UKCES Agriculture Water Quality Education

The quality of KY’s waterways is directly influenced by land uses. Nonpoint source pollution (NPS) is generated by human interactions with the environment from rural land uses (e.g. livestock and crop production, timber harvests) and urban land uses (e.g. lawncare, construction & development). Social science research indicates that social networks (peer-to-peer learning), access to information, and increased environmental awareness can increase farmer adoption of conservation practices. Supporting human capital by investing in watershed practitioners, conservation professionals, farmers, and farm advisors to advance watershed leadership can result in longer term water quality protection via broader stakeholder engagement. Extension professionals are trusted advisors by farmers to understand complex agricultural-ecosystem services information. Extension-led agro-environmental partnerships (that include farmers, university Extension personnel, and agency partners) can lead to adoption of agricultural pollution prevention practices that are fully integrated into production systems. To meet the goals and objectives of this project the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service will detail 59% of one FTE Extension Specialist and 60% of one FTE Extension Associate to deliver educational, training, and/or outreach programs to watershed professionals and general audiences; develop and implement a mini-grant program focused in one priority watershed that engages farmers in watershed leadership and conservation practice installation; provide technical assistance to basin and watershed coordinators, agricultural advisors, and watershed professionals; and manage the project. Success of the project will be assessed by number of programs developed and delivered, number of attendees trained, changes in knowledge and attitude as a result of programs delivered, number of conservation practices installed, and estimated pollutant load reductions from the installed practices.