Production Agriculture
Advancing Sustainable Crop Production Systems Big and Small
Shane Bogle, Rhonda Jewell, Ashley White
Grain Crops
Commercial Horticulture
Sustainable Agriculture
Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
Change is a constant in everything but it especially rings true for production agriculture. the last several years have seen a grain production boom in Caldwell County. Stiff competition for land made cash rents increase to never seen before levels. As prices have lowered sharply in the last year producers that were unprepared and have overspent are feeling the crunch. Lease rates are slower to follow this downward trend as landowners have grown accustomed to being paid more for their ground. Specialty crops such as canola and grain sorghum are a more common sight. Many tobacco producers that have transitioned away from tobacco are still looking for ways to replace that income. A flurry of high tunnel greenhouses have started in Caldwell County helping with this and participation in the Caldwell On-line and traditional farmers market. Phase I and USDA state cost shares have helped this along.
Producers will improve quality of life by increasing revenue in production agriculture.
Producers will implement environmentally safe practices for pesticide and fertilizer applications.
Producers will utilize rinse and return programs to improve the environment.
Producers will gain a better understanding of grain marketing and futures contracts.
Producers will explore new crop opportunities.
Youth will engage in community projects related to natural resource conservation.
The public will become aware of the importance of agriculture to the community.
Producers will implement policy changes learned at educational meetings.
Producers will understand the opportunity to produce alternate crops.
Youth will make decisions in their daily lives that positively impact natural resources.
Youth will adopt practices to conserve and protect the environment in their home and community.
Producers will utilize up-to-date decision making information concerning the field of production agriculture
Producers will utilize the tools to make important production decisions concerning economics and safe agronomic practices and adoption of new crop enterprises.
Youth will identify the natural resources that are used within their home and community.
Youth will develop an interest in environmental sciences and sustainable practices and technologies.
Initial Outcome: Producers will gain a better understanding of grain marketing and new production practices utilizing the latest research.
Indicator: Producers that change current marketing and production practices as a result of grain, beef, forage, tobacco, and vegetable production education meetings.
Method: observations, Kentucky Ag Statistics, on farm visits
Timeline: 1-4 years
Intermediate Outcome: Producers will see increased profits
Indicator: cash receipts
Method: UK Farm analysis data, USDA Survey data
Timeline: 1-4 years
Long-term Outcome: operations are thriving and expanding
Indicator: cash receipts, farm expansion and quality of living increase
Method: farm visits, USDA survey data
Timeline: 1-4 years
Audience: Community Leaders, Producers
Project or Activity: Farm to Table program
Content or Curriculum: Hometown Harvest
Inputs: Community, Farmers Market, Extension, Donors
Date: July 2018
Audience: Producers
Project or Activity: Rinse and Return Program
Content or Curriculum: KDA
Inputs: KDA, Extension
Date: August 2018
Audience: Producers, General Public
Project or Activity:Pesticide Applicator Training
Content or Curriculum: PAT-1
Inputs: Agent
Date: Fall, Winter
Audience: Producers, Lenders
Project or Activity: County grain meeting
Content or Curriculum: UK specialists
Inputs: Agent, specialist
Date: Winter each year
Audience: Producers, Lenders ect.
Project or Activity: Tobacco production update
Content or Curriculum: UK/UT Specialist
Inputs: Agent specialists
Date: Winter each year
Audience: Farmers Market Vendors
Project or Activity: Farmers market Production meeting/GAP training
Content or Curriculum: UK/KDA / Public Health
Inputs: Agent, KDA, UK, Public Health
Date: Spring each year
Audience: Students in Caldwell County Schools
Project or Activity: Trash Sculpture
Content or Curriculum:
Inputs: Youth, Agent, CCS Natural Resources Curriculum
Date: November 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Farm, Food, and Fitness
Content or Curriculum: My Plate
Inputs: Agents
Date: Summer 2019
Audience: public
Project or Activity: Soil To Shelf Series
Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener
Inputs: Agent, UK
Date: Spring 2019
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Jr. Sr. Forestry Field Day
Content or Curriculum: University of Kentucky Forestry Dept.
Inputs: Agents, UK Forestry Department, KY Division of Forestry, Land Bewteen the Lakes
Date: Fall 2018 and Spring 2019
Audience: Caldwell County Elementary 3rd grade students
Project or Activity:Food For America
Content or Curriculum: Caldwell County FFA, local farmers, Ag related businesses
Inputs: Agents, community, farmers,
Date: Fall 2018
Audience: Caldwell County Teens
Project or Activity: State Forestry Contest
Content or Curriculum: National Forestry Contest
Inputs: Agents, UK Forestry Department, Bernheim National Forest
Date: April 2019
Audience: Caldwell County Teens
Project or Activity: Kentucky Forest Leadership Program
Content or Curriculum: Led by UK Specialist
Inputs: Agents, UK Specialist, UK Department of Forestry
Date: June 2019
Author: Shane Bogle
Major Program: Equine
Horses are an important part of the agricultural economy in Kentucky and the Caldwell County area has numerous working quarter horse farms that greatly add a to the local economy. In addition to the economic value of the horse industry, they hold a significant social value and western pleasure horse clientele make up the largest percentage and many horse owners are turning to the horse as a means of family recreation. Many of these horse owners have limited experience with horses and are o
Author: Shane Bogle
Major Program: Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
In recent years west Kentucky has seen a drastic increase in Glyphosate-resistant marestail which is our most common resistant weed, but most farmers have learned to manage it. More serious resistance issues exist with Italian ryegrass, Palmar amaranth, waterhemp, etc. Producers have always tended to use the pesticides that work for them, and they sometimes use them over and over. But the increase in herbicide-resistant weeds has forced producers to think more carefully how their chemical choice