Improve and sustain agriculture productionPlan of Work

Back to the Program

Harlan County CES

Title:
Improve and sustain agriculture production
MAP:
Agriculture Production and Sustainablity
Agents Involved:
Lora Davidson, Raymond Cox, Jeremy Williams
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Home & Consumer Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Sustainable Agriculture
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
4-H Volunteer Programming
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Beef
Situation:
During discussions with the Harlan County Extension Council, program councils, and volunteer groups, agriculture management was seen as an issue that needs to be addressed. Although the county's commercial agriculture production ranks low, home gardening, landscaping, home fruit production, honey, forestry, and livestock production are still a source of livelihood income for citizens.
Long-Term Outcomes:
Adults and youth will initiate fruit and vegetable production and livestock management practices in order to provide a low cost food source and possible supplementation of income. Citizens will also see economic diversity as a result of being involved and developing agriculture products.
Intermediate Outcomes:
Adults and youth will apply recommended agriculture management practices to their gardens, orchards, beeyards, woodlands, and livestock operations.
Initial Outcomes:
Adults and youth will gain knowledge in gardening and fruit production as it refers to site selection, soil preparation, variety selection, nutrient needs, disease and insect controls, and proper harvesting in order to receive the best products. Adults will gain knowledge in apiary management and assist other beekeepers. Youth and adults will acquire skills in livestock management. They will be able to use best management practices in their operations.
Evaluation:
Initial Outcome: Gain knowledge in agriculture production and management
Indicator: Begin to see improvements in their operations
Method: Attendance at workshops, reports, visits
Timeline: Throughout year

Intermediate Outcome: Adults and youth will gain knowledge of agriculture production
Indicator: Adults and youth will apply the knowledge they have learned
Method: Participate in workshops, 4-H events, site visits, reports
Timeline: Throughout year

Long-term Outcome: Adults and youth will gain knowledge in agriculture production and management
Indicator: Improvement will be made in their landscapes, orchards, beeyards and livestock production
Method: Number of adults and youth attending workshops and participating in agriculture management activities
Timeline: Throughout year
Learning Opportunities:
Audience: Adult
Project or Activity: Garden planning, season extension gardening, organic gardening, food preservation, livestock production
Content or Curriculum: UK publications, presentations
Inputs: Staff, UK Specialists, leaders, volunteers
Date: Throughout year

Audience: K-6
Project or Activity: Windowsill Garden/Grow Your Own Tomatoes
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
Inputs: Staff, teachers
Date: Spring

Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Harlan County Beekeepers
Content or Curriculum: Education events, programs, publications
Inputs: Staff, leaders, guest speakers
Date: Throughout year

Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Home Fruit Production
Content or Curriculum: Presentations, hands-on, publications
Inputs: Staff, UK Specialists, volunteers
Date: Spring

Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Chick Incubation
Content or Curriculum: Presentations, hands-on, publications
Inputs: Staff, teachers, volunteers
Date: Spring

Audience: 4th-12th grade
Project or Activity: 4H Garden Club
Content or Curriculum: Gardening booklets, publications
Inputs: Staff, volunteers
Date: Spring




Success Stories

Kentucky Maple Syrup

Author: Jeremy Williams

Major Program: Woodland Education

There are approximately 59 million maple trees within Kentucky’s extremely dense forest.   The availability of these trees are beginning to show signs of a new enterprise across the state to help drive economic growth for farmers, foresters and landowners.  Maple syrup production has a long history, but in 2016, the Harlan and Letcher County Agriculture and Natural Resources agents worked with maple syrup producers to develop a Kentucky Maple Syrup School. The following year, tha

Full Story

Garden in a Grab and Go Bag

Author: Raymond Cox

Major Program: Sustainable Agriculture

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we were faced with a challenge to meet the needs of the community.  A great opportunity was presented by the 4-H Program with the Grab and Go Bags. After publishing on social media the importance of raising vegetable gardens to offset the unavailability of produce in the supermarkets, Harlan County 4-H prepared 110 "Vegetable Garden In A Bag" for 110 families.  Each Grab and Go Bag contained these seeds:  beans, corn, peas, carrots, onions, s

Full Story

Online Programming

Author: Jeremy Williams

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

With the coronavirus pandemic bringing a closure of Extension offices to the public and clientele being Safe at Home, continuing to provide programming for residents was at the upmost concern for agents and staff.  Agriculture and Natural Resources Agents in Harlan and Letcher County, Kentucky and Wise County, Virginia collaborated to bring a series of programs via an online format.  Timely, information brought by agents, volunteers and specialists from Kentucky and Virginia met the ne

Full Story
Back to the Program