Hart County CES

County Emphasis:

Agriculture Production and Sustainability

Concentration 1:

Animal Production and Management

Concentration 2:

Plant Production and Management

Concentration 3:

Financial Security and Economic Well-Being

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.  To meet the needs of Kentucky animal producers CES Extension will create or expand its efforts to offer need-based education and producer-focused programming for all species. Current/future activities include introducing programs to address and improve specific management systems and introduce new and emerging techniques, technology, and production systems for increased efficiency and profitability.

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.  Current and continuing practices involve cover crops to reduce erosion resulting in enhanced soil health as well as rotating crops to break pest cycles, improve soil fertility, and reduce disease pressure. Extension programming will encourage diverse crops and horticulture species to reduce risk and explore specialty crops, such as berries, herbs, and ornamental plants. Extension Specialists continue to educate farmers on forage species selection for hay production and livestock nutrition, advise on implementing integrated pest management and organic production practices (to minimize chemical inputs while still effectively managing pests), select climate-adapted crop varieties, and prepare for extreme weather events through adaptation and disaster readiness programs. 

A disproportionate number of Kentuckians live in economically distressed communities (39% of Kentuckians, compared to 15% nationally). Further, most Kentucky households are concerned with financially sustaining a quality of life that allows them to survive and thrive in an economically challenged society. From housing to grocery expenses, the cost of living continues to rise, and households are ill-equipped to adjust. Securing financial stability is vital for the well-being of state constituents. The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) is committed to improving the financial security and economic well-being of families across the Commonwealth. Related CES programming is designed to help Kentuckians become more economically resilient by promoting financial literacy education, comprehensive family resource management skills, and small business engagement and support.

County Situation:

Hart county has historically been a very diverse county in terms of agriculture production and still is currently.  According to Kentucky by the Numbers, Hart County has 1283 farms in production with an average farm size of 132 acres.  Of the county’s total land mass, 64.3% of it is in Agriculture Production.   An alarming but seemingly common statistic is the average age of the farmer, which is 55.3 years of age. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Hart County Agriculture is that they lead the state in other hay production according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture.  Hart County is also known for its vegetable production and marketing though thriving produce auction markets as well as roadside stands.  

In the fall of 2024, the Hart County Extension Council looked at data collected through the Community Needs Assessment and determined that there were common needs that would need to be addressed through Agriculture Programming.  Those needs included: Sustainability of the Family Farm and Transitioning to the next generation, Supporting the local food industry through new or improved production practices, and Increasing the profitability of farm families.   

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Improved financial and economic well-being
• Increase the use of sustainable management practices across all production methods and species.? 
• Continually implementing new technology and production practices.?
• Producers are routinely following Beef Quality Care & Assurance standards to produce healthy and high-quality beef. 
• 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.  
• 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.
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Intermediate Outcomes:

• Increased sound financial decision making
• 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.? 
• Increase or strengthen partnerships or relationships with commodity groups to address sustainable management strategies, health-focused care, and economic viability for all livestock.?
• Adoption of improved pesticide safety practices
  • Explore the use of emerging production technologies to achieve increased adoption of technologies such as monitoring crop productivity, crop quality, soil health, and soil moisture levels across Kentucky's agricultural sectors.
• Judicious use of pesticide-based disease management
• Adoption of improved pesticide application practices.  Improve understanding and compliance with state pesticide applicator regulations.

Initial Outcomes:

• Improved financial literacy knowledge
• Increase skills related to efficient production methods across all species.?
• Increase confidence in implementing new and emerging techniques, technology, and production systems.?
• 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.
• Stakeholders are more aware of UK plant pathology research and resources
• Initial and continuing education opportunities for certified pesticide applicators
• Stakeholders are more aware of current and new and/or emerging disease issues

Evaluation:

Outcome: Increased knowledge and/or awareness of management practices to improve cattle production efficiency 

Indicator: Number of participants who reported an increase in their knowledge and/or awareness of management practices for improving cattle production efficiency. 

Method: Survey  

Timeline: At the program 

Outcome: Improved production practices

Indicator: Number of producers who reported increased knowledge of crop and forage production, fertility management, varieties, pest control, and/or sustainable practices.

Method: Surveys

Timeline: Annual

Outcome: Increased confidence to implement family finance and resource management skills (e.g., budgeting, spending wisely, saving, using credit responsibly, reducing debt, estate planning, reducing fraud, etc.) (initial)

Indicator: Number of individuals who reported improved confidence to implement family finance and/or resource management skills.

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Beef Cattle Owners, Industry representatives, Agents 

Project or Activity: BQCA trainings 

Content or Curriculum: State BQCA videos and chute-side trainings 

Inputs: 

Dates:

Audience: Agricultural stakeholders (farmers, certified crop advisors, industry, others)

Project or Activity: Weed identification and management of grain and forage crops. Grain crops include corn, sorghum, soybean, small grains, and canola.

Content or Curriculum: Publications, Live and virtual trainings, online videos, workshops, field days, county meetings, regional and national meetings, field visits, emails and phone calls

Inputs: UK Weed Science Extension Specialists, research and extension funding

Date: Annual

Audience: Individuals, Families, Employees

Project or Activity: Estate Planning

Content or Curriculum: Estate Planning publication series; Transferring Cherished Possessions curriculum; MONEYWI$E newsletter and podcasts;OneOp; Leader Lessons; farm succession and legacy building programs; etc.

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, non-profit organizations, schools, farms, community centers, etc.

Date: Ongoing

Evaluation:

Outcome: Increased knowledge and/or awareness of management practices to improve cattle production efficiency 

Indicator: Number of participants who reported an increase in their knowledge and/or awareness of management practices for improving cattle production efficiency. 

Method: Survey  

Timeline: At the program 

Outcome: Improved production practices

Indicator: Number of producers who reported increased knowledge of crop and forage production, fertility management, varieties, pest control, and/or sustainable practices.

Method: Surveys

Timeline: Annual

Outcome: Increased confidence to implement family finance and resource management skills (e.g., budgeting, spending wisely, saving, using credit responsibly, reducing debt, estate planning, reducing fraud, etc.) (initial)

Indicator: Number of individuals who reported improved confidence to implement family finance and/or resource management skills.

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration