Extension
It Starts With Us
Enhance the Strong Agicultural and Natural Resource Base
Agriculture and Natural Resource Development
Maggard, McCreary
Beef
Forages
Ag Water Quality Program
Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum
Lawrence County has almost 42,000 acres used for farm operations. Crop sales in Lawrence County total $835,000 with 69% of that being hay and animal sales totalled $ 729,00 with cattle covering 87%. Hay production and beef production are the leading agriculture operations in the county. (CEDIK) The extension service educates beef producers on best management practices to help keep costs down, optimize income throught management and marketing, be good stewards of the land and practice good animal health. To also assist producers in being more successful farmers, extension offers educational programs that enhance forage productivity and optimizing animal performance with improving forage quality. With agriculture being a large area of Lawrence County, land owners need to be educated on how agricultural operations lead to water pollution. The Lawrence County Extension Service will help land owners develop and implement Agriculture Water Quality plans and nutrient management plans to help protect water quality, improve farm operations and maximize profits.
*Improve sustainability of forage-based livestock systems
*Improve forage stands due to proper establishment practices
*Increase profits and operation and reduce expenses
*Improve cattle herd quality, genetics and efficiency
*Improve animal welfare and build build the reputation and value of KY cattle
*Reduce environmental impact to water, soil or air
*Protect and improve water quality
*Youth will master skills in raising and showing livestock and small animals.
*Develop grazing plans
*Implement practices to control the breeding season and enhance production efficiency
*Utilize a complete mineral supplement program
*Create improved livestock handling equipment/facilities
*Improve heifer development
*Evaluate problem areas during seasons of challenging weather
*Adopt proper manure handling practices
*Youth will demonstrate their abilities to put their education into motion through livestock camps, certification trainings, and more.
*Understanding pasture renovation and forage establishment practices
*Awareness of forage harvest, storage, and feeding management to reduce losses
*Increased awareness of reproduction, genetics, nutrition, herd management and overall health.
*Understand body condition scoring and how to manage nutrition for a healthy reproductive animal
*Understand the importance of clean water
*Increase knowledge of best management practices for protecting and improving water quality
*Youth will develop skills in raising their animals as well as in showmanship.
Initial Outcome: Understanding practices to optimize forage production and quality and improve harvesting, storage and feeding practices to reduce losses
Indicator: Number of participants who test their forage quality and show quality improvement
Method: Observation and Survey
Timeline: 2016-2020
Initial Outcome: Understanding importance of clean water and how to protect and improve water quality
Indicator: Number of program participants that show changes in practices
Method: Observation and Survey
Timeline: 2016-2020
Initial Outcome: Understanding how to manage overall health, nutrition, reproduction and herd management in beef operations
Indicator: Number of program participants that show improvement in their cattle operation
Indicator: Observation, Survey and Farm Visits
Timeline: 2016-2020
Intermediate Outcome: Control breeding season and enhance production efficiency with a complete mineral supplement program
Indicator: Number of program participants that indicate change in their operation
Method: Survey and Observation
Timeline: 2016-2020
Intermediate Outcome: Improve manure handling practices and improve problem areas during challenging weather seasons.
Indicator: Number of participants who show improvement on their farm and land
Method: Observation and Farm Visits
Timeline: 2016-2020
Long-term Outcome: Show improvement of water quality and reduce environmental impact to water, soil and air
Indicator: Number of participants who create and implement a Agricultural Water Quality Plan
Method: Observation and Survey
Timeline: 2016-2020
Initial Outcome: Youth will develop skills in raising their animals as well as in showmanship.
Indicator: Number of youth expressing interest in livestock related specialty clubs, number of youth and volunteers participating in such
Method: animal club participation, observation
Timeline: 2016-2020 (year-round)
Intermediate Outcome: Youth will demonstrate their abilities to put their education into motion through livestock camps, certification trainings, and more.
Indicator: Number of youth demonstrating improvement in their skills of showmanship as well as finding more ease in the upbringing and care of their animal(s)
Method: animal club participation, observation
Timeline: 2016-2020 (year-round)
Long-term Outcome: Youth will master skills in raising and showing livestock and small animals.
Indicator: Number of youth who show an animal at the County Fair, raise their animal for food consumption, or breed their animal to reproduce and continue projects at a later time
Method: animal club participation, observation, demonstration and showmanship
Timeline: 2016-2020 (year-round)
Audience: Land Owners/Forage Producers/Livestock Producers
Project or Activity: Educational programs, Field Days, Farm Visits and Conferences
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Resources
Inputs: UK CES
Date: 2016-2020
Audience: Land Owners
Project or Activity: Field Days, Demonstrations, Educational Programs
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Resources and NRCS
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, ANR Agents, NRCS, and Soil Conservation District
Date: 2016-2020
Audience: Beef Cattle Producers
Project or Activity: Master Cattlemen, BQA Trainings, KY Heifer Development Program, Genetic Improvement Program
Content or Curriculum:UK Extension Resources
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, ANR Agents, Research Information
Date: 2016-2020
Audience: Youth ages 5 and up
Program/Activity: Livestock Club
Content/Curriculum: Relevant 4-H Livestock Curriculum
Inputs: County-level certified volunteers, UK Extension Agents, UK Specialists, Local Veterinarians
Date: 2016-2020 (year-round)
Audience: Youth ages 9 and up
Program/Activity: 4-H Poultry and incubation
Content/Curriculum: 4-H Poultry Curriculum
Inputs: County volunteers, UK Extension Agents, UK State Specialists
Date: 2016-2020, June - August
Audience: Youth ages 5 and up
Program/Activity: Lawrence County Fair/Kentucky State Fair
Content/Curriculum: 4-H Animal Curriculum
Inputs: County Volunteers, UK Extension Agents, UK State Specialists, Local Veterinarians
Date: July, 2016-2020
Author: Laura Maggard
Major Program: Small Ruminants
After receiving multiple requests for goat programming in the county, the Lawrence County Agriculture and Natural Resource Extension Agent (ANR) organized a 3 part series for goat producers. Meat goat production in the United States is continually growing, production is an alternative form of livestock production for novice producers seeking learning opportunities to expand their knowledge base. Participants benefit from attending educational workshops by interacting with "seasoned" pr
Author: Caryn McCreary
Major Program: Master Gardener
According to a special National Gardening Association report, Garden to Table: A 5-Year Look at Food Gardening in America, 35% of all households in America are growing food at home or in a community garden. Over the course of 5 years, this has increased by 17%. The largest increases are seen among younger households with 2 million more households doing community gardening (which is a 200% increase) over 10 years. These amazing statistics don’t just mag
Author: Laura Maggard
Major Program: Master Gardener
"Sadly, over the past 15 years, colonies of bees have been disappearing, and the reason remains unknown. Referred to as ‘colony collapse disorder’, billions of Honey bees across the world are leaving their hives, never to return. In some regions, up to 90% of bees have disappeared!" (National Geographic). With honey bee populations decreasing, the Lawrence County Master Gardener's made the decision to take a stand towards increasing honey bee populations and bringing aw
