In an effort to offer more educational classes to commercial horticulture producers, specialists and agents with the university teamed up to offer a series of webinars on a variety of horticulture topics. The first series was offered in September and focused on Growing Strawberries in Kentucky.   The first session was an introduction to growing strawberries and the second session discussed insect, disease, and weed management.  A combination of specialists and agents presented the information using Zoom and was presented live to extension offices across the state.

The horticulture agents in Harrison and Bourbon Counties along with the ANR agent in Nicholas County teamed up to offer the series of webinars.  The September strawberry webinars were held in Bourbon County.

Of the group that attended the second webinar, there were a combination of individuals who currently grow strawberries commercially, those that were thinking about starting commercial sells, and those that grew solely for personal consumption.  

When surveyed, 60% of participants indicated that prior to the webinar they had inadequate to moderate knowledge of how to manage pests, disease management, insect management, weed management, and wildlife management when growing strawberries.  Following the webinar, 75% of participants indicated they had moderate to excellent knowledge of the pest management topics and zero participants ranked themselves as inadequate.

When asked as a result of participating in the program, what change in yield do you expect in your operation, 80% indicated they expected a higher yield per acre.  

Webinars and other forms of digital learning are currently being developed by specialist to provide more consistent information to commercial horticulture growers.  Since there are few commercial producers in number, it is likely that county offices will again partner to offer these programs in an effort to utilize time and resources most efficiently.