The District 1 ANR Agents hosted a virtual Master Haymaker program series for seven weeks beginning in February of 2021.   Due to COVID-19 restrictions and the need to continue programming that would enhance the lives of agriculture producers in Eastern Kentucky, the Agriculture/Natural Resource Agents in District 1 planned and implemented the virtual program to help area producers have the resources to produce high quality hay for livestock.  Due to varying internet capabilities in the region, the option was given to either attend sessions via ZOOM or watch recordings via DVDs.  95% of the 124 registrants opted to join via ZOOM with approximately 70% of the ZOOM registrants attending all seven sessions.  The seven sessions covered topics such as:  weed control in forages, producing quality hay, warm and cool season forages, soil fertility, marketing hay, machinery options for hay production, and the production of baleage.  

Approximately 50% of the 66 registrants completing a pre-series survey indicated that they had 50 acres or less of forages for hay production with 17% responding having greater than 150 acres of hay production.  Producers were also asked how hay was utilized from the operation with 34% using the hay for livestock feed and selling to other producer, 25% solely used the hay for feeding livestock, and 7% of the participants only sold hay produced.

The program was very interactive with producers asking questions of the specialist presenting during each session.  Two specialist commented how great the program was both from a participation standpoint and how interactive the group was to ask questions to improve management on operations in East Kentucky.  A few participants had some follow up questions at the end of the series in which agents provided a question and answer (Q&A) document via email to the group after specialist completed answers to the questions.

At the end of the last session, the group was polled with questions to gauge how participants liked the program as well as to gain some insight on things learned throughout the series and/or plans they are putting in place to improve their production practices.  Overall 85% of the 47 participants that responded to the poll rated the program as excellent.  Additionally, 79% stated that they gained a considerable amount of knowledge from the Master Haymaker series.   72% plan to test hay this year to have a better understanding of the quality of hay they are producing.   Approximately 10% have never soil tested before, but plan to start after attending the series.  Programs that increase the awareness of the importance for soil testing and forage quality testing provide producers the insight to utilize those tools to make improvements to farming operations.   The program was a huge success due to producer feedback conversations following the series as well as the specialist enthusiastic comments.  Seeing the intended number of producers planning to make changes to management will ultimately equate to positive income from the changes planned.