Extension
It Starts With Us
Increasing Crop Production in Green County
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Ricky Arnett
Pesticide Safety – Livestock Pests
Forages
Ag Marketing
Farm Management
With the sharp decrease in prices over the last year, grain production has decreased slightly in Green County. With the production of grain being stable and prices being lower has had a large effect on the economy of central Kentucky. The Green County Extension Council has set a priority on helping farmers to learn to increase yields, decrease input cost, and be as efficient as possible.
Farmers will seek out assistance from extension resources before making decisions. Famers will accomplish on-farm what they have learned and seen demonstrated resulting in controlled costs and greater returns.
Make educated decisions demonstrating their knowledge of plant physiology and growth stages. They will be able to use practices such as: soil testing and fertilizing according to results, appropriate tillage drainage methods to avoid compaction, appropriate plant populations and row widths.
Cropping systems will be developed to reduce weed, disease, wildlife, and environmental impact utilizing pesticides.
Farmers will investigate marketing strategies allowing them to take advantages of price premiums and giving them marketing variables rather than being locked in to regional prices
Demonstrate increased knowledge in areas of: soils, crop development, marketing, management, storage, and information management.
Initial Outcome: Producer participation in educational programs
Indicator: Programs and educational materials being distributed
Method: Survey & Analysis
Timeline: Annually
Intermediate Outcome: Producers implementing new production and marketing strategies
Indicator: Participation in new and alternate market venues
Method: Survey & Analysis
Timeline: Annually
ally
Long-term Outcome: Increase yields and house hold income
Indicator: Yields increase and production cost decrease
Method: Survey & Analysis
Timeline: Annually
Audience: Tobacco Producers
Project or Activity: Center of KY Tobacco Meeting & GAP Training
Content or Curriculum: Ky Tobacco Guide and GAP
Inputs: Agents, Specialists, GAP, Sponsors
Date: Winter 2017/18
Audience: Forage Producers
Project or Activity: Forage Testing
Content or Curriculum: KY Forage Testing Lab
Inputs: Dept. of Ag Forage Lab
Date: Summer 2017/18
Audience: All Producers
Project or Activity: Soil Testing
Content or Curriculum: Soil Analysis and Fertilize Recommendations
Inputs: Agent, Staff, UK Regulatory Services
Date: Ongoing
Audience: All Producers
Project or Activity: Phase I Cost Share
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
Inputs: Agent, Cattlemen's Association, Staff
Date: Ongoing
Audience: All Producers
Project or Activity: Pesticide Certification
Content or Curriculum: KY Pesticide Safety Training Program
Inputs: Agent, Specialists, UK Publications
Date: Spring 2018
Audience: Grain Producers
Project or Activity: Center of KY Grain Crops Meeting
Content or Curriculum: Marketing and research updates
Inputs: Agents, Specialists
Date: Winter 2017/18
Audience: All Producers
Project or Activity: Weed and Disease Identification
Content or Curriculum: Situation Control
Inputs: Agent, Staff, Specialists, UK Regulatory Services
Date: Ongoing
Audience: Grain Producers
Project or Activity: Strategic Marketing Program
Content or Curriculum: Understanding Grain Markets
Inputs: Agents, Specialists, Sponsors
Date: Ongoing
Audience: Grain Producers
Project or Activity: Green County Grain Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Grain Technologies update
Inputs: Agent, Volunteers, Sponsors
Date: Fall 2017
Audience: All Producers
Project or Activity: Agriculture Development Council
Content or Curriculum: Planning the Investment of Local Phase I Dollars
Inputs: Agent, Ag Development Council
Date: Ongoing
Audience: All Producers
Project or Activity: Silage Plots
Content or Curriculum: Analysis on Corn Varieties
Inputs: Agents, Specialists, Sponsors, Volunteers
Date: Ongoing
Audience: All Producers
Project or Activity: Quicken Record Keeping Program
Content or Curriculum: Proper Record Keeping
Inputs: Agent, Sponsor
Date: Fall 2017
Author: Ricky Arnett
Major Program: Forages
For all livestock producers especially beef cattle producers forages are the most expensive feed source to produce. Livestock represent the largest sector of agriculture in Green County. Hay being a crucial part of livestock systems, it is important that we minimize the amount of hay fed, while also producing and feeding high quality hay to lower our cost per head. Past participants of the Center of Kentucky Master Cattlemen program expressed the need of further education on hay production
