Extension
It Starts With Us
Sustainable Crop Production through Chemical Management, Technology, & Environmental Stewardship
Sustainable Agriculture
Leann Martin
Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
Chemical Crop Management Tools
Sustainable Agriculture
Data Management & Tech
The 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture reports that Logan County ranks 8th in Kentucky with Agriculture cash receipts totaling $134,920,000. 72% of the total agriculture receipt come from Crop sales. Logan County ranks 4th in Soybean production, 7th in Tobacco production, 6th in Corn production, and 2nd in Wheat production. Logan County is a very traditionally based farming county. 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.
- 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
- 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
- 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.
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
Audience: Current/Future Crop Producers
Project or Activity: KY-TN Grain Day
Content or Curriculum:
Inputs: Extension Agent time, Volunteers' time, KY & TN Specialists, Technology, Facility
Date: January/February 2017; January/February 2018
Audience: Commercial Pesticide Applicators
Project or Activity: Southern Kentucky (SOKY) Commercial Pesticide Training
Content or Curriculum: Multi-county Agents & Specialists
Inputs: Extension Agent Time, Volunteers' Time, Specialists, Technology, Facility, Community Business professionals
Date: December 2016, December 2017, December 2018
Audience: Home/Land Owners & Producers
Project or Activity: Private Pesticide Training
Content or Curriculum: UK IPM, Videos, Material
Inputs: Extension Agent time, Videos, Materials
Date: Jan 2016, March 2016, Aug. 2016, Oct. 2016; Jan. 2017, Feb. 2017, March 2017, Oct. 2017, Nov. 2017
Audience: Current/Future Crop Producers
Project or Activity: Share the Road—Transportation Regulations
Content or Curriculum: State Trooper/State Regulations
Inputs: Extension Agent time, Volunteers' time, State Trooper, Technology, Facility
Date: February 2017; Fall 2017; Feb/March 2018
Audience: Commercial Pesticide Applicators
Project or Activity: Soil & Water CCA CEU Workshop
Content or Curriculum: Multi-county Agents & Specialists
Inputs: Extension Agent Time, Volunteers' Time, Specialists, Technology, Facility, Community Business professionals
Date: Summer or Fall 2017
Author: Leann Martin
Major Program: Grain Crops
Over the last six years, the grain prices in south central Kentucky have continued to drop with the average price per bushel of corn falling from $8.31 per bushel during the peak in August 2012, to $3.36 in November 2017. Grain production is a huge part of the local economy in south central Kentucky but with the profit deficits, it has become a major focus for efficiency. With increased efficiency, producers will be able to expand their margins to profits that allow them to continue production.
Author: Leann Martin
Major Program: Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
Application of crop protection chemicals and lawn/landscape chemicals are important industries in South Central Kentucky. Professional applicators must receive training to stay current on issues, pests, techniques, and safety for the products they apply. They need to receive 12 hours of continuing education during a three year cycle to maintain their applicator license. 3 of these hours must address specific topics that pertain to their license category. Many applicators were having a difficult
