Don’t let plant diseases, weeds, and insect problems bug you this summer. Take action by attending the 2023 Pest Management Field Day. It’s an opportunity to receive the latest Integrated Pest Management research data and control recommendations while interacting with…
Monthly Archives: May 2023
Bacterial Canker of Tomato (PPFS-VG-06)
Bacterial canker is a potentially serious disease of tomato that can occur in commercial plantings and residential gardens. This infectious disease is capable of spreading rapidly, resulting in devastating losses. In addition, the pathogen can be difficult to eradicate once…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab Highlights
The following plant disease highlights have been compiled from samples submitted to the University of Kentucky Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory during May 2023. Diagnoses on agronomic crop samples have included flooding damage on corn; bacterial stripe/black chaff, take-all, and freeze…
Posted in Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab
2023 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
Reports of True Armyworm in Hay in Central & Western Kentucky
This past week, there were a few reports of large numbers of armyworms in hay fields collecting on equipment as the fields were being cut. This is a different species from the fall armyworm that had an outbreak in soybeans,…
Posted in Grains
Bacterial Spot of Pepper
Bacterial spot is the most common and economically important disease of peppers in Kentucky. The disease occurs in commercial and homegrown production. Disease damage to leaves results in yield reduction, while diseased fruits become unmarketable. Cultural and sanitation practices can…
Posted in Vegetables
Start Monitoring for Garden Pests Today
Whether it’s slugs, squash vine borer, or Colorado potato beetle, home gardeners know that every year some creepy crawly is looking for a free meal in their vegetable patch. Unfortunately, pest management in home gardens often relies on a reactive,…
Posted in General Pests
Pesticide Calculations for Small Acreages (EntFact-800)
Most agricultural pesticide labels list use rates on a per acre basis, but this can pose an issue for many producers of specialty crops. In these cases, often only a small fraction of an acre needs to be treated, and…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
2023 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
An Iridescent Purple Carabid (Ground Beetle) Found in Field Crops of Kentucky
Beetles have hard forewings that may partially or totally cover their membranous flight wings. These wings can be dull, very colorful, or covered with small hairs (as in Dectes stem borer). Many have a bright metallic color, and in many…
Posted in Grains
Fire Blight Symptoms Now Visible on Fruit Crops
Fire blight is the most important disease of apple and pear in Kentucky. Symptoms may now be visible; however, initial infections occurred at bloom. The pathogen survives winter in dead, dying, and diseased wood and in cankers. Removal of these…
Posted in Fruit
WARNING—Topping is Hazardous to Tree Health (PPFS-OR-W-32)
Topping is the drastic removal or cutting back of large branches in mature trees. The tree is pruned much as a hedge is sheared, and large branches are left as stubs. Topping damages numerous large, beautiful trees each year in…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
2023 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
Conditions Favorable for Seedling Disease in Corn
Corn planting in Kentucky was off to a fast start in 2023, with many farmers able to plant in early to mid-April. However, cool weather and low soil temperatures have delayed emergence and increased the risk of seedling disease in…
Posted in Grains
Predicting Future Cucurbit Crop Disease Risk Using Disease History
Past disease presence can indicate a risk for the same disease this year. Many pathogens overwinter on infected plant material or as pathogen survival structures. Poor sanitation practices can lead to an increased risk of these diseases in the upcoming…
Posted in Vegetables
Kentucky Pest News 