Fusarium head blight (FHB, also called scab in wheat and Gibberella ear rot in corn) is a serious disease of cereals and corn around the world. The disease also affects other cereal grains and grasses. Losses result from combinations of…
Avoid Postharvest and Storage Molds: Fusarium Head Blight Contamination in Stored Hemp
Posted in Hemp
Preventing Postharvest Disease Losses in Fruit Crops
Fruits are often soft, perishable, and particularly susceptible to a range of damage during harvest and storage. Growers can experience postharvest crop losses from 25 to 50%. A significant percentage of postharvest losses are caused by plant diseases. Infection by…
Posted in Fruit
Register for Fall Crop Protection Webinar Series
There’s still time! Register now for a five-part webinar series focusing on agronomic crops and Integrated Pest Management. The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the Grains Crop Pest Management Group will present the 2026…
Posted in Announcements
Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab Highlights
The following plant disease/disorder highlights have been compiled from samples diagnosed in the University of Kentucky Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory from September 29 to October 12, 2026. Agronomic crops Alfalfa – Summer black stem/leaf spot Fruit Crops Strawberry – Phytophthora…
Posted in Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab
Greenhouse & High Tunnel Sanitation Can Prevent Future Vegetable Diseases
Greenhouses and high tunnels allow growers to extend the vegetable growing season. However, many vegetable pathogens can overwinter in these structures. These organisms can survive for months or years on dead plant material or in soil, causing infections in subsequent…
Posted in Greenhouses/High Tunnels
Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab Highlights
The following plant disease/disorder highlights have been compiled from samples diagnosed in the University of Kentucky Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory from September 22 to 28, 2026. Agronomic crops Corn – Tar spotSoybean – Anthracnose, pod and stem blight, charcoal rot,…
Posted in Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab
2026 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 September 25.…
Posted in Insect Trap Counts
Planting Wheat This Fall? Planting Date Remains Your Best Defense Against Hessian Fly
Fall planting is just around the corner As Kentucky wheat growers prepare for another planting season, one of the most important management decisions is when to plant. While planting early can help field operations by distributing workloads and establishing a…
Posted in General Pests, Grains
Strawberry Anthracnose Fruit & Crown Rot
Anthracnose diseases can severely reduce plant stands and yields in commercial and residential strawberry plantings. Disease may develop on blossoms, fruit, petioles, runners (stolons), leaves, and crowns; however, it is most destructive when fruit and/or crowns are affected. The use…
Posted in Fruit
Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab Highlights
The following plant disease/disorder highlights have been compiled from samples diagnosed in the University of Kentucky Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory from September 15 to 21, 2026. Agronomic crops Soybean – Anthracnose, frogeye leaf spot, pod and stem blight, charcoal rot,…
Posted in Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab
2026 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 September 18.…
Posted in Insect Trap Counts
Register for Fall Crop Protection Webinar Series
Register now for a five-part webinar series focusing on agronomic crops and Integrated Pest Management. The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the Grains Crop Pest Management Group will present the 2026 Fall Crop Protection…
Posted in Announcements
High Stink Bug Pressure in Kentucky Soybeans: Late-Planted Fields Need Attention
Current Status Stink bug populations have increased rapidly in soybean fields across Kentucky over the past several weeks. Recent field observations from north-central and south-central Kentucky to western Kentucky indicate that treatment thresholds have been reached in many fields, with…
Posted in General Pests, Grains
Fusarium Head Blight of Hemp
Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a common disease of hemp that poses a significant threat both to cannabinoid/flower and grain producers. The disease causes severe blighting of floral tissues that can result in direct yield losses and rejection by processors.…
Posted in Hemp
Corn Leafhopper Update: Increased Activity in Late-Planted Sweet Corn
Background The corn leafhopper is an insect native to Central and South America, which has recently been found moving further north into the United States. It was first reported in Kentucky in 2024 in Caldwell County and in 2025 in…
Posted in General Pests
