Extension
It Starts With Us
Crop and Livestock Production, Gardening and Horticulture, and Local Food Systems
Increasing Agricultural Literacy
Chadwick, Flowers, Goodman
Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum
Local Food Systems
Grain Crops
Home & Consumer Horticulture
Kentucky is home to 85,500 farms, tied with Oklahoma as the 4th ranking state in the number of farms (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2012). The average farm size in Kentucky is 164 acres, compared to the national average of 421 (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2012). Between 2007 and 2012, the Bluegrass State had a 6.7% decrease in the number of acres of farmland, which is the greatest percentage decrease any state in the country (Census of Agriculture, 2012). A farm is defined by the United States government as “any place that produced and sold, or normally would produce and sell, $1,000 or more of agricultural products during the census year.” While Kentucky’s population is increasing, the number of people living on farms is decreasing. Therefore, the need exists to educate people, particularly youth, about the impact that it makes on their daily lives, as well as the importance of agriculture to the commonwealth. The top agricultural products produced on Kentucky farms are changing. In 2012, the Top 10 agriculture products in Kentucky were: Broilers, Corn, Horses & Mules, Soybeans, Cattle & Calves, Tobacco, Dairy Products & Milk, Wheat, Hay and Chicken Eggs (United States Department of Agriculture – Kentucky, 2012).
The Carlisle County 4-H Council, the Carlisle County Agricultural Advisory Council, and the Carlisle County Extension Council all identified increasing agricultural literacy as a programming priority for Carlisle County Extension. According to the CEDIK Agriculture and Food County Profile for Carlisle County, in 2012, Carlisle County had 325 farm operations on 98,620 acres, which represented 81.3% of total county land. In comparison, Kentucky’s farm operations made up 51.6% of the state’s total land area, and U.S. farm operations made up 40.5% of total land area in the country. As a result, the agricultural industry is important to the economy and people of Carlisle County.
- Youth will engage in entrepreneurial enterprise.
- Youth will gain and maintain employment resulting from life skill development through 4-H.
- Youth will be advocates for agriculture and healthy and sustainable food systems.
- Community will see an increase in the number of vendors, variety of local food products, sales and/or profits at farmer’s markets, road side stands, or community supported agriculture.
- Community will see increased access to local foods in restaurants, retail outlets, school and other institutions.
- Producers will maintain or increase consumer confidence/demand in local foods.
- Producers will maintain or increase economic stability of farm operations.
- Youth will practice and apply skills and knowledge in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.
- Youth will adopt and practice skills that contribute to employability.
- Youth can explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others.
- Youth will set a goal and accomplish it.
- Youth can influence the purchase of Kentucky Proud products.
- Youth can practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems.
- Consumers will purchase local food and food products.
- Consumers will advocate for local food producers.
- Producers will adopt usage of new technology for production.
- Producers will use diagnostic services to enhance production decision-making.
- Producers will adopt one or more production management recommendations.
- Producers will implement on-farm trials.
- Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.
- Youth will gain an understanding of healthy and sustainable food systems.
- Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, communications, recordkeeping,
leadership and service.
- Consumers will identify/ locate local food producers and processors.
- Consumers will explain local food needs and purchasing procedures (i.e. quantity, quality, deliver, etc.).
- Consumers will purchase local food and food products.
- Consumers will advocate for local food producers.
- Producers will increase awareness of current land grant research concerning production.
- Producers will increase understanding of production regulations.
Initial Outcomes:
Indicator: Written or verbal acknowledgement of increased awareness and knowledge related to agricultural literacy and practices
Method: Pre-/post-tests, observation, participation
Timeline: After programming opportunities
Intermediate Outcomes:
Indicator: Change in behavior or practice related to agriculture
Method: Pre-/post-tests, observation, participation, self-reporting, number of Kentucky Proud producers, local agriculture statistics, production outcomes
Timeline: After programming opportunities
Long-term Outcomes:
Indicator: Long-term results stemming from changes in behavior or practice related to agriculture sustained over time
Method: 4-H project participation, youth employment after high school, local agriculture sales and production statistics and outcomes, community statistics
Timeline: 2016-2020
Audience: 3rd grade youth
Project or Activity: Adventures in Agriculture Day
Content or Curriculum: Soils, crops, livestock, horticulture, 4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum, Ag in the Classroom
Date: Spring 2018
Audience: Youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Go, Grow, Garden project
Content or Curriculum: Home Gardening Extension publication, 4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum
Date: Spring and Fall 2017-2018
Audience: Women of Carlisle County
Project or Activity: Women in Agriculture
Content or Curriculum: Extension agriculture information and publications
Date: 2017-2018
Audience: Agricultural producers
Project or Activity: Winter Ag Conference
Content or Curriculum: Production agriculture information
Date: Winter 2018
Inputs:
Agents
Agribusinesses
Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Carlisle County Conservation District
Producers
Carlisle County Road Department/Fiscal Court
USDA Farm Service Agency
Carlisle County Schools
Extension volunteers
Specialists
Author: Chuck Flowers
Major Program: Grain Crops
With 83.53% of the land in all four river counties used for crop production, agriculture holds a strong presence. It was proposed to highlight agriculture in Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, and Hickman County.The first of its kind event, WAVE River Counties AG Day, was held at Fort Jefferson Cross Memorial in Wickliffe on July 13 from 7:30 am to 2:00 pm. The theme “Lets Grow With It” was chosen.The WAVE Ag Day was a joint venture including all four county judge executives, the
Author: Chuck Flowers
Major Program: Beef
By the year 2050 Agriculture producers will have to increase food production by 70 %. On the average 76 % of all the land in the four river counties is in crop production. Three of the four counties Ballard, Carlisle, and Fulton County have over 33 million in average crop sales. Hickman County sells over 56 million in crop sales. Even with those numbers we still have an average of 45 million of animal products sold in the four counties. In all four counties there is an av
Author: Chuck Flowers
Major Program: Grain Crops
New Guidelines for Farmers –Winter Ag ConferenceThis year our Winter Ag Conference focused on two new chemicals and the new label guidelines for them. With 81% of the land in Carlisle County in row crop along with 91% in Hickman and 63% in Fulton County the new guidelines for Xtendimax Max and Engenia for soybeans will be a choice farmers will have to make again this year. Crop sales just in Carlisle County is $34,054,000. The need for this new information to get out is necessary to our pr
Author: Chuck Flowers
Major Program: Sustainable Agriculture
The future of Agriculture, with 81 per cent of the land in crop production, Agriculture is a driving force in Carlisle County. 34,054,000 dollars of crop revenue is sold on the average each year in the county. From 2015 to 2020 26,700 annual jobs openings will be available in agriculture according to CNBC. To keep agriculture in the lime light the Carlisle County Extension Service hosted an Agriculture Day for Carlisle County third grade students. The students were divided into smaller groups an
Author: Chuck Flowers
Major Program: Ag Marketing
Applying Education to Execution in Today’s Market ion in Today’s Looking at the make-up of row crop in Carlisle County. The corn acres grown in the county are 33,612 acres coming from the 2012 agriculture census. Soybeans acres are around 33,167 acres with small grain coming in at 13,535 acres in Carlisle County. Crop receipts for 2012 to the economy were $34,054,000. Those acres will be in the same range each year depending on crop rotations. So in order to help producers
Author: Chuck Flowers
Major Program: Grain Crops
Across Western Kentucky the Four River Counties plant 180,147 acres of soybeans compared to 1,780,000 acres in Kentucky each year (USDA/NASS, 2016). Being able to use chemicals is a must and controlling drift or volatility is very important to a farming program. Dicamba is a chemical that is causing lots of concerns and worry on the part of farm operations and the environment due to volatilization. The Carlisle County Cooperative Extension Service along with Kentucky Department of Agriculture, t
