Logan County CES

Title:

Sustainable Crop Production through Chemical Management, Technology, & Environmental Stewardship

MAP:

Sustainable Agriculture

Agents Involved:

Leann Martin, Carrie Derossett

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Natural Resources

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Chemical Management

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Grains

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Horticulture, Commercial

Situation:

The 2017 USDA Census of Agriculture reports that Logan County ranks 9th in Kentucky with Agriculture cash receipts totaling $152,164,00. 72% of the total agriculture receipt come from Crop sales. Logan County has a very rich agricultural heritage and producers are mindful of conservation practices that protect the land and the people who occupy it.

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

With any type of crop production, chemical application is a must. 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. In addition to timely and relevant updates on new chemicals, focus areas are chemical safety, efficacious usage, and integration of diversified approaches alongside chemicals.

Today's youth spend less time outdoors than previous generations (Clemonts, 2004; Karsten, 2005; Carver et al., 2008) and are likely able to identify a Pokémon character more easily than a native plant or animal (Balmford et al., 2002). Every five years since 1999 the Kentucky Environmental Education Council (KEEC) conducts a survey to assess Kentuckian's environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. According to KEEC's 2015-2020 Environmental Education Master Plan (2015), "...the average Kentuckian is able to answer correctly slightly more than half of the environmental knowledge questions included in the survey. This result leaves ample room for improvement" (p 27). The Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Program strives to increase environmental literacy among youth in Kentucky. Kentucky 4-H provides environmental education opportunities by engaging youth in hands-on, interdisciplinary educational experiences that foster an increased understanding and appreciation for natural resources and environmental sciences. Programs and projects are offered in the areas of environmental science, entomology, forestry and wood science, geology, soils, water, wildlife, and shooting sports.

Long-Term Outcomes:

- Maximize profits for Producers

- Minimize environmental impact on air, soil, or living area

- Reduction of drift related complaints and damage

- Reduction in rate of pesticide resistance development in insect pests, weeds, and pathogens

- Improvement of sustainability of crop production systems

- Significant percentage of producers implementing IPM practices

- Increase positive opinion of GMO/Conventional production of non-farm individuals

- Increase useage of technology/apps/GPS in agriculture/crop production

- Increase yields

- Commit to establishing and continuing environmental friendly practices

-Youth will be environmentally literate

-Youth will make informed decisions and take responsible action regarding natural resources conservation, protection, and restoration

-Youth will be advocates for environmental sustainability and stewardship

Intermediate Outcomes:

- Establish waterways and other environmental friendly practices

- Adopt useage of new technology for crop production

- Maximize awareness of GMO/Conventional/Organic production

- Adopt one or more fertility management recommendation/technique

- Successfully complete and practice private pesticide applicator training

- Use chemical recommendations

- Design/implement an effective spray schedule

- Evaluate/Update chemical storage area

- Participate in Rinse and Return Program

-Youth will explain the importance and role of natural resources in daily life

-Youth will adopt practices to conserve and protect natural resources

-Youth will utilize and practice life-skills in 4-H natural resources and environmental projects and clubs and life situations

Initial Outcomes:

- Demonstrate proper use of sprayers and equipment related to application

- Identify active ingredients in chemical products and relate to modes of action

- Read/comprehend directions for applying chemicals

- Understand drift mitigation methods

- Increase understanding of homeowner/gardener pest management tactics

- Observe proper chemical handling, storage, and clean up in home, farm, or business

- Identify areas of runoff/erosion

- Aware of UK trials and research results

- Understand BioTech traits in crops/seed

- Understanding of Organic vs. Conventional crop production

- Identify/understand herbicide resistant pests and strategies to overcome these pests.

-Youth will gain knowledge and skills in environmental sciences and natural resources content

-Youth will gain an understanding of environmental sustainability and stewardship

-Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision making, critical thinking, communications, record-keeping, wise use of resources, and leadership.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Aware of UK trials and research results

Indicator: attends field days and explores data that is released

Method: Interviews

Timeline: 6 months

Intermediate Outcome: Adopt/use the results of UK trials

Indicator: Planted crops/used recommended sprays based on results

Method: interviews on profits

Timeline: 1-2 years

Long-term Outcome: Reduction of number of complaints about drift

Indicator: Less number of reports

Method: observation

Timeline: 1-5 years

Outcome: Youth plan and implement a natural resource project (entomology, forestry)

Indicator: Youth complete a natural resource project

Method: 4-H Common Measures Experience Survey

Learning Opportunities:

Activity: Private Pesticide Classes/Licenses
Content: UK Pesticide Material and videos
Inputs: ANR Agent, facilities, technology, equipment
Date: Winter 2022, Winter/Early Spring 2023; By appt. 2022-23

Activity: SOKY Commercial Pesticide Training (Agriculture Day)
Content: UK Specialists
Inputs: UK Specialists, ANR Agents, facility, technology
Date: Dec. 2022; Dec. 2023

Activity: SOKY Commercial Pesticide Training (Commercial Horticulture Day)
Content: UK Specialists
Inputs: UK Specialists, ANR Agents, facility, technology
Date: Dec. 2022; Dec. 2023; Dec. 2024

Activity: KY-TN Grain Day
Content: UK Specialists; UT Specialists
Inputs: UK Specialists, UT Specialists, Industry Leaders, Sponsors, Vendors, Facilities, technolgy
Date: Feb. 2022, Feb. 2023, Feb. 2024

Activity: Beef Quality Assurance
Content: KY Beef IRM (Stewardship in Beef pesticides)
Inputs: UK Beef Specialists, technology, facilities, ANR Agent
Date: Winter/Spring 2022; Winter/Spring 2023

Activity: Annual Chamber Agriculture Appreciation Breakfast
Content: Agriculture Specialists; Agriculure Drone Footage
Inputs: ANR Agents, facility, technology, producers
Date: Jan. 2023

Activity: Community Gardens
Content: Home Gardening, Home Garden Pesticides, Homeowner Fruit Guides, Short Pesticide guides
Inputs: UK Specialists, ANR Agents, facility, technology, community partners
Date: Spring/Summer 2022; Spring/Summer 2023

Activity: Home Owner Education - Library Programs/Home Gardening Programs
Content: Home Gardening, Home Garden Pesticides, Homeowner Fruit Guides, Short Pesticide guides
Inputs: UK Specialists, ANR Agents, facility, technology, community partners
Date: Spring/Summer 2023

Activity: School Enrichment Programs
Content: 4-H curriculum
Inputs: State 4-H specialists, 4-H curriculum, club leaders, volunteers, 4-H agents
Date: 2022-2023 School year

Activity: Family Fun at the Farmer’s Market 

Content: 4-H Curriculum, Extension Agent speaking
Inputs: County Extension agent time, volunteer time, technology, community organizations, 4-H council, school systems, community leaders, 4-H curriculum
Date: July 2022

Activity: Tractor School 

Content: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: County Extension agent time, volunteer time, technology, community organizations, 4-H council, school systems, community leaders, 4-H curriculum
Date: Spring 2023

Activity: 4-H Horse Projects and Club
Content: 4-H curriculum
Inputs: State 4-H specialists, 4-H curriculum, club leaders, volunteers, 4-H agents
Date: 4-H Program Year

Activity: 4-H Livestock Projects and Club
Content: 4-H curriculum
Inputs: State 4-H specialists, 4-H curriculum, club leaders, volunteers, 4-H agents
Date: 4-H Program Year

Activity: 4-H Community Garden Club
Content: 4-H curriculum
Inputs: State 4-H specialists, 4-H curriculum, club leaders, volunteers, 4-H agents
Date: 4-H Program Year

Activity: 4-H Environmental Science

Content: 4-H Backyards and Beyond Club Leader Curriculum, Organizational Guide and Toolkit, Explorers Journal, 4-H Cloverbud Curriculum

Training: Agent In-services

Activity: 4-H Geology

Curriculum: 4-H Geology Series

Activity: Shooting Sports

Curriculum: Shooting Sports Curriculum

Training: Certified Volunteer Training, Agent In-service Trainings

Success Stories