Expanding Opportunities for Technology, Sustainability, and Environmental StewardshipPlan of Work

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Hopkins County CES

Title:
Expanding Opportunities for Technology, Sustainability, and Environmental Stewardship
MAP:
Environmental Quality, Education, and Innovation
Agents Involved:
Jeremy Teal, Erika Lyons, Curtis Dame, Katie Jury, and Katherine Jury
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Chemical Crop Management Tools
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Urban Environments (water issues)
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Ag Water Quality Program
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
Situation:
Producers, Youth, and Citizens will learn scientific research
techniques, responsible practices and innovative technologies that positively address science, environmental and technology issues in Kentucky. In addition to technology and its incorporation other issues that clients in Hopkins County have expressed interest in include Water Quality, Pesticide Safety, and sustainable practices. Developing and implementing Agriculture Water Quality Plans and Nutrient Management Plans can help farmers stay compliant with state laws, protect water quality, improve farm operations, and maximize profits. Educational programs for agricultural producers include county producer meetings, Master Gardener classes, and community coalitions. Collaborations with conservation districts and USDA service centers will strengthen county programs and maximize opportunities for farmers.

Long-Term Outcomes:
Reduce environmental impact to water, soil, or air

Protect and improve water quality

Maximize profits for Agriculture producers

Educate Youth on efficient production methods

Increase understanding of various production methods

Volunteers extend the educational outreach of the Cooperative Extension Service in areas such as community gardens, youth gardening, environmentally sustaining lawn and garden practices, and other topics.


Intermediate Outcomes:
Develop or update plans
• Urban Environments (water issues)
• Nutrient Management
• Implement Ag Water Quality Plans

Evaluate weather and physical conditions when making decisions
• Evaluate problem areas during seasons of challenging weather (excess rainfall, drought, etc.)
• Evaluate chemical storage, handling, and disposal

Participants (certified EMG volunteers) put into practice the skills learned when completing volunteer hours and working with clientele.

Youth put into practice knowledge and skills necessary regarding sounds environmental practices.
Initial Outcomes:
Understand importance of clean water

Increase knowledge of best management practices for protecting and improving water quality

Demonstrate proper use of
sprayers and equipment related to application (calibration, nozzle selection, boom height, etc.)

Identify active ingredients in chemical products and relate to modes of action

Read and comprehend directions for applying chemicals (timing, application conditions)

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increased knowledge of Environmental laws, regulations and proper practices

Indicator: Surveys and certification completion

Method: Private applicator trainings and clinics

Timeline: 2017-2018


Intermediate Outcome: Increased knowledge of local production practices and roles

Indicator: Master Gardener certification and participation; BQA Certification and Master Grazer programming

Method: EMG Curriculum, Meetings and Field Days

Timeline: 2017-2018


Long-term Outcome: Reduce environmental impact to water, soil, or air. Increase profits for agriculture enterprises

Indicator: CEDIK Survey Data, Ag Census Data, Hay Testing Program, Farmer's Market Productivity, and Producer profitability

Method: Surveys, ON-site visits, Client adoption of practices and shared-use equipment usage rates.

Timeline: 2017-2020

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Grain Crop Producers, Home Owners, and Commercial Vegetable Producers

Project or Activity: Private Applicator Trainings

Content or Curriculum: Pesticide Training Modules

Inputs: Extension Agents, County Extension Office, Shared-use demonstrations and supplies

Date: 2017-2018


Audience: Master Gardeners

Project or Activity: Spring Lawn and Garden Fair/ Community Gardens

Content or Curriculum: Efficient and Sustainable Produce Production Methods

Inputs: Hands-on Activities, Field Days, Trainings, and Certifications

Date: 2017-2018


Audience: Hopkins County Youth and 4-H Members

Project or Activity: SET and Natural Resources programming

Content or Curriculum: Environment and SET Core curriculum

Inputs: Agents, Specialists, Field Days and Trips

Date: 2017-2018



Success Stories

Summer Gardening Series A Success

Author: Erika Wood

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

~A summer gardening class series was conducted at the Hopkins County Extension Office as a way to meet the increasing demands of Hopkins County residents interested in various lawn and garden topics.  Three different classes were taught in the summer of 2017.  The first class was on Landscape Plants for Shade.  This class taught about the different kinds of ornamental plants that thrive in various shady conditions of a garden.  The second class was called Gardening and Your H

Full Story

Farm Equipment on Roadways: Preparation and Accident Prevention Video Project

Author: Curtis Dame

Major Program: Farm Management

Farm equipment continues to grow in size and depending on the time of year the frequency on local roadways will increase as well. With that said safety should always be a contributing factor in how producers and motorists plan for encounters on local roadways. Recently cooperative efforts were made between Agriculture and Natural Resource Agents in Hopkins and Muhlenberg Counties to address this growing concern of farm equipment safety on Kentucky roadways. In order to address key areas of conce

Full Story

Agri-Preneurial Conference enhances Collaboration and Farm Management

Author: Curtis Dame

Major Program: Grain Crops

Farm management relies heavily on understanding the costs of production, proper management and utilization of technology and research. For the second year agriculture and natural resource agents from the counties of Hopkins, Muhlenberg, and Webster have worked cooperatively with the Madisonville-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation to plan and host the Roots to Riches Agri-preneurial Conference in hopes of promoting increased risk management as well as providing a one-stop shop for lo

Full Story

Spring Lawn and Garden Fair a Success

Author: Erika Wood

Major Program: Master Gardener

The Spring Lawn and Garden Fair is a program run by the Pennyroyal Master Gardener Association. The fair takes place at the Hopkins County Extension Service and offers a variety of activities including educational talks and demonstrations relating to horticulture, lawn and garden vendors, plant sales, and activities for children.  The purpose of the fair is to educate local residents about different topics relating to horticulture, as well as raising awareness of the Master Gardener program

Full Story

Improving Corn Production Net Income through Nitrogen Input Evaluation

Author: Curtis Dame

Major Program: Grain Crops

Corn Production in Western Kentucky has been historically management intensive. This statement relies heavily on a high level of management, input and other factors needed to ensure a profitable yield and hopefully profit for producers. One such input that can inflate production prices is the use of nitrogen during the crop season. Hopkins County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources along with one of his data driven producers have focused efforts on improving profitability by ev

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Expansion of On-Farm Research drives Evalution of Farm Inputs

Author: Curtis Dame

Major Program: Farm Management

Since 2013 on-farm research in Hopkins County has been a well received program provided by extension personnel. With that said efforts have been made to answer producer questions related to products that been highly touted, but lack data to prove that claims of profit increases are actually tested and sound. Expansion of these efforts have been driven by producer committees that have selected which products would be tested. In the spring of 2018 data analysis showed significant results on a majo

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Plant Swap Enhances People’s Knowledge of Plants

Author: Erika Wood

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

In the past two years, the Pennyroyal Master Gardener Association has held a spring and fall plant swap at the Hopkins County Farmers Market.  The purpose of the plant swap was to give the community an opportunity to come swap plants with one another.  Participants brought plants they were willing to give away and then could pick from plants donated by other participants to take home.  A wide range of plants were brought to the swap and included the following: herbaceous perennial

Full Story
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