Extension
It Starts With Us
Educational Opportunities for Producers and Gardeners
Agriculture and Horticulture Education
Shadrick, Alexander
Grain Crops
Home & Consumer Horticulture
Food Preparation
Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Webster County is a rural county. In 2012, Webster County had 500 farm operations on 152,431 acres, which represented 71.8% of total county land. The total value for crop sales was $44,319,000 (including agritourism). Farming operations continue to expand and commodity prices and input costs are uncertain from year to year.
There has been an increase in backyard gardens, buying local produce and meat and consumers wanting to know where their food comes from. There has been an increase in the need for a farmer's market. Consumers need to understand GMO's and organic production as it relates to conventional production.
Maximize profits for commercial agriculture producers
Minimize environmental impact of air, soil and living area
Reduction in rate of pesticide resistance development in pests, weeds and pathogens
Continue marketing and growing the Farmer's Market in Webster County
Maintain or increase consumer confidence/demand in local foods
Maintain or increase economic stability of farm operations
Increase in producers utilizing enterprise budgets
Increase positive opinion of GMO/Conventional production of non-farm individuals
Maximize awareness of GMO/Organic Production
Implementation of on-farm trials
Adopt usage of new technology for crop production
Use diagnostic services to identify insects, disease and weeds
Successfully complete PAT and training workers in WPS
Compare chemical options based on time, availability cost, companion tactics
Design effective spray schedules for plant pest management
Develop an AG plan using decision making tools
Apply skills of food safety and food preparation to afford healthy nutritious food choices
Increase certifications in Microprocessing and Produce Best Practices
Increase understanding of homeowner/gardener pest management tactics
Demonstrate proper use of sprayer and equipment related to application
Identifying active ingredients in chemical products and relate to modes of action
Review types and varieties of produce
Awareness of current land grant research concerning grain crop production
Understanding importance of and frame work for on-farm trials
Understanding organic vs conventional production
Identify herbicide resistant pests and strategies to overcome these pest
Awareness of safe handling of livestock for a safe and nutritious product on the plate
Increase vendors at Farmer's Market
Increase awareness of Plate It Up KY Proud by sampling at Farmer's Market
Initial Outcome:
Indicator: Participants gained knowledge about organic production as it compares to conventional production
Method: Follow-up survey
Timeline: Immediately after program
Intermediate Outcome:
Indicator: Producers use the Tri-County Grain Improvement Series research trial data as a decision aide for their operation
Method: face to face interviews
Timeline: after growing season
Long-term Outcome:
Indicator: Increase positive opinion of GMO/Conventional production of non-farm individuals
Method: follow-up face to face meeting
Timeline: January 2018 (one year after pasture to plate and more series)
Audience: Webster County Grain Farmers and Landowners
Project or Activity: Adult Farm Classes (topics decided by committee in August)
Content or Curriculum:
Inputs: UK Extension Agents; UK Specialist, NRCS, Community Partners
Date: December through March
Audience: Webster, McLean and Hopkins County Producers
Project or Activity: Green River Grain Improvement Series
Content or Curriculum: UK publications, seed company corn and soybean variety
Inputs: UK Specialist, agents, local producers
Date: Throughout growing season
Audience: Webster County producers and consumers
Project or Activity: Pasture to Plate and More (Series of 4 classes)
Content or Curriculum: Pasture to Plate, BQA, Food Safety and Preparation publications, Organic and GMO Publications
Inputs: UK Extension Agents, Specialists, Beef Council
Date: January -March 2018
Audience: Webster County Capstone Learning Center Students (WCHS)/ Elementary students/ 4H Horticulture Club
Project or Activity: Gardening; From beginning to the end
Content or Curriculum: Home vegetable gardening
Inputs: Extension Agents, NRCS, Webster County School District, Century 21 Grant for Capstone Learning Center, 4H Council
Date: Spring Annually
Audience: Farmers Market Vendors/gardners
Activity: Fruit and/or vegetable production
Content: Home Vegetable gardening and commercial vegetable production
Inputs: Agents, KDA and Specialists
Date: 2017-2018 program year
Author: Vicki Shadrick
Major Program: Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
A private applicator is a person certified to use any pesticide, restricted or general use, for purposes of producing any agricultural commodity on property owned or rented by him/her or his/her employer. Each year, Agriculture and Natural Resource agents offer private applicator certification trainings throughout the state. Producers must attend an approved training every three years to keep their certification. The County Extension Agents for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Web
Author: Vicki Shadrick
Major Program: Sustainable Agriculture
Farm management relies heavily on realizing the costs of production, proper management and utilization of technology, techniques and research. For the second year agriculture and natural resource agents from Hopkins, Muhlenberg and Webster counties have worked cooperatively with the Madisonville-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation to plan and host the Roots to Riches Agri-preneurial Conference in hopes of promoting increased risk management as well as providing a one-stop shop for lo
Author: Vicki Shadrick
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
In July 2016, the Webster County Farmers’ Market was established and opened under the name “Webster County Farmers’ Market #1WC”. Over the past two years, the market has had as many as 11 paid vendors that provided locally grown fruits and vegetables, value added products and beef, pork and poultry cuts of meats to many patrons. Webster County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources led the task of organizing and opening the market. Since the marke
