Success StoryEmpowering Agents to Assist Homeowners with Ornamental Disease and Pest Issues



Empowering Agents to Assist Homeowners with Ornamental Disease and Pest Issues

Author: Jonathan Larson

Planning Unit: Entomology

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

Outcome: Initial Outcome

I worked with Kim Leonberger, Plant Pathology Extension Associate, to produce a multi-part Zoom based educational opportunity for county Extension personnel. The Plant Pathology team had found that Kentucky agriculture and natural resources and horticulture county Extension agents reported 74% of time was spent assisting homeowners. When dealing with homeowners, a majority of their questions centered on ornamental plants, which includes thousands of trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals. Due to the large number of plants included under the umbrella of ornamentals agents frequently spend several hours trying to diagnose issues and provide management recommendations. We sought to offer an opportunity to learn about the most common diseases and arthropod issues and ultimately help agents reduce time spent seeking out information to assist homeowners. Over six sessions, the Guide to Common Diseases and Insects of Ornamental Plants webinar series introduced the most common pests and pathogens first then split each session into focus on specific and common ornamental plants and their problems. All sessions were recorded and can continue to be used as a resource by agents.
 Between 13 and 45 agents participated in each session. A survey at the conclusion of the series found that between 60 and 80 percent of agent respondents indicated a moderate or extreme increase in knowledge after each session. Ninety percent of agents found the webinar series valuable. The video recordings continue to be used by agents with some videos being viewed as many as 23 times. Agents verbally expressed that additional trainings of this type would be beneficial and the development of these additional training opportunities will be explored.    






Stories by Jonathan Larson


2024 New Agent Training on Delusory Parasitosis

about 4 months ago by Jonathan Larson

Extension offices and their personnel are often sought out for help in dealing with arthropod pest i... Read More


2024 Kentucky Keepers Citizen Science Project

about 4 months ago by Jonathan Larson

In 2024, the Kentucky Keepers citizen science project focused on monitoring for invasive species has... Read More


Stories by Entomology


Providing Science base Information to Banana Growers of the Dominican Republic on an New Invasive Pest in the Caribbean Region

Providing Science base Information to Banana Growers of the Dominican Republic on an New Invasive Pest in the Caribbean Region

about 10 months ago by Raul Villanueva

The Dominican Republic was the first producer of organic bananas during past years but in 2023 it wa... Read More


Building the Impact of the Kentucky Crop Health Conference 2nd year: 2024

about 4 months ago by Raul Villanueva

The University of Kentucky Grain Crops Integrated Pest Management group continued to build on the su... Read More