Rebecca Konopka
Carter County Extension Office
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Local farmers have a lot to look forward to with the upcoming agriculture extension events. These events, organized by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, offer valuable insights, hands-on learning experiences, and networking opportunities for those involved in agriculture. All meetings will be held at the Carter County Extension Office. Call 474-6686 to register for a session listed below.
The Little Sandy Beekeepers Association meets monthly on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM with guest speakers and/or member discussion on timely topics. At the next meeting on February 4th members will be discussing catching swarms.
The Northeast Area Livestock Association, although a chapter of the KY Cattlemen’s Association, is open to all local livestock producers. Upcoming meetings will be held at 6:00 PM on January 28th, March 25th, and April 22nd. Representatives from the KY Department of Agriculture will be on hand to discuss electronic identification tags and issue premise identification numbers at the January meeting. UK forage specialist, Dr. Chris Teutsch, will share tips for developing a plan to win the East KY Hay Contest during the March meeting.
Bull Value Assessment Program – During the first session on February 13th at 6:00 PM producers will be taught how to identify a reproductively, nutritionally, and genetically sound sire to fit their operation. The second session on February 27th will be a mock auction, where producers will be assigned a scenario and get to put the information they have learned to the test.
Increase your knowledge of best management practices necessary to ensure your sheep & goat products are being marketed at the highest quality during one of the Small Ruminant Quality Assurance Trainings on either January 24th at 10:00 AM or February 4th at 6:00 PM. Training is open to all producers, but is required for sheep or goat reimbursement in the CAIP cost share small animal investment area.
The Beef Quality & Care Assurance Training Program’s mission is to maximize consumer confidence in and acceptance of beef by focusing the producer’s attention to daily production practices that influence the safety, wholesomeness and quality of beef and beef products through the use of science, research and education initiatives. Although, BQCA training is required for cattle reimbursement in the large animal CAIP investment area, training is open to all producers. Trainings will be held on January 21st at 6:00 PM and March 7th at 10:00 AM.
Private Pesticide Applicator Trainings are required for those individuals wishing to purchase and apply restricted use pesticides. This three-hour certification will be held on February 6th at 9:00 AM and March 10th at 5:30 PM.
For more information about these and other programs contact your Carter County Cooperative Extension Service. Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expressions, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.
