This webinar will focus on toxic plants in the carrot family (Apiaceae – giant hogweed, wild and cow parsnip, poison and spotted water hemlock) and how they compare to a nontoxic family member (Queen Anne’s lace). Sap from these toxic…
Monthly Archives: October 2022
Know the Endangered/Threatened Species in Your Area
Across Kentucky and the United States, there is a patchwork of counties that are home to various endangered and threatened species. Some may be listed as species under ‘consideration,’ such as the monarch butterfly, or those that are in ‘recovery.’…
Posted in Pesticide Topics
Lichens in Landscape Plantings (PPFS-GEN-20)
Lichens are fascinating and complex living organisms that are composed of multiple organisms growing together for the mutual benefit of one another. Lichens can grow in colonies on pretty much any substrate anywhere on earth, including the Tropics and Polar…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
Management of Soybean Cyst Nematode Starts with Soil Sampling this Fall
The soybean cyst nematode (SCN) (Figure 1) causes greater annual yield losses in Kentucky than any other pathogen of soybean. Preliminary results from an on-going SCN survey initiated in 2019 show that approximately 80% of Kentucky fields are infested with…
Posted in Grains
The Broad-Headed Sharpshooter, an Insect of Vibrant Colors
I observed a colorful large-sized leafhopper while working in North Carolina, Texas, and Kentucky. The bright colors of this insect caught the attention of students, the public, and personnel that work in my program, and I was asked on repeated…
Posted in Grains
When White Pines Turn Brown…Common Problems of White Pine in Kentucky (PPFS-OR-W-22)
Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) is a popular conifer in many Kentucky landscapes; however, this species is subject to browning as a result of various environmental and disease problems. In Kentucky, brown needles on white pine are often caused by…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
Minute Pirate Bugs were Active in Hemp Fields
Minute pirate bugs were observed on hemp plants during the 2022 growing season in several open fields and indoor structures (tunnel or greenhouse) in Kentucky. Minute pirate bugs are generalist predators of white flies, aphids, mites, thrips, and moth eggs.…
Posted in Hemp
Fruit, Orchard, and Vineyard Sanitation: Cleaning Up Today May Keep Disease Away
Autumn has arrived in Kentucky, and it is time to focus on fruit, orchard, and vineyard sanitation. Good sanitation practices can help reduce disease-causing pathogens. These organisms can survive for months or years on dead plant material or in soil,…
Posted in Fruit
The Bite of the Brown Recluse
A stroll through the Halloween décor section at the store demonstrates that spiders are something that conjure up dread amongst most people. They are sitting on shelves next to zombies and vampires, amongst other spooky season all-stars. There are two…
Posted in Human Pests
Worker Protection Standards Respirator Requirements
Applicators and their employees using pesticides and uses that fall under Worker Protection Standards (WPS) must follow OSHA respirator requirements when a respirator is listed under the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Respirators are required when it is determined that…
Posted in Pesticide Topics
Cleaning & Sanitizing Commercial Greenhouse Surfaces (PPFS-GH-07)
Greenhouse and nursery sanitation practices help prevent the introduction and spread of plant diseases and pests. Being proactive in maintaining a clean growing environment will often be less expensive and more effective than reacting to a disease or pest issue…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
University of Kentucky 2022 Crop Pest Management Webinar Series begins in November
Information regarding your pest management questions is just a few mouse clicks away. As offered in previous years, the University of Kentucky has once again organized five webinars on field crop protection topics that will be hosted through the Southern…
Posted in Announcements
Expected Changes to the Commercial Pesticide Applicator Program in 2023
In December 2016, the EPA published the final rule to improve all applicator certification and training standards. While implementation of this plan has been plagued by delays at the Federal level, our new plan for Kentucky has been reviewed and…
Posted in Pesticide Topics
Biological and Biorational Fungicides May Be Effective Against Common Hemp Leaf Spot Pathogens: A Bioassay Study (PPRR-03)
The demand for natural, organic, or chemical pesticide-free hemp material has driven an interest in biological and biorational pesticides. Because hemp is a new (newly reintroduced) crop, there is limited data showing efficacy of these products, particularly fungicides. In addition,…
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
Kentucky Pest News 