Increasing quality and quantity of small agriculture practicesPlan of Work

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Boyle County CES

Title:
Increasing quality and quantity of small agriculture practices
MAP:
Small Agriculture
Agents Involved:
A. Sheffield, J. Little, A. Price
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Small Farm Management
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
Situation:

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.

Long-Term Outcomes:

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.

Intermediate Outcomes:

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.

Initial Outcomes:

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.

Evaluation:

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

Learning Opportunities:

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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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

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