Extension
It Starts With Us
Horticulture Best Practices
Home and commercial Horticulture
Rideout
Commercial Horticulture
Home & Consumer Horticulture
Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
Farmer's Markets
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.
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.
Home consumers and Commercial operators will utilize researched based information to properly apply best practices including proper plant selection, proper cultural practices.
Home consumers and Commercial operators will learn best practices regarding plant cultivar selection, proper cultural practices, and understand insect and disease management best practices.
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
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
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
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
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
