The soybean cyst nematode (SCN) (Figure 1) causes greater annual yield losses in Kentucky than any other pathogen of soybean. The last time a formal survey was conducted by the University of Kentucky in 2006 and 2007, approximately 76% of…
Overview of Insect Pests in Maturing Soybean Fields in Central Kentucky
From September 8 to September10, we scouted for insect pests on 14 commercial soybean fields across several central Kentucky counties, including Nelson, Hardin, Breckenridge, Hancock, Davies, and McLean counties. Tallies were conducted using nets, and soybeans were in the R3…
Posted in Grains
The Other Common Late-Season Armyworm in Kentucky
While late summer and fall has been dominated by the fall armyworm, we still have to deal with another armyworm on several crops. Yellow-striped armyworm is a common pest of many vegetable crops in Kentucky including greens, tomatoes, peppers, beans,…
Posted in Vegetables
Minute Pirate Bugs: Little Insect, Big Bite
Minute (pronounced “my-newt” not like the measurement of time) pirate bugs are insects that we often list as a beneficial species. These tiny predators will attack and eat many different types of pest insects, including small caterpillars, thrips, spider mites,…
Posted in Human Pests
Cucurbit Downy Mildew in Kentucky (PPFS-VG-27)
Cucurbit downy mildew is the most economically important disease of cucurbits in Kentucky. All cucurbits, including cucumber, cantaloupe, summer and winter squashes, pumpkin, and watermelon are susceptible to downy mildew. This foliar disease can affect homegrown cucurbits, as well as…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
How NOT to Submit Plant Samples for Diagnosis
When landscape or garden plants begin to show symptoms of a problem, or when commercial crops start to decline, the two questions from home gardeners’ and commercial growers’ alike are: what is causing the problem and what can be done…
Posted in Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab
2021 Insect Trap Counts
Trap counts for major insect pests are provided by the Kentucky IPM Program. Traps are located at the UK Research and Education Center in western Kentucky and the UK Spindletop Farm in Lexington. Below are trap counts for the current…
Posted in Insect Trap Counts
Status of Stink Bugs in Full Season and Double Crop Soybeans in August 2021
Stink Bugs in Kentucky Stink bug species (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are present in soybean fields in Kentucky. They include phytophagous species, such as green stink bug (Chinavia hilaris), the complex of brown stink bugs (i.e., Euschistus variolarius, Euschistus servus), southern green…
Posted in Grains
Fall Armyworm Update
Fall armyworm reports continue to come in with a wide range of crops attacked, including pasture grasses (crabgrass, Bermuda grass, orchard grass, sorghum-Sudan grass), alfalfa, clover, soybean, sorghum, and cabbage. The pest has a wide host range including over 80…
Transplant Shock: Disease or Cultural Problem?
Autumn will soon arrive in Kentucky, and it is one of the best times to plant new trees. Cool-season planting allows trees to “focus” on root system development. Woody plants may take as long as 3 to 5 years to…
Posted in Landscape Trees & Shrubs
An Overview on Development Times for Fall Armyworm
Fall armyworms are the talk of the State still, and many of the questions we receive focus on when this could happen again this year. The honest truth is that we can’t provide an exact date of when people need…
Posted in Lawn & Turf
Boxwood Blight (PPFS-OR-W-20)
Boxwood blight causes rapid defoliation and plant dieback of boxwood (Buxus spp.) and other susceptible hosts within the boxwood family (e.g. Pachysandra and Sarcococa spp.). Infected plants are eventually weakened, and the resulting plant stress and consequent colonization by secondary…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
2021 Insect Trap Counts
Trap counts for major insect pests are provided by the Kentucky IPM Program. Traps are located at the UK Research and Education Center in western Kentucky and the UK Spindletop Farm in Lexington. Below are trap counts for the current…
Posted in Insect Trap Counts
Why are My Fall Armyworm Melting?
The have been a few reports of fall armyworm (FAW) larvae ‘melting’ on plants. This is likely due to infections of the larvae by a naturally occurring nucleopolyhedrovirus, usually referred to as an NPV. There are many different types of…
Outbreak of Fall Armyworm Did Not Affect Hemp but Corn Earworm and Tobacco Budworm Might Make their Move Soon
Problem The outbreaks of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) during mid-July to late-August has affected double-crop soybeans and forages, and lately alfalfa in many areas of Kentucky. Fall armyworm is a polyphagous pest, that feeds in many plant species…
Posted in Hemp
