This spring the Perry County Extension Service teamed up with Meade Tractor of Hazard, the Mountain Cattlemen Association, Kentucky Cattlemen Association and UK Extension Forage Specialists, to conduct a forage event and equipment demonstration. The event was held at the Perry County Extension Service Annex.

     This event was developed as a response to the July 28, 2022, eastern Kentucky flood. It was an educational event that instructed forage producers how to renovate and bring back into production, their flood covered hay and pastures.

     More than 65 forage producers, beef cattle producers and others interested in forage production, attended the event.

     Meade Tractor of Hazard sponsored the event and had forage equipment and tractors on hand to demonstrate. They brought in company technicians who explained how to correctly operate various pieces of forage equipment and discussed the latest in forage making equipment and no till seed drills.

     UK Extension Forage specialists gave presentations on how to re-establish flooded hay fields and pastures, weed control in hay fields and pastures which is sure to be a large problem and the importance of soil testing after a flood.

      Also, on hand was a representative from the NRCS who discussed grants that were available to farmers through their agency.

     One of the biggest takeaways from this event was the Mountain Cattlemen Association voting to purchase a no till seed drill to be loaned out to any producer in the Counties that make up the Mountain Cattlemen Association. This drill has been purchased and is already being used. By using a drill like this, you greatly improve your chances of being successful in forage establishment.

     Another outcome from this event was the increase in soil testing. Perry County has seen a doubling in the number of soil tests submitted this year.

     Maybe the biggest success of this event is how different agencies teamed up and worked together to assist farmers who had been devastated by the flood. I know several farmers in the region stated they were giving up on farming, then changed their mind because they received assistance through programs like this one.