Corn planting was delayed in Kentucky in 2022, and this has prompted questions about how growers should be thinking about corn disease management this year. Weather will play the biggest role if disease develops and becomes a concern. Remember that…
Monthly Archives: June 2022
Snail Outbreak during the Drought and Hot Conditions Affect Soybeans
Description of the Problem In a farm in Lyon County, a study was being conducted to evaluate the management of slugs in soybeans. By mid-May a couple of slugs were found, and a laboratory colony was started. However, the slugs…
Posted in Grains
Orange Rust: Non-Curable Disease in Brambles
Orange rust of brambles can be a concern for Kentucky blackberry and raspberry growers. The first symptoms are often noticed in early spring when newly formed shoots appear weak and spindly. Once infected, the pathogen spreads throughout the entire plant.…
Posted in Fruit
Using Sticky Cards in High Tunnels
High tunnels are wonderful tools for extending the growing seasons but they can also be houses for multiple types of insect and mite pests. Monitoring for these pests is highly recommended in order to intercept their populations before they are…
Posted in Greenhouses/High Tunnels
Current Cucurbit & Smarter Apple Spraying Podcasts
The Current Cucurbit Podcasts Iowa State University, in cooperation with the University of Kentucky and Cornell University, has released a series of podcasts to share their research experiences with improved resilience of cucurbit crops to attack by insect, weeds, and…
Posted in Misc. Topics
UK-REC Entomology Opens a Temporary Workplace in Eddyville Where Insect ID Can Be Conducted
The entomology program at the UK-REC, Princeton was totally interrupted by the tornado of December 10, 2021. Since the third week of June, the entomology team began to work at 202 Outlet Avenue, Eddyville KY 42038. This space is shared…
Posted in Misc. Topics
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
How Dry Seasons Affect Woody Plants (ID-89)
Pattern, frequency, and amounts of rainfall are important components to plant health. During dry seasons and drought conditions, plants become stressed. Growth ceases, nutrient transport slows, and plants wilt as cells become water-deficient. Severe, long-term, or consecutive drought events may…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
2022 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
Hot Temperatures & Drought Cause Thrips Population Spikes in Corn
Description of the Problem While scouting for insects affecting corn and soybeans in their early stages of development, large numbers of thrips were observed in corn seedlings (greater than 20 thrips per plant) (Figure 1A-C). Corn plants with thrips were…
Posted in Grains
Bramble Scout Website
The publication An IPM Scouting Guide for Common Problems of Brambles in Kentucky was first introduced in 2018 as an online/paper version. In order to improve access to this important scouting guide, a mobile website was developed. The Bramble Scout…
Posted in Fruit
Assessing and Utilizing UK Extension Resources for Commercial Fruit Production
The University of Kentucky Extension team has put together numerous resources for commercial fruit growers regarding production and pest management. However, many growers are not aware of the wide range of publications, newsletters, websites, and other resources that are available…
Posted in Fruit
Fire Ants Gaining a Foothold in the State
Fire ants have long been found further south of Kentucky. Since 2000, they have been annual issues in the Land Between the Lakes area of our state. Surveys in that area have found multiple mounds of ants but Kentucky has…
Posted in Human Pests
New Tick-transmitted Cattle Disease Detected in Tennessee
Last week, on June 10, a herd of cattle in central Tennessee was reported to have Theileria orientalis Ikedia, a protozoan disease vectored by the invasive Asian longhorned tick. This protozoon attacks red and white blood cells and causes bovine…
Posted in Livestock Pests
Submitting Plant Specimens for Disease Diagnosis (PPFS-GEN-09)
The accurate diagnosis of a plant problem is critical to knowing what strategies will be needed for current management and/or prevention of future problems. When diagnostic assistance is needed, Kentucky homeowners and commercial growers can submit plant samples to their…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
Kentucky Pest News 