Spring Vineyard and Winery Workshop
2022-03-07
The UK Grape & Wine program will be hosting a free vineyard and winery workshop at the UK horticulture research farm in Lexington. Registration is required. Details available in early February. For more information, contact:
Patsy E. Wilson
Extension Specialist – Viticulture
Department of Horticulture
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40546-0091
Ph: 859-494-1657 (cell)
E: patsy.wilson@uky.edu

Crop Insurance Webinar: FSA Resources
2022-03-08 12:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for our next webinar in our Crop Insurance for Specialty Crop Growers series at 12:30 pm ET|11:30 am CT. March’s webinar will be all about FSA Resources for growers who are seeking risk protection. We will learn about some great tools and resources available to growers. To register for the live webinars, use the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvf-iuqDgtG9PpErwxskqi8kZ3fVIRaULI

Soil Fertility Basics with Grow Appalachia
2022-03-14 19:00 - 20:30 UTC
Soil fertility workshop to build a foundation of understanding on this critical topic for small-scale farmers and gardeners.
This workshop will cover:

Factors that influence soil fertility
How to read and interpret a soil test
How to choose a fertilizer
Using manure, cover crops, or compost for fertility
How to calculate fertilizer application rates

2022 OAK Conference: Hopkinsville
2022-03-17 - 2022-03-18
2-day in-person event in Hopkinsville, KY on March 17 (farm tours) and 18 (classroom sessions): This event takes place in western Kentucky at local farms and the Christian County Cooperative Extension Office and NEW Ag Arena. The venue offers large meeting spaces.
The event series is a must for farmers, agriculture professionals, and anyone passionate about building more resilient food systems. Conference sessions provide useful tools, techniques, research and relationships for use on and off the farm.

KY Local Food Systems Summit
2022-03-23 08:00 - 17:30 UTC
The Food Connection at the University of Kentucky, in partnership with Bluegrass Farm to Table, the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, invite you to join in a full day of workshops, networking, and conversations designed to bring together local food professionals and advocates who work on the front lines of growing our local food and farm economy

FSMA Produce Safety Alliance (PSA Training) Registration Deadline
2022-03-30 08:00 - 17:00 UTC
PSA – FSMA Grower Training Course – Remote
Deadline to apply March 30, 2022
Training April 28, 2022 8 am until 5 pm
The training is free to all Kentucky produce growers through the Kentucky Department of Agriculture cooperative agreement grant. As a reminder this course is required for all KY farms who has produce sales with an average annual of $25,000.
If there are any questions please direct them to Casey Newcomb (casey.newcomb@uky.edu).

2022 OAK Conference
2022-04-08
1-day in-person event in Burlington, KY on April 8: This single day event takes place in northern Kentucky at the Boone County Cooperative Extension Office and spacious Enrichment Center. The day’s program includes a keynote, nine sessions, a boxed lunch, farm tours, and a short course.
The event series is a must for farmers, agriculture professionals, and anyone passionate about building more resilient food systems. Conference sessions provide useful tools, techniques, research and relationships for use on and off the farm.

Crop Insurance Webinar: Step by Step Cost Estimator Tool Walkthrough
2022-04-12 12:30 - 13:00 UTC
Join us for our next Crop Insurance webinar on 4/12 at 12:30 pm ET|11:30 am CT. We will do a step by step walkthrough of a crop insurance price estimator from the USDA Risk Management Agency. Hopefully this example will help you figure out your own prices and see what crop insurance options might be best for you. To register for the live webinars, use the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvf-iuqDgtG9PpErwxskqi8kZ3fVIRaULI

KY State Beekeepers Association Spring General Membership Meeting
2022-04-23 08:00 - 17:00 UTC
Mark your calendars for the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association Spring General Membership Meeting!
On April 23, 2022 at the Kentucky State University Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm all members and guests will meet in person for the first time in two years!
Located at 1525 Mills Ln, Frankfort, KY 40601 the farm hosts a variety of research projects including small ruminant research, soil management research, organic agriculture research, ornamental horticulture research, livestock nutrition research, honeybee research, conservation biological control and beneficial insect research, and urban agriculture research.
Come to hear Dr. Katie Lee give a talk on Varroa, queens & colony fitness.
Katie Lee is a researcher and Apiculture Extension Educator at the University of Minnesota. Katie received both a MS and PhD in entomology from the University of Minnesota with Dr. Marla Spivak. Her work focuses on the parasitic mite Varroa destructor, metrics that indicate queen bee and colony health, and the benefits of pollinator plantings on honey bee health. For the Bee Informed Partnership, she founded two Tech-Transfer Teams that provide services for commercial beekeepers by assessing colony health and testing breeding stock for disease resistance behavior. Katie serves on the boards of the Bee Informed Partnership and the Minnesota Hobby Beekeepers Association.

FSMA Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Training (virtual)
2022-04-28 08:00 - 17:00 UTC

FSMA - PSA Grower Food Safety Training - CANCELLED
2022-05-10 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | RCARS, 130 Robinson Rd., Jackson, KY, 41339
This event has been cancelled.

Crop Insurance Webinar: Grower Panel - POSTPONED
2022-05-10 12:30 (America/New_York)
*This session has been postponed*
In our eighth Crop Insurance webinar we will welcome some growers with previous experience with crop insurance to answer some of YOUR questions. Be sure to send us your crop insurance questions you want answered by someone with firsthand experience. You can email questions to dakota@kyhortcouncil.org or save them for the chat during the webinar. Join us on May 10th at 12:30 pm ET|11:30 am CT. To register for the live webinars, use the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvf-iuqDgtG9PpErwxskqi8kZ3fVIRaULI

MarketReady Training
2022-05-16 18:00 - 19:30, 2022-05-19 11:00 - 12:30, 2022-05-20 11:00 - 12:30 UTC
The MarketReady Producer Training Program is a free (when held virtually), educational program for farmers and producers, processors, county extension agents, etc. interested in selling their products (fresh produce, value-added items, etc.) to restaurants, grocers/wholesalers/retailers, and schools. This national program, developed by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, will provide participants with the tools for business success. Producers and farmers should feel confident about what is being asked of them from potential buyers (restaurants, grocers, schools, etc.) after this training. This program provides extension agents with the knowledge and tools to assist farmers and producers in their county who are interested in selling to restaurants, grocers, schools, etc.

Fertigation for High Tunnels and Small Plots
2022-05-16 19:00 - 20:30 UTC
Join Grow Appalachia online to learn how to successfully feed fruit/vegetable crops through drip irrigation

PROGRAM TOPICS INCLUDE:
Small-scale systems for fertigation
Set-up, connection, calibration
Fertilizers and fertility programs for high tunnel and field-grown fruit, vegetable, and flower crops

Farmer Field Day at UK Horticulture Research Farm, Lexington
2022-05-17 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | UK Horticulture Research Farm
RESCHEDULED FROM MAY 5
Cost-Effective Measures for Improving Produce Quality and Extending Shelf-Life On-Farm Field Day
UK Horticulture Research Farm, Lexington KY
May 17, 2022, 1-4pm ET
Join us at UK’s Horticulture Research Farm for a day of education, demonstration and discussion around affordable ways to improve and maintain produce quality. We will focus on preharvest, harvest and postharvest management decisions that can extend the shelf life of your fruits and vegetables, including but not limited to:

Temperature and Humidity Control
Varietal Selection
Harvest Techniques and Equipment to Reduce Damage
Washing, Packing, Curing and Cooling
Produce Food Safety
Using Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Bryan Brady, Extension Associate for UK’s Food Connection, will guide the discussion, and Kristi Durbin, UK’s CSA Manager, will highlight the on-farm practices. Produce Safety staff from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture will also be on hand to share resources and answer questions.
This event qualifies for KERS professional development credits. Registration is recommended at oak-ky.org/farmer-field-days-2022. Cost is $5 for OAK Members; $10 for non-Members. Funding for this event is made possible by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service.

FSMA - PSA Grower Food Safety Training - Registration Deadline
2022-05-24
PSA – FSMA Grower Training Course – Remote
Deadline to apply May 24, 2022
Training May 31, 2022 8 am until 5 pm
As a reminder this course is required for all KY farms who has produce sales with an average annual of $25,000.
If there are any questions please direct them to Casey Newcomb (casey.newcomb@uky.edu).

MarketReady Advanced: Packaging & Labeling
2022-05-26 11:30 - 13:00 UTC
The MarketReady Producer Training Program and it’s Advanced Topics are free (when lead virtually) for farmers and producers, processors, county extension agents, etc. interested in selling their products (fresh produce, value-added items, etc.) to restaurants, grocers/wholesalers/retailers, and schools. Producers and farmers should feel confident about what is being asked of them from potential buyers (restaurants, grocers, schools, etc.) after this training. This program provides extension agents with the knowledge and tools to assist farmers and producers in their county who are interested in selling to restaurants, grocers, schools, etc.
This Advanced Topic webinar is an in-depth conversation about packaging and labeling. Here, we will focus on frequently asked questions about packaging and labeling, hear from a special guest speaker from the industry, and have time for discussion or open conversation at the end. This webinar is for people who have attended a MarketReady Core Producer Training. Each training will be limited to 30 participants — so be sure to register soon! You may register up to 24 hours prior to the training date.

FSMA PSA Grower Food Safety Training
2022-05-31 08:00 - 17:00 UTC
Fruit and vegetables growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), co-management, and the proposed FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule would benefit greatly from this training. Additionally, any growers who would like to meet the proposed Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in §112.22 (c): “At least one supervisor from the farm must complete food safety training at least equivalent to the standardized curriculum recognized by the FDA.” Note: Completion of this course is a regulatory requirement for all Kentucky fruit and vegetable growers with over $25,000 in yearly sales and those growers seeking a Qualified Exemption.

Topics to be covered:

Introduction to Produce Safety
Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
Soil Amendments
Wildlife, Domestic Animals, and Land Use
Agricultural Water
Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module. There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions.

MarketReady Advanced: Insurance & Communication
2022-06-02 11:30 - 13:00 UTC
The MarketReady Producer Training Program and it’s Advanced Topics are free (when lead virtually) for farmers and producers, processors, county extension agents, etc. interested in selling their products (fresh produce, value-added items, etc.) to restaurants, grocers/wholesalers/retailers, and schools. Producers and farmers should feel confident about what is being asked of them from potential buyers (restaurants, grocers, schools, etc.) after this training. This program provides extension agents with the knowledge and tools to assist farmers and producers in their county who are interested in selling to restaurants, grocers, schools, etc.
This Advanced Topic webinar is an in-depth conversation about insurance and communication. Here, we will focus on frequently asked questions about insurance and communication, hear from a special guest speaker from the industry, and have time for discussion or open conversation at the end. This webinar is for people who have attended a MarketReady Core Producer Training. Each training will be limited to 30 participants — so be sure to register soon! You may register up to 24 hours prior to the training date.

MarketReady Advanced: Quality Assurance
2022-06-09 12:00 - 13:30 UTC
The MarketReady Producer Training Program and it’s Advanced Topics are free (when lead virtually) for farmers and producers, processors, county extension agents, etc. interested in selling their products (fresh produce, value-added items, etc.) to restaurants, grocers/wholesalers/retailers, and schools. Producers and farmers should feel confident about what is being asked of them from potential buyers (restaurants, grocers, schools, etc.) after this training. This program provides extension agents with the knowledge and tools to assist farmers and producers in their county who are interested in selling to restaurants, grocers, schools, etc.
This Advanced Topic webinar is an in-depth conversation about quality assurance. Here, we will focus on frequently asked questions about quality assurance, hear from a special guest speaker from the industry, and have time for discussion or open conversation at the end. This webinar is for people who have attended a MarketReady Core Producer Training. Each training will be limited to 30 participants — so be sure to register soon! You may register up to 24 hours prior to the training date.

Crop Insurance Webinar: Refresher and Webinar Recap
2022-06-14 12:30 - 13:00 UTC
In our next webinar in our Crop Insurance series, we will be doing a refresher of some of the policies and programs we’ve learned about, and we will review some of the great webinars we’ve had over the last year. Join us on June 14th at 12:30 pm ET|11:30 am CT. To register for the live webinars, use the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvf-iuqDgtG9PpErwxskqi8kZ3fVIRaULI

MarketReady Advanced: Logistics & Distribution
2022-06-16 11:30 - 13:00 UTC
The MarketReady Producer Training Program and it’s Advanced Topics are free (when lead virtually) for farmers and producers, processors, county extension agents, etc. interested in selling their products (fresh produce, value-added items, etc.) to restaurants, grocers/wholesalers/retailers, and schools. Producers and farmers should feel confident about what is being asked of them from potential buyers (restaurants, grocers, schools, etc.) after this training. This program provides extension agents with the knowledge and tools to assist farmers and producers in their county who are interested in selling to restaurants, grocers, schools, etc.
This Advanced Topic webinar is an in-depth conversation about logistics and distribution. Here, we will focus on frequently asked questions about logistics and distribution, hear from a special guest speaker from the industry, and have time for discussion or open conversation at the end. This webinar is for people who have attended a MarketReady Core Producer Training. Each training will be limited to 30 participants — so be sure to register soon! You may register up to 24 hours prior to the training date.

KY Green Industry Summer Summit
2022-06-22 08:00 - 2022-06-23 17:00 UTC
Registration Opens April 1
June 22 – Bus tour, evening reception at Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, and networking
June 23 – Educational sessions

MarketReady Advanced: Marketing
2022-06-23 11:30 - 13:00 UTC
The MarketReady Producer Training Program and it’s Advanced Topics are free (when lead virtually) for farmers and producers, processors, county extension agents, etc. interested in selling their products (fresh produce, value-added items, etc.) to restaurants, grocers/wholesalers/retailers, and schools. Producers and farmers should feel confident about what is being asked of them from potential buyers (restaurants, grocers, schools, etc.) after this training. This program provides extension agents with the knowledge and tools to assist farmers and producers in their county who are interested in selling to restaurants, grocers, schools, etc.
This Advanced Topic webinar is an in-depth conversation about marketing. Here, we will focus on frequently asked questions about marketing, hear from a special guest speaker from the industry, and have time for discussion or open conversation at the end. This webinar is for people who have attended a MarketReady Core Producer Training. Each training will be limited to 30 participants — so be sure to register soon! You may register up to 24 hours prior to the training date.

Kentucky Grown Cut Flower Month
2022-07-01 - 2022-07-31
July is American-Grown Flower Month, and locally we celebrate Kentucky Grown Cut Flower Month to highlight the abundance of locally-grown cut flowers and farmers who grow them on on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
This year, promotion on Facebook with be done on a new, consolidated Facebook Group for all things KY Cut Flower!

Miller's Farm Tour & Farm-to-Table Dinner
2022-07-15 13:00 - 22:00 UTC
Join Black Soil KY and Miller’s Farm on Friday, July 15 in Lincoln County for an unforgettable Farm Tour & Farm-to-Table Dinner experience with Miller’s Farm presented by Central Kentucky Ag Credit!
Time: 3:00pm-10:00pm
Depart from Lexington at 1:00pm EST
Cost: $40 per person plus taxes and fees; $20 per youth under 12
Transportation: Group Transportation from Lexington is included
Activities Include:
Farmer-Led Tour
3-Course Farm to Table Dinner
Networking
Roadside Stand
This event is presented by Miller’s Farm and hosted by Black Soil KY.
Questions? Please contact events@blacksoilky.com

Nature’s Best Hope with Doug Tallamy
2022-07-20 08:00 - 17:00 UTC
Prof. Doug Tallamy ”Nature’s Best Hope” talk at the University of Louisville and for Saturday’s climate-resilient gardening tour at Bernheim!
Prof. Tallamy’s talk is at 6 p.m. Friday July 22 at the University of Louisvile’s Bingham Humanities Building, Room 100. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a spread of healthy, sustainable appetizers courtesy of Amazing Graze catering. Prof. Tallamy will present via Zoom to this in-person gathering, but a zoom option for participants is also available for those unable to attend in person.
Event requires advance online registration!
Tickets at bernheim.org/events

Climate-resilient Gardening at Bernheim
2022-07-23 10:00 - 11:30 UTC
Don’t miss this great educational opportunity!
Saturday, July 23, 10-11:30 a.m.
Climate-resilient Gardening Takeaways
Walking tour by Bernheim Director of Horticulture and Sustainable Landscapes Renee Frith
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED at bernheim.org/events
This on-site tour highlights some of our climate-resilient gardening practices at Bernheim, all meant to be replicable in your own back yard. Renee will show you how you can make your yard a more natural and healthy place! Limit: 20 people. Meet in front of the Visitor Center.
