Extension
It Starts With Us
Increasing quality and quantity of small agriculture practices
Small Agriculture
A. Sheffield, J. Little, A. Price
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Local Food Systems
Small Farm Management
Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
Sustainability of family farms, increasing support for small businesses, more profitable farms and more awareness and support for agriculture and agribusinesses all ranked as at least “Important” in the 2019 Boyle County Extension Community Assessment. In the five years between 2012 and 2017, the number of farms in Boyle County decreased by 3% and the average acres/per farm fell by 10%. In 2017, 81% of the farms in Boyle County generated less than $25,000 in annual sales and 45% of all farms consisted of less than 50 acres. At the same time, net cash income per farm increased by 245% (2017 US Census of Agriculture). More intensive use of land for higher value/acre commodities has helped support this trend of smaller farms with increased incomes. Local agriculture and horticulture advisory councils have requested additional assistance from Extension to provide information on new commodities and best practices for small agriculture entities. The goals of fewer chronic diseases and fewer overweight or obese youth were also identified as two of the most important goals in the assessment. Encouraging the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables via a local share program and Farmers’ Markets through Family and Consumer Science linkages benefits not only local small agriculture but local consumers as well.
A greater amount and variety of local food products are generated by small agriculture and home horticulture and offered through local retail and institutional outlets.
The per capita consumption of locally-grown produce increases.
Producers diversify the types and varieties of produce grown and sold.
Producers use best management practices.
Clientele practice more home horticulture.
Clientele choose more locally-produced, healthy foods.
Producers will learn different options for increasing local sales.
Producers will identify production methods and products that extend the growing season (i.e., high tunnels, hydroponics, etc.).
Clientele will learn about better management practices for home horticulture.
Youth will learn about local food production.
Youth will describe where their food comes from and the impact processing has on the safety and healthiness of food products.
Consumers will recognize the benefits of locally-grown foods.
Initial Outcome: Producers will learn different options for increasing local sales.
Indicator: Commercial Horticulture 1051; Commercial Horticulture – Crop Marketing 1053; Farmers’ Markets 1054; Local Food Systems 1021
Method: Record of clientele participating in workshops; verbal reviews of information; post-program evaluations; connecting clientele with marketing opportunities; follow-up consultations applying marketing methods to enterprises
Timeline: Year-round
Initial Outcome Producers will identify production methods and products that extend the growing season (i.e., high tunnels, hydroponics, etc.).
Indicator: Commercial Horticulture 1051
Method: Record of clientele participating in programs; in-program reviews; follow-up consultations on implementing practices; post-program evaluations
Timeline: Year-round
Initial Outcome: Clientele will learn about better management practices for home horticulture.
Indicator: Home and Consumer Horticulture 1031; Soils 1074; Integrated Plant Pest Management 1043
Method: Record of clientele participating in programs; in-program activities and reviews; post-program evaluations; follow-up consultations applying practices in home horticulture settings
Timeline: Year-round
Initial Outcome: Youth will learn about local food production.
Indicator: Local Food Systems 1021; Home and Consumer Horticulture 1031
Method: Record of youth participating in educational programs; in-program hands-on activities; end of program evaluations
Timeline: Year-round
Initial Outcome: Youth will describe where their food comes from and the impact processing has on the safety and healthiness of food products.
Indicator: Local Food Systems 1021; Home and Consumer Horticulture 1031; Plate It Up! KY Proud 2061; Accessing Nutritious Foods 2066; Food Preparation 2065; Food Preservation 2062
Method: Record of youth participating in educational programs, in-program hands-on activities, verbal reviews of information; post-program evaluations.
Timeline: Year-round
Initial Outcome Consumers will recognize the benefits of locally-grown foods.
Indicator: Local Food Systems 1021; Home and Consumer Horticulture 1031; Plate It Up! KY Proud 2061; Accessing Nutritious Foods 2066; Food Preparation 2065; Food Preservation 2062
Method: Record of clientele participating in programs; verbal review of information; in-program hands-on activities; post-program evaluations
Timeline: Year-round
Intermediate Outcome: Producers diversify the types and varieties of produce grown and sold.
Indicator: Commercial Horticulture 1051; Commercial Horticulture – Crop Marketing 1053; Farmers’ Markets 1054; Home and Consumer Horticulture 1031; Local Food Systems 1021
Method: Number of new types and varieties of produce grown and sold; follow up contacts with program participants
Timeline: 1-2 years
Intermediate Outcome: Producers use best management practices.
Indicator: Soils 1074; Integrated Plant Pest Management 1043; Commercial Horticulture 1051; Home and Consumer Horticulture 1031
Method: Number of producers using recommended practices; record of improvement in quality or productivity/unit; follow up contacts with program participants
Timeline: 1-2 years
Intermediate Outcome: Clientele practice more home horticulture.
Indicator: Home and Consumer Horticulture 1031
Method: Number of clientele practicing home horticulture; follow up contacts with program participants
Timeline: 1-2 years
Intermediate Outcome: Clientele choose more locally-produced, healthy foods.
Indicator: Farmer’s Markets 1054; Local Food Systems 1021; Home and Consumer Horticulture 1031; Plate It Up! KY Proud 2062; Food Preparation 2065; Food Preservation 2062; Accessing Nutritious Foods 2066
Method: Total sales from local Farmers Markets and share programs; number of clientele practicing home horticulture; community surveys; follow up contacts with program participants
Timeline: 1 to 5 years
Long-term Outcome: A greater amount and variety of local food products are generated by small agriculture and home horticulture and offered through local retail and institutional outlets.
Indicator: Commercial Horticulture 1051; Commercial Horticulture – Crop Marketing 1053; Farmers’ Markets 1054; Home and Consumer Horticulture 1031; Local Food Systems 1021
Method: Rising sales from local food markets/outlets and increased variety produced and offered commercially and privately
Timeline: 1 to 5 years
Long-term Outcome: The per capita consumption of locally-grown produce increases.
Indicator: Farmer’s Markets 1054; Local food systems 1021; Home and consumer horticulture 1031; Plat It Up! KY Proud 2062; Food Preparation 2065; Food Preservation 2062; Accessing Nutritious Foods 2066
Method: Rising sales from local food markets/outlets and increased consumption documented via survey data
Timeline: 2-10 years
Project or Activity: Crop Marketing class
Content or Curriculum: an overall class on marketing basics, more specifics based on different marketing outlets. Based on CCD and KDA curriculum.
Inputs: Extension specialists, extension staff, KDA, CCD, KY Horticulture Council
Date: Winter
Audience: Home owners
Project or Activity: Gardening 101, IPM strategies, Composting, Raised Bed Gardening,
Content or Curriculum: Classes on garden to table products, pest ID and management, basic gardening skills
Inputs: Extension specialists, extension staff, KDA, CCD, KY Horticulture Council
Date: Year-round
Audience: Farmers Market
Project or Activity: Orientation Class, Produce Safety, Marketing basics
Content or Curriculum:Classes on selling at farmers market, online resources, produce safety
Inputs: Extension specialists, extension staff, KDA, CCD, KY Horticulture Council
Date: Winter
Audience: Commercial farmers
Project or Activity: High Tunnel 101 and season extension, IPM strategies, rotational strategies
Content or Curriculum: given by extension specialists
Inputs: Extension specialists, extension staff, KDA, CCD, KY Horticulture Council
Date: Year - round
Audience: Farmer's Market
Project or Activity: Sample Plate It Up! KY Proud recipes, collect recipe cards
Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up!
Inputs:Extension Specialists, Extension Staff, UK pubs and resources, local, state, and federal partners, non-profit organizations
Date: Spring, Summer, Fall
Project or Activity:Commercial farmers
Content or Curriculum:work with extension specialists on direct marketing of meat products to consumers.
Inputs:Extension specialists, extension staff, UK informational pubs, health department, Kentucky slaughter facilities.
Date:Year round.
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Author: Alexis Amorese Sheffield
Major Program: Horticulture, Commercial
The Boyle and Warren County Horticulture agents worked in conjunction with the KY Horticulture council and Center for Crop Diversification, to put together an online series of short courses aimed at commercial cut flower growers, around the state of Kentucky. Three courses were created focused on production practices, disease and insect management and marketing based on previous surveys from the recently established 
Author: Alexis Amorese Sheffield
Major Program: Local Food Systems
Community Supported Agriculture, popularly known as a CSA, is a system that connects the producer and consumers within their food system more closely. Members pay for their produce share before the season begins, usually winter, which aids farmers in purchasing necessary products during a time when income is typically low. In return for becoming a member, subscribers receive a weekly box of produce or other farm goods. This includes in-season fruits and vegetables and can expand to dried go
Author: Alexis Amorese Sheffield
Major Program: Horticulture, Commercial
Cut flower production is a growing horticulture enterprise segment in Kentucky and more than 100 operations across the state have been identified. Since July is nationally recognized as American Grown Cut Flower Month, for the second year, the Kentucky Horticulture Council (KHC) partnered with UK Cooperative Extension Service Horticulture Agents, Alexis Sheffield (Boyle County) and Kristin Hildabrand (Warren County) to launch a social media promotional campaign highlighting cut flower growers ac
