Extension
It Starts With Us
Increasing Agricultural Systems In Washington County
Managing and Growing Environmental Agriculture and Horticulture Systems
Dennis Morgeson and Melissa Schenck
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Volunteer Development
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Soil testing
The 2019 Kentucky Extension Community Assessment reported these issues within Agriculture and Environment: less illegal dumping and littering, more market opportunities for farmers, and sustainability of family farms. Our local advisory councils for Agriculture, Horticulture, and 4-H Youth Development contributed to this assessment.
Maintain and increase family owned farms
Increased home horticulture participation
Youth and adult program participants will be educated advocates for sustainable agriculture and food systems
Producers utilize Extension resources to make fiscally sustainable decisions about farm management practices
Clientele will engage in horticultural programming and utilize research-based knowledge
4-H clientele will apply skills and knowledge in the production of agricultural commodities and environmental practices
Increased awareness and availability of research-based Extension resources, including cost share opportunities through the Governor's Office of Agriculture Policy Funding
Learn the most successful varieties to plant in Washington County, including proper planning, planting dates, and management
Community members will receive trainings, certifications, and accreditations in agriculture and natural resources programming
Initial Outcome: Increased awareness and availability of research-based Extension resources, including cost share opportunities through the Governor's Office of Agriculture Policy Funding
Indicator: Increased use of Extension resources and programming
Method: monitoring participation in CAIP, YAIP, and Next Generation Farmers
Timeline: annually
Intermediate Outcome: Producers utilize Extension resources to make fiscally sustainable decisions about farm management practices
Indicator: Increased soil testing in the community
Method: monitoring the numbers of soil tests
Timeline: bi-annually
Long-term Outcome: Increased home horticulture participation
Indicator: Increased participation in Wheelbarrow Series
Method: sign up sheets and registration
Timeline: bi-annually
Audience: Washington and Surrounding Counties
Project or Activity: Wheelbarrow Series
Content or Curriculum: Cooperative Extension Publications and Research
Inputs: Extension Funding, Fees from participants, Extension Staff
Date: February through November 2021 (starting again in February 2022)
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: Country Ham, Livestock Projects, Horse Projects, Horticulture, School Based Programming
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Core Curriculums
Inputs: Extension resources, Fees, Volunteers, Extension Staff
Date: Country Ham- February - August 2021; Livestock Projects- continuous; Horse Projects- continuous; Horticulture- spring 2022; School Based Programming- August 2021-May 2022
Audience: Washington County Farmers
Project or Activity: Meetings, Educational Activities, and Programs
Content or Curriculum: Extension resources
Inputs: Extension resources and specialists
Date: Spring 2022, corresponding with cost share opportunities
Author: Taylor Graves
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
The Washington County Extension Office hosted a welcoming reception for the new agriculture and natural resources agent. This reception was a way for the community to come and meet the new agent and also offer any ideas they had as far as programming is concerned because the county has been without an agent for several years so no programming was already in place. A few broad programming ideas were posted on the wall for those attending to view and hopefully inspire them with other ideas. If som
Author: James Morgeson
Major Program: Horticulture, Commercial
A local distillery contacted the Horticulture Agent for help after the distillery’s horticulturist had taken a new position at the height of the growing season. The staff needed immediate direction on how to maintain the innovative raised bed vegetable garden that was located near the tour entrance. The horticulture agent made bimonthly visits to teach the staff about integrated pest management, insect and disease identification and control, crop rotation, soil testing, and to give g
Author: Taylor Graves
Major Program: Chemical Management
Each year the Washington County extension office will host at least one pesticide training. This allow producers to receive their personal applicators license so that they can purchase and spray chemicals on their farm. We were fortunate enough to have this meeting in person this year. We had a decent turnout of eight clients, two of which had not received their applicators license before. Topics for the meeting included: Weed control in pastures, proper storage, handling of pesticides, an
Author: James Morgeson
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
During horticulture program evaluations and surveys conducted by the horticulture agent it was apparent that there was a need and interest in Washington County for a Horticulture How To workshop on making wreaths with fresh greenery. During the workshop participants learned about the types of greenery to use, how to cut it for use, care for fresh greenery, and lastly each participant made a wreath with materials provided. There were 22 participants in the workshop with the following inform
Author: Taylor Graves
Major Program: Beef
Washington County Cattlemen's association facilitates Cost-Share programs each year. In my first few months as the ANR agent producers turned in their receipts for this year's cost-share purchases. I was asked to check that the bulls purchased were eligible for cost-share funds and unfortunately, we had to deny several of the bulls because they did not meet the standards provided by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. This gave me the idea to create a program on reading expected prog
Author: James Morgeson
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
During the Covid 19 pandemic the popular Gardener’s Wheelbarrow Series was forced to go virtual for the safety and health of our community. In July of this year the Horticulture Agent sent out a survey to participants to find out if they were ready to return to in person classes and if the virtual programming was useful. Of those responding 94% did indeed want to return to in person programming and 83% of them found the virtual programming somewhat to very useful during remote only learnin
Author: Taylor Graves
Major Program: Dairy
Kentucky is mirroring a national trend of decreasing numbers of dairy herds. Therefore, many of our community members haven't been exposed to a dairy or even a dairy cow. This is why I decided to host an event at the extension office that focused on dairy production and gave the community the opportunity to watch a cow be milked up close. The Southland Mobile Dairy unit came out and gave a demonstration on milking a cow and also discussed reproduction, nutrition, and the process the milk goe
Author: James Morgeson
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Many gardeners have a limited amount of expertise in diagnosing and identifying problems on plants whether it is an insect, disease, or cultural problem. These gardeners tend to reach out to farm stores and nurseries where the business is motivated to sell products such as fertilizers and pesticides. Many times, the recommendations are not needed and it’s a waste of money and can be damaging to the environment. The Washington County Extension Horticulture program provides servic
Author: Taylor Graves
Major Program: Beef
One of the most expensive aspects of a cow-calf operation is raising replacement heifers for your herd. It is a long-term investment to develop quality bred heifers to retain as replacements or to market these heifers to other producers privately. This multi-station meeting was designed to help producers understand the true cost of developing heifers and to hopefully give them a few ideas on how they can save money. This was done through discussions on evaluation presented by Livestock Division
Author: Melissa Schenck
Major Program: Agriculture
Kentucky is mirroring a national trend of decreasing numbers of dairy herds. Therefore, many of our community members haven't been exposed to a dairy or even a dairy cow. This is why I decided to host an event at the extension office that focused on dairy production and gave the community the opportunity to watch a cow be milked up close. The Southland Mobile Dairy unit came out and gave a demonstration on milking a cow and also discussed reproduction, nutrition, and the process the milk goe
