Kentucky State University

The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and Kentucky State University (KSU) College of Agriculture, Communities, and the Environment Were Founded as Land-grant Institutions (1862 and 1890, Respectively), Offering Access to Knowledge and Learning to Enhance the Lives of Kentuckians. the Two Programs Are Fundamentally Interdisciplinary, Applying the Biological, Physical, and Social Sciences to Challenges in Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Systems. Our Work Encompasses Farms and Forests, Food and Fiber, Families, and Communities. the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Holds a Unique Position as the Home of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (kces). the Teaching, Research, and Extension Programs Are Part of a National System That Maintains a Statewide Presence and Links Local, State, National and Global Issues. the Ksu Land Grant Program and College of Agriculture, Communities and the Environment Focuses on Teaching, Research, and Extension to Address the Needs of the Small-scale and Limited- Resource Farmers; Minority and Underserved/disparity Communities, as Well as Diverse and At-risk Yo Uths. These Programs Include Research to Identify New and Niche Products and Markets for Small-scale, Limited Resource, and Minority Farmers, to Enhance Availability and Safety of Locally Produced, Nutritious Foods, and Reduce Fertilizer and Pesticide Runoff to Improve Soil and Water Quality While Reducing Farmer and Forester Expenses. Our Vision Is to Be Recognized for Excellence in Fostering Learning That Changes Lives, Discoveries That Change the World and Opportunities That Shape the Future. Research and Extension, as Full Partners With Expanding Linkages Throughout the University of Kentucky and Ksu and With Support From Every Kentucky County, Seek to 1) Facilitate Lifelong Learning Informed by Scholarship and Research, 2) Expand Knowledge Through Creative Research and Discovery, and 3) Serve Kentuckians by Sharing and Applying Knowledge. Research and Extension Seek to Sustain the Land-grant Heritage of Achievement in These Challenging Times, But the Commonwealth and the Universities Are Undergoing Many Significant Changes. as Kentucky Continues to Move From a Tobacco-based Agricultural Economy and Explores New Options and Commodities, Land-grant Programs Face Increased Demands and Expectations. Technology Is Redefining the Way People Acquire and Distribute Information and How They Solve Problems. While Urbanization Is Claiming Farmland, It Is Also Creating New Markets for Traditional and Non-traditional Agricultural Products. Changing Lifestyles and Demographics Are Challenging Us With Opportunities for Greater Involvement in Youth, Family, and Community Programs. With Nearly 80,000 Farms in the State and an Average 171 Acres Per Operation, Kentucky Is Dominated by Small Family Farms. However, Many of These Farms Are Major Producers of Traditional Agricultural Commodities, Such as Livestock, Tobacco, and Grain. Some Seek New Opportunities in Specialty Crops and Industrial Hemp. Others Operate on a Part- Time Basis or Involve Limited Resources. the Research and Extension Programs at Both Land-grant Institutions Provide the Breadth Needed to Address the State's Diversity of Agricultural Operations and Agroecosystems. More Than Half of the State's Cash Receipts From Farm Markets Result From Animals and Animal Products. Signature Industries Include Beef and Equine, Which Rely on Cutting-edge Research to Mitigate Fescue Toxicosis, Control Infectious Diseases and Improve Reproductive Efficiencies. Animal Production Systems, Including Poultry, Swine, Small Ruminants and Aquaculture, Are Faced With Increasing Public Pressure to Ensure High Levels of Animal Welfare and Operate in Environmentally Sustainable Ways. There Is Increasing Interest Among Producers for Precision Animal Management Tools That Can Help Increase Margins and a Continued Need for Assistance Developing and Marketing Value-added Products, Particularly for the State's Declining Dairy Industry and for Small and Limited-resource Farmers. Soybeans and Grain Crops Have Become Increasingly Important to Kentucky as the Tobacco Industry Continues to Decline. Producers Rely on the Land-grants for Research-based Guidance on Managing Intensive Production With Minimal Environmental Impact. Research and Extension Programs Address Management of Nutrients, Pests and Diseases, Variety Selection in a Changing Climate and Water Management. They Help Producers Effectively Use Proven Precision Farming and Land Management Tools. Additionally, Forage Systems Underpin the State's Signature Equine and Beef Industries; Their Management Continues to Be a Focus for Research and Extension Programs in the State. Historically, Rural Communities Have Had Major Dependence on Farm Incomes for Their Economic Viability. With the Declining Potential of Tobacco to Generate Farm Income, Development and Discovery of New Enterprises and Management Strategies Are Essential. the Land-grant System Will Be Challenged to Find New Strategies to Meet the Demands for Increased Diversification in Rural Communities. Programs in Support of High-value Horticultural Crops, Aquaculture, Industrial Hemp, Distillation, Wine Making, Brewing and Niche-market Animal Products Are Critical to Providing Viable Alternatives to Tobacco Production. in the Post-tobacco-growing Era, Successful Risk Management Is Important in Maintaining Competitiveness in the State's Agricultural Economy. Value Opportunities in Agriculture Creates Jobs, Many Within Rural Communities. Value Opportunities Also Create Expanded Demand for Local Agricultural Products. Initiatives Are Required to Encourage Local Entrepreneurial Creativity and Risk-taking and to Build a Network of Support Resources. Kentucky Is Making Substantial Resource Commitments to Support the Creation of an "agritech" Ecosystem, as Well as Value-added Innovations That Utilize Local Agricultural Products, Particularly in the Areas of Livestock, Horticulture, Secondary Wood Products, and Agritourism. the Current Public Interest in Community- and Region-based Local Food Systems Provides Kentucky's Research and Extension Programs an Ideal Opportunity to Showcase Relevance to All Citizens Across the State and Address Issues of Food Security, Nutrition, Prosperity, and Sustainability in Both Rural and Urban Communities. the Mission of an Effective Food Safety System Is to Protect and Improve Public Health by Ensuring That Foods Meet Science-based Safety Standards. Over 50% of All Food-borne Illness Can Be Attributed to Mistakes Made in Food Service Establishments and Restaurants, While 20% Are Traceable to Consumers in Their Homes. Changes in the Risk of Food-borne Disease Are Due Primarily to Changes in Diet, Increased Use of Commercial Food Service and Food Prepared and Eaten Away From Home, New Methods of Producing and Distributing Food, and the Growing Number of At-risk Individuals, Such as the Elderly and Those With Elevated Risks to Their Immune Systems. Educational Training on the Safe Production, Preparation, Handling, and Storage of Food for Producers, Processors, Consumers, and At-risk Groups Is the Traditional Approach to Decrease the Risks of Food-borne Illness. Three Leading Causes of Morbidity and Mortality in Kentucky Are Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, and Diabetes. the Recommendations for Their Prevention and Treatment of These Chronic Diseases Include Strong Nutritional and Physical Activity Components. Obesity Is a Contributing Factor in the Development of These Diseases. in Kentucky, the Prevalence of Overweight Adults Has Escalated Over the Last Decades. Early Diagnosis of Cancer, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease Is Associated With Improved Outcomes, Including Improved Quality of Life and Longevity. Prevention, Detection, and Treatment of Chronic Disease in Kentucky Is Particularly Important in Today's Changing Healthcare Environment. People With Chronic Diseases Require Skills for Self-care. Public Concern Over Ecosystem Issues as Well as National and State Government Has Generated Recognition of the Need for Research and Education Programs. Kentucky's Biological Wealth May Continue to Be Threatened Unless Comprehensive and Sustainable Approaches Are Researched and Utilized for Enjoying, Studying, and, at the Same Time, Harvesting the Fruits of the Land Through Logging, Mining, and Agricultural Production. Ecosystem Services Must Be Preserved, Anti-microbial Resistance Must Be Mitigated and Pollinator Populations Must Be Protected. Approaches Must Also Consider How These Systems Adapt to and Mitigate Climate Change. Programs Must Strive to Elucidate How Climate Change Will Impact Agricultural and Natural Resource Systems While Developing Programs and Technologies That Will Help Farmers, Foresters, and Others Adapt. the Land Grant System's Mission of Enhancing Economic Opportunity and Improving the Quality of Life for Americans Goes Well Beyond a Gricultural Production. It Includes the Empowerment of People and Communities Through Research-based Information and Education to Address Economic and Social Challenges Facing Our Youth, Families, and Communities. Some Challenges Are: Both Urban and Rural Areas of the State Continue to Be Plagued by High Unemployment and Underemployment. Nearly 30% of Kentucky's Youth Fail to Graduate From High School. With Many Industries Relocating to Other Countries, Job Closings Have Affected Many Areas of the State. Many Kentuckians Lack the Educational Preparation and Skills Needed to Secure and Maintain Employment or Qualify for New-era Jobs. Throughout Their Lives, Both Youth and Adult Kentuckians Need to Develop Skills Essential to Become Productive Members of the Community and Workforce. Being a Productive Member of Society as an Adult Requires Young People to Gain Experience as Active Citizens Atan Early Age. 4-H Community Service Activities Provide Learning Experiences That Help Youth Develop Life Skills Needed to Be Effective in Various Adult Roles in Society. Our Goal Is to Improve the Capacity of Communities to Identify and Address These Critical Issues, and Others That Affect the Lives of Citizens. We Can Best Do This by Fostering the Development of Personal and Interpersonal Skills, Stimulating Volunteer Leadership, and Promoting Active Participation in Community Problem-solving. Without the Acquisition of Life Skills Needed by Young People and Adults, It Is Doubtful the Citizens of Kentucky Will Reach Their Full Potential as Both Individuals and as Members of Families. We Approach Kentucky's Challenges Through an Integrated Model That Includes a Needs Assessment Conducted at the Grassroots Level Through the Cooperative Extension Service, Advisory Groups, Councils, and Committees. Once Identified as Priorities, Specific Problems and Needs Are Addressed by Our Researchers and Extension Specialists. the Research, Developments, Findings, and Technologies Are Transferred Through Traditional and Innovative Mechanisms, Including Educational and Training Programs, Technology Transfer, Research Reports, and Partnerships With Other Colleges, Universities, and State and Local Governments. Whether It Is Preserving Our Rich Agricultural Tradition by Helping Farmers, Food Processors, and Agribusiness Cope With Technical Issues, Reaching Goals, or Enhancing the Life Skills of Families, Our Research, Education, and Extension Programs Are Helping Shape the Future of Kentucky's Agriculture, Food Systems, and Communities as Well as the Quality of Life of Its Citizens. Critical Issues for Research and Extension Life Skills Development Description: This Critical Issue Promotes the Acquisition of Life Skills Needed by Youth and Adults to Reach Their Full Potential. Issues Abound in Early Childhood Development, Youth Development, Family Well-being, Ethics, Character Education, Life Skills, Money and Resource Management, Retirement Savings, Social Entrepreneurship, Communication and Information Delivery, and More. Kces Will Expand Educational Outreach in Stem/steam Areas That Will Increase Enrollment of Limited-resource Families and Communities Who Are at or Below the Poverty Level and Who Qualify for Support Services Term: Intermediate Science Emphasis Areas Education and Multicultural Alliances Family <(>&<)> Consumer Sciences Youth Development Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyles