Success StoryAssistance to Amish Tobacco Growers
Assistance to Amish Tobacco Growers
Author: William Bailey
Planning Unit: Plant and Soil Sciences
Major Program: Tobacco
Outcome: Initial Outcome
There is a growing population of Amish/Mennonite residents in western Kentucky, and many of these residents are tobacco growers. Currently, all tobacco growers are required to comply with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards set forth by the U.S. Tobacco GAP Program. One of the major requirements for GAP compliance is attending an annual grower training. This training covers areas of environmental sustainability, labor sustainability (worker safety,etc.), and agronomic tobacco production principles. The Amish community in particular is sometimes underserved in these areas due to lack of transportation, and are not able to attend one of the many GAP training sessions offered during the winter months when most growers attend. All growers have to receive annual GAP training by June 30 of each year. For the past 4 years, I have offered a late GAP training at the Christian County Extension office in Hopkinsville KY to serve these growers, and any other growers that still need GAP training. In 2018, this training was attended by nearly 150 tobacco growers, of which 97% were Amish/Mennonite growers.
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