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