Extension
It Starts With Us
Grow It Local and Reap the Harvest
Small Farm Agriculture
Shad Baker, Nanette Banks, Crystal Smith, Lee Adams and Mitch Whitaker (Assistants), Extension Staff
Local Food Systems
Home & Consumer Horticulture
Commercial Horticulture
Letcher County has depended upon a coal-based economy for over a century. That has led to a loss in vocational agriculture and the related infrastructure and knowledge base. The county also suffers from poor dietary habits and elevated levels of diet-related disease. Recognizing the correlation between diet and disease, many county and state-level specialists have advocated consuming fresh fruits and vegetables. One way to accomplish this is through promotion of local food production, farmers markets, and a certified kitchen to utilize local produce. Given that the county is over 90% forested, timber and non-timber products have the potential to greatly increase small farm agriculture receipts for local people.
Clients will have improved health
Clients will raise local produce
Agriculture will increase in importance to the local economy
Disease Levels will drop
Timber and Non-timber products will increase
Certified Kitchen is in operation
Clients will put knowledge gained from Extension programs into practice by using recommended Forestry and Horticultural practices
Clients will increase fruit and vegetable consumption
The number of farmers seeking access to equipment, master loggers, soil testing, etc. will increase
Requests for horticultural information will increase
Clients will value local food products and take steps to produce these crops
Farmers Market attendance and sales will increase
Increase in master logger or woodland owner participation
Increased demand for horticulture workshops
Initial Outcome: Certified Kitchen will be planned and Farmers Market will expand
Indicator: Home-based Micro-processing
Method: Observation, General Survey
Timeline: July 2019 - June 2020
Intermediate Outcome: Certified Kitchen will be completed and Farmers Market will be used irregardless of grant support
Indicator: Home-based Micro-processing
Method: Observation and markets sales survey
Timeline: July 201\9 - June 2020
Long-term Outcome: Certified Kitchen will be in use and serving local produce to clientele, farmers market will have permanent place in community, horticultural crops will be diversified and receipts will reflect a stable and growing industry in horticulure/silvaculture
Indicator: Home-based Micro-Processing
Method: Observation and Market Sales Survey
Timeline: On-going
Audience: Producers
Project or Activity: Horticultural Workshops, (Fruits, Vegetables, Herbs, Flowering Plants), Greenhouse Production
Content or Curriculum: UK publications/Powerpoints, Woodland Owner Short-course, Pesticide Certification Trainings
Inputs: Agents, Assistants & Specialists
Date: July 2019 - June 2020
Audience: Farmers Market Producers
Project or Activity: Produce Best Practices Training
Content or Curriculum: KDA-approved curriculum (PBPT Power-Point)
Inputs: ANR and FCS Agents
Date:May 2019 and early spring 2020
Audience: Adults and youth
Project or Activity: Greenhouse- Basics of Horticulture
Content or Curriculum: AG and 4H curriculums
Inputs: AG, FCS and 4 H Agents, Lee Adams and Mitch Whitaker (assistants) and Extension Staff
Date: 2019-2020
Author: Shad Baker
Major Program: Commercial Horticulture
Most folks recognize that arable land is at a premium in some parts of the Commonwealth. This fact forces those interested in agriculture to focus on specialty crops that use small parcels of land. Kentucky has a long history in high tunnels, and the recent explosion of interest in these season extenders has caused many in our region to give consideration to this production option. The Letcher County Extension service partnered with NRCS and GROW Appalachia to offer educational materials,
Author: Shad Baker
Major Program: Woodland Education
Maple syrup production is the second fastest growing agricultural commodity in the United States, second only to hemp. With so much of the state covered in steep, wooded hillsides, this is one commodity that almost every county can make. Kentucky woodland owners have expressed a strong interest in learning more about the industry. To help provide research-based information, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, through it's offices in Floyd, Harlan, & Letcher Cou
Author: Shad Baker
Major Program: Woodland Education
How better to launch a brand new commodity day and recognize producers at all corners of the state than to contact the UK Cooperative Extension Service? That was the thinking when the Kentucky Maple Syrup Association partnered with UK Cooperative Extension and forestry department to promote the budding maple syrup industry. The group recognized that Extension has agricultural agents in every county across the state who know better than anyone what is being produced in their counties and that hav
