Agriculture and Natural Resource Awareness and PracticesPlan of Work

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Laurel County CES

Title:
Agriculture and Natural Resource Awareness and Practices
MAP:
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Agents Involved:
Sigmon, Whitson, Williams, Adkins, O'Bryan
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Farm Management
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
Situation:
Understanding how daily choices can impact our environment is vital to conserving and preserving our natural resources and ensuring a healthy environment for present and future generations. In 2008, Kentucky ranked 18th in total energy consumption and 7th in energy consumption per capita. In 2010, the statewide household participation rate for all curbside garbage collection types was 86.6%. In 2010, Kentuckians recycled 35.7% of all municipal solid waste and 29% of common household recyclables. The average Kentuckian used 67 gallons of water per person per day. Established and new agriculture producers are looking for ways to increase farm income in order to help offset the increasing price of farm inputs, high land rent, and lower prices. It is important to educate producers on best management practices to: keep costs down, optimize income through management and marketing, be good stewards of the land and practice good animal welfare. Educational programs are targeted to assist our local extension agents to provide producers with the tools necessary to be profitable and sustainable. Due to the loss of traditional farming practices there has been a decline in the involvement of youth in agriculture. While Kentucky’s population is increasing, the number of people living on farms is decreasing. Therefore, the need exists to educate people, including youth, about the importance of agriculture and its impact on their daily life, the local economy and environment. Negative publicity surrounding agriculture and agricultural practices is common place in today’s media fueling controversy and misconceptions. Producers need to be educated on positive strategies to deal with such negative publicity.

Long-Term Outcomes:
• Producers will increase profits by utilizing best management practices on their farms while maintaining sound environmental practices.
• Decrease the adverse effects of agricultural and homeowner pesticide usage on natural resources.
• Increase agricultural literacy levels among the general public and youth.
• Beef and forage producers will improve efficiency through better forage utilization and management.
• Producers begin to practice good farming operations management and build upon general farming skills.
• 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.
• Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant
• sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.
• Youth can communicate the importance of agriculture in Laurel County and understand the impact of agriculture on the economy, environment and society.
• Youth will consider careers in Agriculture, through the exposure to different Agricultural career options, increasing the number of youth in Agribusinesses.
• Producers will become agricultural advocates who address negative agricultural media and groups using logical research based information.
• Beef producers will increase profit by shortening the calving season, better recordkeeping and more uniform calves marketed.
Intermediate Outcomes:
• Producers will have a better understanding of Agricultural practices, there effects on natural resources.
• Producers will implement best management practices by increased use of soil testing.
• 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 agriculture career 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
• Producers will apply best management practices to reduce improper use and excessive use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
• Producers will implement practices that conserve natural resources.
Initial Outcomes:
• Producers will learn best management practices as they pertain to protecting natural resources.
• Producers will learn techniques to increase profitability using better management practices.
• Producers will develop more knowledge of marketing opportunities.
• Youth will realize the importance of agriculture in our community and world. Youth will see how local agriculture contributes to their overall well-being. Youth will have an appreciation of how their food is produced.
• Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.
• An increased number of 4-H youth will gain knowledge and skills in farming practices, livestock production, animal husbandry, and general agricultural practices.
• Youth will gain a better understanding of agriculture, production practices, job opportunities and the role of agriculture in the global economy.

Evaluation:
Initial Outcome: Participants will gain knowledge regarding, management practices, natural resource conservation, agricultural literacy, techniques to increase profitability, and agricultural opportunities
Indicator: increased scores on post tests, surveys
Method: Formative evaluations, surveys, pre post tests, and participant interviews
Timeline: Following activities

Intermediate Outcome: Participants adopt implementing best management practices that conserve natural resources and increase profitability while reducing improper and excessive use of chemicals. Youth adopt and practice skills related to agricultural careers and entrepreneurship skills. Youth can explain role of agriculture in every day life
Indicator: increased use of soil test, insect and disease ID. producers increase the use of best management practices. Increased youth participation in programs related to agriculture and natural resources.
Method: Summative evaluations, surveys, questioners, personal interviews
Timeline: 6 months to 1 year

Long-term Outcome: Producers will increase profits by utilizing best management practices on their farms while maintaining sound environmental practices.
Decrease the adverse effects of agricultural and homeowner pesticide usage on natural resources. Increase agricultural literacy levels among the general public and youth.
Indicator: Census data, increased agricultural enterprises, increased younger participants in programs and leadership roles, increased agricultural producers in community leadership roles.
Method: personal interviews, statistics, delayed summative evaluations
Timeline: 2-5 years
Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Animal Sciences

Content or Curriculum: 4-H livestock certification kit; 4-h project books

Inputs: local school system, volunteers, extension Agents and staff

Date: Sept-July


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: : 4-H Skill-A-Thon and Judging Clinics

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Livestock Certification Kit

Inputs: Extension Agents and staff, KDA staff, volunteers, fair grounds, fair board, school systems

Date:September - July


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Laurel County Agricultural Fair

Content or Curriculum: 4-H and AG materials, community resources

Inputs: Extension Agents and staff, volunteers, FFA Alumni, FFA, Fair Grounds, Fair Boards

Date: July


Audience: Youth

Activity: Feed A Bee Program

Content or curriculum: Feedabee.com, growingproduce.com

Inputs: Extension Agents and staff, volunteers,

Date: April-May


Audience: Youth

Activity: 4-H Horse Club

Content or curriculum: 4-H Horse program curriculum

Inputs: Extension Agents and staff, volunteers,

Date: Monthly: September - July


Audience: Youth

Activity: 4-H Eco Edventures Day Camp

Content or Curriculum: Project Wet, Project Wild, Science curriculum

Inputs: Extension Agents, Staff, volunteers

Date: yearly: August & September



Audience: Youth

Activity: 4-H Shooting Sports Club

Content or Curriculum: Penn State Shooting Sports curriculum; UK resources

Inputs: Extension Agents, Staff, Volunteers

Date: February- September


Audience: Youth, Adults

Activity: Beekeepers Association

Content or curriculum: local beekeepers

Inputs: Extension Agents, Staff, Volunteers, Extension Office, UK specialists, KDA,

Date: monthly, March-October


Audience: Adults

Activity: Gardeners Toolbox Workshop Series

Content or curriculum: UK publications and specialists

Inputs: Extension Agents, staff, Extension Office, community garden, Extension specialists,

Date: monthly


Audience: Youth

Activity: Preschool Children's Community Garden

Content or curriculum: UK publications

Inputs: community garden, Son light preschool and daycare, Master Gardener Volunteers, Extension agents and Staff,

Date: May-October


Audience: Adults, Youth

Activity: Animal Health Demo

Content or curriculum: Extension

Inputs: WTA handling facility, Animals, volunteers, cattleman, Extension Agents and staff, FFA, School System

Date: seasonal (March and October)


Audience: General Public

Activity: Kiwanis Farm City Tour

Content or curriculum: local resources

Inputs: Extension Agents and staff, Volunteers, local farm owners, farm industry, Kiwanis,

Date: Spring


Audience: Farmers

Activity: Reproduction Study Beef Cows

Content or Curriculum: UK Agricultural Specialists

Inputs: Cows, WTA handling facility, Farmers, Ky Beef Network

Date: Spring and Fall


Audience: Youth

Activity: FFA Livestock Club Programs

Content or Curriculum: School System

Inputs: School system, FFA, Extension Agents and staff, Volunteers, Livestock

Date: August - May



Audience: Adults Youth

Activity: Gardening 101

Contend or curriculum: UK publications, resources

Inputs: community garden, extension agents and staff, Specialists, Master Gardeners, Farm owners,

Date: April- August


Audience: Public

Activity: Local Foods Catalog

Content or Curriculum: Farmers Market and Master Gardeners

Input: Extension Agents and staff, Volunteers,

Date: Fall and Spring (yearly)



Audience:Youth

Activity: Youth Farm Field Days

Content or curriculum: UK publications, resources

Inputs: Extension agents and staff, Volunteers, farm owners, school systems

Date: spring, summer, fall


Audience: Farmers

Activity: Farm Pond Management Workshop

Content or curriculum: UK publications

Inputs: Extension Agents and staff, KSU specialists, farm owners, equipment rental

Date: Fall and Spring


Audience: Farmers

Activity: Farm Record book Workshop

Content or curriculum: UK publications

Inputs: Extension Agent and staff, farm record books and CD's, Volunteers, CPA,

Extension Office

Date: Winter


Audience: Adults

Activity: Community Garden

Demo and Teaching Garden

Content or curriculum: UK publications

Inputs: Extension Agents and staff, specialists, volunteers, community garden

Date: May-October


Audience: Farmers

Activity: Good Agricultural Practices

Content or curriculum: KDA, UK

Inputs: Extension Agents and staff, Extension office

Date: Spring


Audience: Adults

Activity: Integrated Pest Management

Content or curriculum: UK Publications

Inputs: Extension Agents and staff, extension Office, Volunteers

Date: Spring


Audience: Farmers

Activity: Private Pesticide Applicator Training

Content or curriculum: UK publications; Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Inputs: Extension Agents and staff, extension office,

Date: ongoing


Audience: Adults Youth

Activity: Urban Forestry

Content or curriculum: UK publications and specialists

Inputs: city of London, London tree Board, Extension Agents and staff, school system, Farmers Market

Date: February-March



Audience: Farmers

Activity: Pregnancy Check Clinic

Content or Curriculum: UK specialists and Agents

Inputs: Cows, Extension Agents and staff, WTA handling facilities, Cattleman, Volunteers

Date: Spring and Fall


Audience: Adults, Youth

Activity: Leadership Training Agricultural Advocate

Content and Curriculum: UK Agents, Farm Bureau

Inputs: Extension Agents and staff, Media specialist, Farm Bureau, Volunteers

Date: Winter


Audience: Farmers

Activity: A.I. School

Content and Curriculum: UK specialists publications

Inputs: Cows, Specialists, WTA handling facilities, Volunteers Extension Agents and staff

Date: Fall and Spring


Audience: Farmers homeowners

Activity: Rinse and Return Program

Content and curriculum KDA and UK publications

Inputs: Extension agents and staff, KDA

Date: September


Audience: Youth adults

Activity: Beginning Beekeeping School

Content and curriculum: KSU and UK publications

Inputs: Extension Agents and staff, KSU small farm agent, Extension office

Date: Fall and Winter


Audience: Farmers

Activity: Hemp production and establishment of receiving station

Content and curriculum: UK publications and research

Inputs: Extension Agents, GOAP, Altoa, Extension office

Date: Spring and Summer


Audience: Woodland Owners

Activity: East Ky Woodland Owners Shortcourse

Content and curriculum: UK publications, KY Foresty Dept., KY Fish and Wildlife, NRCS

Inputs: Extension Agents, KY Foresters, KY Fish and Wildlife Officers, NRCS Conservationists

Date: August





Success Stories

EcoEdventures Environmental Camp

Author: William Adkins

Major Program: Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum

Statement findings from the 2011 PRIDE (Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment) campaign indicated that many students in Laurel County were unaware of the effects of pollution on the environment, environmental resources, and the stewardship of those resources. When surveyed, local teachers, school officials, the Laurel County 4-H council and the Laurel County Extension Council, also identified environmental education as a valuable "need" for local youth. As a result of this

Full Story

Laurel Co. Cattleman

Author: Victor Williams

Major Program: Beef

~~As the local agricultural focus continues to diversify from tobacco to other areas, beef cattle has become the main livestock production choice for Laurel County farmers.  To help local beef producers increase profits, the Laurel County Cooperative Extension Office collaborated with the Laurel County Cattlemen’s Association to present a series of educational workshops and demonstrations geared toward improving production practices.  Educational topics featured:  beef futur

Full Story

Laurel County Agriculture Fair and Livestock Program

Author: William Adkins

Major Program: Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum

From 2007 to 2012 the numbers of farmers in the U.S. decreased by 4.3%.  The average age of a farm principal operator has increased by 8 years over the last thirty years and there was also a 23.3% decline in operators that had been on the farm for less than five years. This shows a decrease in the number of new farmers and especially young farmers.(USDA Census of Agriculture) Kentucky has also had the challenge of finding alternatives to the  mass exodus of tobacco production over the

Full Story

Woodland Owners Short Course

Author: Bonnie Sigmon

Major Program: Woodland Education

      Laurel County Extension Office hosted the 2017 Woodland Owners Short Course on Saturday August 12th. The WOSC is the largest woodland owner educational program offered in Kentucky and is supported by more than 10 forestry and natural resource agencies and organizations. The WOSC program is targeted at Kentucky’s private woodland owners and is designed to assist private woodland owners in the management of their woodlands. The program included classroom and field p

Full Story

Woodland Owners Shortcourse

Author: Victor Williams

Major Program: Woodland Education

Laurel County Extension Office hosted the 2017 Woodland Owners Short Course on Saturday August 12th. The WOSC is the largest woodland owner educational program offered in Kentucky and is supported by more than 10 forestry and natural resource agencies and organizations. The WOSC program is targeted at Kentucky’s private woodland owners and is designed to assist private woodland owners in the management of their woodlands. The program included classroom and field programming for new and ine

Full Story

CAIP Education

Author: Victor Williams

Major Program: Farm Management

In 2018, the Laurel County Cattlemen’s Association was provided $150,000 by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund to administer the CAIP (County Agricultural Investment Program) cost-share program for Laurel County producers. Individuals who were approved for grant funding were required to participate in continuing education programs to assist with their agricultural diversification projects. To accommodate this educational component, I have conducted several programs this year to pro

Full Story

Laurel County Cattleman's Sale Facility

Author: Victor Williams

Major Program: Beef

The annual Laurel County Cattlemen’s Heifer sale has been conducted each spring for the last six years at the Massey Limousin Farms private sale facility. In preparation for the sale, the Cattlemen would spend several days cleaning and retrofitting the facility to accommodate approximately 100 heifers raised by up to 16 producers. After the sale, the Cattlemen would spend several more days cleaning the facility and repairing damage done by crowded and stressed animals. Wet w

Full Story

Pollinator Programs

Author: Bonnie Sigmon

Major Program: Bees/Beekeeping

The decline of pollinators and domestic honey bees due several environmental, health and pesticide misuse has reached critical level. As news programs and social media reports continue to draw public attention to the crisis, the demand for extension programs about the topic have also increased. I have worked very closely with entomology experts and our local beekeepers association to address these issues at the Laurel County Extension Office.  The Southeast Kentucky Beekeepers Associat

Full Story
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