Author: Lisa Jones
Major Program: Pollinators
Whitley County 4-H's Project Butterfly Wings initiative has made a profound impact by engaging public schools and homeschooling groups across the county in a transformative educational experience. Participants, whether in classrooms or at home, received caterpillar kits to witness firsthand the captivating journey of Painted Lady butterflies from larval stages to their vibrant winged forms. This six-week program not only immersed youth in the intricate life cycle of butterflies but also drew
Author: Robert Brockman
Insects are required for 75% of crop pollination and 80% of wild plant pollination. However, insect populations around the world have been experiencing drastic declines in recent years. This decline has been most apparent in our honeybee populations, which have declined 55% in the last 80 years. It can also easily be seen in wild bumblebee populations, as 28% of North American bumblebee species are considered threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. To combat these
Author: Chadwick Conway
Beekeeping is extremely important in so many ways to everyone across the nation. As with many other farming enterprises, continued education is key to being successful. For the past 14 years the local cooperative extension services have offered an East KY Beekeeping school for local beekeepers. Since 2020, COVID-19 had forced the school to go virtual for the past 3 beekeeping schools. This year local beekeepers and agriculture agents wanted to get back to in person beekeeping classes and decided
Author: Regina Utz
In May Trimble County Extension hosted a class teaching about planting for pollinators. During the class, we had 17 people in attendance. One of the people that attended decided to create a cut flower business out of her garden. Melanie Rice came to Trimble County after moving from the suburbs of Oldham County. She has attended many extension events and after being a part of the Backyard Garden Series and the Planting for Birds, Bees, and Butterflies, she decided to start a flower farming b
Author: Carrie Spry
The Varroa mite has spread to and become a major pest of honey bees since their introduction in the mid-1980s. They were first reported in the Bluegrass Region of the Commonwealth in 1991 and now occur throughout the state. The United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service estimates losses due to mite infestation exceed $1 billion a year. Research recommends an integrated pest management approach control that relies on various tools. Vaporized sprays of oxal
Author: Jamie Dockery
Current research indicates numerous pollinating insect species are threatened or in decline. The USDA states that about one third of global food supplies depend on pollinating insects. There are many simple steps homeowners can take to encourage pollinators in backyard gardens. To provide more education around the topic, horticulture agents from Fayette, Franklin and Woodford counties planned our annual Extension Master Gardener Conference to focus on pollinators. We selected and tapped speakers
