Livestock & Crop Production and Commercial Horticulture 2020Plan of Work

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Warren County CES

Title:
Livestock & Crop Production and Commercial Horticulture 2020
MAP:
Agriculture
Agents Involved:
Joanna Coles and Kristin Hildabrand
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Forages
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Integrated Pest Management
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Horticulture, Commercial
Situation:

In 2017, Warren County’s total value of crop sales was $50,458,000 and total value of livestock sales was $60,438,000.  With this large emphasis and economic impact, livestock and crop programming is important to Warren County farmers. 


The number of farms and acres for commercial horticulture also continues to grow. According to the 2017 USDA Ag Census, Warren County ranks #1 in fruit, nut and berry production and #31 in vegetable production. It also includes 1,715 acres of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture and sod.

Long-Term Outcomes:
Intermediate Outcomes:
Initial Outcomes:
Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Gained knowledge in the areas of animal husbandry and production practices. Producers will learn about best management & production practices

Indicator:  Individuals state they gained knowledge and aspire to implement practices on their farm

Method:  Post educational activity evaluation

Timeline:  Throughout the year


Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge on specific growing practices and methods to help them extend the growing season. Commercial horticulture producers will learn about integrated pest management strategies (IPM) and utilize different testing and diagnostic services.

Indicator: Producers note that they gained the knowledge of different growing practices and season extension techniques. There will be an increase in commercial samples for diagnostic and testing services through the county CES office.

Method: surveys, phone calls, emails, and testimonies 

Timeline: Throughout the year 


Intermediate Outcomes:  Individuals implement production practices learned during educational activities to increase profitability

Indicator:  Number of practices adopted and implemented 

Method:  Post evaluations and follow up surveys

Timeline: 6-8 weeks after educational activity 


Long-term Outcomes: Farmers will be more profitable by applying learned marketing strategies and production practices 

Indicator:  Number of participants who adopt recommended practices and impact increased profitability 

Method:  Evaluations, follow up surveys and testimony

Timeline:  On going

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Beef Producers

Project or Activity: Beef Quality & Care Assurance

Content or Curriculum: Best Management Practices and Consumer Confidence

Inputs: BQA manual, facilities

Date: Fall 2020


Audience: Beef Producers, Industry Representatives

Project or Activity: Beef Field Day

Content or Curriculum: Back grounding, health facilities

 Inputs: Farm operator, facilities, sponsors, tables, av equipment

 Date:  September 2020


Audience: Beef Producers

Project or Activity: Educational Beef Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Nutrition, health, marketing, policies

Inputs: Agents time, facilities, sponsors, industry reps, volunteers

Date: 3rd Thursday of each month


Audience: Crop & Livestock Producers

Project or Activity: Rinse & Return

Content or Curriculum: Proper disposal of pesticide containers

Inputs: KDA staff, facilities, advertisements, volunteers

Date: September 2020 & June 2021


Audience: Homeowners, Crop & Livestock Producers

Project or Activity: Private Pesticide Applicators Training

Content or Curriculum: Pesticide Safety, Worker Protection Standards, recordkeeping, Understanding Pesticide Labels, crop related pests, restricted use pesticides

Inputs: Facilities, videos, publications

Date: January – February 2020


Audience: Industry Representatives, Commercial Applicators 

Project or Activity: SoKY Commercial Pesticide Training

Content or Curriculum: General Pesticide Use

Inputs: Agents time, specialist, facilities

Date: December 2020


Audience: Commercial Beekeepers

Project or Activity: Warren Co. Beekeepers Association monthly meetings

Content or Curriculum: Local beekeepers, Extension specialists and agents

 Inputs: Meeting space, time and mail outs

 Date: July – June 2020


Audience: Commercial & Sustainable Horticulture Producers

Project or Activity: Warren County Beekeepers Association 

Content or Curriculum: Hive health & management, honey products & marketing

Inputs: Meeting space, time, mail outs

Date: 4th Tuesday of each month 


Audience: Commercial Horticulture Producers & Farmers Market Vendors

Project or Activity: Produce Best Practices Training (PBPT) and Sampling  

Content or Curriculum: Produce Best Practices PowerPoint presentation material, KY Department of Agriculture Sampling information  

Inputs: Extension Specialists, visual aids 

Date: Winter, Spring, and Summer 


Audience: Commercial Producers and Horticulture Enthusiasts 

Project or Activity: Media Appearances via Radio and Television

Content or Curriculum: Up-to-date and seasonal information for producers

Inputs: Promotional materials, visual aids

Date: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter


Audience: Home and Commercial Gardeners

Project or Activity: Horticulture Newsletter

Content or Curriculum: Commercial and consumer gardening techniques

Inputs: Extension specialists, Kentucky Pest News, Crop Diversification, etc.  

Date: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter


Audience: Commercial & Sustainable Horticulture Producers  

Project or Activity: Speciality Crop Conference

Content or Curriculum: CES curriculum, Commercial Horticulture, Crop Diversification, Season Extension Techniques, etc.  

Inputs: Extension agents & specialists, speciality crop growers, etc.

Date: Winter 2020



Success Stories

2020 Virtual Specialty Crop Conference

Author: Kristin Hildabrand

Major Program: Horticulture, Commercial

The Warren County Extension Office observed that new growers selling their products at the farmers market would slowly build up their customer base and then leave in order to sell their goods off the farm. While this is good for farmers, area farmers markets are left with fewer vendors and limited produce variety at the market. In response to this situation, the Warren County Extension Office worked together with the SOKY Marketplace where they applied for and were awarded a Specialty Crop grant

Full Story

Virtual Cut Flower Short Course- Perennial Cut Flowers for Kentucky

Author: Kristin Hildabrand

Major Program: Horticulture, Commercial

With cut flower production becoming a fast-growing horticulture enterprise in Kentucky, Horticulture Extension Agents from Boyle and Warren Counties saw the need to offer commercial cut flower production classes. Extension agents met over Zoom and planned out 4 sessions to be offered seasonally throughout the 2021 growing season into early winter 2022 to give new and interested growers more insight into Kentucky cut flower production. This series of classes was later titled Kentucky Cut Flower S

Full Story
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