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SITUATION:

Chemical application at its best is simultaneously safe, effective, economical, and environmentally-conscious. Achieving each of these attributes for plant pest management is an ongoing educational process for a variety of applicator groups, including farm managers and workers, gardeners, crop advisors, point-of-sale employees, and industry and government agency representatives. This process will include educational sessions, hands-on demonstrations, test plots, coordinated recommendations, and site-specific farm visits by various extension personnel. In addition to timely and relevant updates on new chemicals, focus areas are chemical safety, efficacious usage, and integration of diversified approaches alongside chemicals. Attention to these foci will benefit not only applicators, but anyone who comes in contact with agricultural fields or uses Kentucky food, fuel, and fiber crops as part of everyday life.

STATEMENT: 

In the fall of 2019 multiple workers in the commercial horticulture industry contacted the McCracken County Extension Agent for Horticulture seeking continuing education units (CEUs) necessary to retain their Commercial Pesticide Applicators’ (CPA) license. These workers represented various types of horticulture industry. The CPA license is issued by Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) once the worker passes a test issued by KDA.  CPA licenses require CEUs based on the calendar year as regulated by KDA. The CEUs are obtained through training.  These training programs are partnership with UK Extension Agents and KDA.  Agents create KDA-approved educational-training programs. 

McCracken County Horticulture Agent contacted KDA and other Agents and Specialists to create an eligible training program. CEUs were assigned by KDA, according to content.  Date was selected to be after the growing season had ended and before the calendar year expired. Workers attending the 12 

Dec 2019 training represented 8 different categories of employment in agriculture and horticulture. A flyer of the event was created by Horticulture Agent and distributed to 17 counties in the Commonwealth. 

The day of the training 5 workers asked about earning CEUs from Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TN Dept. of Ag). Agent was able to partner with TN Dept. of Ag to secure CEUs for these workers, too.

For the Commonwealth, 65 workers earned their CEUs. Upon completion of the training Horticulture Agent used oral evaluation to gain the following information:

• 100% said, “Yes, they needed the license to remain employed.”
• 100% said “Yes, they learned something today.”   

LONG-TERM OUTCOMES:

  Knowledge of correct pesticide application on public land and commercial properties does

• Maximize profits for commercial agriculture/horticulture producer
• Minimize environmental impact of air, soil, or living area
• Reduction of drift related complaints and damage
• Reduction in rate of pesticide resistance development in pests, weeds, pathogens
• Improve sustainability of crop production systems
• Reduction of crop injury due to pesticide applications (rate, compatibility, application conditions)

The December 2019 CPA training was the McCracken County Horticulture Agent’s 10^th year in a row to hold such training. Area workers needing CEUs have come to know about the McCracken County Cooperative Extension Service’s programming. Being able to attend a training closer to their workplace is a benefit. Workers with the knowledge that the UK/McCracken County Extension Service has for 10 years served this need has a long-term impact.