Extension
It Starts With Us
Grain marketing, environmental sustainability, and natural resources.
Improving Agriculture and Natural Resources
YD, ANR
Sustainable Agriculture
Grain Crops
Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources
Each year, Livingston County farmers face a myriad of challenges. Unstable commodity markets, increasing cost of land rental, fuel prices, and the environment. Being essentially water-locked, county producers deal with flooding often. Farmers and other residents persevere, planting over 10,500 acres of corn and around 19,000 acres of soybeans each year, depending on the river levels in the bottom land surrounding the three rivers intersecting in Livingston County (source?). Residents and youth in the county work to keep the rivers clean and to maintain the water and land for tourists and farmers up and down the Tennessee, Cumberland, and Ohio Rivers so that we can all live together and profit in a peaceful manner. The Extension Service works to help give farmers and other residents the tools to achieve these goals.
(A) Producers will increase crop revenue by utilizing sound grain marketing practices.
(B) Producers will implement environmentally safe practices for pesticide and fertilizer applications.
(C) Clientele will be able to identify environmental practices to protect and improve their environment.
(D) Extension will develop partnerships with Livingston County Environmental Partners to promote environmental awareness in the community.
Producers will gain a better understanding of grain marketing and future contracts. Producers will be more efficient with fertilizer application though soil testing.
Clientele will identify materials that can be recycled and practice sustainable farming practices.
Youth will make environmentally healthy recycling choices and promote environmental awareness within the community.
Producers will participate in a grain marketing programs and pesticide applicator training at the extension office. Producers will update and maintain their pesticide applicators licenses each year. Livingston County youth will participate in Enviromental Field Day, utilizing the Wildlife Habitiat Council Certified Livingston Wildlife Viewing Area in Grand Rivers. Youth will make habitat improvements in the county wildlife area. Extension will host Ohio River Sweep and Earth Day activities. Youth will learn about makeup and properties of soil types. Youth will learn the benefits of best management practices on soil usage.
Long-Term Outcome: Farmers will increase revenue for their grain crops
Indicator: Number of producers that implemented new grain marketing practices.
Method: Gather county statistics and follow up interviews.
Timeline: 1-2 years after meeting
Intermediate Outcome: Farmers will bring in an increased number of soil samples.
Indicator: Annual increase of number of soil samples brought to Extension Office.
Method: Soil test report.
Timeline: annual
Initial Outcome: Producers will learn the basics of a marketing plan.
Indicator: Results of test.
Method: Pre and Post test developed by specialist and agent.
Timeline: At the meetings held twice per year.
Initial Outcome: Youth will learn about living soils, their properties and how to prevent soil loss.
Indicator: Results of quiz
Method: Oral quiz after lessons
Timeline: Each session
Audience: Grain Producers
Project or Activity: Basic and advanced Grain Marketing educational programs offered
Content or Curriculum: Extension publications, state specialists, and local marketing specialist.
Inputs: UK publications, specialists from UK, and local AGRA-Businessmen.
Date: 1-2 classes will be offered annually by ANR agent
Audience: Producers and landowners
Project or Activity: Pesticide Applicator Training (3)
Content or Curriculum: UK Pesticide Training Curriculum
Inputs: ANR
Date: three training opportunities offered annually
Audience: 4-H youth
Project and Activity: Water health & Soil Identification
Inputs: YD & Specialist
Dates: Spring and Summer
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project and Activity: Roadside Clean-up
Inputs: 4-Hers & volunteers
Dates: May
Audience: Youth, Homemakers and County Residents
Project or Activity: Community Garden
Inputs: YD, ANR
Dates: Annually
Audience: Club Youth and county residents
Project or Activty: Beekeepers meetings
Inputs: YD, ANR
Dates: Monthly
Audience: Livingston County Residents
Project and Activity: Annual Ohio River Sweep Clean-up Project
Inputs: Volunteers
Dates: Summer
Audience: Animal Science Club
Project and Activity: 4-H Livestock Project
Inputs: Ohio Kit, KY Livestock Certification, County producers, 4-H Leader
Dates: Monthly
Author: Adam Barnes
Major Program: Grain Crops
Facebook successDuring the third week of July in Livingston County, Southern rust was found and confirmed in corn. This was the first confirmed case in the state for the 2019 growing season. I wanted to get the word out fast to our counties producers. I used conventional ways of putting information out (i.e. newspaper and mailers,) but also chose to get the information out with social media. I put together a short post on our Livingston County ANR Facebook page and a group e-mail to my grain pro
