Extension
It Starts With Us
Dealing with Market Fluctuations
Grain Crop Systems and Environmental Stewardship
Evan Tate - ANR
Grain Crops
Farm Management
Integrated Plant Pest Management
Ag Marketing
Hancock County has several well established grain production units with many younger producers well invested in infrastructure. Fertile river bottom ground in Hancock County has been well utilized to produce corn and soybeans. Currently, Grain crop production is facing a downward pressure with severe economic distress (high inputs, low commodity prices, high land rent, flooded machinery market) for the foreseeable future. Producers, now more than ever need to be inventive in management practices to perpetuate sustainability.
Producers continue to adopt soil conservation techniques in order to conserve valuable topsoil while maximizing profits due to better marketing tactics. Farm Management tools will be utilized more often in order to better asses production and cost of operation.
Producers will apply new technology for crop production. Producers will use a variety of diagnostic services to identify insects, disease and weeds. Producers will acquire and utilize test plot data.
Producers Identify active ingredients in crop related ag products. Producers recognize herbicide resistant pests and strategies to overcome these pest. Producers understanding of production regulation increases. Producers look for opportunities to update current equipment to offset new purchases.
Initial Outcome: Increased participation in Private Applicator training
Indicator: Increased number of licenses
Method: Compare registrations to previous years
Timeline: Spring 2018
Intermediate Outcome: Producers utilize test plot data to make seed selection
Indicator: Hancock Co Extension has an increase in interest form producers for test plot data
Method: Survey
Timeline: Fall 2017
Long-term Outcome: Producers adhere to better farm management and record keeping skills
Indicator: Producers are better able to project cost and production parameters
Method: Survey
Timeline: Fall 2018
Audience:Producers
Project or Activity: Producers see differences in variety performance on land within the county
Content or Curriculum: Field day for producers to see varieties
Inputs: County Agent,UK Specialist, Producers
Date: Fall 2017
Audience:Producers
Project or Activity: Producers gain information on pest control
Content or Curriculum: Private Application Course
Inputs: Count Agent, UK Specialist, producers
Date: Fall 2017
Audience: Producers
Project or Activity: Shop Talk Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Learn about options to retrofit old equipment with new technology
Inputs: UK specialist, county agent, equipment manufacturer, farmers
Date:Spring 2018
Author: Evan Tate
Major Program: Sustainable Agriculture
Each year farmer's enter grain bins during clean out , many without safety gear. Furthermore, most of the grain bins in the region are older and lack some of the manufacturer safety features that are common today. Additionally many first responders including volunteer firefighters are removed from the farm and have never been inside grain storage faciliites. Therefore, The Hancock County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with the Hancock County Farm Bureau, Hancock County F
