Author: Kendal Bowman
Major Program: Chemical Management
Pesticides Please We have all heard in the news about the publicity of the misuse of pesticides. The Owen County Ag Agent prides himself in educating his producers on the correct way to handle and apply pesticides. This past spring the agent hosted two sessions, full of producers egar to learn how they can be better stewards of the land. During these sessions the participants learned about proper storage, correct way to handle the chemical, how to read the label, and how to prevent run off.
Author: Raul Villanueva
As part of the Entomology Department several presentations were conducted via zoom on Oct 22nd, delivering information in several 20- min sessions for 2 hours including Drs. Ric Bessin “Training outline for private applicators, Blake Newton “Core competency areas for applicators”, Raul Villanueva “WPS for Workers/Handlers and Resources “. This event focused on private pesticide applicator training and covering resources to help with presenting these trainings. Event
Author: Kara Back-Campbell
Upon request from participants from last years commercial pesticide CEU training, a virtual Zoom was held this December. The Horticulture agent provided 4 hours of CEU’s via Extension Specialists and a state inspector within categories 3, 10, 12, 18, and 20.13 individuals participated throughout the state, and obtained 4 hours within the listed categories. It was stated by participants that this online option was a very helpful training due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Onli
Author: Anthony Tackett
Everyday business processes had to be completely rethought during the Covid-19 pandemic. Even routine Extension programs had to be re-tooled to comply with all necessary University safety guidelines. One program that had to be extensively modified was the annual training program for the Private Pesticide Applicators certification series. This program is held in cooperation between the University of Kentucky, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and local County Extension Offices
Author: Kevin Lyons
The application of crop protection chemicals and lawn/landscape chemicals are important industries in south-central Kentucky. Commercial applicators must receive training to stay current on issues, pests, techniques, and safety for the products they apply. The Covid-19 pandemic has made it difficult for applicators to fulfill their training requirements.Likewise, the Covid-19 pandemic has changed how UK Cooperative Service Extension Agents are able to deliver quality educational programs to our
Author: Traci Johnson
Many farmers participate in training at Oldham County Extension in order to obtain a Private Pesticide Applicator License. This certification is good for three years and allows them to apply pesticides on their farm crops. The training focuses on pesticide laws, understanding labels, understanding pest resistance, and safe use of pesticides for farmers and for the environment.Training is normally held in person at Extension Offices during winter and early spring months as
Author: Ricardo Bessin
With the Covid-19 shutdown, pesticide certfications that expired in 2019 were extended through the end of 2020. Private applicators were granted a fourth year as county extension offices that normally would retrain these applicators in the spring were shut down due to the pandemic. However with the reopening of the offices in 2021, there was a doubling of the number of private applicators needing training. In a typical year, 3000 to 4000 applicators need training and new certifcations to p
Author: Brandon Sears
Proper pesticide use is important for not only pest control but for applicator safety. Restricted Use products are those that require specific training for their use due to potential concerns or harm to the environment or the applicator.The Madison County ANR agent hosted two, in-person, Private Pesticide Applicator Training programs in late March 2021. Seventeen Madison County participants were trained in various aspects of general and Restricted Use pesticides including, recordkeeping, safety,
Author: Jonathan Oakes
Chemicals are one of the many tools used in agricultural production, for most farmers in Russell County; from crops, to pastures and livestock. Homeowners and businesses also sometimes use chemicals in gardens, landscapes, and other areas. After receiving many questions about what to do with excess/unneeded chemicals, Russell County Extension, along with Russell County Fiscal Court and Kentucky Department of Agriculture held the first Chemical Take Back Day.This past February, Russel
Author: Bryce Roberts
Many farmers participate in training at Spencer County Extension in order to obtain a Private Pesticide Applicator License. This certification is good for three years and allows them to apply pesticides on their farm crops. The training focuses on pesticide laws, understanding labels, understanding pest resistance, and safe use of pesticides for farmers and for the environment.Training is normally held in person at Extension Offices during winter and early spring months as farm
Author: T. Adam Probst
Due to gathering restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bourbon & Woodford County Extension Districts hosted a virtual workshop for producers to renew their Private Pesticide Applicator License. Virtual formats currently existed for new applicators, but there was a lack of resources for license renewals. Thirty-eight individuals were able to renew their licenses, with 15 from Woodford County. After the video training, participants were then tasked with stopping by the
Author: Gary Bell
2020 SOKY Commercial Pesticide TrainingThe Covid-19 pandemic has changed how Extension Agents are able to deliver quality educational programs to our clientele during this health crisis. Most in-person meetings are currently not an option. Agents have become more reliant on virtual programs and social media.The Mammoth Cave ANR/Hort agents in our ten county area have hosted the SOKY Commercial Pesticide Training for several ye
Author: Matthew Chadwick
2021 was an exceptionally difficult year for the restricted use pesticide trainings that typically occur in January and February. We had record numbers of individuals with expired cards due to the KDA exception from 2020, and we were experiencing a spike in Covid-19 in our region. However we were able to host several socially distance trainings (10 Total) and multiple on-farm trainings (3 total) in addition to making all the trainings available via zoom for those with that technology we also hos
Author: Gregory Drake
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. Due to covid many applicators had a difficult time finding training opportunities as most field days or trainings were cancelled during 2020.  
Author: Tyler Miller
Without being able to host a large one and done type of meeting style that we have used in the past to train producers in order to keep their pesticide card updated, I had to hold a meeting on zoom. I was able to capture several people that needed the training and even trained a handful of producers from other counties. I did have to hold a face to face meeting for a paraquat training for some Amish. I was able to use one of their large shops where we had enough room to space out. With obstacles
Last month, I drove myself to Frankfort and took the N-10 Pesticide Test. Weeks leading up to the test i had spend a large amount of time studying and brushing up on material to hopefully help me pass the examination. I gave myself plenty of time the morning of to make the drive and find my seat. As i entered the testing room, i noticed that i had forgotten my calculater. The pressure was on but i was not shaken! I took my test, reiewed each answer, and submitted my paperwork. A few weeks later
Author: Matthew Adams
Pesticide usage is a necessary part of modern conventional agriculture. One issue with pesticide use that most don’t think of is the amount of used plastic containers in which the pesticides are purchased in. A resurgence in use of these smaller containers has also come due to herbicide resistance issues promoting farmers to use different chemicals that are used at lower rates. Many of these containers will have very small traces of pesticides left on the inside of the containers, making t
Author: Joanna Coles
Application of crop protection chemicals and lawn/landscape chemicals are important industries in South Central Kentucky. Commercial applicators must receive training to stay current on issues, pests, techniques, and safety for the products they apply. They are required to receive 12 hours of continuing education during a three year cycle to maintain their applicator license; 3 of which hours must address specific topics that pertain to their license category. The Covid-19 pandemic has made it d
