Nov. 21, 2007

AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Know Hay Quality to Ensure Proper Nutrition

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE

Spread Holiday Cheer to Farmers

4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Deadlines Approach for Kentucky 4-H Volunteer Forum

Know Hay Quality to Ensure Proper Nutrition

Sources: Roy Burris, extension beef specialist and Garry Lacefield, extension forage specialist

With the cool days of November comes the need to prepare for feeding livestock through the winter. This year was a bad one for producing hay so evaluating hay to determine its quality will enable you to ensure your cattle receive the proper nutrition.

Supplement as needed to keep cows in good body condition for strong, healthy calves. Have your hay analyzed for nutritive quality and formulate a feeding program that provides adequate nutrition using hay and supplements.

On an energy basis, corn and by-products such as soyhulls may be a better buy than hay. You might be better off basing your feeding program on the amount of hay you have available and purchasing extra nutrition in the form of concentrates.

It also is important to inventory your hay supply. You need to know how many cattle you plan to feed and for how many days. It is also important to know the quality feed needed for different animal groups such as dry cows versus lactating cows and formulate feeding plans for each group.

Testing to determine the quality of dry hay as well as haylage can be done by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s forage testing program. For a $10 fee, the KDA will send someone to your farm to sample your hay. Producers who have their hay tested will be able to obtain a complete balanced ration for their particular needs and won’t be guessing whether they are meeting their livestock’s needs. For more information on the forage testing program call 1-800-248-4628 or visit the forage testing Web site at http://www.kyagr.com/marketing/forage/index.htm.

It is also important to get as much use from your hay as possible so be sure to reduce hay losses. Hay losses can be the result of trampling, leaf shatter, chemical and physical deterioration, fecal contamination and refusal.

For more information on hay testing and feeding programs, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.

Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

-30-

Spread Holiday Cheer to Farmers

Source: Janet Tietyen, UK associate extension professor

This holiday season you can help farmers in your backyard and around the world by being an environmentally conscientious shopper. When you purchase locally grown or fair trade products, you can make the environment a better place while helping area producers, foreign farmers and their families have happier holidays.

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture reported one of the biggest contributing factors to greenhouse gas emissions is food transportation. It said the average piece of food Americans consume travels just under 1,500 miles from producer to consumer. Sustainable agriculture involves purchasing locally grown products before items made in another state or country.

Locally grown food can be purchased at the farmers’ market, local stores and large grocery chains. Many times, locally grown food has a higher quality and tastes better than imported goods. This is because it hasn’t traveled as far. When purchasing items, study product labels because the production location of the item is displayed there. An example of a sustainable purchase is buying apples grown in Kentucky over apples grown in Michigan. If you have trouble finding locally grown products, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Web site can connect you with area vendors and allows you to shop online for products produced in Kentucky.

Another way to eat sustainably is to eat fruits and vegetables when they are in season. Many state and regional farmers will produce the food during its growing season. Therefore, the food will have less of a distance to travel. By canning or freezing your favorite produce while it’s in season, you can enjoy your favorite fruits and vegetables throughout the entire year and still live sustainably.

If you have to buy products made in another country, fair trade is a way to make your purchases make a difference in the lives of foreign farmers. Many times, farm laborers aren’t paid a living wage or given benefits. They tend to work long hours, spend days away from their families and endure unsafe conditions to produce Americans’ favorite foods. According to the United States Department of Labor, the average migrant worker’s yearly income is about $7,500.

Fair Trade products guarantee the farmers who produced the item were paid a living wage for the product and had decent living and working conditions. Common fair trade products include sugar, coffee, fruits, vegetables, tea and cocoa. Fair trade products can be found at many chain grocery stores. There are also independent stores that sell only fair trade products scattered throughout Kentucky. Fair trade products will often have a sticker on them to symbolize the agreement made between the farmer and the buyer. These products may cost slightly more than others, but the few extra cents you may pay can significantly change a producer’s quality of life.

This holiday season give back to those who produce the foods you eat. When shopping for your holiday meal, study labels and purchase locally grown and fair trade products when possible. Your contribution will help support farmers around the world. For more information, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

-30-

Deadlines Approach for Kentucky 4-H Volunteer Forum

Sources: Ken Culp and Willie Howard

Now is the time to submit nominations for Kentucky 4-H Volunteer Recognition Awards and register for the 2008 Kentucky 4-H Volunteer Forum. The forum, whose theme is “Kentucky 4-H Volunteers: Educating, Celebrating,” will be Feb. 22-23, at the Hyatt Regency in Lexington.

4-H volunteers influence the lives of youth and are an integral part of the 4-H program. Agents, volunteers and 4-H councils are encouraged to honor and recognize volunteers that are outstanding ambassadors for youth and the 4-H program by nominating them for one of the 10 statewide awards that will be presented at the forum. New to the award line-up this year is the Kentucky Certified Volunteer Achievement Award. The awards are given to certified volunteers in livestock, shooting sports, Master Clothing and Master Gardeners. Nominations are due Dec. 1 to Paula Tarry, Barren County 4-H youth development agent.

The deadline to register for the Kentucky Volunteer Forum is Jan. 16. All registrations must be completed online. To get registered, visit the (YOUR county) extension office.

Forum participants can attend more than 100 hours of educational workshops that include information about all 4-H youth development programs, activities and curricula. Pre-conference workshops begin at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 21. Educational workshops begin at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22 and continue through Saturday, Feb. 23.

Participants will have a chance to tour several local points of interest Friday, Feb. 22 including the Kentucky History Museum, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Buffalo Trace Distillery and Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital.

The opening session of the conference begins at 12:30 p.m. Friday and features David Hunter as the keynote speaker. Hunter was born on a farm in Gradyville and is a graduate of Adair County High School. He’s a former West Virginia extension agent and retired University of Tennessee professor. His speeches include anecdotes about his childhood years in Kentucky and his military service during the Vietnam War.

New to the program this year is a Saturday morning networking breakfast. The breakfast gives volunteers the opportunity to exchange ideas and success stories with other 4-H volunteers. Discussion topics will be identified, and participants may choose the topic in which they have the most interest.

Several volunteers will be recognized for their contributions to youth and 4-H program throughout the conference. The fifth class of the Kentucky 4-H Volunteer Hall of Fame will be inducted Friday night. Another new feature to the 2008 Kentucky Volunteer Forum will be a Saturday luncheon the acknowledges certified volunteers, volunteers with five or more years of service and 10-year 4-H members. Previously, only volunteers with 25 years or more of service were recognized.

The Kentucky 4-H Volunteer Forum gives volunteers a chance to enjoy the many aspects of the being a 4-H volunteer and acquire new ideas for the upcoming year. To register for the conference or nominate an outstanding volunteer, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Cooperative Extension Service.

Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

-30-