Extension
It Starts With Us
Encourage and Promote Sustainable Agriculture Practices
Encourage and Promote Sustainable Agriculture Practices
Amanda Sears, Brandon Sears
Horticulture, Commercial
Beef
Forages
The Madison County Agriculture Economy has undergone significant changes in recent years. As a result farmers are seeking new opportunities to generate on farm income.
Local leadership including Madison County agriculture and horticulture councils as well as local agricultural organizations have identified a need to improve agriculture productivity and assist beginning farmers. Producers need to implement best management practices that will promote profitable operations while responsibly utilizing natural resources. (Madison County Agricultural Development Council Comprehensive Plan, 2015)
Vegetable and Fruit producers will decrease the amount of chemicals used on farm.
Less chemical use on lawns.
Residents will not have to replace trees and shrubs as often.
Vegetable and Fruit producers will apply IPM principles to their farming practice.
Lawns will be healthier and less problematic.
Trees and shrubs will show less problems related to environmental stresses.
Vegetable and Fruit producers will learn IMP (integrated pest management).
Residents will learn how to manage their lawns.
Residents will learn how to care for trees and shrubs.
Outcome: Livestock producers will increase efficiency through utilization of extended grazing, reduced feed costs, better reproductive management.
Indicator: Percentage increase in value added sales such as CPH-45 and Bred Heifer Sales. Increased utilization of estrus synchronization products. Adoption of alternative forage systems such as summer annual forages, extended grazing and native warm season grasses.
Method: Surveys and evaluations of workshops, sales and programs
Timeline: After conclusion of event
Outcome: Producers will utilize the Madison County Cooperative Extension Service to make research based decisions.
Indicator: Increased number of farmers and producers use the diagnostic services of the extension office.
Method: Keep records of the number of producers who use the diagnostic services at the extension service
Timeline: year round
Audience: Madison County Residents
Activity: Classes about gardening (vegetable and fruit)
Content: UK, other land grant institutions
Input: UK, other land grant institutions
Date: Throughout year
Audience: Madison County Residents
Activity: Articles, classes about tree and shrub care
Content: UK, other land grant institutions
Input: UK, other land grant institutions
Date: Throughout year
Audience: Madison County Residents
Activity: Articles, classes about lawn care
Content: UK, other land grant institutions
Input: UK, other land grant institutions
Date: Throughout year
Audience: Madison County Residents
Activity: Diagnostic Services included but limited to soil samples, plant diseases and identification, insect identification, manure and water samples, livestock feed testing, hay testing
Content: UK Extension Resources
Input: ANR and Hort agent, UK Extension Specialists, Diagnostic Labs and Resources
Date: Throughout year
Audience: Madison County Residents
Activity: PATIM training and certification
Content: UK Entomology Department, KDA, USDA, ANR Agent
Input: UK Entomology Department, KDA, USDA, ANR Agent
Date: February, March or April
Audience: Madison County Residents
Activity: Extension Forestry Webinars, social media education, articles
Content: Managing woodlands, invasive plants and insect control, income and recreation opportunities, wildlife habitat improvement
Inputs: UK Extension Forestry, Kentucky Division of Forestry, Kentucky Association of Consulting Foresters and Kentucky Woodland Owner’s Association
Author: Brandon Sears
Major Program: Community Engagement
In our fast paced world, information is available in many forms. The Madison County ANR program has long relied on hardcopy newsletter mailings to around 1,100 households as the main source of outreach for education and program advertisement. In recent years, an electronic listserv has been created to offer clients the email option instead of regular mail. The listserv has around 150 subscribers. This way of distributing newsletters has helped reduce cost and labor within our office.The ANR prog
Author: Brandon Sears
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
In order to help producers be efficient and profitable in turbulent markets due to COVID, Central Kentucky County Extension Agents for Agriculture & Natural Resources collaborated with UK Beef and Agricultural Economic Extension Specialists to present the Kentucky Beef Conference on October 19th 2020. This has been an on-going, annual program for over 20 years. The financial assistance of many long time agri-business and community sponsors has allowed producers to hear from nationally known
Author: Brandon Sears
Major Program: Chemical Management
Proper pesticide use is important for not only pest control but for applicator safety. Restricted Use products are those that require specific training for their use due to potential concerns or harm to the environment or the applicator.The Madison County ANR agent hosted two, in-person, Private Pesticide Applicator Training programs in late March 2021. Seventeen Madison County participants were trained in various aspects of general and Restricted Use pesticides including, recordkeeping, safety,
Author: Amanda Sears
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
The Madison County Cooperative Extension Horticulture Agent offered a series of classes via zoom called "The Impatient Gardener". The goal of this series was to highlight the most important aspects of each featured topic in twenty to thirty minutes. Supplemental publications and resources were sent to the participants in advance of each class. Classes were taught each Wednesday for seven weeks at noon. Classes included:1. Getting Started2. Gardening in Small Spaces3. Backyard Frui
Author: Amanda Sears
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
The Madison County Horticulture Agent supported commercial horticulture producers this past year in several ways. Specific focus areas were increasing farm revenue and food safety. Highlights include co-hosting programs through an industry partnership with the Kentucky Horticulture Council (KHC) and offering the Produce Best Practices Training.In the spring, the Agent worked with KHC and visited with farmers who were participating in the Kentucky Small Fruits Initiative, a program designed to pr
Author: Amanda Sears
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
The Madison County Horticulture Agent publishes a monthly newsletter called Pay Dirt. The newsletter disseminates timely horticulture information and advertises upcoming education opportunities. The research-based information is provided by the Horticulture Agent and University of Kentucky Specialists from horticulture, entomology, plant pathology, plant and soil sciences and other departments. Farmer's market and SNAP-ED information is also included. The newsletter is distributed electronic
Author: Brandon Sears
Major Program: Beef
Madison County is currently the third largest beef cow/calf producing county in the state of KY with approximately 25,500. head. It is well known that proper management of reproduction in cattle contributes to increased productivity and profitability on the farm. Since early 2015 the UK Beef Integrated Reproductive Management (IRM) team and Madison County ANR agent have worked with a local Madison County beef producer to increase reproductive efficiency in their herd.UK Extension Beef Specialist
