Hemp (Cannabis sativa) is grown both outdoors and in greenhouses.  Outdoor-grown hemp is susceptible to infection by leaf spot fungi that affect other crops and nearby plants, especially during periods of extensive rain or high humidity.  There are three primary…

Hemp is often considered a disease-free plant. However, research is being done to determine whether certain pathogens can increase to problematic levels in the field. Should disease become a significant problem in field-planted hemp, the result can be premature leaf…

Powdery mildew can affect numerous plants, including fruit, vegetable, and agronomic crops, as well as woody and herbaceous ornamentals. Kentucky hemp is also susceptible to this disease. Plants infected early in the season can be seriously damaged, while those affected…

Disease presence last year can indicate a risk for the same disease this year. Many pathogens overwinter on infected plant material or as pathogen survival structures. Poor sanitation practices can lead to an increased risk of these diseases in the…

Diseases are a major concern for greenhouse hemp growers, and they can be a factor that limits the profitable production of plants. The warm, humid greenhouse environment provides optimal conditions for reproduction of many pathogens. A good sanitation program can…

While conducting studies in hemp at the University of Kentucky’s Spindletop Farm in Lexington, the twice stabbed sting bug (Cosmopepla lintneriana, formerly C. bimaculata) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) was observed in hemp grown for grain (Figure 1) during the first week of…

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…

Problem The outbreaks of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) during mid-July to late-August has affected double-crop soybeans and forages, and lately alfalfa in many areas of Kentucky. Fall armyworm is a polyphagous pest, that feeds in many plant species…

In 2018, there were significant increases in confirmed cases of southern blight in hemp.  The fungal disease affects a wide range of plant species, including hemp. When stems and roots become infected, plants can wilt, decline, and/or die, resulting in…

Disease presence last year can indicate a risk for the same disease this year. Many pathogens overwinter on infected plant material or as pathogen survival structures. Poor sanitation practices can lead to an increased risk of these diseases in the…

Problem and Description of Damage The Euroasian hemp borer (EHB), Grapholita delineana, was found in Lexington in mid-October 2020 while scouting hemp pests in Lexington. This is the second EHB sighting in Kentucky conducted by Raul Villanueva; the previous report…

In 2018, there were significant increases in confirmed cases of southern blight in hemp.  The fungal disease affects a wide range of plant species, as well as hemp. When stems and roots become infected, plants can wilt, decline, and/or die,…

The Grower’s Guide to Kentucky Hemp Production webinar was conducted on May 5, 2020. Sessions from this webinar were recorded and are now available online. These videos provide information for growers of all experience levels. This series includes presentations from…

Hemp is an emerging crop within the U.S. and around the world. Previously, this crop was classified as a Scheduled 1 controlled substance within the U.S., which limited its production. However, The Agricultural Act of 2014 (Farm Bill) allowed for…

Disease presence last year can indicate a risk for the same disease this year. Many pathogens overwinter on infected plant material or as pathogen survival structures. Poor sanitation practices can lead to an increased risk of these diseases in the…