Marketing, Diversifying, and Managing Local AgriculturePlan of Work

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Estill County CES

Title:
Marketing, Diversifying, and Managing Local Agriculture
MAP:
Local Foods and Sustainable Agriculture
Agents Involved:
Taylor Miles, Judy Vaughn, Emma Lee
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Substance Use and Mental Health - ANR
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Forages
Situation:
Due to lower commodity prices and higher input prices, farms need to diversify and become more efficient in order to insulate against prolonged suppressed pricing.
Long-Term Outcomes:
Stabilize farm incomes using improved marketing techniques, development of a robust local food economy, and diversified enterprises.
Intermediate Outcomes:
Farmers and community members will adopt new technologies and practices based on research by land grant universities that encourage the use of local products, local marketing, practical risk management plans, and smart diversification.
Initial Outcomes:
Increase knowledge, and skills in production techniques, and marketing tools.
Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge, and skills in production techniques, and marketing tools.

Indicator: Use of marketing tools

Method: Inverviews

Timeline: Fall 2021


Intermediate Outcome: The adoption of new technologies to encourage local marketing.

Indicator: Increased awareness of local food systems in the local community

Method: Increased use of local food market

Timeline: Summer 2022


Long-term Outcome: Development of a robust local food economy

Indicator: stable, diverse local food market

Method: frequency of Farmers Market days and number of vendors

Timeline: Fall 2024

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Farmers

Project or Activity: Crop Production Meeting

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: Winter


Audience: Farmers

Project or Activity: Livestock Production Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: All year


Audience: Community members/ youth

Project or Activity: Horticulture Meetings

Content or Curriculum:

Date: Winter/Spring


Audience: Youth/Farmers

Project or Activity: Farm Field Day

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: Summer/Fall


Audience: Community members/ youth

Project or Activity: Vocational Technology Center Cooperation

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: All Year


Audience: Farmers

Project or Activity: Forage Management

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: Winter/Spring


Audience: youth

Project or Activity: Animal Science Project Group/Clubs

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: September-May


Audience: Community members

Project or Activity: C.A.I.P Cost Share Program

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: All Year


Audience: Community members

Project or Activity: Farmer's Market

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: All Year


Audience: Farmers

Project or Activity: Agriculture Marketing

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: All year


Audience: Farmers

Project or Activity: BQCA Training

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: All Year


Audience: Community members/ youth

Project or Activity: Forest Management

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: All Year


Audience: Farmers/ Youth

Project or Activity: Farm Tours/ Field Days

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: All Year


Audience: Farmers/ Youth

Project or Activity: Small Farm Management 

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: All Year





Success Stories

Houseplant Series

Author: Emma Lee

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

Houseplant Series

In my county, I had talked to a few clients that had an interest in houseplants. This is a topic that I have studied extensively and I decided to offer a series of programs to the community. I held three programs in the series: Introduction to Houseplants, Propagation of Houseplants, and Making a Terrarium. There were 9 participants. Some attendees said that they love houseplants but do not know how to keep them alive; Others came to the programs simply to have fellowship with other plant hobbyi

Full Story

Sorghum Client

Author: Emma Lee

Major Program: Grains

Last year, a producer who grows sweet sorghum came to me asking for recommendations to increase sugar content in his crop. I have diligently worked with him through soil tests, hay tests, and manure tests to narrow down the solution to increasing sugar content. He only uses manure as fertilizer, so we sent the manure off to be tested for nutrient content. We talked to multiple specialists to get ideas on what can be done. As of yesterday, this client came in and informed me that his sorghum suga

Full Story

Grafting Workshop

Author: Emma Lee

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

Many producers in Estill County produce apples and different kinds of fruit. Last year, I held my first grafting class and it was very successful. I held the same class again this year to teach/refresh producers on how to graft scion wood onto rootstock. A local orchard farmer of many years attended to assist me with the class. We discussed the background and importance of grafting, and then began the demonstration of different ways to graft. Producers watched and then attempted to graft their r

Full Story
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