Improving Agricultural IncomePlan of Work

Back to Plans for the County

Garrard County CES

Title:
Improving Agricultural Income
MAP:
Agriculture Production, Diversity, and Marketing
Agents Involved:
Hettmansperger, Comley, FCS
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Forages
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Tobacco
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Beekeeping
Situation:

Garrard County farmers have experienced a large decline in their dependence upon tobacco as their main income source. Farmers have increased their beef cow herds to try and make up the short fall. Cattle prices continue to fluctuate, narrowing profit margins and farmers need to become more efficient in forage and feed production. They will explore non-traditional ways of farming to remain profitable. Interest in hemp production has decreased greatly. Through surveys and conversations with farmers,they have put an importance on new forage and beef production methods. Youth livestock programs can teach young farmers best management practices and give them the chance to continue the family farm.

Being healthy has generated interest in Beekeeping and honey production. Local beekeepers have seen an increase in honey sales. The ANR agent has set up two beehives at the office for educational programming.

Gardening has become very popular because consumers want to know where their food comes from and feel safe eating it.  FCS and ANR agents will team up to present some programs on gardening and food preservation.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Farmers will become more efficient and profitable through adopting new methods learned from Extension programs. More youth will return to the family farm.

We will see more beekeepers in the county and form a county wide group.

More consumers will can and freeze garden products.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Farmers will become better forage producers and will look at alternatives to traditional ways of feeding their livestock. They will become better marketers by utilizing CPH-45 calf sales and other forms of value added marketing. Grain producers will chose yield increasing hybrids from test plots. Farmers will become efficient at growing hemp. Youth will choose careers in agriculture.

More people will put in hives and increase the bee numbers.

The Extension office will see an increase in interest in gardening and food preservation.

Initial Outcomes:

Farmers will use new and improved varieties of forages to increase production. Beef producers will adopt new practices such as rotational grazing and controlled calving seasons to increase production. Farmers will utilize new marketing strategies for their calves through CPH-45 and direct marketing. Farmers will gain knowledge on hemp production.

Youth will increase their knowledge of new farming practices and choose careers in Agriculture.

More people will start their own beehives and become more familiar with beekeeping.

Consumers will increase their knowledge of gardening and preservation practices.

Evaluation:


Outcome: Farmer adoption of new practices

Indicator: Personal contacts and surveys. Youth choosing Ag careers.

Method: Farm visits and observations. Monitor participation in educational meetings and special Extension programs.

Timeline: Throughout the year and do surveys during winter farmer meetings


Outcome: More beekeepers in the community.

Indicator: Number of people attending classes.

Method: Observations and surveys. Local Hardware store beekeeping equipment sales.

Timeline: Throughout the year.


Outcome: Consumers increase knowledge of gardening and preservation.

Indicator: Increase in seed and plant sales at the local hardware store.

Method: Hardware store owner sharing sale results.

Timeline: Spring and summer.



Learning Opportunities:


Audience: Garrard County Farmers and other interested parties. 

Project or Activity: Phase – 1 Educational programs 

Content or Curriculum: Programs and videos to cover cost share programs (hay storage, forages, etc.)

Inputs: UK specialist and ANR agents. Prerecorded videos

Dates: Year around


Audience: Local cattle producers

Project or Activity: BQA, CPH-45, Forage production, Beef nutrition and health.

Content or Curriculum: UK research data, BQA training video, CPH-45 calf sales, Winter producer meetings.

Inputs: UK specialist, ANR agents, Videos and field days

Dates: Fall and winter


Audience: Local Beekeepers and interested parties

Project or Activity: Beekeeping programs and Honey production

Content or Curriculum: Proper Beekeeping, Mite control and Honey extraction

Inputs: UK specialist, State Apiarist, Local experts and ANR agents

Dates: Year around


Audience: Local Farmers and Homeowners interested in gardening

Project or Activity: Gardening and Food Preservation

Content or Curriculum: Gardening in Small Spaces, Raised Gardening, Fall Gardening, Canning and Freezing, Master Gardener, UK publications and info.

Inputs: ANR and FCS agent joint programs.

Dates: Spring, Summer and Fall


Audience: High School Youth enrolled in Agriculture classes

Project or Activity: Beef Programs at the High School

Content or Curriculum: Cattle vaccinations, Artificial Breeding, Pregnancy check, Nutrition.

Inputs: Local veterinarians, UK specialist, High school Ag teacher, ANR agnet

Dates: During school year. 









Success Stories

Happy Halloween

Author: Jay Hettmansperger

Major Program: Horticulture, Commercial

Garrard County was traditionally a big tobacco producing county. The tobacco buyout and the lack of available labor have forced local farmers out of tobacco production and searching for feasible alternatives. The Garrard County Ag and Natural Resource agent was contacted by a tobacco farmer about raising pumpkins as a commercial crop to help replace lost income.  The Garrard County ANR agent contacted another ANR agent that specialized in pumpkin production for help in advising the grower.

Full Story

Don't Throw it Out

Author: Jay Hettmansperger

Major Program: Beekeeping

Beekeeping has blossomed in the past few years.  Garrard County has seen a nice increase in interest in beekeeping. The ANR agent has started monthly educational meetings at the request of several local beekeepers.  The meetings have been well attended by both seasoned veterans and new beekeepers.  The meeting topics are usually chosen to coincide with what a beekeeper needs to be doing at the time of year.  One such meeting, the topic was about harvesting the honey and bottl

Full Story

Winter Producer Educational Meetings

Author: Jay Hettmansperger

Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy

To meet educational needs for farmers of certain agricultural commodities, ANR agents in Boyle, Garrard, Lincoln and Mercer counties collaborate to host a series of winter educational meetings annually. This year they conducted meetings for forages, grain crops, backgrounder and tobacco producers. Topics for the meetings are selected based off surveys conducted by the individual county agents, surveys from past meetings and current issues. Surveys found these meetings were attended by producers

Full Story
Back to Plans for the County