POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Statewide extension education in beef cattle with an emphasis on reproductive management. Duties include preparation of educational materials, conducting statewide educational programs, conducting applied research projects, working with agricultural agents, youth agents, other extension specialists, and research personnel, and maintaining a strong working relationship with beef related agribusiness.

PROGRAM EMPHASIS

Beef Cattle Breeding Management

Beef Integrated Resource Management (IRM)

Beef Performance Records Program

Master Cattleman Program

Areas of Responsibility

• Cow-calf nutrition and management
• Health programs for feeder calves
• Integrated Resource Management (IRM) for beef
• Applied research in beef cattle management

 Extension Program Goals

To educate dairy farmers, industry personnel, veterinarians, and county extension agents on the fundamentals of dairy nutrition and management.  Specifically, my extension program strives to help Kentucky dairy farmers improve:

1. Quality and quantity of forages fed to Kentucky cattle.
2. Implementation and management of dairy feeding programs for the milking herd.
3. Understanding of nutrition concepts.
4. Feeding and management programs for heifers and dry cows.

DAIRY EXTENSION PROGRAM

Dairy Decisions and Management.

Management First for Dairy

Individual Farm Production and Business Analysis

Developing a Herd Genetic Improvement Program

Equine Pharmacology

Therapeutics

Toxicology

Equine nutrition

Utilization of forages by the horse

Horse care and management

Industry economics

Public and professional education, consultation, and technical advice about: general aquaculture, small-scale and sustainable aquaculture, farm and recreational fish pond management, natural resource (aquatic environment) education, and industry and market development. Programs are conducted in close association with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and through County Extension Agents.

Extension and applied research programs in environmental control systems for buildings, building design and planning, and decision aid application development.

Processing and Storage of Agricultural Products, primarily grains, Post-Harvest Process Engineering, and Precision Agricultural Practices for Monitoring Grain Quality.

Planning, analysis, and engineering design in the areas of livestock facilities, environmental control systems, manure management, and grain/feed storage systems

Agricultural Safety and Health

Precision Agriculture ~ Instrumentation & Controls ~ Automatic Guidance ~ Remote Sensing ~ Machinery

Economics of waste management systems; Pollution potential of land applied animal wastes; Microbial dynamics of wastes; Groundwater quality assessment.

Specialty Crops mechanization focusing on tobacco and vegetable production.

Education of beekeepers and others with interests in honey bees. A three part series of workshops on Beginning Beekeeping is offered to Kentuckians each year. Current concerns and developments in beekeeping are discussed at meetings of state and local associations. Observation bee hives are maintained at the Department of Fish and Wildlife Game Farm (U.S. Rt. 60, near Frankfort) and the North Central 4-H camp in Nicholas County.

Extension Responsibilities

• Development of forestry-related farm commodities (Christmas trees, shiitake mushrooms), small woodlot management, urban forestry, international agroforestry, natural resources education, permaculture, square foot gardening.

Extension Responsibilities

• Providing traditional forestry extension programs throughout the state. The objective is to promote proper forest management practices of hardwoods for forest landowners, families, young people and the communities they live in. With a better understanding of basic forest management principals, these individuals can improve the quality of the timber resources of Kentucky and also increase the potential dollar value of timber being sold.

Extension Responsibilities

• Hardwood Silviculture. Dr. Stringer specializes in hardwood silviculture, forest operations, and best management practices. His work includes research in his areas of specialization and the development of continuing education programs for forest owners, forestry and natural resource professionals. He is currently director of the Kentucky Master Logger Program and editor of the Kentucky LogJam Newsletter.

Vegetables, Small fruit, Medicinal herbs

Nursery and Landscape

Floriculture and Greenhouse crops

Dark tobacco producers in Kentucky and Tennessee. Dissemination of production information through peer-reviewed extension and research publications, field days, winter meetings, and farm visits. Diagnosis of transplant, field, and curing problems.

70% University of Tennessee
30% University of Kentucky

Areas of Interest:

• Soil management and water quality
• Precision Agriculture
• No-till/Conservation Tillage
• Soil Erosion

Weed management in agronomic cropping systems which include grain crops and forages; develop publications and comprehensive weed science training programs for county agents, crop producers, agribusiness, and partner agencies; and provide expertise in weed identification and diagnosis of problems associated with weed management systems. 

The animal science program focus primarily on small ruminant production, especially goats.  This program includes research and extension programming in the area of goat management and breeding.  Projects include grazing and forage production, breeding season differences, and meat characteristics.  The Kentucky State University Land Grant Program offers two educational events each year dedicated toward goat production through the nationally recognized “Third Thursday Thing” in March and October.  Kentucky State University Land Grant Program also offers programs for goat producers through local associations and field days upon request. 

The Small Farm Program provides one-on-one educational assistance to limited-resources small farmers. Participating farmers are taught decision-making skills, production practices, marketing skills, and are encouraged to utilize sustainable farming techniques. The average participating farmer will increase his/her annual farm income by $10,000 as a result of participating in the program.

Education of beekeepers and others with interests in honey bees. A three part series of workshops on Beginning Beekeeping is offered to Kentuckians each year. Current concerns and developments in beekeeping are discussed at meetings of state and local associations. Observation bee hives are maintained at the Department of Fish and Wildlife Game Farm (U.S. Rt. 60, near Frankfort) and the North Central 4-H camp in Nicholas County.

Public and professional education, consultation, and technical advice about: general aquaculture, small-scale and sustainable aquaculture, farm and recreational fish pond management, natural resource (aquatic environment) education, and industry and market development. Programs are conducted in close association with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and through County Extension Agents.