Agriculture ProductionPlan of Work

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Simpson County CES

Title:
Agriculture Production
MAP:
23-24 Ag Production, Profitability and Awareness
Agents Involved:
Jason Phillips, Catherine Webster
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Forages
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Agriculture & Natural Resources
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Grains
Situation:

Situation: According to the most recent Agriculture Census, Simpson County has 467 farm operations on 101,530 acres, which represents 67.7% of total county land. In comparison, Kentucky’s farm operations make up 51.6% of the state’s total land area. The majority of Simpson County producers remain reliant on income from traditional commodities such as grain crops, tobacco and livestock production. Public Awareness about agriculture production is increasingly important due to a growing population of citizens without an agricultural background or knowledge about the food production process. The Simpson County Extension Council and Ag Advisory Council identified the importance of providing programming to improve practices and profitability for crop and livestock producers as well as promoting agricultural awareness in these areas.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Long-term Outcomes: Clientele will improve crop and livestock production systems by minimizing costs of production and efficiently utilizing resources. Implementation of these practices along with improved marketing skills will increase profitability. Through increased profitability for local farm families and the local economy, the quality of life for residents in Simpson County will improve. In addition, increased agricultural awareness will allow local citizens to understand the dynamics of our food production systems. This will allow families to make more informed decisions about food consumption and purchases, understand the impact of regulations affecting agricultural production, provide a better overall understanding of production systems, and provide a positive source of information for the public about food production in the U.S. Youth will be advocates for agriculture and healthy & sustainable food systems.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Intermediate Outcomes: Clientele will implement a variety of improved crop and livestock production practices and marketing techniques utilizing knowledge gained through Extension training, workshops, field days, publications, newsletters, newspaper articles and radio programs. Awareness programs will result in accurate and agriculture friendly discussions, social media posts and community leadership. Youth can explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others.

Initial Outcomes:

Initial Outcome: Clientele will be better equipped with knowledge to take, follow and implement Extension soil test fertility management recommendations; scout for weeds, insects and diseases; select disease resistant and higher yielding varieties; make timely plantings; research new technologies; enter into sustainable crop lease agreements; improve their marketing decisions; make better management decisions to optimize their individual cropping system; understand how to take a fact-based approach when assessing agriculture and food related information. Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and animal sciences.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Producers will increase their knowledge, make practice changes and increase overall profitability while improving the public perception of agriculture and the long-term sustainability of our food systems.

Indicator: The number of producers indicating knowledge, practice, profitability and awareness as a result of information presented at Extension sponsored events. Participants in youth programs will demonstrate a skill that was learned or improved.

Method: Post-meeting evaluations

Timeline: Evaluations will be given immediately following programs and one to twenty four months following training sessions.

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Current & prospective crop producers, agribusiness

representatives

Project or Activity: Grain day

Content or Curriculum: Grain production education

Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, facilities, UK specialists, UK publications

Date: Winter 2024


Audience: Current & prospective grain & forage producers, Agribusiness

representatives

Project or Activity: Promoting UK Performance Trials

Content or Curriculum: small grain, soybean, corn hybrid and forage

performance variety trial information and education

Inputs: radio programs, newsletters, one-on-one consultations

Date: 2023-2024 program year


Audience: Extension Agents, current & prospective crop producers,

landowners, agribusiness representatives

Project or Activity: UK Zoom Program Series

Content or Curriculum: Timely beef and forage production information accessible by

agents and clients anywhere there is an internet connection

Inputs: Agent time, paid staff, UK specialists, Computers, Extension pubs

Date: 2023-2024 program year


Audience: Crop and Livestock Producers

Project or Activity: Phase I Programming for Crops/Livestock

Content or Curriculum: Educational information pertaining to crop and

livestock production

Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, newsletters, Kentucky Office of

Agricultural Policy, UK resources

Date: January-April 2024


Audience: Current & Perspective Tobacco Producers, Agribusiness

Representatives

Project or Activity: Tobacco Production & Disease Control

Content or Curriculum: variety selection, pest management, fertility,

tillage, sucker control, GAP training

Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, UK specialists, Extension publications,

newsletters, radio programs

Date: January 2024


Audience: Current & perspective hemp producers, agribusiness

representatives

Project or Activity: Hemp programming

Content or Curriculum: Hemp for grain, cbd, hemp systems; in-county hemp production plots

Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, facilities, UK specialists, UK publications

Date: 2023-2024 program year


Audience: Current & Perspective beef producers, agribusiness

representatives

Project or Activity: Educational Beef Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Cattleman’s Association, UK, industry

educators, Beef Council

Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, meeting facilities, UK specialists,

Industry specialists, Radio programs, Newsletters

Date: 2023-2024 program year


Audience: General public, current and prospective beef producers

Project or Activity: Beef Month Promotion

Content or Curriculum: beef educational information, mass media

awareness, food safety

Inputs: Agent’s time, media outlets, paid staff, newsletters

Date: May 2024


Audience: current and prospective beef producers

Project or Activity: Simpson/Warren Beef Tour

Content or Curriculum: beef educational information, Extension Beef Specialists, Kentucky Beef Network

Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, newsletters

Date: July 2023


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Ag Awareness Breakfast

Content or Curriculum: agriculture promotion and awareness, showcase

local food products

Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, newsletters, radio programs, local food

producers, Ag Advisory Council

Date: March 2024


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Youth Ag Education 

Content or Curriculum: agriculture promotion and awareness for school age children

Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, newsletters, radio programs, presenters,

UK publications, Ag Advisory Council

Date: September 2023-May 2024


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Franklin-Simpson Boofest

Content or Curriculum: showcase past and present agricultural production through AGgtivities 

methods and agencies supporting agriculture

Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, media promotion, newsletters, Ag Advisory Council

Date: October 2023


Audience:  Outdoor and wildlife enthusiasts

Project or Activity:  Wildlife Field Programming and Video Series

Content or Curriculum:  provide wildlife managers key research and information in improving wildlife habitat 

Inputs:  Agents time, video equipment and software, paid staff

Date:  August 2023-February 2024


Audience:  

Project or Activity:  In the Field with UK Extension Video Series

Content or Curriculum:  timely agriculture and horticulture topics addressed by Simpson and Allen County Extension Agents for Agriculture and posted to YouTube for viewing

Inputs:  Agents time, video equipment and software, paid staff 

Date:  2023-2024 program year


Audience: Industry 

Project or Activity: SOKY Commercial Pesticide Training

Content or Curriculum: Commercial Pest Control Education

Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, facilities, UK specialists, industry specialists, UK publications, newsletters, radio programs

Date: November 2023


Audience: Agricultural producers

Project or Activity: Private Pesticide Applicators Training

Content or Curriculum: proper handling, storage, application methods, calibration, etc.

Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, meeting facility, UK resources, newsletters, radio program

Date: February – March 2024



Success Stories

Beef Tour

Author: Jason Phillips

Major Program: Beef

Simpson County Beef producers expressed a desire to see the University of Kentucky Meat Science Lab and to tour the Eden Shale Farm in Owenton, KY.  The meats lab tour provided insight that was beneficial for all beef producers and especially helpful to those that produce direct-to-consumer beef products.  The Eden Shale Farm featured many practices from the University of Kentucky and Kentucky Beef network that are extremely practical for producers to utilize on their own farm.  A

Full Story

Italian Ryegrass Control Research Trial

Author: Jason Phillips

Major Program: Grains

Over the last few years, Italian Ryegrass has become an increasingly problematic weed for grain producers in Simpson County and in south central and western Kentucky.  It grows aggressively and competes for light, nutrients and water with desirable crops.  It can be challenging in winter wheat, corn and soybeans.  Several Simpson County producers have had to destroy corn crops and replant due to the invasive nature of Italian Ryegrass.  The first herbicide resistant Italian R

Full Story

Gardening Demonstration Project

Author: Jason Phillips

Major Program: Local Food Systems

Fresh food accessibility can be minimal when operating on a limited budget.  This can be especially true without knowledge of how to properly grow and prepare fresh food products.  Residents of the Franklin Housing Authority expressed an interest in learning more about growing fresh vegetables, proper gardening techniques and utilization of fresh vegetables in recipes.  In response, the Simpson County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources and Simpson County NEP Ass

Full Story
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