EnvironmentPlan of Work

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Metcalfe County CES

Title:
Environment
MAP:
Ag Awareness, Production and Marketing
Agents Involved:
Bell, Branstetter, Blankenship
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Chemical Crop Management Tools
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Integrated Plant Pest Management
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Pesticide Safety – Livestock Pests
Situation:

According to the Kentucky Division of Water, Groundwater Branch, Metcalfe County has areas of moderate to high sensitivity to groundwater pollution.


Much of the land in Metcalfe County is a part of the Green River Watershed and it topography is karst in nature due to a host of springs, caves, and sinkholes. Livestock and crop production in this area is a threat to groundwater and other natural resources in the environment. In order to protect these resources, producers, the general public and youth must become educated so that they can use sound practices that will help keep ground and surface water clean and uncontaminated.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Pollution, contamination, and depletion of our environment and natural resources will be reduced and the positive impact resulting from changed practices will be evident.  

Intermediate Outcomes:

Individuals, producers, farm workers, youth, and the general public will adopt practices that will help preserve and protect our environment and the things that are a product of it.

Initial Outcomes:

The audiences mentioned above will gain an awareness of our environment and learn how to protect it by adopting new practices and habits.

Evaluation:

Evaluation:

Outcome:  Initial

Indicator: Knowledge Gained

Method: Survey

Timeline: Ongoing

Learning Opportunities:

Audience:  Private Pesticide Applicators

    Project or Activity:  Private Applicator Trainings

    Content or Curriculum:  UK Private Applicator Curriculum

    Inputs: Agents, UK Publications, UK Presentations

    Date: Winter/Spring 2020


Audience:  Commercial Pesticide Applicators

    Project or Activity:  SOKY Pesticide Trainings

    Content or Curriculum: UK/ Industry

    Inputs: Agents, Specialists, Industry

    Date :December 2019


Audience:  4-H Youth

    Project or Activity:  Go Green The 3 R’s

    Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

    Inputs: Agents, Specialists, Community Partners

    Date :August 19 May 20


Audience: MCA Homemakers

Project or Activity: Homemaker Leader training : Light bulbs 101

Content or Curriculum: FCS Agent compiled materials, UK FCS publications; US Department of Energy materials   

Inputs: FCS Agent time, staff assistant time, Extension office meeting space and resources, UK Extension specialist consult time

Date: November 2019





Success Stories

Tree Farmer Field Day

Author: Gary Bell

Major Program: Woodland Education

According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, Metcalfe County is the home to 138,477 acres of farmland.  Of this land, 26% is woodland, totaling just over 36,000 acres.  Metcalfe and surrounding counties provide a significant amount of hardwood to the lumber industry and keeping our forests productive is important for the future. Timber stand improvement can be successfully achieved by implementing management practices and utilizing available resources. Over the past several years Bill

Full Story

Southern KY Pesticide

Author: Gary Bell

Major Program: Chemical Crop Management Tools

Over six years ago agriculture and horticulture agents in the south part of District 6 developed the Southern Kentucky (SOKY) Commercial Pesticide Training Program for commercial applicators to be able to receive the continuing education hours that they need to be able to maintain their licenses. Of the 12 hours necessary over a three year period, 3 of the hours must be specific topics that relate to their license category. Many applicators were having trouble finding those specific hours withou

Full Story
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