By Blake Jackson
Healthy crops often begin with careful observation. At Blackacre Farm, Kentucky farmers and community gardeners recently gained practical skills for identifying pest and disease problems before they threaten crop quality or reduce harvests.
Kentucky State University’s Cooperative Extension Program hosted a Pest and Disease Management Workshop and Field Day on September 19, 2026, giving growers an opportunity to learn about crop scouting, pest identification, disease symptoms, and management practices through both classroom instruction and field activities.
Dr. Alhagie K. Cham, an urban horticulture Extension and research scientist with Kentucky State University, led the training. He emphasized the importance of identifying crop problems early so growers can respond appropriately and avoid unnecessary losses.
“Effective pest and disease management starts with regular scouting and accurate identification,” Dr. Cham said. “When growers know what they are seeing in their crops, they can make informed management decisions, prevent problems from becoming more serious, and protect crop quality and productivity.”
Blackacre Farm’s community garden, which contains more than 300 plots for organic and conventional production, served as the hands-on setting for the event.
Susan Ballerstedt, the farm and garden manager, introduced participants to the site and explained its farming operations and community programs.
Dr. Cham then discussed insects and diseases commonly found in small-scale vegetable production. Participants learned how to recognize visible symptoms and determine what management approaches may be appropriate for specific crop problems.
The group later moved into the garden plots to put those lessons into practice. Participants inspected plants for evidence of insects, disease, and other forms of crop damage while discussing observations and asking questions about conditions they encountered.
The workshop also introduced integrated pest management principles. Growers considered how routine monitoring, proper identification, and timely action can help control problems while reducing unnecessary pesticide applications.
Participants contributed examples from their own farms and gardens, creating opportunities to compare experiences and discuss practical solutions.
For small-scale producers, early detection can be especially valuable because pest and disease outbreaks can quickly affect both yield and marketable crop quality.
Kentucky State plans to continue working with Blackacre through future workshops, field demonstrations, technical assistance, and educational programs designed around growers’ needs.
Through its Cooperative Extension Program, Kentucky State University delivers research-based agricultural education throughout the Commonwealth.
Events such as this field day help translate university research into practical knowledge that farmers and gardeners can use in their own growing operations.
Photo Credit: kentucky-state-university
Categories: Kentucky, Crops, Education