Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Meagan Diss
Major Program: Grains
Union County is known not only for the quality of grain produced but also the quantity. Although 2020 has been anything but ordinary, farmers still had their crops to grow. As this was my first yield contest for the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, I wanted to grow involvement through the number of yield contest checks performed. Farmers started harvest for Union County in the early part of September and within a few days, yield contest entries were received. Being able to g
Author: Chad Lee
Major Program: Grains
Decades ago, our predecessors in Pant and Soil Sciences (Agronomy at that time) visited Argentina and taught farmers there how to raise crops in no-tillage conditions. Today, they have an Argentinian No-Tillage Farmers Association (Aapresid), which hosts a conference every year and has thousands of attendees. I was invited to speak at the 2020 Aapresid Congress. We had to do the conference virtually instead of in-person (like many other meetings this year). My presentation was on no-tillage and
Author: Chad Lee
Major Program: Grains
A very large farming consortium in the United States is interested in implementing more no-tillage practices in their farms. These farms span the United States are well in excess of 100,000 acres. Dan Quinn, Hanna Poffenbarger and I presented on the various successes and challenges with no-tillage farming. There were about 30 people present on the Microsoft Teams conference. This is a long-term impact because of the decades of no-tillage research and extension at the University of Kentucky. Is i
Author: Chad Lee
Major Program: Grains
People from a farm supply company had a farmer who had corn that appeared to be nutrient deficient in specific patterns across fields. The patterns appeared to be consistent with the GPS map of the fertilizer applications. We walked the fields, I examined the corn for other potential problems, such as restricted roots, weeds, etc., and we pulled plants for tissue analysis. There was one area in one field where weeds were a problem. They had been controlled recently, but had affected the corn cro
Author: Traci Johnson
Major Program: Grains
University of Kentucky researchers have been looking at cereal rye as a crop for Kentucky farmers for the past several years. Known and used as a cover crop, cereal rye is now being looked at as a potential income source for farming operations. On-farm research is being conducted to test agronomic practices and to show that Kentucky can be a reliable rye source for distillers, bakers, and millers. Oldham County is located to many nearby distillers, and in 2013, a craft distille
Author: Clinton Hardy
Major Program: Grains
Crossing Through This: Managing Farm and Family in 2020 Through this COVID-19 period, agriculture has continued the normal seasonal activities but has not been without feeling the effect of how life has changed because of COVID. Home school, internet church, personal isolation and countless businesses closed has changed how life is lived and we do not yet know what normal will become. Certainly, vaccine to treat and protect
Author: Clinton Hardy
Major Program: Grains
Law in Kentucky requires private pesticide applicator training every three years. In the era of covid, meeting in person is limited so the January Ag Expo educational program adopted a Zoom format that allowed participants to renew certification from the comfort and safety of their own home. Increasing grain prices since harvest has created a lot of excitement for the upcoming growing season, with CFAP round three set to deposit, 2021 could be another profitable year in grain and liv
Author: Curtis Judy
Major Program: Grains
Covid-19 had a large impact on Agricultural Extension programming over the past year. Work rules have dictated that we have minimal contact with people when possible, and that we wear face masks and social distance around clients. These circumstances created unique opportunities to be involved in Extension projects that required minimal direct contact with clients. This year, plant pathology specialist Dr. Carl Bradley requested soil samples from soybean fields to survey for pl
Author: Chuck Flowers
Major Program: Grains
Every winter producers attend numerous in-person meetings held by extension on various row crop related topics, but due to Covid-19 these in-person meeting were not held. The Carlisle County and Fulton County Ag Agents developed a 5 part series to provide information to the producers in their area an opportunity to receive these updates, interact with the Specialist, and maintain social distancing, all from the comfort of their living room or office.The agents scheduled 5 Monday evening se
Author: Samantha Anderson
Major Program: Grains
Soybean production in Kentucky comprises approximately 1.3 million acres of agricultural land use. Revenue from this crop accounts for $300 million statewide. Since the 1950s, soybean production began to gain popularity. In the American production agriculture system. Currently, soybean production constitutes for the second largest row crop (based on acreage) in the Untied States Beginning in 1980, an annual soybean yield contest has been held in Kentucky. Administered by the University of K
Author: Susan Fox
Major Program: Grains
Lyon County Extension and farmers have assisted University of Kentucky grain crops pathology and entomology researchers for two years. Participation has included two years of soybean cyst nematode sampling in five fields each year, two years of checking for other soybean nematodes, a check for corn nematodes in five fields, and two years of sampling of corn residue in three fields for a research project looking at the correlation of diseases in corn to surface residue. In addition, this spring f
Author: David Appelman
Major Program: Grains
Left over seed often happens on farms due to many unforeseen circumstances. Planting delays due to weather, loss of crop acres due to property sales, or changes in market that alters planting decisions. The problem with left over seed is that it will have lower germination rates if any at all. One local producer brought seed to the Bracken County Extension office for a germination test to determine if it could be salvages after a year in storage. This seed was treated wit
Author: Carrie Knott
Major Program: Grains
In 2021 freezing temperatures occurred that could have resulted in spring freeze damage in KY’s small grains crops. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated event. Within the past 5 years, there have been two significant freeze events: 2017 and 2020. Significant damage occurred in 2020. However, all other years freeze damage did not reduce grain yield. The “success” of the 2021 freeze event demonstrates both short and long te
Author: Adam Huber
Major Program: Grains
2020 SOKY Commercial Pesticide Training Applying pesticides to lawns/landscapes and crops is a great method to keeping those plants safe and healthy throughout the growing season. The Most important thing is knowing how to apply those pesticides safely and being up to date with laws and regulations concerning pesticide use. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed how Extension Agents are able to deliver quality educational programs to our clientele durin
Author: Benjamin Rudy
Major Program: Grains
Private Applicator Trainings are a normal yearly program for Agriculture Agents across the state of Kentucky, but throw in a global pandemic with restrictions on public meetings, distancing guideline, cleaning requirements, and considerations of the health of your clients the meeting format has to adapt drastically. Private applicator trainings are required for any producer purchasing or applying restricted use chemicals on their farming operation and is valid for 3 years. During the
Author: Benjamin Rudy
Major Program: Grains
Fulton County has been in a long partnership with the University of Tennessee County Standardized Test for Corn and Soybeans. The objective of the trials are to collect yield data from on farm tests for the various varieties of corn and soybeans that can be compiled to provide research based information to the producer on average yield of the varieties submitted for these tests. The producers in Fulton County feel this is reliable data from their county that provides them infor
Author: Kelsey Mehl
Major Program: Grains
For the past few years, the University of Kentucky has been hosting the state Crop Scouting competition for high school at the Research and Education Center in Princeton, KY. This competition is to test the knowledge of the teams in various aspects of agronomy, including soil science, weed science and plant pathology. The top two teams then move to the national competition where they can compete against other teams all over the nation. During the 202
Author: Kelsey Mehl
Major Program: Grains
During the 2020 year, the pandemic significantly affected our workflow. We had to shift all our in-person meetings to online zoom and learn how to work with reduced numbers and more physical space. Due to these constraints, our communication had to increase due to the limited amount that we were allowed to act in person. I was able to learn how to communicate more concisely over video meetings, and how to more effectively tea
Author: Colby Guffey
Major Program: Grains
The ANR Agent helped enroll a cooperating producer in the cereal rye project being conducted by UK Extension and American Farmland Trust. The cooperating producer was already interested growing cereal rye for cover crop seed production. The cereal rye project afforded the producer the opportunity to learn to grow cereal rye with minimal risk. Cereal rye grown in Kentucky is primarily used for cover crops, the intent of the project was to determine the quality of the grain as it
Author: Ricky Arnett
Major Program: Grains
As an Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources myself and other agents across the state were contacted by American Farmland Trust to participate in a cereal rye project being conduct by American Farmland Trust and University of Kentucky Extension Service for research. Myself along with other agents across the state was selected to participate. This project allowed producers to participate and gain knowledge within the rye industry with minimal risk. Green County’s produce
Author: Carl Bradley
Major Program: Grains
The soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is the most destructive soybean pathogen in the United States. In 2019, the soybean cyst nematode caused an estimated loss of over 77 million bushels in the U.S., with an estimated loss of over 2 million bushels in Kentucky. These bushels lost were worth over $673 million in the U.S. and over $18 million in Kentucky. Testing for SCN in fields is the first step in managing this important pathogen of soybean. Beginning in the Fall of 2019 and continuing
Author: Carl Bradley
Major Program: Grains
Foliar fungicide use in agronomic field crops has increased greatly over the last decade. This increased use of foliar fungicides has resulted in an increased risk of development of fungicide resistant strains of important plant pathogens. With support from the United Soybean Board, the Kentucky Small Grain Growers’ Association, and industry partners, Dr. Bradley’s program evaluates for fungicide-resistant pathogens of soybean and wheat in Kentucky and across the U.S. Working wi
Author: Colette Laurent
Major Program: Grains
How do we get pertinent and timely Grain Crop information to our stakeholders in the absence of in-person field days and county meetings? The Grain Crops Group and Wheat Science Group are interdisciplinary groups of scientist and researchers who work collaboratively to address this need. 2020/21 became a “meet them where they are” year. To accomplish this goal, we produced Virtual field days and meetings which reached more than 350 participants. We provided YouTube
Author: Colette Laurent
Major Program: Grains
Screen-time fatigue and lack of engagement became an issue over the course of the year. Engaging stakeholders during events is critical for disseminating new information and addressing any concerns or questions. To overcome this obstacle, the Wheat Science Group teamed up with the Dirt 2 Dollars Podcast Crew made up of County Extension agents to produce a Wheat Webinar to help facilitate a more relaxed and freer flowing program. Extension Specialist discussed and answered audience qu
Author: Chuck Flowers
Major Program: Grains
Producers are striving to improve yields and profitability. In the four river counties 20,445,125 bushels of corn are produced each year. Producers need information from UK crop, weed, insect and economic specialist to increase yields. They also receive information from seed, crop and chemical representatives. Taking all this information into play and plugging in data to increase yields is a must to stay in the game. Farmers strive to increase yields to help feed the worl
Author: Patrick Hardesty
Major Program: Grains
Taylor County ranks 35th in the state for grain production. Due to previous successful fungicide application trials using a drone, some producers are adopting drone application instead of application with helicopter in corn. With some of our small tree lined fields with poor air drainage where disease pressure his high, a drone is a more effective application method. Of the approximately 13,500 acres of corn, approximately 9,000 acres are on books to be sprayed with a fungicide
Author: Patrick Hardesty
Major Program: Grains
After the introduction of glyphosate in the mid 1970’s, it was primarily used as a burndown herbicide in corn and soybeans. Since the introduction of Roundup Ready crops in 1996, glyphosate has been used widely for burndown and in-crop weed control with the increase in use and many dropping pre-emerge herbicides from their weed control program weeds have become resistant. Two weeds, palmer amaranth and waterhemp, were identified as resistant in 2005. These pigweeds are v
Author: Chad Lee
Major Program: Grains
The Kentucky Corn Growers, Kentucky Soybean Board and Kentucky Small Grain Growers organized a series of farm visits with Rebecca Goodman, Secretary of the Energy and Environment Cabinet for Governor Andy Beshear. They invited several faculty with the Grain and Forage Center of Excellence to meet with farmers and Secretary Goodman at the Hardin County Extension Office. Dean Cox's office organized a short introduction of our college and how we support agriculture and the environment. The foll
Author: Raul Villanueva
Major Program: Grains
I conducted two webinars delivering information on the management of the sugarcane aphid for Mexico and South America. Webinars were delivered in Spanish and they were broadcast via Microsoft Teams Meeting (MSTM) and Facebook. The audience for each of these events reached to >200 on MSTM whereas Facebook audience was not tallied. Audience included growers, consultants, chemical industry workers and students. The counties involved in South America were Colombia and Bolivia, places that sugarca
Author: Raul Villanueva
Major Program: Grains
I participated in the Kentuckiana pre-recorded video conference event in December 2020. This event is multi-state meeting with participants from Kentucky and Indiana. The event had presentations recorded and at least 197 people registered for this event, however they were available on demand for a couple of months. The topic I covered was on “The Biology of the Soybean Stem Borer, its Natural Enemies, Effects on Yields and Management”. These presentations were conducted using digital
Author: Raul Villanueva
Major Program: Grains
I participated presenting at the 2020 (July28) and 2021 (29 June) Pest Management Field Days. These two events were organized by Dr. Legleiter, the first was virtual while the second was in person. They were successfully completed considering the COVID 2019 for the first and as first in person field day at the UKREC since 2019 fro the second. In 2021 there were 67 attendees at the event and and collected surveys from 33 individuals at the conclusion of the event. 83% of the participants consider
Author: Patrick Hardesty
Major Program: Grains
Cereal rye in Kentucky is known as a cover or silage crop. On-farm research through the Kentucky Commercial Rye Cover Crop Initiative is being conducted to test agronomic practices to demonstrate if Kentucky can be a reliable source of rye for distillers, millers and bakers. Temperature and humidity are two climate parameters which greatly affect quality and yield during pollination and grain fill. To record these parameters, the Taylor County Extension Service purchased a wea
Author: Raul Villanueva
Major Program: Grains
The Kentucky Agriculture Training School this in person event on May 20, 2021. Extension specialists offered trainings on a diversity of topics. In this opportunity the training was directed to help the clientele in scouting techniques for field crops pests or recognize growth stages of corn and soybeans as well as the ID of weed. Presenters included in this event were Drs. E. Ritchey and J. Grove (Soil, nutrients, and crop growth), C. Knott (Soybean growth staging), C. Lee (Corn growth staging)
Author: Sam McNeill
Major Program: Grains
The USDA Rural Development Office in Kentucky and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board made cost-share funds available in 2020 for energy efficiency projects on farms and small rural businesses. Both programs required an energy assessment as part of the cost-share application. Cooperative Extension Service engineers from the UK Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department were asked to provide technical assistance in the form of energy assessments for potential program applicants. T
Author: Sam McNeill
Major Program: Grains
Kentucky grain farmers produced a total of 376.5 million bushels of corn, soybeans and wheat in 2020 and generated over $2.4 billion in gross income (nass.usda.gov/ky). Most of the production area lies in the western half of the state, where the UK Grain and Forage Center of Excellence is housed at the Research and Education Center in Princeton. The CAFE maintains a core group of extension and research specialists from five departments at this location to provide unbiased scientific information
Author: Raul Villanueva
Major Program: Grains
The Kentucky soybean board provided some funds to study these beetle species in 2020 and as a result I presented this information to an online audience du to the pandemic restrictions. The event was organized by Dr. Bessin and there were many speakers on filed crops in the morning and vegetables and fruits in the afternoon. The audience was thankful, there was a great feedback about the presentations. There were about 90 people for the morning session and about 50 for the afternoon. For my prese
Author: Raul Villanueva
Major Program: Grains
The Kentucky soybean board provided some funds to study these beetle species in 2020 and as a result I presented this information to an online audience du to the pandemic restrictions. The event was organized by Dr. Bessin and there were many speakers on filed crops in the morning and vegetables and fruits in the afternoon. The audience was thankful, there was a great feedback about the presentations. There were about 90 people for the morning session and about 50 for the afternoon. For my
Author: Raul Villanueva
Major Program: Grains
The title of my presentation for this zoom prerecorded event was “Management of Bean Leaf Beetles, and an Update of Potential Soybean Pests in 2020”. This was a VIRTUAL CORN AND SOYBEAN FIELD DAY due to COVID-19 restrictions. The audience was appreciative, there were some positive comments about the presentations. There were about 60 people for my session
