Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Kelsey Mehl
Major Program: Grains
The problem:Red crown rot is a newer disease in the Northern US. It has been increasing it's spread over the past few years and has spread into Kentucky. We are doing studies on the disease to help farmers in Kentucky manage red crown rotThe educational program response:We have found preliminary results indicating that there are methods that are usable by local Kentucky farmers to help manage and hopefully stop the spread of disease in the state. While some of these methods cost money, there
Author: Raul Villanueva
Major Program: Grains
The Villanueva entomology laboratory at the UK-REC at Princeton has been monitoring slugs and snails since January 2024. On 27 February, 2024, we published an article in the Kentucky Pest News blog titled “Slugs are Active in February 2024, but Farmers Have Two Registered Molluscicides under Section 24(c) in Kentucky” advising farmers to monitor for slugs. On April 30, 2024, a second article was published, “Pre- and Post-emergence Strike of Slugs & Snails on Soybeans.&rdquo
Author: Raul Villanueva
Major Program: Grains
Since 2022, snails have been causing injuries to commercial fields of corn and soybeans in Kentucky. In 2022 a commercial soybean was severely affected, and in 2023 a cornfield was affected by a distinct species. In 2024, we found that at least three additional snail species were causing moderate damage to corn and soybeans. The occurrences of three native snails as pests of field crops have not been reported anywhere else in the USA. Injuries of native snails in field crops (corn and soybeans)
Author: Raul Villanueva
Major Program: Grains
In 2024, we published a peer reviewed manuscript on the stink bug fauna of Kentucky from specimens examined from museum, literature, public online repositories, and through scouting of field crops. Stink bugs have received a lot of attention as there are many economically important pest species in corn and soybeans. However, the status of species richness, distribution, and taxonomy remain overlooked and outdated in Kentucky (USA). Having such information at a regional scale is crucial to allow
Author: Raul Villanueva
Major Program: Grains
I participated in the main extension events that took place at the University of Kentucky-Research and Education Center at Princeton (UK-REC). In the UK-REC all the extension programs are in a recovery period after the devastating effects of the tornado of 2021 that destroyed all the center installations. In these events, there were a total of 329 attendees. Also, I had been on outreach programs for adults and children at Land Between the Lakes and at Fort Campell, there was an attendance of at
Author: Chad Lee
Major Program: Grains
Describe the Issue or Situation. The Kentucky Corn Growers C.O.R.E. Farmer Program aims to: deliver classroom-style instructional learning, expand peer networks, and grain perspective from other business endeavors and learn by seeing. Each cohort targets about 20 early-career producers and involves learning sessions over about 2.5 years. CORE graduates are eligible to take an international trip to learn about farms and farming from a different perspective. In March 2024, C.O.R.E. graduates visit
Author: Chad Lee
Major Program: Grains
Describe the Issue or Situation. 40 years ago, farmers from Brazil visiting the University of Kentucky to learn about no-till. Several university professors and extension personnel visited Brazil to help those producers conduct no-till. We were able to learn about their progress. Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).Brazil farmers in Parana State essentially all farm no-till or minimum till now. Farmers in other areas of Brazil are mostly no-ti
