Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) (Figure 1) causes greater annual yield losses in Kentucky than any other pathogen of soybean.  The last time a formal survey was conducted by the University of Kentucky in 2006 and 2007, approximately 76% of soybean…

The University of Kentucky is a partner in the Crop Protection Network (CPN), which develops tools to help farmers, ag industry, and researchers with crop protection decisions. The CPN is a partnership of university Extension specialists across the United States…

Status of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug in Kentucky Halymorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) known as brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), is a polyphagous invasive species of Asian origin that feeds on more than 100 plant species in the U.S. Initially,…

Several stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) species (Figure 1) are key pests of soybeans in Kentucky. They include the green stink bug (Chinavia hilaris), brown stink bug (Euschistus spp.), southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula), brown marmorated stink bug (Halymorpha halys)…

Scouting reports across Kentucky this week have indicated that farmers need to be aware of stalk rots and ear rots as they prepare for and begin corn harvest. Pockets of fields scouted across the state have stalk rot issues that…

Over the past few weeks, there have been increased reports of spotting on corn leaves across the state. Symptoms include tiny tan to brown spots with a darker brown margin (Figure 1). These spots can be just a few spots…

Disease Symptoms Symptoms of sudden death syndrome (SDS) of soybean have begun to appear over the last couple of weeks in Kentucky. Once soybean plants begin to go through reproductive growth stages, symptoms will first appear as yellow flecks that…

Crop scouts and field researchers now have a new tool at their disposal to help correctly estimate disease severity and insect defoliation in field crops. The new online tool has been developed by the Crop Protection Network and can be…

Problem In response to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Butler County (Gregory K Drake), we visited a soybean field that had plants cut off or lodged at 1 to 3 inches above ground (Figure 1). This field, which…

In parts of the state where wet weather has continued through the season so far, one of the diseases being observed is Phytophthora root and stem rot, which is caused by the oomycete (aka water mold) pathogen Phytophthora sojae. This…

Southern rust of corn, caused by the fungus Puccinia polysora, was confirmed in Caldwell and Daviess counties in Kentucky on July 20, 2020. We typically confirm southern rust in Kentucky in mid-July, so the timing of these findings is on…

As soybean fields in Kentucky approach the R3 (beginning pod) developmental stage, it generally is a time to consider an application of a foliar fungicide to protect against foliar diseases.  In areas of the state that have received frequent rainfall,…

Corn is moving through growth stages quickly, and the warm, humid weather in many parts of Kentucky has been conducive for foliar disease development. Fungicides are commonly promoted to reduce the impact of foliar disease in corn, but with tight…

As the rains fall, environmental conditions become favorable for leaf diseases of soybean.  Currently, there are a couple of foliar diseases of soybean that can be observed in fields in Kentucky, which are Septoria brown spot and Phyllosticta leaf spot.…

Problem An absence of rains for almost 2 weeks in western Kentucky allowed the increase in populations of some secondary pests in field corn. One of these insects is the corn flea beetle. Commercial and experimental corn fields have been…