BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Martin County welcomed a new Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources earlier this month. David Pelphrey, hailing from Johnson County, assumed the position in July and brings with him a wealth of experience in the field of agriculture.

Pelphrey’s background is diverse. He has served as an agriculture teacher in high schools and worked as an animal nutrition sales manager. He is eager to leverage his expertise to benefit the community.

“I want to reach out to all the folks with an interest in agriculture in a way that I can be of service to them,” Pelphrey expressed. “I want to try to diversify programs and join other counties to develop agriculture here in the county and therefore provide more economic opportunities.”

As the Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Pelphrey aims to offer a wide range of services to support local farmers and residents. Among the services he plans to provide are soil testing, plant disease diagnosis, plant identification, feed analysis, ration balancing, farm management and planning assistance, and support for agricultural businesses.

“We offer a variety of educational services and help to solve problems,” Pelphrey stated. “All of our answers are research-based. If you have a question, give me a call, and we’ll try to get the answer for you.”

Residents who wish to benefit from Pelphrey’s and the University of Kentucky’s expertise and agricultural services can call him at 606-298-7742. The Martin County Cooperative Extension Office is located at 9 Holy Street in Inez.