KDA's Environmental Services Staff Helps Pesticide Industry Follow the Law.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, August 17, 2009

For more information contact:
Bill Clary

(502) 564-1137

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Department of Agriculture can help pesticide applicators and dealers comply with state laws on licensing and certification, avoiding costly fines and giving consumers peace of mind.

“State laws and regulations spell out requirements for licensing, certification, application, record-keeping and all other aspects of the pesticide industry in Kentucky,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “It’s just good business for applicators and dealers to follow the law. And consumers benefit as well. Our Division of Environmental Services is available to help applicators and dealers stay in compliance with the law.”

Patrick Gilbert, director of the KDA’s Division of Environmental Services, urged Kentucky pesticide applicators and dealers to follow label directions while applying pesticides or making pesticide recommendations; keep proper records; store pesticides properly; obtain and maintain all required licenses and certifications, and follow all other state laws and regulations that pertain to pesticide applicators and dealers.

Gilbert said state law requires a person to pass a certification examination for each category in which he or she requests certification in order to be certified to make pesticide applications in that category or categories. A person cannot be licensed to sell or apply pesticides until he or she is certified. A person must attend at least 12 continuing education units in three years in a category to maintain certification.

A person must have a commercial pesticide operator’s license to engage in the business of applying pesticides on other peoples’ lands in Kentucky. A person must be certified and be registered as a dealer or employed by someone who is registered as a dealer in order to get a license. Dealers must register with the Department and must post a surety bond or carry liability insurance of at least $1 million.

To get a structural pest control license, a person must have two years of verified employment experience with a licensed structural pest control applicator, submit an application before the state Pest Control Advisory Board and pass a written exam.

For more information about state requirements and fees for pesticide applicators and dealers, go towww.kyagr.com, click on Programs and click on Pesticide Regulation or call 1-800-205-6543.

KDA Will Make Donations to Kentucky 4-H and FFA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

For more information contact:
Bill Clary

(502) 564-1137

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer will present commemorative checks for $47,500 each to Kentucky FFA and Kentucky 4-H during the Kentucky State Fair.

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture will give the same amount it has donated every year since Commissioner Farmer took office in 2004, even though it is struggling with budget cuts, he said.

“It’s important to maintain this investment in our future,” Commissioner Farmer said. “FFA and 4-H do an outstanding job of molding our young people into strong leaders and responsible citizens. This investment will pay our Commonwealth back many times over.”

This year’s donations will increase the Department’s support for the youth programs to a total of nearly $600,000 since 2004.

Kentucky FFA has 14,500 members in its 145 chapters statewide. A Kentucky FFA member, Nicholas Hardesty of Meade County, was named the American Star Farmer, the National FFA organization’s highest honor, in 2007. Two FFA members from the Spencer County chapter, Andrew Baird and Stephanie Mitchell, are nominees for Star Farmer awards this year.

Kentucky 4-H is celebrating its centennial anniversary this year. It is open to youth from 9 to 19. Some 230,000 youths are involved in 4-H in Kentucky.

Colorado Schools Encouraged to Buy Local Products

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter has proclaimed September 9, 2009, as Colorado Proud School Meal Day. This sixth annual event encourages schools to incorporate Colorado products into their meals to celebrate Colorado agriculture and to educate students about healthy eating.

“Nutritious foods are the cornerstone to a healthy diet and Colorado farmers and ranchers play a pivotal role in providing a fresh and wholesome food supply,” said John Stulp, Commissioner of Agriculture. “Schools can turn to Colorado producers to provide healthy ingredients at a reasonable price.”

Free educational materials regarding agriculture and nutrition are available online to help schools organize the event in their areas. Schools may also request a visit from a farmer or chef to enhance the experience.

Colorado Proud, created by the Colorado Department of Agriculture in 1999, promotes locally grown, raised or processed products to consumers statewide. Currently, the program has more than 1,100 members which include growers, processors, restaurants, retailers and associations.

Colorado Proud School Meal Day is organized by the Colorado Department of Agriculture and Colorado Department of Education. For more information or to participate in Colorado Proud School Meal Day, contact the Colorado Department of Agriculture Markets Division at (303) 239-4119 or visit http://www.coloradoproud.org/.

Program rewards restaurants for serving Kentucky Proud foods.

The Restaurant Rewards program gives restaurants an incentive to buy and serve Kentucky Proud foods and makes customers aware of the local products on the menu... more.

Texas removed from Kentucky VS embargo area.

The Texas Animal Health Commission has reported the single quarantined premise in Starr County is released from quarantine and that the last ‘active investigation’ has been closed following receipt of negative tests allowing Texas to be declared free of Vesicular Stomatitis.

With the release of the quarantine and no active investigations, Texas no longer has areas embargoed by the Kentucky Board of Agriculture and is free to ship animals to Kentucky by meeting our normal and ordinary entry requirements found in 302KAR20:040 – Entry into Kentucky.

Currently: All Livestock (including equine), wild and exotic animals are currently prohibited from entry into Kentucky from the designated areas defined to include the NEW MEXICO’s DeBaca and Valencia counties. In addition to the entry requirements found in 302KAR20:040 - Entry into Kentucky, livestock (including horses), wild and exotic animals originating from the non-embargoed areas of New Mexico are required to meet additional vs testing and certifications before qualifying for entry into KY.

Take the challenge - buy local Kentucky Proud products

by Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer

I had the honor of participating in a dinner at the Governor’s Mansion recently in which dozens of state officials, university presidents, business leaders and other influential people were challenged to spread the word that it’s important to buy and enjoy local Kentucky Proud foods.

Buying Kentucky Proud is a winner all the way around.

When you buy Kentucky Proud, you help a Kentucky farm family stay in business. You help your local and state economy. You create and maintain jobs. Kentucky Proud member retailers have generated $250 million in sales of Kentucky Proud products over the past three years. That makes Kentucky Proud one of the best economic development initiatives the state has ever had.

When you buy Kentucky Proud, you get food you can serve to your family with confidence. Hundreds of Kentucky Proud members have gone through the voluntary Good Agricultural Practices program, which educates growers on handling practices to keep their fruits and vegetables as clean and wholesome as possible from the field to the table. Producers may sell value-added products like jams and jellies at farmers’ markets, roadside stands and on the farm only under strict guidelines spelled out in state law and regulations.

When you buy Kentucky Proud, you get food you can’t get anywhere else. Fresh fruits and vegetables are at their peak of nutritional value. Many value-added Kentucky Proud products are made using unique recipes with a one-of-a-kind taste or treasured family recipes that have stood the test of time.

Take the challenge and enjoy local Kentucky Proud foods today and throughout the year.