Extension
It Starts With Us
Keys to maintaining a successful workforce
Preparing Employees for Success in Employment
Hinton
Tobacco
Farm Management
Community Engagement
Master Gardener
Breckinridge county continues to have diverse income from livestock, grain and tobacco, with Livestock sales of $45 million, $ 8.1 million in tobacco sales and finally $ 22.9 million in sales of grain and oilseeds(Census of Agriculture, 2012). As we continue to improve the genetics on farms, we look for more opportunities to add value along the production chain of crops and livestock. As prices for inputs stabilize we need a combined effort to improve the value of both crops and livestock. In our county, we have identified 50 young farm families that are set to improve their family farms and begin the transition of the operation.
As families continue to grow so does the farming operation. With farm enterprise expansion always brings with it the need for more trained employees. Breckinridge, Meade and Grayson County becomes the temporary home to over 300 H2A temporary workers. With this influx, the need became evident that many farms need assistance in managing workers. Also as farms begin to expand, so does the need for new technology. Farmers and their employees are looking for assistance in adopting new technologies to increase their net farm income.
As children and grandchildren of farm families graduate from high school and/or college and return to the farm, it is important that they keep Extension in their tool box for a profitable farming operation.
Farm will in the long-term remain in the business and this can only be done by decreasing farm inputs, while increasing net farm income. Farms must be able to do some on farm testing of GPS, Drones, and new technologies. The younger generation will become a valuable asset to the farming operations in the county as they become trained in new technologies.
Farmers will encourage workers to obtain training, farmers work with Farm Business analysis to determine their farm progress. Farmers will bring in their bookkeepers to learn new accounting programs. Workers continue to attend training on learning a new language and then begin to bring friends to events. Workers will be able to learn the payroll program and assist in filling out the form to help with paperwork.
Migrant English class will be promoted on farms by farmers, Ag Agent and Migrant Education program, and the program will increase in location and size. The Payroll program (designed by L. Powers and C. Hinton) will be added to more farms record keeping system. New technology will be introduced onto farms.
Initial Outcome: increase in numbers at meetings
Indicator: People ask for assistance on Payroll programs
Method: phone roster and CEU sheets at meetings
Timeline: July through June
Intermediate Outcome: New people coming to programs
Indicator: More NEW people ask about Payroll programs, more communities work to add an English class for their local clientele with volunteers
Method: phone roster and CEU sheets on at meetings
Timeline: July through June
Long-term Outcome: Farms see a greater ease with AUDITS
Indicator: Less fines levied greater success with Audits
Method: Word of mouth, producer interviews
Timeline: July through June
Audience: H2A migrant farm workers
Project or Activity: Migrant English classes
Content or Curriculum: Books and videos provided from UK and/or tobacco companies
Inputs: Agents, Migrant Education program
Date: July through June
Audience: Farm owners
Project or Activity: Farm Management programs related to record
Content or Curriculum: Timely topics from tax preparers
Inputs: AG Agent, Farm Management Specialists, Trained farmers
Date: July through June
Audience: Local farmers
Project or Activity: Do Drones have a place on farms
Content or Curriculum: Work with local people and UK Bio-systems and Engineering
Inputs: Local CEC and UK specialists
Date: July through June
Audience: Local Farms
Project or Activity: GPS and other technology upgrade or additions to the farm.
Inputs: UK specialists and Local Dealers
Date: July through June
