ANR and Horticulture Chemical ManagementPlan of Work

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McCracken County CES

Title:
ANR and Horticulture Chemical Management
MAP:
Agriculture/Horticulture
Agents Involved:
Wimberley, ANR
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Chemical Crop Management Tools
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Integrated Plant Pest Management
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Commercial Horticulture
Situation:

Chemical application at its best is simultaneously safe, effective, economical, and environmentally-conscious. Achieving each of these attributes for plant pest management is an ongoing educational process for a variety of applicator groups, including farm managers and workers, gardeners, crop advisors, point-of-sale employees, and industry and government agency representatives. This process will include educational sessions, hands-on demonstrations, test plots, coordinated recommendations, and site-specific farm visits by various extension personnel. In addition to timely and relevant updates on new chemicals, focus areas are chemical safety, efficacious usage, and integration of diversified approaches alongside chemicals. Attention to these foci will benefit not only applicators, but anyone who comes in contact with agricultural fields or uses Kentucky food, fuel, and fiber crops as part of everyday life.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Maximize profits for commercial ag producer


Minimize environmental impact of air, soil, or living area


Reduction of drift related complaints and damage


Reduction in rate of pesticide resistance developmentin pests, weeds, pathogens


Improve sustainability of crop production systems


Reduction of crop injury due to pesticide applications (rate, compatibility, application conditions)

Intermediate Outcomes:

Successfully complete

PAT and training workers in worker protection standards (WPS)


Use diagnostic services to identify insects, disease, weeds


Use diagnostic, agent, specialist recommendations


Compare chemical options based on time, availability, cost, companion tactics


Design effective spray schedules for plant pest management


Evaluate chemical storage,handling, and disposal


Adopt one or more storage,handling, disposal recommendations


Adopt recommended application techniques


Calibrate sprayer, select appropriate nozzles and pressure, test spray water


Record chemical use, frequency, timing, tank mixes


Post signage for recently applied chemicals


Select materials based on REI, PHI, residues


Communicate with owners/users of pesticide-sensitive areas (beeyards, sensitive crops, etc.)

Initial Outcomes:

Demonstrate proper use of

sprayers and equipment related to application (calibration, nozzle selection, boom height, etc.)


Identify active ingredients in chemical products and relate to modes of action


Read and comprehend directions

for applying chemicals (timing,

application conditions)


Name 2 or more companion tactics to be used alongside chemical approaches


Observe proper chemical handling, storage, and cleanup in home, farm, or business


Chemical selection, mixing,

compatibility, adjuvants


Understanding drift mitigation methods


Understanding IPM (triggers to spray, thresholds, etc.)


Identify pesticide-sensitive areas around fields


Increase understanding of homeowner/gardener pest management tactics

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Understanding there is a need for IPM

Indicator: Number of producers reporting an increase of awareness of IPM practices.

Method: Surveys, personal interviews and follow-up conversations

Timeline: Ongoing


Intermediate Outcome: Number of producers reporting use of a recording system

Indicator: Number of producers reporting use of IPM record keeping increase

Method: Surveys, personal interviews and follow-up conversations

Timeline: Ongoing


Long-term Outcome: Reduction of crop injury due to pesticide applications (rate, compatibility, application conditions)

Indicator: Amount of crop injury reported decreases

Method: Record of crop injury samples and call related to crop injury decreases

Timeline: Ongoing

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Producers

Project or Activity: Annual Commercial Pesticide Applicators Training

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications and PowerPoints

Inputs: UK Specialists and Agents time

Date: Fall and winter


Audience: Adults, specifically Master Gardeners, Farm managers and/or

owners,Farm workers,Non-English speaking audience(and interpreters),Farmer's market producers and vendors, Gardeners, Homeowners, Point-of-sale employees, Custom applicators, Landscape/ turf maintenance professionals, Industry representatives, Agents, state and federal agency representatives, Beekeepers


Project or Activity: Demonstrations / plot trials

(including hands-on training); Educational programs; Field days and field walks; Conferences; Videos / Podcasts; Media(ex: social media, blogs, radio,

TV, newspaper, newsletters, etc.); Private pesticide applicator training


Content or Curriculum: Publications(to be developed), Research information,Spanish language materials(to be developed), Commodity associations

(ex: Soybean board, KVGA), State and federal agencies(ex: KDA, NRCS, EPA)


Inputs: UK/KSU college of ag Professionals(agents, specialists), Diagnostic centers, UK Weather center,Chemical retailers, salespeople, and manufacturers,Commodity associations(ex: Soybean board, KVGA),State and federal agencies(ex: KDA, NRCS, EPA)

Date: Ongoing


Audience: Farmers

Project or Activity: Private Applicators Training

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications, videos, and PowerPoints

Inputs: UK Specialists and Agents time

Date: ongoing



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