Extension
It Starts With Us
Strengthening Agriculture Production, Management, and Marketing Skills
Strengthening Agriculture Production, Management, and Marketing Skills
Traci Johnson, Kelly Woods
Beef
Equine
Forages
Agriculture
Farms make up a little less than half of the land in Oldham County. Farms here include a wide variety of enterprises, including grain crops, livestock, horses, hay and pasture, nurseries, greenhouses, poultry, fish and shellfish. With growth of Farmers Markets and Community Supported Agriculture locations, there has also been growth in vegetable, sheep and poultry production over the last 10 years, according to the 2017 Ag Census. Data gathered in the 2019 Oldham County Assessment shows that county residents are concerned with the need for more farm-related jobs, more market opportunities for farmers and better sustainability of family farms. Residents also believe that there needs to be more awareness and support for agriculture and agribusinesses.
The Oldham County Extension Council and Ag Advisory Councils reviewed county needs and identified Agriculture Production, Business Management and Marketing as top priorities in educational programming. These skills are necessary for producers to be financially viable individually, and to support the county's economy. Production programs also meet the needs of many residents who desire to produce their own food.
Participants will experience long-term viability in farming.
Participants will reduce expenses and/or increase profits of farm operations.
Youth will become agriculturally literate.
Participants will implement recommended production practices to successfully produce food and agriculture products.
Participants will implement recommended forage management practices to increase utilization of forages and reduce dependency on purchased feeds and hay.
Participants will use information about local market opportunities to sell products.
Youth will utilize and practice life skills in agricultural projects, clubs, and life situations.
Participants will indicate understanding of research-based production practices.
Participants will recognize the importance of forage management practices.
Participants will have increased awareness of innovative marketing opportunities.
Youth will develop valuable life skills, including decision making, critical thinking, and wise use of resources relating to agriculture.
Initial Outcome: Youth will develop valuable life skills, including decision making, critical thinking, and wise use of resources relating to agriculture.
Indicator: Youth participate in an agriculture related project.
Method: 4-H Common Measure Experience Survey
Timeline: June 2022
Initial Outcome: Participants will indicate understanding of research-based production practices. Participants will recognize the importance of forage management practices. Participants will have increased awareness of new marketing opportunities.
Indicator: Participants self-reporting
Method: Post-program evaluations (use UK provided evaluations when applicable)
Timeline: Following completion of programs
Intermediate Outcome: Youth will utilize and practice life skills in agricultural projects, clubs and life situations.
Indicator: Youth complete agriculture related project.
Method: 4-H Common Measure Experience Survey
Timeline: June 2023
Intermediate Outcome: Participants will implement recommended production practices to successfully produce food and agriculture products. Participants will implement recommended forage management practices to increase utilization of forages and reduce dependency on purchased feeds and hay. Participants will use information about local market opportunities to sell products.
Indicator: Producers self-reporting
Method: Post-program evaluations (use UK provided evaluations when applicable)
Timeline: 3 – 9 months post-program
Long-term Outcome: Youth will become agriculturally literate.Indicator: Youth plan and implement an agricultural related project.
Method: 4-H Common Measure Experience Survey
Timeline: June 2023
Long-term Outcome: Producer participants will experience long-term viability in farming. Participants will reduce expenses and/or increase profits of farm operations.
Indicator: Producers self-reporting
Method: Post-program evaluations (use UK provided evaluations when applicable)
Timeline: 3 – 12 months post-program
Audience: 4-H Members age 9 to 18
Project or Activity: Horse Club Educational sessions
Content or Curriculum: Horse Educational Kit, Content identified by 4-H Club
Inputs: 4-H Staff, 4-H Certified Volunteers
Date: July 2022- June 2023
Audience: 4-H Members age 9 to 18
Project or Activity: Dog Club Educational sessions
Content or Curriculum: Dog Educational Kit, Content identified by 4-H Club
Inputs: 4-H Staff, 4-H Certified Volunteers
Date: July 2022- Jun 2023
Audience: 4-H Members age 9 to 18
Project or Activity: Poultry Club Educational sessions
Content or Curriculum: Poultry Educational Kit, Content identified by 4-H Club
Inputs: 4-H Staff, 4-H Volunteers
Date: July 2022- Jun 2023
Audience: 4-H Members Fourth grade
Project or Activity: Seed Science
Content or Curriculum: Teach KY AG - Soy Bean Lesson
Inputs: 4-H Staff, Oldham Schools
Date: July 2022- Jun 2023
Audience: 4-H Members Fourth Grade
Project or Activity: Chick Incubation
Content or Curriculum: Poultry Educational Kit
Inputs: 4-H Staff, Oldham County Schools
Date: July 2022- Jun 2023
Audience: New/Beginning Farmers
Project or Activity: Tractor Maintenance Workshop
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension information; Equipment Dealers’ Materials
Inputs: UK Ag Engineering Specialists; Agriculture Agent, Local Business or FFA Shop
Date: November 2022 - January 2023
Audience: Producers and Consumers
Project or Activity: Oldham County Ag Connection (Agriculture Education for producers and consumers; concentration on local food, plus all Oldham County Agriculture Activity)
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Extension materials; Producer Stories; Ag Census Data; KY Department of Agriculture resources
Inputs: Agriculture Agent, Local Producers, Local Experts/Guest Speakers
Date: Quarterly meetings beginning Fall 2022 (Pastures, Equine Industry, Farm Service Agency)
Audience: Cattle Producers
Project or Activity: Oldham County Cattlemen's Association meetings - all meetings include educational speaker
Content or curriculum: UK Extension and other related agency information
Inputs: Agriculture Agents, UK Specialists, Farm Hosts, Other local experts
Date: Meets Quarterly 2022-2023
Audience: Cattle Producers
Project or Activity: Beef Quality & Care Assurance Certification/Cattle Handling and Care Certification
Content or curriculum: UK Extension materials and videos
Inputs: Agriculture Agent
Date: November 2022, January 2023
Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Private Pesticide Applicator Training/Certification
Content or curriculum: UK Extension materials
Inputs: Agriculture Agent
Date: January 2023, February 2023, March 2023
Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Produce Best Practices Training
Content or curriculum: UK Extension materials
Inputs: Agriculture Agent
Date: March 2023
Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Farmers Market Scale Certification
Content or curriculum: KY Dept of Agriculture Farmers Market Manual
Inputs: Agriculture Agent, KDA Scale Inspector
Date: March 2023
Author: Traci Johnson
Major Program: Integrated Pest Management
Specialists for University of Kentucky Plant Sciences and Entomology began a research project in 2022 to create a pest alert system for nursery producers. In past surveys, nursery growers had indicated that pest scouting was a priority in their operations. This project was begun to provide timing of pest emergence information, help growers be aware of pests in their area, and develop an alert system that enabled pest management when pests were easier to kill and cheaper to manage.The
Author: Traci Johnson
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
During recent horse and farm equipment programs, participants voiced the need for more tractor and equipment information. General working knowledge, plus tractor operation, maintenance, and safety were topics of interest identified by farmers. This information is important for operator safety, farm efficiency, and in many cases can provide economic benefit. To begin addressing these needs, the Oldham County Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent partnered with a local farmer
Author: Traci Johnson
Major Program: Forages
Horses dominate the livestock landscape in Oldham County. The market value of horses sold in Oldham County was over 6.3 million dollars, according to the 2017 U.S. Agriculture Census, ranking Oldham County 6th in Kentucky. In Oldham and neighboring counties, cattle, horses, sheep, and goats represent a major segment of farm production. While different in many respects, all livestock have the common need of a good forage base for good nutrition. For cattle, sheep, and goa
Author: Traci Johnson
Major Program: Beef
Educating local livestock producers is a high priority in Shelby, Henry, Trimble and Oldham Counties. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, total beef, swine, sheep and goat animal sales yearly in the combined counties totals more than $32 million, emphasizing the need for livestock producers to take herd management and marketing decisions seriously. Increasing consumer demand for locally sourced protein and the participating counties’ proximity to urban markets in Louisv
Author: Kelly Woods
Major Program: Agriculture
What is more exciting than watching a living breathing chick emerge from an egg you have been caring for? 4-H members learned life skills, explored agricultural practices, discovered the incredible egg, and examined the nutritional value of the egg. 4-H members showed, 91% understood the process of chick incubation and practices, 81% monitored the humidity necessary successful hatching, and 84% learned to candle eggs monitoring their development. The nutritional value of the egg was investi
