University of Kentucky Agricultural News

King of Kentucky weeds, kudzu offers goats a gourmet meal

2008-09-05T15:26:00Z

Kudzu, a vining weed that can grow a foot a day, doesn't exactly have those in Appalachia singing its praises for much of anything. In fact quite the opposite is true; most want the invasive pest to stop covering and killing every living thing in its path. But goats don't seem to understand all the negativism surrounding the lush vegetation.

Barry Arnett retired from Wall Street and came to Rockholds in Whitley County to work a 225-acre farm that's been in his wife Ginny's family for more than 80 years. They built a log cabin on a hillside and began to shape up the farm. Arnett said he called the local University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service office to get some advice on what to do with the farm. After three recommendations, he decided meat goats would suit him and the farm quite well. So when UK researchers from Robinson Station in Breathitt County called Arnett to see if he would like to partner in a project, he hopped on the chance.

"I was tired of sitting on my front porch and looking at the kudzu (across the road). I thought it looked ugly," Arnett said. "But when you stop and see 20 acres of kudzu, you start to wonder how you're going to get rid of it. You're either going to use lots of chemicals - spend lots of money - you might could get it out with a bulldozer, but you can't use a tractor. So, we talked with (David) Ditsch (Robinson Station Superintendent) about eradicating kudzu, and then the more we thought about it, we thought ‘you know, you could use kudzu as a source of food,' so we just needed to find some ways to manage it and keep it under control."

Ditsch and Extension Associate for Goats, Forage Production and Plant and Soil Sciences Shaun Jackson worked with Arnett to outline a research project involving goats' potential to control, eradicate or use kudzu as a nutrition staple. After 60 days on kudzu, they evaluated the goats' performance and their effect on the kudzu.

"We are finding they can't eat the kudzu fast enough, and from the data we collected today, animal performance is improving," Jackson said. "It appears there's a possibility we don't have enough goats on the kudzu right now, and that it is a good forage for them."

Ditsch chimed in and said literature reveals that kudzu should be able to provide most of the nutritional needs of goats. He does recommend producers add a good mineral supplement to help with some of the micronutrients kudzu does not supply.

The research is also showing it may take quite a few goats to tackle an acre of the rapid-growing rebel.

"We want to establish a good stocking ratio for people who want to eradicate kudzu or for someone who wants to manage kudzu as sustainable goat forage," Ditsch said. "We are testing three, six and nine goats per acre in this project and it's pretty obvious that... right now, the kudzu is winning. So we may have to evaluate after this grazing season and see if we need to add in more goats per acre if eradication is our goal."

Jackson admits goats may not be a viable answer to fully eradicate kudzu, but that doesn't shortchange its potential benefits to goat producers one bit. With more and more first-time farmers entering the goat business, many of them wonder what they will economically be able to feed their goats. And there's a lot of kudzu in Appalachia.

"I think it'll be beneficial on both ends if we can get our ratio up there, to make recommendations for people who want to eradicate it and also for people who want to use it as a major feed source for their goats," Jackson said. "There may even be an opportunity for goat producers to place their animals on a neighbor's kudzu-covered land, and both will benefit. It would be a win-win; they get feed for their goats, and the other people get rid of their kudzu."

UK Veterinarian Patty Scharko was on hand to help check the goats' body condition scores, weight and FAMACHA scores - a measure of parasite activity in goats taken by looking at the color of the insides of their bottom eyelid. She said for the most part, she was pleased with the parasite results and that perhaps eating higher on the plant was helping the goats stay further away from the pests' favorite spot - nearer to the ground.

Ditsch said producers who choose to use goats for eradicating or controlling kudzu will face a few challenges, the biggest of which could be fencing.

"Fencing is a challenge; it took quite a bit of time for us to construct these fences. The land does not lay uniform and you have to use a combination of fencing types," he admitted. "If you have something that grows as aggressively as kudzu, you're going to have to put a lot of goats in a smaller area to provide enough pressure on the kudzu. Temporary fencing may be an answer - fencing you can move as you go to get the goats where you want them. Plus, during

peak growth, kudzu can grow 12 to 18 inches a day. It grows up in the trees and does damage to timber. It will grow so rapidly that it gets into and shorts out the fences. So there is some management involved keeping it out of the fences."

Arnett said after watching the goats tackle the kudzu, his perception has changed somewhat about the invasive weed.

"... in Kentucky since we're really blessed with lots of good green stuff to eat, you want to have the goats forage as much as possible," he said. "And, kudzu is especially good, because it's an invasive plant and it looks ugly, and if the goats can get some good out of it, that's great. At 22 percent protein, it's quite good for them."

He said at the beginning of the project, the goats did initially lose some weight, but he and the UK team attributed that to the new forage. Arnett recommends goats be transitioned gradually onto any new forage so their digestive systems have an opportunity to learn to process the new forage slower. The goats have begun to regain the weight and are adapting to the kudzu well now, he added.

The project is formally expected to last about two years, but Ditsch said they will probably try to expand it and tweak it some after that. The result hopefully will be published guidelines for goat producers and landowners with recommendations of stocking rates to eradicate or maintain kudzu for forage.

For now, Arnett is happy to be back in Kentucky shaping up the family's historic farm and believes everyone could learn a lot from the weed-eating small ruminants.

"It certainly has dawned on me while sitting and watching the goats...watch how they eat...and interact with each other and how they fight sometimes, people could learn a lot about life from goats," he said.

For more information on the Arnett farm, visit the Web site at http://www.sharpefarm.com. To learn more about goat production, contact your local county extension office.

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Dry weather may have caused some cornstalk deterioration

2008-09-05T15:24:00Z

Farmers should examine the condition of their cornstalks because this summer's dry weather may have caused them to deteriorate in strength, said Chad Lee, grain crops extension specialist with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.

During the month of August, parts of the state, including Lexington, did not receive any rain for three weeks, said Keys Arnold, UK agricultural meteorologist. While the state as a whole had above average rainfall totals for July, north-central and far western areas of the state were dryer than normal. The U.S. Drought Monitor, which was released last Thursday, still indicates 89 percent of the state is abnormally dry.

These dry conditions caused the crops to stop growing and taking in nutrients. However, the seeds were still developing when the dry weather set in. With no other source of nutrients, the seeds may have started pulling nutrients from the stalks in order to finish their development.

While this summer's dry weather is not as severe as last year's drought, stalk deterioration is more of a concern this year than last year. The 2007 drought was so intense and prolonged that the crops did not develop as well as they have this year.

"This year, we have much taller plants, better ear development and better seed fill," Lee said. "The ears are taking on more weight this year, and the condition of the stalks is a real concern."

The corn crop still looks very good overall, he added. Some producers in far western Kentucky have already begun their harvest, but for the majority of the state, harvest is still a week or two away.

If the state were to get heavy rain or strong winds during this time, the weak stalks could fall over in the field, which could make harvest difficult and possibly cause crop loss. Arnold said both the 30-day and 90-day extended forecasts for Kentucky call for an average amount of rainfall, some of which could be from the remnants of tropical storms or hurricanes.

To check for stalk deterioration, farmers should walk their fields. They will need to grab a stalk at chest height, pull the plant toward them until it is at an angle and let go. If the stalk snaps back and stands up, it is strong. It's weak if it falls over. If farmers find weak stalks in their fields, they will want to weigh their options and consider harvesting the crop early.

If the crop is harvested early, it will likely not have completed the drying process.

"Usually farmers harvest when the seeds are at 14 to 15 percent moisture, but this year they may want to harvest at 18 percent and dry it out after harvest if the stalks are weak," Lee said.

He said this is a scenario most producers want to avoid, because drying the seeds after harvest means that they will have additional energy expenses. However, it may be the best choice.

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Survey research center opens with focus on family science research

2008-09-05T15:23:00Z

A new telephone-based survey research center is helping researchers in the University of Kentucky School of Human Environmental Sciences gather data in a more efficient, cost-effective manner.

The Family Science Survey Research Center in the UK Department of Family Studies is the first of its kind in the state to primarily focus on family science, which includes among others, social and economic issues of aging; relationship education focusing on parenting, marriage and divorce; economic self-sufficiency of women and families; and policy issues affecting low-income families. Trained interviewers gather data from randomly selected individuals using social science-based research methods. Depending on the research, interviewers can survey individuals throughout the state and nation on a wide range of topics. Once they collect information, university researchers analyze the data and share the results through various state and national publications.

"It's efficient for researchers to gather quality data through phone interviews because the random digit dialing technique enhances the ability to generalize the results to the population," said Claudia Heath, director of the center and family studies professor in the UK College of Agriculture.

Heath said because the center is geared toward a broad definition of family science research, it is something the entire school can utilize in its academic endeavors.

"The survey center provides undergraduate, masters and doctoral students the opportunity to get hands-on experience in conducting surveys," she said. "Additionally, graduate students can also collect data for their theses and dissertations, and faculty can conduct funded projects that gather data in manner that is more cost effective than other research methods."

The idea for the center came from Jason Hans, an assistant professor in the UK Department of Family Studies, who was interested in doing a phone survey for some of his research but had a limited budget. He saw the center as an opportunity for undergraduate students to get research experience.

"They learn about the research process and ethics of research just by being engaged in it," he said.

The center has grown from four calling stations to 10 and hopes to expand to 14 stations one day. Additional technologies have been purchased through the department's salary savings and incentive funds through UK's Office of the Vice President for Research.

Heath and Cheryl Mimbs, assistant professor in family studies, have just completed gathering data for a funded research project that was conducted through the center. The project looks at the various aspects of Kentucky women's lives that factor into their decisions of whether to pursue further education.

"This project will help professionals in family science to better understand the factors involved for women as they make decisions regarding marriage, children, employment and education," Heath said. "It will also provide help to those outside of the field, who are interested in the educational attainment of Kentuckians and want to understand the factors influencing Kentucky women as they determine their educational attainment."

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�Beef Bash' field day to focus on beef cattle

2008-09-05T15:02:00Z

The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture and the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association will offer the inaugural Beef Bash, a unique field day for Kentucky beef cattle producers, on Sept. 23 at the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton.

Kentucky has the largest inventory of beef cattle east of the Mississippi River, and small commercial cow-calf operations can be found in almost every rural area in the state. Research and outreach efforts such as the Beef Bash are an important means of providing up-to-date information to cattle producers, said Roy Burris, extension beef specialist.

"With the Beef Bash, we hope to offer a different type of field day that features more hands-on opportunities and more live cattle exhibits than the typical field day," Burris said.

These hands-on demonstrations will give participants an up-close look at timely topics such as rotational grazing systems, estrus synchronization in cow herds, bull selection, alternative feed options, pasture weed management and choosing cost-effective fertilizers for pastures.

Burris notes that the Beef Bash will feature meaningful beef cattle research that is practical for Kentucky cow herds and will also have more than 30 commercial exhibitors featuring new beef cattle related products.

Dave Maples, executive vice president of the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association, agrees that the field day will be a great opportunity for beef producers to visit the UK beef research station and talk with the researchers and fellow cattlemen about our industry.

"It is going to be very important to be as efficient as possible with today's high input costs. This will be a great chance to pick up some new ideas," Maples said.

Registration begins at 12 noon with field exhibits with demonstrations beginning at 1 p.m. CDT. Participants may purchase a meal the day of the event. No preregistration is required.

The UK Research and Education Center is on Kentucky 91 South, 1.5 miles southeast of the Caldwell County Courthouse in Princeton.

For more information contact Roy Burris at 270-365-7541, ext 208, e-mail rburris@uky.edu or a local UK Cooperative Extension Service office. The event's Web site, http://ces.ca.uky.edu/beefirm/bash/, contains more detailed information on exhibits and demonstrations.

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Threat has passed for soybean rust this year

2008-08-29T13:36:00Z

The risk of damage and yield loss from soybean rust has subsided for crops in the state that are at or past the R5, or beginning seed, stage, according to a University of Kentucky plant pathologist.

"We dodged another bullet this year," said Don Hershman, plant pathologist in the UK College of Agriculture. "Even if spores were to arrive in the state today, it will still take them at least a month to a month-and-a-half to develop, and by that time, all of our soybeans will be made."

He said Kentucky grain farmers may begin to hear about numerous soybean rust discoveries popping up next week in the Deep South. However, this does not translate into an added risk for Kentucky's crop. The new finds likely are the result of spores that were carried by Tropical Storm Fay or some earlier storm system.

Soybean rust was first found in the United States in 2004, and it has had no effect on Kentucky's crop in the past couple of years. The foliar disease was discovered in the state last year but was isolated to a small number of counties and at extremely low levels. It was hard to find in infected fields last season because so few plants contracted the disease, and the severity of infection for those that did was very low. There were more extensive finds in the state in 2005 and 2006, but in both years, the crops had matured past the stage where soybean rust could cause significant yield loss.

Spores of the rust fungus do not appear to have dispersed as early or as extensively this season as in previous years. This appears to be the result of limited disease development in the Deep South during May through August.

"By this time last year, soybean rust had spread as far north as Arkansas and Oklahoma, but that is not the case this year. I believe we are about three weeks behind where we were this time last year," Hershman said.

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Win With Wood reveals a forest of possibilities to youth

2008-08-29T13:31:00Z

East Kentucky youths will explore opportunities in the area's forest industry and possibly earn money for college during the University of Kentucky Robinson Station's Win With Wood program. Events begin at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 16 at the Wood Utilization Center at Robinson Station.

Carroll Fackler, UK forestry research specialist, began the program several years ago as a recruitment tool for the Hazard Community and Technical College's forestry program, which was based at UK's Robinson Station. High school juniors and seniors competed in forestry-related competitions for the chance to win one of nine scholarships to the school. While that partnership ended, many area 4-H agents remembered the competitions and asked Fackler if he would consider revamping the program for youth. This is the second year for the program under the new format.

He said young people do not realize forest industries are one of the top industries in the state and vital to the economy of eastern Kentucky, which largely depends on natural resources, such as coal and forestry, to generate income.

"If you're not connected to some of those industries, you may not be able to work in your community," Fackler said.

The day includes an assortment of contests, demonstrations and information for youths ages 9 to 18. Young people from area 4-H clubs, FFA and agriculture classes compete in events ranging from compass and pacing to wood identification. Two new events, soil judging and identification of invasive plants in Kentucky's forests, were added this year. Fackler said these additions keep the program up to date with changes in the industry and meet the needs of the state. Youths can submit individual and team woodworking projects for judging. Also, there will be hands-on demonstrations, games and prizes.

The Kentucky Forest Industries Association and its members sponsor a $500 UK College of Agriculture scholarship to the individual who accumulates the most points in the competitions. This scholarship is not limited to forestry and can be applied to any department in the college.

"We have a fun filled day," he said. "You do not have to compete in all the events, but if you want to win the scholarship, the chances of getting that would be better if you did enter all of the events."

Fackler said the program not only exposes young people to the industry, but also provides a chance for industry members to learn about the skills area youths possess. He said during the event some companies actually have paid for college and hired participants who possessed desirable skills and qualities needed in the forest industry.

Representatives from major and area forestry companies will be on hand to speak with students during the event about careers in forestry and ways the industry affects their lives. Grant Curry, wood procurement manager for Weyerhaeuser, and Bob Bauer, executive director of the Kentucky Forest Industries Association said both of their organizations have participated in the event since it began.

"The event exposes them to a field that they may not hear or know much about," Bauer said. "Even if they aren't interested in pursuing a career in the forest industry, the event still educates them on the field's importance to the state."

"The kids are prepped," Curry said. "They come knowing they are going to compete against some of the state's top youth and best (high) schools for forestry."

During his work with the 4-H forestry program over the years, Curry said he has seen several youths from eastern Kentucky develop an interest in the field, attend UK or Hazard Community and Technical College to study forestry and get a job in the industry upon graduation.

While this program is in eastern Kentucky, Fackler said individuals from other areas of the state who are interested in forestry and the program are invited to participate. For more information on Win With Wood, contact Carroll Fackler at 606-666-2438, ext. 235 or visit the UK Wood Utilization Center's Web site at http://www.ukwoodcenter.net.

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Robinson Station All Commodity Field Day is Sept. 25

2008-08-29T13:30:00Z

The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture conducts research across Kentucky with two stations in Quicksand and Princeton. Each year, the two hubs take turns showcasing their efforts by offering a field day of fun and education. This year, on Sept. 25, Robinson Station at Quicksand takes its turn with a wide variety of events sure to please young and old.

"We feel that we've got a very diverse and outstanding program for this field day," said David Ditsch, superintendent at Robinson Station. "We still have the traditional wagon tours of our research plots, but we've also got some very focused workshops and tours where people can really immerse themselves in one or two areas of interest."

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. EDT followed by a choice of several unique morning-long workshops before more traditional field day activities in the afternoon. At the Wood Utilization Center, participants may attend a workshop about the Shaker design and its popularity. Participants will hear about archaeological excavations at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, learn about the kinds of woods Shakers used and even build their own Shaker-style box to take home. Registration is $25 for materials and lunch.

A Farmers' Market Workshop will begin at 10 a.m. Visitors will learn about value-added products for expanding farmers' market sales in Kentucky, new sampling guidelines for food handling, using high tunnels to extend the market season, fall decorations and crafts, fall strawberry, raspberry and blackberry production, profitable fall vegetables, flower arrangements and decorating pumpkins for fall festivals. Registration is $5 and includes lunch.

A third morning workshop will be at Sebastian Farms, a short distance from the station, to learn about co-grazing beef cattle and goats. Discussion and tours will include fencing options for mixed species grazing, meeting the mineral needs of beef cattle and goats, general goat management, the effects of mixed species grazing on plant population, animal performance in a mixed species grazing system and vegetation management with goats. Registration is $5 and includes lunch.

Participants may also elect to attend a research tour of Robinson Forest. Topics on this tour, which is limited to 50 people, include re-establishing American chestnut trees and black bears in eastern Kentucky.

The Robinson Forest tour also includes information about shiitake mushrooms, best management practices for timber harvesting and controlling invasive trees in eastern Kentucky. Registration is $5 and includes lunch.

A separate youth component focusing on energy and the environment will begin at 9:30 a.m. and is open to middle and high school students. Pre-registration is required.

More traditional field day tours begin at 3:30 p.m. and include horticulture, plant and soil sciences and the Wood Utilization Center. Ditsch encourages visitors to check out exhibits under the tent and see the food preservation demonstrations in the Robinson Station Auditorium from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The day draws to a close with a complimentary dinner from 5 to 7 p.m.

For more detailed information and directions, visit the field day Web site at http://ces.ca.uky.edu/robinsonstation or a local Cooperative Extension Service office.

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Kentucky Goat Symposium Oct. 14-16 in Frankfort

2008-08-22T08:09:00Z

In recent years, goat production has soared in Kentucky. As a result, new producers sometimes have a steep learning curve. To continue educating new and seasoned goat producers, the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture is teaming up with Kentucky State University to sponsor the Kentucky Goat Symposium Oct. 14-16 in Frankfort.

For the first two days, symposium participants will gather at the Capitol Plaza Hotel. On the final day, they'll take part in a goat-focused "Third Thursday" program at the KSU Research and Demonstration Farm.

Symposium topics will include forage and forage utilization, use of brush and brush control, soil fertility, the UK-KSU goat and sheep modules, business planning, new methods and management of parasite control, goat health, dairy goats, scrapie program update, breeding stock selection and tours.

The event begins at 10 a.m. Oct. 14 and concludes at 3 p.m. Oct. 16. The registration deadline is Sept. 19 and the cost for the symposium is $25, which includes two nights' lodging, meals and tours. For those wanting only to attend the goat program at the farm Oct. 16, there is no registration fee.

Symposium sponsors include Kentucky State University, the USDA Risk Management Agency, the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Professional Development Program, the Southern Region Risk Management Education Center and the UK College of Agriculture.

For more details and registration materials, contact Marion Simon, state specialist for small farms and part-time farmers, at 502-597-6437 or e-mail marion.simon@kysu.edu.

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Agritourism trip to give guests Appalachian experience

2008-08-22T08:03:00Z

With its natural beauty, vibrant history and colorful locals, the Appalachian culture has intrigued people for many years, but unless individuals have ties to the area, they likely have never experienced it. That is about to change. During the week of Sept. 29-Oct. 4, visitors will get a slice of life tucked in the hills of eastern Kentucky through a multi-county bus tour focused on agritourism.

The bus tour is the first such venture by the Eastern Kentucky Foothills Eco-Agritourism Corporation, a group comprised of community and business leaders from Carter, Elliott, Morgan, Menifee and Wolfe counties.

"Kentucky Entrepreneurial Coaches Institute offered a mini project about new opportunities on the farm through agritourism and alternative crops, and these were some of the counties that were interested in it," said Gwenda Adkins, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension family and consumer science agent in Elliott County. Possessing a background in environmental education and tourism, Adkins has served as an advisor to the group and board member since its formation.

These counties' economies largely were dependent on tobacco revenues. In the post-buyout period, community leaders see agritourism as an opportunity to generate money for the local economy and educate others about the area's heritage while helping local farmers diversify their operations.

"We had to do something to help the local farmers," said Raymond Hurst, Wolfe County judge executive and the board's chairman. "If this is successful, it could be a big boost to them and the local economy."

The six-day tour will feature many stops unique to eastern Kentucky including bluegrass music, talented folk artists and craftsmen, historical reenactments and dramatic views of the mountains, gorges and waterfalls. They will also visit farms that produce a variety of agricultural commodities. Unique agricultural stops include a sorghum farm, miniature horse farm and Mountain View Farm in Ezel, one of the largest mule farms in the United States.

The tour also will highlight local businesses. Guests will stay at local hotels or bed-and-breakfasts and shop at local stores that offer a wide variety of crafts and antiques. They will also eat local cuisine, much of which was grown in the area. One of the dining highlights is the Smokey Valley Truck Stop in Olive Hill, featured on the Food Network's program, "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives."

On Sept. 29, guests will board a bus in Louisville and Lexington and travel to Carter Caves State Resort Park in Carter County where the tour begins.

Space is limited, and slots are available on first come, first served basis. For more information or to register for the tour, contact Hurst at 606-668-3040.

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4-H'ers donate state fair projects to feed hungry

2008-08-22T08:01:00Z

Several hundred 4-H'ers and University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension agents donated fair entries and canned food items to a Louisville food bank during 4-H project entry day at the Kentucky State Fair.

During the one-day food drive, Kentucky Harvest received 285 canned food items and more than 1,000 fresh food and horticulture 4-H projects that were judged that same day.

This was the first time 4-H hosted a statewide food drive at the state fair. It was conducted in support of the USDA's "Fight Hunger Initiative" and gave 4-H'ers a chance to give back and make a positive contribution to the host city.

"The amount of donations we received was a lot more than we anticipated," said Deana Reed, 4-H youth development specialist. "Everyone was really positive about it, and it was for a good cause."

Poverty and hunger are major concerns in the nation and state. The Annie E. Casey Foundation KIDS COUNT Data Book reported that 18 percent of children in the United States were living in poverty in 2006. In Kentucky, that number jumped to 23 percent. According to USDA Food and Nutrition Service, an average of more than 602,000 Kentuckians participated in the Food Stamp program during any given month in 2007.

Joe Kurth, assistant director for Kentucky 4-H youth development programs, said the USDA initiative was an excellent cause for 4-H to participate in since both organizations strive to develop healthy, productive youths.

"Our focus is on the growth and development of young people, which requires good basic nutrition," he said. "Hunger is such a significant roadblock to good nutrition, and with our focus being on youth development, I am pleased that we could play a role in the initiative."

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