This past week, there were reports of increasing problems with clover root curculio in a couple of central Kentucky counties. Clover root curculio is an overlooked invasive pest from Europe that has been in the United States since the 1800s.…
Monthly Archives: June 2023
Insects Updates in Field Corn and Soybeans up to June 2023
Current Situation Most of June 2023 has been dry and lacking much rain, until June 18, when rain occurred in many western counties. Accumulated precipitations levels have been near or above 1 inch. Before this period, corn and soybean fields…
Posted in Grains
Septoria Leaf Spot of Hemp
Hemp (Cannabis sativa) is grown both outdoors and in greenhouses. Outdoor-grown hemp is susceptible to infection by leaf spot fungi that affect other crops and nearby plants, especially during periods of extensive rain or high humidity. There are three primary…
Posted in Hemp
Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus
Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) can impact numerous vegetable crops in Kentucky. Beans, cucumbers, eggplants, lettuces, peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes, in addition to more than 150 other plant species, may become infected. Homegrown and commercial vegetables may become diseased, with…
Posted in Vegetables
Bacterial Wilt of Cucurbits
Bacterial wilt of cucurbit crops is a common issue for homeowners and commercial producers in Kentucky. Cucumbers and muskmelon (cantaloupe) are highly susceptible to bacterial wilt, while squash and pumpkin are less susceptible. Watermelon is known to be resistant to…
Posted in Vegetables
Box Tree Moth on Our Border
Back in 2021, the box tree moth, a new problem for boxwoods, was accidentally shipped from Canada to the United States. This caterpillar pest had been established in Ontario, Canada but over the last couple of years, established populations were…
Posted in Landscape Trees & Shrubs
Rhizoctonia Diseases in Specialty Crop Production (PPFS-GEN-21)
Rhizoctonia diseases can affect a broad and diverse range of plants. Specialty crop hosts include ornamentals (woody and herbaceous), vegetables, fruit crops, and hemp. These diseases may also develop on agronomic crops (e.g., alfalfa, grains, and tobacco) and turfgrass. Rhizoctonia…
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 from June 14 to June 27, 2023. Diagnoses on agronomic crop samples have included poor root development and leaf scald…
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
Watch for Potato Leafhopper to Avoid Hopperburn
Small insect pests often go unnoticed until their damage appears, and this is true with potato leafhopper. Potato leafhoppers often go unnoticed until their characteristic damage to alfalfa begins to appear in early summer. Potato leafhopper is tiny and non-descript,…
Posted in Forages
Early Blight & Septoria Leaf Spot of Tomato
Early blight and Septoria leaf spot are the most common diseases of homegrown and commercial tomatoes in Kentucky. Tomatoes produced in greenhouses and high tunnels may also experience disease. These diseases may occur individually or together. While these diseases rarely…
Posted in Vegetables
Anthracnose of Cucurbits
Anthracnose of cucurbit crops (cucumber, squash, watermelon, cantaloupe) is a common disease in Kentucky. Cucumbers and melons in home gardens and commercial vegetable production are at the greatest risk. Diseased plants develop lesions, and severe infections can result in complete…
Posted in Vegetables
Center Rot of Onion
Center rot is a common bacterial rot disease of onions in Kentucky. The disease occurs in commercial and homegrown production. Center rot results in decay, which makes onions unusable. Disease is more severe during periods of wet, humid conditions. Preventative…
Posted in Vegetables
Cherry Leaf Spot (PPFS-FR-T-06)
Cherry leaf spot occurs on both sweet and sour cherry trees; however, it is considerably more serious on sour cherries. Ornamental flowering cherry trees can also be susceptible to this disease. Premature defoliation from cherry leaf spot reduces flower bud…
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
Kentucky Pest News 