Application of crop protection chemicals and lawn/landscape chemicals are important industries in South Central Kentucky. Commercial applicators must receive training to stay current on issues, pests, techniques, and safety for the products they apply. They are required to receive 12 hours of continuing education during a three year cycle to maintain their applicator license; 3 of which hours must address specific topics that pertain to their license category. The Covid-19 pandemic has made it difficult for applicators to fulfill their training requirements.

Likewise, the Covid-19 pandemic has changed how Extension Agents are able to deliver quality educational programs to our clientele. Most in-person meetings are currently not an option. Agents have needed to find alternate methods of teaching and have begun to utilize virtual programs and social media.

The Mammoth Cave ANR/Hort agents in our ten county area have hosted the SOKY Commercial Pesticide Training for several years. This gives commercial applicators in agribusinesses, turf professionals, and landscapers an opportunity to obtain their continuing education units each year. In December of 2020, the agents provided this training virtually, utilizing Zoom.

On December 7th, the program focused on pasture, crop, and farm supply topics. There were 256 attendees. On December 8th, the sessions focused on turf and ornamentals, and 240 people joined. Our average attendance in the past for the in-person meetings has been around 70 people each day.

The presenters included specialists from the University of Kentucky, Kentucky State University, and Western Kentucky University; KY State Police; and the KY Dept. of Highways. The “great line up of speakers,” as stated by one of the participants, provided information on pest management, environmental issues, transportation regulations, and highway right-of-way guidelines. A total of 6 KY CEU categories, 14 TN CEU categories, and 5 Certified Crop Advisor CEU categories were offered both days.

Participants submitted 292 evaluations through Qualtrics with the link provided, or by scanning the QR code with their phone. Knowledge gained was reported by 97.4% of respondents, and 66.2 % indicated they would make at least one or more specific positive changes to their normal practices. The indicated impact that having a commercial pesticide license has, on average, on their personal income totaled $616,000 from participants on day one, and $562,000 from participants on day two.

The virtual format allowed people from KY, TN, IN, OH, WI, and WV to attend. It was one of the few occasions for commercial pesticide applicators to gain their needed CEU’s in 2020 and made a significant impact on future educational programming.