Extension
It Starts With Us
Agriculture Production, Marketing and Education
Attaining Agriculture Sustainability Through Education
Alissa Ackerman, Ag Agent, FCS Agent
Beef
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Horticulture, Commercial
Local Food Systems
There were 233 farms listed in Clay County in 2017 according to the United States Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Service. This is a 46% decline from the 511 farms listed in 1992. Total farm acres has also declined by 36%, however the average size of a Clay County Farm has increased to 190 acres. Major crops grown are soybeans, corn, vegetables, hemp and tobacco and sales amounted to almost $4 million. Animal sales primarily beef cattle were approximately $1.3 million. Total agricultural receipts in 2017 amounted to $5,219,000 which is a $1.5 million increase over 2007. Local foods have become popular, especially since the coronavirus pandemic began in March 2020. Many households are again growing vegetables, purchasing beef and hogs to have slaughtered for personal use and visiting local farmers’ markets to purchase fresh produce and meat items. We have two Community Supported Agriculture enterprises that sell in Clay and surrounding counties and one sells local and out of state. One farm also uses an online buying club to sell their produce and products such as honey, jams and jellies from other farms. Tobacco is now concentrated in a handful of producers hands and continues to decline with uncertainty and tobacco companies purchase intentions. Soybean acreage harvested has increased in the last five years as corn prices have decreased. Hemp acreage has increased each of the past three years, but hemp processors are having a difficult time securing the capital needed to pay producers and sell the crop. Sheep, goats and rabbits are minor livestock enterprises that fluctuate each year. Natural resources such as timber must be managed or hope for future opportunities will dwindle.
Clay County agricultural producers will sustain profitability and optimize efficiency through the use of sound management practices, marketing and the use of current technology in annual crop, horticulture and livestock production.
Clay County agricultural producers will maximize profits, while minimizing impact to air, soil and living area.
Clay County agriculture producers will reduce the amount of pesticides that are introduced into crop and non-crop land.
Clay County youth will see economic change by being personally involved in agriculture projects and by organizing community programs for the betterment of the county.
Clay County agricultural producers will use current technology to minimize the cost of production and increase yields. Producers will use practices which are competitive and environmentally safe. Producers will continue to transition from tobacco into other agricultural enterprises; growing quality products that can be marketed locally and regionally as local producers are linked with local consumers.
Clay County agricultural producers will adopt new technology for crop and animal production, use diagnostic services to identify insects, diseases, and weeds.
Clay County agricultural producers will evaluate their chemical storage, handling and disposal practices to ensure that they are in line with best practices. They will ensure that fields are posted after chemicals are applied and that spray materials are selected for re-entry intervals, pre-harvest intervals, pre-slaughter intervals, and milk and meat withdrawals as well materials that will cause the least harm to honey bees and other pollinators.
Clay County youth will actively engage in agricultural practices/events such as livestock shows, skill-a-thons and field days.
Clay County Agricultural producers will gain knowledge in current technology and marketing as it relates to beef, forages, tobacco and commercial fruits and vegetables. Producers will gain skill in the management of their farming operations.
Clay County agricultural producers will have awareness of current land grant research concerning grain crop production.
Clay County producers will understand Organic vs Conventional crop production
Clay County youth will gain a better understanding how agriculture affects our society and how the use and misuse of natural resources affect a global society
Long Term Outcome: Agricultural producers will increase income and improve profits of their farming operations.
Indicator: Amount of dollars earned or saved through improved practices as determined by the net income of livestock sold, pounds of tobacco sold and the value of fruits and vegetables sold.
Method: programs, trainings, information from producers, markets and state statistics.
Timeline: 2020-2024
Intermediate Outcome: Producers adopt new technologies and practices that have been presented through Extension programming.
Method: Follow up farm visits or surveys from educational programs.
Timeline: 2020-2024
Initial Outcomes: Attendance at educational meetings, questions and participation in programs.
Method: Follow up farm visits, surveys and evaluations from meetings to gauge success.
Timeline: 2020-2024
Long Term Outcome: Economic change from youth involvement
Indicator: Money raised from youth participation
Method: Interview and recorded documentation
Timeline: 2020-2024
Intermediate Outcome: Youth are engaged in agriculture and environmental or natural resources practices or activities increase
Indicator: Number of participants involved; projects, activities, or enterprises students are working on themselves
Method: Surveys, follow-ups, interviews
Timeline: 2020-2024
Initial Outcome: Students show increased awareness of how agriculture and natural resources affect our world.
Indicator: Number of students that show change based on what they have learned
Method: Pre and Post Surveys
Timeline: 2020-2024
Audience: Clay County Cattlemen
Project or Activity: Clay County Cattlemens' Association Educational Meetings
Content or curriculum: Educational programs that teach management, health, and marketing skills
Inputs: UK Specialists and publications, Industry, and Association Leadership
Date: Quarterly
Audience: Clay County Growers
Project or Activity: Fruit Growers' Meeting
Content or Curriculum: Educational program that updates producers on marketing, disease, insect and pest control strategies and management
Inputs: UK Specialists and UK Publications, Agent
Date: Spring 2022
Audience: Vegetable Producers and Consumers
Project or Activity: Clay County Community Farmers' Market
Content or Curriculum: Educational programs that focus on marketing strategies as well as producing safe and high quality produce
Inputs: Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Agent, UK Specialists and Publications
Date: Spring 2022
Audience: Beekeepers in Clay County
Project or Activity: Beekeepers' Association
Content or Curriculum: Educational Programs on insect control, marketing, hive maintenance and processing to package a quality product
Inputs: Agents, KDA, KSU, Industry
Date: Monthly March-OctoberAudience: Clay Countians
Project or Activity: Grow Appalachia
Content or Curriculum: Educational programs on gardening
Inputs; UK Publications, Agent, and Experienced Clay County Producers
Date: 5 per year: March, April, May, July, August
Audience: Youth and Adults
Project or Activity: Forestry /Environmental Camp
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Volunteers, Location, 4-H Curriculum, ANR Agent, 4-H Agent
Date: Fall 2021
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Windowsill gardeningContent or Curriculum: 4-H Publication
Inputs: 4-H Pub, Facilities, Volunteers, Students, Materials, 4-H Agent, ANR Agent
Date: Annually
Audience: Clay County Beef Producers
Project or Activity: Beef Quality and Care Assurance
Content or Curriculum: Video
Inputs: Agent, Beef Quality Assurance Material
Date: As needed
Audience: Clay County Farmers, landowners and citizens
Project or Activity: Woodland Owner Education Program/Woodland Owners Education Series
Content or Curriculum: UK research material, expertise of specialists/agent
Inputs: Agent, specialists, NRCS, Producers
Date: Fall 2021
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Embryology in the Classroom
Content or curriculum: 4-H curriculum – Hatching Classroom Projects
Inputs: 4-H agent, teachers
Date: Spring 2022
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Natural Resource Academy
Content or curriculum: 4-H curriculum
Inputs: 4-H agent, UK specialists
Date: Quarterly
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Rabbit Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Rabbit Curriculum
Inputs: Volunteer, 4-H Agent
Date: Monthly May-October 2021
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Livestock Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Livestock Curriculum
Inputs: Volunteer, 4-H Agent
Date: Monthly Spring 2021
Author: Willie Bowling
Major Program: Hay testing
Clay County Cooperative Extension Service collaborated with various producers across the county to provide entries for the 2021 East Kentucky Hay Contest. In addition to getting a free hay analysis, the participating producers also had the opportunity to have a custom ration developed for the class of livestock to which they would be feeding their hay. By the end of the sampling period, twelve Clay County producers provided 33 samples for analysis by University of Kentucky forage specialists.The
Author: Willie Bowling
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
There’s a lot to be said for converting low-value materials into high-value products. This is commonly known as “upcycling.” In spring 2022 a group of Clay County producers met with University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension to learn how to transform cull trees into gourmet-quality food. Of course, the trees themselves are not a human food resource, but by inoculating the trees with edible mushroom spawn growers can reliably harvest high-quality mushrooms from small dia
Author: Willie Bowling
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Clay County is a very rural area, with many residents living a substantial distance from grocery stores. Additionally, many people in the county have relatively low incomes, with a substantial portion of county residents living below the poverty line. The combination of these two factors increases the risk of food insecurity.To help address this need, the Clay County Cooperative Extension Service (Clay CES) partnered with Grow Appalachia to initiate a Grow Appalachia Garden Grant site in the Bul
Author: Willie Bowling
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
In summer 2021, a Clay County producer approached Clay County Cooperative Extension Service (Clay CES) to seek assistance in opening a hulling station for Hammons Black Walnuts. Hammons Black Walnuts is the world’s largest purchaser of black walnuts; they secure most of their annual crop by purchasing wild-harvested black walnuts from across the eastern United States. Under this model, Hammons partners with independent contractors who aggregate the nuts from local harvesters.Clay CES staff
