Winter Wheat Meeting Set for January 6th

Pancakes with Santa at the Extension Office this Monday!

Join us at the McLean County Extension Office on Monday, December 22nd for a free pancake breakfast with Santa from 8am until 10am.

Woodland Management Can Benefit Wildlife Habitats

Kentucky wildlife species are abundant and many live in our woodlands.  Because the state’s woodlands are privately owned, individual management of woodlands has a significant impact on our wildlife.

Depending on the woodland owners’ objectives, they can consider timber management and wildlife habitat together.  You do not necessarily have to choose between the production of high quality timber and healthy wildlife populations.  By taking a few management steps you can manage both trees and wildlife.

Remember any woodland management activity will benefit some wildlife species and discourage others from visiting your area. Management practices may include crop-tree release, thinning, tree planting, invasive-species control, or other timber-improvement practices that will also benefit certain wildlife species.

Healthy forests provide for a wide variety of wildlife species such as deer, wild turkey, songbirds, snakes, rabbits, grouse and bats to name a few. Planning and implementing timber-management activities that also enhance the wildlife habitat of selected species can allow you to accomplish multiple objectives at the same time.

If you need help getting started, many agencies are ready to help. UK extension agents and specialists, foresters with the Kentucky Division of Forestry, and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources biologists can visit your property and develop a plan to meet your management goals and also enhance the wildlife habitat.

Technical assistance is available from these Kentucky agencies to show landowners how to implement the recommendations.  Sometimes equipment and other supplies may also be available.

Occasionally, conservation programs will pay landowners to conduct certain management practices, so ask if these are available in your area.

Quality timber production and healthy wildlife habitats are possible with a well-planned and well-managed design.  The key is to get the help you need so you will have a plan that will serve your needs and will also enhance wildlife populations.

Through your specific plan, you can enrich your woodlands and the quality of life of wildlife.  The key is to match your objectives with the capabilities of your land and get the assistance you need to implement your plan.

For more information to help you get started on managing your woodlands, contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Service at (270)273-3690.  We can help you get the expert help you need and put your plan into action.  Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

McLean County FCS Extension Position Now Open for Applicants

If you or someone you know is qualified and interested in applying for the McLean County FCS Extension Agent's position, please follow this link for more information and to apply:

https://ukjobs.uky.edu/postings/50935

The Extension Agent for Family & Consumer Sciences will develop and implement a plan of work based on locally identified needs which will lead to improved quality of living for families & individuals. Will plan and implement educational programs which focus on: 1) making healthy choices; 2) nurturing families; 3) embracing life as you age; 4) securing financial stability; 5) promoting healthy homes and communities; 6) accessing nutritious food; and 7) empowering community leaders. Will develop expertise and serve as a resource in family and consumer sciences programming areas including: food and nutrition; family resource management; human development and family relations; health, safety and wellness; leadership development; clothing and textiles; housing and the environment; home based and micro business. Will implement educational programs which strengthen families and individuals. Will develop and implement leadership programs such as Kentucky Extension Homemakers resulting in the development of personal and organizational leadership skills. Must be able to demonstrated ability to communicate orally and in writing with groups, individuals and through mass media. Ability to use the computer for program delivery and management.   Must possess ability to visit clientele at sites throughout the county. Ability to plan and teach educational programs. Demonstrated leadership and ability to serve as a positive role model.  This position will serve all clientele ensuring that all youth and adults have an equal opportunity to participate in extension programs regardless of race, gender, age, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.

Deadline to apply is January 5th, 2015.

Preparing Horses for Winter

Winter can be a particularly stressful time for horses, but there a few simple things you can do to make them more comfortable. 

When temperatures start to dip below freezing, you have to make sure your horses still have constant access to fresh water so be sure to check your water sources now.  Ensure that the heaters in good working condition and that above ground water pipes are properly insulated.

Shelter is important to give horses a place out of the elements. A good wind-blocking shelter in the pasture can lessen cold stress on your horses. Make sure you have fresh bedding and the shelter is clean. It doesn’t take long for bedding to get wet, so you need to check it often.

According to Bob Coleman, UK Extension Equine Specialist, horses need to eat between 1.5 and 2 percent of their body weight in food each day to maintain their weight. That figure doesn’t account for any activity. In colder weather, horses will need to eat more to stay warm. An average horse of 1,000 pounds, in good body condition, will need to eat at least 20 pounds of hay per day in normal weather. The amount of feed required to meet requirements can increase quickly when the weather turns cold. In many cases the horse will not be able to eat enough hay to meet requirements, so owners will need to add concentrate to the program. Check your hay supplies now and make sure you have enough and that you have a place to store it out of the weather.

Take time to send in a feed or hay sample for testing, so you’ll know if your hay has adequate nutritional balance and quality.

It’s a good idea to get a body condition score on your horses before it gets cold, so you can start making adjustments now if necessary.

Putting a blanket on your horse requires you to think about several things. The blanket needs to be waterproof, in good condition, and you need to make sure it fits the horse. An ill-fitting blanket can do more harm than good. If your horse is outside, has a good coat of hair and access to adequate shelter, you probably don’t need to use a blanket. If you do use one, check it often. If the blanket gets wet, you need to quickly change it.

For more information on caring for your horses during cold weather, contact the McLean County  Cooperative Extension Service at (270)273-3690.   Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

Kentucky beef producers pass referendum to create Kentucky Beef Checkoff

December 5, 2014 -Lexington, KY- Kentucky beef producers passed the referendum in favor of creating the Kentucky Beef Checkoff. In a vote conducted at local Kentucky Cooperative Extension offices Thursday, November 20th, beef and dairy producers voted in favor of collecting an additional $1.00 per head sold. The final tally was 1,816 in favor of the state checkoff and 1,423 against. Collections of the state checkoff will begin April 1, 2015. Kentucky Cattlemen's Association President, Steve Downs, is enthusiastic to get started, realizing the work really begins now. "A tremendous thank you needs to be paid to all of the cattlemen and women that took the time to vote. We have an exciting opportunity in front of us and an equally talented team to work to ensure the future of the Kentucky beef industry is secure and prosperous." The Kentucky State Board of Agriculture approved the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association request for a referendum during their August 21, 2014 board meeting. For more information about the Kentucky Beef Checkoff, contact Dave Maples at (859) 278-0899 or dmaples@kycattle.org or visit www.kybeefcheckoff.com.

A lot to be Thankful For

Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of life we tend to focus too much on the negative and not enough on the good things we have.  I know I do it entirely too much.  Here at the holiday season I realize I have so much to be thankful for (not just during the season, but year round).  I’m blessed with a wonderful husband, a beautiful son, a loving family, a forgiving God and a rewarding job.  In making the transition into the new position as county ag agent this year, I’m also very thankful for the patience of others, especially my family, as I try to figure this job out. 

I’m thankful to have the opportunity to work with a group of outstanding agriculturist that despite the rising cost of inputs, battles with vomitoxin, sudden death syndrome, black shank, target spot, palmer pigweed, waterhemp, and several other obstacles, they are still able to produce outstanding crops and safe food sources. 

Not only am I grateful for the priceless gifts mentioned above, but also grateful for the opportunity to work with the wonderful people of McLean County on a daily basis, which became even more evident to me last week during our first McLean County Harvest Breakfast.  This event was a joint effort between the Cooperative Extension Service and the Chamber of Commerce, and could not have been possible without the support of so many local businesses and individuals.

In front of a crowd of 130, FFA President Justus Hayden kicked off the morning with an outstanding speech and left those in attendance with a powerful message about how we are just temporary tenants, renting our ground from the Lord.  Following our delicious meal prepared by Linda Riley and Elaine Atherton, Warren Beeler, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Director of Agriculture Policy spoke on issues facing agriculture.  During our recognition of producers, Tyson awarded Tim Vincent of TLC Poultry Farms the McLean County Top Producer Award and our High Yield Contest Winners were announced.  In the yellow corn division: 1st Place Paul Bickett 304 bushels, 2nd Place Jonathan Miller 293 bushels, 3rd Place Neil Scott 276 bushels.  In the white corn division: 1st Place Russ Vickers 252 bushels.  In the soybeans division: 1st Place Gerry Hayden 95 bushels, 2nd Place Paul Bickett 84 bushels, 3rd Place John Wright 80 bushels.  In the grain sorghum division: 1st Place Jeremy Graham 175 bushels, 2nd Place Philip Logsdon 174 bushels.

With all that being said, I’d like to say a special thank you to all of our sponsors for this

event: Kyndle, US Bank, Independence Bank, First Security Bank, Sacramento Deposit Bank, Tyson, Perdue, Farbest, Buck Creek Baptist Church, McLean County Farm Bureau, Farm Credit Services of Mid-America, Rice Agri-Marketing and Crop Production Services.  Also, thank you to Judy Hayden for helping me coordinate the event, to Linda Riley and Elaine Atherton for preparing the meal, the FFA for serving the meal and the Farm Bureau Board Members for helping clean up afterwards.  Thank you to all of you that attended!  The Chamber of Commerce and I hope to make this an annual event.

For more information on Extension Events and Programs, contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Service at (270)273-3690.  Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.