The publication An IPM Scouting Guide for Common Problems of Brambles in Kentucky was first introduced in 2018 as an online/paper version. In order to improve access to this important scouting guide, a mobile website was developed. The Bramble Scout…

The University of Kentucky Extension team has put together numerous resources for commercial fruit growers regarding production and pest management. However, many growers are not aware of the wide range of publications, newsletters, websites, and other resources that are available…

Phomopsis twig blight and stem canker is becoming more common in Kentucky blueberry. Stressed plants are more susceptible to this disease, and reports are often associated with fields that have a history of Phytophthora root rot or severe abiotic disorder…

The publication An IPM Scouting Guide for Common Problems of Peach in Kentucky was first introduced in 2020 as an online/paper version (ID-260). In addition to the online/paper version, and as a way to improve access to this important scouting…

Cedar-apple rust is the most common and economically important rust disease of apple in Kentucky.  The pathogen overwinters as galls on cedar and juniper. Removal of these pathogen sources on cedar can later reduce disease incidence on apple. Once apple…

The publication An IPM Scouting Guide for Common Problems of Strawberry in Kentucky was first introduced in 2016 as an online/paper version. In order to improve access to this important scouting guide, a mobile website was developed. The Strawberry Scout…

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…

Black rot is a common disease of grapes in Kentucky. Due to the prevalence of this disease, it is also one of the most economically important diseases of grapes.  Black rot can affect all young, developing, above ground plant tissues.…

In Kentucky, pest management in home orchards can be challenging, and fungicide and insecticide applications are often necessary for management of certain pests. Fruit bagging, however, can eliminate certain sprays by physically protecting fruit during development.  This method can be…

Importance of wild bees in agriculture Almost 60% of wild flowering plants on Earth exhibit entomophily (i.e., need insects to be pollinated), and about 80% of our crops depend on insects to be successfully pollinated and even to increase their…

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…

Abundant rainfall and warm temperatures can lead to an increase in the presence of brown rot on stone fruits (peach, cherry, plum, nectarine), which results in rotten, inedible fruit. Management of this disease begins at petal fall. Early season management…

Black knot is a common, often serious, disease of plums and cherries in Kentucky. Trees in both commercial and residential plantings are susceptible to the disease. Black knot results in knotty growths that, over time, encircle limbs and result in…