Kentucky State University's (KYSU) Cooperative Extension Program hosted the State Extension Council for the first time in Summer 2018. Members from the Kentucky Cooperative Extension System volunteer for this leadership council to provide advice and suggestions to Extension administrators and to serve as advocates for Cooperative Extension programs in their communities. Known as North America's premier farm show, the annual Sunbelt Ag Expo features more than 1,200 exhibits that showcase the latest in farming technology. Farmers travel to the 100-acre exhibit area and adjoining 600-acre working research farm to obti
the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Governor's Office of Agriculture Policy, Farm Credit Mid-America, Kentucky Farm Bureau, and the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment for the event in Moultrie, Ga. The group set up an exhibit to showcase the state's agricultural commodities and its farming expertise.
research farm to obtain practical information on how to be better at what they do.
Stakeholders from across the state attended the two-day event in Frankfort. After a day spent in thoughtful deliberation about the state of Extension in Kentucky, attendees were treated to a boat tour down the Kentucky River on the university's Kentucky River Thorobred boat.
Each year, the Sunbelt Expo highlights the agriculture of one of ten southeastern states. The Commonwealth of Kentucky was featured in 2018 and Kentucky State University's Land Grant Program joined agriculture industry partners including the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Governor's Office of Agriculture Policy, Farm Credit Mid-America, Kentucky Farm Bureau, and the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment for the event in Moultrie, Ga. The group set up an exhibit to showcase the state's agricultural commodities and its farming expertise.
The Kentucky State University (KYSU) College of Agriculture, Communities, and the Environment continued its work with the state's Socially Disadvantaged Groups (SDG) in 2018 with funding from United States Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development (USDA-RD) to help farmers in Kentucky through technical assistance for improving farm management and production, marketing of farm products, and increasing their participation in USDA programs. The common challenges that socially disadvantaged farmers face are lack of information about innovative farming techniques, pricing and branding methods for agricultural products, market information, and increasing cost of farm inputs and energy. Dr. Buddhi Gyawali, associate professor of geospatial applications and human dimensions of the environment, and research assistant Cindy Rice work with this group to help farmers overcome these hurdles that have made it difficult for small-scale and underserved producers to sustain farming and participate in innovative farming practices.
and human dimensions of the environment, and research assistant Cindy Rice work with this group to help farmers overcome these hurdles that have made it difficult for small-scale and underserved producers to sustain farming and participate in innovative farming practices.
Over the next year, Dr. Gyawali and his team will continue to work with Kentucky farmers to educate them about USDA programs to increase their participation, to provide training and outreach in developing cooperatives, and to provide one-on-one, need-based technical assistance, production, processing, and financial risk management strategies and practices. This project is supported by USDA-RD grant number 20-037-646489357.
The Third Thursday Thing has become a statewide community of small farmers, researchers, Cooperative Extension staff, and U.S. Department of Agriculture and state agencies who speak and share ideas freely and equally. The goal of this sustainable workshop series is to improve the sustainability of agriculture on Kentucky's small, limited-resource, female-operated, and minority farms. The Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program's Small Farm Program staff continued its hard work on this ongoing series in 2018, which has continued success even after more than 20 years of implementation.
As a series, the Third Thursday Thing emphasizes introducing small farmers to a range of alternative farm enterprises and sustainable production and marketing systems so that they can make informed decisions and help mentor other farmers. It also helps agricultural professionals gain a better understanding of sustainable agriculture production and marketing systems including the special needs of small-scale farms. This program will continue to strengthen and build support groups for small and minority farmers in 2019.
If you are interested in attending a free Third Thursday Thing workshop, you can find a schedule of topics at kysu.edu/thirdthursdaything. Workshops are held on the third Thursday of each month except for December and begin at 10 a.m. at the Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm at 1525 Mills Lane in Frankfort. Lunch is provided.
Welcome aboard the Kentucky River Thorobred, Kentucky State University's research and education vessel that offers water education voyages along the Kentucky River to learners of all backgrounds. Education programs on this floating laboratory classroom show how land use affects water quality and how organisms in the waterways are indicators of water quality. Using hands-on science education activities, learners test river water samples to see if their perceptions of the river are justified. Through the variety of programs offered aboard this 52-foot, Coast Guard certified vessel, students will gain a better perspective about their waterways and choose to actively participate in water resource stewardship to ensure their water is drinkable, fishable and swimmable.
Here are some of the programs offered on board the Kentucky River Thorobred:
Cruises leave from River View Park in Frankfort, Ky., April through October each year. To learn more, or to schedule your visit, contact Ed Wilcox at ed.wilcox@kysu.edu or (502) 597-6421. You can find more information online at kysu.edu/boat or facebook.com/kysuriverthorobred.
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