Extension
It Starts With Us
Ballard County Farm Chemical Management
Ballard County Agriculture Stability
Tom Miller
Chemical Crop Management Tools
Herbicide resistant weeds have become a big problem for producers in Ballard County. Current technologies can work when implemented in the correct way, but they can be abject failures when used incorrectly. New technologies have been developed and will be introduced over the next few years. Education and demonstration on their best use will be critical to their adoption and successful use in the future.
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 development in pests, weeds, pathogens
Improve sustainability of crop production systems
Reduction of crop injury due to pesticide applications (rate, compatibility, application conditions)
Successfully complete PAT and training workers in worker protection standards (WPS)
Use diagnostic services to identify insects, disease, weeds
Compare chemical options based on time, availability, cost, companion tactics
Design effective spray schedules for plant pest management
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
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
Initial Outcome: Increased knowledge
Indicator: Improves scores on survey
Method: Pesticide safety for management of plant pests survey
Timeline: Spring 2017
Intermediate Outcome: Growers will use correct products to control resistant weeds
Indicator: Number of resistant weed locations in late season
Method: farmers Dealer survey on pesticide success
Timeline: Fall 2017
Long-term Outcome: New technologies will be adopted
Indicator: Number of growers using new technologies
Method: Farmers and Dealers surveys
Timeline: Fall 2018
Audience: Ballard County Crop Producers
Project or Activity: Pesticide Applicator Training
Content or Curriculum: Current videos and tests for Private Applicator training
Inputs: training videos developed by specialists, Tests developed by specialists use of personal examples and experiences
Date: Ongoing revolving training as licenses expire
Audience: Ballard County Crop Producers
Project or Activity: New Weed Control Options demonstrations
Content or Curriculum: Demonstration Plots to show new technologies
Inputs: Extension Weed Specialists, Retail Chemical Suppliers, On farm Cooperators
Date: Summer 2017, 18
Audience: Ballard County Crop Producers
Project or Activity: Newspaper and Newsletter Articles
Content or Curriculum: Timely topics and updates
Inputs: Ky Pest News, In-service Trainings, Commercial Trainings
Date: Ongoing
Author: Thomas Miller
Major Program: Chemical Crop Management Tools
On July 12, 2017, Dr. J D Green, Extension Weed Specialist from Lexington led a Round up Resistant Weed Plot tour on the weed plot in Ballard County. The tour was from 9:00am until noon with a formal program at 10:30. Forty eight farmers, Ag Retailers, and fellow extension agents participated in the tour where they learned the various options to control Round Up Resistant Pigweeds and Waterhemp in soybeans. Problems with these weeds are exploding across the soybean growing regi
Author: Thomas Miller
Major Program: Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
The advent of dicamba tolerant soybeans has been one of the most newsworthy and controversial subjects in the grain production areas of Kentucky over the last year. The four river counties of Ballard, Carlisle, Hickman and Fulton have been at the forefront of battling herbicide resistant weeds because of our location on the river and yearly flooding, therefore dicamba technology will be very important for our producers going forward. Unfortunately, our local news media did several stories last s
Author: Thomas Miller
Major Program: Chemical Crop Management Tools
With the unprecedented change in the label requirements for Dicamba herbicide products used in conjunction with Dicamba resistant soybeans, that all applicators have to attend a specific training session and get Ky Department of Ag certification, many growers in Ballard County were complaining of the lack of a training session in our immediate area and limited number of training sessions in western KY. Ballard County Extension Agent for Ag and Natural Resources, Tom Miller, began working with au
