Extension
It Starts With Us
Agriculture Production
20-21 Ag Production, Profitability and Awareness
Jason Phillips, Catherine Webster
Forages
Beef
Agriculture
Grains
Situation: According to the most recent Agriculture Census, Simpson County has 467 farm operations on 101,530 acres, which represents 67.7% of total county land. In comparison, Kentucky’s farm operations make up 51.6% of the state’s total land area. The majority of Simpson County producers remain reliant on income from traditional commodities such as grain crops, tobacco and livestock production. Public Awareness about agriculture production is increasingly important due to a growing population of citizens without an agricultural background or knowledge about the food production process. The Simpson County Extension Council and Ag Advisory Council identified the importance of providing programming to improve practices and profitability for crop and livestock producers as well as promoting agricultural awareness in these areas.
Long-term Outcomes: Clientele will improve crop and livestock production systems by minimizing costs of production and efficiently utilizing resources. Implementation of these practices along with improved marketing skills will increase profitability. Through increased profitability for local farm families and the local economy, the quality of life for residents in Simpson County will improve. In addition, increased agricultural awareness will allow local citizens to understand the dynamics of our food production systems. This will allow families to make more informed decisions about food consumption and purchases, understand the impact of regulations affecting agricultural production, provide a better overall understanding of production systems, and provide a positive source of information for the public about food production in the U.S. Youth will be advocates for agriculture and healthy & sustainable food systems.
Intermediate Outcomes: Clientele will implement a variety of improved crop and livestock production practices and marketing techniques utilizing knowledge gained through Extension training, workshops, field days, publications, newsletters, newspaper articles and radio programs. Awareness programs will result in accurate and agriculture friendly discussions, social media posts and community leadership. Youth can explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others.
Initial Outcome: Clientele will be better equipped with knowledge to take, follow and implement Extension soil test fertility management recommendations; scout for weeds, insects and diseases; select disease resistant and higher yielding varieties; make timely plantings; research new technologies; enter into sustainable crop lease agreements; improve their marketing decisions; make better management decisions to optimize their individual cropping system; understand how to take a fact-based approach when assessing agriculture and food related information. Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and animal sciences.
Initial Outcome: Producers will increase their knowledge, make practice changes and increase overall profitability while improving the public perception of agriculture and the long-term sustainability of our food systems.
Indicator: The number of producers indicating knowledge, practice, profitability and awareness as a result of information presented at Extension sponsored events. Participants in youth programs will demonstrate a skill that was learned or improved.
Method: Post-meeting evaluations
Timeline: Evaluations will be given immediately following programs and one to twenty four months following training sessions.
Audience: Current & prospective crop producers, agribusiness
representatives
Project or Activity: Grain day
Content or Curriculum: Grain production education
Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, facilities, UK specialists, UK publications
Date: Winter 2022
Audience: Current & prospective grain & forage producers, Agribusiness
representatives
Project or Activity: Promoting UK Performance Trials
Content or Curriculum: small grain, soybean, corn hybrid and forage
performance variety trial information and education
Inputs: radio programs, newsletters, one-on-one consultations
Date: 2021-2022 program year
Audience: Extension Agents, current & prospective crop producers,
landowners, agribusiness representatives
Project or Activity: UK Zoom Program Series
Content or Curriculum: Timely grain, beef and forage production information accessible by
agents and clients anywhere there is an internet connection
Inputs: Agent time, paid staff, UK specialists, Computers, Extension pubs
Date: 2021-2022 program year
Audience: Crop and Livestock Producers
Project or Activity: Phase I Programming for Crops/Livestock
Content or Curriculum: Educational information pertaining to crop and
livestock production
Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, newsletters, Governor’s Office of
Agricultural Policy, UK resources
Date: February-March 2022
Audience: Current & Perspective Tobacco Producers, Agribusiness
Representatives
Project or Activity: Tobacco Production & Disease Control
Content or Curriculum: variety selection, pest management, fertility,
tillage, sucker control, GAP training
Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, UK specialists, Extension publications,
newsletters, radio programs
Date: January 2022
Audience: Current & prospective hemp producers, agribusiness
representatives
Project or Activity: Hemp programming
Content or Curriculum: Hemp for grain, cbd, hemp systems; in-county hemp production plots
Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, facilities, UK specialists, UK publications
Date: 2021-2022 program year
Audience: Current & Perspective beef producers, agribusiness
representatives
Project or Activity: Educational Beef Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Cattleman’s Association, UK, industry
educators, Beef Council
Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, meeting facilities, UK specialists,
Industry specialists, Radio programs, Newsletters
Date: 2021-2022 program year
Audience: General public, current and prospective beef producers
Project or Activity: Beef Month Promotion
Content or Curriculum: beef educational information, mass media
awareness, food safety
Inputs: Agent’s time, media outlets, paid staff, newsletters
Date: May 2022
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Ag Awareness Breakfast
Content or Curriculum: agriculture promotion and awareness, showcase
local food products
Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, newsletters, radio programs, local food
producers, Ag Advisory Council
Date: November 2021
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Teach KY Ag
Content or Curriculum: agriculture promotion and awareness for school age children
Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, newsletters, radio programs, presenters,
UK publications, Ag Advisory Council
Date: September 2021-May 2022
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Franklin-Simpson Boofest
Content or Curriculum: showcase past and present agricultural production
methods and agencies supporting agriculture
Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, media promotion, newsletters, Ag Advisory Council
Date: October 2021
Audience: Outdoor and wildlife enthusiasts
Project or Activity: Wildlife Field Programming and Video Series
Content or Curriculum: provide wildlife managers key research and information in improving wildlife habitat
Inputs: Agents time, video equipment and software, ANR mini-grant, paid staff
Date: August 2021
Audience:
Project or Activity: In the Field with UK Extension Video Series
Content or Curriculum: timely agriculture and horticulture topics addressed by Simpson and Allen County Extension Agents for Agriculture and posted to YouTube for viewing
Inputs: Agents time, video equipment and software, paid staff
Date: 2021-2022 program year
Audience: Ladies in Ag
Project or Activity: Live program via Zoom technology
Content or Curriculum: developed by Mammoth Cave Agriculture/Horticulture Agents to assist ladies in making key farm management decisions
Inputs: Extension Agents, computer programs, UK Specialists, paid staff
Date: Fall 2021
Audience: Perspective and beginning farmers
Project or Activity: Farming 101: Basics for Success via Zoom
Content or Curriculum: developed by Mammoth Cave Agriculture Agents to assist beginning farmers in making informed management decision
Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, facilities, UK specialists, industry specialists, UK publications, newsletters, radio programs
Date: Fall 2021
Audience: Industry
Project or Activity: SOKY Commercial Pesticide Training
Content or Curriculum: Commercial Pest Control Education
Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, facilities, UK specialists, industry specialists, UK publications, newsletters, radio programs
Date: December 2021
Audience: Agricultural producers
Project or Activity: Private Pesticide Applicators Training
Content or Curriculum: proper handling, storage, application methods, calibration, etc.
Inputs: Agent’s time, paid staff, meeting facility, UK resources, newsletters, radio program
Date: February – March 2022
Author: Jason Phillips
Major Program: Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education
There is a limited amount of credible information and data available to landowners, farmers and property managers in Kentucky that addresses wildlife habitat management and specifically food plots. Many clientele seek information from the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service to improve their woodlands and wildlife habitat. Increased information in these areas will result in an overall improvement in deer herd health and overall satisfaction of the hunters. There
Author: Jason Phillips
Major Program: Chemical Management
Application of crop protection chemicals and lawn/landscape chemicals is an important industry in South Central Kentucky. Professional applicators must receive training to stay current on issues, pests, techniques, and safety for the products they apply. They need to receive continuing education to maintain their applicator license. The agriculture and horticulture agents around the Mammoth Cave responded to a need for a commercial training opportunity by developing the SOKY Pe
Author: Jason Phillips
Major Program: Tornado Response and Recovery
Families, friends and fellow farmers attempt to rebuild after tornados caused catastrophic damage in Western Kentucky back in December. The largest tornado was an EF-4 that stayed on the ground for about 165 miles, according to the National Weather Service. The path of this massive tornado was over a mile wide in places and left homes, barns, fences and any other structures in shambles in its wake. Those impacted had to figure out where to live or how to repair their home if it
Author: Jason Phillips
Major Program: Forages
The Simpson and Butler County Extension Agents for Agriculture developed a forage management program that would be held exclusively on Zoom video conferencing technology. The program was titled, “Forage Management Workshop” and was comprised of a 3-part series in the months of January and February with each topic featuring University of Kentucky forage and agronomy specialists. The session titles were as follows: “Forage Selection for Optimum Production”
Author: Jason Phillips
Major Program: Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development
Women make up nearly 40% of the agricultural producers in Kentucky. The number of ladies who own and operate farms and agribusinesses continues to increase each year. The importance of their contributions to a vibrant agricultural economy are tremendous. “Ladies in Ag” was an educational series designed to educate, empower, inspire, and connect ladies who are involved or interested in agriculture. It featured motivational stories presented by strong women who shared their experi
Author: Catherine Webster
Major Program: Agriculture
Julie Brown, Warren Co. Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, and Catherine Webster, Simpson Co. Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, served as the co-contact agents for the 2022 South Central KY 4-H Horse Camp. There were four planning meetings with the committee which included twelve adult and teen volunteers from Mammoth Cave Extension counties, three of which served as tri-chairs for the camp. Sixty-two youth and 120 adults attended the three-day, two-night camp that included seve
