Author: Rita Stewart
Major Program: Sustainable Agriculture
Although the position of County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources has been vacant the past year, efforts in this program area have continued. Lincoln County Support Staff, County Extension Agents for 4-H/Youth Development and Family and Consumer Sciences, and many community leaders have worked to make sure the needs of our clients have been met. Services provided include: 525 soil samples, 20 insect identifications, 15 plant disease diagnoses, 5 weed identifications, an
Author: Vicki Shadrick
Webster County, Kentucky is a diverse agricultural county. Corn, soybeans, tobacco, hay, wheat grain sorghum, industrial hemp, beef cattle, poultry, fruits, vegetables and beekeepers can all be found throughout this rural area of the commonwealth.There is approximately 170,000 acres of cropland in Webster County with about seventy-five percent of that in row crops and tobacco. Animal agriculture has a major financial impact in the county. In 2017, animal sales totaled 88.7 mill
Author: Adam Huber
According to research from HubSpot, YouTube is the second most trafficked website behind google, and four times as many people prefer watching video on YouTube rather than on social media platforms. The Simpson County Ag Advisory Council and local clientele indicated that they would benefit from credible educational videos about local timely topics pertaining to agriculture, horticulture and natural resources.Therefore, the Simpson and Allen County Extension Agents for Agriculture &am
Author: Jason Phillips
According to research from HubSpot, YouTube is the second most trafficked website behind google, and four times as many people prefer watching video on YouTube rather than on social media platforms. The Simpson County Ag Advisory Council and local clientele indicated that they would benefit from credible educational videos about local timely topics pertaining to agriculture, horticulture and natural resources.Therefore, the Simpson and Allen County Extension Agents for Agriculture & Na
Author: Ricky Yeargan
Our 1890 institution approached Ag Programs about submitting a joint proposal to the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. When Kentucky State University administration withdrew from participation, the Extension Associate for Ag Programs led a team consisting of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Assistant Director (PI), the Administrative Services Assistant, 2 AgrAbility personnel and a student program assistant in developing a University of Kentucky project. The prop
Author: Mattea Mitchell
On March 16, 2020, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service began a quick transition to remote working conditions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Hickman County Cooperative Extension Service quickly looked for ways to continue programming and reaching youth and families in our community. One of these ways was to create two-day camp boxes; one titled “Extension Explorers” and the other “Extension Day Camp in a Box.” The Extension Explore
Author: Kendal Bowman
Living in a decade of technology and in the middle of the COVID19 Pandemic has brought many challenges. COVID19 has changed the world as we know it, one of the ways i think it has benefited the Cooperative Extension Service is by challenging us to create virtual education opportunities. These virtual programs allow producers to watch and learn at their own pace. Many of my beginning farmers like the flexibility it provides for their busy lifestyle. I sent a survey out and about half of the
Author: Lyndall Harned
As many did when we had to adjust to delivering programmatic information to our clientele in ways I had not used, or rarely used before. For me this was Facebook and You Tube. I found this to be a very effective way to reach many folks, many of whom had never been Extension users in the past, The major efforts that gained the most contacts and also gave me feedback was on the increased interest in local custom meat. I did a short group of posts on how to buy custom beef from the farmer, how to h
Author: Alexis Amorese Sheffield
The extension office is one of the few places in all 120 counties of Kentucky, where residents can get unbiased, research-based answers to their questions. As the revolution of environmental consciousness grows around the state, the need for such answers grows with it. Specifically, in regard to chemical use in their gardens. In Boyle County, the Horticulture Agent is responsible for helping meet those needs. By offering classes on a variety of subjects, inclu
Author: Andy Mills
The purpose of the Meade County Ag Field Day is to educate farmers and landowners on improved agricultural practices that are economically safe to the environment. Meade County has a tradition of holding a field day on a local farm and producers expect the Extension Office to implement it. For many years now the Meade County Extension Office collaborates with the Meade County Conservation District and the Natural Resource and Conservation Service to plan and host an Ag Field Day every othe
Author: Steven Musen
Due to declining world-wide demand for tobacco products, tobacco sales have fallen from a high of over 60%, to a current value of 22% of the total value of agriculture crops sold in Jessamine County. House Bill 611 and the implementation of the Governor’s Office of Ag. Policy’s (GOAP) Agriculture Development Fund and the County Ag. Investment Program (CAIP) has allowed for the allocation over $3.1 million, over a 16-year period. These funds have been used to assist in the restructuri
Author: Joanna Coles
The Warren County Extension Service has worked with the Farm and Home Show for 20+ years as a platform for other Extension Agents and Specialists to share research based information from the University of Kentucky. This educational, 5 minute show shares seasonal topics related to the farm and the home and is broadcast on the WBKO TV Station to residents across the South Central Kentucky viewing area. When the coronavirus struck, the TV station informed the office that they could no longer a
Author: T. Adam Probst
With the average age of the farmer in Woodford County over 58 years old, the Woodford County Extension Service designed and implemented a 4 week estate planning workshop to assist landowners with transferring the farm to the next generation. With a partnership between the ANR and FCS programs, 30 participants learned more from extension specialists, attorneys, and financial management specialists in methods to effectively transfer ownership of the farm business and plan for retirement. &nb
Author: Don Sorrell
At a recent beef cattle genetics program I was very pleased with the number of young/beginning farmers who were in attendance. 7 of the 21 in attendance were under the age of 30. This is a much larger percentage than in years past. Why is that? Beginning in 2016 the Campbell County ANR agent made a conscious effort to develop/help develop specific agriculture programs that would address the needs of young and beginning farmers. Programs such as Homes
The Extension Service traditional ways of communicating with clients changed dramatically (not as much with ANR agents) with the onset of COVID -19 pandemic. The following are ways that I have reached out to the agriculture community during the pandemic. Sent out a letter and then a newsletter to farmers letting them know that I was still very much available to serve their needs. This information included my home and cell phone numbers and e-mail address. This information also
Author: Kevin Lyons
A group of agents from the Mammoth Cave sub-district in Kentucky had been desiring to take a study tour in the Montana area for several years. The NACAA Scholarship Committee awarded our group $5,834 at the 2018 AM/PIC in Chattanooga. Because of their support, our group was able to achieve make the trip on July 22-26, 2019. It was a trip full of learning and memories that brought us all closer together.On Day 1, our group flew into Bozeman, MT and were able to tour the Montana St. University Pla
Author: Gary Hamilton
The Covid -19 Virus has affected our everyday life, our businesses, our economy and our livelihoods. To help our clientele meet the challenges caused by this pandemic, extra efforts have been made to present important information while maintaining the required health guidelines . Examples of these efforts include: In March a Covid-19 Edition of the Montgomery County Extension Agriculture News & Events Newsletter was mailed out to 1035 clients. This Newsletter explained to clientele how
Author: Gary Bell
Covid-19 presented many challenges to the KY Cooperative Extension Service and those we serve. Not being able to conduct in person trainings and hold meetings and events completely changed the way that daily operations were carried out. The Metcalfe County Extension Service found unique ways of reaching clientele during the global pandemic. While many scheduled events were cancelled or postponed, essential business was carried out in a timely and effective manner.BQA, CAIP educ
