Crop and Livestock Management, Marketing, and Education Plan of Work

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Nelson County CES

Title:
Crop and Livestock Management, Marketing, and Education
MAP:
Agriculture Education, Advancement & Sustainability
Agents Involved:
Smith, Howard
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Forages
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Grains
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Agriculture
Situation:

Nelson County is a diversified agricultural county. The 2017 Census of agriculture indicates Nelson County ranks 9th in all hay, 31st in tobacco, 21st in grains/oilseeds, 24th in swine, 18th in dairy, 14th in all cattle and calves. The county ranks 29th in overall cash receipts for agriculture products. The total value of Agriculture products sold was just over $67.1 million. Forty-Two million ($42 million) came from crops while $25 million came from livestock. Since the 2012 Agriculture census, our county has seen a major decline in dairy operations and tobacco demand and a very large increase in local demand for corn due to the explosion of the bourbon industry worldwide.  

Sustainability of family farms was identified by 27.72% of respondents in the Nelson County Extension Community Assessment as the top priority to address.  Nineteen percent (19%) of those same respondents identified more market opportunities for farmers as a top priority as well.  As this is written the pandemic has shone a light on the necessity of a community to be able to grow and process its own food.  The subsequent meat production bottleneck and meat shortage should give rise to an opportunity for on-farm sales and a more exuberant local market. We in Extension can help develop those markets, identify where opportunities are, investigate new crops, and investigate efficiencies.  The necessity to develop local markets that ultimately keep dollars spent in a community in the community can increase the overall sustainability of our community. As this is written the pandemic has shone a light on the necessity of a community to be able to grow and process its own food.  The subsequent meat production bottleneck and meat shortage should give rise to an opportunity for on-farm sales and a more exuberant local market. 

For many, there is a disconnect between the food we eat and where that food comes from. Today’s society lacks understanding regarding agricultural production and processing (Spielmaker and Leising, 2013). The Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Program strives to increase agricultural literacy among youth in Kentucky. The National Agriculture Literacy Logic Model defines an agriculturally literate person as one “…who understands and can communicate the source and value of agriculture as it affects our quality of life” (Spielmaker et al., 2014, p. 2). One of the key initiatives in Kentucky 4-H is to increase a young person’s awareness of the impact agriculture has on his/her daily life.  

Long-Term Outcomes:

Farmers to attain a level of net income sustainability that provides a comfortable standard of living for their families, through a more efficient level of production management and marketing. New local markets open up to shorten the supply chain between farm and consumer. 4-Hers go on to study an area of agriculture in post-secondary education or gain employment within the field.  

Intermediate Outcomes:

Farm cooperatives will adopt improved production management and marketing techniques in the areas of crops and livestock so that production is increased economically, or that costs are reduced without sacrificing production.

More farm families participate and become knowledgeable about how the food supply chain works and how they can fit in more efficiently.   

4-H Youth will use the knowledge obtained from judging and skillathon events to purchase, raise, groom, and exhibit their animals.

4-H Volunteers will apply the knowledge they acquire through the 4-H Livestock Volunteer Certification Process and continuing education to educate and mentor youth 4-Hers involved in Livestock projects.

High school youth will tour various agriculture production operations and participate in interactive learning stations that focus on production, marketing, and sustainability, including but not limited to the country ham project.

Initial Outcomes:
Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increased profitability, practices implemented and knowledge gained in crop and livestock operations.

Indicator: The number of individuals who increase knowledge and awareness in the topic presented and aspire to implement the practice changes in their operation. The number of practices implemented, and amount of increased profitability will also be measured.

Method: Post session evaluations, Personal contact and observation, Follow-up surveys.

Timeline: Post session evaluating, six months for the follow-up and continuous for observation and personal contact.


Initial Outcome: 4-H & High School Youth will:

- Gain and understanding of agriculture practices and procedures for different commodities.

- Gain knowledge in husbandry practices.

- Gain self-esteem in dealing with farm animals.

- Learn how to select livestock and horses through the judging programs.

Indicator: The number of youth completing a livestock project or participating in 4-H livestock events.

Method:. Observation during Livestock events

Timeline: During Fair and Show Season


Intermediate Outcome:Youth will understand and be able to demonstrate the complete Market to Market process of purchasing, curing and marketing a country ham.

Indicator:Presentation of a county and/or state fair speech or demonstration.

Method: Certified livestock volunteer lead workshops and classes.

Timeline:7 months after initial curing process.


4-H common Measure for evaluation will be phased in during the 2019/20 program years

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Tobacco Producers

Project or Activity: Tobacco GAP Training

Content or Curriculum: Supplied by Tobacco GAP Connections

Inputs: Meeting Announcement Letters and Agent Time

Date: February 


Audience: Nelson County Producers

Project or Activity: County agriculture Investment Fund educational activities

Content or Curriculum: BQA, Cattle Handling Certification and various other educational meetings as needed.

Inputs: Agent Time, Meeting announcement letters

Date: October, December, January


Audience: Youth Livestock & Jr. Master Cattlemen participants

Project or Activity: Livestock and small animal Education

Content or Curriculum: KDA State Guidelines & 4-H/ANR Curriculum

Inputs: Agent Time, Farm Tours, and Fairgrounds

Date: as scheduled


Audience: Master Cattleman Graduates

Project or Activity: Applied Master Cattleman Class

Content or Curriculum: Beef IRM Applied MC Curriculum

Inputs: Agent time, transportation, meeting room, etc.

Dates: Fall


Audience:  Beef Cattle Association 

Project or Activity:  Educational Component of regular meetings

Content of Curriculum:  Specialist delivered based on Needs of the time

Inputs:  Hosting, organizing, facilitating, etc. 

Date: ongoing


Audience: 4-H Volunteers

Project or Activity: 4-H Livestock Certification program

Content or Curriculum:: 4-H Livestock Curriculum and Client Protection Policies

Inputs: Agent and Volunteer Time and Funding

Date: As needed


Audience: 4-H Ham Club Participants

Project or Activity: 4-H Market to Market Ham Club

Content or Curriculum:: 4-H Country Ham Curriculum and Enrichment

Inputs: Agent and Volunteer Time and Funding

Date: Fall to Summer

Audience: Forage Producers  

Project or Activity: Master Haymaker program 

Content or Curriculum:: Series of classes taught by specialists  

Inputs: Agent and Specialists  

Date: Winter 



Success Stories

Weed resistance study

Author: Robert Smith

Major Program: Chemical Management

During the past couple of years, concern has grown that a population of herbicide-resistant Johnsongrass existed within the county.  We were contacted by a farm to investigate whether this was in fact the case and what the implications might be for them going forward.  After a consultation and a field inspection, it was determined that a replicated variable rate trial with different classes of herbicides would be in order.  Three herbicides were applied over the top of the marked

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2022 Nelson County Middle School Equine Education and 4-H Partnership

Author: Hollyn Howard

Major Program: Agriculture

"Life-skill development through hands-on learning is a cornerstone of 4-H youth programs. 4-H projects embrace youth life-skill development by providing means to encourage young people to become responsible, productive citizens (Ward, 1996). Participation in the 4-H horse project and non-riding competitive horse-related contests are tools for youth to develop life skills such as leadership, sportsmanship, and handling pressure while simultaneously enhancing their horse knowledge. For youth

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Bale Trail 2021-Adding value to a program piloted in 2020

Author: Marsha Hagler

Major Program: Community Engagement

Bale Trail 2021-Adding value to a program piloted in 2020

In 2020, Nelson County Cooperative Extension piloted a community based program intended to increase awareness of Agriculture in our community, increase social media traffic to our office Facebook page and serve as a fundraiser for 4-H.   The 2020 Bale Trail was a successful endeavor, so in 2021, our office collaborated with local farms, businesses and organizations to offer the event again.The goals of the 2021 Bale Trail were to:Support 4-H (through sponsorships and community awareness)Bri

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Sustainable Beekeeping School

Author: Robert Smith

Major Program: Beekeeping

The Nelson County Beekeepers association and the Nelson County Cooperative Extension Service hosted a “Sustainable Beekeeping School” for the central Kentucky area.  The focus of the school was to teach sustainable practices that could help keep beekeepers engaged in the practice of beekeeping while decreasing the out lay of expenses and decrease losses.  The day long workshop looked at how to properly observe nature to gauge what might be happening in the hive.  We lo

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Agriculture Advances

Author: Robert Smith

Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy

For more than twenty years the Kentucky Agriculture Development Fund has been a staple of Nelson County agriculture advancement.  To date over $3,500,000 has been distributed to farmers and farm businesses in our county.   Entities like Boones Butcher Shop and McIntyres Winery were early beneficiaries of the funds and that helped rebuild and develop these Nelson County staples.   The fund has helped make farms safer by revamping countless cattle handling facilities, increased safe

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