Henry County Extension District Board has approved 25 free soil tests and 10 specialty tests per farm each year. The farm must be in Henry County to qualify for free testing. We offer soil testing for crops, gardens, landscape and lawn care. Click here to learn about how to do a soil test.

Animal wastes are tested to determine nutrient contents to allow for proper land application.
Your report will show the amount of Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc. If solid waste is submitted moisture content will be included. Click here to learn about obtaining a sample. Each sample is $25

Private Applicator means a person certified to use Restricted Use pesticides for purposes of producing any agricultural commodity on property owned or rented by him(her) or an employer, or to the lands of a farmer-neighbor, if applied without compensation other than trading or personal services between producers of agricultural commodities. Click here for the National Pesticide Applicator Certification core manual. 

You can schedule a time to complete this training by calling the Extension Office at 845-2811

Minimum standards for Certified Private Applicators

• A practical knowledge of common pests to be controlled and the damage caused by them.
•  Read and understand the label and labelling information including common name of the pesticide applied, pests to be controlled, timing and methods of application, safety precautions, any pre-harvest or re-entry restrictions and any specific disposal procedures.
• Apply pesticides in accordance with the label instructions and warnings, be able to prepare proper concentrations and calibrate application equipment.
• Recognize local environmental situations that must be considered during application to avoid contamination.
• Be able to recognize poisoning symptoms and procedures to follow in case of a pesticide accident.

The Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Program’s mission is to maximize consumer confidence in and acceptance of beef by focusing the producer’s attention to daily production practices that influence the safety, wholesomeness and quality of beef and beef products through the use of science, research and education initiatives.

The Kentucky Beef Quality & Care Assurance (BQCA) Program is based on recommended national guidelines and scientific research. This program enables beef and dairy producers to enhance their product, maximize marketability and strengthen consumer confidence.

​Kentucky Beef Quality and Care Assurance takes national BQA practices one step further to provide the best program for Kentucky producers. The BQCA program adds a cattle handling and care component to the training model. Educational modules provide the best management practices for handling cattle and providing their well-being, while also training on the core principles of BQA.

You can access this certification online or at the Extension office by calling 845-2811.

In recent years several types of fresh produce have been implicated in illnesses. Ultimately some of these outbreaks were caused by cross contamination and are the result of how the produce was handled by the end user. Troubling however for the farming community is the fact that some of the outbreaks have been traced back to the farm where the produce commodity was grown. In light of this, consumers are looking more critically at their food source and wanting reassurance that they are being provided with safe fresh fruit and vegetables.

There have been no food illness outbreaks traced back to Kentucky grown produce and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and producers alike, want to continue this trend. Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) is a set of production guidelines designed to reduce the likelihood of microbial or other contamination of fresh fruits and vegetables. It focuses on utilizing safe techniques and inputs on all levels of the farm to fork food chain. When a farmer utilizes GAP principles in their production it means they are proactively taking steps to reduce the possibility of producing unsafe produce and meat products.

There are Gap trainings scheduled throughout the state beginning in January. Check with your Ag agent for locations and times.

Diagnosis of plant diseases is one of the many ways that the University of Kentucky Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and UK Cooperative Extension serve the citizens of Kentucky. Click here to learn how to submit a sample