Patty Lucas, University of Kentucky integrated pest management extension specialist , recently received the 2011 Friends of IPM Implementer Award from the Southern Region IPM Center .

The award is given to someone who has made outstanding achievements in applying sound IPM practices to everyday situations.

Lucas has worked with the IPM program in the UK College of Agriculture for more than 20 years. She works with and helps educate Kentucky growers, industry professionals, extension agents and consultants in all areas of agriculture about effective pest control, new IPM technologies and options for pest management. She also manages the pheromone traps at the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton. Insect captures from these traps can be an early indicator of a developing pest problem and let growers and consultants know when to scout fields for a particular pest. In addition, she works on several IPM research grants.

“I nominated Patty because she is the ‘linchpin’ holding together the function of six very diverse groups of IPM educators,” said Doug Johnson, UK extension professor of entomology and IPM coordinator. "Her knowledge of grant preparation is especially important to our efforts, yet she also participates in the educational outreach and applied research aspects of the program. Patty has been especially important in the transition of UK IPM programs from formula to competitive funding."

Beyond the IPM program, Lucas works with UK’s pesticide education program, the Kentucky Office of the State Entomologist and the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Program.

“I think of this award as not so much a personal honor but recognition of those who support the IPM program in Kentucky,” Lucas said. “The specialists, agents and producers I have worked with are the best. Keeping an IPM program alive is definitely not a one person job.