Crop production, Livestock production, & Sustainable AgriculturePlan of Work

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Barren County CES

Title:
Crop production, Livestock production, & Sustainable Agriculture
MAP:
Sustainable & Profitable Crop & Livestock Production
Agents Involved:
Schalk, Stith, Tarry, Drake
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Chemical Crop Management Tools
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Grain Crops
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Ag Marketing
Situation:

Barren County has traditionally led the region in diverse agriculture production. Producers utilizing these practices help to enhance their profitability & promote sustainability. Forages, grain crops, & tobacco continue to be in place on many Barren County farms. Dairy, beef, poultry, small ruminants, and horses are staples in many operations. Producers continue to be charged with producing commodities in an environmental sustainable manner.

Long-Term Outcomes:

-Diversify operations to meet the changing ag products needs

-Efficient use of crop protectants

-Increased producer profits in ag enterprises

-Increase overall efficiency in livestock operations

Intermediate Outcomes:

-Implement the use of decision making tools for crop & livestock production

-Convert used/unleased grain crop land back to improved permanent pasture/hay ground

-Maintain high standards and husbandry practices for beef and small ruminant operations

-Increase awareness of dairy calf and replacement heifer production

-Balancing soil test results with manure applications to prevent over application of nutrients

Initial Outcomes:

-Informed decisions on crop inputs reduce input cost per acre

-Develop necessary skill sets

-Provide programs to improve soil health and sustainability

-Realize diversification within livestock enterprises

Evaluation:

Long-term Outcome: Evaluate increased number of producers shown to utilize improved management practices in their crop production

Indicator: Note the number of producers utilizing product usage and purchasing habits in their farm management practices

Method: Surveys, farm visits, evaluations

Timeline: July-June


Intermediate Outcome: : Evaluate the effectiveness of marketing hay through tri county hay auction

Indicator: type, quality & price per unit

Method: Survey local farmers who are selling in sale

Timeline: Seasonal, by crop


Initial Outcome: Evaluate changes in grain producers risk management plans

Indicator: Note changes in grain crops producers who attended programming

Method: Farm visits, 1 on 1 interviews, survey

Timeline: after harvest season

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Tobacco Producers

Project or Activity: Tobacco GAP

Content or Curriculum: UK CAFÉ & GAP Connections

Inputs: GAP materials, specialist(s), GAP connections, US Dept of Labor

Date: Spring


Audience: Crop Producers

Project or Activity: Chemical Management Training

Content or Curriculum: Private Pesticide Training, Specialists

Inputs: UK Specialists, videos, field days

Date: Winter and early Spring


Audience: Animal Commodity Groups

Project or Activity: Monthly meetings

Content or Curriculum: forages, nutrition, health, marketing, management

Inputs: CAFÉ resources, UK & KSU specialists, SRPS

Date: July through June


Audience: Producers & Citizens Interested in Agriculture

Project or Activity: Column in Sunday edition of Glasgow Daily Times

Content or Curriculum: Timely topics on production, safety, & new technology.

Inputs: Agents, CAFÉ resources, & UK specialists

Date: July through June


Audience: Forage Producers

Project or Activity: Fall management of forage fields (weeds and fertility)

Content or Curriculum: Forage best management practices

Inputs: Agents, UK specialists

Date: Fall and Winter


Audience: 4-H Youth Interested in Agriculture

Project or Activity: 4-H projects in horses, dairy, livestock, natural resources, & plant & soil sciences

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Core Curriculum & National 4-H project curriculum

Inputs: CAFÉ resources, UK specialists, 4-H specialists

Date: July through June




Success Stories

Rinse & Return

Author: Christopher Schalk

Major Program: Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests

Rinse and ReturnEnvironmentally responsible crop and livestock production includes properly disposing of the used chemical containers.  The carst landscape that is Barren County only intensifies the need for proper container disposal.  The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) offers a “rinse and return” program for counties to participate in.  KDA provides a pathway in which the empty chemical jugs can be recycled.  The Barren County Agriculture Extension has

Full Story

4th Annual Tri County Hay Auction

Author: Christopher Schalk

Major Program: Forages

Tri-County Hay & Straw Auction (Metcalfe, Monroe & Barren Counties) has become an annual event that both buyers and sellers of hay and straw have come to depend on.  Less than desirable weather conditions for 2 consecutive years brought about a forage supply shortage.  The auction system of selling hay allows the supply and demand to accurately drive the market.   In fact, the Tri County Hay & Straw Auction allows all producers to get an idea of the value of their fora

Full Story

Providing understanding in challenging times

Author: Christopher Schalk

Major Program: Grain Crops

The process of agriculture did not stop or even alter course for the Covid-19 pandemic.  In fact agriculture producers needed the helpful information and educational programs of the Cooperative Extensive Service even more.   As the Barren County Cooperative Extension office physically closed its door and transitioned to remote working environment, service to the agriculture producers had to shift as well.    Creatively and technology helped to reinvent the way clients’

Full Story

Tobacco GAP

Author: Christopher Schalk

Major Program: Tobacco

Barren and Metcalfe counties are two of the top tobacco producing counties in Kentucky. Although, total production is down compared to previous years, tobacco still maintains it's spot as one of the top agricultural commodities in the region. Since 2014 all major tobacco companies have required producers to be trained in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in order to market tobacco. This is due to an increasing concern for consumer health as well as the health and safety of those that work in

Full Story
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