esp gold logo
2001 Awards
Eplison Sigma Phi

Caldwell County
State ESP County Performance Award

Caldwell County Staff

The Waste Management and Water Quality program was (is) a total staff effort carried on throughout the entire year, many systematized, creative and modular delivery methods were able to be utilized besides the use of the traditional newsletters, publications and local news media. IPM notebooks were developed for the nursery and greenhouse industry, and tobacco IPM guidelines established and presented to producers. A FAX center was established at Southern States to provide clientele quick access to the center. Three centrally located drop off sites were established for water screening. County home page served as a link between the citizenry and all resources at NCSU. Agents and staff supported each other in program preparation, set-up, registration, breaks, evaluation and clean-up. Not just every now and again but through the year.

All citizens of Caldwell County and surrounding counties benefited either directly or indirectly as a result of this programming. Knowledge gained from this programming empowered the learner to adopt practices to address water quality and waste management problems across the Unifour county area.

Impacts achieved include:
  1. 12,000 pesticide containers collected and disposed of properly
  2. 200 lbs pesticide collected and disposed of properly
  3. 2,750 ft. saved by pesticide container recycling value $48,000
  4. 77 wells tested in Water Screening Program
  5. 1777.5 tons mixed paper recycled (Jan-June 2001)
  6. 2050 tons cardboard recycled (Jan-June 2001)
  7. 52.7 tons aluminum can recycled (Jan-June 2001)
  8. 5,775 gallons of used motor oil recycled (Jan-June 2001)
  9. 15 tobacco producers reduced pesticide use by 4 pounds/acre by use of IPM.
  10. Storm drain stenciling 4-H project started August 1, 2000.
  11. 4-Her's adopted Castle Bridge Landing for "Project Big Sweep". Forty-seven bags of trash removed from area.
  12. Organized tour of Orange, Pitt and Craven Counties for County Commissioners to see first hand how these innovative counties address their solid waste and water quality problems.
  13. 6 composting workshops and demonstrating, Forty-five people have started their own backyard compost operation. Results are a savings of 657 cubic yards or organic waste being removed from the Caldwell County waste stream.
  14. 6 newspaper articles on used oil recycling resulted in 4 local businesses agreeing to be part of Project HERO.
  15. 25 cases of canning jars recycled (July 2001)
  16. 5 articles written for Lenoir News Topic on home recycling.
  17. Grant secured from NCDHER to build a swap shed center.
  18. Developed a Solid Waste/Environmental Workshop for Caldwell County School System. Twelve middle and high school science teachers took part in the renewal credit workshop.
  19. 24 part-time and limited resource growers adopted best management practices in the areas of irrigation and nutrient management impacting 265 acres.
  20. 15 small and limited resource growers adopted recommended sustainable practices, resulting in a savings of $98,700.
  21. 123 growers adopted best management practices such as pest control, lower labor costs, tillage and fertilization, resulting in increased yields and profits. Acres impacted were 3,700, resulting in increased profits of $660,000.
  22. 93 growers were educated and adopted an IPM weed-scouting program. Thirty-eight nurseries have implemented the use of permanent ground covers; resulting in decreased herbicide usage, lower labor costs, and less off-site movement of soil and chemicals.
  23. 4 growers adopted the BMP of cycled irrigation.
  24. 4 growers adopted the BMP of water reuse.
  25. 48 growers adopted the BMP of nutrient management.
  26. 25 growers adopted the BMP of split application and/or slow release fertilizers.
  27. 45 growers adopted the BMP of foliar and soil test analyses to determine fertilization rates and timing.
  28. 36 growers adopted the BMP of Conservation practices.
  29. 75 growers have adopted and implemented an IPM program in 2000 realizing an average savings to date of $9,000 per grower. Impacts include (a) an improved profit return for growers on their investment through chemical and labor savings, (b) an increased awareness in the judicious use of pesticides, (c) a lessened potential for pesticide resistance in pests, (d) a reduction in the potential harmful impacts of pesticides on the nursery crops. Impacted was 6,750 acres of field and container grown nursery growers adopting IPM reduced the amount of pesticide active ingredients put into the environment by 10,242 pounds
  30. 21 greenhouse and nursery growers were trained on how to monitor fertility, ph and EC levels in container production of crops. These growers now monitor and record crop nutrient history and utilize split applications of fertilizer. As a result, the likelihood of over-application of nutrients in the production systems of these growers and the environment has been minimized.
  31. 125 nursery growers were educated on nursery fertility management in order to reduce off-site movement of nutrients into the environment.
  32. 155 private citizens and municipal workers and youth increased their awareness, improvement of attitude, and increased skills by attending workshops for the role that they play in the protection of the environment and the urban ecosystem through best management practices and proper pesticide use.

    2001 ESP Awards

    Xi Chapter ESP