Extension
It Starts With Us
Educational Opportunities for Producers and Gardeners
Agriculture and Horticulture Education
Shadrick, Alexander
Grain Crops
Home & Consumer Horticulture
Food Preparation
Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Webster County is a rural county. In 2012, Webster County had 500 farm operations on 152,431 acres, which represented 71.8% of total county land. The total value for crop sales was $44,319,000 (including agritourism). Farming operations continue to expand and commodity prices and input costs are uncertain from year to year.
There has been an increase in backyard gardens, buying local produce and meat and consumers wanting to know where their food comes from. There has been an increase in the need for a farmer's market. Consumers need to understand GMO's and organic production as it relates to conventional production.
Maximize profits for commercial agriculture producers
Minimize environmental impact of air, soil and living area
Reduction in rate of pesticide resistance development in pests, weeds and pathogens
Farmer's Market in Webster County expands to meed needs of community
Maintain or increase consumer confidence/demand in local foods
Maintain or increase economic stability of farm operations
Increase in producers utilizing enterprise budgets
Increase positive opinion of GMO/Conventional production of non-farm individuals
Maximize awareness of GMO/Organic Production
Implementation of on-farm trials
Adopt usage of new technology for crop production
Use diagnostic services to identify insects, disease and weeds
Successfully complete PAT and training workers in WPS
Compare chemical options based on time, availability cost, companion tactics
Design effective spray schedules for plant pest management
Develop an AG plan using decision making tools
Apply skills of food safety and food preparation to afford healthy nutritious food choices
Increase certifications in Microprocessing and Produce Best Practices
Increase understanding of homeowner/gardener pest management tactics
Demonstrate proper use of sprayer and equipment related to application
Identifying active ingredients in chemical products and relate to modes of action
Review types and varieties of produce
Awareness of current land grant research concerning grain crop production
Understanding importance of and frame work for on-farm trials
Understanding organic vs conventional production
Identify herbicide resistant pests and strategies to overcome these pest
Awareness of safe handling of livestock for a safe and nutritious product on the plate
Increase vendors at Farmer's Market
Increase awareness of Plate It Up KY Proud by sampling at Farmer's Market
Increase customer support of farmers market
Increase redemption rate of SFMNP Vouchers
Initial Outcome:
Indicator: Participants increase use of SFMNP senior vouchers through more accessible markets and educational programs at senior center.
Method: Redemption rate provided by KDA
Timeline: End of farmers market reporting year; Nov-Dec. 2019
Intermediate Outcome:
Indicator: Producers use the Tri-County Grain Improvement Series research trial data as a decision aide for their operation
Method: face to face interviews
Timeline: after growing season
Long-term Outcome:
Indicator: Webster County Farmers' market meets needs of clientele at multiple days/locations
Method: follow-up interviews with customers and vendors; online survey tools through social media
Timeline: October/November 2019
Audience: Webster County Grain Farmers and Landowners
Project or Activity: Adult Farm Classes (topics decided by committee in August)
Content or Curriculum:
Inputs: UK Extension Agents; UK Specialist, NRCS, Community Partners
Date: December through March
Audience: Webster, McLean and Hopkins County Producers
Project or Activity: Green River Grain Improvement Series
Content or Curriculum: UK publications, seed company corn and soybean variety
Inputs: UK Specialist, agents, local producers
Date: Throughout growing season
Audience: Webster County Capstone Learning Center Students (WCHS)/ Elementary students/ 4H Horticulture Club
Project or Activity: Gardening; From beginning to the end
Content or Curriculum: Home vegetable gardening
Inputs: Extension Agents, NRCS, Webster County School District, Century 21 Grant for Capstone Learning Center, 4H Council
Date: Spring Annually
Audience: Farmers Market Vendors/gardners
Activity: Fruit and/or vegetable production
Content: Home Vegetable gardening and commercial vegetable production, high tunnel publications
Inputs: Agents, KDA and Specialists
Date: 2019-2020 gorwing season
Audience: Webster County Grain and Livestock Producers
Activity: Recognizing the health and mental stresses of farming and how to handle them
Content: Dr. Reed
Inputs: UK Extension, Dr. Reed
Date: Winter 2020
Author: Vicki Shadrick
Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture
In March 2020, a global pandemic changed how families interact, how businesses operate, how students attended classes and how basic needs were purchased. Basically, Covid-19 changed everything.“The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service provides practical education you can trust to help people, businesses, and communities solve problems, develop skills, and build a better future”.
Author: Vicki Shadrick
Major Program: Sustainable Agriculture
Webster County, Kentucky is a diverse agricultural county. Corn, soybeans, tobacco, hay, wheat grain sorghum, industrial hemp, beef cattle, poultry, fruits, vegetables and beekeepers can all be found throughout this rural area of the commonwealth.There is approximately 170,000 acres of cropland in Webster County with about seventy-five percent of that in row crops and tobacco. Animal agriculture has a major financial impact in the county. In 2017, animal sales totaled 88.7 mill
