Metcalfe County CES

County Emphasis:

Agriculture Marketing and Production

Concentration 1:

Animal Production and Management

Concentration 2:

Plant Production and Management

Concentration 3:

Sustainability, Natural Resources and Wildlife Management, and Environment

Situation:

Kentucky’s animal production and management strategies encompass sustainable practices, health-focused care, and economic viability across all species thus contributing significantly to the state’s agricultural landscape. Beef cattle play a crucial role in converting Kentucky’s vast 7 million acres of pasture and forage into valuable products. CES focuses on sustainable grazing practices and ensuring optimal use of natural resources like land and water.

Optimizing plant, crop and forage production is paramount as Kentucky producers navigate the challenges of economics, climate variability, and evolving consumer demands. Key challenges and strategies to enhance sustainable practices across various agricultural domains include:  rising input costs (seeds, fertilizers, machinery), crop price fluctuations, knowledge of soil health, and water management to produce high yielding crops for long-term productivity

Ensuring the sustainability of Kentucky woodlands and natural resources, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, faces many challenges. Many landowners struggle to implement sustainable practices due to economic pressures, lack of access to technology, and workforce. The situation is exacerbated by development and the increasing demand for food, which often leads to the overuse of land and water resources, contributing to soil degradation, deforestation, and water scarcity.  Kentucky’s Extension remains committed to developing adaptive management strategies for the critical issues facing the sustainability of farms, natural areas, and forests for today and in the future. Implementing soil and water conservation practices in both urban and rural watersheds is critical to the long-term sustainability of Kentucky’s natural resources.

County Situation:

According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, Metcalfe County is home to 799 farms covering 124,964 acres.  The average farm size is 156 acres.  The market value of agriculture products sold is $50,277,000 with $29,970,000 coming from livestock, poultry and their products with an additional $20,307,000 coming from crops, including nursery and greenhouse crops. Metcalfe County is a leader in the timber industry with several species of hardwood trees making up a large portion of the landscape.   Results from the University of KY Cooperative Extension Community Needs Assessment indicate that sustainability of family farms was the top priority for those taking the survey.  The majority of producers in the county have off the farm employment with only 38.1 percent listing farming as their primary occupation.

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Increase the quality and number of animals or pounds of milk produced annually contributing to the increased and more stable financial position for producers.? 
• Increase the use of sustainable management practices across all production methods and species.? 
• Producers are routinely implementing guidelines and recommendations for efficient and financially sound production demonstrating sustainable behavior change.? 
• Continually implementing new technology and production practices.? 
• Improve the quality of life of animals and humans.
• Increase the quality of beef cattle produced annually contributing to increased and more stable financial position of cattle operations. 
• Increase the use of sustainable management practices across all production methods leading to enhanced production efficiency and reductions in the carbon footprint. 
• Producers are routinely following Beef Quality Care & Assurance standards to produce healthy and high-quality beef. 
• Continually adoption of new technology and production practices.
• Achieve long-term sustainability and resilience through the widespread adoption of practices that enhance soil productivity, conserve water, and optimize resource use, leading to resilient agricultural systems capable of withstanding economic and environmental fluctuations.
• Strengthen local economies through improved farm sustainability and profitability, which are economic multipliers in local communities. Helping farm families successfully transition to subsequent generations. Helping new and beginning farmers enter farming operations.  
• Strengthen local economies through the continuous support of farmer’s markets, community gardens, and community-supported agriculture programs that are well-integrated with urban horticulture initiatives.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive framework for disaster readiness and climate adaptation that includes advanced forecasting, crop selection, and management practices to prepare for extreme weather events.
• Improved crop sustainability, increased farm profitability and reduced environmental impact using best disease management practices
• Reduced unnecessary pesticide exposure to farmers, agribusiness and the general public
• Increased farm productivity because of a reduction in yield and quality losses due to diseases
• Increased competitiveness for U.S. farmers and the agricultural industry
• Achieve long-term sustainability and resilience in agricultural practices through the widespread adoption of practices that enhance soil productivity, conserve water quality and quantity, and optimize resource use, leading to resilient agricultural systems capable of withstanding economic and environmental fluctuations.
• Strengthening local economies through improved farm sustainability and profitability, which are economic multipliers in local communities. Helping farm families successfully transition to subsequent generations. Helping new and beginning farmers enter farming operations. Helping to maintain or increase domestic markets and increase export markets for grain crops and tobacco by improving quality of commodities compared to that of foreign competitors.  
• Helping to educate turfgrass managers on how to maintain surfaces that meet the needs of their desired uses while improving economic and environmental benefits of turfgrasses.
• Work with farmers and those interested in farming on generational succession in farms to improve sustainability of the farms for generations.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive framework for disaster readiness and climate adaptation that includes advanced forecasting, crop selection, and management practices to prepare for extreme weather events.

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Annually implement strategies and production methods that result in increased efficiency, and number of animals produced /maintained, and animals harvested or pounds of milk produced.? 
• Increased biosecurity strategies that promote both animal and human health related behaviors for a safe food system.? 
• Increase or strengthen partnerships or relationships with commodity groups to address sustainable management strategies, health-focused care, and economic viability for all livestock.? 
• Achieve long-term sustainability and resilience through the widespread adoption of practices that enhance soil productivity, conserve water, and optimize resource use, leading to resilient agricultural systems capable of withstanding economic and environmental fluctuations.
• Strengthen local economies through improved farm sustainability and profitability, which are economic multipliers in local communities. Helping farm families successfully transition to subsequent generations. Helping new and beginning farmers enter farming operations.  
• Strengthen local economies through the continuous support of farmer’s markets, community gardens, and community-supported agriculture programs that are well-integrated with urban horticulture initiatives.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive framework for disaster readiness and climate adaptation that includes advanced forecasting, crop selection, and management practices to prepare for extreme weather events.
• Improved crop sustainability, increased farm profitability and reduced environmental impact using best disease management practices
• Reduced unnecessary pesticide exposure to farmers, agribusiness and the general public
• Increased farm productivity because of a reduction in yield and quality losses due to diseases
• Increased competitiveness for U.S. farmers and the agricultural industry
• Achieve long-term sustainability and resilience in agricultural practices through the widespread adoption of practices that enhance soil productivity, conserve water quality and quantity, and optimize resource use, leading to resilient agricultural systems capable of withstanding economic and environmental fluctuations.
• Strengthening local economies through improved farm sustainability and profitability, which are economic multipliers in local communities. Helping farm families successfully transition to subsequent generations. Helping new and beginning farmers enter farming operations. Helping to maintain or increase domestic markets and increase export markets for grain crops and tobacco by improving quality of commodities compared to that of foreign competitors.  
• Helping to educate turfgrass managers on how to maintain surfaces that meet the needs of their desired uses while improving economic and environmental benefits of turfgrasses.
• Work with farmers and those interested in farming on generational succession in farms to improve sustainability of the farms for generations.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive framework for disaster readiness and climate adaptation that includes advanced forecasting, crop selection, and management practices to prepare for extreme weather events.

Initial Outcomes:

• Increase knowledge about sustainable and economically viable management practices.? 
• Increase skills related to efficient production methods across all species.? 
• Increase confidence in implementing new and emerging techniques, technology, and production systems.? 
• Increase confidence in making decisions related to promoting animal health-related behavior.? 
• Increase intentions to employ financially sound behavior regarding production methods, use of financial tools, health-focused care, and the human-animal interaction.? 
• Increase adoption of data-driven practices through immediate trainings, workshops, and field visits to educate producers on the latest data-driven agricultural technologies, focusing on efficient resource utilization, pest resistance, and yield improvements.
• Enhanced soil and water management programs by rolling out targeted extension programs that focus on soil health and water management techniques to immediately improve crop yield potentials.
• Support for crop trials by initiating pilot projects that support the planting of diverse crops and horticultural species, such as vegetables, small fruit, tree fruit, herbs, and ornamental plants to assess short-term viability and consumer interest.
• Initial and continuing education opportunities for certified pesticide applicators
• Stakeholders have knowledge and tools needed to better protect crops from diseases and to understand the benefits of adopting best disease management practices and resistance mitigation
• Stakeholders are more aware of current and new and/or emerging disease issues
• Stakeholders have access to timely diagnostics to avoid or reduce the impact of disease outbreaks
• Stakeholders are more aware of UK plant pathology research and resources
• Increase adoption of data-driven practices through immediate trainings, workshops, and field visits to educate producers on the latest data-driven agricultural technologies, focusing on efficient resource utilization, pest resistance, sustainability, and yield improvements.
• Enhanced soil and water management programs by rolling out targeted extension programs that focus on soil and water management techniques to immediately improve crop yield potentials and promote environmentally favorable practices.
• Support for diverse crop trials by initiating pilot projects that support the planting of diverse crops.
• Fulfillment of annual GAP Training requirements for GAP Certification of tobacco producers.
• Facilitate trainings to provide necessary knowledge to support those desiring to obtain commercial and non-commercial applicator licenses and maintain CEUs from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture in the turf and ornamental category.
• Assisting farmers who need to document specific climate objectives and/or management practices of grain and tobacco buyers. 

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Knowledge Gained

Indicator: Number of producers reporting and increase in knowledge of Animal Production, Plant Production and Environmental Stewardship

Method: Program Evaluation Survey

Timeline: Immediate/ Post Program

Intermediate Outcome: Change in Methods and Practices

Indicator: Number of producers reporting adding or changing methods or practices

Method: Surveys/ Follow up farm visits

Timeline: Throughout the program year

Long-term Outcome: Profits/ Sustainability

Indicator: Number of producers or landowners reporting increased profits or improved condition of land and natural resources

Method: Survey

Timeline: Throughout the program year

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Livestock Producers

Project or Activity: Quarterly Cattlemen's Meetings, BQCA Trainings, Edmonton District Dairy Show, Metcalfe County Dairy Show, Forage Testing, Ration Balancing, Tri County Hay and Straw Auction

Content or Curriculum: Beef IRM resources, KDA guidelines, UK publications KBN resources

Inputs :Agents, Specialists, KDA Staff, KCA Staff

Date: Year round

Audience: Crop Producers, Gardeners and Commercial Applicators

Project or Activity: Private Applicator trainings, Soil Testing, Hay Testing, Tri County Hay and Straw Auction, Tobacco GAP Trainings, SOKY Pesticide, Metcalfe County Farmer's Market, Voucher Trainings

Content or Curriculum: UK Publications UK PSEP Resources, Regulatory Services Recommendations, KDA Resources and Recommendations, GAP Connections Curriculum SNAP, WIC and Senior Resources

Inputs: Agents, Specialists, KDA Staff, Regulatory Services Staff

Date: Year round

Audience: Private Land Owners and Loggers

Project or Activity: Private Applicator Trainings, Master Logger, Soil Testing

Content or Curriculum: UK PSEP Resources, Master Logger Curriculum Regulatory Services Resourced, UK Publications 

Inputs: Agents, Specialists, Regulatory Services Staff

Date: Year Round

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Knowledge Gained

Indicator: Number of producers reporting and increase in knowledge of Animal Production, Plant Production and Environmental Stewardship

Method: Program Evaluation Survey

Timeline: Immediate/ Post Program

Intermediate Outcome: Change in Methods and Practices

Indicator: Number of producers reporting adding or changing methods or practices

Method: Surveys/ Follow up farm visits

Timeline: Throughout the program year

Long-term Outcome: Profits/ Sustainability

Indicator: Number of producers or landowners reporting increased profits or improved condition of land and natural resources

Method: Survey

Timeline: Throughout the program year