Extension
It Starts With Us
Improving Agricultural Income
Agriculture Production, Diversity, and Marketing
Hettmansperger, Comley, Lunsford
Beef
Forages
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Beekeeping
Garrard County farmers have experienced a large decline in their dependence upon tobacco as their main income source. Farmers have increased their beef cow herds to try and make up the short fall. Cattle prices continue to fluctuate, narrowing profit margins and farmers need to become more efficient in forage and feed production. They will explore non-traditional ways of farming to remain profitable. Interest in hemp production has decreased greatly. Through surveys and conversations with farmers,they have put an importance on new forage and beef production methods. Youth livestock programs can teach young farmers best management practices and give them the chance to continue the family farm.
Being healthy has generated interest in Beekeeping and honey production. Local beekeepers have seen an increase in honey sales. The ANR agent has set up two beehives at the office for educational programming.
Gardening has become very popular because consumers want to know where their food comes from and feel safe eating it. FCS and ANR agents will team up to present some programs on gardening and food preservation.
Farmers will become more efficient and profitable through adopting new methods learned from Extension programs. More youth will return to the family farm.
We will see more beekeepers in the county and form a county wide group.
More consumers will can and freeze garden products.
Farmers will become better forage producers and will look at alternatives to traditional ways of feeding their livestock. They will become better marketers by utilizing CPH-45 calf sales and other forms of value added marketing. Grain producers will chose yield increasing hybrids from test plots. Youth will choose careers in agriculture.
More people will put in hives and increase the bee numbers.
The Extension office will see an increase in interest in gardening and food preservation.
Farmers will use new and improved varieties of forages to increase production. Beef producers will adopt new practices such as rotational grazing and controlled calving seasons to increase production. Farmers will utilize new marketing strategies for their calves through CPH-45 and direct marketing. Farmers will gain knowledge on hemp production.
Youth will increase their knowledge of new farming practices and choose careers in Agriculture.
More people will start their own beehives and become more familiar with beekeeping.
Consumers will increase their knowledge of gardening and preservation practices.
Outcome: Farmer adoption of new practices
Indicator: Personal contacts and surveys. Youth choosing Ag careers.
Method: Farm visits and observations. Monitor participation in educational meetings and special Extension programs.
Timeline: Throughout the year and do surveys during winter farmer meetings
Outcome: More beekeepers in the community.
Indicator: Number of people attending classes.
Method: Observations and surveys. Local Hardware store beekeeping equipment sales.
Timeline: Throughout the year.
Outcome: Consumers increase knowledge of gardening and preservation.
Indicator: Increase in seed and plant sales at the local hardware store.
Method: Hardware store owner sharing sale results.
Timeline: Spring and summer.
Audience: Garrard County Farmers and other interested parties.
Project or Activity: Phase – 1 Educational programs
Content or Curriculum: Programs and videos to cover cost share programs (hay storage, forages, etc.)
Inputs: UK specialist and ANR agents. Prerecorded videos
Dates: Year around
Audience: Local cattle producers
Project or Activity: BQA, CPH-45, Forage production, Beef nutrition and health.
Content or Curriculum: UK research data, BQA training video, CPH-45 calf sales, Winter producer meetings.
Inputs: UK specialist, ANR agents, Videos and field days
Dates: Fall and winter
Audience: Local Beekeepers and interested parties
Project or Activity: Beekeeping programs and Honey production
Content or Curriculum: Proper Beekeeping, Mite control and Honey extraction
Inputs: UK specialist, State Apiarist, Local experts and ANR agents
Dates: Year around
Audience: Local Farmers and Homeowners interested in gardening
Project or Activity: Gardening and Food Preservation
Content or Curriculum: Gardening in Small Spaces, Raised Gardening, Fall Gardening, Canning and Freezing, Master Gardener, UK publications and info.
Inputs: ANR and FCS agent joint programs.
Dates: Spring, Summer and Fall
Audience: High School Youth enrolled in Agriculture classes
Project or Activity: Beef Programs at the High School
Content or Curriculum: Cattle vaccinations, Artificial Breeding, Pregnancy check, Nutrition.
Inputs: Local veterinarians, UK specialist, High school Ag teacher, ANR agnet
Dates: During school year.
Author: Jay Hettmansperger
Major Program: Beekeeping
The problemVarroa destructor, the Varroa mite, is an external parasitic mite that attacks and feeds on honey bees and is one of the most damaging honey bee pests in the world. A significant mite infestation leads to the death of a honey bee colony, usually in the late autumn through early spring The educational program responseThe Garrard County ANR agent presented a program to the local Garrard County Beekeeping Club on Varoa Mite control in beehives. The agent demonstrated how to conduct mite
Author: Jay Hettmansperger
Major Program: Forages
The problemCattle producers struggle to balance forage production and cattle stocking rate on their pastures. Producers have a tendency to overstock their pastures which causes overgrazing. Overgrazing leads to thinning grass strands and poor production and less profits. The educational program responseThe Garrard, Lincoln, Mercer and Boyle County ANR Extension agents presented a Forage program on Forage production and Rotational Grazing. University of Kentucky Forage specialist pres
Author: Jay Hettmansperger
Major Program: Small Ruminants (includes sheep, goats) and Exotic animals
The problemSheep and goat producers are constantly having to watch their livestock, especially the babies for predators that are looking for an easy meal. Part of raising small ruminants like sheep and goats is keeping predators like coyotes from reducing the flock. Two ways of keeping the coyotes in check is to trap them or to use guard animals to keep them away or kill them. Trapping takes some experience and knowledge of how and where to set traps. Guard animals can be dogs
Author: Jay Hettmansperger
Major Program: Forages
The problemBeef producers don't just produce beef, they are also forage producers. Producing good forage is a key component to producing good beef economically. The most important step in making good forage is getting it cut early and sometimes that is difficult with the weather we get in Kentucky in early spring. One answer to that problem is cutting the hay and rolling it while it is still high moisture and then wrapping it with plastic. The hay then goes through an ensil
