Extension
It Starts With Us
Enhance the Strong Agicultural and Natural Resource Base
Agriculture and Natural Resource Development
Hall & Dotson
Beef
Forages
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Lawrence County has 284 operating farms. Crop sales in Lawrence County total $513,000 and animal sales totaled $743,00. Hay production and beef production are the leading agriculture operations in the county. (CEDIK) The extension service educates beef producers on best management practices to help keep costs down, optimize income through management and marketing, be good stewards of the land and practice good animal health. To also assist producers in being more successful farmers, extension offers educational programs that enhance forage productivity and optimizing animal performance with improving forage quality.
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 gardens will continue to look to Cooperative Extension for specific answers to their gardening questions.
*Improve sustainability of forage-based livestock systems
*Improve forage stands due to proper establishment practices
*Increase profits and operation and reduce expenses
*Improve cattle herd quality, genetics and efficiency
*Improve animal welfare and build build the reputation and value of KY cattle
*Minimize environmental impact by following recommended use of pesticides, herbicides, and/or fertilizers
*Volunteers help with community horticulture projects
*Develop employment skills
*Youth will master skills in raising and showing livestock and small animals.
*Develop grazing plans
*Implement practices to control the breeding season and enhance production efficiency
*Utilize a complete mineral supplement program
*Create improved livestock handling equipment/facilities
*Improve heifer development
*Individuals use Extension diagnostic services
* Gardeners use Integrated Pest Management practices
*Youth will demonstrate their abilities to put their education into motion through livestock camps, certification training's, and more.
*Understanding pasture renovation and forage establishment practices
*Awareness of forage harvest, storage, and feeding management to reduce losses
*Increased awareness of reproduction, genetics, nutrition, herd management and overall health.
*Understand body condition scoring and how to manage nutrition for a healthy reproductive animal
* Increase knowledge of horticulture and best practices in soil health, water conservation, and chemical use
*Youth will develop skills in raising their animals as well as in showmanship.
Initial Outcome: Understanding practices to optimize forage production and quality and improve harvesting, storage and feeding practices to reduce losses
Indicator: Number of participants who test their forage quality and show quality improvement
Method: Observation and Survey
Timeline: 2024-2025
Initial Outcome: Understanding how to manage overall health, nutrition, reproduction and herd management in beef operations
Indicator: Number of program participants that show improvement in their cattle operation
Indicator: Observation, Survey and Farm Visits
Timeline: 2024-2025
Intermediate Outcome: Control breeding season and enhance production efficiency with a complete mineral supplement program
Indicator: Number of program participants that indicate change in their operation
Method: Survey and Observation
Timeline: 2024-2025
Long-term Outcome: Minimize environmental impact by following recommended uses of pesticides, herbicides, and/or fertilizers
Indicator: Number of individuals stating they use only Extension recommendations based on samples sent in to labs on campus.
Method: Observation and Survey
Timeline: 2024-2025
Long-term Outcome: Master Gardener volunteers helping with community horticulture projects
Indicator: Number of volunteer hours served during community projects
Method: Survey
Timeline: 2024-2025
Initial Outcome: Youth will develop skills in raising their animals as well as in showmanship.
Indicator: Number of youth expressing interest in livestock related specialty clubs, number of youth and volunteers participating in such
Method: animal club participation, observation
Timeline: 2024-2025
Intermediate Outcome: Youth will demonstrate their abilities to put their education into motion through livestock camps, certification trainings, and more.
Indicator: Number of youth demonstrating improvement in their skills of showmanship as well as finding more ease in the upbringing and care of their animal(s)
Method: animal club participation, observation
Timeline: 2024-2025
Long-term Outcome: Youth will master skills in raising and showing livestock and small animals.
Indicator: Number of youth who show an animal at the County Fair, raise their animal for food consumption, or breed their animal to reproduce and continue projects at a later time
Method: animal club participation, observation, demonstration and showmanship
Timeline: 2024-2025
Audience: Land Owners/Forage Producers/Livestock Producers
Project or Activity: Educational programs, Field Days, Farm Visits and Conferences
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Resources
Inputs: UK CES
Date: Spring and Fall
Audience: Land Owners
Project or Activity: Field Days, Demonstrations, and Educational Programs
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Resources and NRCS
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, ANR Agents, NRCS, and Soil Conservation District
Date: Spring and Fall
Audience: Beef Cattle Producers
Project or Activity: Master Cattlemen, BQA Trainings, KY Heifer Development Program, Genetic Improvement Program
Content or Curriculum:UK Extension Resources
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, ANR Agents, Research Information
Date: Winter/Spring
Audience: Extension Master Gardener Volunteers
Project or Activity: Master Gardener class, Field Days, Educational Programs, Community Projects
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Master Gardener Manual, UK Extension Resources
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, ANR Agents
Date: Year round
Audience: Youth ages 5 and up
Program/Activity: Livestock Club
Content/Curriculum: Relevant 4-H Livestock Curriculum
Inputs: County-level certified volunteers, UK Extension Agents, UK Specialists, Local Veterinarians
Date: (year-round)
Audience: Youth ages 9 and up
Program/Activity: 4-H Poultry and incubation
Content/Curriculum: 4-H Poultry Curriculum
Inputs: County volunteers, UK Extension Agents, UK State Specialists
Date: June - August
Audience: Youth ages 5 and up
Program/Activity: Lawrence County Fair/Kentucky State Fair
Content/Curriculum: 4-H Animal Curriculum
Inputs: County Volunteers, UK Extension Agents, UK State Specialists, Local Veterinarians
Date: July
Author: Maelyn Dotson
Major Program: Agriculture
At the recent Lawrence County Fair, the 4-H/FFA Livestock Show and Auction was a tremendous success, highlighting the strong, long-lasting partnership between 4-H and FFA. Local youth proudly presented their animals and 4-H country ham projects, developing valuable skills in animal husbandry, public speaking, and leadership. Community partners, including Farm Bureau, Lawrence County Fiscal Court, Lawrence County Tourism, and local meat shops, came together to bid at the auction, ensuring t
Author: Maelyn Dotson
Major Program: Agritourism Planning
Lawrence County's 4-H and FFA programs provide essential opportunities for youth to develop leadership skills and gain hands-on agricultural experience. With increasing demands on resources, these programs rely heavily on community support to sustain their activities. To meet these needs, a creative and engaging fundraising event was necessary to connect the community with the youth programs they value.In response, the Harvest Moon Gala, a farm-to-table dinner, was created to raise funds for
Author: Lane Hall
Major Program: Beef
Imagine a hay feeding system where you did not have to use a tractor for months at a time and that allowed you to build up pasture fertility without applying commercial fertilizer. What if this same system also kept your cattle clean during the winter without coats caked in mud and manure, allowed you to creep graze fall-born calves, and built up the organic matter levels in your pasture soils. As far-fetched as this may sound, all these benefits are possible with an innovative winter-feeding te
