Tobacco farmers are facing increased need to comply with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) requirements. In cooperation with the local farmers, a GAP training has been held for two years in Lyon County for 99 tobacco farmers and their H2-A workers in 2018 and for 110 farmers and workers in 2019. The program has included collaboration with the Western Kentucky Regional Migrant Education Program, the Department of Labor, local farmers, and local emergency services. This year CPR training was offered for the farmers, 11 farmers participated in this training.

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 in 2018 and Zenaida Villoria, UK Extension in 2019.
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 (2018)
5. Tobacco Harvest and Baler Room Safety – Andy Bailey (2019)

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 iPhones. Packets, including individual certification cards, were prepared for each worker and a trained H2A worker list was provided for the farmer. Farmers that participated in this program received very favorable feedback when visited by GAP inspectors.