Monroe County CES

County Emphasis:

Plant Production and Management

Concentration 1:

Plant Production and Management

Concentration 2:

Animal Production and Management

Concentration 3:

Small Farm Development

Situation:

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.

Producers use data-driven approaches for efficient resource utilization while exploring new crop varieties for pest resistance and yield improvement. As technology advances, producers will need to adopt remote sensing technologies to monitor soil health, moisture, and other parameters to increase efficiency. Implementing conservation practices that protect soil and water resources will ensure the long-term sustainability of Kentucky farmland and improve resilience to climate variability.

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.

To meet the needs of producers, agents and specialists will continue to disseminate research-based information, offer workshops, field days, online resources, support local farmer’s markets, community gardens, community supported agriculture, and urban horticulture initiatives.

Youth Focus

Educating youth about plant production and soil science is crucial for the future of agriculture, empowering them to innovate and address current and future agricultural challenges. The National 4-H Council’s 2024 Index Survey revealed that 83% of youth enjoy science, 66% view it as a tool for problem-solving, and 62% are interested in science-related careers. The 2022 U.S. Census of Agriculture highlights trends in Kentucky, such as a decrease in the number of farms, reduced agricultural land, an aging producer population, and larger farm sizes. Key priority issues identified by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension System Community Needs Assessment (2023) include youth life skill training opportunities, youth workforce readiness, access to affordable, nutritious food, support for the local agriculture industry, and promoting youth agriculture literacy. 4-H projects in plant production and soil science can help young people develop life skills, learn responsibility, and gain knowledge about these fields through horticulture, plant science, and soil science projects and programs.

 

County Situation:

Monroe County has approximately 148,753 acres of land that is used for agriculture production with 674 farms being represented. The county ranks in the 50 for crop production and the top 15 for livestock production, making Monroe County a very diverse agriculture dependent county in Kentucky. In recent years the average number of crop acreage has risen significantly therefore the extension programs that we have in place are vital to the success of our agriculture producers. With an increase in cropland and livestock production our extension programming will benefit producers by increasing their knowledge of seed varieties, plant diseases, integrated pest management skills, research based trials and methods that will help them produce higher yields and become better stewards of the land.

Long-Term Outcomes:

• 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.
• Work with farmers and those interested in farming on generational succession in farms to improve sustainability of the farms for generations.
• Youth will advocate for agriculture and sustainable fiber and food production in their communities.??

 

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Continue development and dissemination of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices by specialists and agents to educate producers and promote IPM practices and/or organic practices that reduce chemical inputs while maintaining crop health and productivity
• Adoption of improved pesticide safety practices
• Expansion of Extension programming by broadening the scope of extension services to include more comprehensive support for grain crops, forages, tobacco, hemp, and turfgrass suited to Kentucky's changing climate and soil conditions.
• Youth actively adopt and apply advanced agricultural practices, demonstrating a growing commitment to the agricultural community.

Initial Outcomes:

• 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.
• Initial and continuing education opportunities for certified pesticide applicators
• Stakeholders are more aware of UK plant pathology research and resources
• Fulfillment of annual GAP Training requirements for GAP Certification of tobacco producers.
• Youth will gain knowledge and develop skills in agriculture.?

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Improved production practices

Indicator: 

• Number of commercial participants who reported improving their plant production or management practices.
• Number of consumer participants who reported improving their plant production or management practices.

Method: Program evaluation tool/survey or records from individual consultations.

Timeline: After program participation.

Intermediate Outcome: Stakeholders have knowledge and tools needed to better protect crops from diseases and understand the benefits of adopting best disease management practices and resistance mitigation. Stakeholders are more aware of UK plant pathology research

Indicator: Number of stakeholders who reported increased knowledge of research-based disease identification and management practices for crops grown in Kentucky and/or share that information with other stakeholders.

Method: Primarily surveys, records from consultations

Timeline: Annual

Long Term Outcome: Improving forage and livestock management

Indicator: Number of participants that indicate high likelihood of implementation of improved forage and livestock management practices.

Method: Schools, workshops, conferences, and field days.  Information from these events will also be pushed out through KY Forages YouTube Channel and Master Grazer Facebook page.

Timeline: Programs are provided one or more times annually at multiple locations throughout Kentucky

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Pesticide Applicators

Project or Activity: PSEP certification for private applicators and continuing education for commercial applicators

Content or Curriculum: Education materials and program delivery 

Inputs: UK Pesticide Training material 

Date: Ongoing 

Audience: Homeowners and Consumers

Project or Activity: Programming for home gardening and landscape management

Content or Curriculum: Publications, Fact Sheets, Workshops, County Meetings, Regional Meetings, emails and phone calls

Inputs: Extension Specialists, USDA funding, county agents, KDA, Kentucky Extension Master Gardener Program

Date: Ongoing 

Audience: Grain crop, forage, tobacco, and hemp producers, agribusiness and government agencies

Project or Activity: Programs that support soil fertility and soil management practices to improve crop production, reduce negative environmental impacts, and enhance overall profitability in a sustainable manner.

Content or Curriculum: Educational materials to include Publications, Fact Sheets, Newsletters, Workshops, Field Days, County Meetings, Regional Meetings, TV and Radio Broadcasts, Videos, Field Visits, emails and phone calls

Inputs: UK Soil and Crops Specialists, experts and interested parties

Date: Ongoing 

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Improved production practices

Indicator: 

• Number of commercial participants who reported improving their plant production or management practices.
• Number of consumer participants who reported improving their plant production or management practices.

Method: Program evaluation tool/survey or records from individual consultations.

Timeline: After program participation.

Intermediate Outcome: Stakeholders have knowledge and tools needed to better protect crops from diseases and understand the benefits of adopting best disease management practices and resistance mitigation. Stakeholders are more aware of UK plant pathology research

Indicator: Number of stakeholders who reported increased knowledge of research-based disease identification and management practices for crops grown in Kentucky and/or share that information with other stakeholders.

Method: Primarily surveys, records from consultations

Timeline: Annual

Long Term Outcome: Improving forage and livestock management

Indicator: Number of participants that indicate high likelihood of implementation of improved forage and livestock management practices.

Method: Schools, workshops, conferences, and field days.  Information from these events will also be pushed out through KY Forages YouTube Channel and Master Grazer Facebook page.

Timeline: Programs are provided one or more times annually at multiple locations throughout Kentucky