Boxwoods are popular evergreen landscape shrubs. Boxwood blight is a fungal disease that infects the above-ground portion of all types of boxwoods; it first appeared in the U.S. in 2011. While there is no cure for boxwood blight, its leaf…
Monthly Archives: February 2024
Slugs are Active in February 2024, but Farmers Have Two Registered Molluscicides under Section 24(c) in Kentucky
Current Conditions In 2023, slugs were almost absent in most field crops in Kentucky due to environmental conditions severe drought and temperatures higher than 75o F). Lately, rainy days and cold temperatures that alternate with record highs have provided ideal…
Posted in Grains
Using Prediction Models to Manage Diseases in Fruit (PPFS-FR-T-07)
Numerous plant diseases impact fruit crops throughout Kentucky. Factors such as plant growth stage, as well as rainfall, temperature, and other weather conditions, can be used to determine risk for plant disease. Disease prediction models are important tools for assessing…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
Kentucky State Horticultural Society Fruit Grower Orchard Meeting – March 7
The Kentucky State Horticulture Society Fruit Grower Orchard Meeting will be held at Stepping Stone Farm Market in Paris, KY on Thursday, March 7. This meeting is open to all those interested or involved in fruit production. Speakers will include…
Posted in Announcements, Fruit
2024 IPM Training School – March 18
The 2024 Integrated Pest Management Training School meeting will take place on March 18. This year, the event will be held at the Warren County Extension Office, Bowling Green, KY. Several University of Kentucky Extension specialists and associates will discuss…
Posted in Announcements
Postharvest Disease Losses in Fruit & Vegetable Crops (PPFS-GEN-24)
Fruits and vegetables are often soft, perishable, and particularly susceptible to postharvest disease losses. Postharvest diseases can begin with infections in the field, during harvest, or in storage. Under moist or high humidity storage conditions, the infections can develop into…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
EPA IPM Webinar: Managing Rodents with Integrated Pest Management and New Technologies
Urban environments present unique pest challenges, especially with rats and mice. New and improved approaches, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, are helping address these challenges. During this free webinar, renowned experts will share information on rodent behaviors that participants can use to refine their pest management programs. Lessons…
Posted in Announcements
2024: First Scout for Aphids, then Conduct an Early Spray if Aphids are above Thresholds in Winter Wheat
Aphids in Wheat Several aphid species are key pests in small grains (wheat, barley, and cereal rye) in Kentucky for their role as vectors of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV). Among them, bird cherry oat and English grain aphids overwinter…
Posted in Grains
Recommendations for Starting Disease-Free Vegetable Transplants
Home gardeners and commercial growers likely have placed their seed orders or have last year’s seed saved. Over the next few weeks, many will plant those seeds in order to establish transplants for spring and summer gardens. In some cases,…
Posted in Vegetables
Damping-off of Vegetables & Herbaceous Ornamentals (PPFS-GEN-03)
Damping-off can occur on any herbaceous crop grown from seed, including vegetables, ornamentals, hemp, and field crops. Seeds, seedlings, and young plants may be affected, resulting in poor stands in residential gardens, cold frames, greenhouses, high tunnels, and commercial fields.…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
University of Kentucky’s 47th Annual Turf and Landscape Short Course
Registration is now open for the University of Kentucky’s 47th Annual Turf and Landscape Short Course, presented in partnership with the Kentucky Horticulture Council. The event will be held at the Hardin County Extension Center in Elizabethtown, KY on February…
Posted in Announcements, Lawn & Turf
Seventh Annual National Pesticide Safety Education Month – February 2024
February is National Pesticide Safety Education month. This is a time to carefully examine current best safety practices with pesticide use. Pesticides are key tools used to manage a diverse group of pests, diseases, and weeds. Pesticide safety is just…
Posted in Pesticide Topics
EPA Seeks Comments on Paraquat Review Decision
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed the Paraquat Interim Registration Review Decision (Paraquat ID). The Paraquat ID completed portions of EPA’s analysis of paraquat’s risks and benefits and determined that certain mitigation measures were necessary for paraquat to meet…
Posted in Pesticide Topics
EPA Seeking Public Comment on Two Issues
Scientific Integrity On January 24, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released draft updates to its Scientific Integrity policy for public comment. The updates would include adopting a new Federal definition of scientific integrity and improving the culture of scientific integrity…
Posted in Pesticide Topics
Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers, 2024-25 (ID-36)
The latest version of the UK Extension publication, Vegetable Production for Commercial Growers (ID-36) is now available for 2024-2025. This comprehensive publication contains a wealth of information on all aspects of commercial vegetable production and pest management, from variety selection to marketing,…
Posted in Vegetables
Kentucky Pest News 