Kenton County CES

Title:

2024 2025 Agriculture and Horticulture Economic Support Programs

MAP:

2024 Sustainable Agriculture and Horticulture Practice

Agents Involved:

Dan Allen, Joan Bowling, Diane Kelley, Lori Clark, Denise Donahue, Brandon George, Anna Meyers

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Beef

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Substance Use Recovery - ANR

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Horticulture, Consumer and Home

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Small Farm Diversification

Situation:

Kenton County has a very diverse cross section of farm and horticulture ventures. These agriculture and horticulture enterprises contribute to the total household income. Based on input from advisory council, County Extension Council and Community Needs Assessment there is a need for continued education in research based, and best management practices in horticulture and agriculture to ensure that these small farms can continue and be more profitable.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Increased agriculture and horticulture production and efficiency. By using University of Kentucky research and other reliable sources these residents will be able to implement ongoing practices that translate to bottom line profitability.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Transition from current practices to adoption of best management practices to enhance existing enterprises and exploration of other revenue streams from these agriculture and horticulture practices.

Initial Outcomes:

Kenton County Extension offers innovative and research-based programs that are relevant and timely so as to increase productivity in areas like, variety selection, good livestock husbandry, marketing basics, time saving techniques, and crop production.

Evaluation:

Outcome: Ag & Hort producers implement best management practices. 

Indicator: Class participation and follow-up surveys in 6 to 10 mos. 

Method: Online and mail surveys, farm visits, and phone calls 

Timeline: 6 months to a year 

Outcome: Increase household incomes due to better productivity and successful new economic ventures 

Indicator: Positive feedback given to agents 

Method: Follow up surveys, and one-on-one surveys 

Timeline: 6 months to a year 

Outcome: Acceptance of good sustainability practices 

Indicator: Feedback provided to agents, farm visits, and interaction with producers. 

Method: In person and mailed surveys 

Timeline: Ongoing

Learning Opportunities:

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:

Audience: All Residents Project or Activity: Quarterly Agriculture Econ and Marketing Committee Content or Curriculum: Forum designed by volunteer leaders and agent
 Inputs: Local businesses in nontraditional enterprises
 Date: Quarterly year round 

Audience: Residents Interested in Agritourism
 Project or Activity: Preparing your farm for Visitors
 Content or Curriculum: UK and other University Research
 Inputs: Publications and Agent Designed program
 Date: Jan 2024 

 Audience: Farmers Markets and CSA Operators
 Project or Activity: PBPT
 Content or Curriculum: UK Program
 Inputs: UK video series, FCS and Ag Agent
 Date: March 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 

 Audience: Beginning Beekeepers
 Project or Activity: Where Do I Start With Beekeeping?
 Content or Curriculum: UK and Agent Designed
 Inputs: UK and State of Kentucky, local beekeeper supplier
 Date: December 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 

 Audience: Cow Calf Operators
 Project or Activity: Calving and Calf Care
 Content or Curriculum: UK Materials
 Inputs: UK Specialists, Ag Agent
 Date: Jan 2023, 2024, 2025

Audience: Cow Calf Operators
 Project or Activity: Choosing the Right Bull
 Content or Curriculum: UK Beef IRM
 Inputs: Prerecorded Distance learning Program
 Date: Sept 2024

Audience: Backyard and Small-Scale Egg Producers
 Project or Activity: Nutrition and Breed Selection for Egg Production
 Content or curriculum: UK Specialist Small Flock Content
 Inputs: Agent and UK Small Flock Specialist
 Date: May 2024 

 Audience: Horse Stable Owners
 Project or Activity: Horse Arena & Facilities Management
 Content or Curriculum: UK Equine Program
 Inputs: Local Agent and UK Specialists
 Date: Fall 2024 

 Audience; Small Scale Swine Operators
 Project of Activity: Raising a Hog for the Freezer
 Content or Curriculum: UK Swine research
 Inputs: Local Agent and UK Specialists
 Date: May 2024

 Audience: Kenton County Residents
 Project or Activity: Successful Planter Gardens
 Content or Curriculum: UK and other university research
 Inputs: Agent designed, and specialist input where needed
 Date: Spring 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

 Audience: Kenton County Residents
 Project or Activity: Successful Home Vegetable Gardening
 Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
 Inputs: UK Home Vegetable Guide
 Date: Late Winter, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

 Audience: Kenton County Residents
 Project or Activity: Raising Berries and Fruits in the Backyard
 Content or Curriculum: Agent designed and UK research
 Inputs: Agent, Specialist
 Date: Spring 2022, 2024, 2025

 Audience: Homeowners
 Project or Activity: Renewing Your Home Landscape
 Content or Curriculum: Agent designed
 Inputs: UK publications on plant selection, pruning, maintenance, etc.
 Date: May 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

 Audience: Kenton County Residents
 Project or Activity: Fall Vegetable Gardening
 Content or Curriculum: UK Vegetable Gardening Guide
 Inputs: Agents, specialists
 Date: August 2024, 2025

Audience: Silage Feed Producers
 Project or Activity: Silage Field Day
 Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Publications and Research
 Inputs: Agent and UK Specialists, publications and state soil test lab
 Date: September 2024

 Audience: Beef Cattle Operators
 Project or Activity: Getting the Most from my Pasture
 Content or Curriculum: UK Beef IRM and agronomic publications
 Inputs: UK Specialists, and Agent
 Date: 2024 

 Audience: Horse Owners
 Project or Activity: Save My Horse Pasture! Equine Conference
 Content or curriculum: Pastures Please Program, UK research
 Inputs: UK publications, specialists
 Date: Fall 2024

 Audience: Crop, Hay and Pasture growers
 Project or Activity: Why Do I Soil Sample? (online distance learning)
 Content or Curriculum: Published research, UK research Inputs: UK soils lab, ag agent
 Date: Ongoing as needed

 Audience: Small Agriculture or Horticulture Enterprise owners
 Project or Activity: Is it Time to do Another SWOT Analysis?
 Content or Curriculum: UK Ag Leadership’s SWOT Curriculum
 Inputs: UK publications, AG and FCS Agent
 Date:  December 2024 

 Audience: Small Agriculture or Horticulture Enterprise owners
 Project or Activity: Am I Planning for Retirement?
 Content or Curriculum: UK FCS curriculum, Annies Project UK Research
 Inputs: UK publications, specialists and agents
 Date: January 2024

 

Audience: Cattle BQA
 Project or Activity: BQA Certification
 Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
 Inputs: Specialists/Agents
 Date: Nov 2024, Jan 2025

 Audience: Kenton County youth age 9-18 years
 Project or Activity: 4-H Agriculture Programs
 Content or Curriculum: Ky 4-H curriculum and kits
 Inputs: 4-H volunteers, agents, county program funds
 Date: September 2024 through August 2025

 Audience: Kenton County youth
 Project or Activity: 4-H County, District, State Fairs and Shows
 Content or Curriculum: 4-H Rules and guidelines
 Inputs: University of Kentucky’s State 4-H Office, Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Office of Agricultural Marketing, Office of State Veterinarian, The Kentucky State Fair Board, Kenton County Fair Board, 4-H Agents, 4-H volunteers
 Date: July 2024 through June 2025

 Audience: Kenton County youth
 Project or activity: Horse Bowl contest
 Content or curriculum: 4-H Horse Bowl manual
 Inputs:
 Date: September 2024 through June 2025

 Audience: Kenton County 4-H Horse club members
 Project or activity: 4-H Horse education classes
 Content or curriculum: Ky 4-H Horse manuals and kit, Achievement book series
 Inputs:
 Date: September 2024 through April 2025

Project or Activity – KEHA lesson, Backyard Butterflies-Zoom session
Content –UK Hort publications, KEHA Housing Plan of Work
Inputs - Boone Co. Natural Resources Agent designed, Area Homemaker Chairmen
Date – August 2020

Audience: Kenton County residents
Project or Activity: 4-H Farm to Table Dinner
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Council
Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Assistants & Council
Date: Fall 2024

Success Stories