Plant Production and Management
Situation Statement
Optimizing plant, crop and forage production is paramount as Kentucky producers navigate the challenges of economics, climate variability, and evolving consumer demands. Key challenges and strategies to enhance sustainable practices across various agricultural domains include: rising input costs (seeds, fertilizers, machinery), crop price fluctuations, knowledge of soil health, and water management to produce high yielding crops for long-term productivity.
Producers use data-driven approaches for efficient resource utilization while exploring new crop varieties for pest resistance and yield improvement. As technology advances, producers will need to adopt remote sensing technologies to monitor soil health, moisture, and other parameters to increase efficiency. Implementing conservation practices that protect soil and water resources will ensure the long-term sustainability of Kentucky farmland and improve resilience to climate variability.
Current and continuing practices involve cover crops to reduce erosion resulting in enhanced soil health as well as rotating crops to break pest cycles, improve soil fertility, and reduce disease pressure. Extension programming will encourage diverse crops and horticulture species to reduce risk and explore specialty crops, such as berries, herbs, and ornamental plants. Extension Specialists continue to educate farmers on forage species selection for hay production and livestock nutrition, advise on implementing integrated pest management and organic production practices (to minimize chemical inputs while still effectively managing pests), select climate-adapted crop varieties, and prepare for extreme weather events through adaptation and disaster readiness programs.
To meet the needs of producers, agents and specialists will continue to disseminate research-based information, offer workshops, field days, online resources, support local farmer’s markets, community gardens, community supported agriculture, and urban horticulture initiatives.
Youth Focus
Educating youth about plant production and soil science is crucial for the future of agriculture, empowering them to innovate and address current and future agricultural challenges. The National 4-H Council’s 2024 Index Survey revealed that 83% of youth enjoy science, 66% view it as a tool for problem-solving, and 62% are interested in science-related careers. The 2022 U.S. Census of Agriculture highlights trends in Kentucky, such as a decrease in the number of farms, reduced agricultural land, an aging producer population, and larger farm sizes. Key priority issues identified by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension System Community Needs Assessment (2023) include youth life skill training opportunities, youth workforce readiness, access to affordable, nutritious food, support for the local agriculture industry, and promoting youth agriculture literacy. 4-H projects in plant production and soil science can help young people develop life skills, learn responsibility, and gain knowledge about these fields through horticulture, plant science, and soil science projects and programs.
Long-term Outcomes
Adult
- Achieve long-term sustainability and resilience through the widespread adoption of practices that enhance soil productivity, conserve water, and optimize resource use, leading to resilient agricultural systems capable of withstanding economic and environmental fluctuations.
- Strengthen local economies through improved farm sustainability and profitability, which are economic multipliers in local communities. Helping farm families successfully transition to subsequent generations. Helping new and beginning farmers enter farming operations.
- Strengthen local economies through the continuous support of farmer’s markets, community gardens, and community-supported agriculture programs that are well-integrated with urban horticulture initiatives.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive framework for disaster readiness and climate adaptation that includes advanced forecasting, crop selection, and management practices to prepare for extreme weather events.
- Improved crop sustainability, increased farm profitability and reduced environmental impact using best disease management practices
- Reduced unnecessary pesticide exposure to farmers, agribusiness and the general public
- Increased farm productivity because of a reduction in yield and quality losses due to diseases
- Increased competitiveness for U.S. farmers and the agricultural industry
- Achieve long-term sustainability and resilience in agricultural practices through the widespread adoption of practices that enhance soil productivity, conserve water quality and quantity, and optimize resource use, leading to resilient agricultural systems capable of withstanding economic and environmental fluctuations.
- Strengthening local economies through improved farm sustainability and profitability, which are economic multipliers in local communities. Helping farm families successfully transition to subsequent generations. Helping new and beginning farmers enter farming operations. Helping to maintain or increase domestic markets and increase export markets for grain crops and tobacco by improving quality of commodities compared to that of foreign competitors.
- Helping to educate turfgrass managers on how to maintain surfaces that meet the needs of their desired uses while improving economic and environmental benefits of turfgrasses.
- Work with farmers and those interested in farming on generational succession in farms to improve sustainability of the farms for generations.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive framework for disaster readiness and climate adaptation that includes advanced forecasting, crop selection, and management practices to prepare for extreme weather events.
Youth
- Youth will make informed decisions regarding agricultural products and services.
- Youth will advocate for agriculture and sustainable fiber and food production in their communities.
- Youth will be life and work ready, contributing to the agricultural community as consumers, leaders, and innovators.
Medium-term Outcomes
Adult
- Continue development and dissemination of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices by specialists and agents to educate producers and promote IPM practices and/or organic practices that reduce chemical inputs while maintaining crop health and productivity.
- Expansion of Extension programming by broadening the scope of extension services to include more comprehensive support for agronomic and horticultural crops and forages suited to Kentucky's changing climate and soil conditions.
- Explore the use of emerging production technologies to achieve increased adoption of technologies such as monitoring crop productivity, crop quality, soil health, and soil moisture levels across Kentucky's agricultural sectors.
- Adoption of improved pesticide safety practices
- Increased adoption of effective crop protection (i.e. IPM) methods by stakeholders to manage diseases
- Increased number of stakeholders who scout for diseases, monitor disease risk factors, and use research-based information
- Early identification of potential disease outbreaks and awareness of disease trends
- Judicious use of pesticide-based disease management
- Expansion of Extension programming by broadening the scope of extension services to include more comprehensive support for grain crops, forages, tobacco, hemp, and turfgrass suited to Kentucky's changing climate and soil conditions.
- Explore the use of emerging production technologies to achieve increased adoption of technologies for such things as monitoring crop productivity, crop quality, soil health and soil moisture levels across Kentucky's agricultural sectors.
- Adoption of improved pesticide application practices. Improve understanding and compliance with state pesticide applicator regulations.
- Proper implementation of technologies to help farmers, crop consultants, and pesticide applicators monitor, document, plant, harvest, and manage crops and forages. Technologies can include, but are not limited to, global navigation systems, section controls, applicator maps, soil sampling maps, yield maps, unmanned aerial vehicles, genetic traits, data analysis, etc.
Youth
- Youth will practice skills gained from 4-H agricultural projects and clubs.
- Youth will communicate agricultural ideas and concepts more effectively.
- Youth actively adopt and apply advanced agricultural practices, demonstrating a growing commitment to the agricultural community.
Short-term Outcomes
Adult
- Increase adoption of data-driven practices through immediate trainings, workshops, and field visits to educate producers on the latest data-driven agricultural technologies, focusing on efficient resource utilization, pest resistance, and yield improvements.
- Enhanced soil and water management programs by rolling out targeted extension programs that focus on soil health and water management techniques to immediately improve crop yield potentials.
- Support for crop trials by initiating pilot projects that support the planting of diverse crops and horticultural species, such as vegetables, small fruit, tree fruit, herbs, and ornamental plants to assess short-term viability and consumer interest.
- Initial and continuing education opportunities for certified pesticide applicators
- Stakeholders have knowledge and tools needed to better protect crops from diseases and to understand the benefits of adopting best disease management practices and resistance mitigation
- Stakeholders are more aware of current and new and/or emerging disease issues
- Stakeholders have access to timely diagnostics to avoid or reduce the impact of disease outbreaks
- Stakeholders are more aware of UK plant pathology research and resources
- Increase adoption of data-driven practices through immediate trainings, workshops, and field visits to educate producers on the latest data-driven agricultural technologies, focusing on efficient resource utilization, pest resistance, sustainability, and yield improvements.
- Enhanced soil and water management programs by rolling out targeted extension programs that focus on soil and water management techniques to immediately improve crop yield potentials and promote environmentally favorable practices.
- Support for diverse crop trials by initiating pilot projects that support the planting of diverse crops.
- Fulfillment of annual GAP Training requirements for GAP Certification of tobacco producers.
- Facilitate trainings to provide necessary knowledge to support those desiring to obtain commercial and non-commercial applicator licenses and maintain CEUs from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture in the turf and ornamental category.
- Assisting farmers who need to document specific climate objectives and/or management practices of grain and tobacco buyers.
Youth
- Youth will explore their spark in agriculture.
- Youth will gain knowledge and develop skills in agriculture.
- Youth will develop a greater awareness and appreciation for the impact of agriculture in their daily life.
- Youth will expand life and work readiness skills in agriculture, gaining awareness of the diverse opportunities within the field of agriculture.
Learning Opportunities
Adult
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Grain Crops Management, including Corn, Soybean, Wheat, Barley, Rye, Canola and others
Content or Curriculum: Publications, Fact Sheets, Workshops, Field Days, County Meetings, Regional Meetings, Field Visits, emails and phone calls
Inputs:
Date:
Audience: Pesticide applicators
Project or Activity: PSEP certification for private applicators and continuing education for commercial applicators
Content or Curriculum: Educational materials and program delivery
Inputs:
Date:
Audience: Agricultural producers
Project or Activity: IPM Programs
Content or Curriculum: Educational materials and program delivery
Inputs: EIP Grant, UK Specialists, commodity grants
Date:
Audience: Agricultural producers and the public
Project or Activity: Pest and disease identification
Content or Curriculum: Clinical diagnoses and trainings
Inputs: Diagnostic labs and services
Date:
Audience: Specialty crop growers
Project or Activity: Programming for specialty crop production and management
Content or Curriculum: Publications, Fact Sheets, Workshops, Field Days, County Meetings, Regional Meetings, Field Visits, emails and phone calls
Inputs: Extension Specialists, Kentucky Horticulture Council, USDA funding, Dept of Labor funding, county agents, KDA, professional member organizations
Date:
Audience: Home owners and consumers
Project or Activity: Programming for home gardening and landscape management
Content or Curriculum: Publications, Fact Sheets, Workshops, County Meetings, Regional Meetings, emails and phone calls
Inputs: Extension Specialists, USDA funding, county agents, KDA, Kentucky Extension Master Gardener Progam
Date:
Audience: Agricultural stakeholders (farmers, certified crop advisors, industry, others)
Project or Activity: Identification and management of diseases that affect grain, forage crops and tobacco. Grain crops include corn, sorghum, soybean, small grains, canola.
Content or Curriculum: Publications, Live and virtual trainings, online videos, workshops, field days, county meetings, regional and national meetings, field visits, emails and phone calls
Inputs: UK Plant Pathology Extension Specialists, research and extension funding
Date: Annual
Audience: Agricultural stakeholders (producers, industry, others)
Project or Activity: Disease identification and management of horticulture and specialty crops. Crops include tree and berry fruits, hemp, field and high tunnel vegetables, greenhouse floriculture, landscapes and urban forests, and home horticulture
Content or Curriculum: Publications, Live and virtual trainings, online videos, workshops, field days, county meetings, regional and national meetings, field visits, emails and phone calls
Inputs: UK Plant Pathology Extension Specialists, research and extension funding
Date: Annual
Audience: Grain crop, forage, tobacco, and hemp producers, agribusiness and government agencies
Project or Activity: Programs that support soil fertility and soil management practices to improve crop production, reduce negative environmental impacts, and enhance overall profitability in a sustainable manner.
Content or Curriculum: Educational materials to include Publications, Fact Sheets, Newsletters, Workshops, Field Days, County Meetings, Regional Meetings, TV and Radio Broadcasts, Videos, Field Visits, emails and phone calls
Inputs: UK Soil and Crops Specialists, experts and interested parties
Date: Frequently to annual
Audience: Grain crop producers
Project or Activity: Grain Crops Management, including Corn, Soybean, Wheat, Barley, Rye, Canola and others
Content or Curriculum: Plant & Soil Science Grain crops specialists and other UK extension specialists with grain crops responsibilities.
Inputs: Plant & Soil Science Grain crops specialists and other UK extension specialists with grain crops responsibilities
Date: Annual, Frequent
Audience: Tobacco growers
Project or Activity: Tobacco production and research update meetings, field days, phone calls, and other consultations
Content or Curriculum: Program delivery, educational materials
Inputs: UK tobacco specialists
Date: annual
Audience: Agricultural producers and the public
Project or Activity: Pest and disease identification
Content or Curriculum: Clinical diagnoses and trainings
Inputs: PSS extension specialists assistance to diagnostic labs diagnostic services
Date: Frequently throughout the year
Audience: Tobacco growers
Project or Activity: Annual Tobacco Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Training
Content or Curriculum: Educational materials (live trainings, virtual trainings, online video modules, supporting publications), program delivery
Inputs: UK Tobacco specialists, GAP Connections (administrator of GAP program), tobacco dealers and manufacturers
Date: Annual (25 per year)
Audience: Turfgrass managers, Extension agents, Public
Project or Activity: Turfgrass management including, but not limited to: sod farms, golf courses, sports fields, parks, cemeteries, and lawns
Content or Curriculum: Publications, Fact Sheets, Workshops, Field Days, County Meetings, Regional meetings, field visits, emails and phone calls
Inputs: UK extension associates and specialist, industry professionals
Date: Frequent throughout the year
Audience: Turfgrass managers, Extension Agents, Public
Project or Activity: Turf and Landscape Management Short Course
Content or Curriculum: Pesticide training, KDA test, and educational conference covering topics including: pesticide safety, weed control, disease management, professionalism, aquatic management, turfgrass physiology, selection, establishment, and management of turfgrass, water quality, soil physical and chemical properties.
Inputs: UK extension associates and specialist, nationally recognized turfgrass professors, and industry professionals
Date: annually
Audience: Hemp producers, potential hemp producers, hemp industry professionals
Project or Activity: Hemp Education
Content or Curriculum: Live trainings, virtual training, online videos, field days, supporting educational publications, program delivery, diagnostic support.
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists and Associates, ANR agents
Date: Annual and on-going
Audience: Forage and livestock producers
Project or Activity: Grazing Schools, Fencing Schools, Statewide Grazing Conferences, Statewide Hay and Stored Forage Conferences, Regional Forage Tours, Novel Endophyte Workshops
Content or Curriculum: Educational materials including proceedings, manuals, hands-on activities, demonstrations, and on-line materials including webpages, social media, and videos.
Inputs: UK Forage Extension Specialists (2), UK Master Grazer Coordinator (1), UK Master Grazer Interns (2), UK Forage Technicians and Research Associates (4)
Date: Programs are provided one or more times annually at multiple locations throughout Kentucky
Audience: Agricultural stakeholders (farmers, certified crop advisors, industry, others)
Project or Activity: Weed identification and management of grain and forage crops. Grain crops include corn, sorghum, soybean, small grains, and canola.
Content or Curriculum: Publications, Live and virtual trainings, online videos, workshops, field days, county meetings, regional and national meetings, field visits, emails and phone calls
Inputs: UK Weed Science Extension Specialists, research and extension funding
Date: Annual
Youth
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Plant and Soil Science Programs (e.g., 4-H Land Judging Contest, 4-H Homesite Evaluation Contest, 4-H Horticulture Contest)
Content or Curriculum: National and State-Level Research-Based, Vetted Publications, Curricula, and Educational Resources (e.g., Land Judging and Homesite Evaluation Publication, National Junior Horticulture Association Contest Manual)
Inputs:
- 4-H programs in agriculture in which youth experience a sense of belonging, developmental relationships, explore their spark, and are actively engaged in opportunities that are meaningful.
- Accredited volunteers in agriculture.
- Research base of the Cooperative Extension Land-grant system.
- Funding opportunities from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Inc.
- Funding from local, state, and federal sources, and grants.
- Engagement of volunteers and youth in delivering the programs and leading clubs.
- Engagement of communities in identifying and implementing programming based on meeting local needs.
- External stakeholder engagement and support such as commodity groups and agriculturalist organizations.
Date: 4-H Program Year (September 1 – August 31)
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Plant and Soil Science Projects (e.g., fair displays and exhibit entries)
Content or Curriculum: National and State-Level Research-Based, Vetted Publications, Curricula, and Educational Resources (e.g., Junior Master Gardener, National 4-H Gardening Series, 4-H State Fair Exhibit Factsheets, Extension Publications)
Inputs:
- 4-H programs in agriculture in which youth experience a sense of belonging, developmental relationships, explore their spark, and are actively engaged in opportunities that are meaningful.
- Accredited volunteers in agriculture.
- Research base of the Cooperative Extension Land-grant system.
- Funding opportunities from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Inc.
- Funding from local, state, and federal sources, and grants.
- Engagement of volunteers and youth in delivering the programs and leading clubs.
- Engagement of communities in identifying and implementing programming based on meeting local needs.
- External stakeholder engagement and support such as commodity groups and agriculturalist organizations.
Date: 4-H Program Year (September 1 – August 31)
Evaluation
Adult
Outcome: Improved production practices
Indicator:
- Number of commercial participants who reported improving their plant production or management practices.
- Number of consumer participants who reported improving their plant production or management practices.
Method: Program evaluation tool/survey or records from individual consultations.
Timeline: After program participation.
Outcome: Stakeholders have knowledge and tools needed to better protect crops from diseases and understand the benefits of adopting best disease management practices and resistance mitigation. Stakeholders are more aware of UK plant pathology research
Indicator: Number of stakeholders who reported increased knowledge of research-based disease identification and management practices for crops grown in Kentucky and/or share that information with other stakeholders.
Method: Primarily surveys, records from consultations
Timeline: Annual
Outcome: Early identification of potential disease outbreaks
Indicator:
- Number of stakeholders contacting Extension for help with disease identification and management.
- Number of plant samples submitted to the PDDL.
Method: Sample diagnosis through the PDDL, direct communication with Extension Specialists
Timeline: Annual
Outcome: Improved production practices and economic return of production inputs
Indicator: Number of participants who report increased economic return from improved production practices recommended in Plant Production and Management-related Extension programs.
Method: Surveys, participant feedback, CES agent feedback
Timeline: Frequently to annual
Outcome: Improved production practices
Indicator: Number of producers who reported increased knowledge of crop and forage production, fertility management, varieties, pest control, and/or sustainable practices.
Method: Surveys
Timeline: Annual
Outcome: Improved tobacco production practices, efficiency, and profitability
Indicator: Number of tobacco producers reporting increased economic returns, efficiency, or profitability after attending tobacco production meetings where improved production practices are presented at annual research update meetings.
Method: Surveys, views of research data published on Dark and Burley Tobacco Web pages, views of Dark Tobacco in Kentucky and Tennessee Facebook page, ANR agent feedback
Timeline: annual
Outcome: Identification of diseases and abiotic problems in crops and forages
Indicator: Number of plant diagnoses made annually with diagnosis and recommendation reports sent to ANR agent and grower.
Method: ANR agent feedback, grower feedback
Timeline: Annual
Outcome: Improved tobacco production practices, efficiency, and crop traceability
Indicator:
- Number of tobacco producers participating in annual GAP Training.
- Number of tobacco producers reporting higher scores on annual third-party GAP Certification audits.
Method: GAP Training survey, Third-party GAP audit administered by GAP Connections, Views of research data published on Dark and Burley Tobacco Web pages, views of Dark Tobacco in Kentucky and Tennessee Facebook page
Timeline: annual
Outcome: Improved adoption of best management practices
Indicator: Number of turfgrass managers who reported that they gained knowledge of improved turfgrass management.
Method: Survey
Timeline: annual
Outcome: Improved adoption of best management practices and compliance with state regulations
Indicator: Number new applicator licenses awarded
Method: Survey and results from the KDA
Timeline: annual
Outcome: Improved knowledge base about the potential for hemp in KY
Indicator: Number of farms adopting/continuing hemp production.
Method: Survey of program participants
Timeline: Annual and on-going
Outcome: Improving forage and livestock management
Indicator: Number of participants that indicate high likelihood of implementation of improved forage and livestock management practices.
Method: Schools, workshops, conferences, and field days. Information from these events will also be pushed out through KY Forages YouTube Channel and Master Grazer Facebook page.
Timeline: Programs are provided one or more times annually at multiple locations throughout Kentucky
Outcome: Stakeholders have knowledge and tools needed to better protect crops from weeds and understand the benefits of adopting best management practices for weed and resistance mitigation. Stakeholders are more aware of UK weed science research
Indicator: Number of stakeholders who reported increased knowledge of research-based weed identification and/or weed management practices for crops grown in Kentucky.
Method: Primarily surveys, consultations
Timeline: Annual
Outcome: Increased crop management knowledge and skills
Indicator:
- Number of participants who increased their knowledge of risk management tools.
- Number of participants who increased their use of risk management tools.
- Number of participants who reported increased knowledge of plant production and/or management practices.
- Number of participants who reported reducing their inputs or costs in their plant production
- Number of participants who reported increased efficiency in their plant production and/or management
Method: Attendance and program evaluations / surveys
Timeline: Ongoing
Outcome:
Indicator:
- Number of home or community gardeners who reported that they implemented environmental stewardship (pollinator gardens, rain catchment, etc.)
- Number of non-commercial growers who reported adoption of improved management practices (soil sampling, reduced pesticide applications, integrated pest management, etc.)
- Number of community members using or participating in public or community gardens
- Amount of produce donated from community gardens
Method:
Timeline:
Outcome:
Indicator:
- Number of commercial growers who reported improved specialty crop production and/or management practices.
- Number of non-commercial home gardeners who reported improved planting and/or management practices.
Method:
Timeline:
Outcome:
Indicator:
- Number of Master Gardener volunteers who completed training
- Number of Master Gardener volunteer service hours
- Number of clients engaged by Master Gardeners
- Number of programs led by Master Gardeners
Method:
Timeline:
Youth
Outcome: Short-Term
Indicator:
- Number of youth who reported increased understanding of the impact (or role) of plant production in their daily lives.
- Number of youth who reported an increased interest in plant production and management.
- Number of youth who reported that they understand plant production concepts and ideas.
- Number of youth who reported that they have identified at least one job/career in plant production and management that fits their interest
Method: Survey
Timeline: Administered immediately following program/activity
Outcome: Medium-Term
Indicator:
- Number of youth who reported that they have used the knowledge and skills gained in plant production to make informed decisions.
- Number of youth who reported that they have used the knowledge and/or skills gained in plant production to complete a project.
- Number of youth who reported that they have taken steps to pursue gaining more knowledge for a job in plant production based on their interests.
Method: Survey
Timeline: Administered at end of program year/club year
Outcome: Long Term
Indicator: Long-term evaluation will be conducted using the National 4-H Index Study.
Method: Survey
Timeline: End of program year or several years.
