Author: Joshua Jackson
Major Program: Economic Development and Workforce Preparation - ANR
During recent horse and farm equipment programs, participants voiced the need for more tractor and equipment information. General working knowledge, plus tractor operation, maintenance, and safety were topics identified by producers. This information is important for operator safety, farm efficiency, and in many cases can provide economic benefit. To begin addressing these needs, UK Biosystems & Ag Engineering Specialist partnered with the Oldham County Agriculture &
Author: Edwin Ritchey
After a successful return to KATS after the tornado, the drone training had one of the greatest program participation in 2021-2022. We continued to receive interest in these classes in 2022-2023 and offered the same part 107 certification and expanded the training opportunities and offered a spray clinic for drones. The spray clinic was offered in both Princeton and Moorehead with great participation.
Author: Matthew Futrell
Supporting Migrant FamiliesAs the unemployment rate across the nation continues to fall it has proven more and more difficult to find farm workers to perform hand task. Many producers have turned to the H2A migrant worker program to fill the need for on-farm labor. Through this program producers are able to hire seasonal migrant workers to perform task that they are unable to find local employees for.Not too many years ago the predominate language on any farm in the United States was
Author: Nicole Gauthier
As our agricultural workforce ages, there are fewer young professionals to fill those roles. Farmers, farm managers, crop consultants, and county agents are fewer, and we need a new generation of motivated and experienced ag professionals. At the same time, we are educating students in ag-related fields that are often removed from grower outreach and field research. These students take traditional ag-related classes, but rarely see farms or farmers. As a result, they con
Author: Evan Tate
Small farms who raise niche crops and small scale produce are often at a disadvantage when marketing their products on a regional scale. Additionally, small operations often do not have the facilities to further process crops toward a market ready value added convenience item to further drive sales and profitablility.The Hancock Co Cooperative Extension Service has invested significant time in gathering resources for small farm operations so that these entities could move further toward sustaina
Author: David Embrey
The passage of House Bill 611 and subsequent development of the Governor’s Office of Agriculture Policy, now the Kentucky Office of Agriculture Policy, has greatly enhanced the ability of Kentucky producers to begin new enterprises and/or expand existing ones. Extension educators have been able expand on their clientele base due to the required educational component of the program. Since the beginning of the program, Edmonson County has received over $2.1 million in county allo
Author: Dee Heimgartner
During the summer 2022 meeting, Crittenden County Ag Development Council approved for Crittenden County Conservation District to administer a County AG Improvement Program for a second time. Crittenden County historically had not received enough funds to run a CAIP program but thanks to additional funds from the state the county ran their second ever program. The recipients have a broad range of production and experience. A lot of the recipients have been traditional cattle, hay and row crop pro
Author: Curtis Judy
The Todd County Conservation District is administering Todd County’s eighth offering of the Phase I County Agricultural Improvement Program (CAIP) this program year. The program was approved for $266,865 in Todd County Ag. Development funds, with a maximum cost-share reimbursement limit of $3,500 per farm. The initial reimbursement guarantee will be $2,223 pro-rated based upon the 109 applicants that were approved. The month-long CAIP signup was held in February-March 2023 and
Author: Benjamin Rudy
With a one billion dollar impact and $359,967,000 worth of products sold across 960 farms- WAVE AG Day highlights agriculture in Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, and Hickman County. The 5th year for the event, River Counties WAVE AG Day, took place at Columbus Belmont State Park on July 21 from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm. The theme “Let’s Grow With It” was again the theme for the year. The WAVE Ag Day is a joint venture including all four county judg
Author: Chelsey Anderson
In October, a second basics of welding class began at the Clinton County Technology Center. This once again was a multi-county effort between Clinton and Cumberland County Extension. The class currently has 15 participants. With the start of a new class and some discussion of an advanced class it was decided to conduct a 6-month post survey with the first group that went through the program. Eleven of the 12 participants have completed the 6-month post survey. Of those, 91% indicated they have c
Author: Christopher Schalk
Agents from Allen, Barren, Hart, & Metcalfe counties pulled together to facilitate the 2022 CPC Fall Field Day Livestock Judging Contest. The Celsor & Pedigo families want to expose youth to agriculture and help them develop life skills. The annual livestock judging contest is staple at the Fall Field Day. Over 400 youth from Kentucky and Tennessee participated. Each youth was asked to evaluate 2 classes of breeding heifers, 1 class of breeding ewes, and 1 class
Author: Russell Muntifering
The County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) is the primary KCES liaison to the County Agricultural Development Council (CADC), and as such encourages and coordinates educational components for CAIP (County Agricultural Investment Program) producers’ educational requirements, and helps facilitate CAIP producer informational meetings to review annual program changes and guidelines. The immediate top priority of the Nicholas County ADC whose reappointed and new memb
Author: Susan Fox
An H2A Tobacco Workers’ Gap Training has been held annually in August in Lyon County with one skip year due to COVID. This is a collaboration with the Western Kentucky Migrant Education Program. They provide the education (in Spanish) required by the GAP program and have an opportunity to connect with under-21 workers that are the primary group that they work with. This year the farmers met in a side room with the University of Kentucky Dark Tobacco Specialist for a small group discussion.
