Extension
It Starts With Us
Livestock & Crop Production and Commercial Horticulture 2025
Agriculture
Joanna Coles and Kristin Hildabrand
Beef
Forages
Integrated Pest Management
Horticulture, Commercial
In 2017, Warren County’s total value of crop sales was $50,458,000 and total value of livestock sales was $60,438,000. With this large emphasis and economic impact, livestock and crop programming is important to Warren County farmers.
The number of farms and acres for commercial horticulture also continues to grow. According to the 2017 USDA Ag Census, Warren County ranks #1 in fruit, nut and berry production and #31 in vegetable production. It also includes 1,715 acres of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture and sod.
- Livestock operations and commercial horticulture growers will report increased profitability and sustainability
- Crop producers will improve profitability through better production and marketing management
- Commercial horticulture producers will expand and maintain access to local food.
- Individuals will improve environmental quality through reducing, reusing and recycling and best management conservation practices
- Farmers and commercial horticulture producers will adopt Extension recommendations, utilize best management practices and marketing strategies
- Farmers and commercial horticulture producers will create and apply new technologies
- Farmers and commercial horticulture producers will establish new markets.
- Commercial horticulture producers will establish new markets for their business.
- Farmers will recycle pesticide containers and dispose of pesticides in the proper manner
- Consumers will conserve water and follow best management practices to improve water quality
- Consumers will reduce nonpoint source pollution
- Farmers will increase husbandry knowledge, learn recommended production practices and aspire to implement them in their farming operation to improve profitability
- Farmers will gain knowledge in recommended production and marketing practices for grain, forage and woodland crops
- Individuals will learn benefits of recycling, responsible use of pesticides, conservation practices, nonpoint source pollution and energy & natural resource conservation
- Commercial horticulture growers will increase their knowledge on specific growing practices and methods to help them extend their growing season. They will also learn about integrated pest management strategies (IPM) as well as utilizing different testing and diagnostic services in order to improve management and production.
- Farmers and commercial horticulture growers will learn how to use technology as a marketing tool by exploring possible additions through website creation, newsletters, blogs, Facebook and other social media platforms.
- Commercial horticulture growers will grow their knowledge in other areas of farm business such as integrated pest management practices (IPM), record keeping and financial management, and marketing.
- Horticulture producers will begin to explore different markets and also consider other crop diversification options for their farm.
Initial Outcome: Gained knowledge in the areas of animal husbandry and production practices. Producers will learn about best management & production practices
Indicator: Individuals state they gained knowledge and aspire to implement practices on their farm
Method: Post educational activity evaluation
Timeline: Throughout the year
Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge on specific growing practices and methods to help them extend the growing season. Commercial horticulture producers will learn about integrated pest management strategies (IPM) and utilize different testing and diagnostic services.
Indicator: Producers note that they gained the knowledge of different growing practices and season extension techniques. There will be an increase in commercial samples for diagnostic and testing services through the county CES office.
Method: surveys, phone calls, emails, and testimonies
Timeline: Throughout the year
Intermediate Outcomes: Individuals implement production practices learned during educational activities to increase profitability
Indicator: Number of practices adopted and implemented
Method: Post evaluations and follow up surveys
Timeline: 6-8 weeks after educational activity
Long-term Outcomes: Farmers will be more profitable by applying learned marketing strategies and production practices
Indicator: Number of participants who adopt recommended practices and impact increased profitability
Method: Evaluations, follow up surveys and testimony
Timeline: On going
Audience: Beef Producers
Project or Activity: Beef Quality & Care Assurance
Content or Curriculum: Best Management Practices and Consumer Confidence
Inputs: BQA manual, facilities
Date: Spring 2025
Audience: Beef Producers, Industry Representatives
Project or Activity: Beef Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Backgrounding, health facilities
Inputs: Farm operator, facilities, sponsors, tables, av equipment
Date: September 2024
Audience: Beef Producers
Project or Activity: Educational Beef Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Nutrition, health, marketing, policies
Inputs: Agents time, facilities, sponsors, industry reps, volunteers
Date: 3rd Thursday of each month September thru April
Audience: Crop & Livestock Producers
Project or Activity: Rinse & Return
Content or Curriculum: Proper disposal of pesticide containers
Inputs: KDA staff, facilities, advertisements, volunteers
Date: September 2024 & June 2025
Audience: Homeowners, Crop & Livestock Producers
Project or Activity: Private Pesticide Applicators Training
Content or Curriculum: Pesticide Safety, Worker Protection Standards, recordkeeping, Understanding Pesticide Labels, crop related pests, restricted use pesticides
Inputs: Facilities, videos, publications
Date: January – February 2025
Audience: Industry Representatives, Commercial Applicators
Project or Activity: SoKY Commercial Pesticide Training
Content or Curriculum: General Pesticide Use
Inputs: Agents time, specialist, facilities
Date: November 2024
Audience: Commercial Beekeepers
Project or Activity: Warren Co. Beekeepers Association monthly meetings
Content or Curriculum: Local beekeepers, Extension specialists and agents
Inputs: Meeting space, time and mail outs
Date: July 2024 – June 2025
Audience: Commercial & Sustainable Horticulture Producers
Project or Activity: Warren County Beekeepers Association
Content or Curriculum: Hive health & management, honey products & marketing
Inputs: Meeting space, time, mail outs
Date: 4th Tuesday of each month
Audience: Commercial Horticulture Producers & Farmers Market Vendors
Project or Activity: Produce Best Practices Training (PBPT) and Sampling
Content or Curriculum: Produce Best Practices PowerPoint presentation material, KY Department of Agriculture Sampling information
Inputs: Extension Specialists, visual aids
Date: Winter, Spring, and Summer
Audience: Commercial Producers and Horticulture Enthusiasts
Project or Activity: Media Appearances via Radio and Television
Content or Curriculum: Up-to-date and seasonal information for producers
Inputs: Promotional materials, visual aids
Date: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter
Audience: Home and Commercial Gardeners
Project or Activity: Horticulture Newsletter
Content or Curriculum: Commercial and consumer gardening techniques
Inputs: Extension specialists, Kentucky Pest News, Crop Diversification, etc.
Date: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter
Audience: Commercial Cut Flower Producers
Project or Activity: Commercial Cut Flower Production
Content or Curriculum: Field Days & Workshops, CES curriculum, Commercial Horticulture, Crop Diversification, Season Extension Techniques, etc.
Inputs: Extension agents & specialists, KY Horticulture Council, cut flower growers, etc.
Date: Seasonally
Author: Kristin Hildabrand
Major Program: Horticulture, Commercial
The Business in Bloom's Short Course, a unique collaboration with the Kentucky Horticulture Council, provided cut flower growers an exclusive educational opportunity to acquire new marketing and design skills for their operations. In conjunction with the July Cut Flower Month promotion, this innovative program also facilitated in-person networking experiences among growers. The event statistics underscore the success of this initiative. This one-day event was marketed on the Kentucky Ho
