Johnson County CES

County Emphasis:

Farm Sustainability & Youth Agricultural Skills

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.

Kentucky’s small ruminant producers raise various sheep and goat breeds for meat, fiber, and dairy purposes. Small ruminants thrive on pasture-based systems, utilizing natural forage with a priority on health management, including vaccinations, parasite control, and nutrition.

Many small flock owners raise chickens for personal consumption or local markets. Implementing conservation practices that protect soil and water resources will ensure the long-term sustainability of Kentucky farmland and improve resilience to climate variability.

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.

County Situation:

A total of 10.8% of respondents to the Extension Community Needs Assessment identified as a high priority "practical education and support for small and family farms and new farmers; support for organic (or sustainable) and low chemical farming; training on farmland preservation; training on farm safety and food safety on farms, and farmers markets; market support for locally produced foods; education on off-grid living and home gardening". The Johnson County Agricultural Advancement Council prioritized specifically the need to support diversification efforts by new farmers in the county, which include syrups, local meats, honey, mushrooms, and many other products. With nearly all of the county's farmers pursuing their agricultural projects as secondary income while working full-time, it is critical to tailor educational programs to their unique needs and schedules so that farms can be managed in a way that does not interfere with off-farm employment. The availability of KADF support will also drive programming efforts, as they must help applicants for CAIP and other programs to meet the guidelines of those funding sources

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Increase the quality and number of animals 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.
• Increase the quality of small ruminants annually contributing to increased and more stable financial position of small ruminant operations. 

Intermediate Outcomes:

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.

• 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.? 
• Annually evaluate how they care for and manage their horses using cost effective strategies. 
• Consider how they can use good biosecurity practices to ensure the health of their horses.  

Initial Outcomes:

Animal production and management strategies encompass but are not limited to sustainable practices, health-focused care, and economic viability across all species. Activities will include programs to address and improve specific management systems and introduce new and emerging techniques, technology, and production systems for increased efficiency and profitability.? 

• 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.? 

Evaluation:

Long-Term Outcome: Healthy foods are available to Johnson County citizens.

Indicator: Food bank data, farmers’ market sales, senior voucher/KDD utilization

Method: Information gathering from these sources

Timeline: Annually

 

Intermediate Outcome: Gardeners utilize proper production techniques.

Indicator: Number of people reporting use of or change to recommended techniques.

Method: Survey of program participants

Timeline: Annual

 

Long-Term Outcome: Local retail/wholesale outlets for agricultural products are profitable.

Indicator: Profit reports, durability of businesses

Method: Surveys

Timeline: Annually

 

Long-Term Outcome: Produce, syrups, honey, eggs and other commodities are marketed profitably to local customers.

Indicator: Sales data from producers

Method: Direct survey

Timeline: Annually

 

Intermediate Outcome: Families produce new food crops, such as mushrooms, small fruits, and tree fruits.

Indicator: Reported adoption of new production

Method: Surveys of program participants

Timeline: Annual

 

Long-Term Outcome: Commodity groups create strong markets for local products while complying with all regulatory standards.

Indicator: Issuance of home-based microprocessor, PBPT, and sampling certificates

Method: Data from UK & KDA

Timeline: Annually

 

Short-Term Outcome: Farmers understand natural market cycles and desired characteristics of sale animals. 

Indicator: Number of farmers reporting changes in marketing plans.

Method: Producer survey

Timeline: Annual

 

Short-Term Outcome: Farmers understand the financial impact of nonproductive animals and know how to identify them.

Indicator: Number of farmers utilizing preg checks and bull soundness exams

Method: Producer survey

Timeline: Annual

 

Intermediate Outcome: Farmers utilize appropriate forage, concentrate, and supplement options for their operations.

Indicator: Number of farmers reporting use of new feedstuffs

Method: Producer survey

Timeline: Annual

 

Intermediate Outcome: Farmers understand the legal ramifications of failing to establish a will, trust, or other mechanism for protecting assets after their death.

Indicator: Number of farm owners creating a will or trust; participation in heirs' property programming

Method: Producer survey

Timeline: Annual

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Farm & property owners

Project or Activity: Farmers’ Law School

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky State Police, Southern Rural Development Center curriculum

Inputs: ANR agent, KSP, attorney

 

Audience: Families

Project or Activity: Mushroom production workshop

Content or Curriculum: UK & supplier resources

Date: Annually

 

Audience: Syrup producers

Project or Activity: Annual production meeting

Content or Curriculum: UK Forestry resources, out-of-state materials

Inputs: On-farm tours/demonstrations; local & state presenters

Date: Fall annually

 

Audience: Local residents

Project or Activity: Under the Pines Farm-to-Table Dinner

Content or Curriculum: NEP recipes, speaker on the statewide role of agriculture

Inputs: FFA & 4-H

Date: Summer annually

 

Audience: Egg producers

Project or Activity: Producers’ workshops

Content or Curriculum: Feeding, health, handling, storage, washing, packaging

Inputs: UK poultry curriculum

Date: Annually

 

Audience: Vegetable producers

Project or Activity: Production meeting

Content or Curriculum: UK research & local test results

Inputs: Specialists & test plots

Date: Spring annually

 

Audience: All direct retail producers

Project or Activity: Packaging, labeling, handling, harvesting, sampling laws

Content or Curriculum: PBPT, sampling certificate, HB 391, scale certification

Inputs: Existing UK materials, KDA Weights & Measures

Date: Annually

 

Audience: All producers

Project or Activity: Water quality plan development

Content or Curriculum: UK curriculum from BAE

Inputs: Educational meeting with NRCS, Extension

Date: Annually

 

Audience: Beef producers

Project or Activity: Disease management

Content or Curriculum: UK recommendations

Inputs: Local veterinarian, UK vets, farm facilities

Date: Annually

 

Audience: Forage producers

Project or Activity: Test plots, demonstrations

Content or Curriculum: UK research

Inputs: Local farms, county staff, UK specialists

 Date: Annually

 

 

Audience: Livestock producers

Project or Activity: Hay testing

Content or Curriculum: Forage analysis through KDA

Inputs: Agent & assistant sampling times

Date: Fall each year

 

Audience: Cattle producers

Project or Activity: Recordkeeping training

Content or Curriculum: UK livestock app

Inputs: UK specialists, county staff, local producers

Date: Annually each Spring 

 

Audience: Cattle & goat producers

Project or Activity: Nutrition education

Content or Curriculum: UK research on concentrates, supplements

Inputs: UK data

Date: Annually

 

Audience: Forage producers

Project or Activity: Summer annual demonstrations

Content or Curriculum: UK forage handling techniques

Inputs: Local farm cooperators, UK specialists, county staff

Date: Annually each summer

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Kentucky 4-H Livestock Program 

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Animal Science Livestock Discovery Website, Kentucky Livestock Volunteer Certification Curriculum, Ohio State University (OSU) Livestock Resource Handbook, Ohio State University (OSU) Livestock Project and Record Book, Ohio State University (OSU) Learning Lab Kits, National 4-H Project Books and Helper’s Guide, Kentucky 4-H Livestock Program Overview, Kentucky 4-H Livestock Rules and Guidelines 

Inputs: 4-H programs in agriculture in which youth experience a sense of belonging, developmental relationships, explore their spark, and are actively engaged in opportunities that are meaningful.?? 

Certified volunteers in animal sciences (livestock, horse, poultry, rabbit, and dog).? 

Accredited volunteers in agriculture.? 

Research base of the Cooperative Extension Land-grant system.? 

Funding opportunities from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Inc.? 

Funding from local, state, and federal sources, and grants.? 

Engagement of volunteers and youth in delivering the programs and leading clubs.? 

Engagement of communities in identifying and implementing programming based on meeting local needs.?? 

External stakeholder engagement and support such as commodity groups and agriculturalist organizations.?? 

Dates: 

Kentucky 4-H Program Year (September 1-August 31) 

Kentucky 4-H Livestock Judging Contest (offered June each year) 

Kentucky 4-H Livestock Skillathon and Quiz Bowl Contest (offered each year) 

Kentucky 4-H Livestock Shows (offered each year) 

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Kentucky 4-H Poultry Program 

Content or Curriculum: Pullet Project Guide (university of Kentucky), National 4-H Poultry Judging Manual published by Nebraska Cooperative Extension Service, Evaluating Egg Laying Hens (University of Kentucky), Standards for Scoring Placing Classes (University of Kentucky), Kentucky 4-H Poultry: Giving Oral Reasons (University of Kentucky), Notesheet for Poultry Reasons (University of Kentucky), Criteria for Evaluating Oral Reasons (University of Kentucky), Kentucky 4-H Poultry: Grading RTC Poultry (University of Kentucky), Kentucky 4-H Poultry: Grading Eggs (University of Kentucky), Examples of Different Grades of Broken Out Eggs (University of Kentucky) 

Inputs: 4-H programs in agriculture in which youth experience a sense of belonging, developmental relationships, explore their spark, and are actively engaged in opportunities that are meaningful.?? 

Certified volunteers in animal sciences (livestock, horse, poultry, rabbit, and dog).? 

Accredited volunteers in agriculture.? 

Research base of the Cooperative Extension Land-grant system.? 

Funding opportunities from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Inc.? 

Funding from local, state, and federal sources, and grants.? 

Engagement of volunteers and youth in delivering the programs and leading clubs.? 

Engagement of communities in identifying and implementing programming based on meeting local needs.?? 

External stakeholder engagement and support such as commodity groups and agriculturalist organizations.?? 

Dates: 

Kentucky 4-H Program Year (September 1-August 31) 

Kentucky 4-H Poultry Showmanship (offered Kentucky State Fair - August each year) 

Kentucky 4-H Avian Bowl (offered Kentucky State Fair - August each year) 

Kentucky 4-H Poultry Judging (offered Kentucky State Fair - August each year) 

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Kentucky 4-H Rabbit Program 

Content or Curriculum: Ohio State University (OSU) Rabbit Resource Handbook, Ohio State University (OSU) Rabbit Project Record Book, Ohio State University (OSU) Rabbit Learning Lab Kit, National 4-H Rabbit Curriculum Levels 1-3 and Helper’s Guide, American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) Standard of Perfection, Kentucky 4-H Rabbit Program Guide and Rule Book, 4-H Rabbit Program Overview 

Inputs: 4-H programs in agriculture in which youth experience a sense of belonging, developmental relationships, explore their spark, and are actively engaged in opportunities that are meaningful.?? 

Certified volunteers in animal sciences (livestock, horse, poultry, rabbit, and dog).? 

Accredited volunteers in agriculture.? 

Research base of the Cooperative Extension Land-grant system.? 

Funding opportunities from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Inc.? 

Funding from local, state, and federal sources, and grants.? 

Engagement of volunteers and youth in delivering the programs and leading clubs.? 

Engagement of communities in identifying and implementing programming based on meeting local needs.?? 

External stakeholder engagement and support such as commodity groups and agriculturalist organizations.??? 

Dates: 

Kentucky 4-H Program Year (September 1-August 31) 

Kentucky 4-H Rabbit Show (offered Kentucky State Fair - August each year) 

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Kentucky 4-H Country Ham Program 

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Animal Science Livestock Discovery Website, Kentucky Livestock Volunteer Certification Curriculum, Ohio State University (OSU) Livestock Resource Handbook, Ohio State University (OSU) Livestock Project and Record Book, Ohio State University (OSU) Learning Lab Kits, National 4-H Project Books and Helper’s Guide, Country Ham Meat Lesson Kit (University of Kentucky)

Inputs: 4-H programs in agriculture in which youth experience a sense of belonging, developmental relationships, explore their spark, and are actively engaged in opportunities that are meaningful.?? 

Certified volunteers in animal sciences (livestock, horse, poultry, rabbit, and dog).? 

Accredited volunteers in agriculture.? 

Research base of the Cooperative Extension Land-grant system.? 

Funding opportunities from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Inc.? 

Funding from local, state, and federal sources, and grants.? 

Engagement of volunteers and youth in delivering the programs and leading clubs.? 

Engagement of communities in identifying and implementing programming based on meeting local needs.?? 

External stakeholder engagement and support such as commodity groups and agriculturalist organizations.??

Dates: 

4-H Program Year (September 1-August 31) 

Kentucky 4-H Country Ham Contest (offered Kentucky State Fair - August each year) 

Evaluation:

Long-Term Outcome: Healthy foods are available to Johnson County citizens.

Indicator: Food bank data, farmers’ market sales, senior voucher/KDD utilization

Method: Information gathering from these sources

Timeline: Annually

 

Intermediate Outcome: Gardeners utilize proper production techniques.

Indicator: Number of people reporting use of or change to recommended techniques.

Method: Survey of program participants

Timeline: Annual

 

Long-Term Outcome: Local retail/wholesale outlets for agricultural products are profitable.

Indicator: Profit reports, durability of businesses

Method: Surveys

Timeline: Annually

 

Long-Term Outcome: Produce, syrups, honey, eggs and other commodities are marketed profitably to local customers.

Indicator: Sales data from producers

Method: Direct survey

Timeline: Annually

 

Intermediate Outcome: Families produce new food crops, such as mushrooms, small fruits, and tree fruits.

Indicator: Reported adoption of new production

Method: Surveys of program participants

Timeline: Annual

 

Long-Term Outcome: Commodity groups create strong markets for local products while complying with all regulatory standards.

Indicator: Issuance of home-based microprocessor, PBPT, and sampling certificates

Method: Data from UK & KDA

Timeline: Annually

 

Short-Term Outcome: Farmers understand natural market cycles and desired characteristics of sale animals. 

Indicator: Number of farmers reporting changes in marketing plans.

Method: Producer survey

Timeline: Annual

 

Short-Term Outcome: Farmers understand the financial impact of nonproductive animals and know how to identify them.

Indicator: Number of farmers utilizing preg checks and bull soundness exams

Method: Producer survey

Timeline: Annual

 

Intermediate Outcome: Farmers utilize appropriate forage, concentrate, and supplement options for their operations.

Indicator: Number of farmers reporting use of new feedstuffs

Method: Producer survey

Timeline: Annual

 

Intermediate Outcome: Farmers understand the legal ramifications of failing to establish a will, trust, or other mechanism for protecting assets after their death.

Indicator: Number of farm owners creating a will or trust; participation in heirs' property programming

Method: Producer survey

Timeline: Annual