Although soybean yields have been pretty good this year so far, the seed quality of harvested soybeans has not been great in some fields. Seed diseases have been prevalent in areas that have received a lot of rain since harvest…
Blog Archives
Difficulties in Diagnosing Diseases of Mature Soybean Plants
After soybean plants have matured in the field, many organisms begin to grow and colonize these plants. Rainy weather often promotes growth of and colonization by these organisms. The longer that plants have been sitting in a field after they…
Posted in Grains
Spreading of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Across West and Central Kentucky: Distribution and Trends
Stink bugs in Kentucky Every year, soybean farmers in Kentucky usually face the attacks of two common stink bugs: the green stink bug (Chinavia hilaris) and the complex of brown stink bugs(Euschistus spp.–i.e., E. variolarius, E. servus), and since 2010…
Posted in Grains
Blister Beetles Predatory Behavior Outweigh Their Feeding in Soybeans in Kentucky
Description Blister beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae) are known for the oily, caustic substance that protects them from predators: cantharidin. Cantharidin is a defensive substance that acts as a deterrent against ants or ground beetles and several species of spiders. In pastures,…
Posted in Grains
Practical Pest Preventive Practices for the Pantry
While people hate to find insects in their pantry, managing them should begin long before the pest is found. Pests in the pantry often mean that there are one or more stored food items that have become infested and, left…
Posted in Household Pests
Root-knot Nematode in Vegetable Cropping Systems (PPFS-VG-28; CCD-FS-22)
Root-knot nematodes are microscopic plant parasitic roundworms that reside in soil and infect plant roots. Unmanaged populations can result in significant economic losses for growers due to decreased plant vigor and yield, followed by plant death. Root-knot nematodes can infect…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
Crazy Top of Corn (PPFS-AG-C-12)
Crazy top of corn is a disease that has been observed more frequently in Kentucky due to heavy and intense spring rains. Although some crazy top symptoms are distinct, other symptoms of this disease may not be as familiar and…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
What are the Tiny Mud Pots on Hemp Petioles?
The Mud Pots While scouting for caterpillars and budworms in a commercial hemp field in Princeton, KY, we found three pot-shaped mud structures on a hemp petiole (Figure 1). There is a great number of wasp species that build nests…
Posted in Hemp
Landscape Sanitation: Clean Up for Clean Plants
Autumn has arrived in Kentucky and, as leaves will soon begin to change color and fall from trees, it is time to focus on landscape sanitation. Good sanitation practices can help reduce disease-causing pathogens. These organisms can survive for months…
They’re Here: Stink Bug Invasions Have Begun!
Brown marmorated stink bugs have begun their annual trek to get inside of your home. This yearly annoyance is something that parts of the state have been experiencing for a while, but other counties may have just started to deal…
Posted in Household Pests
Pests of Fall and Holiday Decorations
Fall and holiday decorations are used to “liven up” the atmosphere at home while we move into the fall months. But this needs to be done thoughtfully so you don’t initiate pest problems in the home. Although live insects may…
Posted in Household Pests
Septoria Leaf Spot of Field Hemp (PPFS-AG-H-01)
Septoria leaf spot is the most commonly reported leaf spot disease of field-grown hemp in Kentucky. This fungal leaf disease can rapidly spread throughout fields during periods of extensive rain or high humidity. Under extreme conditions, plants can lose 50%…
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 Laboratories from September 1 to September 30, 2021. Diagnostic samples of agronomic crops have included anthracnose leaf blight, gray leaf spot,…
Posted in Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab
Apple Scab Picking on Kentucky Apple and Crabapple Trees
Apple scab is the most consistently serious disease of homegrown apple and flowering crabapple in Kentucky. The most noticeable losses on apple result from reduced fruit quality and from premature drop of infected fruit. Scab also causes a general weakening…
Posted in Fruit
Boxwood Blight
Boxwood blight can be devastating to American boxwood cultivars, which are common in the Kentucky landscape. Complete defoliation can occur within a week and plants can die within a single growing season. Use of tolerant cultivars, cultural practices, and fungicides…
Posted in Landscape Trees & Shrubs
