University of Kentucky Crop Pest Management Webinars gain loyal audience

Managing stink bugs in soybeans, maximizing disease control and return on investment for corn fungicides, improving herbicide applications, and the management of important wheat diseases in Kentucky. These topics highlighted the 2024 Fall Crop Protection Series organized by The University of Kentucky Grain Crops Integrated Pest Management group. The 4-week webinar series held in October and November of 2024 was designed to provide stakeholders with researched-based information presented by a different University of Kentucky Extension Specialist each week. Speakers included Dr. Carl Bradley, Dr. Travis Legleiter, Dr. Raul T. Villanueva, and Dr. Kiersten Wise. The series was organized by University of Kentucky Extension Associate Jason Travis and hosted through the Southern Integrated Pest Management Center.

The webinars had over 120 total attendees in the 2024 series, with multiple individuals attending more than one webinar in the series. Many locations, from local Ag businesses to extension offices, hosted viewing sessions of the webinars for individuals who lacked a reliable internet connection and took the opportunity to watch the webinars with their colleagues in the agriculture industry. 

Participation in the webinars provided registrants Certified Crop Advisor continuing education credits, County Agent In-service training, and pesticide applicator training to clientele. Feedback from the webinars indicated those who participated appreciate the annual webinars for their in-depth analysis of IPM issues and the selection of topics that are current in the Ag industry. The series saw many who participated in previous year’s webinars and has become a much-anticipated annual event.