Fixating the Focus on the Local Food SupplyPlan of Work

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Grant County CES

Title:
Fixating the Focus on the Local Food Supply
MAP:
Elevating Local Food Systems
Agents Involved:
Ammerman, Conkwright, Veach
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Horticulture, Commercial
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Nutrition and Food Systems General
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Volunteer Development
Situation:

Recent community needs assessment coupled with the global pandemic have shifted consumers focus from large chain grocery stores toward locally sourced items to fulfill their need for food staples.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Consumer demand for locally grown and processed foods continues to climb.  Farmers recognize and respond to consumer demand and retaliate by matching with supply.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Farmer's look toward alternative methods of production and sales of off farm products.  Farm respond quicker to consumer demands.

Initial Outcomes:

Farmers acquire knowledge to understand new and emerging markets.  Farmer's also adjust production and marketing practices to reach new consumer populous. 

Evaluation:

Increase in farm gate revenues, More consumers purchase locally raised foods. 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Cattle Owners

Project or Activity: Building Better Beef

Content or Curriculum: UK Beef IRM

Inputs: Agent and UK website

Date: monthly throughout the year


Audience: Beef Farmers

Project of Activity: Master Cattlemen

Content or Curriculum: UK Beef IRM and UK Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: Fall 2022


Audience: Goat Producers

Project of Activity: Meat Goat Updates

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications, KSU specialists

Date: March 2023


Audience: Sheep and Goat Farmers

Project of Activity: Small Ruminant Workshop

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications KSU specialists

Date: March 2023


Audience: 4H Livestock Youth

Project of Activity: 4H Youth Livestock Clubs

Content or Curriculum: Getting your Goat, Stepping Out, Showing the Way

Inputs: Dairy Goat Club members and leader

Date: All year Long


Audience: Forage Farmers

Project or Activity: Controlling Weeds in Pastures and Hayfields

Content or Curriculum: UK Agronomy

Inputs: Agent and UK website

Date: March 2023


Audience: Forage Farmers

Project or Activity: Pasture Renovation

Content or Curriculum: UK Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: Feb 2023


Audience: County Ag Investment Program Farmers

Project of Activity: Hay Storage to increase profits

Content or Curriculum: UK Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: Fall 2022


Audience: Dairy and Beef Farmers

Project of Activity: Silage Production Update

Content or Curriculum: UK Publications

Inputs: UK publications,

Date: March 2023


Audience: Grain Farmers

Project of Activity: Early Bird Grain Meeting

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: Jan 2023


Audience: Vegetable Farmers

Project of Activity: Extending the Growing Season

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: Feb - March 2023


Audience: Vegetable Farmers

Project of Activity: Producers Best Practices Training

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date:  Feb 2023


Audience: Farmer’s Markets

Project of Activity: SNAP-Ed, WIC and Senior Coupons

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: winter 2022 throughout the growing season


Audience: Farmer’s Markets SNAP-Ed

Project of Activity: Sampling

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists

Date: ongoing throughout the year


Audience: 6,7, & 8 Graders

Project of Activity: GCMS Garden

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists, agent and volunteers

Date: March –Sept 2023


Audience: 4-H Youth

Project of Activity: 4-H Horticulture Club

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications

Inputs: UK publications and specialists, agents and volunteers

Date: March – Oct 2023



Success Stories

Farm to Table for the Win

Author: Chris Ammerman

Major Program: Local Food Systems

After a brief hiatus 2022 returned the Grant County Farm to Table, an event that showcases local farm products.    Since the pandemic consumer choice has moved the needle for demand for locally grown fresh produce, meat and eggs.  Supply chain scarcity has pushed consumer focus away from the grocery shelf and toward the farm stand.  Local farmers markets have become the consumer’s choice to provide safe, fresh and nutritious food for communities across the state, and Gr

Full Story

Grow Kids today Grow Food Forever

Author: Chris Ammerman

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

The gap that separates generations from their farm roots grows with each passing year and with that increasing gap the knowledge to grow food becomes greater.   School gardens provide the opportunity to reconnect children to the knowledge possessed by their ancestors by using food as the link.   The magic of agriculture, taking soil and placing seeds in it creates a feeling of accomplishment.  School gardens create the opportunity for students to gain gardening knowledge, responsi

Full Story

Homebased Microprocessing

Author: Asa Conkwright

Major Program: Home-Based Microprocessor Program

The local food movement continues to grow nationwide with an increase in farmers markets as well as an increase in market vendors. Kentucky is no exception. Part of this growth can be attributed to Kentucky’s Homebased Microprocessing Program. The Homebased Microprocessing Program (HBM) is a unique collaboration with the UK Cooperative Extension Service, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department for Public Health - Food Safety Branch. The program allows Kentucky farmers to produce

Full Story

Insurance for 2024 Calf Crop

Author: Chris Ammerman

Major Program: Beef

The increasing cost of cattle production has made producers take a proactive approach to cutting the costs for carrying unproductive cows for a calendar year.  One effort to ensure that cows can be productive is to ensure that they are bred during the proper time of the year.  Grant County cattle producers have drawn on current market conditions with the Extension Agents for Agriculture in Grant Counties developed and implemented a series of educational programs on nutrition, evaluatio

Full Story
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