farmers directly related to the production of fruit and vegetable crops
Inputs: Agents, UK Horticulture Specialists, KDA
Date: January- MayAudience: All Farmers
Project or Activity: Farm Management
Content or Curriculum: Farm Business Planning Trainings
Inputs: University Econ Specialists
Date: NovemberAudience: All Farmers
Project or Activity: Diagnostic Testing
Content or Curriculum: Weed ID, Soil Testing, Hay Testing, Plant Disease Diagnostics, Animal Disease Diagnostics
Inputs: Agents; UK Specialists
Date: January-DecemberAudience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H livestock Project
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Livestock Certified Leaders, and 4-H Livestock Kit
Inputs: Agents, FFA Advisors, Certified Volunteers, Community Partners
Date: September - August
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Country Ham Project
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Livestock Curriculum
Inputs: Agents, Certified Leaders, Community Partners
Date: January - August
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Youth Gardening Program
Content or Curriculum: Sprouts Program, Bonnie Cabbage Program, UK publications
Inputs: Agents, Garden Club, Volunteer Program, Schools
Date: Spring, SummerAudience: Youth
Project or Activity: Youth ANR Day Camp
Content or Curriculum: Natural Resources, Entomology, Forestry
Inputs: Agents, Community Partners, UK Specialists
Date: July Annually
Author: April Wilhoit
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
The Buffalo Trace County Area Extension Offices hosted their annual Farm School For Women Program in October 2022. The event spanned across all 4 Thursdays in the month and covered a vast array of topics from Small Berry Production, Lawn Management; Body Condition Scoring of Cattle; Vaccinations of livestock and Utilizing Social Media for Marketing Farm Products. Thirty-one ladies attended the first session of the program at Strodeberry Farm. Dr. Shawn Wright, UK Horticulture S
Author: April Wilhoit
Major Program: Soil testing
The post COVID-19 pandemic environment revealed a continuum of inflation on many goods and services. One commodity in particular that saw a great increase in price was fertilizer. The much needed input in the agriculture community almost tripled in price. With the increase in cost, farmers began to look at their soil management practices to weigh options to weather the "storm" financially. As farmers thought of ways to make changes on their farm, they began reac
