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Local Project Groups
- Casey County Apple Project
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The group of producers in several counties will study the feasibility
of organic apple production compared to IPM approaches. They will
also look at the economics of intercropping in rows of newly established
orchards. Trees were planted in Fall, 1995. The Integrated Work Group
supporting these efforts has developed a grower training program to
prepare participants for some of the challenges they will face under
these new approaches to orchard management.
| Contact: |
Tommy Yankey
Casey County Extension Office
P.O. Box I, Hwy 127 South
Liberty, Kentucky 42539
E-mail: tyankey@ca.uky.edu
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- Crittenden County CRP Project
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This effort was started by a group of farmers in Crittenden County who are concerned
about future use of land that is currently in the CRP program. They approached
extension specialists and researchers at the Western Kentucky Research and Education
Center who designed a set of trials to examine productivity, costs, and erosion
implications of alternative uses. In 1995, they conducted a field day that attracted over 400
people. Results of field day plots was presented at the Center on February 21,
1996. A forum on community responses to new CRP policies was held at the
Bardstown Holiday Inn on March 8, 1996. This forum is being developed with
participation from most of the agricultural/natural resource services in the
state.
| Contact: |
Dick Trimble
Research and Education Center
P.O. Box 469
Princeton, Kentucky 42445-0469
E-mail: rtrimble@ca.uky.edu
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- Industrial Fibers Study
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Leaders from these two counties are engaged in an evaluation of
potentials for raising industrial hemp and kenaf in Kentucky. They
want to diversify their farm systems using crops that have potential
for supporting broad participation in production. In addition to
legality issues, the group is considering community perceptions,
marketing alternatives, and profitability. In 1995, the group
sponsored a series of 13 kenaf demonstration plots. Project
participants and their Integrated Work Group met with agricultural
community leaders and policy makers to discuss attaining experimental
permits for hemp seed development. Two trips were made to states
in the southern United States to learn about fiber crop processing and
value added industries.
| Contact: |
Gary Hamilton
Bath County Extension Office
Rt. 3, P.O. Box 5D
Owingsville, Kentucky 40360-9803
E-mail: ghamilto@ca.uky.edu
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- Lake Cumberland Poultry Producers Association
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This group is looking at farm systems that include poultry breeder units associated with
an integrated poultry industry. Producers are exploring options for disposing of dead
birds and chicken litter in environmentally responsible ways. They have tested litter
during 1995 to identify its fertilizer value. Hopes are to retail poultry manure in order
to reduce negative environmental impacts and generate added income. The group
travelled throughout the southern region during 1995 to study engineered waste
disposal systems that can be used in Kentucky.
| Contact: |
Gordon Shearer
Clinton County Extension Office
P.O. Box 207
Albany, Kentucky 42602-0227
E-mail: mailto:gshearer@ca.uky.edu
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- Fleming Creek Watershed Project
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This project involved the entire community in a study of activities
impacting water quality in the Fleming Creek watershed. Students tested
water in the creek weekly throughout the 1995 growing season. They were
invited to speak at National Soil Conservation Society meetings in Iowa
and received an award for their efforts. In addition to water sampling,
students worked with adults to collect oral histories in their community.
They also established BMPs near one of the testing locations so
they could observe the degree to which improved farm practices positively
affect water quality.
| Contact: |
Deborah Webb
Community Farm Alliance
311 Wilkinson Street
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
Phone: (502) 223-3655
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- Ohio Valley Harvest Festival
- This urban/rural group organized a food festival that brought together
over 10,000 people from consumer, producer, and retail levels of the
community. Their goals were to improve understanding of food production,
nutritional value, and preparation. In addition to having a tremendous
turnout for a pleasant festival, ongoing relationships between producers
and chefs resulted in direct market outlets for some producers in
the Ohio Valley region. The group's activities also led to improved
relationships between communities and farm service organizations.
| Contact: |
Dawn Ripley
Jefferson County Extension Service
8012 Vinecrest, Suite #1
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
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- Harrison County Beef Project
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In anticipation of continued changes in Kentucky farm income outlooks,
Harrison county farmers learned about expanded options for beef cattle
management and marketing. Five producers travelled to Kansas to improve
their understanding of the larger beef marketing system. They worked
with their Integrated Work Group to project outcomes of marketing options.
Other beef related projects joined Harrison County producers in 1996 to
experiment with new marketing strategies. They also established a
telemarketing service that allows sellers and buyers to increase their
awareness of local supply and quality (1-800-711-0465).
| Contact: |
Gary Carter
Harrison County Extension Office
Rt. 3, P.O. Box 29
Cynthiana, Kentucky 41031-9809
E-mail: gcarter@ca.uky.edu
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- Kentucky Organic Growers
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This group evaluated their marketing strategy and organizational
structure. One year into the KLAES project, growers determined that
while the Kentucky Organic Growers project of the Commodity Growers
Association could continue to be a valuable service in our state, they
wanted to form a farmer-managed marketing network. The new
organization, Kentucky Organic Producers Association, will maintain
positive working relationships with CGC/KOG. The KLAES project worked
with the two groups to conduct studies of cooperative marketing and
organizational structure that will benefit organic producers in Kentucky.
Growers worked with their Integrated Work Groups during 1995 to improve
access to production guidelines related to organic farming. They also
established an integrated pest management/scouting program to meet
management needs of their coop's membership, and used KLAES project
technical support funds to sponsor workshops on vegetable harvesting and
handling.
| Contact: |
Tribby Vice
Box 196
Flemingsburg, Kentucky 41041
Phone: 606-849-4967
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- Lincoln County Grazing Project
- There has been nation-wide interest in re-introducing grazing to
dairy operations. Farmers in Lincoln county hoped grazing would
decrease labor costs, improve environmental impacts of their operations,
and result in improved profitability of their farms. In 1995 the group
sent members of their Integrated Work Group to a Grazing Workshop in
Missouri. Lessons learned were adapted for Kentucky conditions and
implemented on KLAES project farms.
| Contact: |
Danny Grigson
Lincoln County Extension Office
P.O. Box 326
Stanford, Kentucky 40484
E-mail: dgrigson@ca.uky.edu
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- Muhlenberg County Grazing Group
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Producers in this group purchased equipment with KLAES funds to conduct
demonstrations on intensive rotational grazing and improved pasture
management. Chain harrows were used to improve nutrient management from
manure in pastures. Fencing systems were established on reclaimed mine
land. The demonstration areas were used as educational sites for
community meetings conducted through the County Extension office. The
group also met with their Integrated Work Group to consider challenges
they faced and to prioritize technical support needs.
| Contact: |
Greg Henson
McLean County Extension Agent
P.O. Box 265
Calhoun, Kentucky 42327-0265
502-273-3690
ghenson@ca.uky.edu
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- Owsley County Action Team
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Their goal was to involve the community in a plan of action that would
reduce their reliance on tobacco income. In 1995, meat goat producers
purchased improved breeding stock from sources in Texas. They also used
KLAES funds to attend artificial insemination courses. Farmers interested
in vegetable production raised 76 acres or more of cabbage and pumpkins.
They linked up with eight other counties to form a production/marketing
network. Growers participating in the vegetable production program were
required to attend production meetings that helped improve produce
quality related to production and shipping.
| Contact: |
Thomas Oldfield
Owsley County Extension Office
P.O. Box 186
Booneville, Kentucky 41314
E-mail: toldfiel@ca.uky.edu
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- Eastern Kentucky Beef Cattle Council
- Cattle producers from 14 counties established production
demonstrations and marketing initiatives that improved opportunities for
profitable cattle production in the eastern mountainous region of
Kentucky. An intensive rotational grazing system was set up near Louisa,
Kentucky. The producer was open about the costs of pasture management
improvement so neighbors in the associations were able to decide whether
these production practices fit their needs. KLAES funds were also used to
offset costs of establishing a cattle handling facility that allows small
herd owners to get premiums for larger groupings of cattle.
| Contact: |
John Sparks
Lawrence County Extension Office
P.O. Box 686
Louisa, Kentucky 41230-0686
E-mail: jsparks@ca.uky.edu
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- Scott County Farmers' Market
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Local farmers provided leadership to improve vegetable production and
marketing through this network of producers. The group's Integrated Work
Group helped producers expand use of drip irrigation and plastic mulch,
and to prioritize actions that would lead to improvement in farm system
sustainability in Scott County. Growers in this project group believed
use of new production practices increased yield and improved produce
quality leading to greater sales and income. They worked with their
Integrated Work Group to think through how quickly they
should expand production, membership, and market locations.
| Contact: |
John Grove
Department of Agronomy
N-122L Agriculture Science Ctr. North
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0215
Phone: (606) 257-5852
E-mail: agr016@ukcc.uky.edu
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- Southern Kentucky Swine Project
- Pork producers in southern Kentucky tried to keep their marketing
options open as much of the nation's pork production shifted over to
integrated operations. In order to maintain a market for swine raised on
family farms, producers learned what their buyers were looking for in
terms of quality and size of sales lots. By moving to uniform breeding
stock throughout the farm community, family farms began producing larger
lots of lean, uniform swine. They also worked with their Integrated
Work Group to develop a strategic plan for marketing.
| Contact: |
Glen Roberts
Wayne County Extension Office
1820 N. Main Street
Monticello, Kentucky 42633-0248
E-mail: groberts@ca.uky.edu
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