Podcasts about cooperative extension

In this thoughtful and laugh-filled episode, Alexis and Brett dive deep into the rhythms of seasonality in horticulture—not just in terms of plant growth, but also the marketing windows and human habits that shape the industry. Fresh off a hectic Mother's Day, they reflect on the exhaustion and triumph that comes with spring's Super Bowl of floral sales and discuss how local growers plan months (or years!) in advance to hit these narrow seasonal targets.They explore key calendar touchpoints like Valentine's Day, July 4th, and fall agritourism season, showing how consumer expectations align with bloom cycles, harvests, and farm labor. With stories of sprouting potatoes, sleepy kittens, and missing appendixes, the episode blends real-life farming humor with insight into the planning behind peonies, pumpkins, and produce.Listeners are invited to consider the deeper labor and lead time behind seasonal products—and why diversification might be exciting but exhausting. Whether it's bouquets or jam jars, Brett and Alexis remind us that timing is everything... and sometimes, just because it's possible doesn't mean it's sustainable.Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

With Jennifer Brown.

In this episode of Hort Culture, guest Alethea Bruzek, Boyle County's Family and Consumer Sciences agent, shares her gardening experiences, including managing raised beds and food preservation mishaps. She discusses the role of FCS in supporting family well-being through topics like budgeting, parenting, and especially safe food preservation methods like fermentation, freezing, dehydrating, and canning. The conversation highlights the importance of using trusted resources and the connection between horticulture, food management, and mental health.Family & Consumer Sciences ExtensionFood and Nutrition PublicationsQuestions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 27, 2025) – In December of 2024, long-time agricultural and extension services leader Laura Stephenson was named vice president for land-grant engagement and dean of the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Martin-Gatton CAFE). With a career spanning decades in Cooperative Extension leadership in both Kentucky and Tennessee, Stephenson has worked at every level of the system—from county agent to state director—helping to connect research with real-world solutions for farmers, businesses, and communities.  Now, as Dean, she's leading the college through a period of transformation, overseeing major facility upgrades, expanding workforce development programs, and strengthening partnerships that bridge agriculture, education, and public health. On this episode of Behind the Blue, Stephenson discusses her vision for the college, the evolving role of UK Extension in supporting producers of all sizes, and how agriculture touches every aspect of life in the Commonwealth—from farm to table, rural to urban, and beyond.  Behind the Blue is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.  Behind the Blue is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

In this episode of Hort Culture, we sit down with Dr. Ric Bessin, who reflects on over 30 years as an entomologist with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. Dr. Bessin shares some of his most memorable stories from the field, from accusations of helicopter bug drops to the unexpected challenges of working in the field. He offers advice to his younger self and to those just stepping into similar roles today, emphasizing the importance of keeping an open mind, listening to others, and adapting to new ideas. Whether you're an aspiring entomologist, a seasoned grower, or just love a good story, this episode is packed with wisdom, humor, and lessons learned from a lifetime in extension work.Dr. Ric Bessin, Department of EntomologyQuestions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

Layoffs at the agency, which releases weather forecasts and monitors extreme weather, could have serious implications. Also, funds for climate and sustainability-focused farming projects have been indefinitely frozen, even though the USDA has already signed contracts.10% Of NOAA Staff Laid Off, With More Cuts PossibleThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, better known as NOAA, impacts and provides services for Americans every day. The agency releases daily weather forecasts and monitors extreme weather, and it also conducts research into global weather and climate change.Along with many other federal science agencies, NOAA is being subjected to layoffs in the name of cost-cutting: 10% of the agency's workforce has been laid off, with 1,000 more cuts potentially to come. According to Dr. Timothy Gallaudet, acting NOAA administrator during Trump's first term, this is likely to lead to declines in quality of service and access to information about weather events.Host Flora Lichtman speaks to Umair Irfan, science correspondent at Vox, who has been covering the turmoil at NOAA. They also discuss other science stories of the week, including the death of prolific blood donor James Harrison.Frozen Climate And Conservation Funds Leave Farmers In LimboAround the country, farmers are planning and planting this year's crops. It can be uncertain work, made even more tenuous by some of the Trump administration's changes to climate and conservation policies.The administration has frozen billions of dollars in grants to farmers for sustainable agriculture, conservation, and “climate smart” projects. In some cases, farmers had already signed contracts with the government and begun work on these projects.While some funding from the Inflation Reduction Act was recently released, many farmers across the country are still in limbo.Host Flora Lichtman talks with Patrick Brown, a farmer in Warren County, North Carolina; and Dr. Kitty O'Neil, an agricultural climate resiliency specialist at Cornell University's Cooperative Extension about the future of farming in a changing climate.Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

In this special episode of Hort Culture, our very own Brett Wolff flips the script and plays the role of a brand-new gardener with lots of questions about getting started. He approaches the team with concerns like, “Am I too late to start a garden this year?” “What should I plant first?” and “How do I keep from killing everything?”Join us as we break down the gardening calendar, discuss easy crops for beginners, and share practical tips to set any new gardener up for success. Whether you're starting from scratch or just need a refresher, this episode is packed with useful advice, encouragement, and maybe a few laughs as Brett navigates the world of home gardening.ID-128 Home Vegetable Gardening in KentuckyGrowing Your Own Garden-CalendarGardening in Small SpacesVEGETABLE CONTAINER GARDENQuestions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

With Jennifer Brown.

With Jennifer Brown.

What do some Cooperative Extension studies reveal about trends of agritourism on both a national, and a state-local level?

In Cabarrus County farming isn't just a job ... it's a legacy. For generations, farmers have formed the backbone of our community, nurturing the food on our tables and shaping the land we call home. Cooperative Extension Livestock and Field Crops Agent Sarah Newman is taking on a mission to preserve the stories of those Century Farms. On this episode, we talk to Sarah about the Century Farms project and visit two local farmers connected to 100-plus-year-old operations.   Learn more about all the local N.C. Cooperative Extension services and programs by visiting https://cabarrus.ces.ncsu.edu/ or call 704-920-3310. The Cabarrus County Extension Center is located at 715 Cabarrus Ave. W, Concord.  HOST Dominique Clark, Communications Manager GUESTS  Sarah Newman, Livestock and Field Crops Agent Eddie Moose, Cabarrus Farmer Louis Suther, Cabarrus Farmer PRODUCED BY Cabarrus County Communications and Outreach

In this solo episode, Alexis shares some of her favorite things she has been using this year that could be useful for commercial growers or home gardeners. From hand hoes to help with weeding between close plantings to temperature controllers for heating and cooling, and even a recommendation for the book Profit First1.... Alexis highlights tools and resources that have made a significant impact on her growing and business practices. Whether you're looking to improve your efficiency, optimize your plant care, or simplify your accounting, this episode is packed with practical tips and recommendations to enhance your gardening or farming practices.DeWit Cape Cod WeederTemperature ControllersWinstrip TraysProfit FirstQuestions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

With Jennifer Brown.

Celebrate 100 episodes of the Hort Culture Podcast with us! We'll journey through our favorite moments, highlight some of the most impactful conversations, and share our gratitude for our amazing community of listeners.Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

With Jennifer Brown.

With Jennifer Brown.

Dr. Daniel Perkins and Dr. Jennifer Karre discuss the importance of policy in supporting military-connected students and families.  Listen as they examine the implementation of four policy initiatives: Advance Enrollment (AE), the Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3), the Military Student Identifier (MSI), and the Purple Star School program.   This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Hurlburt Spouses' Club.  To learn more, visit https://hurlburtspousesclub.com/.   Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.   Show Notes: Resources:   Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness https://militaryfamilies.psu.edu/   Evaluation of State Implementation of Supportive Policies to Improve Educational Experiences and Achievement for K-12 Military Children https://militaryfamilies.psu.edu/projects/view/speak-military-children/   Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission https://mic3.net   Military Student Identifier https://militarychild.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-104-MSI-Position-Statement_20250103-1.pdf   Military Child Education Coalition https://www.militarychild.org   Bio: Daniel F. Perkins, Ph.D., is a Professor of Family and Youth Resiliency and Policy at Penn State University and also the Director and Principal Scientist of the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State, a university-wide applied research center.  Dr. Perkins has been designing and evaluating strengths-based family and youth development programs in 4-H and Cooperative Extension and leading complex projects for over 25 years. His work involves teaching, research, and outreach through the Penn State Cooperative Extension Service. One of his primary areas of focus is in fostering the well-being of military service members, veterans, and their families through the Clearinghouse. In his role as Principal Scientist, he is able to facilitate the translation of science into action by providing comprehensive, science-based programs and technical assistance to professionals working with military service members, veterans and their families.     Jennifer Karre, Ph.D. is a Research & Evaluation Scientist at the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State. Her Ph.D. is in Developmental Psychology. For over a decade, her role at the Clearinghouse has centered around program and policy evaluation. She has worked on evaluations of programs and policies for Service Members and their families related to fathering, parenting, child and youth development, child and youth educational support, couple relationships, reintegration after deployment, financial readiness, and emergency preparedness.   

With Jennifer Brown.

With Jennifer Brown.

Joins us as we discuss/debate our chocolate preferences before focusing on practical advice on attracting and feeding birds, including feeder types, seed choices, and placement to avoid window collisions. We also address potential downsides like predation by cats and squirrels, and the spread of disease. Finally, we discuss the ecological benefits of creating bird-friendly habitats.Taking Care of our Feathered FriendsWinter Bird Feeding: The BasicsFeeding Wild Birds: Should People Feed Birds and What's Best to Feed Birds?Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

With Jennifer Brown.

With Jennifer Brown.

UC Cooperative Extension Tree Crop Farm Advisor Franz Niederholzer joined the Journey to provides a practical overview on best practices for spray operations in an orchard. Trained as a soil scientist, Niederholzer started with Cooperative Extension over 20 years ago. Over the past couple of decades he has developed and shared expertise on spray-related topics like coverage, drift, nozzle selection, technology, calibration, ground speed and more. He emphasizes that the best equipment and most expensive products will never be as effective if there are errors made in the application process.“An effective job, an efficient job, and a safe job. All of those things have to come together for a successful spray application. Paying attention to your spray program is a big part of successful farming.” - Franz Niederholzer In Today's episode:Meet UC Cooperative Extension Tree Crop Farm Advisor Franz NiederholzerUnderstand the importance of protocols including focusing on the efficacy, safety and technique of the applicationExplore the many variables to be considered before and during an applicationThe Almond Journey Podcast is brought to you by the Almond Board of California. This show explores how growers, handlers, and other stakeholders are making things work in their operations to drive the almond industry forward. Host Tim Hammerich visits with leaders throughout the Central Valley of California and beyond who are finding innovative ways to improve their operations, connect with their communities, and advance the almond industry.ABC recognizes the diverse makeup of the California almond industry and values contributions offered by its growers, handlers, and allied industry members. However, the opinions, services and products discussed in existing and future podcast episodes are by no means an endorsement or recommendation from ABC. The Almond Journey podcast is not an appropriate venue to express opinions on national, state, local or industry politics. As a Federal Marketing Order, the Almond Board of California is prohibited from lobbying or advocating on legislative issues, as well as setting field and market prices.

Get your home ready for the holidays with the perfect plant picks! In this episode, we dive into the world of festive flora, discussing classic holiday favorites like poinsettias and Christmas cacti. We'll uncover their care tips and share some unique alternatives. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a plant newbie, this episode has everything you need to bring the holiday spirit to life in your home.Holiday PlantsChristmas CactusResources for Home Growers: HouseplantsQuestions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

849: Meghan Baker on Navigating Cooperative Extension Programs.-(subtitle)-.In This Podcast horticultural professional Megan Baker discusses the intricacies of small farm management and the vital role of Cooperative Extension agents. Megan shares her journey from a childhood fascination with nature to her current role as a small farms extension agent. She describes the key duties of a Cooperative Extension agent, including bringing university research to the local farming community, providing technical assistance, and supporting sustainable and regenerative farming practices. Megan highlights the role of community partners such as the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project in transforming the agricultural landscape from tobacco to diversified farming. The episode also covers the importance of soil testing, disease and pest identification resources, and the benefits of forest farming. Megan emphasizes her passion for continuous learning and the significance of slow, attentive observation in agriculture. She concludes by encouraging farmers to utilize the resources and expertise provided by Cooperative Extension services..Our Guest: Meghan Baker is a horticultural professional based in Asheville and currently serves as the Small Farms Extension Agent in Buncombe County for the NC Cooperative Extension Service. Meghan holds a MS degree in Plant & Environmental Studies from Clemson University.As an outreach educator and technical consultant, she helps farmers navigate production and business challenges with crops ranging from vegetables to herbs to forest products. An avid naturalist and outdoor enthusiast, Meghan also holds certifications as a North Carolina Environmental Educator, a Southern Appalachian Naturalist and an Interpretive Guide. A native of Western North Carolina, Meghan is deeply committed to sustaining the agricultural heritage and productive lands in the region.Meghan's recommended Book - Wildflowers and Plant Communities of the Southern Appalachian Mountains by Timothy Spira. Visit UrbanFarm.org/CoopAgent for the show notes and links on this episode! Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges. You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.Click HERE to learn more!Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 850 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click HERE to learn more.*Disclosure: Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at no cost to you. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We...

Welcome back to the Hort Culture podcast! Today, we're thrilled to have a very special guest, Bethany Cox, Direct Marketing Program Manager at the Kentucky Horticulture Council. In this episode, we'll be diving deep into the world of social media marketing for horticulture, discussing everything from platform selection to content creation and engagement strategies. So, whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this episode is for you. Let's get started!Kentucky Horticulture CouncilKentucky Horticulture Council StaffCenter for Crop Diversification Internet and Social Media Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

Join us as we dive into the vibrant world of urban and community gardening with our special guest, Bethany Pratt, Extension Specialist for Food Systems. Bethany shares her experiences and expertise on working with different community gardens projects and the different roles that they can play in communities. We'll discuss the challenges and rewards of gardening in urban environments, as well as tips for starting your own garden, no matter how small your space.Community Gardening ToolkitSteps to Creating a Community Garden or Expand Urban Agriculture at a Brownfields SiteHow to Organize a Community GardenA Guide to Starting a Community GardenQuestions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

As the leaves change and temperatures drop in Kentucky, many insects seek shelter indoors. Join us as we discuss the most common fall pests that can invade your home and how to prevent and eliminate them. We'll cover everything from the pesky housefly to the ever present Asian lady beetle. Learn about their habits, behaviors, and effective control methods to help reduce the numbers of the fall invaders. Kentucky Pest News: Fall InvadersQuestions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

With Jennifer Brown.

In this episode, we dive deep into the often-overlooked but incredibly crucial component of healthy soil: organic matter. Discover why it's the lifeblood of your garden or farm. We'll discuss: What is soil organic matter? A breakdown of its components and benefits. Why is it important? The role it plays in nutrient cycling, water retention, and soil structure. How to increase organic matter: Practical tips for improving soil health through composting, cover crops, and other methods. Common misconceptions: Debunking myths about organic matter and its impact on plants.ATTRA Episode 326: Exploring Soil Organic Matter with Dr. Johannes LehmannCornell Soil Organic MatterSoil organic matter in cropping systemsAdvanced Soil Organic Matter ManagementPriming for Productionby Natalie Lounsbury (podcast mention)Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

With Jennifer Brown.

Join us as we delve into the breathtaking beauty of Kentucky's fall foliage. Discover the science behind the changing leaves and explore some of our favorite plants that put on a stunning show in autumn. Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

In this episode of Hort Culture, we're joined by Bryan Brady from the Cultivate Kentucky Partnership at The Food Connection. Bryan shares his invaluable insights on assisting produce farmers to navigate the complexities of entering wholesale markets. He delves into innovative, cost-effective strategies for meeting food safety and quality assurance requirements, a crucial step for local farmers aiming to expand their reach. Tune in to discover how Bryan's expertise is fostering growth and sustainability in Kentucky's agricultural community.Cultivate Kentucky-The Food ConnectionProduce Safety at theCenter For Crop Diversification Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

Trying to predict when trees will come out of dormancy and whether they've stayed in dormancy for a long enough period of time is a very old science. The methods for calculating chill has changed, but the measurement method, measuring air temperatures, has not. Giulia Marino, Professor of Cooperative Extension at UC Davis, measured the bark temperature of cherry trees in a recent research project. You can probably predict what she found, but how different the temperatures are will surprise you! Listen to find out more!Are you interested in looking at Giulia's work or contacting her? You can find her lab website here.Sign up for the 2024 Pistachio Short Course here: Come to an upcoming extension meeting:Sacramento ValleySan Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom)The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "University of California" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.Follow us on Twitter! @SacOrchards and @SJVtandvThank you to the Almond, Pistachio, Prune, and Walnut Boards of California for their kind donations. Thank you to Muriel Gordon for the music.

In this episode of Hort Culture, we discuss plants that bring life to winter landscapes. Our discussion highlights plants that not only withstand the chill but also add a splash of color and texture during the colder months. From the vibrant berries of holly to the sturdy evergreens that stand tall against the snow, we explore how these plants can transform a dormant garden into a winter wonderland. Tune in to discover how to create a year-round garden that brims with beauty, even in the heart of winter.Plants for Winter InterestPerennials with Winter InterestQuestions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

In this episode, we're joined by Savannah Columbia, a Extension Associate in Agricultural Economics, to explore the vibrant world of produce auctions in Kentucky. Savannah sheds light on the unique role these auctions play in the state's agricultural landscape, providing a platform for farmers to sell their fresh produce directly to consumers, wholesalers, and retailers.Whether you're a farmer, a consumer, or simply curious about the local food system, this episode offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of Kentucky's produce auctions. Tune in to learn more about the people, processes, and products that make these auctions such a vital part of our state's agricultural landscape.Produce Auctions OverviewCCD Kentucky Produce Auction Price ReportsProduce Auctions Marketing ProfileQuestions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of email marketing and its application to the horticulture industry. Discover how to create effective email campaigns that nurture customer relationships, drive sales, and promote your horticultural products.Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

Microbial communities vary widely from plant to plant, even from rootstock to rootstock! Philippe Rolshausen, Professor of Cooperative Extension for Subtropical Horticulture in the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences at the University of California Riverside studies the phytobiome. This includes all organisms associated with the vine including bacteria, fungi, insects, and animals. Learn the impact these communities have on your vineyard from young vine decline under extreme stress to the wine's terrior.  Resources:         78: Biological Control for Grape Vine Trunk Diseases A Method to Detect and Quantify Eutypa lata and Diplodia seriata-Complex DNA in Grapevine Pruning Wounds Endophytic microbial assemblage in grapevine Grapevine pruning strategy affects trunk disease symptoms, wood pathobiome and mycobiome Philippe Rolshausen Phylogenomics of Plant-Associated Botryosphaeriaceae Species Rolshausen Lab Soil Health Playlist Temporal Dynamics of the Sap Microbiome of Grapevine Under High Pierce's Disease Pressure Vineyard Team Programs: Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet   Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year Sustainable Winegrowing On-Demand (Western SARE) – Learn at your own pace Vineyard Team – Become a Member Get More Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org.   Transcript [00:02:07] Craig Macmillan: Our guest today is Philippe Roshausen. He is Professor of Cooperative Extension at University of California, Riverside. And today we're going to be talking about the soil microbiome. Thanks for being on the podcast, Philippe. [00:02:19] Philippe Rolshausen: Thank you for having me. [00:02:20] Craig Macmillan: Well, when we do these topics, like to start from the very basics. And then we can go very deep from there. What is your definition of the soil microbiome? [00:02:31] Philippe Rolshausen: Well, a microbiome is the collection of microbes. The soil microbiome is the collection of microbes associated with the soil. I have to say we work on the soil microbiome, but we also work on the phytobiome, which is the collection of organisms. associated with the, the, vine, and that can be fungi, bacteria, viruses, even insects. So we are more interested in fungi and bacteria in my lab. And especially those that live inside the vine and how it's connected to the roots and the soil. [00:03:12] Craig Macmillan: Yeah, I'm very interested in that. Just for our listeners, other aspects of the soil microbiome could include things like microarthropods, uh, nematodes, etc. It's a very complex Complicated ecosystem. [00:03:26] Philippe Rolshausen: I and I only focus on one part of it. [00:03:29] Craig Macmillan: The work that I've done with soil microbiome in a very primitive way. We just focused on total bacteria, total biomass, things like that. You just mentioned this and this is a good jumping off point actually. Because plants are an active part of this ecosystem, you will find different soil microbiomes around different crops. What is the soil microbial community like around grapevines in particular? [00:03:50] Philippe Rolshausen: Well compared to, to what is the question. Let's give you an example. I work on citrus and grapes in the same soil environment, you would see differences between a grapevine and the citrus plant just because of the property of the host. Within grapevine, you know. Depending on the variety or the rootstocks, I should say then you would also have different microbial communities associated with the rootstock. And this is like a plant effect because plant recruits their microbes. So, so you have sort of a template of microbial or a core microbiome, which is you would find across a different rootstock or varieties of grapes or even plants. But then. Some are very variety specific or host specific, and so you would tend to see some varietal specificity and specific microbe associated with some of those rootstock operants. [00:04:47] Craig Macmillan: That's news to me. That's fascinating. there is some commonality, but you will find some differences just based on things like rootstock? [00:04:56] Philippe Rolshausen: Yes.   [00:04:57] Craig Macmillan: Oh, that is interesting. We may come back to that. one of the things about your work that I was really intrigued by, which I was unaware of, is the different microorganisms that one might find inside the grapevine, and what roles they play in the functioning of the plant. I mean, I think most of familiar with Our gut microflora. Right, where we know that we have organisms inside us. We have organisms on our skin and all that. I didn't realize that was true for plants as well. Tell me more about that. [00:05:26] Philippe Rolshausen: You can make the parallel between the roots and the gut, actually. Because they have similar functions. Especially with respect to nutrient assimilation Defense against disease, for instance. Now, the gut is inside, the root is outside. Someone made the comment that the plant where there are guts on the outside, just because of that parallel that between the rhizosphere and the gut. there is a connection between what's going on inside the plant and what's going on outside the plant. We are interested to understand what the organisms that live inside the plant. Where they're coming from. in terms of diversity the endosphere, which is the the region of the, the organism living inside the plant, the endosphere is not very diverse. There's only a few of thousand fold less microbe capable of living inside the plant just because it's a more. Stringent environment I work on the xylem a lot and, you know, there's a negative pressure for instance, there are, there's not a lot of food available, for instance. And so microbes have to adapt to those environments, right? And it's not every microbe is capable of doing that. there's only A certain type of microbe that can live inside them. we're interested in those because we work specifically on vascular disease of grapevines, so fungi, bacteria especially. And we try to understand how those pathogens interact with the plant, but also really understand those pathogen within the, context of the microbial community and how those pathogen interact with the microbes living inside the plants. to go back to your question, it's like, where are those pathogen coming from? How did they get there? How do they interact with the plant and how do they interact with the microbes? within those interaction, what would be the, the disease outcome in certain type of interaction. [00:07:35] Craig Macmillan: So what we're talking about is we have these pathogenic organisms Which could be in the form of like grapevine trunk disease Things like that or Peirce's disease. In the case of bacteria and what you're getting at is it that there's other types and populations of microbes that may be antagonistic to the pathogen? [00:07:56] Philippe Rolshausen: Yes. So that was our hypothesis. Traditionally, you know, microbiologists were looking for biological control agent against diseases and they were culturing those. That was the traditional approach. So you take a plant tissue, You put it in the culture media and you see what's growing and then you test if those organism are able to inhibit the growth of your pathogen. That would be the traditional way of doing it. Now, with the metagenomics , the development of those technology, we're able to kind of look, at the entire community of those organisms living inside the plant and using those tools, we could actually select those that have some. That might be antagonistic to certain pathogens. the beauty of this is that you can actually look at the entire community. When you look at a traditional microbial approach, you kind of zoom in on, to those that can grow in culture and those that can grow fast in culture and sort of overpower the other ones. when you use those molecular approaches, you look at the entire community and you can And sort of a broader view of really what's going on and who does what. and so that's the approach that we've been doing to try to identify biological control agents or beneficial organism to plants and to grapes in particular. what we do is we select plants with different phenotypes. So we will select. Plants that, you know, that range from very healthy to poor health. And we're able to build those sort of correlations with organisms that associate specifically with healthy plants and those that associate with sick plants. and from that, once we have identified the organism, we can go back and try to culture it and to reintroduce him in the system to prove that Actually, they are beneficial in some capacity. [00:09:52] Craig Macmillan: does this mean that I could have plant material, and one of those vines would be healthy and one would be weak and showing disease, but they both would have the pathogen, it's just that the other one has the microbial community to help fight it. [00:10:07] Philippe Rolshausen: That's right. [00:10:08] Craig Macmillan: Wow. [00:10:09] Philippe Rolshausen: there's a environmental factor that comes into play as well. because abiotic stresses also so like, you know, drought or heat play a factor into the plant, weaken the plant in some capacity and will change the disease outcome and the interaction between the pathogen and the microbe. There are more layers than, you know, the simple pathogen, microbe. plant interaction There's also the environment in which those components are part of that really plays a big factor. [00:10:43] Craig Macmillan: So, are you finding or pursuing how those abiotic factors can be manipulated? [00:10:50] Philippe Rolshausen: A little bit. I'm really interested in those aspects of, especially in the eras of climate change. plants are going to be subjected to a lot more stress than they used to be. I think we need to understand how this is going to affect the, the microbiome at large and because I'm a pathologist, how this is going to affect disease outcome. we are starting to only scratch the surface of that. I think a lot of people are as well. It's a lot more complicated when you work with. Woody perennial than when you work with an annual plant, because you have the approaches and the logistics are more challenging, I would say. drought is the number one just because it's been on the radar of every grower in California, but so we, you know, we are interested to see how those factors really affect the Have an effect on disease. Yes. [00:11:44] Craig Macmillan: Are you doing that in the laboratory? [00:11:46] Philippe Rolshausen: Well, yes. You have to sort of work in more controlled conditions and sort of dissect it one stress at a time. so it is in more greenhouse conditions or gross chamber conditions where you can, semi controlled environment where you can really control heat or, you know, water or, and see how that affects the microbiome. [00:12:07] Craig Macmillan: I think this is fascinating. can you tell me more about what that actually looks like, like how do you set it up? How are you controlling it? What kind of ranges are you using? I love the details. [00:12:17] Philippe Rolshausen: So we've done experiments mostly with irrigation so far. And we are only starting to tie irrigation to microbiome, but we have done the. How irrigation affects severity of disease and impact on the plant. this is pretty straightforward, you have plants that are fully irrigated that are not on the deficit irrigation, and then you calculate what a deficit irrigation like a 25 percent deficit irrigation look like, a 50 percent deficit irrigation look like, measuring, you know, how much water. How much irrigation you put in on your plants, you inoculate your tree or vine with a pathogen, and you let it incubate for, you know, weeks, because you know, those are slow pathosystems, they take time, and you see how that affects for trunk disease in particular lesion of the wood necrotic lesion, for instance. And then we look at factors on the plant. We measure biomass, for instance, of the roots, the shoots. We look at gas exchange, photosynthesis, and so on and so forth. going down to the microbiome, you know, we would be sampling the tissue, extracting the DNA, and then sequencing, you know, all the microbial community, bacterial and fungal, to see how those communities have changed over time in a well watered versus a deficit irrigated plants. [00:13:49] Craig Macmillan: And is that quantitative analysis, or is it simply the complexity of the diversity of the microbiome [00:13:56] Philippe Rolshausen: it's semi quantitative so let's say, you know, like you're looking at a presence of a specific taxa. It's a relative abundance of the taxa in comparison to the others. So when you see an increase of the taxa. in your community, it's either because it does increase or because the other taxa within that community decreased. So it increases in, in relation to that. So it's not really an absolute measure of abundance. It is a relative measure of abundance, but you could still use it and make some correlation with that. [00:14:34] Craig Macmillan: Can you explain, metagenomics? [00:14:37] Philippe Rolshausen: That's not my field. To be honest with you, but the principle is that you're using primers that are universal primers and that allow you to, so there are. Meaning that you can sequence conserved region. So those primers are aligned with conserved region across several taxonomic groups. Okay, so fungi or bacteria. And then you sequence a length of nucleotide. In our case, it's about 200, 250 nucleotides in length. In between, and this is valuable between those two. Primers, that region is valuable. And so you could start making you can do a micro real fingerprinting and identify which types are, are present, you know, but it's the community of organism. So it's like all the fungal communities or all the bacterial communities. So some primers are better than others for special taxonomy group. So for instance. I work with Dario Cantu at UC Davis, CBT Controlled Neurology. Davis uses field of knowledge, and so he developed primers for group causing grapevine trunk diseases. And so it's mostly what's called the Ascomycota phyla. his primers are mostly focusing on this group of, fungi, but it doesn't give any information on The basidiomycota, which is another group, or the glomerulomycota, which is the mycorrhizae fungi. if you wanted to get information about this group, you would need to get a different set of primers, right? so it's really up to primer that you're using that gets you the right information. and also the database that you're using that gives you the right information because sometimes the database are not curated or they're not accurate, and those are getting better as we're getting more and more knowledge about the taxonomy and, and the biology of those organisms. we're able to make more accurate prediction because we're gaining more knowledge about those organisms. So for instance, there's a lot more information about bacteria than, They are about fungi just because there are not a lot of reference genome for fungi compared to bacteria. so it's a lot more difficult to predict. Sometimes for fungi than it is for bacteria. [00:17:01] Craig Macmillan: But it sounds like that would be coming down the road. [00:17:04] Philippe Rolshausen: Oh yeah, yeah, it's a matter of time. I mean, really, you know, this technology is going so fast, so quickly that, in five years from now, I can't even predict what it's going to look like, [00:17:15] Craig Macmillan: This thought just occurred. your work is obviously, I don't want to say infancy, but it's, it's pretty early work. You know, we're, we're working with tools that are still in development, basically. at this point, would you say that there are certain conditions or practices or manipulations that a grower could use to promote the most beneficial endo, um, microbiome in their plants? [00:17:40] Philippe Rolshausen: In principle, yes, and I believe that this is true. We just don't have the knowledge yet to make recommendations that are solid. There we go. So, when you apply something to your soil, you know, if you're a grower and you apply fertilizers, or this is going to, or even if you if you till your soil or it will have some impact on the soil microbiology. That we know. How that reflects to what's going on inside the plant, we are, we are not there yet. We, we don't have that knowledge yet just because like I've said before, only a few of those organisms move inside the plant. There's always a a gap between you know, what's going on outside the plant and what's going on inside the plant. The inside the plant it's a buffered environment that changes very slowly compared to the root of, a grapevine. what we've done is we've looked at the microbiome of vines that we planted in the field and look at the rhizosphere microbiome, or the, the The macro bill community associated with the root and the macro bill, community associated with the trunk, the graft union, and so forth. And we see right after planting that the microbial communities associated with the root changes really quickly, whereas the the microbiome in the trunk are the graph union. changes very slowly. whatever growers do and cultural practices that they implement in the vineyard will have a limited effect inside the vine or it will take years for this to see the effect. the rhizosphere microbiome drive a lot of, of biological function, you know, they, they, they fix nitrogen metabolize phosphorus detoxify compounds and so on and so forth. So there's a lot of, benefits of, using some cultural practices, beneficial practices and how they affect microbial communities associated with the roots. [00:19:48] Craig Macmillan: We know that for like the pathogenic organisms, like the fungal ones, you know, they come in through wounds, whether that's a grafting or whether that's a pruning, we know that bacteria are introduced through things like piercing sucking insects. Like Leaf Hoppers and Peirce's disease. what is the, pathway for the bacteria and fungi that you find inside of a vine that are not the pathogens? [00:20:10] Philippe Rolshausen: Well, you said it. the pathway is like from inside the vine, it's first of all inherited from the nursery. That's, that's the main pathway. And then. Some of those organisms come from the soil, there's a fraction that comes from the soil and move throughout the plant systemically through the sap, the plant sap. So that's another pathway one of the major pathway. But again, that takes time. Right. And then, you have fewer introduction that comes through, you know, the plant natural openings, stomatas on the leaves, for instance. Right. Or pruning wounds. Some organism when vines are pruned some organism common pruning wounds and are able to colonize down into the vascular system. That's another path. Or introduction through insects. And, you know, OSA is, you know, one of the best example of that being introduced with shop shooters. during feeding So, but I would say those, are minor introduction compared to what's already there when the vine is being planted and secondary to movement you know, sap movement throughout the plant, from the root to the upper part of the plant. [00:21:29] Craig Macmillan: One thing that I saw mentioned is that these variations in The microbiome inside the plant may also have kind of a role in our concept of terroir in terms of how different areas have different characteristics. Is there, something to that idea? [00:21:46] Philippe Rolshausen: the characteristic of wine region or the terroir is not only linked to the soil, the variety or the weather condition. . It's also linked to the microbial communities associated with those vines. There has been a study that's very famous that was done 10 years ago at UC Davis that showed that. But it's mostly true for organisms that live on the plant surfaces the surface of the berries or the surface of the leaves. It is not so true for organisms that live Inside the vasculature of the vine, just because of what we've talked about, just because it takes time for those communities to change over time. really those the microbial composition of the trunk is, from what we understand today, mostly inherited from what's coming from the nurseries. you know, nurseries have a huge impact in shaping. the microbial communities of the trunk and the vines and you know, can you talk about terroir when it comes to the endosphere of the vine? I don't think so. I think it's, it's a debatable question. I think it's mostly true on epiphytic organism, organism that live on the vine surface just because they are more subject to the environment. Whereas it's not so true for trunk organisms, [00:23:11] Craig Macmillan: , Even though we've been talking about the endophytic side, what's some of the things that the other parts do you were just talking about, we have a different community in the environment that's on the surface of the plant and that, that has a role in, you know, differences between regions in terroir. What impact are those kinds of organisms having on the physiology of the vine that contributes to those differences? [00:23:35] Philippe Rolshausen: Well, that I don't know because, you know, that's not the field I've studied. But they, could influence the fermentation process, but I'm more interested in the one that live inside. Do they have an impact on the wine quality itself, perhaps, you know, that's a question we're interested in. they have an impact on disease. We know that much because they, they affect disease outcome and we've shown that. The question also, I think, from the standpoint of A grape grower or a winemaker is like, well, do they also affect winemaking? we found some bacterium in the sap of grape vines that are present during the fermentation process. So lactobacillus, for instance we found those in the sap of grapes and some bacteria that also that spoil the wine fermentation process will also. Found them in the sap. So the question is like, are those, are those coming from the soil? You know, where are they coming from? We find them in the sap and then can they go inside? Can they be moved to the berry of the grapes and then participate in the fermentation process later on? We don't know the answer to that question. The only thing we know so far is that we can detect them inside the plant stem. And so. What is the impact? That's the question mark, but those are really relevant questions questions we're interested in because, if you can connect the root system to the cluster, and then if you can influence the root system or the microbial community of the root system, then perhaps you can influence the communities living in the cluster and then, you know, Later on, influence your fermentation process. So that's the idea behind it. It will take time to decipher those questions.   [00:25:27] Craig Macmillan: Coming back to the pathology side. we have testing programs for virus in the nursery system. And we have the ability to test for fungal diseases, of course.  Do you see a role for testing for bacteria and fungi other than the pathogens at the nursery stage? [00:25:48] Philippe Rolshausen: I don't think it makes sense. So we've been working with nurseries for several years now. And we are looking for where diseases are coming from prior to vineyard establishment. there's no certified program for fungal diseases and some bacterial disease like Crown gall. there is a fraction of those pathogen that is coming from the nurseries. That's a fact and this is true for California, but this is true for everywhere else in the world. So if you get any. any vines from a nursery, you are going to find fungi causing grapevine trunk disease. And the reason is that there are over a hundred taxa of fungi causing grapevine trunk disease you will likely find one of them and not only that, but they are able to live on a different environment. And so they can live in soil, they can live in water, they can live in plant debris for some of them. And so you cannot get rid of them. I think that growers have to have the mindset that you are not going to be able to have plants free of pathogens causing fungal, grapevine, and trunk disease. That's just not possible. Viruses, you can get rid of them and there is a certified program that works for that. This program would not work for fungi. It's just not realistic. Right. It would be too costly to do it. Right. Right. Right. Right. The question is like, can you live with it, right? Do pathogen causing grapevine trunk disease will cause the vine to die? If that were the case, you would have no grape production in California because virtually all the vines are infected with one fungus causing grapevine trunk disease. that's not the case. It happens, it's called young vine decline, you know, when sometimes growers plant their vine. And the vine dies within five years. But this is because what we understand now is that it's related to the stress factor that I was talking about earlier. there is something going on with the environmental stress that caused the vine to decline after five years. what we've done is to monitor the microbiome and the vine, like I've told before, following planting. And we do capture those pathogen from the nursery to the vineyard. And they are evolving in the vineyard just and we can detect them. But under no stress conditions the vines are doing just fine. So every year a vine will lay out new wood, right? It will grow out some wood. The trunk gets bigger and bigger.  the fight between the trunk disease pathogen and the vine is if the vine can grow wood faster than it loses some to trunk disease, then it's fine, you know, it will be able to survive. Plants and grapes are able to compartmentalize the infection. They lay out walls to compartmentalize infection, and if they do that successfully, you know, Then they will survive now when you have a stress factor that comes into play and here you have to Go back and define well define stress this is where we go back and go back to your question about what stress are we talking about? Heat a drought I think overcropping can be one of them also, when growers take tend to push the vine early on after the establishment to get into production quickly after two years. I view this as a stress factor, so this will influence the microbiome of the vine, living of the microbiome living inside the vine, and as a result, it will influence disease outcome. [00:29:34] Craig Macmillan: I will not look at grapevines the same way. , is there one thing, one takeaway from this conversation that you'd like growers to hear [00:29:44] Philippe Rolshausen: what we're trying to do is to identify cultural practices that are beneficial to production. I think you, you have to look at it from a probiotic or prebiotic. Standpoint, just like we do for humans, you know. when you look at the prebiotics, those are similar to the cultural practices that you implement in vineyards to support the presence of beneficial organisms. that can be, you know, adding compost to your soil or cover cropping because they provide some benefits to the microbes living in the soil, and as a result, the microbe associated with the vine. that's one of them. The probiotic is the addition of single microbes to the system identify which one of those probiotics using the metagenomics approach. And we've made some some stride in, in, in that research, we've identified several organisms that are beneficial to the plant and that are antagonistic to some of the disease. So for instance Pierce's disease we've identified several organism living inside the vines that are antagonistic to PD. And today we are testing those organism in field trials at UC Davis. Because we've demonstrated that they, they work on the greenhouse condition. And now we moved on to field trials. And when we inoculate those beneficial organisms to, or those probiotics to vine, they are able to stimulate the vine health in some capacity, or are being antagonistic to the pathogen in some capacity. And the vines are able to sustain the disease. So, the takeaway message from that is that we are making progress, you know, understanding what those probiotics and prebiotics are for viticulture. [00:31:39] Craig Macmillan: That is great. and I'm really happy, That you're doing this work. It takes time Oh yeah, It takes time. Absolutely, that's, and that's, part of what we do here is we, bring people kind of what the future is looking like and what's possible because if you understand it, then when it does come along, The learning curve is already hopefully down the road a little ways. doing your homework, basically. thank you in your lab. This is really exciting. interesting stuff. Where can people find out more about you? [00:32:09] Philippe Rolshausen: Well, they can go to the University of California, Riverside Botanical and Plant Sciences website. I'm a faculty member, so they will find me there. I have also my personal website. Rolshausen. Slash lab. com. The problem is like the spelling of my name, right? It's not easy to do. [00:32:27] Craig Macmillan: We'll have a link to that show page plus A a number of your recent publications. [00:32:33] Philippe Rolshausen: Yeah, we have several publications about what we've talked about today. We have just had one released about how pruning practices affect also the microbiome and, and disease. So. You know, this is an active area of research. I'm not the only one doing this. Like I've said, I've collaborated with Dario Cantu at UC Davis. And I think he should be mentioned because he's doing some excellent work. And we are a great team working together. As a cooperative extension specialist, I collaborate with others. I collaborate with other faculty. And this is a collaborative work that I'm talking about. I'm not the only one, [00:33:11] Craig Macmillan: there's a network. want to thank our guest, Philippe rolshausen. He is professor of cooperative extension with the university of California riverside and doing some very exciting work. And thanks for being on the podcast, Philippe. [00:33:24] Philippe Rolshausen: Well, that was great. Thank you for having me.   Nearly perfect transcription by Descript

The 2024 State of the Science Meeting from the Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety brought together several researchers and Extension professionals working at the intersection of agricultural health and safety research, policy, and outreach communication. In this episode, three speakers from the meeting reconvene to share a conversation highlighting the importance of culturally sensitive health interventions and innovative solutions to bridge healthcare gaps in rural areas. You'll hear Dr. John Diaz. Dr. Lauri Baker, and Dr. David Buys discuss how factors like economic stability, education access, healthcare quality, neighborhood environment, and social context influence the health and well-being of farmworkers. Our guests also emphasize the vital role of Cooperative Extension in connecting land-grant universities with communities, particularly in the context of medicine and public health. Examples from Florida and Mississippi are highlighted, showing how the roles of Extension have evolved from primarily agricultural and home economics education to encompassing broader health initiatives.Resources:2024 SCCAHS State of the Science MeetingOn The Farm Film Series: https://www.onthefarm.life/ CAFE Latino: https://extadmin.ifas.ufl.edu/teams-and-programs/cafe-latino/ Transcripts available here: https://piecenter.com/media/podcast/#transcriptAre you an educator? The Science by the Slice podcast aims to inform diverse audiences about important issues in agriculture, natural resources, and public health. Check out our learning guides that were created as an educational tool to facilitate discussions related to the topics presented in podcast episodes. Download the learning guides here: https://piecenter.com/media/podcast/learn/

In this episode, we delve into the vibrant world of Kentucky's state and county fairs. We explore the bustling fairgrounds, where the scent of fresh hay blends with the sweet aroma of blooming flowers. Our journey takes us through exhibits showcasing the finest in local gardening, from prize-winning roses to best in class veggies. Join us as we celebrate the green-thumbed enthusiasts and the agricultural heritage that make Kentucky's fairs a must-visit destination for horticulture lovers. Tune in to discover the beauty and excitement of these beloved community events.Kentucky State FairQuestions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

Join us as we delve into the world of plasticulture and its transformative effects on horticulture crop production. Our discussion highlights how the use of plastic mulches, drip irrigation, and fertigation not only optimizes plant growth but also conserves water and controls weeds. We explore the benefits and challenges of this technology, and share practical tips for growers looking to implement plasticulture in their farming practices. Tune in to discover how this modern agricultural technique is shaping the future of horticulture.Season Extension Tools & TechniquesPlasticulture for Commercial VegetablesUse of Plastic Mulch and Row Covers in Vegetable ProductionIntroduction to Plasticulture and Drip Irrigation (Video)Questions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

In this episode of Hort Culture, we're joined by Macey Thompson, who shares her insights from the Center for Crop Diversification's summer fellowship program. Macey shares details of her hands-on experience with pricing reports and farmers markets, managing social media posts, writing a publication, and much more!Center for Crop Diversification Fellowship ProgramQuestions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

On this week's program, your host, Justin Mog, gets cookin' with two new friends from the Nutrition Education Program at Jefferson County Extension. Tune in as we talk eating sustainably on a budget with: Lakesha Reams, Senior Nutrition Education Program Assistant Lakesha has been a vegetarian for 3 years and loves eating more than she does cooking. She loves going to vendor and food events, and all things nutrition. Her dream is to own 10 acres of land and homestead. Taylor Candey, Nutrition Education Program Assistant Taylor loves all things public health and she is passionate about food equity and community growth. Get ideas for eating healthy and sustainably on a budget, including tips on growing your own food and how this can supplement food budgets and improve mental and physical health through physical activity and connecting with nature and food. You'll also learn how the program helps to address food insecurity, access, & equity in our communities. Learn more at https://PlanEatMove.com or https://www.myplate.gov You can also call the Cooperative Extension office for tips, guidance, soil testing, pest identification and management, etc.: Jefferson County Nutrition Education Program 4200 Gardiner View Ave 502-442-2035 As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW! Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at http://forwardradio.org The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at http://appalatin.com

In this episode, we dive deep into the UK SNAP-Ed program with our special guest, Jan Knappage. Jan shares valuable insights into the program's goals, initiatives, and how it's impacting communities across the state. SNAP-Ed stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education. It's a program that provides nutrition education to people who receive SNAP benefits.In Kentucky, the SNAP-Ed program is administered by the University of Kentucky (UK) and Kentucky State University (KSU) in partnership with the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS).What does the UK SNAP-Ed program offer? Nutrition education: Provides information on healthy eating, meal planning, and budgeting. Cooking classes: Teaches participants how to prepare healthy and affordable meals. Farmer's market information: Helps people learn about and access fresh, local produce. Other resources: Offers additional support and materials to promote healthy lifestyles.The goal of the program is to help people make healthier food choices and improve their overall well-being.The Kentucky Nutrition Education ProgramUniversity of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service County OfficesQuestions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

This week on Hort Culture, we're tackling the challenges of summer's scorching temperatures and offering tips to keep your lawn and garden thriving. But remember, while caring for your plants is important, taking care of yourself is paramount. We'll provide safety tips to help you stay cool and hydrated while working in the garden.And in bittersweet news, we're saying goodbye to our longtime friend and co-host, Josh Knight. As Josh embarks on a new adventure in cooler climes, we celebrate his contributions to the show and wish him all the best in his new role. We're excited to see where his journey takes him and look forward to having him back on the show as a guest in the future.So, tune in for expert advice, gardening tips, and a heartfelt farewell to a beloved member of the Hort Culture family.How to Care for Your Garden in High TemperaturesStay cool, stay green and beat the heat with these tips for healthy summer plantsHeat wave in the garden: How to identify and prevent heat stress in plantsHeat-Related Illnesses and Agricultural ProducersQuestions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

In this episode of Hort Culture, we dive into the delightful world of worm composting, also known as vermicomposting! These little wigglers aren't just good for scaring fishermen – they can be a gardener's secret weapon for turning kitchen scraps into a welcome compost addition to any garden.We'll break down the basics of setting up your own worm bin, including the ideal habitat for your composting crew. We'll discuss what you can and can't feed your worms, and explore the fascinating science behind how they transform your waste into black gold for your plants.Here are some of the questions we'll answer: What kind of worm bin do I need? What kitchen scraps do worms love (and hate)? How long does it take to get finished compost? How can I use worm castings in my garden?By the end of this episode, you'll be equipped with the knowledge to turn your leftover lettuce cores and eggshells into a superfood for your garden. So, grab your coffee, put on your gardening gloves (metaphorically, for now), and get ready to learn all about the wonderful world of worm composting!Vermicomposting NC State ExtensionVermicomposting – Composting with WormsIndoor Worm Composting or VermicompostingQuestions/Comments/Feedback/Suggestions for Topics: hortculturepodcast@l.uky.eduCheck us out on Instagram!

Houston Wilson, Professor of Cooperative Extension in entomology with UC Riverside, gives us our semi-yearly update on Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) work in Navel Orangeworm, through work completed in 2024. It's a long (20 year or so) long road, but may provide an additional tool in the IPM toolbox for controlling navel orangeworm. Listen to find out more!Come to an upcoming extension meeting!Sacramento Valley San Joaquin Valley (scroll to the bottom) Mention of an agrichemical does not constitute a recommendation, merely the sharing of research findings. Always follow the label. The label is law. Find out more at ipm.ucanr.edu.The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of California. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "University of California" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.Follow us on Twitter! @SacOrchards and @SJVtandvThank you to the Almond, Pistachio, Prune, and Walnut Boards of California for their kind donations. Thank you to Muriel Gordon for the music.