Description of the Problem While scouting for insects affecting corn and soybeans in their early stages of development, large numbers of thrips were observed in corn seedlings (greater than 20 thrips per plant) (Figure 1A-C). Corn plants with thrips were…

As wheat harvest approaches, now is a good time to consider drying and storage options. A good place to start is by reviewing the equilibrium moisture content chart for soft red winter wheat below, which shows the limits of drying,…

Prior to Harvest [ ] Clean all equipment thoroughly to remove old grain, trash, and debris that might contaminate the new crop – combines, carts, trucks, receiving pits/hoppers, conveyers: use pressurized air/water or an industrial wet/dry vacuum storage bins: use…

During the last two weeks of April, I observed brown stink bugs (Euschistus spp.) (Figure 1) and green stink bugs (Nezara viridula) while scouting for aphids in wheat, but surprisingly I had not seen a single rice stink bug (Oebalus…

The 2022 fungicide efficacy tables for foliar diseases of corn and soybean, and for soybean seedling diseases have been updated, and are now available through the Crop Protection Network website. These tables are updated annually based on data provided by…

Wheat fields will soon be at the anthesis stage (Feekes 10.51, “flowering”) in Kentucky.  Anthesis is a critical time, as wheat becomes susceptible to infection by Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB; also known as scab). This disease…

Description During the last past 5 years, I have found a brownish weevil in soybean research plots at the University of Kentucky’s Research and Education Center at Princeton and in commercial soybean fields. These encounters occurred while I was scouting…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

Last week, signs and symptoms of red crown rot of soybean were observed in a few fields in Graves County, Kentucky by a local agronomist (Clint Gregory with Hutson Ag) who contacted the University of Kentucky.  Samples were collected from…

Tar spot on corn was confirmed by the University of Kentucky Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (PDDL) in Princeton, Kentucky last week. Corn samples submitted by Curt Judy, Todd County Extension Agent, had signs of the tar spot causal fungus Phyllachora…