Extension
It Starts With Us
Sustainable Farming
Agricultural Production
Jeffiers, Cockerham, Reed
Beef
Local Food Systems
Home & Consumer Horticulture
Commercial Horticulture
With tobacco no longer a significant crop in the county, farms have had to expand other areas of operation or grow into new ones. Most farms were previously used for cattle as well as tobacco, so many of these have chosen to increase their beef production. Others have moved into vegetables and goats. Still other farms have organized under new owners since the end of tobacco, and these operations are taking on vegetables, fruits, bees, goats, and poultry. Because these farms are smaller and unable to break into wholesale markets, they are identifying local outlets for their products and working to maximize the income potential from their particular mix of marketing techniques. This has been a recurring theme of council discussions as farmers have considered how to develop opportunities for the next generation of producers. Council members have also identified the need to introduce gardening and agriculture concepts to youth in hopes they will learn where their food comes from and how to grow it at home.
Agritourism destinations draw visitors from a large area and provide economic opportunity.
Produce, meats, honey, and eggs are marketed profitably to local customers.
Farms are environmentally sustainable.
Commodity groups create strong markets for local products.
Livestock are healthy and efficient.
Youth will be able to grow vegetables and fruits as adults if needed to contribute to household food sources.
Agritourism destinations are developed and opened for business with sound marketing plans.
Produce, meats, honey, and eggs are produced by local farmers, yielding quality, safe products.
Livestock producers use proper health, reproduction, and feeding techniques.
Commodity groups organize, meet, and develop plans for their businesses.
Youth apply knowledge gained of home gardening/greenhousing practices and healthy nutrition information and would be able to produce their own vegetable and fruits.
Farmers learn about agritourism as an opportunity, and some producers choose to investigate further.
Farmers know how to produce quality fruits, vegetables, eggs, and meat.
Farmers understand market options for their products.
Commodity growers learn about the benefits of organizing groups and begin to form them.
Farmers understand proper health, reproduction, and feeding techniques.
Youth gain knowledge about home gardening and healthy nutrition .
Long-term Outcome: Agritourism destinations draw visitors from a large area and provide economic opportunity.
Indicator: Number of visitors and their origin and approximate spending
Method: Survey of producers’ info on visitors and revenues from agritourism
Timeline: Annually
Intermediate Outcome: Agritourism destinations are developed and opened for business with sound marketing plans.
Indicator: Number of operational businesses in the county and how many have business plans.
Method: Survey of producers
Timeline: Annually
Initial Outcome: Farmers learn about agritourism as an opportunity, and some producers choose to investigate further
Indicator: Participation in educational sessions and the number of businesses who engage in new ideas discussed at planning meetings or with agents
Method: Survey of attendees
Timeline: 2017-2020
Long-term Outcome: Produce, meats, honey, and eggs are marketed profitably to local customers.
Indicator: Farmers report profitable efforts through local markets.
Method: Farm visits & individual consultations
Timeline: 2019
Intermediate Outcome: Producers market their goods locally.
Indicator: Number of producers reporting use of local marketing outlets
Method: Farm visits, producer meetings
Timeline: 2018
Initial Outcome: Producers learn about marketing opportunities and production methods.
Indicator: Number of people reporting aspirations to sell locally.
Method: Post-program surveys
Timeline: Annually
Long-term Outcome: Farms are environmentally sustainable.
Indicator: Groundwater quality is improved and erosion is reduced.
Method: USGS and NRCS information
Timeline: Beyond 2020
Intermediate Outcome: Farmers undertake more environmentally-friendly practices.
Indicator: Farmers exhibit appropriate environmental steps on their farms.
Method: Farm visits, individual consultations
Timeline: 2018-2020
Initial Outcome: Farmers understand sustainability and express an interest in achieving it.
Indicator: Number of people reporting attitudes favoring better environmental practices.
Method: Post-program surveys
Timeline: Annually
Long-term Outcome: Commodity groups create strong markets for local products.
Indicator: Local products are sold in a large geographic area using a variety of marketing techniques.
Method: Grower feedback
Timeline: Beyond 2020
Intermediate Outcome: Commodity groups create plans for marketing products.
Indicator: Number of groups assembling new market strategies.
Method: Group reporting
Timeline: 2018-2020
Initial Outcome: Commodity groups organize and begin meeting.
Indicator: Number of groups organized in the county
Method: Farmer reporting & visits
Timeline: 2017-2020
Long-term outcome: Livestock are healthy and efficient.
Indicator: Farmer reports of death loss, identification methods, and reproductive efficiency.
Method: Farmer reporting & visits
Timeline: 2018-2020
Intermediate outcome: Livestock producers use proper health, reproduction, and feeding techniques.
Indicator: Farmer reports of practices.
Method: Farmer feedback during visits
Timeline: 2017-2020
Intermediate Outcome:
Youth apply knowledge gained of home gardening/greenhousing practices and healthy nutrition information and would be able to produce their own vegetable and fruits.
Indicator: Number of youth attending follow up gardening sessions and reporting continued gardening practices.
Method: Continuing 4-H Gardening workshops.
Timeline: Feb - May 2016-2020 as requested by clients
Initial outcome: Farmers understand proper health, reproduction, and feeding techniques.
Initial Outcome: Youth gain knowledge about home gardening and healthy nutrition.
Indicator: Number of youth attending gardening workshops
Method: Beginning 4-H Gardening workshops
Program Codes and Major Programs: 1011, 1021, 1031, 1051
Curriculum: Agritourism, Master Cattleman, Good Agricultural Practices, safe egg handling, fruit grafting, UK bull standards
Audience: Egg producers
Project or Activity: Safe egg handling workshops
Content or Curriculum: UK animal science curriculum
Inputs: Extension staff & facilities, farmers’ market materials, CAIP funds
Date: Annually
Audience: Beef producers
Project or Activity: Reproductive management
Content or Curriculum: Bull testing & heifer pregnancy checks
Inputs: Local veterinarian, Morehead State vet science students, farm facilities
Date: Annually
Audience: Vegetable producers
Project or Activity: Production meetings
Content or Curriculum: UK research on varieties, pest control, and management
Inputs: Test plots, CAIP funds
Date: 2017-2020
Audience: Apple producers
Project or Activity: Grafting workshop
Content or Curriculum: UK grafting techniques
Inputs: UK scion wood, rootstock, producers, CAIP funds
Date: Annually
Audience: Beekeepers
Project or Activity: Bi-monthly workshops
Content or curriculum: KSU & UK research; state apiarist; private firms; KSBA
Inputs: County beekeeping equipment & facilities, CAIP funds
Date: Annually
Audience: Potential and existing agritourism sites
Project or Activity: Agritourism development programs
Content or Curriculum: UK research, councils, and committees
Inputs: CAIP funds, local farms
Date:
Audience: Commodity groups
Project or Activity: Developing cooperatives and other commodity groups
Content or Curriculum: UK Ag Econ guidelines
Inputs: Extension staff, CAIP funds
Date:
Audience: Youth ages 4th-6th grade
Project or Activity: 4-H Seeds, Sprouts and Seedlings
Content: 4HCCS and Gardening Curriculum, Raised beds and Greenhousing
Input: Extension Staff, School personnel,volunteers and community donors
Date: February -May as requested by schools
Audience: Hobby farm owners
Project or Activity: "Fun Farm" Series
Content: Production basics on bees, fish, syrup, pawpaws, mushrooms, etc
Input: UK specialists, producers, KDA staff
Date:
Author: Brian Jeffiers
Major Program: Forestry Industry Education
The forests of eastern Kentucky are well-populated with wild ginseng. Harvesters dig the crop and sell through authorized dealers, who then ship the product elsewhere to distributors. Those dealers are a vital part of the system, ensuring that only sustainably-harvested root enters the market. When the Kentucky Department of Agriculture approached Johnson County Extension about hosting a workshop for dealers, it was an obvious fit for the area. Two dealers attended the daylong session, in w
Author: Brian Jeffiers
Major Program: Forages
Haylage has proven to be one of the most efficient and nutritious forms of forage for livestock. However, it does carry certain dangers due to the potential for development of mycotoxins in the forage. The owners of a Johnson County farm in its second year of haylage production expressed concerns about these toxins to the county extension agent. Together, the agent and UK specialists were able to provide instruction and information to the farmers to help them understand how to reduce the quantit
Author: Brian Jeffiers
Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture
Eastern Kentucky has the highest food insecurity in the United States. In Johnson County, 4,230 individuals (18.2% of county population) are not sure where their next meal will come from. There is a steady increase in interest from clientele wanting to know how they can become more self-sufficient by growing their own food. Agriculture and horticulture agents in Eastern Kentucky have observed an increase in requests from small backyard fruit growers for guidance. In order to reach a large
Author: Brian Jeffiers
Major Program: Beef
The key to building a healthy and profitable beef herd is to build a strong forage program. When one local farm family sought help from Extension in improving their herd's health and productivity, their hay was a key starting point. The county extension agent collected samples of the various hay stockpiles on the farm and submitted them to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's forage testing facility. The results revealed deficiencies in protein that the family was not adequately comp
Author: Brian Jeffiers
Major Program: Logging Training and Professional Education
According to the US Forest Service, 39 timber-related businesses operated in Johnson and Martin Counties as of 2017. However, the potential for growth in the industry is immense, with roughly 285,000 acres of forested land in the two counties. Developing this industry requires development of loggers, and the Kentucky Master logger program provides that. In the spring of 2019, four Master Loggers attended five educational programs hosted via webinar by the Johnson County Cooperative Extension Ser
