Project Overview

Reports

Commodities

• Additional Plants: flowers, greenhouse, herbs, ornamentals

• Agronomic: sorghum (sweet)

• Ecosystem: Ecosystem

• Fruits: apples, berries (blueberries), berries (brambles), berries (strawberries), grapes, melons, peaches, pears, small fruit, stone fruit, tree fruit

• Miscellaneous: postharvest

• Nuts: walnuts

• Pollinators: habitat

• Vegetables: asparagus, beans, beans (dry), beans (lima), beans (snap), beets, brassicas, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucurbits, eggplant, garlic, greens (leafy), greens (lettuces), okra, onions, peas (culinary), peppers, radishes (culinary), sweet corn, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips

Target Pests

Practices

• Pest Management: biofumigation, biological control, biorational pesticides, botanical pesticides, chemical control, cultivation, cultural control, economic threshold, exclusion, genetic resistance, habitat modification, host resistance, mating disruption, mechanical control, monitoring/scouting, mulches - general, mulches - living, mulching - plastic, mulching - vegetative, pesticide application timing, pesticide resistance management, pesticides, precision pesticide use, prevention, row covers (for pests), sanitation, soil solarization, trap crops, traps, weather monitoring

• Crop Production: biological inoculants, conservation tillage, continuous cropping, cover crops, crop improvement and selection, crop rotation, double cropping, drainage systems, greenhouses, high tunnels or hoop houses, intercropping, low tunnels, multiple cropping, no-till, postharvest treatment, row covers (for season extension), season extension types and construction, seed saving, varieties and cultivars, water management

• Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity

• Production Systems: integrated crop and livestock systems, organic agriculture, permaculture, transitioning to organic

• Sustainable Communities: local and regional food systems, quality of life, urban agriculture

Heritage Farmers in Kentucky: Making Connections with Underserved Audiences

Throughout US history, Black, Indigenous, and people of color have been farmers, but historically underserved populations (HUP) have been excluded from agricultural advances, and systemic racism perpetuates feelings of exclusion and distrust. Thus, these growers fail to access IPM resources and Extension services, putting farms at risk. According to focus group data, these HUP growers continue to embrace farming techniques passed down through generations. While their pest management approaches often include common IPM practices such as crop rotation and trap cropping, they can also include moon-based planting and homemade pesticides that are not effective as IPM practices. Thus, many heritage practices can deprive growers of profits. Specific resources are needed to make research-based information more readily available to Heritage farmers while still respecting their traditions and values.

In order to better connect with Heritage farmers in Kentucky, we aim to form relationships with HUP farm associations, determine their needs, and develop IPM resources. This one-year project will serve as the first step in serving HUP specialty crop growers in Kentucky. The objectives of this study are to:

1. Determine IPM priorities by understanding the needs of HUP specialty crop farmers. An advisory committee made up of at least 5 HUP farmers and the UK Director of DEI will develop a needs assessment which will help set IPM priorities. These priorities will be published.
2. Develop pest management recommendations for Heritage farmers, highlighting the most effective heritage practices and recommending alternative practices. New resources (traditional and virtual, video, newsletter, social media) will be developed with topics including cultural management, seed saving, and organic/no-spray guides.
3. Initiate early relationships with HUP growers by attending events and listening to grower needs. Attendance at field tours and educational events hosted by HUP grower organizations will help us build new relationships and discuss grower needs.

This project serves as the first part of a long-term program. We understand the challenges of building relationships with groups who have lost trust in our system. This proposal will focus on building trust, finding partners within HUP communities, and understanding the unique needs of Heritage farmers. As the program matures, we expect many changes, including challenges and successes. Our team is dedicated to making a difference for our HUP stakeholders. We also hope that this project will serve as a model for other IPM teams across the US.

In order to build trust and to better connect with Heritage farmers in Kentucky, we aim to make connections with HUP farm associations, determine their needs, and develop IPM resources. This one-year project will serve as the first step in serving HUP specialty crop growers in Kentucky.  These resources can also serve HUP growers throughout the region, and this project can serve as a model for other states.

The objectives of this study are to:

1. Determine IPM priorities by understanding the needs of HUP specialty crop farmers.
2. Develop pest management recommendations for Heritage farmers, highlighting the most effective heritage practices and recommending alternative practices.
3. Initiate early relationships with HUP growers by attending events and listening to grower needs.