Describe the Issue or Situation.

The Kentucky extension IPM program is lead by Drs. Kiersten Wise, Edwin Ritchey, Carl Bradley, Travis Legleiter, Raul Villanueva, Nicole Gauthier, Rachel Rudolph, Jonathan Larson, and Julie Beale. This was a three-year USDA funded program  supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program, Extension Implementation Program,
project award no. 2021-70006-35440, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).

This extension program translates and delivers basic and applied research to practitioners such that they can more effectively and efficiently manage their pest and nutrient problems on the farm in a environmentally and socially sustainable manner. While composed of six working groups housed in Plant and Soil Sciences, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Horticulture, and Forestry the output of this program takes the form of producer meetings, field days, demonstrations, statewide surveys, newsletter articles, factsheets, publications, on-farm research, pest and disease monitoring, and education videos.

IPM Knowledge was disseminated through over this 3-year funding cycle through 88 stakeholder meetings, 115 videos, 283 newsletter, articles, 97 extension publications, 6,446 diagnoses, 290, and 994 social media reaches.

Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience.

The target audience includes farmers, county agents, agricultural industry representatives, Master gardeners, and consultants (3,136 attendees reported at meetings).

Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact. Please note that the outcomes statement must use evaluation data to describe the change(s) that occurred in individuals, groups, families, businesses, or in the community because of the program/outreach.

Working group leaders reported 3,136 attendees at meetings representing 1,933,108 acres. Stakeholders surveyed at selected meetings indicated that 86% of survey participants intend to adopt at least one recommended practice. Stakeholders reported through these surveys the value of the information provided which totaled $29,156,165 across the meetings and duration of this project.