Extension
It Starts With Us
Commercial Agriculture- Education, promotion, and awareness.
Agriculture
NB
Beef
Grain Crops
Forages
ANR Biotechnology
49.2 % of Marshall County land is used for farming operations. Todays Marshall County Farmers seek additional education on topics relating to their operations. When surveyed the Marshall County Producers indicated their desire for more learning opportunities. 100% of the participants of the Forage/hay School indicated that they would like more trainings related to hay/forages and livestock. 100% of the beef Meeting attendees indicated that they would attend more educational beef cattle production related trainings. Over 95% of the Grain Grower meeting participants said that they would like me to have a yearly event relating to furthering their education on grain crop topics.
Also, there is a nation wide need for more agriculture awareness and education. In todays world, there are many topics related to agriculture that are misunderstood. Credible scientific information is often misinterpreted or ignored. Discrediable sources are often believed and many times agriculture takes the blame. Topics such as biotechnology, genetically modified organisms, agriculture production techniques and agriculture's environmental impact are often misunderstood. The community needs more educational opportunity on these topics and the farmers need help becoming better advocates for american agriculture.
Farmers will have the confidence necessary to manage a sustainable business, and communicate agriculture production awareness with the public. The implication of university recommendations will likely lead to:
improved quality of products (grain, animal health, etc.)
reduced expenses
maximized profits
minimized environmental impact
improved economic status of farm
improved farm stability
increased long term viability
Non farmer participants will have a understanding of agriculture science. They will be confident in their opinions on agriculture related topics, and have the education needed to evaluate media information. They will use unbiased research based information to construct their opinions. They will share their opinions with their communities.
Participants/farmers will utilize the land grant research, incorporate the best management practices, adopt the recommended tools, apply the unbiased information presented, utilize the diagnostic laboratory, soil test on their farms, and communicate with he public.
This information will allow non farmers to make informed decisions and evaluate their personal positions on topics such as agriculture production awareness.
Participants/farmers will become aware of land grant research, recognize best management practices, be introduced to tools (such as risk management tools), be given unbiased resources and information, understand the amount of unbiased or falsified information out there.
Initial Outcome: Awareness
Indicator: Turnout, client satisfaction.
Method: Survey, and verbal communication.
Timeline: At meeting.
Intermediate Outcome: Utilization
Indicator: Recommendations turn into acts.
Method: Visual indicators, site visits, verbal communication, etc.
Timeline: On-going.
Long-term Outcome: Improvements
Indicator: Improvements mentioned in long term outcomes.
Method: Visual indicators, site visits, verbal communication, etc.
Timeline: On-going.
Audience: Livestock/Forage Producers
Project or Activity: Large Yearly beef meeting, field trips, UK masters programs (Master Grazer, Cattlemen, Stocker, or Marketer), BQA (Beef Quality Assurance), farm visits, social media, newsletter articles, etc.
Content or Curriculum: UK's unbiased researched based information and curriculums.
Inputs: Agent/Specialist time, training materials, advertising efforts, facilities, etc.
Date: On-going.
Audience: Grain Growers
Project or Activity: Large yearly grain growers meeting, farm visits, social media, newsletter articles, field days, scouting, demonstration plots, etc.
Content or Curriculum: UK's unbiased researched based information and curriculums.
Inputs: Agent/Specialist time, training materials, advertising efforts, facilities, etc.
Date: On-going.
Audience: Farmers/Everybody
Project or Activity: Agriculture awareness efforts (social media, non farmer programs, farmers trainings, informal day to day communications, newsletter articles, etc.)
Content or Curriculum: UK's unbiased researched based information and curriculums.
Inputs: Agent/Specialist time, training materials, advertising efforts, facilities, etc.
Date: On-Going
Author: Nicole Rhein
Major Program: Bees/Beekeeping
Four beekeeping associations and three related businesses in western Kentucky collaborated with Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Agents from five counties to offer the 3rd Annual Bee School at the Marshall County Extension Office. Program topics were organized into beginning and advanced tracks. Fifty-one people attended from seven counties in Kentucky and two from Illinois. Eight had not attended a bee school before. Topics included advanced and basic beekeeping, basic equipment, top
Author: Nicole Rhein
Major Program: Small Ruminants
Small ruminants, including sheep and goats, have an important place in livestock production. They can produce meat, milk, other products, as well as being used for woody plant control, livestock shows and more.The Small Ruminant Farmer could be considered an underserved audience. So much so, that the United States Department of Agriculture started the "Small Ruminant Farmer Initiative." Their purpose was to improve technical service and program participation in all USDA programs throug
Author: Nicole Rhein
Major Program: Beef
The Master Cattleman Program is the flagship educational program for Kentucky cattle producers. It incorporates all phases of beef production into an intensive educational effort challenging Kentucky beef producers to be competitive and successful. Participants receive 40 hours of classroom instruction divided equally among 10 topic areas: Management skills for the beef business Forage production and utilization Nutrition for optimum production Environmental stewardshipIndust
