An On-Farm Demonstration and Consultation Extension Program in Kentucky

The Kentucky Horticulture Council, a consortium of 13 industry and professional associations, was established in 1991 to represent and foster support for the various segments of Kentucky horticulture.  In collaboration with the University of Kentucky’s Horticulture program, a comprehensive strategic plan for the industry was created in the early 90’s and updated every two years.  When 50% of the Master Tobacco Settlement awarded to Kentucky was dedicated to the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, a portion of KY horticulture industry’s strategic plan was funded.  Since 2002, more than $5.8 million have been awarded to UK Horticulture for on-farm demonstration/consultation, field research plots on our three research farms, and market research and education.  The grant funded six Extension Associates in 2002 strategically located across the state, increasing to nine in 2004, to conduct on-farm demonstrations of horticultural production/marketing systems.  A primary audience has been farm families who had depended on the income from tobacco.  The program has been extraordinarily successful with Extension Associates hired to multiply faculty impact, supporting an 8 to 10% per year industry growth until the recent economic down turn.  The program details have changed over the years with changing economic conditions and shifting markets but the delivery methods have continued to succeed.  In 2009 alone, the Extension Associates conducted 53 on-farm demonstrations and 1,850 on-farm and/or face-to-face visits (4,949 hours), requiring an additional investment of 4,114 hours in planning, establishing and maintaining on-farm plots (plus nine strategic on-farm research plots managed by the Extension Associates) and 1,678 hours in problem solving.  Fifteen field days and farm tours multiplied the impact of the demonstrations in communities. In 2009, the Extension Associates logged more than 4,200 phone calls and 15,000 emails (5,800 to individuals and 9,200 to targeted distribution lists) in support of these programs. Workshops and other presentations (117) reached a variety of audiences (5,077 total attendees) with pre-season and in-season information specific to crop production protocols and marketing opportunities.  Extension Associates have also multiplied their impact by securing more than $125,000 in extramural support for their programs.  The vast majority (90% as of 2008) of farm families participating in the on-farm demonstrations are still producing horticultural crops.