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
Success Stories
Sweet Success: Maple Syrup Program Inspires Whitley County Residents
Author: Benjamin Prewitt
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Sweet Success: Maple Syrup Program Inspires Whitley County ResidentsThe Whitley County Horticulture Program, led by Agent Ben Prewitt, recently hosted a well-received educational event at the Whitley County Extension Office in Goldbug, Kentucky. Focused on maple syrup production, the program attracted 57 eager participants and provided an in-depth look at this rewarding agricultural practice.Special guest speaker Shad Baker, Letcher County’s Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent, joined P
Full Story
Farm Value-Added Soap Making Sparks Excitement Among Farmers
Author: Laura Rogers
Major Program: Small Farm Diversification
Describe the Issue or Situation. The issue was a lack of accessible, hands-on learning opportunities for farmers to explore traditional value-added products, such as soap making, to diversify their farm income and skills. Many participants believed that making lye soap was too tricky or complicated, leading to a hesitation to try it themselves. Additionally, there was a gap in understanding the science behind the soap-making process and how to customize it with scents or natural ingredients
Full Story
Bull Soundness Exam program.
Author: Stacy White
Major Program: Beef
Bull Breeding Soundness Exams Proves More Successful in Year 2After successful BSE Clinics last year, area ANR agents applied for and received funding to host two clinics again this year from ANR mini grants provided by the Associate Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Last year the agents recognized that after the initial clinic there was positive momentum building behind educating others as to the importance of getting bulls tested prior to the breeding season. Unfortunately, those
Full Story
NRESci Academy
Author: Lisa Jones
Major Program: Natural Resources
The Kentucky 4-H Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Academy (NRESci) strives to increase environmental literacy among youth in Kentucky. Every five years (since 1999) the Kentucky Environmental Education Council (KEEC) conducts a survey to assess Kentuckian’s environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. According to KEEC’s 2020-2025 Environmental Education Master Plan (2020), “… the average Kentuckian is able to answer correctly sligh
Full Story
- 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