Horticulture Best PracticesPlan of Work

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Henderson County CES

Title:
Horticulture Best Practices
MAP:
Home and commercial Horticulture
Agents Involved:
Rideout
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Commercial Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Home & Consumer Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Farmer's Markets
Situation:

Kentuckians have found growing and selling fruit, vegetable, and ornamental crops as well as value added products through local farmers markets is an effective way to supplement family income following the decline of tobacco production. Consequently there is a need to educate growers and vendors on production and marketing techniques and consumers on fresh produce preparation and nutritional characteristics, to make these markets more effective. There is also a need to start new markets and strengthen existing markets.

Based on information requests and on Horticulture advisory council, there is a high demand for both consumer and commercial programming in Henderson County. According to the EPA, 100 million pounds of active ingredients from pesticides were applied in home and gardens throughout the United States. Each year, over $11 billion is spent on household and garden pest control products. Proper use of pesticides by homeowners and commercial operations is imperative and directly impact our environment including groundwater sources.

The need to apply pesticides increases when plant care/selection best practices are not followed.

Long-Term Outcomes:
Home consumers and Commercial operators follow best practices for plant production. Home consumers and Commercial operators apply pesticides based on current best practices, following IPM practices.

Home and commercial producers will increase yields and revenues utilizing the best information available for their specific crops.
Intermediate Outcomes:
Home consumers and Commercial operators will utilize researched based information to properly apply best practices including proper plant selection, proper cultural practices.
Initial Outcomes:
Home consumers and Commercial operators will learn best practices regarding plant cultivar selection, proper cultural practices, and understand insect and disease management best practices.
Evaluation:
Initial Outcome: education of best practices
Indicator: number attending programs
Method: sign in forms
Timeline: all programs annually

Intermediate Outcome: Producers/home owners will utilize information gained to make good decisions regarding variety selection, chemical usage, and plant production practices.
Indicator: self reported changes of behavior/site visit observations
Method: pre-post surveys
Timeline: all programs annually

Long-term Outcome: increased number of producers, home and commercial
Indicator: number of vendors at farmers market; self reported first time home gardeners
Method: Farmers Market vendor numbers/post program surveys
Timeline: annually
Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Commercial Applicator's

Project or Activity: Commercial Applicator Pest. Training

Content or Curriculum: State Applicator Training Material

Inputs: Agents/State Office of Environmental Services/ Specialists

Date: Annually - Fall


Audience: Master Gardeners

Project or Activity: MG training classes

Content or Curriculum: MG manual

Inputs: specialists, agents, publications, field trips

Date: annually or biannually as needed


Audience: Henderson Residents

Project or Activity: Saturday In the Garden Series

Content or Curriculum: Agent developed

Inputs: publications, demonstration garden

Date: Spring and Fall Saturdays; annually


Audience: Regional potential market producers; partner with Purdue University

Project or Activity: Small Farm Conference

Content or Curriculum: Agent developed

Inputs: publications, demonstration plots/activities

Date: Spring annually


Audience: Current and Potential market producers;  

Project or Activity: High Tunnel Educational Seminar

Content or Curriculum: Specialist/Agent developed

Inputs: publications, demonstration, USDA Grant information

Date: Fall, 2019



Success Stories

Horticulture webinar series

Author: Paul Andrew Rideout

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

Horticulture Webinar WednesdaysDuring the Covid-19 pandemic, the Kentucky Horticulture agents, headed by Andrea Stith and Amy Aldenderfer, started the Horticulture Webinar Wednesdays as an alternative to in-person horticulture lessons.  The live webinars are Wednesdays at 2 p.m. ET and 1 p.m. CT.  Utilizing a volunteer scheduling website, agents, specialists and other experts were recruited to present a 30 minute lesson to the general public, with time at the end for questions.  A

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Henderson Pollinator Action Group

Author: Paul Andrew Rideout

Major Program: Integrated Plant Pest Management

Henderson Pollinator Action GroupPollinators have been a hot topic for several years and rightfully so.  According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, these hard working animals help pollinate over 75% of all flowering plants and over 75% of our crops. In the United States, pollination by honey bees directly or indirectly contributed to over $19 billion of crop production.  All other insects contribute an estimated $10 billion.A recent study of the status of pollinators in North Ameri

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Urban Trees: Keeping Downtown Tree Canopy Healthy

Author: Paul Andrew Rideout

Major Program: Community Strategic Planning

Urban trees: Keeping Downtown BeautifulUrban landscape can be a struggle to maintain and plan for long term beautification.  Many municipality budgets don’t allow for proper urban tree management.  Early in 2019, the Henderson Downtown Initiative contacted the Extension Office to help with a few selected streetscape tree maintenance issues.  Several conversations over the next month led to identifying the need to better manage the health and replacement of the downtown trees

Full Story
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