The Mammoth Cave Area has historically been at the top in tobacco production in KY.  Agents from Allen, Barren, Hart, Metcalfe and Monroe Counties cooperated to host a regional Tobacco GAP Training.  Tobacco GAP trainings are mandatory yearly trainings required by the major tobacco purchasing companies.  Extension is charged with hosting and facilitating these very important trainings.  Growers who do not receive the annual training run the risk of not being able to market their tobacco.  The 2022 Mammoth Cave Area Tobacco GAP Training saw 85 growers meet their educational requirement for 2022.  These growers represented over 4300 acres of tobacco with a value of over $14,000,000 of tobacco.

 Growers not only received information on new production recommendations and labor compliance strategies, but also we made aware of resource for their migrant labor.  The Barren County School district provided information to growers on resources they can provide to assist families.

One grower stated as he was leaving, “Thank y’all for putting this together so we can get this taken care of before we get really busy with the growing season.”