Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Susan Fox
Major Program: Tobacco
Tobacco farmers are facing increased need to comply with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) requirements. In cooperation with the local farmers, a GAP training has been held for two years in Lyon County for 99 tobacco farmers and their H2-A workers in 2018 and for 110 farmers and workers in 2019. The program has included collaboration with the Western Kentucky Regional Migrant Education Program, the Department of Labor, local farmers, and local emergency services. This year CPR training was offer
Author: Samuel Cofield
Major Program: Tobacco
The Trigg County Cooperative Extension Service in conjunction with the Trigg County Ag Committee host events throughout the year to increase public knowledge of agriculture. It is important to all involved in agriculture to inform the increasingly urban population about their farming practices so that they can understand and appreciate how important farming is to the local economy. The tour is designed to give attendees a firsthand look at modern farming and conservation methods. &n
Author: Ricky Arnett
Major Program: Tobacco
Agriculture seems to be a diminishing population but this year Green County grew in numbers. One young man and his family looked toward extension for support and help. This family had no land land but access to land. He had very little experience in agriculture but at the same time realized how important agriculture is and wanted their kids to understand also. They approached me with a plan and a goal in mind but wanting guidance in pursuing this dream. Through educational programs and several o
Author: Jay Hettmansperger
Major Program: Tobacco
The Garrard County Extension Service has sponsored a local tobacco cutting contest for 39 years. The contest is one of the communities' largest events of the year with over 400 people attending. Tobacco production has declined dramaticaly since the buyout in the year 2000 but tobacco is still a major source of income for farmers in Garrard County. The Cutting Contest is an community effort supported by local businesses and individuals. The contest showcases the hard labor involved in h
Author: Christopher Schalk
Major Program: Tobacco
Barren and Metcalfe counties are two of the top tobacco producing counties in Kentucky. Although, total production is down compared to previous years, tobacco still maintains it's spot as one of the top agricultural commodities in the region. Since 2014 all major tobacco companies have required producers to be trained in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in order to market tobacco. This is due to an increasing concern for consumer health as well as the health and safety of those that work in
Author: Robert Pearce
Major Program: Tobacco
US Tobacco GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) is an industry led program designed to insure that tobacco growers in the United States are well informed and follow the best practices for the production of all types of tobacco. Kentucky is the second leading producer of tobacco behind North Carolina, but has the most tobacco growers of any state due to the relatively smaller farm size. Tobacco growers are required to attend an annual training session conducted by Cooperative Extension Specialists.
Author: Robert Pearce
Major Program: Tobacco
A hemp field day was conducted at Spindletop research farm on August 21, 2019 to showcase research on the production of hemp in Kentucky. Over 500 attendees at the field day were recorded. Attendees had their choice to attend up the 3 different tours from a total of six tours (18 total speakers). Six posters were also presented at the field day. Attendees were recorded from 12 different states and counties all over Kentucky.
Author: Robert Pearce
Major Program: Tobacco
University of Kentucky was host to a meeting of the S-1084 Multi State Hemp Project on August 22 and 23rd. We welcomed participants from 20+ states to Lexington. I organized a tour of our research plots and visits to local hemp industry partners. Hosting this meeting elevated the status of the hemp program at the University of Kentucky.
Author: William Bailey
Major Program: Tobacco
I currently have a split multi-state extension appointment where 75% of my appointment is with the University of Kentucky and 25% of my time is with the University of Tennessee. This split appointment has worked well for the last eighteen years to serve the dark tobacco growers of both states, as dark tobacco is a regional crop that is almost evenly split between the western areas of both states in a region between Nashville TN and Owensboro KY. I have had a counterpart extension spe
Author: William Bailey
Major Program: Tobacco
There has been a growing demand for air-cured cigar wrapper tobacco in the last 2 years in the dark and burley tobacco production areas of Kentucky and Tennessee. Connecticut Broadleaf is a type of tobacco that has traditionally been grown in certain areas of Connecticut and Massachusetts, but the growing demand for this type has caused tobacco dealers purchasing this type to encourage production in other areas of the country. Cigar wrapper tobacco is a lower-yielding type of tobacco compa
Author: Gary Bell
Major Program: Tobacco
Barren and Metcalfe counties are two of the top tobacco producing counties in Kentucky. Although, total production is down compared to previous years, tobacco still maintains it's spot as one of the top agricultural commodities in the region. Since 2014 all major tobacco companies have required producers to be trained in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in order to market tobacco. This is due to an increasing concern for consumer health as well as the health and safety of those that work in
Author: Samuel Cofield
Major Program: Tobacco
Tobacco production remains a very important part of the Ag economy for many Trigg County producers making up 17% of the total Crop sales. For producers, new diseases, increased regulations and as always the weather in 2019 made producing a high quality, high yielding crop very difficult. Trigg and Caldwell Counties have worked together to put on an educational meeting each year to help them find answers to the issues they are facing in the field. This year more than 50 producer
