Agriculture & Natural Resources State Issues/Goals
2015 Ag Program Advisory Council
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Horticulture
New Issues
 Composting
o Benefits of a composting program.
 Educate fruit and vegetable growers about programs like farm-to-school.
 Promoting fresh local food markets (Farmers Markets).
o More information on different marketing channels
High Priority Issues
 Keep as many Specialists/ Agents as possible; utilize Ext associates.
 Increase Extension Marketing of current and future programs.
 Increasing statewide classes via Lync or Adobe Connect
o Make sure they are advertised and easy to find.
 All in one website.
o Making publications and Lync classes easy to find.
 Help with local marketing through the promotion of "Buying Local"
 Accessibility of Programs.
Low Priority Issues
 Target small/backyard gardeners (Containers, Raised Beds)
 Distribution of Retail/Wholesale Price Discoveries
 Using Horticulture Destinations for Agritourism
 Markets, Tours
 Tying Horticulture into KY Farm Business Management Program
Crops
New Issues
 Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s)
o More education directed to the consumers.
 What they can do? What they have done?
 Soil Health
o Crop soil management especially for new young and beginning farmers.
 Converting grain crop land back into pasture for livestock production.
o Cost to convert.
o New forage varieties
o Economically re-establish pasture.
 Distribute more weed management research and information.
 Herbicide resistance weeds.
High Priority Issues
 Keeping pastures established; drought tolerant varieties; loss of orchard grass/timothy.
 More emphasis on economic returns of savings on hay/pasture fertilization.
o Re-emphasize need for fertilization testing.
o Soil testing
 Struggle for new, you ng farmers (Farm Start program good for new farmers)
o Market extension programs more efficiently with more meeting and fewer people present.

Cover Crops-primarily wheat on grain crops-what are comparisons of rye to wheat? Benefits?
o Protect water quality with run off of pesticide.
Hay/Pasture Soil Fertility-high priority
o Distribute value of manure as fertilizer publication.
o Alternative sources of fertilizer.
 Weed Management - Round up resistance weeds becoming more of a problem. With $6.00 corn more
emphasis being placed on grain crop weeds; More emphasis on educational programs on timing of
chemical applications on weeds
 Princeton. Many specialists can retire soon-tight budget might leave these positions open. U K needs to
give these positions top priority to get and keep good grain specialists in Lexington and Princeton.
 Grain Crop Information - Continue to update grain publications-corn production is much different than it
was 20 years ago-chemical usage is different; Majority of corn info is from.
 Hay & Pasture Soil Fertility - U K soil tests save farmers money -best kept secret. Difference in speed of
getting soil test results back from Princeton compared to Lexington.
 New Grain Enterprises - Not a lot of new farmers in grain; just established farmers planting more acreage.
Sod fields being placed in corn/beans-create problems with moles, crows; some ground good for beef
cattle but not suitable for grain crops.
Low Priority Issues
 Forages/Productive varieties - Spray vs bush hogging-which is most economical? With high fuel costs,
use of tractor/ bush hog may be higher than chemicals; continue to look for new and better varietiesorchard grass persistence.
 Ground is being placed in corn that never should be in grain.
 Ryegrass drilled into pastures is good idea to stretch forage base.

Livestock
New Issues
 Wildlife Management
o Predators like the Black Headed Vulture, Wild Hogs etc.
 Small Ruminants - Sheep, Goat, Alpacas
o Need for more information as small flocks producers increase.
 Information for small producers living on fewer acres.
o Types of programs.
 Support for large/commercial poultry production.
o Most UK/KSU programs only target small backyard flocks.
 More health related education and programs.
o Vaccination protocols
o Updated fact sheet
o Knowledge of different products and how they work.
 How to market livestock during all price swings (high and low market).
 Understanding hay quality, feed rations to save money.
o Ag Economics budgeting tool.
High Priority Issues
Alternatives due to high feed/ Input cost
 Loss of forage land availability due to increased grain production/prices.
 Understanding nutrient availability in feeds containing lower end commodities
 Research showing performance using feed by-products (i.e. DOG and wet distillers)
 Cost and availability of purchasing replacement females( Retention open cows vs culling)
 Making available a program similar to Master Cattleman for beginning producers.
 Some areas in the state need help identifying and locating custom slaughter facilities.
 Programs about vaccination and castration.


Maki ng cow college and other state programs more available locally.
Reverting back to old ways if not approved for CAIP
funds. 10. Learning to make better use of Niche
markets.
Small flock management
 Limited resources.
 What are food safety regulations for eggs/ meat etc.
 Marketing eggs, meat etc.
 Consumer education on differences in free range, Organic, Naturally grown, certified / non-certified.
Honey Bees
 Availability of pollinator hives to producers.
 Educate general public on importance of bees in food production.
 Pesticide safety and use related to bees (insecticides on crops and home fruit).
Low Priority Issues
Pinkeye Control
 Ovis strand management.
 Mineral and vaccines (vaccinating vs. not vaccinating)
 Clipping pastures.
 General management