Extension
It Starts With Us
Crop production, Livestock production, & Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable & Profitable Crop & Livestock Production
Schalk,Tarry
Beef
Chemical Crop Management Tools
Grain Crops
Ag Marketing
Barren County has traditionally led the region in diverse agriculture production. Producers utilizing these practices help to enhance their profitability & promote sustainability. Forages, grain crops, & tobacco continue to be in place on many Barren County farms. Dairy, beef, poultry, small ruminants, and horses are staples in many operations. Producers continue to be charged with producing commodities in an environmental sustainable manner.
-Diversify operations to meet the changing ag products needs
-Efficient use of crop protectants
-Increased producer profits in ag enterprises
-Increase overall efficiency in livestock operations
-Implement the use of decision making tools for crop & livestock production
-Convert used/unleased grain crop land back to improved permanent pasture/hay ground
-Maintain high standards and husbandry practices for beef and small ruminant operations
-Increase awareness of dairy calf and replacement heifer production
-Balancing soil test results with manure applications to prevent over application of nutrients
-Informed decisions on crop inputs reduce input cost per acre
-Develop necessary skill sets
-Provide programs to improve soil health and sustainability
-Realize diversification within livestock enterprises
Long-term Outcome: Evaluate increased number of producers shown to utilize improved management practices in their crop production
Indicator: Note the number of producers utilizing product usage and purchasing habits in their farm management practices
Method: Surveys, farm visits, evaluations
Timeline: July-June
Intermediate Outcome: : Evaluate animal manure application habits
Indicator: Type, crop, & application time
Method: Survey local farmers who are using manure & farm visits
Timeline: Seasonal, by crop
Initial Outcome: Evaluate input cost/acre for grain crops
Indicator: Note changes in grain crops producers who attended programming
Method: Farm visits, 1 on 1 interviews, survey
Timeline: after harvest season
Audience: Tobacco Producers
Project or Activity: Tobacco GAP
Content or Curriculum: UK CAFÉ & GAP Connections
Inputs: GAP materials, specialist(s), GAP connections, US Dept of Labor
Date: Spring
Audience: Crop Producers
Project or Activity: Chemical Management Training
Content or Curriculum: Private Pesticide Training, Specialists
Inputs: UK Specialists, videos, field days
Date: Winter and early Spring
Audience: Animal Commodity Groups
Project or Activity: Monthly meetings
Content or Curriculum: forages, nutrition, health, marketing, management
Inputs: CAFÉ resources, UK & KSU specialists, SRPS
Date: July through June
Audience: Producers & Citizens Interested in Agriculture
Project or Activity: Column in Sunday edition of Glasgow Daily Times
Content or Curriculum: Timely topics on production, safety, & new technology.
Inputs: Agents, CAFÉ resources, & UK specialists
Date: July through June
Audience: Dairy Producers
Project or Activity: Management practices for production & cow comfort.
Content or Curriculum: Cow comfort, nutrition, herd health,
Inputs: Agents, UK specialists
Date: Fall and Winter
Audience: 4-H Youth Interested in Agriculture
Project or Activity: 4-H projects in horses, dairy, livestock, natural resources, & plant & soil sciences
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Core Curriculum & National 4-H project curriculum
Inputs: CAFÉ resources, UK specialists, 4-H specialists
Date: July through June
Author: Christopher Schalk
Major Program: Tobacco
Barren and Metcalfe counties are two of the top tobacco producing counties in Kentucky. Although, total production is down compared to previous years, tobacco still maintains it's spot as one of the top agricultural commodities in the region. Since 2014 all major tobacco companies have required producers to be trained in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in order to market tobacco. This is due to an increasing concern for consumer health as well as the health and safety of those that work in
Author: Christopher Schalk
Major Program: Integrated Plant Pest Management
Commercial pesticide applicators are called upon by farmer's, businesses, golf courses, homeowners, and many others to control pests in a number of situations. These applicators are required to obtain continuing education credits to maintain their licenses. In 2017 the ANR and horticulture agents in the east part of district 6 provided applicators an opportunity to continue their education by hosting the SOKY Pesticide Training. This was the third year that this two day training opportunity,
Author: Christopher Schalk
Major Program: Forages
Barren, Metcalfe and Monroe County are nestled in the rolling hills of the Eastern Mammoth Cave Area in South Central Kentucky. In these counties, beef cattle are a major agriculture commodity. These three county account for over 77,500 brood cows (USDA-NASS, 2015) and over $48 million dollars of cash sales. In the fall of 2017 Agriculture Extension Agents in these counties identified a need to redirect producer’s attention back to the basics of forage production. The Forage 101 serie
Author: Christopher Schalk
Major Program: Local Food Systems
The face of agriculture is changing event in Barren County, one of Kentucky’s most prolific agriculture counties. An event to honor the rich tradition of production agriculture was needs, but fewer and fewer Barren County citizens have the direct contact with the farm. As folks loose direct contact with farm life, they understand the real story of farm to fork. The Barren County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with the Glasgow Barren County Chamber of Commerce to host the Barren Co
