Montgomery County • 2019

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Montgomery County • 2019 Extension Responds To Wet Weather Conditions Faced By Livestock Farmers By Gary D. Hamilton, ANR Agent Livestock producers faced some very difficult production issues during the 2018-19 season due to record rainfall and the conditions created by it. As a result record numbers of cows and calves died during the winter feeding and spring calving period. Many factors lead to this unanticipated outcome. The major factors included poor quality hay production, poor quality pasture and excessive energy demands on livestock due to continuous wet hair coats, cold and muddy conditions. In an effort to address this situation, the District 1 ANR Agents contacted some key livestock specialists and requested that they develop some informational videos for the agents to use with livestock producers. The specialists quickly responded. An emergency training entitled Extension Responds To Wet Weather Conditions Facing Livestock Farmerswas held for Montgomery County Farmers in March. Fifty two farmers attended this training and gained knowledge about the nutrition and health concerns facing their livestock due to the extreme weather conditions. They received recommendations on how to meet their livestock nutritional and health needs. Information was also shared on Developing All Weather Feeding Surfaces. Producers appreciated this training and many thanked the agents for holding it. Recently as a follow up, University of Kentucky Beef Nutritional Specialists addressed 105 Montgomery County Cattlemens Association Members on Making Plans Now to Meet Your Cows 2019-20 Winter Nutritional Needs”. For More Information, Please Contact us at: Montgomery County Extension Office • 859-498-8741 https://montgomery.ca.uky.edu 106 East Locust Street, Mt Sterling KY 40353 Montgomery County Cooperative Extension Service Office

Transcript of Montgomery County • 2019

Page 1: Montgomery County • 2019

Montgomery County • 2019

Extension Responds To Wet Weather Conditions Faced By Livestock Farmers By Gary D. Hamilton, ANR Agent

Livestock producers faced some very difficult production issues during the 2018-19 season due to record rainfall and the conditions created by it. As a result record numbers of cows and calves died during the winter feeding and spring calving period. Many factors lead to this unanticipated outcome. The major factors included poor quality hay production, poor quality pasture and excessive energy demands on livestock due to continuous wet hair coats, cold and muddy conditions.

In an effort to address this situation, the District 1 ANR Agents contacted some key livestock specialists and requested that they develop some informational videos for the agents to use with livestock producers. The specialists quickly responded. An emergency training entitled “Extension Responds To Wet Weather Conditions Facing Livestock Farmers” was held for Montgomery County Farmers in March. Fifty two farmers attended this training and gained knowledge about the nutrition and health concerns facing their livestock due to the extreme weather conditions. They received recommendations on how to meet their livestock nutritional and health needs. Information was also shared on Developing All Weather Feeding Surfaces. Producers appreciated this training and many thanked the agents for holding it. Recently as a follow up, University of Kentucky Beef Nutritional Specialists addressed 105 Montgomery County Cattlemen’s Association Members on “Making Plans Now to Meet Your Cows 2019-20 Winter Nutritional Needs”.

For More Information, Please Contact us at: Montgomery County Extension Office • 859-498-8741

https://montgomery.ca.uky.edu • 106 East Locust Street, Mt Sterling KY 40353

Montgomery County Cooperative Extension Service Office

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Regional Wildlife Management To address the growing public interest in wildlife habitat and damage management, the Montgomery, Menifee and Bath County ANR Agents planned and conducted a Regional Wildlife Management program. Sixty seven hunters, farmers and land owners attended this one night event and gained knowledge in the following topics: Developing Hunting Leases; Liabilities and Risks of Hunting for Farmers; Controlling Unwanted Wildlife and Food Plots for Wildlife (deer, turkey, dove and water-fowl). The program topics were delivered by the University of Kentucky wildlife specialist and a biologist with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife. The feedback from the surveyed participants was very positive with 100% of the participants gaining knowledge in all or some of the topics presented. This program even attracted people that had never attended an extension program before.

Pasture Weed Control Pasture forages provide the majority of the nutrients for Montgomery County beef cattle and other livestock for the spring, summer and fall seasons. Due to weather conditions, winter feeding areas and in some cases over grazing, weeds have become a major problem in some pastures. These weeds compete with and reduce the availability of of our desired grazing forages. To address this issue Dr. JD Green, University of Kentucky Weed Science Specialist and this agent worked with a county farmer to conducted a demonstration plot looking at different chemical control strategies for the weeds in these pastures. The demonstration project started in August of 2018 with the application

and replication of 3 different product treatments. Throughout the year control ratings and weed counts were taken on three different occasions. In July of 2019, we conducted a Pasture Weed Walk to show the results of the Weed Control Demonstration Plot and to discuss other pasture weed control methods. Sixty three farmers from Montgomery and other counties attended this event. These farmers expressed and commented on how much they enjoyed this event and how much knowledge they gained from having attended. A Repeat Top Performance (4-H News by Charles Comer) The 2018 4-H Land Judging Senior team from Montgomery County repeated the achievement of 2017 winning top honors at the State 4-H Land Judging Contest. Their repeat performance of the previous year is due to focused practices, proper guidance and knowledgeable direction from their 4-H coach. He is a former land judging contestant. He values the experience gained from the participation in the contest and its life-long application because participants learn the value of agriculture, the importance of food production and the value of protecting natural resources. Through their participation, youth have gained a respect for the earth’s soil and a practical understanding of land use. Soil is not an expendable resource. For this team, they understand the connection with the land conservation. Their two years of experience has taught them the importance of balance between land use, soil preservation and the methods for deciding what the land is capable of producing. Environmental Camp Success The four elementary schools and the Montgomery County Extension 4-H program partnered to provide an outdoor educational experience through 4-H Environmental Camp. This overnight camping experience allows young people the opportunity to learn real-life skills, build confidence through trying new things, develop self-esteem, meet new friends, and gain a sense of independence. For many of the participants, this is the “first time spending a night away” from home; a first time to see an owl up-close; a first-time to cast a fishing line; a first time to make S’mores around the campfire; and even a first time to hike in the woods---all of

Pasture Weed Walk

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that the youth were to act out as a group. Three hundred and eighty youths ages 9-12 learned the difference between foods that “fuel” you with both energy and nutrition which help you to grow and develop versus foods that only provide energy with no other benefit to our health.

County Holds Self Defense Class A self defense class co-sponsored by the Montgomery County Extension Office and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office was held in November, 2019. Over 40 people attended this class taught by Sheriff Dave Charles informing the participants of ways to protect themselves when traveling, walking, shopping or just out in the parking lot. Using your cell phone can be a deterrent not only by calling 911 but as a self defense weapon. Items were purchased to hand out to participants of the class which Sheriff Charles explained how to properly use. The items included, mini pepper spray, personal alarm devices and kubotans.

Summer Intern Helps at Farmers Market Alyssa Cox spent the better part of the summer as an FCS intern in Montgomery County. She helped out at the Farmer’s Market giving out samples several times as one of her many jobs this summer. Alyssa stayed on until late September when she took a job with Wolfe Co. Extension Office as their Family & Consumer Science Agent. COUNTY MANAGER COMMENTS, Ron Catchen At the request of UK main campus, District Boards were asked to employee County Managers as a means of lowering employee to supervisor ratio. Montgomery County was the sixth county to comply with UK’s request and hired myself on a part time basis to fulfill this

those “firsts” combine to make memories teaching them life-lessons they take along with them into the rest of their lives. The overnight experience is a positive bonding experience that carries over into the classroom reinforcing the educational concepts learned and leading to a greater awareness and comprehension of the environment.

Fueling Forward with Nutritious Foods Each 4-H club meeting begins with the 4-H Pledge…I pledge my Head to clearer thinking…my Health to better living for my club, my community, my country and my world.” The 4th “H” is the pledge regarding one’s health. Yet in Kentucky, according to the Trust for America’s Health Survey and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Kentucky’s obesity rate for children ages 10-17 is 19%. A little over 36% of adolescents drink at least one sugary drink a day in an average week and children between the ages of 6 and 11 consume 21 to 23 teaspoons of added sugar daily. Obesity and the food/drink choices leading to obesity rule the diet. Given the obesity crisis, the Fuel Forward Activity, an activity excerpted from the curriculum The 4th “H” for Health Challenge was chosen for 4-H classroom clubs in March. It teaches youth the difference between foods that provide both energy and nutrition for the body referred to as Fuel Foods, and foods that just provide energy and no other benefit referred to as Treat Foods. Each member received a Fuel Forward Activity Card that listed a food and nutrients the food provided our bodies. It also listed activities (running in place, jumping jacks, squats, etc.) to correspond with the nutrients

Alyssa Cox, FCS Montgomery County Summer Intern 2019

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need. As your County Manager, I have assumed the duties of Staff Supervision, Fiscal Operations, and Facilities Management. By my being here, professional staff members have been relieved of those areas of responsibilities and are able to devote more time to Extension AG, FCS, and 4-H Programs. In the absence of an FCS agent I have been facilitating FCS programs with the help of summer intern, Alyssa Cox. Montgomery County Homemakers have conducted the annual Bazaar, hosted an International Night program, participated in their state meeting, conducted educational lessons, planned & conducted educational tours for their membership. They provide scholarships to high school students, support local food banks & collaborate with other community organizations to enhance our community. Other programs related to FCS include Warm Up Montgomery County, which in 2018-19 has completed 184 afghans, 232 bereavement blankets, 199 toboggans; and a quilting group called “Loose Stitches”. Leadership Montgomery County (LMC) was one of the FCS Agent’s programs to oversee. With her being gone, I have re-assumed the duties of facilitating this most successful leadership development program. LMC continues to be a strong program having graduated 348 members since it’s inception in 1993. There are currently 18 members in the class of 2020. You will hear from them as they along with previous classes have identified community needs, developed a plan of action and experienced great success in making our community a better place to live, raise families, & work. The Montgomery County Extension District Board oversees six buildings on the local Extension Campus. Those properties include the main office at 106 East Locust Street, a storage facility behind the main office, the Montgomery County Extension Education Center, Montgomery County Extension Annex, Monarch Mill, airport road. The Board has an approved Facilities Use Policy that emphasizes that buildings be used for educational purposes. Montgomery County has extraordinary leadership, excellent professional & support staff, trained volunteers, community support, & resources to accomplish the goals of Cooperative Extension in meeting the needs & wants of the county. We will continue to be diligent in refining our goals and ensuring those goals are met.

150 Number of producers who reported changed or improved pasture management practices

300 Number of residents reporting & increase in accessing fresh, local foods

375 Number of individuals who reported eating more healthy foods

75 Individuals reported utilizing delivery systems that offer healthy foods (e.g. Farmers’ Markets, CSA’s, WIC, Food Pantry)

500 Number of KEHA hours volunteered in community service

2325 Number of youth reached by volunteer led Extension programs/activities

1087 Number of youth who indicated they listen to people who have different ideas and can take responsibility for their actions

128 Number of youth who indicate they are connected to caring adults who are interested in their success

250 Number of producers adopting improved practices for grazing systems, hay storage practices, varieties & best management practices for optimum forage establishment

300 Number of individuals who demonstrated safe handling & preparation of food

388 Number of youth reporting feeling good about themselves

396 Youth who use knowledge & skills developed from 4-H science, engine-ering, & technology program in daily life

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