Extension
It Starts With Us
Agricultural Integrated Pest Management
Best Management Practices and Education for Safe Food, Farms & Families
Adams, Shepherd, Aldenderfer
Integrated Pest Management
Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
Pest ID
Plant Disease ID
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, point-of-sale employees, and industry and government agency representatives. This process will include educational sessions, hands-on demonstrations, test plots, 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. Those directly involved in food production understand that fertilizers, chemicals and pesticides are a necessary part of sustainable agriculture. However, agriculture also cannot turn a blind eye to the possible environmental implications these products can pose if used incorrectly. Because of this, members of the Hardin County Extension Council, the Hardin County Grain Committee, and Hardin County Cattlemen's Association Board recognize and encourage Extension's need to continue Integrated Resource Management based training for all aspects of livestock, crop and horticulture production in Hardin County. Also allows County and City administrators to meet state MS-4 Standards/Requirements.
-Maximize profits for commercial ag producers
-Minimize environmental impact of air, soil, or living area
-Reduction of drift related complaints and damage
-Reduction in rate of pesticide resistance development in pests, weeds, pathogens
-Improve sustainability of crop production systems
-Reduction of crop injury due to pesticide applications (rate, compatibility, application conditions)
-Successfully complete PAT and training workers in worker protection standards (WPS)
-Use diagnostic services to identify insects, disease, weeds so that producers may specifically control target pests.
-Use diagnostic, agent, specialist recommendations
-Compare chemical options based on time, availability, cost, companion tactics
-Design effective spray schedules for plant pest management
-Evaluate chemical storage, handling, and disposal
-Adopt one or more storage,handling, disposal recommendations
-Adopt recommended application techniques
-Calibrate sprayer, select appropriate nozzles and pressure, test spray water
-Record chemical use, frequency, timing, tank mixes
-Select materials based on REI, PHI, residues
-Communicate with owners/users of pesticide-sensitive areas (beeyards, sensitive crops, etc.). Producers become more aware of surroundings when making applications.
-Demonstrate proper use of sprayers and equipment related to application (calibration, nozzle selection, boom height, etc.)
-Identify active ingredients in chemical products and relate to modes of action
-Read and comprehend directions for applying chemicals (timing, application conditions)
-Observe proper chemical handling, storage, and cleanup in home, farm, or business
-Chemical selection, mixing, compatibility, adjuvants
-Understanding drift mitigation methods
-Understanding IPM (triggers to spray, thresholds, etc.)
-Identify pesticide-sensitive areas around fields
-Increase understanding of homeowner/gardener pest management tactics
Initial Outcome: Identify active ingredients in chemical products and relate to modes of action
Indicator: Reduction in spread of, and increasing control of herbicide resistant weeds in Hardin County
Method: Visual observation from farmers, retailers and crop consultants.
Timeline: On-going
Intermediate Outcome: Successfully complete PAT and training workers in Worker Protection Standards
Indicator: Increase in the number of Certified Private Applicators in Hardin County
Method: Number of PAT cards issued.
Timeline: On-going
Long-term Outcome: Reduction in rate of pesticide resistance development in livestock and plant pests, weeds, pathogens
Indicator: Less spread and development of pesticide resistant weeds, pests, and pathogens on farms in Hardin County
Method: Visual observation, Pest survey data
Timeline: On-going
Audience: Farmers, Ag Retailers, Crop Consultants
Project or Activity: Field Days
Content or Curriculum: Resistant weeds and pests, new pesticide/chemical technology, IPM strategies
Inputs: UK Research, UK and Industry Specialists, Agents, Farmers
Date: Summer 2021, 2022, 2023
Audience: Farmers, Ag Retailers, Crop Consultants
Project or Activity: Early Bird Grain Meeting and UK Beef Bash
Content or Curriculum: UK Research, Recommendations, Current Events/Technology
Inputs: UK Research, UK Specialists
Date: Winter/Fall 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Audience: Farmers, Gardeners, Homeowners, Extension Master Gardeners
Project or Activity: Private Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT)
Content or Curriculum: UK PAT Program/Videos
Inputs: UK Research, Specialists, PAT Videos
Date: Winter/Spring 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Author: Matthew Adams
Major Program: Chemical Management
Pesticide usage is a necessary part of modern conventional agriculture. One issue with pesticide use that most don’t think of is the amount of used plastic containers in which the pesticides are purchased in. A resurgence in use of these smaller containers has also come due to herbicide resistance issues promoting farmers to use different chemicals that are used at lower rates. Many of these containers will have very small traces of pesticides left on the inside of the containers, making t
Author: Matthew Adams
Major Program: Soil testing
The success of any crop requires planning and efficient use of all required resources. One of the most important resources in agriculture is fertilizer. Whether it is applied through a commercial product or an organic source such as animal manure, a baseline is needed to enable the producer to efficiently and economically apply any type of fertilizer. Soil testing is the only way to accurately set up this baseline.The soil testing program in Hardin County has been free to resident
