Sustainability of Family Farms and Environmental StewardshipPlan of Work

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Greenup County CES

Title:
Sustainability of Family Farms and Environmental Stewardship
MAP:
Agriculture and Environment
Agents Involved:
Hieneman, Stephens, Boyd, Pullin
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Agriculture
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Home-Based Microprocessor Program
Situation:

Kentucky has much to offer in the way of agriculture. Of Kentucky’s total acreage (25.4 million acres), over 50% (12.9 million acres) is farmland (NASS, 2019). Kentucky farms produce a variety of agricultural products. The top five agricultural commodities (based on sales) in the Commonwealth include broilers, all other animals and products, soybeans, corn, and cattle and calves (USDA ERS, 2020). Kentucky agricultural sales in 2018 were reported at $5.9 billion (USDA ERS, 2020). Of the 75,966 farms in Kentucky, over 90% are individually or family owned. 

Greenup County Cooperative Extension Agents strive plan to conduct many educational  programs that will help support family farms reaching both youth and adults.  Along with production and marketing education, agents will also help educate consumers on how food is grown and produced.   Unfortunately, for many, there is a disconnect between the food we eat and where that food comes from. Today’s society lacks understanding regarding agricultural production and processing (Spielmaker and Leising, 2013).

Through extension programming it is our goal to make our local Agriculture community more sustainable and while being good stewards to the land that is available to local farmers.




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

Audience:  Farmers Market Clientelle

Project or Activity: Marketing Trainings, Homebased Microprocessor Trainings

Content or Curriculum: University of Kentucky Curriculum/ CEDIK

Inputs: Extension Agents, UK specialists

Date:  Ongoing


Audience: 4-H Youth 

Project or Activity: Livestock & Poultry Projects 

Content or Curriculum: 4-H curriculum 

Inputs: Extension Agents, local volunteer, state specialists

Date: Ongoing


Audience: Livestock & Forage Producers 

Project or Activity:  Cattleman & Forage Trainings, Soil Testing

Content or Curriculum: Webinars, Hands on training 

Inputs: Extension Agents, local volunteers, UK Beef Specialists

Date: Ongoing


Audience: County Youth

Project or Activity: Livestock Judging and Skill-a-thon

Content or Curriculum: N/A

Inputs: County Agents and Volunteers

Date: Spring and Fall


Audience: County Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Livestock Clubs

Content or Curriculum: Livestock Species Handbooks, and Livestock Training Kits

Inputs: County Agents and Volunteers

Date: ongoing


Audience: County Youth

Project or Activity: Livestock Show and Sell

Content or Curriculum: N/A

Inputs: County Agents, Staff, and Volunteers

Date: August


Audience: County Youth

Project or Activity: County Agriculture Days

Content or Curriculum: N/A

Inputs: County Agents, Staff, and Volunteers

Date: Fall, Spring


Audience:  Greenup County Community Members

Project or Activity:  Greenup County Farm to Table Dinner

Content or Curriculum:  N/A

Inputs:  Agents, Staff, Volunteers

Date:  Summer


Audience: Communities

Project or Activity:  Farmers Market Outreach

Content or Curriculum: Cooking programs, marketing, increased access, Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud resources, Farmers Market Toolkit, Super Star Chef

Inputs: Nutrition Education Program (NEP), paid staff, facilities, Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Date: April – October/Growing seasons

Audience: Families and Individuals

Project or Activity:  Food Preservation

Content or Curriculum: Publications, Trainings, Home-Based Micro-Processing Training, Champion Food Volunteers

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, programmatic materials, NEP

Date: July – September for adults and youth



Success Stories

Northeast KY Farm Storm Relief

Author: Linda Hieneman

Major Program: Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development

Northeast KY Farm Storm Relief

Northeast KY Farm Storm Relief              A devastating ice storm hit Northeast Kentucky in February 2021 and was followed by flooding.   The ice storm left many without power or any amenities for several days and took out large areas of farm fencing when large trees and limbs either broke or were uprooted and fell on the fence.  As local farmers were slowly beginning to get out from under that catastrophe the widespread flooding began. The flo

Full Story
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