As a growing industry in the United States, hemp (Cannabis sativa with <0.3% of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) has exponentially increased, not only in its number of licensed acres (approximately 500,000 across 45 states), but also in its capacity to diversify into at…
Monthly Archives: August 2022
Sooty Blotch & Flyspeck Make for Ugly Apples
The time for apple harvest in Kentucky has arrived, bringing with it the possibility of less than perfect looking apples. Sooty blotch and/or flyspeck are one of many causes for blemished, ugly apples. The two fungal diseases occur together as…
Posted in Fruit
Spotted Lanternfly on the Move North of Kentucky
The spotted lanternfly (aka SLF) is a serious invasive insect pest native to East Asia and was first found in SE Pennsylvania in 2014. Since that initial discovery, it has spread to many counties in Pennsylvania, as well as into…
Posted in General Pests
So, the Fall Invasions Begin
Based on what I saw trying to enter my home this weekend, brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) has begun the search for overwintering sites. Either I’m searching harder or this is earlier than what I’ve seen before. So, if you…
Posted in Household Pests
Pesticide Calculations for Small Acreages
Most agricultural pesticide labels list use rates on a per acre basis, but this can pose an issue for many producers of specialty crops. Often only a small fraction of an acre needs to be treated and it is important…
Posted in Pesticide Topics
Fusarium Wilts of Vegetable Crops (PPFS-VG-15)
Fusarium wilts are common vascular diseases affecting a number of vegetable crops. In Kentucky, tomato, peppers, eggplant, cucumber, watermelon, and occasionally muskmelon (cantaloupe), are most frequently affected. Crop losses can occur in commercial fields, greenhouses, high tunnels, and residential plantings.…
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
University of Kentucky 2022 Hemp Field Day & Pest ID Workshops
The 2022 Hemp Field Day and Pest ID Workshops will be held on September 8, 2022. Workshops will occur from 3 PM to 5 PM (Eastern Time) followed by the field day from 5 PM to-8 PM (Eastern Time) at…
Posted in Announcements
Cucurbit Downy Mildew Confirmed in Kentucky
On August 16, 2022 cucurbit downy mildew was confirmed on cucumber in south-central Kentucky. Cucurbit downy mildew has also been reported in neighboring states Tennessee and Ohio. Disease is likely widespread across the area. Hosts & Symptoms Cucurbit downy mildew…
Posted in Vegetables
As Autumn Approaches, Don’t Forget About Ticks
Ticks Are Still Out There While the high tick season in Kentucky is usually May and June, there are still ticks this late in the summer. Ticks are arachnids; they are related to other eight-legged critters like spiders and mites.…
Posted in Human Pests
Sclerotinia Diseases of Vegetable Crops (PPFS-VG-29)
Sclerotinia diseases occurring on vegetable crops are commonly referred to as white mold; however they may also be known as timber rot (tomato), drop (lettuce), and head rot (cabbage). Vegetable crops grown in commercial fields, high tunnels, and home gardens…
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
Sugarcane Aphid in Kentucky Sorghum
The sugarcane aphid (SCA) was reported in Kentucky last week in Woodford County on sweet sorghum. This invasive pest can cause up to 100% crop loss if left untreated on grain, forage, and sweet sorghum. SCA cannot survive Kentucky winters…
Interveinal Chlorosis Symptoms on Soybean Leaves
Symptoms of soybean leaves with interveinal chlorosis and interveinal necrosis have been observed in several fields across Kentucky recently. Interveinal chlorosis/necrosis is when the leaf tissue between the main leaf veins turns chlorotic (yellow) or necrotic (brown/dead), but the main…
Posted in Grains
Status of Insect Pests in Soybeans and Corn in August
I had believed that major pest insect populations could increase after the rains that occurred during the last week of July and first weeks of August 2022; however, major pest insects have remained at very low numbers. The drought during…
Posted in Grains
Kentucky Pest News 