Management and MarketingPlan of Work

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Lincoln County CES

Title:
Management and Marketing
MAP:
Agriculture Profitabililty
Agents Involved:
Courtney Brock, Rita Stewart
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Chemical Crop Management Tools
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
4-H Volunteer Programming
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
4-H Family and Consumer Science Core Curriculum
Situation:

Farmers need to have profitable farming operations to have a sustainable income. The county is dependent on a strong agricultural economy as around 30% of the county’s economy is directly related to agriculture. Farming generates over $35 million of gross receipts annually. Tobacco has been the main income producer for decades, but due to decreased demand, it is now of lesser importance and is grown on about 65 farms. The largest income producing commodity is beef production. It involves over 600 farm operations that have over 26,000 head of cows and over 57,000 head of all cattle and calves The county is one of the state’s largest dairy producing counties with 36 operations. Lincoln is a large alfalfa producer with over 11,000 acres. There is also over 34,000 acres of improved hay crops. There are over 17,000 acres of grain crops for cash and livestock useage. Farmers need to manage their cash crops and forages for the best production results. Farmers need to take advantage of the county’s strong forage base and expand the livestock enterprises. More efficient management of livestock production needs to be worked on to provide better profits. Farmers need to evaluate non-traditional farming enterprises to determine if they can fit into their operations but most importantly, be profitable. Increased production leads to a need for better marketing. Efficient and improved marketing systems can offer better opportunities for greater profits for farmers. The County Agricultural Extension Council and farm organization leadership have worked with the agent to determine program priorities and given input into developing educational and service programs to help farmers improvement management and marketing skills.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Farmers will improve their profitability through better production and marketing management; thus maintaining a strong agricultural economy in the county. Farm profitability is enhanced and farmers obtain sustainability of their agriculture and economic development.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Farmers will adopt Extension recommendation, utilize best management practices and apply new technology to increase agricultural production, enhance marketing efforts and create greater profitability.

Initial Outcomes:

Farmers will increase knowledge of improved management systems and learn how to better utilize marketing opportunities for crops and livestock.

Evaluation:

Long-Term Outcome: Farmers will improve their profitability through better production and marketing management; thus maintaining a strong agricultural economy in the county. Farm profitability is enhanced and farmers obtain sustainability of their agriculture and economic development.Evidence that farmers have improved profitability through adopting recommended practices leading to better production and marketing management.

Method: Observations and ag statistics

Timeline: All Year


Intermediate Outcome: Farmers will adopt Extension recommendation, utilize best management practices and apply new technology to increase agricultural production, enhance marketing efforts and create greater profitability.

Indicator: Producers will implement improved management practices.

Method: Observations, case studies, participation in cost-share programs to adopt recommended practices.

Timeline: All Year, evaluation of cost-share programs at the end of the year.


Initial Outcome: Farmers will increase knowledge of improved management systems and learn how to better utilize marketing opportunities for crops and livestock.

Indicator: Gain evidence through observations and testimonies with producers determining their knowledge of recommended practices and marketing opportunities.

Method: Observations, discussions with farmers, case studies

Timeline: All Year

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 4-H members and leaders

Activity: Incubation and Embryology Programs

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: Demonstration supplies, UK Poultry Farm fertilized eggs, and financial support from the Lincoln County Extension District Board.

Facilities used: Lincoln County Extension Office for meeting facilities; Lincoln County Schools, UK Poultry Farm

Date: Spring


Audience: 4-H members, leaders, and parents

Activity: 4-H AG Field Day

Content or Curriculum: The Annual 4-H Adventures in Agriculture Field Day helps provide agriculture education to all county 3rd grade students

Inputs: Community Partners include 4-H Council Members, local business owners, county banks, Lincoln County Schools, Lincoln County Cattlemen’s Association, Lincoln County Fairgrounds, and others

Facilities used: Lincoln County Extension Office, Lincoln County Fairgrounds, Lincoln County Schools, etc.

Date: Spring


Audience: 4-H members, leaders and parents

Activity: 4-H County/District Beef, Lamb, Goat, Poultry, Rabbit, Horse, and Dairy Shows

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum & KDA Materials

Inputs: Financial resources include GOAP cost share programs, demonstration supplies from participating companies. Lincoln County Farm Bureau and commodity organization grants, banks and lending institution grants. Farm supply and agribusiness grants and support finances from the Lincoln County Extension District Board.

Facilities used:

Local farms for demonstrations, tours and field days; Lincoln County Extension Office for meeting facilities; Lincoln County Fairgrounds for meetings, shows and other activities; Cedar Creek Sportsman Club for activities and meetings; Produce Auction facilities for demonstrations and meetings; Farmers Market Station and local church facilities.

Date: Spring and Summer


Audience: 4-H members, leaders and parents

Activity: 4-H Judging and Quiz Bowl Teams

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: Financial resources include GOAP cost share programs, demonstration supplies from participating companies. Lincoln County Farm Bureau and commodity organization grants, banks and lending institution grants. Farm supply and agribusiness grants and support finances from the Lincoln County Extension District Board.

Facilities used:

Local farms for demonstrations, tours and field days; Lincoln County Extension Office for meeting facilities; Lincoln County Fairgrounds for meetings, shows and other activities; Cedar Creek Sportsman Club for activities and meetings; Produce Auction facilities for demonstrations and meetings; Farmers Market Station and local church facilities.

Date: Spring and Summer


Audience: 4-H members, leaders and parents

Activity: 4-H Country Ham Project

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: Financial resources include GOAP cost share programs, demonstration supplies from participating companies. Lincoln County Farm Bureau and commodity organization grants, banks and lending institution grants. Farm supply and agribusiness grants and support finances from the Lincoln County Extension District Board.

Facilities used:

Local farms for demonstrations, tours and field days; Lincoln County Extension Office for meeting facilities; Lincoln County Fairgrounds for meetings, shows and other activities; Cedar Creek Sportsman Club for activities and meetings; Produce Auction facilities for demonstrations and meetings; Farmers Market Station and local church facilities.

Date: January-August


Audience: Farmers, Agribusinesses

Activity: Demonstrations

Content or Curriculum: Forage, Tobacco, Livestock Systems, Horticulture

Inputs: Financial resources include GOAP cost share programs, demonstration supplies from participating companies. Lincoln County Farm Bureau and commodity organization grants, banks and lending institution grants. Farm supply and agribusiness grants and support finances from the Lincoln County Extension District Board.

Facilities used:

Local farms for demonstrations, tours and field days; Lincoln County Extension Office for meeting facilities; Lincoln County Fairgrounds for meetings, shows and other activities; Cedar Creek Sportsman Club for activities and meetings; Produce Auction facilities for demonstrations and meetings; Farmers Market Station and local church facilities.

Date: All year


Audience: Farmers and Agribusiness

Activity: State Corn Silage Variety Test

Content: Corn silage production management

Inputs: I serve as project leader securing seed corn entries and funding from agribusinesses. Team of agents and Dr. Lee plant and harvest plot and secure quality tests. Dr. Lee, Nick Roy and I prepare research report and farmer bulletin and present information to the media.

Facilities: 3 farms for test plots, Extension Offices, U.K. ag equipment

Date: March-December


Audience-Farmers, Agribusinesses

Activity: Farmer Educational Conferences

Content or Curriculum: Dairy and Forage Topics

Inputs: Financial resources include GOAP cost share programs, demonstration supplies from participating companies. Lincoln County Farm Bureau and commodity organization grants, banks and lending institution grants. Farm supply and agribusiness grants and support finances from the Lincoln County Extension District Board.

Facilities used:

Local farms for demonstrations, tours and field days; Lincoln County Extension Office for meeting facilities; Lincoln County Fairgrounds for meetings, shows and other activities; Cedar Creek Sportsman Club for activities and meetings; Produce Auction facilities for demonstrations and meetings; Farmers Market Station and local church facilities.

Date: February


Audience: Farmers and agribusiness

Activity: Farmer-Lender-Extension Field Day

Content: Farming updates and management information on crops and livestock

Inputs: Agent and specialist presentations, on farm demo supplies and funding from Extension and agribusiness, operational funding from agricultural lenders, farm families providing host farm and demo and event labor and facilities.

Facilities: host farm for demos, tours, and meal

Date: July/August


Audience: Farmers and Agribusinesses representatives in Lincoln, Boyle, Garrard, Casey and Mercer County

Activity: Crops Conferences

Content or Curriculum: Forage and Grain Topics

Inputs: Financial resources include GOAP cost share programs, demonstration supplies from participating companies. Lincoln County Farm Bureau and commodity organization grants, banks and lending institution grants. Farm supply and agribusiness grants and support finances from the Lincoln County Extension District Board.

Facilities used:

Local farms for demonstrations, tours and field days; Extension Offices for meeting facilities; Lincoln County Fairgrounds for meetings, shows and other activities.

Date: January


Audience-Farmers and Agribusiness representatives in Lincoln, Boyle, Garrard, Rockcastle, Pulaski, Casey, Madison and Mercer County

Activity: Tobacco Updates

Content or Curriculum: Tobacco Topics

Inputs: Financial resources include GOAP cost share programs, demonstration supplies from participating companies. Lincoln County Farm Bureau and commodity organization grants, banks and lending institution grants. Farm supply and agribusiness grants and support finances from the Lincoln County Extension District Board.

Facilities used:

Local farms for demonstrations, tours and field days;Extension Offices for meeting facilities.

Date: January


Audience: Farmers and Agribusinesses (Local and or 5 county)

Activity: Beef Update Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Cow Calf Management and Backgrounding Management & Marketing

Inputs: Financial resources include GOAP cost share programs, demonstration supplies from participating companies. Lincoln County Farm Bureau and commodity organization grants, banks and lending institution grants. Farm supply and agribusiness grants and support finances from the Lincoln County Extension District Board.

Facilities used:

Local farms for demonstrations, tours and field days;Extension Offices for meeting facilities; Lincoln County Fairgrounds for meetings, shows and other activities.

Date: January & February


Audience: Farmers and agribusiness

Activity: Lincoln County Beef Expo

Content: beef educational demos and updates on production, marketing and promotion, Cattlemen's Annual Meeting, agribusiness trade show.

Facilities: Lincoln County Fairgrounds, agribusiness equipment, Cattlemen's materials and equipment.

Date: September


Audience: Cattlemen's Board and Ag Development Board

Activity: Beef production spring educational tour for LCCA Board and LCADB; fall educational tour for LCCA Board

Content: Spring-1 day tour to Kentucky county with agent and producers showing improved practices. Fall-2 day out of state tour with agents, specialists and producers showing improved practices.

Inputs: Finances provided by Extension Lincoln County Ag Development Board and LCCA and participants.

Facilities: Extension vans, host farms, Extension facilities, agri business facilities.

Date: April & October


Audience: Farmers, agribusiness, general public

Activity: Fairs (county, state, NAILE)

Content: Livestock shows and floral exhibits

Inputs: Financing from fair association and KDA. Agents, assistants and leaders operating the activities.

Facilities: fairgrounds, Extension facilities

Date: July, August, November



Success Stories

Agriculture and Natural Resources Programming

Author: Rita Stewart

Major Program: Sustainable Agriculture

Although the position of County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources has been vacant the past year, efforts in this program area have continued.  Lincoln County Support Staff, County Extension Agents for 4-H/Youth Development and Family and Consumer Sciences, and many community leaders have worked to make sure the needs of our clients have been met. Services provided include: 525 soil samples, 20 insect identifications, 15 plant disease diagnoses, 5 weed identifications, an

Full Story

Meeting Time!

Author: Tyler Miller

Major Program: Beef

Not long after I started with Extension back in January, the area meetings held between Lincoln, Boyle, Garrard, and Mercer Counties had kicked in full swing. As a new ag agent to the area I had the oppurtunity to see how these meetings where structured with a hands offs pressure off type of feeling. This was very benefical for me because the other more experianced agents filled me in on who the specalist were, what needed signed, and how we split the bill for the food. I was able to conccet wit

Full Story

First Timers

Author: Tyler Miller

Major Program: Forages

According to census data our popluation in Lincoln County has decreased just very so slightly. I would not have guess this to be true because it seems like almost weekly I am talking with someone new to the area and wants to know more about how to make their farm productive. I call these folks "First Timers". I love these calls because I know this is my chance to hook them on Extension. I have worked with producers wanting help identifying weeds, to helping them with farm financials, t

Full Story

4-H Adventure in Agriculture

Author: Courtney Brock

Major Program: 4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources

4-H Adventure in Agriculture

Although agriculture is big business in Lincoln County, only 30% of 4-H members live on a farm. This number is even lower for non-members. Even though nearly one-third of the economy is agriculture-based, many youth do not realize the importance of agriculture in our everyday lives. The Annual 4-H Adventures in Agriculture Field Day helps provide agriculture education to more than 300 third graders in the county with over $2,500 in funding from various agriculture-related community businesses an

Full Story
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