Making wise decisions concerning environmental resources to ensure a healthy environment.Plan of Work

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Hickman County CES

Title:
Making wise decisions concerning environmental resources to ensure a healthy environment.
MAP:
Improving Environmental Quality
Agents Involved:
Melissa Goodman, Paula McCuiston, Mattea Mitchell
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Home & Consumer Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Chemical Crop Management Tools
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
Situation:

It is very important for our population to have an understanding on how daily choices can impact our environment and how important it is to preserve and conserve our natural resources, ensuring a healthy environment for the present and future generations to come.


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, ag retail employees, and industry and government agency representatives. This process will include educational sessions, 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:

To improve environmental quality in the residential, commercial, and farmland areas in Hickman County.


To create and ensure a safe/clean environment.


To improve our overall natural environment.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Producers and residents will implement UK soil test and recommendations.


Producers will implement recommended practices while applying pesticides.


Youth will exercise being green by implementing one or more practices related to conservation and recycling.

Initial Outcomes:

To educate participants on natural resources.


Producers and consumers will gain knowledge on safe chemical usage pertaining to weed, disease and insect control.


Participants will have an understanding of the importance of soil testing.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Participants will have a better understanding of natural resources

Indicator: Participants will indicate increased knowledge

Method: Observation and self-reporting

Timeline: Summer 2018


Long-Term Outcome: Hickman County will continue to strive towards a safe/clean environment.

Indicator: Number of hits on social media campaign.

Method: Social Media Insights

Timeline: 2018-2019 Program Year


Intermediate Outcome: Producers will implement recommended practices while applying pesticides.

Indicator: Less damage to residential areas.

Method: Observation and Client Feedback

Timeline: 2018 Crop Year


Intermediate Outcome: Increased number of soil samples

Indicator: 5% increase in soil samples

Method: Observation

Timeline: 2018 Crop Year




Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Environmental Day Camp

Content or Curriculum: Various 4-H Environmental Curricula

Inputs: Forestry Department, Soil and conservation, KY Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Extension Staff, 21st Century, FLIGH Coordinator, Teen and Adult Volunteers, Program Council, local landowner

Date: Summer 19


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Keep Hickman County Clean

Content or Curriculum: Project Land / Supplied by Agents

Inputs: Leader in Me Programming, Extension Agents, School Faculty

Date: 2018-2019 School Year


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Pesticide Certifications

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Department of Agriculture Materials, Record Keeping Books

Inputs: Ag Agent, Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Date: January-March 2019


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Home/Farm Visits

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Department of Agriculture Materials, University of Kentucky Publications

Inputs: Ag Agent, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, UK Specialist

Date: 2018-2019


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Soil Testing

Content or Curriculum: General UK Ag Publications

Inputs: Ag Agent, UK Specialist, UK Ag Publications (Lime & Nutrient Recommendations)

Date: 2018-2019


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Newspaper and Newsletter Articles

Content or Curriculum: University of Kentucky Programming

Inputs: Extension Agents, UK Research Information, eXtension Resources, Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association, Newsletters

Date: 2018-2019

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