Extension
It Starts With Us
Sustainable Crop Production through Chemical Management, Technology, & Environmental Stewardship
Sustainable Agriculture
Leann Martin, Carrie Derossett
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Chemical Management
Grains
Horticulture, Commercial
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.
- 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
- 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
- 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.
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
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. 2023-24Activity: SOKY Commercial Pesticide Training (Agriculture Day)
Content: UK Specialists
Inputs: UK Specialists, ANR Agents, facility, technology
Date: Dec. 2023; Dec. 2024Activity: SOKY Commercial Pesticide Training (Commercial Horticulture Day)
Content: UK Specialists
Inputs: UK Specialists, ANR Agents, facility, technology
Date: Dec. 2022; Dec. 2023; Dec. 2024Activity: 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. 2024Activity: Beef Quality Assurance
Content: KY Beef IRM (Stewardship in Beef pesticides)
Inputs: UK Beef Specialists, technology, facilities, ANR Agent
Date: Winter/Spring 2023; Winter/Spring 2024Activity: Annual Chamber Agriculture Appreciation Breakfast
Content: Agriculture Specialists; Agriculure Drone Footage
Inputs: ANR Agents, facility, technology, producers
Date: Jan. 2024Activity: 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 2023; Spring/Summer 2024Activity: 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 2024Activity: School Enrichment Programs
Content: 4-H curriculum
Inputs: State 4-H specialists, 4-H curriculum, club leaders, volunteers, 4-H agents
Date: 2023-2024 School yearActivity: 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 2023, July 2024
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 2024
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
Author: Leann Martin
Major Program: Integrated Pest Management
Application of crop protection chemicals and lawn/landscape chemicals is an important industry 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 continuing education to maintain their applicator license. The agriculture and horticulture agents around the Mammoth Cave responded to a need for a commercial training opportunity by developing the SOKY Pe
Author: Leann Martin
Major Program: Grains
Kentucky and Tennessee are both large grain crop producing states, boasting a combined total of 9,804,901 acres and $4,921,112,000 in annual grain crop sales, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture from the United States Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistic Services. Seeing the importance of continued growth in both production yields and personal attributes of the grain crop producer, the Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agents in Logan & Todd counti
