Logan County CES

Title:

Sustainable Crop Production through Chemical Management, Technology, & Environmental Stewardship

MAP:

Sustainable Agriculture

Agents Involved:

Leann Martin

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Chemical Crop Management Tools

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Sustainable Agriculture

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Data Management & Tech

Situation:

The 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture reports that Logan County ranks 8th in Kentucky with Agriculture cash receipts totaling $134,920,000. 72% of the total agriculture receipt come from Crop sales. Logan County ranks 4th in Soybean production, 7th in Tobacco production, 6th in Corn production, and 2nd in Wheat production. Logan County is a very traditionally based farming county. Producers are mindful of conservation practices that protect the land and the people who occupy it.

Grain crop production is facing a downward pressure with severe economic distress including high inputs, low commodity prices, high land rents, and a flooded machinery market now and for the foreseeable future.

With any type of crop production, chemical application is a must. 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. In addition to timely and relevant updates on new chemicals, focus areas are chemical safety, efficacious usage, and integration of diversified approaches alongside chemicals.

Long-Term Outcomes:

- Maximize profits for Producers

- Minimize environmental impact on air, soil, or living area

- Reduction of drift related complaints and damage

- Reduction in rate of pesticide resistance development in insect pests, weeds, and pathogens

- Improvement of sustainability of crop production systems

- Significant percentage of producers implementing IPM practices

- Increase positive opinion of GMO/Conventional production of non-farm individuals

- Increase useage of technology/apps/GPS in agriculture/crop production

- Increase yields

- Commit to establishing and continuing environmental friendly practices

Intermediate Outcomes:

- Establish waterways and other environmental friendly practices

- Adopt useage of new technology for crop production

- Maximize awareness of GMO/Conventional/Organic production

- Adopt one or more fertility management recommendation/technique

- Successfully complete and practice private pesticide applicator training

- Use chemical recommendations

- Design/implement an effective spray schedule

- Evaluate/Update chemical storage area

- Participate in Rinse and Return Program

Initial Outcomes:

- Demonstrate proper use of sprayers and equipment related to application

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

- Read/comprehend directions for applying chemicals

- Understand drift mitigation methods

- Increase understanding of homeowner/gardener pest management tactics

- Observe proper chemical handling, storage, and clean up in home, farm, or business

- Identify areas of runoff/erosion

- Aware of UK trials and research results

- Understand BioTech traits in crops/seed

- Understanding of Organic vs. Conventional crop production

- Identify/understand herbicide resistant pests and strategies to overcome these pests.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Aware of UK trials and research results

Indicator: attends field days and explores data that is released

Method: Interviews

Timeline: 6 months

Intermediate Outcome: Adopt/use the results of UK trials

Indicator: Planted crops/used recommended sprays based on results

Method: interviews on profits

Timeline: 1-2 years

Long-term Outcome: Reduction of number of complaints about drift

Indicator: Less number of reports

Method: observation

Timeline: 1-5 years

Learning Opportunities:

Activity: Logan County Fair 
Content: 4-H livestock curriculum, county fair catalog
Inputs: State 4-H specialists, 4-H curriculum, club leaders, volunteers, 4-H agents
Date: July 2018 

Activity: Logan County 4-H/FFA Steer Show
Content: Live animal selection, evaluation, Extension agents and associates
Inputs: State 4-H specialists, 4-H Curriculum, club leaders, volunteers, 4-H agents
Date: May 2019 

Activity: Logan County 4-H/FFA Hog Show 
Content: Live animal selection, evaluation, Extension agents and associates
Inputs: State 4-H specialists, 4-H Curriculum, club leaders, volunteers, 4-H agents
Date: September 2018

Activity: School Enrichment Programs
Content: 4-H curriculum
Inputs: State 4-H specialists, 4-H curriculum, club leaders, volunteers, 4-H agents
Date: August 2018 – May 2019 

Activity: Family Fun at the Farmer’s Market 

Content: 4-H Curriculum 
Inputs: County Extension agent time, volunteer time, technology, community organizations, 4-H council, school systems, community leaders, 4-H curriculum
Date: July 2018, June 2019

Activity: Tractor School 

Content: 4-H Curriculum 
Inputs: County Extension agent time, volunteer time, technology, community organizations, 4-H council, school systems, community leaders, 4-H curriculum
Date: April 2019

Activity: 4-H Horse Projects and Club
Content: 4-H curriculum
Inputs: State 4-H specialists, 4-H curriculum, club leaders, volunteers, 4-H agents
Date: 4-H Program Year

Activity: 4-H Livestock Projects and Club
Content: 4-H curriculum
Inputs: State 4-H specialists, 4-H curriculum, club leaders, volunteers, 4-H agents
Date: 4-H Program Year

Activity: 4-H Community Garden Club
Content: 4-H curriculum
Inputs: State 4-H specialists, 4-H curriculum, club leaders, volunteers, 4-H agents
Date: 4-H Program Year

Success Stories