Success Stories By MajorProgram FY2022Jul 1, 2021 - Jun 30, 2022





UK’s Ag Ecosystems Science Student Tour part of the River Counties

Author: Benjamin Rudy

Major Program: Grains

UK’s Ag Ecosystems Science Student Tour part of the River Counties

UK’s Ag Ecosystems Science Student Tour part of the River CountiesOn August 16, 2021, Nine students, Dr. David McNear, and Dr. Carrie Knott visited Fulton and Hickman County Row Crop Producers to gain a better understanding of Row Crop Production in the River Counties.  This trip was part of a new course being offered in Agronomy, that consisted of touring several areas in Kentucky along with visiting the experiment stations.During their visit, the Fulton County Agriculture and Natura

Full Story

WAVE AG Day 2021

Author: Chuck Flowers

Major Program: Grains

 WAVE AG Day 2021

   With 83.53% of the land in all four river counties used for crop production, agriculture holds a strong presence in these counties.  A one billion dollar impact and $359,967,000 worth of products sold across 960 farms- WAVE AG Day highlights agriculture in Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, and Hickman County.    The 4th year for the event, River Counties WAVE AG Day, was held in Fulton County at the Riverfront in Hickman City on July 22nd from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm.  

Full Story

Daviess County Extension grain variety demonstration plots for corn and soybeans

Author: Clinton Hardy

Major Program: Grains

Land utilized for corn and soybean production comprises approximately 148,000 acres, nearly 50%, of Daviess County’s land surface.  Combined, their gross value annually meets or exceeds 200 million dollars.  The Daviess County Extension grain variety demonstration plots for corn and soybeans are the most trusted and relied upon source of data chosen by farmers and landowners when selecting brands to plant on their farms.  Major regional and national seed suppliers contact th

Full Story

Central Kentucky Grain Producers Seminar

Author: Beau Neal

Major Program: Grains

Central Kentucky Grain Producers Seminar

With inputs costs increasing every day and volatile grain crop markets keeping those producers on edge, up to date information from all aspects of the industry are welcomed.  The 2022 Central Kentucky Grain Producers Seminar held at the Fayette County Extension Office provided just that information to producers looking to cut costs and widen margins, all while still remaining sustainable and efficient.  Topics covered were Agronomics, Farm Managment Decisions, Economics, Grain Storage,

Full Story

Supporting the wheat industry and clarifying the ban of Chlorpyrifos

Author: Raul Villanueva

Major Program: Grains

Carl Schwinke, VP for Grain Supply of Siemer Milling Co. solicited a clarification on the use of chlorpyrifos. On Feb 28, 2022, the EPA banned this product that is used as active ingredient of many insecticides (Lorsban, Dursban Pro, Cobalt, Govern, Lorsban Advanced, Warhawk), and as an insecticide (Storicide) used for the protection of small grains, corn, and soybeans. My report explained the process of this ban, provided information on other products that can be used to replace these products,

Full Story

Rapid Response to Provide Alternative Insecticides to manage the Fall Armyworm Outbreak of 2021 Avoided Major Losses in Double Crop Soybeans

Author: Raul Villanueva

Major Program: Grains

By mid to end of June 2021 there were reports of fall armyworm (FAW) outbreaks affecting forages, pastures, and double soybeans. This was happening in several counties of Central and Western Kentucky from La Center to Bowling Green (Ballard and Warren Counties, respectively). This fall armyworm strain was not affected by pyrethroid insecticides. I provided a rapid report by mid-July and sent this to all ANR-CEA of Kentucky as well as the Kentucky Soybean Association. Also, I published this in th

Full Story

Research results on control of mollusks provided management solutions to soybean farmers

Author: Raul Villanueva

Major Program: Grains

Research results on control of mollusks provided management solutions to soybean farmers

I am studying mollusk damage in soybean since 2017. Mollusk attacks were very rare then; however, they have become more frequent and destructive in recent years. Irreversible damage occurs when small seedlings are attacked, consequently soybean stand can be considerably reduced, and replanting is the only solution. Replanting brings about drawbacks such as harvest delay and economical losses. I developed management practices that include the damage caused by mollusks, scouting for them, and

Full Story

Fungicide Application with Drone

Author: Patrick Hardesty

Major Program: Grains

Taylor County ranks 35th in the state for grain production.  Due to previous successful fungicide trials with drones in Adair, Green and Taylor Counties, two local producers have purchased drones to spray fungicides on their corn crops.  Drones have proved to be as effective as a helicopter for fungicide applications.  Due to lack of helicopter availability and poor timing has stimulated the purchase of farmer owned drones.  By owning drones, producers are better able to time

Full Story

Assisting With An Emergency Corn Nitrogen Fertilization Decision

Author: John Grove

Major Program: Grains

Received a phone call from a field corn producer, Jerry Peery, in Hickman County. He and his grandson, Jonathan, have a corn crop that has not received rain in several weeks, but is at a growth stage where nitrogen (N) fertilizer must be applied soon. No rain is in the forecast. They apply the N to the soil surface, avoiding soil disturbance in their rolling topography, and are worried about volatilization losses when using the urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) liquid fertilizer they normally dribble-

Full Story

Corn Fungicide Trial

Author: Colby Guffey

Major Program: Grains

Grain crop producers continually struggle each season with the decision of whether to apply a fungicide to the corn crop or not.  A local producer called the ANR Agent to inquire about setting up a fungicide trial on corn at tassel.  A new startup company utilizing a drone to aerial apply fungicides to crops was contacted about participating in the trial.  The Clinton and Cumberland Co. ANR Agents cooperated on this project, setting up replicated plots with four reps being treated

Full Story

Tri-County Educational Group Series

Author: Jay Stone

Major Program: Grains

Tri-County Ag Extension Group Educational Series Tri-County Ag Extension Group consists of Agriculture and Natural Resources Agents in Webster, McLean and Hopkins Counties.  The counties are not only alike geographically, but also agriculturally.  Many producers in the tri-county area farm in all three counties.  With specialist demand during the “winter meeting season” coupled with travel constraints, moving toward multi-county educational opportunities just make

Full Story

KATS Drone Pilot Class Held 10 Days Following Devastating Tornado.

Author: Teresa Rogers

Major Program: Grains

The Kentucky Agriculture Training School had a 2-day Drone Pilot Certification Workshop scheduled for Dec 20-21, 2021 at UKREC in Princeton, KY.  This training took extensive planning to coordinate.  The instructor, Mandy Briggs,  was scheduled to travel from Illinois, ordering and printing materials was completed, and I was in direct contact with each participant to guide them in scheduling their testing time and place that would follow the class, and also helped coordinate hotel

Full Story

Third KATS Drone Pilot Class Held in Eastern KY

Author: Teresa Rogers

Major Program: Grains

The Kentucky Agriculture Training School held two successful Drone Pilot Certification Workshops, one in December 2021, and the next on in March 2022.  Both of these classes were held in Western KY, however, there was a strong request for one to be held in Eastern KY.  With the help of Elliot Co. Extension Agent Jacob Ison, we were able to make that happen in June 2022.  I corresponded with the instructor who flew the distance from Champaign Illinois to teach the class in Morehead

Full Story

New approach to grain production programming

Author: Vicki Shadrick

Major Program: Grains

New approach to grain production programming

Crop production is a major part of the agriculture economies in Western Kentucky, with Corn, Soybeans, and wheat being the major crops produced in most counties. To meet the needs of producers, Ag agents in Hopkins, McLean, and Webster Counties have worked together to identify the educational needs of Grain Producers and develop programs to meet those needs. In addition to the Tri-County plot work that has been done in the past, agents have worked to provide additional opportunities and del

Full Story

Development of "Scabinar", a successful multi-state webinar on management of Fusarium head blight of wheat

Author: Carl Bradley

Major Program: Grains

Fusarium head blight (also known as “scab”) of wheat is the most damaging disease that regularly occurs in Kentucky and other wheat growing states. Causing both yield and quality losses, this disease caused an estimated annual average loss of over 28 million bushels worth over $147 million in the United States between 2018 and 2021. Dr. Carl Bradley and two colleagues from North Dakota State University (Dr. Andrew Friskop) and the University of Idaho (Dr. Juliet Marshall) led th

Full Story

Maintaining a successful applied plant pathology research program in the wake of a tornado

Author: Carl Bradley

Major Program: Grains

On December 10, 2021, an EF-4 tornado destroyed the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center (UKREC) located in Princeton, KY. Dr. Carl Bradley runs an applied plant pathology research program on diseases of soybean and small grain crops (barley, rye, and wheat) based out of the UKREC. Unfortunately, the tornado destroyed all facilities (labs, offices, etc.) and equipment (lab equipment, field equipment, vehicles, etc.) associated with Dr. Bradley’s program. This provided sever

Full Story

2022 UK Wheat Field Day

Author: Colette Laurent

Major Program: Grains

The 2022 Wheat Field Day was held on May 10, 2022.  Holding this annual event was in question following the destruction caused by the December 10, 2021 tornado.  Although the wheat crop survived, the buildings, and equipment were not so fortunate.  What also survived was the Wheat Science Group‘s determination to deliver a quality program in spite of having no office to work out of.  In the face of these overwhelming circumstances, the Wheat Science Group delivered a qu

Full Story

Optimizing Fertilizer Placement Accuracy

Author: Timothy Stombaugh

Major Program: Grains

As fertilizer prices continue to increase, application accuracy becomes more important.  Unfortunately, granular fertilizer application equipment tends to be very inaccurate and inconsistent in material placement.  One of the biggest challenges for operators is understanding proper overlap between passes to achieve uniformity.  A national effort has developed a new standard that prescribes proper methodology to evaluate the distribution pattern from granular application equipment

Full Story

Fusarium Head Blight Control

Author: Timothy Stombaugh

Major Program: Grains

Fusarium Head Blight is currently the most economically important wheat disease in the U.S. and Canada.  Control of the disease requires complete coverage of fungicides on the maturing wheat head.  Collaborative efforts between Plant Pathologists and Biosystems and Agricultural Engineers have identified best management practices for applying fungicides to the crop.  They have evaluated the best nozzle technology and application methods to achieve proper chemical coverage and effic

Full Story

Competition Helps Teach Agronomy

Author: Daniel Carpenter

Major Program: Grains

The LaRue County Agriculture Extension Agent has worked with the High School Agriculture department with various programs over the years. One of the highlights each year is serving as a “coach” for the crop scouting team and preparing them for state and national crop scouting contest. The team has a history of doing well at the state contest, winning the inaugural competition, placing 2nd in its second year, and winning again in 2021. In 2021, the team also received first place in th

Full Story

Foliar Fertilizer Applications

Author: Conner Raymond

Major Program: Grains

One topic that normally comes up in a open discussion with producers is the use of foliar fertilizers. After multiple discussions about yield impacts and ROI of foliar fertilizer use on soybeans, one producer decide to spray 20 acres of "test strips" instead of a blanket application of 1000-1500 acres. This not only allowed this producer to make a more informed decision on inputs but also saved thousands of dollars and several hours of labor.

Full Story

Ag Water Quality Visiting a Farm

Author: Chad Lee

Major Program: Grains

The Kentucky Ag Water Quality working group visited a farm in western Kentucky where the farmer is using sod waterways, filter strips, cover crops and strip tillage in a crop rotation on his farm. The farmer discussed the costs of building sod waterways and showed us a neighboring farm that uses heavy tillage. Erosion from that farm puts sediment into the sod waterway and caused this farmer to have to re-build the waterways this past fall. This farm visit was helpful to all on the water working

Full Story

Irrigation Corn Presentation to Mexican Agriculturalists

Author: Chad Lee

Major Program: Grains

Presented information on how Kentucky farmers manage food-grade corn (yellow and white) with irrigation to agriculturalists in Mexico at the Intagri conference. This presentation was by Zoom. Kentucky exports a lot of food grade corn to Mexico. This was my second invitation to this conference. 

Full Story

Strip Tillage in Corn

Author: Chad Lee

Major Program: Grains

I facilitated a workshop where three farmers talked about how they are using strip tillage and cover crops to grow corn. This meeting was for farmers and sponsored by the Kentucky Corn Growers. There were several attendees who want to try to use strip tillage as well. This meeting spurred us to consider investigating strip tillage in corn. 

Full Story

Teaching Grains to Beam Distillers

Author: Chad Lee

Major Program: Grains

Through the James B Beam Institute, I tought 40 hours of grain crops management and grain quality to employees of James B. Beam Company. These employees were all working in the new Booker distillery. I introduced the cohort to at least four farmers from Kentucky and with help from JBBI personnel, we videoed corn growth and development over time, grain handling and some other activities as well. They are asking for another course. The apprentices in the cohort retained some basic crop management

Full Story

New calculator for grain drying and storage guidelines

Author: Sam McNeill

Major Program: Grains

New EMC calculator for KY grains_sm 2022.doc

Full Story