Success Stories - Kentucky Extension Reporting System

Fiscal Year: 2023

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Jul 1, 2022 - Jun 30, 2023

Success StoriesKentucky Extension Reporting System

Market Gardeners Consider High Tunnels for Season Extension and Increased Production

Author: Nathan Rider

Major Program: Small Farm Diversification

Market Gardeners Consider High Tunnels for Season Extension and Increased Production

Bullitt County, Spencer County and other nearby counties are perfectly positioned to host producers of fruits, vegetables, and flowers for markets in the urban and suburban areas surrounding Jefferson County. Hosting several farmers markets in each county, there are plenty of opportunities to scale up from backyard gardening to market gardening. However, to be competitive in those arenas, market gardeners must be skilled caretakers of crops, knowledgeable bookkeepers and business planners, profi

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Center for Crop Diversification Increases Educational Outreach Opportunities for Farmers with the Help of Social Media

Author: Emily Spencer

Major Program: Small Farm Diversification

In March of 2023, I took over the Center for Crop Diversification Instagram and Facebook pages in an effort to reach more farmers where they are. I worked to translate many of our existing resources (publications, webinars, etc.) into easily digestible, visually engaging educational content that we then shared out on our social media pages. Additionally, we increased visibility of the Center for Crop Diversification team by highlighting each team member in a Team Tuesday post. Since March of 202

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Center for Crop Diversification Collaboration Results in Regional Elderberry Publication

Author: Christy Cassady

Major Program: Small Farm Diversification

The University of Kentucky’s Center for Crop Diversification (CCD) worked with Tennessee’s Center for Profitable Agriculture (CPA) and West Virginia University to develop a regional publication, Commercial Production of Elderberry, in the winter and spring of 2023. The CCD’s crop profile on elderberry was significantly expanded to include new and more detailed production, marketing and market outlook, and economic information, including estimated cash flows and costs and return

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Center for Crop Diversification Resources Benefit Growers Beyond Kentucky

Author: Christy Cassady

Major Program: Small Farm Diversification

UK’s Center for Crop Diversification developed six co-branded specialty crop profiles for Tennessee’s Center for Profitable Agriculture (CPA) in 2020-2022. As of June 30th, 2023, the CPA’s specialty crop profiles page (https://cpa.tennessee.edu/specialty-crop-profiles/) has received 654 unique pageviews (the number of times the page was viewed at least once) since the first profile was posted in May of 2020. The profiles have been sent to extension agents across Tennessee and d

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Mushrooms to Grow On

Author: Laura Rogers

Major Program: Small Farm Diversification

The Small Farm Program and Beginning Farmer Project of Kentucky State University collaborated with the University of Kentucky to conduct two classes on cultivating Shitake mushrooms through mushroom inoculation. The classes were held on March 23 at 1 pm and 6 pm at the Whitley County Extension Office in Goldbug. Thirty-two limited resource farmers attended the classes and learned about selecting appropriate hardwood logs for mushroom inoculation, watering and stacking the inoculated logs, and th

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2022 Small, Limited Resource, Minority Farmers Conference At Kentucky State University Was A Success.

Author: Edwin Chavous

Major Program: Small Farm Diversification

2022 Small, Limited Resource, Minority Farmers Conference At Kentucky State University Was A Success.

During November 15 thru 17, 2022 Kentucky State University hosted, the 24th Annual Kentucky Small, Limited-Resource, Minority Farmers Conference in conjunction with the 3rd Thursday Thing Workshop.  There were twenty-eight agriculture break out sections offered to farmers during this period.   During the 3rd Thursday Thing Workshop there were 6 sustainable agriculture educational sections offered to farmers.  The following two awards were given during the conference; Ken

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“KSU Small Farm Outreach Training and Technical Assistant Coordinator Provides Technical Assistance for Minority Sweet Potatoes Farmer in Madison County, Kentucky”

Author: Edwin Chavous

Major Program: Small Farm Diversification

“KSU Small Farm Outreach Training and Technical Assistant Coordinator Provides Technical Assistance for Minority Sweet Potatoes Farmer in Madison County, Kentucky”

The Kentucky State University (KSU) Small Farm Program is an Extension program designed to help farm families with decision-making skills to solve farm and home problems. It includes educational programs that emphasize farm production, farm management, and marketing.  It also includes the use and understanding of local county programs and USDA agencies and their programs, plus providing technical assistance in completing applications for the program and the entire application process. &nbsp

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Small Farm Conference Western Style 2023 Serving African Americans in the south western part of Kentucky Was A Success.

Author: Edwin Chavous

Major Program: Small Farm Diversification

Small Farm Conference Western Style 2023 Serving African Americans in the south western part of Kentucky Was A Success.

The Small Farm Conference Western Style was held on Friday June 9 and Saturday June 10 with KSU’s Edwin Chavous, Marion Simon, Farmer Dr. Nancy Dawson, and former KSU Diversity Specialist Gae Broadwater guiding the event.The theme of the Small Farm Conference Western Style was:  An Introductory Conference About Fermentation And Distillation.  The program follows: June 9, 2023 – Friday3:30 p.m. CDT Opening of the ConferenceWelcomeVisit with representatives from USDA and

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“KSU Small Farm Outreach Training and Technical Assistant Coordinator Provides Technical Assistance for Minority Pasture Poultry Farmer in Madison County, Kentucky”

Author: Edwin Chavous

Major Program: Small Farm Diversification

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Raising the Steaks and Chops

Author: Corinne Belton

Major Program: Small Farm Diversification

Educating local livestock producers is a high priority in Shelby, Henry, Trimble and Oldham Counties. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, total beef, swine, sheep and goat animal sales yearly in the combined counties totals more than $32 million, emphasizing the need for livestock producers to take herd management and marketing decisions seriously.  Increasing consumer demand for locally sourced protein and the participating counties’ proximity to urban markets in Louisv

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2023 Famacha Training

Author: Evan Tate

Major Program: Small Farm Diversification

Grayson County and surrounding counties are quickly growing diverse in agriculture practices. Increasing age, new farmers, new landownership, input costs, etc. have made people step away from the traditional cattle, hay and crop production we are used to seeing. One of the fastest growing production practices is in the area small ruminants. Based on the 2017 USDA Census of Agriculture, Grayson County ranks 36th in the state in small ruminant production, with around $100,000 in gross sales each y

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Small Farm Workshop Reaches New Clientele

Author: Whitney Carman

Major Program: Small Farm Diversification

Small Farm Workshop Reaches New Clientele

Grayson County has had an overwhelming amount of clientele reach out to the Extension Office during and after the pandemic, wanting information on small farm topics. This is due to the amount of people wanting to be more self- sufficient, and to also The Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent created a survey to send out via social media and in office to indicate what topics clientele were most interested in. Based on survey results, the agent worked with Master Gardener Volunteers, local horti

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Agriculture Workshop 101

Author: Laura Rogers

Major Program: Small Farm Diversification

On May 20, 2022, One hundred and four Small Limited Resource farmers and beginning farmers attended Agriculture Weekend. They learned information from "How to Grow Mushrooms," presented by Beth Wilson, UK Pulaski County Horticulture Agent, to "Creating Your Winning Business Plan" by Dr. Gary R. Stratton, Kentucky State University. On May 21, 2022, eighty-four small limited resources and beginning farmers attended Agriculture Workshop 101, day two, and learned information

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College Resources

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

College Resources

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

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