Henry County CES

Title:

Grain and Tobacco Crops in Henry County

MAP:

Grain Crops and Tobacco

Agents Involved:

Levi Berg

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Grain Crops

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Chemical Crop Management Tools

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Forages

Situation:

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

Long-Term Outcomes:

Maximize profits for commercial ag producer
Minimize environmental impact of air, soil, or living area
Improve sustainability of intensively managed crop production systems
Significant percentage of producers implementing IPM practices
Increase positive opinion of GMO/Conventional production of non-farm individuals

Intermediate Outcomes:

Adopt usage of new technology for crop production
Maximize awareness of GMO/Organic Production
Use diagnostic services to identify insects, disease and weeds
Adopt one or more fertility management recommendations
Implementation of on-farm trials

Initial Outcomes:

Awareness of current land grant research concerning grain crop and tobacco production
Identification of IPM practices for grain crop and tobacco production
Increase understanding of production regulations
Understanding importance of and frame work of on-farm trials
Understanding of Organic vs Conventional crop production
Increase non-farm public understanding of BioTechnology/Organic/Conventional grains crop production
Identify active ingredients in crop related ag products
Identify herbicide resistant pests and strategies to overcome these pests

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome:

Indicator: Change is knowledge, opinions, skills, and attitudes towards new production methods, pest management, and financial stability

Method: Pre and Post program surveys

Timeline: Fall and Winter 2017

Intermediate Outcome:

Indicator: Producers start implementing new technology, using diagnostic services to identify pest, adopt one or more fertility management recommendations, and implementation of on-farm trails

Method: Reports from KDA, NRCS, surveys, and site visits

Timeline: Summer and Fall 2018

Long-term Outcome:

Indicator: Increased profits for producers, improved sustainability of intensively managed crops, minimized environmental impact of air, soil, or living area

Method: Reports from the KDA, NRCS, and US census data

Timeline:

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Farm Managers and/or owners, farm workers, agents (state and federal agencies), representatives, private agronomist

Project or Activity: Grain crops production update

Content or Curriculum: Soybean, Wheat, and Corn research provided by UK Extension Specialist

Inputs: Research Data, Facilities, Speakers

Date: January 2018

Audience: Farm Managers and/or owners, farm workers, agents (state and federal agencies), representatives, private agronomist

Project or Activity: Tobacco GAP training

Content or Curriculum: Provided by UK Tobacco Specialist and Department of Labor

Inputs: Presentations, Facility, Speakers

Date: January 2018

Audience: Homeowners, Farm Managers and/or Owners, Farm Workers, Custom Applicators, Ag Retailers, Private Agronomist

Project or Activity: Private and Commercial Applicator Training

Content or Curriculum: KDA Pesticide regulation material

Inputs: Research Data, Facilities, Speakers, KDA pesticide regulation specialist

Date: February 2018, May 2018, December 2018