Develop stronger, more sustainable agricultural economy and conserve natural resources.Plan of Work
Whitley County CES
Title:
Develop stronger, more sustainable agricultural economy and conserve natural resources.
MAP:
Agriculture Education/Production and Environmental awareness.
Agents Involved:
Moses (Community Arts), Burgard (FCS), Jones (4-H), White (ANR), Prewitt (Horticulture)
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Local Food Systems
Situation:
In the most recent 2017 Census of Agriculture, the total market value of agricultural products sold in Whitley County was $6,059,000. The total farm production expenses (average per farm) was $12,478 compared to $61,929 for the state. Farm acreage is 58,983 acres which is 21% of the county total. There are 668 farmers with an average age of 58.
Forests cover nearly half the state of Kentucky and are the foundation of a forest sector that is a major economic force in the Commonwealth.
The current estimates last taken from 2020 for the economic contribution of Kentucky’s forest sector include:
-$9.55 billion in direct economic contribution
-$13.97 billion in total economic contributions
-27,000 jobs in the forest sector and an estimated 53,000 jobs overall
The Kentucky Forest Sector is divided into six sub-sectors:
-Logging
-Primary Wood Manufacturing
-Pulp and Paper
-Secondary Wood Manufacturing
-Paper Converters
-Wood Residue
Each of these sub-sectors is comprised of multiple forest businesses. The wood resources that support Kentucky’s forest sector primarily come from Kentucky’s forests. Each acre of harvested timber is estimated to contribute $23,288 to Kentucky’s economy. Whitley County contributes to all aspects of the forest sector economy in Kentucky.
Long-Term Outcomes:
-Increased support for local food producers.
-Increased sustainability of agricultural and forestry operations.
-Reduced illegal dumping and littering.
-Increased market opportunities for agricultural and forestry operations.
Intermediate Outcomes:
-Agricultural and forestry operators better trained to do their work in an environmentally sustainable manner.
-People understand the negative impacts of improper trash disposal to our environment and economy.
-Agricultural and forestry operators/producers become aware of and try new markets
Initial Outcomes:
-Agricultural and forestry operators participate in educational opportunities offered in Whitley County.
-More Whitley County residents aware of “Dumpster Days”, a local effort to reduce illegal dumping and littering.
-Agricultural and forestry markets identified and promoted.
Evaluation:
Longterm Outcome: Increased sustainability of agricultural and forestry operations.
Indicator: Number of agricultural and forestry operations remaining in business.
Method: Observation and surveys.
Timeline: Ongoing.
Longterm Outcome: Reduced illegal dumping and littering.
Indicator: Number of people using “Dumpster Days” as a way to dispose of trash and debris.
Method: Observation and “Dumpster Days” records.
Timeline: Ongoing.
Longterm Outcome: Increased market opportunities for agricultural and forestry operations.
Indicator: Number of new or expanding agricultural and forestry markets.
Method: Observation and forest products industry index.
Timeline: Ongoing.
Intermediate Outcome: Agricultural and forestry operators better trained to do their work in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Indicator: Number of agricultural and forestry operators who participate in trainings offered.
Method: Observation and training records.
Timeline: Ongoing.
Intermediate Outcome: All people understand the negative impacts of improper trash disposal to our environment and economy.
Indicator: Number of people who participate in pollution education events.
Method: Observation and event records.
Timeline: Ongoing.
Intermediate Outcome: Agricultural and forestry operators become aware of and try new markets.
Indicator: Number of agricultural and forestry operators who participate in market education events.
Method: Observation and event records.
Timeline: Ongoing.
Initial Outcome: Agricultural and forestry operators participate in educational opportunities offered in Whitley County.
Indicator: Number of agricultural and forestry operators who participate in educational events.
Method: Observation and event records.
Timeline: Ongoing.
Initial Outcome: More Whitley County residents aware of “Dumpster Days”, a local effort to reduce illegal dumping and littering.
Indicator: Number of advertisements for “Dumpster Days” in media.
Method: Circulation of newspapers and social media contacts.
Timeline: Ongoing.
Initial Outcome: More Whitley County residents become aware of agricultural and forestry markets.
Indicator: Number of participants who become aware of agricultural and forestry markets.
Method: Observation and event records.
Timeline: Ongoing.
Learning Opportunities:
Audience: Beef producers
Project or Activity: Whitley County Cattlemen’s Association
Content or Curriculum: UK pubs and other appropriate information from KDA, FSA, NRCS, etc.
Inputs: specialists and agents
Date: Meets monthly 2024-2025
Audience: Sheep/goat producersProject or Activity: Southeast sheep and goat association.
Content or Curriculum: UK pubs and other appropriate information from KDA, FSA, NRCS, etc.
Inputs: specialists and agents
Date: Meets annually 2024-2025
Audience: Sustainable agriculture.
Project or Activity: Small Farms Group
Content or Curriculum: UK pubs and other appropriate information from KDA, FSA, NRCS, etc.
Inputs: specialists and agents
Date: Meets monthly 2024-2025
Audience: Beekeepers
Project or Activities: Whitley County Bee Club
Content: UK pubs, KDA Beelines and other pubs, and KSU pubs.
Inputs: specialists and agents
Date: Meets monthly except winter 2024-2025
Audience: Gardeners
Project or Activities: Save the Children gardening program
Content: UK pubs
Inputs: HORT, FNEP
Date: monthly meetings.
Audience: Agricultural and Horticultural producers.
Project or Activities: Pesticide safety trainings.
Content: UK pubs and KDA training materials.
Inputs: specialists and agents
Date: Two times a year 2024-2025
Audience: Loggers
Project or Activities: Master Logger trainings
Content: UK pubs and Kentucky Division of Forestry materials.
Inputs: specialists and agents
Date: 2024-2025
Audience: Whitley County residents.
Project or Activities: Whitley County Ag Day.
Content: UK pubs and other agency materials.
Inputs: specialists and agents
Date: Annual event in August/September 2024-2025
Audience: Whitley County landowners and forest industry personnel.
Project or Activities: Kentucky Wood Expo
Content: UK pubs
Inputs: specialists and agents.
Date: Biennial 2024-2025
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activities: Art and Agriculture workshops
Content: UK pubs, CEDIK
Inputs: Ag, Community Arts, Volunteers
Date: Spring-Fall 2024-2025
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activities: Mixed Media with materials from environment
Content: UK pubs, CEDIK
Inputs: ANR, HORT, Community Arts, Volunteers, 4-H
Date: 2024-2025
Audience: General Public/Families
Project or Activity: Environmental education through the arts
Content or Curriculum: UK publication, Fine Arts, KSU, SNAP, NASA, Horticulture, Agriculture, FCS, NAAEE, KEEC
Inputs: Community Arts, 4-H, Agricultural, local artist, Volunteers, Soil Conservation Service, Local Recycling organizations, schools
Date: Spring-Fall 2024-25
Audience: 4-H Junior Master Gardeners
Project or Activities: Raised Garden Beds, Bees, Flower Planting
Content: Junior Master Gardener Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H
Date: monthly meetings 2024-2025
Audience: Agriculturists/Horticulturists
Project or Activity: Beginning Gardening Program
Content: PPT Presentations/ UK Publications/ Variety of Handouts
Inputs: Horticulture Agent/ UK Specialists
Date: Feb 2024 and Feb 2025
- Acting Associate Dean & Director — Craig Wood, Ph.D.
- S107 Ag. Science Center North
- Lexington, KY 40546-0091
- +1 (859) 257-4302
© 2024 University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment