Graves County CES

Title:

Soil and Crop Production Education

MAP:

Excellence in Agronomy

Agents Involved:

Anderson

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Farmer's Markets

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Home & Consumer Horticulture

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Grain Crops

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Farm Management

Situation:

Agronomy is at the base of nearly all that we do in. As agriculturalist's, agronomy is vital to our success. It is not only important to our success but also the impact that we have on our environment. We have been granted the responsibility of being stewards of the land and it is our belief that having fundamental agronomic understanding is critical to our success in doing that.

Long-Term Outcomes:

In the long term we intend to see changes in farming practices to better make use of our resources and to lessen the impact that we have on the environment. Also we would like to see the farmers make better agronomic decisions so that they can be more profitable and more effective in their occupations. Home gardeners would have higher productivity in there gardens.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Producers rely more on their own knowledge that they have gained through Cooperative Extension programming to make better informed cropping decisions. To provide home gardeners with the information that they need to select varieties and use fertilizers in a manner that will help them to be more successful in their endeavor.

Initial Outcomes:

To provide in-depth trainings on the basics of agronomy. To see a measured response in participants knowledge on agronomic principles.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome:

Indicator: To see an measured increase in knowledge

Method: survey

Timeline: year round

Intermediate Outcome:

Indicator: To see farmers and homeowners been more self-sufficient in making decisions for their operations.

Method: making site visits and talking with the producers.

Timeline: Ongoing

Long-term Outcome:

Indicator: seeing a change in the community as a whole by seeing people use the tools and publications they have available town.

Method: making site visits and talking with the producers.

Timeline: Ongoing

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Vegetable farmers

Project or Activity: how to grow better crops in less time

Content or Curriculum: hi tunnel, pesticide, and other equipment

Date: Fall/Winter

Audience: Home gardeners

Project or Activity: demo gardening at the Health department raised bed Garden's

Content or Curriculum: how to get more out of less space and last time gardening

Date: Ongoing

Audience: Grain farmers

Project or Activity: back to the basics agronomy

Content or Curriculum: in-depth look at plant and soil Agronomic facts

Date: year round