Daviess County CES

Title:

Agriculture Production, Management, and Environment

MAP:

Agriculture Production, Management, and Environment

Agents Involved:

Hardy, Heisdorffer

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Farm Management, Economics and Policy

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Horticulture, Consumer and Home

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Grains

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development

Situation:

Equity in farm business has been on a path of decline since approximately 2014, as net revenues have fallen due to inventory supply expansion and demand destruction related to trade policy and COVID-19-induced economic recession.  Rapid increase in farmland values have leveled from the 2006 to 2013 period, while at the same time, revenues from grain and livestock receipts have declined, forcing many to acquire farm operating loans based on collateral rather than cash flow lending standards, further eroding equity in their land holdings.  COVID-19 has arrived to bring further trouble to the agricultural economy.  Restrictions on travel have reduced motor vehicle travel and subsequent ethanol consumption, the sink for nearly 40% of the U.S. corn crop, during a period when South America is capitalizing on Chinese agricultural tariffs of imported agricultural commodities from the United States.  In the past two years, nearly 20% of net farm income has been comprised of government subsidies.  This non-recurring income has kept farms going but has become essential for survival, rather than the safety net as designed.  Continuation or curtailing quantitative easing could be how the future of some businesses are determined.        

In 2018 the National Gardening Survey indicated that 77% of American households garden in some way. Recent trends indicate that more and more Americans are growing their own food (35% of households), while interests in ornamentals remains high, particularly in the area of gardening to support pollinators and other ecological uses of plants. American gardeners will continue to look to Cooperative Extension for specific answers to their gardening questions while protecting the environment 

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Maintain or increase ag profit or reduce expense and/or risk 

• Minimize environmental impact 

• Sustain family farms 

• Minimize environmental impact by following recommended use of pesticides, herbicides, and/or fertilizers 

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Implement one or more best practices 

• Practice one or more recommendations 

• Make decisions based on Extension information 

• Evaluate their home or farm operation to determine which recommendations are appropriate 

• ROI 

• Use Integrated Pest Management practices 

Initial Outcomes:

• Observe best practices related to production and financial management 

• Identify three practices to protect environment, such as water, chemicals, or pollinators 

• Increase their knowledge of horticulture and best practices in soil health, water conservation, chemical use, plant selection for pollinators, selection of trees, and maintenance of the landscape

• Recognize the value of diagnostic testing 

• Gain knowledge of native plants

• Gain knowledge of how to grow vegetables in a home garden
  
  
  

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome:  Participants will identify 2 native plants that can be used in their garden.  

Indicator:  Number of people who can list 2 native plants for their garden. 

Method:  Self-reporting survey after meeting 

Timeline:  Summer-Fall 2023 and  Late Spring 2024

Intermediate Outcome:  People will use Extension information to maintain gardens properly  

Indicator:  Number of people using Extension information to maintain gardens properly

Method:  Follow up self-reporting survey  

Timeline: July-October 2023 and March-June 2024

Long-term Outcome: Maintain or increase ag profit or reduce expense and/or risk

Indicator: Financial reporting

Method: Observation of KFBM summaries

Timeline: Summer 2023

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Newspaper and Newsletter Audience and Gardeners 

Project or Activity: Best Management Practices to Protect the Environment, such as: Rain gardens, rain barrel construction, IPM, and protecting pollinators

Content or Curriculum: Extension publications

Inputs: Agent, Extension Master Gardeners

Date: July-December 2023 and January-June 2024

Audience: Grain Farm Business Managers

Project or Activity: Ag Expo

Content or Curriculum: Research-based discussion of production challenges

Inputs: Extension Specialists and Curriculum

Date: January 2024

Audience: Beef Farm Business Managers

Project or Activity: CPH 45 Feeder Calf Marketing

Content or Curriculum: Beef IRM committee recommendations

Inputs: Extension Specialists and Local Sale Committee

Date: 2023/2024

Audience: Agronomists, Seed Dealers, Grain Producers

Project or Activity: Daviess County Grain Research and Demonstration Plots

Content or Curriculum: Provide unbiased data supporting the efficacy of seed brands promoted in our area

Inputs: Seed companies and local plot planning committee

Date: 2024

Audience:  Gardeners, General Public

Project or Activity:  Vegetable Gardening 

Content or Curriculum:  UK Publications

Inputs:  Agent, Extension Master Gardeners

Date:  July-October 2023 and February-June 2024

Audience:  Gardeners, General Public

Project or Activity:  Attracting Pollinators and Butterflies

Content or Curriculum:  Extension Publications

Inputs:  Agent, Extension Master Gardeners

Date:   July - September 2023 and March 2024

Audience:  Gardeners, General Public

Project or Activity:  Advanced Gardening Topics including Native Plants

Content or Curriculum:  Extension Publications including Extension Master Gardener Manual

Inputs:  Agent, Extension Specialists

Date:  2023/2024

Success Stories