2021 Agriculture and Horticulture Economic Support ProgramsPlan of Work

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Kenton County CES

Title:
2021 Agriculture and Horticulture Economic Support Programs
MAP:
2021 Sustainable Agriculture and Horticulture Practice
Agents Involved:
Dan Allen, Kathy Byrnes, Mary Averbeck, Hort Agent, Denise Donahue, Diane Kelley, Brandon George
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Substance Use and Mental Health - ANR
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Small Farm Diversification
Situation:

Kenton County has a very diverse cross section of farm and horticulture ventures. These agriculture and horticulture enterprises contribute to the total household income. Based on input from advisory council, County Extension Council and Community Needs Assessment there is a need for continued education in research based, and best management practices in horticulture and agriculture to ensure that these small farms can continue and be more profitable.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Increased agriculture and horticulture production and efficiency. By using University of Kentucky research and other reliable sources these residents will be able to implement ongoing practices that translate to bottom line profitability.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Transition from current practices to adoption of best management practices to enhance existing enterprises and exploration of other revenue streams from these agriculture and horticulture practices.

Initial Outcomes:

Kenton County Extension offers innovative and research-based programs that are relevant and timely so as to increase productivity in areas like, variety selection, good livestock husbandry, marketing basics, time saving techniques, and crop production.


Evaluation:

Outcome: Ag & Hort producers implement best management practices. 

Indicator: Class participation and follow-up surveys in 6 to 10 mos. 

Method: Online and mail surveys, farm visits, and phone calls 

Timeline: 6 months to a year 


Outcome: Increase household incomes due to better productivity and successful new economic ventures 

Indicator: Positive feedback given to agents 

Method: Follow up surveys, and one-on-one surveys 

Timeline: 6 months to a year 


Outcome: Acceptance of good sustainability practices 

Indicator: Feedback provided to agents, farm visits, and interaction with producers. 

Method: In person and mailed surveys 

Timeline: Ongoing


Learning Opportunities:



Audience: Residents Interested in Agritourism
Project or Activity: Preparing your farm for Visitors
Content or Curriculum: UK and other University Research
Inputs: Publications and Agent Designed program
Date: Jan 2023, 2024 


Audience: Farmers Markets and CSA Operators
Project or Activity: PBPT
Content or Curriculum: UK Program
Inputs: UK video series, FCS and Ag Agent
Date: March 2023, 2024 


Audience: Farmer’s Market Growers
Project or Activity: Extending the Season
Content or Curriculum: UK Horticulture program
Inputs: Building a cold frame season extender
Date: October , 2023 


Audience: Farmers Market Growers
Project or Activity: Exploring New Vegetable Varieties
Content or Curriculum: UK local research
Inputs: publications, agents and specialists
Date: February  2023


Audience: Cow Calf Operators
Project or Activity: Calving and Calf Care
Content or Curriculum: UK Materials, online or in person
Inputs: UK Specialists, Ag Agent
Date: Jan. 2022, 2023, 2024

Audience: Cow Calf Operators
Project or Activity: Choosing the Right Bull
Content or Curriculum: UK Beef IRM Online or In person
Inputs: Prerecorded Distance learning Program
Date: March , 2023, 2024 


Audience: Goat and Sheep Producers
Project or Activity: Nutrition for Small Ruminants
Content or Curriculum: KSU Materials and Research
Inputs: Agent and KSU Specialists
Date: Feb 2023


Audience: Backyard and Small-Scale Egg Producers
Project or Activity: Nutrition and Breed Selection for Egg Production
Content or curriculum: UK Specialist Small Flock Content
Inputs: Agent and UK Small Flock Specialist
Date: March 2023



Audience: Small Ruminant Producers
Project or Activity: Education Tour
Content or Curriculum: UK Materials
Inputs: Local Agents and UK Specialists
 Date: Fall 2024



Audience: Horse Stable Owners
Project or Activity: The Business of Running a Stable
Content or Curriculum: UK Equine Program
Inputs: Local Agent and UK Specialists
Date:  Spring 2023 

Audience; Small Scale Swine Operators

Project of Activity: Raising a Hog for the Freezer

Content or Curriculum: UK Swine research

Inputs: Local Agent and UK Specialists

Date:  Mar 2023


Audience: Kenton County Residents
Project or Activity: Successful Planter Gardens
Content or Curriculum: UK and other university research
Inputs: Agent designed, and specialist input where needed
Date: Spring  2023, 2024 


Audience: Kenton County Residents
Project or Activity: Successful Home Vegetable Gardening
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
Inputs: UK Home Vegetable Guide
Date: Late Winter,  2023, 2024 




Audience: Kenton County Residents
Project or Activity: Fall Vegetable Gardening
Content or Curriculum: UK Vegetable Gardening Guide
Inputs: Agents, specialists
Date: August 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 



Audience: Silage Feed Producers
Project or Activity: Silage Field Day
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Publications and Research
Inputs: Agent and UK Specialists, publications and state soil test lab
Date: Fall 2022


Audience: Beef Cattle Operators
Project or Activity: Getting the Most from my Pasture
Content or Curriculum: UK Beef IRM and agronomic publications
Inputs: UK Specialists, and Agent
Date: Fall 2022 Spring 2023 


Audience: Livestock Operators
Project or Activity: Why Do I Rotate my Grazing (online learning)
Content or Curriculum: UK Research
Inputs: UK Specialists, AG Agent, and Research results
Date: May 2023 



Audience: Horse Owners
Project or Activity: Save My Horse Pasture!
Content or curriculum: Pastures Please Program, UK research
Inputs: UK publications, specialists
Date: Fall 2022 



Audience: Grain Growers
Project or Activity: Weed Control (online distance learning)
Content or Curriculum: Published research, UK research
Inputs: UK Weed Specialist
Date: Spring 2023 



Audience: Kenton County youth age 9-18 years
Project or Activity: 4-H Agriculture Programs
Content or Curriculum: KY 4-H curriculum and kits
Inputs: 4-H volunteers, agents, county program funds
Date: September 2020 through August 2020


Audience: Kenton County Livestock Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H County, District, State Fairs and Shows
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Rules and guidelines
Inputs: 4-H Animal Science materials; Dept. of Agriculture materials
Date: July 2020 through June 2021


Audience: Kenton County youth
Project or activity: Horse Bowl contest
Content or curriculum: 4-H Horse Bowl manual
Inputs:
Date: September 2021 through June 2022


Audience: Kenton County 4-H Horse club members
Project or activity: 4-H Horse education classes
Content or curriculum: KY 4-H Horse manuals and kit, Achievement book series
Inputs:
Date: September 2021 through April 2022


Project or Activity: KEHA lesson, Backyard Butterflies-Zoom session
Content: UK Hort publications, KEHA Housing Plan of Work
Inputs: Boone Co. Natural Resources Agent designed, Area Homemaker Chairmen
Date: August 2020


Audience: Kenton County residents
Project or Activity: 4-h Farm to Table Dinner
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Council
Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Assistants & Council
Date: September 2020


Audience: Kenton Co Livestock Youth
Project or Activity: Judging, Skillathon, Quiz Bowl
Content: 4-H Livestock Curriculum
Inputs: Livestock kits and materials
Date: Oct 2020-August 2021


Audience: Kenton Co. Dog Program
Project or Activity: Dog training
Content: 4-H Dog Curriculum
Inputs: Agent & Certified Leader
Date: Oct 2021-August 2022



Success Stories

Digital Marketing of Farm Tour Proves Successful

Author: Daniel Allen

Major Program: Agritourism Planning

Digital Marketing of Farm Tour Proves SuccessfulAccording to University of Florida research, farm tours give the public the opportunity to not only see where their products originated, but also how they were produced and what farming techniques are actually used. The 12th Annual Kenton County Farm tour was held Saturday, September 17, 2022. This tour included ten hosting sites that offered a variety of agriculture or horticulture experiences. In addition to the ten stops there were 11 local craf

Full Story

Livestock and Life skills

Author: Diane Kelley

Major Program: Agriculture

Livestock and Life skills

The U.K., Cooperative Extension Service, Kenton County 4-H livestock volunteers, plan and facilitate youth livestock education and activities.  In conjunction with the Kenton County Fair Livestock committee the groups indicated prior also plan and execute the youth livestock shows hosted during the Kenton County Fair. The 4-H livestock projects involves raising and caring for live animals while learning about animal health, nutrition, breeding, selection and marketing. Animal projects offer

Full Story

Common Measures Reflected

Author: Diane Kelley

Major Program: Agriculture

Common Measures Reflected

The U.K., Cooperative Extension Service and Kenton County 4-H certified livestock volunteers plan and execute the educational meetings required for livestock participants in Kenton County.  The Kenton County Extension and 4-H Councils, and 2020-2022 local Expansion and Review committee surveys identified selecting project animals, performing basic animal management skills, and raising and exhibiting animals as important life skills and the 4-H program should continue to provide educational

Full Story

Northern Kentucky Cattle Association Hosts 20th Year of Bull Testing Program

Author: Daniel Allen

Major Program: Beef

NKY Cattle Association Hosts 20th Year of Bull Testing Program Working with volunteers from Northern Kentucky Cattle Association on Saturday, April 15th, agents from Kenton and Boone counties held their 20th annual bull testing program.  This program is held at the Kenton County Fair grounds and this year more than 40 bulls were checked for breeding soundness. Local veterinarian evaluated the bulls.  Northern Kentucky Cattle Association President said "For twenty years this p

Full Story

4-H Country Ham projects retains senior 4-H members and recruits CEC members

Author: Diane Kelley

Major Program: 21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)

4-H Country Ham projects retains senior 4-H members and recruits CEC members

The problemRetaining senior 4-H members and recruiting CEC membersThe educational program response4-H livestock country ham lessons, opportunity to invite adult members to participate The participants/target audience4-H members, adults interested in food processesOther partners (if applicable)UK Meats Lab, Dr. Gregg Rentfrow, Regina Browning, Finchville Farms, Michael Tony RoseProgram impact or participant response.“The practice of curing country hams dates back centuries, long before

Full Story
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