Crop ProductionPlan of Work

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Mason County CES

Title:
Crop Production
MAP:
Crop Production
Agents Involved:
Tad Campbell
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Forages
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Sustainable Agriculture
Situation:

With the agriculture diversity in Mason County coupled with a desired heritage tobacco production in the county, focusing on crop sustainability and enhancements to continue to generate farm income will offset any one major income producing sector. Forages for pasture/hay and cash hay become more prevalent with the economics of other commodities. Grain and tobacco production continue to generate farm income, but at a lesser scale than years past. Building a strong forage management mentality will work hand in hand with the large livestock production sector in the county. Producers in the community look for efficient productive means for forage development and sustainability as well as other possible alternative such as Hemp and bio-mass for forms of education pilots and income generating avenues.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Producers will be able to utilize technology to become more efficient with production expenses to lower volume input costs while maintaining environmentally sound conservation practices.

Participants will be able to manage forages to allow for increased carrying capacities, higher yields, and higher quality for operational use or cash sales.

Increase market and production opportunities for new crops such as Hemp and other non-traditional crops to provide added income to Mason County farm operations.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Producers will be able to adapt technology such as GPS monitoring for chemical and fertilizer applications to become more efficient.

Producers will do more soil tests for farms to add the proper amount of fertilization needed for a specific crop.

Tobacco producers will utilize proper varieties to help reduce disease pressure during production.

Rotational grazing will be adapted to provide adequate rest times for each field.

Producers will follow pesticide safety protocols gained during certification and from the label instructions to reduce risk of exposure.

Initial Outcomes:

Producers will gain knowledge of crop varieties to enhance production efficiencies.

Producers will gain knowledge of storage capabilities that can add value to crops.

Producers will gain knowledge on dividing pasture fields for rotational grazing to improve forage quantity and quality.

Producers will gain knowledge on pesticide safety and why it is important to all on the operation.

Producers will learn about using better varieties to improve forage quality and yield.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Producers will gain knowledge of crop varieties to enhance production efficiencies.

Indicator: Word of mouth from producers

Method: Post evaluations

Timeline: immediately after program


Intermediate Outcome: Producers will follow pesticide safety protocols gained during certification and from the label instructions to reduce risk of exposure.

Indicator: Observe producers using correct protocols

Method: Physically observe producers and/or follow up evaluations

Timeline: 3-6 months after program


Long-term Outcome: Producers will do more soil tests for farms to add the proper amount of fertilization needed for a specific crop.

Indicator: Rise in amount of soil tests

Method: Observe amount of soil tests 

Timeline: weekly, monthly, yearly

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: farmers

Project or Activity: Corn silage variety test plot 

Content or Curriculum: UK research based information

Inputs: ANR Agent, local farm

Date: every Spring/Fall


Audience: farmers

Project or Activity: Agronomy Day

Content or Curriculum: UK research based information

Inputs: ANR Agent, UK specialists

Date: every February


Audience: tobacco farmers

Project or Activity: Tobacco production/GAP

Content or Curriculum: UK research based information

Inputs: ANR Agent, UK specialists

Date: early spring


Audience: farmers

Project or Activity: Master Grazer/ Grazing Program

Content or Curriculum: UK research based information

Inputs: ANR Agent, UK specialists

Date: early spring



Success Stories

Learning about Agriculture and Safety

Author: Tad Campbell

Major Program: Sustainable Agriculture

Continuing efforts to educate our youth about the importance of agriculture and the origin of food, the Mason County Extension Service partnered with the Mason County Farm Bureau, Fleming Mason RECC, and a local producer to host a Youth Farm Day. The sixth grade students from Mason County Schools, St. Patrick Schools, and Robertson County Schools attended a one day event to learn about livestock production, crop production, horticulture, bees, tractor rollover safety, grain bin safety, and elect

Full Story

Industrial Hemp Series Provides Farmers with Hand-on Education

Author: Lorin Fawns

Major Program: Commercial Horticulture

Years ago tobacco was the major crop for Mason County farmers. According to the Census of Agriculture from 2012 to 2017 the total acreage of tobacco grown in Mason County has decreased by 1300 acres and continues to decline. Farmers have been desperately looking for a new crop to help increase their income and have turned to growing industrial hemp. The Buffalo Trace Agriculture and Horticulture agents partnered together to offer a series of field days and workshops to further grower education.&

Full Story

Growing profits

Author: Lorin Fawns

Major Program: Commercial Horticulture

This year Chad and Shawna Lippert owners of "Lippert's Greenhouse" decided to expand their operation to include growing mums. The Lippert's worked with the Mason County Extension office Horticulture agent Macy Fawns to improve their greenhouse plants but wanted more so they asked for assistance growing mums. Shawna said, "When the door opened with this opportunity, we chose to run through it with great anticipation in all the processes to increase our production season and

Full Story

Winter Freeze on Small Grains

Author: Tad Campbell

Major Program: Grain Crops

Small grain production is mainly focused on cover crops in our area with a limited number of acres harvested for grain and straw.  This trend is increasing due to the demand for cover crop seed.  In 2020, we saw a historical freeze late in the season that damaged the small grain crops, severely hurting the yield potential resulting in the need for management plans to be altered for the remaining crop production.  Two separate freeze events occurred on April 15-16 wi

Full Story
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