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Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Impacts

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu




Fiscal Year:
Jul 1, 2017 - Jun 30, 2018


Success StoryHigh Tunnel Tomato Shortcourse: A Virtual How-To Series



High Tunnel Tomato Shortcourse: A Virtual How-To Series

Author: Nicole Gauthier

Planning Unit: Plant Pathology

Major Program: Plant Disease ID

Outcome: Initial Outcome

High tunnels continue to gain popularity across Kentucky, with nearly 2,000 high tunnels in the commonwealth to date.  High tunnels help extend the growing season and are typically used to produce crops early or late in the season; spring/summer tomatoes are one of the most profitable crops grown in high tunnels in Kentucky.  However, production and pest management in high tunnels is vastly different from field production. As growers transition to high tunnels, they require additional and more detailed resources.  Further, over 60% of vegetable growers in Kentucky farm part time and need virtual or on-demand sources of information.  In 2025, the IPM Specialty Crops Working Group developed a virtual high tunnel tomato shortcourse.  The 12-video series followed real-time events from soil sampling and tunnel preparation to pest scouting and disease management. The shortcourse had over 500 views during the first season.  These viewers represented a farm value of over $14M.  Because this resource remains available online, grower reach will increase each year.  Materials presented in this course are Kentucky-specific, but a majority of the information included in the course may be appropriate for neighboring states, increasing reach.






Stories by Nicole Gauthier


Protecting Kentucky Apple Production with the Fire Blight Disease Prediction Weather Model.

about 6 years ago by Nicole Gauthier

Fire blight is the most economically important disease of apples in Kentucky. It is estimated that 5... Read More


Organic and Sustainable Approaches to Home Gardening In-Service Training – Empowering Agents through Needs-Based Hands-On Training

about 6 years ago by Nicole Gauthier

Kentucky agriculture and natural resources and horticulture county Extension agents reported an incr... Read More


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Improving Postharvest Corn Disease Management

about 6 years ago by Kiersten Wise

Postharvest ear rots of corn are caused by fungi that produce toxic compounds, known as mycotoxins. ... Read More


National corn fungicide efficacy resources coordinated through University of Kentucky

about 6 years ago by Kiersten Wise

Foliar fungicide applications have now become common in corn production, often applied in the absenc... Read More