Success StoryTobacco GAP Training



Tobacco GAP Training

Author: Susan Fox

Planning Unit: Lyon County CES

Major Program: Tobacco

Plan of Work: Crop Production

Outcome: Initial Outcome

Tobacco farmers are facing increased need to comply with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) requirements. In cooperation with the local farmers a GAP training was held in Lyon County for 99 tobacco farmers and their H2-A workers. The program included collaboration with the Western Kentucky Regional Migrant Education Program, the Department of Labor, local farmers, and local emergency services.

Presentations and speakers included:

Interpreters: Debbie Bourland and Eugenia Luna, Western Kentucky Regional Migrant Education Program; Frankie Menendez, Eddyville, KY; Daniel Altamirano, Mexico.

Small Group Sessions: (20 minutes each)

  1. Pesticides, field sanitation and green tobacco sickness - Andy Bailey, UK Tobacco Specialist
  2. First aid – Michael Wiggins, Lyon County Ambulance Director
  3. Farm equipment safety training – Howard Smith, Manager 8SS Farms 
  4. Beef Cattle Handling – Kevin Laurent, University of Kentucky Extension Beef Associate


General Session:

  • General Services, Housing and Transportation, MSPA and H-2A Program, Child Labor/Youth Employment, and Farm Labor Contractors – Chris Bender, Department of Labor
  • Affordable Health Care Act – Eugenia Luna, Regional Advocate/Recruiter, Western Kentucky Regional Migrant Education Programs
  • Sexual Harassment – Debbie Bourland, Regional Recruiter, Western Kentucky Regional Migrant Education Programs


One worker reported that he used compression on a wound as a result of the information he received at the program. In addition to use of interpreters for translation to Spanish we also utilized Microsoft Translator to translate slides from English to Spanish. For some parts of the program the app allowed them to read or hear interpretations as well using their cell phones. Packets including certification cards were prepared for each farm.






Stories by Susan Fox


Home Fruit Production

about 5 years ago by Susan Fox

Backyard Fruit ProductionA Less Common Fruit Class was offered in Lyon County with eleven participan... Read More


Master Gardener Leadership

about 6 years ago by Susan Fox

The Lyon County Master Gardeners provide local leadership in horticulture education. This year they ... Read More


Stories by Lyon County CES


Senior Citizens "Lettuce" Teach Ways to "Beet" Nutritional Diseases

about 5 years ago by Angie York

According to the World Health Organization, senior adults are particularly vulnerable to malnutritio... Read More


Think Twice before You Throw it Away

about 5 years ago by Angie York

Generated waste must be managed through reuse, recycling, storage, treatment, and/or disposal. In an... Read More


Stories by Tobacco


Tri-County Winter School

Tri-County Winter School

about 5 years ago by Samantha Anderson

The 2017 Census of Agriculture reports that grain and tobacco production accounted for 158,557 ($100... Read More


Annual Tobacco Twilight Tour

Annual Tobacco Twilight Tour

about 6 years ago by Samantha Anderson

The Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation reports that Kentucky ranks 1st in burley tobacco production, 1s... Read More