McCracken County CES

Title:

McCracken County ANR and Horticulture Chemical Management

MAP:

Agriculture and Natural Resources Education

Agents Involved:

Anderson, Wimberley

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Grains

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Integrated Pest Management

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Horticulture, Commercial

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Plant ID

Situation:

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.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Maximize profits for commercial ag producer

Minimize environmental impact of air, soil, or living area

Reduction of drift related complaints and damage

Reduction in rate of pesticide resistance developmentin pests, weeds, pathogens

Improve sustainability of crop production systems

Reduction of crop injury due to pesticide applications (rate, compatibility, application conditions)

Intermediate Outcomes:

Successfully complete

PAT and training workers in worker protection standards (WPS)

Use diagnostic services to identify insects, disease, weeds

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

Post signage for recently applied chemicals

Select materials based on REI, PHI, residues

Communicate with owners/users of pesticide-sensitive areas (beeyards, sensitive crops, etc.)

Initial Outcomes:

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)

Name 2 or more companion tactics to be used alongside chemical approaches

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

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Understanding there is a need for IPM

Indicator: Number of producers reporting an increase of awareness of IPM practices.

Method: Surveys, personal interviews and follow-up conversations

Timeline: Ongoing

Intermediate Outcome: Number of producers reporting use of a recording system

Indicator: Number of producers reporting use of IPM record keeping increase

Method: Surveys, personal interviews and follow-up conversations

Timeline: Ongoing

Long-term Outcome: Reduction of crop injury due to pesticide applications (rate, compatibility, application conditions)

Indicator: Amount of crop injury reported decreases

Method: Record of crop injury samples and call related to crop injury decreases

Timeline: Ongoing

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Producers

Project or Activity: Annual Commercial Pesticide Applicators Training

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications and PowerPoints

Inputs: UK Specialists and Agents time

Date: Fall and winter

Audience: Adults, specifically Master Gardeners, Farm managers and/or

owners,Farm workers,Non-English speaking audience(and interpreters),Farmer's market producers and vendors, Gardeners, Homeowners, Point-of-sale employees, Custom applicators, Landscape/ turf maintenance professionals, Industry representatives, Agents, state and federal agency representatives, Beekeepers

Project or Activity: Demonstrations / plot trials

(including hands-on training); Educational programs; Field days and field walks; Conferences; Videos / Podcasts; Media(ex: social media, blogs, radio,

TV, newspaper, newsletters, etc.); Private pesticide applicator training

Content or Curriculum: Publications(to be developed), Research information,Spanish language materials(to be developed), Commodity associations

(ex: Soybean board, KVGA), State and federal agencies(ex: KDA, NRCS, EPA)

Inputs: UK/KSU college of ag Professionals(agents, specialists), Diagnostic centers, UK Weather center,Chemical retailers, salespeople, and manufacturers,Commodity associations(ex: Soybean board, KVGA),State and federal agencies(ex: KDA, NRCS, EPA)

Date: Ongoing

Audience: Farmers

Project or Activity: Private Applicators Training

Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications, videos, and PowerPoints

Inputs: UK Specialists and Agents time

Date: ongoing

Project or Activity:  Dicamba Training

Content or Curriculum:  KDA, USDA, BASF Specialists and guidelines

Inputs:  Featured speakers approved by university and government agencies

Date:  ongoing

Success Stories