2016-2017 Model State Program Kentucky State University

View the project final report

Commodities

Practices

• Animal Production: aquaculture, free-range, genetics, grazing management, grazing - multispecies, meat processing
• Crop Production: beekeeping, cropping systems, high tunnels or hoop houses, organic fertilizers
• Education and Training: demonstration, extension, farmer to farmer, technical assistance
• Farm Business Management: agricultural finance, financial management
• Production Systems: aquaponics, organic agriculture
• Soil Management: organic matter
• Sustainable Communities: quality of life

Kentucky’s Model State Program is focusing on needs identified from our state SARE advisory council.
Recent investments in agent training have focused on sustainable communities, food processing, family finances and organic production. The training plan for 2016-17 will build on these training opportunities, and add a focus on organically produced feed corn. Kentucky State University continues to make the Third Thursday Program the focus of its SARE MSP funding. Third Thursdays have become an institution in Kentucky professional development educational programming. The broad range of topics (listed in a later section) ensure that agricultural professionals and producer leaders have training in the skills necessary on a diversified small farm. TTT also serves as a space for synergies in small farm education. Many conferences and educational meetings are planned around “Third Thursdays” including:

o the Annual Small, Limited-Resource/Minority Farmers Conference,
o the International Pawpaw Conference,
o the Regional SARE Goat Project’s Collaborator Conference,
o the SRRMEC Regional Conference on the “Risk-Assessed Business Planning for Small Producers”curriculum, and many others.

SSARE MSP funding allows KSU to carry on its tradition of serving minority and limited resource producers through its extension system. Training extension personnel, NRCS, other ag service providers, and producer leaders helps to amplify the message of SARE to this group.

Kentucky’s SARE PDP program objective is to build a broad base of interest and skills in agricultural sustainability among extension agents and other professionals in the state, equip them with the needed skills to assist farmers, marketers, and community leaders, and to facilitate a diverse range of collaborative projects. Building effective partnerships with NRCS, FSA, and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture is an additional objective. In 2016-17, we will work with our Advisory Committee to evaluate and revise our broad strategic plan, and to develop KYSARE LOGIC Model for the program as a whole.