Extension
It Starts With Us
Agriculture Production, Management, and Environment
Agriculture Production, Management, and Environment
Hardy, Heisdorffer
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Grains
Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development
Equity in farm business has been on a path of decline since approximately 2014, as net revenues have fallen due to inventory supply expansion and demand destruction related to trade policy and COVID-19-induced economic recession. Rapid increase in farmland values have leveled from the 2006 to 2013 period, while at the same time, revenues from grain and livestock receipts have declined, forcing many to acquire farm operating loans based on collateral rather than cash flow lending standards, further eroding equity in their land holdings. COVID-19 has arrived to bring further trouble to the agricultural economy. Restrictions on travel have reduced motor vehicle travel and subsequent ethanol consumption, the sink for nearly 40% of the U.S. corn crop, during a period when South America is capitalizing on Chinese agricultural tariffs of imported agricultural commodities from the United States. In the past two years, nearly 20% of net farm income has been comprised of government subsidies. This non-recurring income has kept farms going but has become essential for survival, rather than the safety net as designed. Continuation or curtailing quantitative easing could be how the future of some businesses are determined.
In 2018 the National Gardening Survey indicated that 77% of American households garden in some way. Recent trends indicate that more and more Americans are growing their own food (35% of households), while interests in ornamentals remains high, particularly in the area of gardening to support pollinators and other ecological uses of plants. American gardeners will continue to look to Cooperative Extension for specific answers to their gardening questions while protecting the environment
Maintain or increase ag profit or reduce expense and/or risk
Minimize environmental impact
Sustain family farms
Minimize environmental impact by following recommended use of pesticides, herbicides, and/or fertilizers
Maintaining commercial pesticide certification
Implement one or more best practices
Practice one or more recommendations
Make decisions based on Extension information
Evaluate their home or farm operation to determine which recommendations are appropriate
ROI
Use Integrated Pest Management practices
Observe best practices related to production and financial management
Identify three practices to protect environment, such as water, chemicals, or pollinators
Increase their knowledge of horticulture and best practices in soil health, water conservation, chemical use, plant selection for pollinators, selection of trees, and maintenance of the landscape
Recognize the value of diagnostic testing
Gain knowledge of native plants
Gain knowledge of how to grow vegetables in a home garden
Initial Outcome: Garden management practices learned
Indicator: Number of people who can list 2 or more garden management practices.
Method: Self-reporting survey after meeting
Timeline: July-August 2024 - February-May 2025
Intermediate Outcome: People will use Extension recommendations to maintain gardens properly
Indicator: Number of people using one or more Extension recommendations to maintain gardens properly
Method: Follow up self-reporting survey, observation
Timeline: July-October 2024 and March-June 2025
Long-term Outcome: Maintain or increase ag profit or reduce expense and/or risk
Indicator: Financial reporting
Method: Observation of KFBM summaries
Timeline: Summer 2024
Audience: Horticultural audience through the Newspaper, Newsletter, Social Media
Project or Activity: Best Management Practices to Protect the Environment, such as: Rain gardens, rain barrel construction, IPM, and protecting pollinators
Content or Curriculum: Extension publications
Inputs: Agent, Extension Master Gardeners, Horticulture Program Assistance
Date: July-December 2024 and January-June 2025
Audience: Grain Farm Business Managers
Project or Activity: Ag Expo
Content or Curriculum: Research-based discussion of production challenges
Inputs: Extension Specialists and Curriculum
Date: January 2025
Audience: Beef Farm Business Managers
Project or Activity: CPH 45 Feeder Calf Marketing
Content or Curriculum: Beef IRM committee recommendations
Inputs: Extension Specialists and Local Sale Committee
Date: 2024/2025
Audience: Agronomists, Seed Dealers, Grain Producers
Project or Activity: Daviess County Grain Research and Demonstration Plots
Content or Curriculum: Provide unbiased data supporting the efficacy of seed brands promoted in our area
Inputs: Seed companies and local plot planning committee
Date: 2024
Audience: Gardeners, General Public
Project or Activity: Vegetable Garden Management
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
Inputs: Agent, Extension Master Gardeners, Horticulture Program Assistant
Date: Summer/ Fall 2024 and February-June 2025
Audience: Gardeners, General Public
Project or Activity: Raised Bed Demonstration Gardening Workshop
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
Inputs: Agent, Extension Master Gardeners, Extension Master Gardener Demonstration Raised Bed Garden, Horticulture Program Assistant
Date: July 2024
Audience: Gardeners, General Public
Project or Activity: Attracting Pollinators and Butterflies
Content or Curriculum: Extension Publications
Inputs: Agent, Extension Master Gardeners, Horticulture Program Assistant
Date: February/March 2025
Audience: Gardeners, General Public
Project or Activity: Advanced Gardening Topics including Native Plants
Content or Curriculum: Extension Publications including Extension Master Gardener Manual, Western KY Botanical Garden
Inputs: Agent, Extension Specialists, Extension Master Gardeners, Horticulture Program Assistant
Date: July 2024- June 2025
Audience: Commercial Pesticide Applicators
Project or Activity: Continuing Education Training for Certification
Content or Curriculum: Extension Publications
Inputs: Agent, Horticulture Program Assistant, Specialist
Timeline: November 2024
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Floral Design Workshops
Content or Curriculum: Extension Publications
Inputs: Horticulture Program Assistant, Agent
Date: Fall and Winter 2024-Spring 2025
