The UK Ag Weather Center’s degree day model for alfalfa weevil indicates that many counties in Kentucky have recently exceeded the 190 Degree Day (190 DD) used as a starting point to begin scouting for alfalfa weevil. Most other counties…
Monthly Archives: March 2021
Last Year’s Tree Fruit Diseases Equal This Year’s Tree Fruit Disease Risk
Last year’s disease presence can help us evaluate this year’s disease risk. Many pathogens overwinter on infected plant material or as pathogen survival structures. Poor sanitation practices and lack of management can lead to overwintering of many pathogens. This, thereby,…
Posted in Fruit
Fire Blight Alert and Risk Map Overview
Apple and pear trees are at bloom or approaching bloom across Kentucky. Infection by the fire blight bacterium occurs during bloom, thus, protectant antibiotics should be applied when risk is high. Risk for infection can be assessed using the Fire…
Posted in Fruit
Leaf Scorch and Winter Drying of Woody Plants
Leaf scorch occurs whenever water needed for growth and health of plant foliage is lost from leaves faster than it can be replaced from soil. Any factor that interferes with uptake or movement of water through plants cause water deficiency…
Posted in Landscape Trees & Shrubs
Juniper Twig Blights (PPFS-OR-W-11)
Twig and branch dieback is extremely common in many juniper plantings in Kentucky. While other factors can be responsible for these general symptoms, Phomopsis twig blight or Kabatina twig blight are often the cause. This newly revised publication discusses hosts,…
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
Fire Blight Alert and Risk Map Overview
Apple and pear trees are approaching bloom. Infection by the fire blight bacterium occurs during bloom, thus, protectant antibiotics should be applied when risk is high. Risk for infection can be assessed using the Fire Blight Disease Prediction Model. Growers…
Posted in Fruit
Planning a Vegetable Garden
As spring approaches, it is time to start planning for this year’s vegetable garden. There are many items to consider when planning a garden, including decisions that can directly impact the potential for disease. Here are few areas to consider…
Posted in Vegetables
Recommendations for Starting Disease-Free Vegetable Transplants
Many home gardeners and commercial growers have placed their seed orders or have last year’s saved seed safely tucked away. In the coming days or weeks, many growers will start those seeds in transplant trays. However, in some cases, seeds…
Posted in Vegetables
Tennessee Expands Imported Fire Ant Quarantine Northward to Kentucky Border
Recently, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture expanded the number of counties under Imported Fire Ant (IFA) quarantine. This is significant for Kentucky as IFA is continuing to move northward and several of the newly quarantined counties are on the Kentucky…
Posted in Human Pests
USDA Clarifies Rules for Buying and Receiving Seeds and Plants from other Countries
Last year, there was quite the uproar as people reported shipments of unsolicited seeds arriving from other countries. This was the subject of a newsletter article in July 2020. Many dozens, if not hundreds, of these unwanted seed shipments were reported…
Posted in Misc. Topics
Strawberry Anthracnose Fruit & Crown Rot (PPFS-FR-S-05)
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. This newly…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
The UK Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory Needs Your Input!
The University of Kentucky Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab (PDDL) is inviting you to take part in a survey of current and future PDDL services and policies. Although you may not get personal benefit from taking this survey, your responses may…
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
Expanded Testing For Commercial Applicator Licenses
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) has expanded the locations for persons to test for commercial and noncommercial applicator licenses. In addition to the Frankfort and Gilbertsville locations that have been the only testing locations during the pandemic, the KDA…
Posted in Pesticide Topics
Kentucky Pest News 