Agriculture Production and MarketingPlan of Work

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Jackson County CES

Title:
Agriculture Production and Marketing
MAP:
Improving Agriculture Sustainability
Agents Involved:
David Coffey
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Farmer's Markets
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Local Food Systems
Situation:
Each Fall and Spring, 4-H Classrooms are offered the opportunity to do the 4-H Chick Incubation project from the Science, Engineering and Technology curriculum. Teachers/club leaders wanted youth to learn about life sciences and agriculture and want the youth to get 'hands-on 'experience.

Jackson County's agriculture industry continues to transition from a tobacco-dependent county. Tobacco has become one small fraction of the total farm income. This has led to a need for producers to consider other farm enterprises if the farm family economy is going to be sustained. Funding through the Phase I portion of the Tobacco Settlement has made an impact in helping producers transition into various farm enterprises. The Jackson County AG Development Council continues to provide funding opportunities that will be available to all farmers and farm families. Along with funding, educating producers in these new areas of production and marketing is essential for success.
Long-Term Outcomes:


Producers make creative use of all farm resources to maximize land use for agriculture production. There will be an expansion of agriculture production opportunities into new areas. Producers develop production and marketing skills for new farm enterprises.
Intermediate Outcomes:


Producers practice basic management techniques and learn to incorporate new ones. Producers make transition from tobacco into other agriculture enterprises. Grow quality produce and market locally and regionally as efforts are made to link local producers with local consumers.
Initial Outcomes:


Producers learn about innovative production practices and develop responsible and sustainable attitudes in agriculture enterprises Producers will become aware of new marketing opportunities for farm products.
Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Youth learn about the life science of chickens

Indicator: Knowledge of hatching chickens

Method: Incubator

Timeline: Fall/Spring


Intermediate Outcome: Youth learn how to hatch chickens and sell to consumers

Indicator: Number of chickens hatched successfully

Method: Chick incubator/record keeping

Timeline: Fall/Spring


Initial Outcome: Youth learn about different types of soil and drainage needed for specific crops.

Indicator: State 4-H Land Judging Contest Results

Method: Site Test

Timeline: Summer/Fall


Long-Term Outcome: Youth become highly knowledgeable in the adaptation of different soils.

Indicator: National 4-H Land Judging Contest

Method: Site Test

Timeline: Summer/Fall


Long-Term Outcome: Supplemental crop acreages and income opportunities will be available for local producers

Indicator: Increases in crops grown for newly-developed local markets will be noted.

Method: Crop acreage and number of producers participating will be increased.

Timeline: An annual assessment of each crop program will be made.



Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 4-H age youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Embryology

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology

Inputs: 4-H Agent and Leaders

Date: Fall/Spring


Audience: High School youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Land Judging Project

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Land Judging Publication

Resources: Ky 4-H Foundation,  and Jackson County FFA program/volunteers.

Inputs: 4-H Leader and Agent

Date: Summer/Fall


Audience: Producers of farm products, tobacco-dependent farmers, 4H’ers

Project or Activity: Continue to conduct all Phase I projects and expand existing activities with local Phase I Committee

Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and AG Development Committee

Date: Monthly and as-needed basis


Project or Activity: Promote the Jackson County Regional Food Center

Content or Curriculum: ANR agent, 3AJC Committee and local resource people

Date: Throughout the Year


Project or Activity: Education Programs for utilizing new Multi-Purpose AG Facility

Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and 3AJC

Date: Throughout the Year


Project or Activity: Winter meetings with area crop producers

Content or Curriculum: WTA ANR Agents and UK Specialists

Date: February

Project or Activity: On-farm Demonstrations with E KY Beef IRM Program and various crops

Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and UK Specialists

Date: Throughout the Year


Project or Activity: Expand Producers Base for Farmers’ Market

Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and Extension staff

Date: Spring and Summer


Project or Activity: Empowerment Zone Agriculture Projects

Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and Local Resource People

Date: 5 per year


Project or Activity: Educational Programs

Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and Jackson County Cattlemen’s Association implementing programs that benefit all beef producers

Date: Quarterly Meetings


Project or Activity: Plant Distribution Program

Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent

Date: Spring


Project or Activity: Conduct Grafting Workshop and Rootstock Distribution

Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent

Date: March


Project or Activity: Promote Beekeeping and bee educational programs

Content or Curriculum: ANR Agent and Dark Honey Producers

Date: Monthly Meetings FEB-OCT and a Spring Meeting



Audience: 4-H Age Youth and adults

Project or Activity: Country Ham Project

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Country Ham Project

Inputs: 4-H Agent/Ag Agent/FCS Agent and Snap-Ed Assistant

Date: Fall/Winter



Success Stories

Drone Mapping for Forage Recommendations

Author: David Coffey

Major Program: Forages

The Jackson County Agriculture agent worked alongside other agents from the wilderness trail area as well as a representative of Sentera crop solutions to learn to fly a drone for use in precision agriculture for producer forage recommendations. The agent and other agents worked to write a grant to pay for the drone and the precision agriculture software. The drone program has been implemented on 15 farms. The data collected has been used to create color and vegetative index maps that are then u

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Cow-Calf Profitability Conference

Author: David Coffey

Major Program: Beef

On December 17, 2019, four ANR agents, four University specialists and thirty-six producers from Laurel, Jackson, Clay, Knox, and Whitley counties came together for an entire day of profit increasing and cost cutting information to be used in their cattle operations. Producers learned how to manage overhead costs, manage the costs of hay production, understand the depreciation of breeding stock, improve winter feeding practices, determine correct stocking rates, and manage farm taxes.Producers w

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Educational Videos During Pandemic

Author: David Coffey

Major Program: Farm Management

The Jackson County Agriculture and Natural Resources agent worked alongside the Jackson County 4H agent, staff assistants, and program assistants to create a social media presence on facebook, Instagram, and youtube. The agents made weekly educational videos related to their own program area that reached audiences during a global pandemic outbreak when in-person meetings were not possible. The videos have reached several thousand viewers over the past three weeks and agents plan to continue to c

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