Educational Opportunities for Producers, Gardeners and farmers marketsPlan of Work

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Webster County CES

Title:
Educational Opportunities for Producers, Gardeners and farmers markets
MAP:
Agriculture and Horticulture Education
Agents Involved:
Shadrick,
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Grains
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Situation:

Webster County is a rural county. According to NASS, In 2017, Webster County had  500 farm landowners on approximately 170,000 acres, which represented 75% of total county land. Commodity sales totaled 55.1 million.  Farming operations continue to expand and grain crop production is facing a downward pressure.  Severe economic distress due to high inputs, low commodity prices, high land rent and flooded machinery market is expected for the foreseeable future.  

Recent trends indicate that more and more Americans are growing their own food (35% of households).  Local gardeners will continue to look to Cooperative Extension for specific answers to their gardening questions.  Farmers' markets continue to thrive as consumers are buying local produce, meat, honey and value added products.  There is an increase in gardeners interest in becoming vendors in the farmers' market.  Vendors look to Cooperative Extension for Producers Best Practices Training and recommendations for gardening, food preservation and diagnostic services. Consumers and producers need to understand GMO's and organic production as it relates to conventional production.  The global pandemic of 2020 has increased the interest the local food movement even more.  

Long-Term Outcomes:

Maximize profits for commercial agriculture producers

Minimize environmental impact by following recommended use of pesticides, herbicides, and/or fertilizers

Maintain or increase access of locally produced foods based on sales and/pr percentage of redemption of alternate payment programs (SFMNP and KDD)

Increased the amount and/or variety of locally grown or processed foods

Maintain or increase economic stability of farm operations

Increase positive opinion of GMO/Conventional production of non-farm individuals

Intermediate Outcomes:

Maximize awareness of GMO/Organic Production

Implementation of on-farm trials

Adopt usage of new technology for crop production

Use diagnostic services to identify insects, disease and weeds

Successfully complete PAT and/or pesticide specific certifications related to grain crop production

Design effective spray schedules for plant pest management

Develop an AG plan using decision making tools

Apply skills of food safety and food preparation to afford healthy nutritious food choices

Earn certifications to distribute or sell raw and processed foods (home-based microprocessor, PBPT, home baker, KY Proud, Sampling certificate)

Use Extension resources to make decisions related to food production and food safety

Use Extension diagnostic services

Use Integrated Pest Management practices in grain and/or produce production

Initial Outcomes:

Increase knowledge of horticulture and best practices in soil health, water conservation, and pest management tactics

Demonstrate proper use of sprayer and equipment related to application

Identifying active ingredients in chemical products and relate to modes of action

Awareness of current land grant research concerning grain crop production

Understanding importance of and frame work for on-farm trials

Understanding organic vs conventional production

Identify herbicide resistant pests and strategies to overcome these pest

Understand how to match plants to appropriate planting location

Recognize the value of diagnostic testing

Recognize required food safety practices

Farmers market vendors can interpret local, state and federal regulations for food safety, food processing, marketing and sales

Increase vendors at Farmer's Market

Increase awareness of Plate It Up KY Proud by sampling at Farmer's Market

Increase customer support of farmers market

Increase redemption rate of SFMNP Vouchers

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome:

Indicator: Private applicators identify active ingredients in crop related ag products learned through pesticide certification trainings

Method: pre/post test 

Timeline: Before and after pesticide training class


Intermediate Outcome:

Indicator: Grain and produce growers successfully earn certifications needed to expand operation and improve profitability

Method: number of producers that obtained certifications

Timeline: after growing season


Long-term Outcome:

Indicator: Increase redemption rate for the Webster County Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program 

Method:  Redemption rate calculation through USDA Senior program coordinator  

Timeline: End of farmers market reporting timeframe; November 2021

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Webster County Grain Farmers and Landowners

Project or Activity: Adult Farm Classes 

Content or Curriculum:

Inputs: UK Extension Agents; UK Specialist, NRCS, Community Partners

Date: December through March


Audience: Webster County Grain Producers

Project or Activity: Webster County Grain Day

Content or Curriculum: UK publications, seed company corn and soybean variety

Inputs: UK Specialist, agents, local producers

Date: Every other year on even years; February 2021 


Audience: Webster County Producers 

Project or Activity: Private Applicator Training

Content or Curriculum: UK pesticide safety resources

Inputs: Extension Agents, UK Specialist, Local ag retail managers and agronomist

Date: Annually 


Audience: Farmers Market Vendors

Activity: Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program training

Content: Provided presentation

Inputs: Agents and KDA

Date: Prior to farmers' market season






Success Stories

KY Ag Matters

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Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy

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Over the past 2 years, we have all learned new ways to connect with people.  Even during a global pandemic, businesses found ways to continue to meet the needs of their clientele and families found ways to stay connected without gathering in person.  Stepping out of our comfort zones to learn new skills quickly became the new normal.  The pandemic is nearly over, but learning and adapting to new ways to connect to our clientele is still a priority.   After attending a podcast

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Tri-County Ag Extension Group Winter Educational Series

Author: Vicki Shadrick

Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy

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Tri-County Ag Extension Group consists of Agriculture and Natural Resources Agents in Webster, McLean and Hopkins Counties.   The counties are not only alike geographically, but also agriculturally.  Many producers in the tri-county area farm in all three counties.  With specialist demand during the “winter meeting season” coupled with travel constraints, moving toward multi-county educational opportunities just makes sense.  The Tri-County Ag Extension Group offe

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Major Program: Grains

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Crop production is a major part of the agriculture economies in Western Kentucky, with Corn, Soybeans, and wheat being the major crops produced in most counties. To meet the needs of producers, Ag agents in Hopkins, McLean, and Webster Counties have worked together to identify the educational needs of Grain Producers and develop programs to meet those needs. In addition to the Tri-County plot work that has been done in the past, agents have worked to provide additional opportunities and del

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