Producers who need or want to become certified in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) will have an opportunity to go through the certification program in a couple of weeks. We have scheduled BQA Certification on Tuesday, Jan. 27, with two sessions being offered that day.

The first session begins at 1 p.m. and the other session will begin at 6:30 p.m. Both trainings will be at the Barren County Extension Office auditorium. There is a $5 fee from KBN to obtain certification after taking the test.

Certification is only good for three years and many producers who have been certified in the past may find that their certification has expired.

This is an excellent training in proper techniques to handle and work with cattle. It is a nationally recognized program and we encourage all producers to stay up-to-date with this information.

If you would like to participate in one of the trainings, mark your calendar and plan to attend.

Winter management can decrease insect problems in 2009

Cold temperatures cause insect populations to decline, but many insects can survive in trees or crop residues left in fields or gardens during the winter. By practicing pest management now, producers can lessen the number of insects overwintering, and thus lower the number of insects that re-emerge during the next growing season, according to Dr. Ric Bessin, extension entomologist with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.

When producers harvest their vegetable crops, often times plants and vegetables that are undesirable or not fully developed are left on the ground. These residues are attractive food sources and shelters for numerous insect pests including corn earworm, squash vine borer and squash bug.

In order to survive the winter, insects need to reach a certain stage of development. Crop residues left on the ground allow them to complete their development.

Bessin said despite the size of a farming operation, removing the residue hinders insect growth and survival. For producers of large operations, plowing or disking fields is a great way to rid the surface of residue and provide some organic matter to the soil. Home gardeners can remove residue from their beds and compost it.

In addition to overwintering in crop residues, some insects and mites can survive through the winter in egg and nymph stages in fruit and ornamental trees. Horticultural or dormant oils can kill many of these insects.

It is less disruptive to control pests during the winter with oils than in the summer with other pesticides.

Producers who use oils should carefully read labels and exactly follow directions. Different kinds of oils are used in different situations.

While dormant oils are normally safe, they can be over applied, which could cause damage to the trees.