Extension
It Starts With Us
Supporting Local Agriculture
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Bob
Local Food Systems
Sustainable Agriculture
Farmer's Markets
Forages
Results of a needs assessment survey prioritize Commercial Horticulture, New Crops Opportunities, Community and Economic Development, Hay and Pasture Management, and Beef Cattle Production for extension program efforts. Members of both the ANR program council and Ag Development Council have also stated that promoting agriculture and increasing awareness of ag projects is a long term goal.
Practices adopted by producers will lead to more sustainable (and profitable) farm operations and increased public awareness of agriculture and natural resources impacts in the county.
These changes will result in one or more of the following:
Increases in the number of producers adopting recommended practices.
Increases in public awareness of local agriculture and farmers.
Program participants will adopt recommended practices related to their enterprise such as soil testing, integrated pest management, forage production, hay testing, and animal health care. Producers adopt researched based production and marketing practices known to increase profitability. Public awareness, impact and opportunities associated with agriculture and natural resources will be enhanced.
Participants gain knowledge about current and emerging crop production practices, livestock and woodland management practices. Council members will practice leadership skills promoting agriculture awareness.
Initial Outcome: Participants increase knowledge about aspects of agriculture and recommended practices.
Indicator: # of people adopting one or more recommended practices
Method: formal and informal surveys
Timeline: on going
Intermediate Outcome: Increased customer base supporting local food enterprises.
Indicator: # of people with increased awareness of agriculture and natural resources
Method: direct observation
Timeline: on going
Long-term Outcome: Program participants reduce costs and/or increase profitability. Participants increase awareness of the impacts of agriculture in the community.
Indicator: positive economic impact of extension programs and enhanced understanding of agriculture in the community
Method: formal and informal survey
Timeline: on going
Audience: Farmers Market customers, general public, WIC participants
Project or Activity: WIC redemption promotion day, Youth/Ag Days
Content or Curriculum: Demonstrations, exhibits, healthy eating, health screening, ag exhibits
Inputs: Health Dept, Farmers Market leaders, KSU snap ed person, extension information
Date: July 2017, August 2017
Audience: Hay/Pasture producers/CAIP recipients
Project or Activity: Haymaker Program
Content or Curriculum: Forage related topics tbd
Inputs: skyp distance learning/multi county effort
Date: Spring 2018
Audience: Women involved with farming/CAIP recipients
Project or Activity: Farm School for Women
Content or Curriculum: financial management and production related information. Farm tours on organic production and hemp production requested
Inputs: Extension Specialist, volunteer leaders
Date: spring 2018
Audience: Beef producers/CAIP recipients
Project or Activity: Beef/forage series of some type. Hay Testing Day with KDA. Eden Shale Farm Tour
Content or Curriculum: Beef IRM results, hay testing promotion, bale grazing
Inputs: specialists/demonstration participants/cattlemens association
Date: fall/winter/spring/summer 2017-18
Author: Robert Marsh
Major Program: Soils
Rowan County has over $2 million in crop sales (predominately corn and soybeans) and over $2 million in animal sales (predominately cattle and calves) annually. In addition, the population of Rowan County has continued to grow with non-farming households. In order to protect surface and ground water the Rowan County Extension office sponsored a Soil Testing Promotion program intended to increase awareness and benefits of soil testing. Soil testing is a fundamental practice that can p
Author: Robert Marsh
Major Program: Woodland Education
Approximately 80% of Rowan county is forested and well over half is privately owned. Morehead has long been a center for the forest industry and recent establishment of a white oak stave factory has stimulated interest in selling timber. UK Forestry Extension has produced several series based webinars over the years and Rowan County Extension has been a host site for several years. The 2017 Webinar Series included educational information related to Deer Management, Engaging People in Citiz
Author: Robert Marsh
Major Program: Farmer's Markets
Rowan County has around 25 farms that sell agricultural products at the local farmers markets in Rowan and surrounding counties. Each year for the last six years Cooperative Extension has collaborated with the health department, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Community Farm Alliance, the University of Kentucky Food Systems Innovation Center, and other county farmers markets to conduct a multi-county training for farmers market vendors. Hundreds of vendors have attended over the years and ap
Author: Robert Marsh
Major Program: Local Food Systems
Rowan County has an active Farmers Market that has partnered with the senior center and health department in the Senior and WIC Farmers Market Nutrition program for decades. These programs help farmers increase sales and participants increase access to healthy food. In a new program effort, Cooperative Extension facilitated the Community Farm Alliance (CFA) Double Dollars program in 2018. CFA is the lead for this program. Extension's role in Rowan county was to explain the program to f
