Author: Carl Bradley
Major Program: Grain Crops
The soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is the most destructive soybean pathogen in the United States. In 2018, the soybean cyst nematode caused an estimated loss of over 128.8 million bushels in the U.S., with an estimated loss of over 2.8 million bushels in Kentucky. Above-ground symptoms are not always observed when SCN is causing yield reductions, which can make it a “silent yield robber”. Beginning in 2018, Dr. Carl Bradley began a soybean cyst nematode education program de
Southern rust of corn can be an extremely damaging disease of corn if weather is favorable and if infections occur early enough in the season for yield losses to occur. Although southern rust does not impact corn yields in Kentucky every year, the 2016 growing season was an example of a year where southern rust reduced yields by up to 60 bushels per acre in some fields. Fortunately for Kentucky corn growers, southern rust does not overwinter much in the U.S., but it does survive in
Author: Kelsey Mehl
KATS (Kentucky Agriculture Training School), formally known as the Wheat Field School was started in 2017. The school was created to be a more hands on, in-depth alternative to field days. These small group meetings are important to help facilitate better group discussions and let the participants interact more directly with extension specialists. KATS trainings are held during different critical points in the growing season to help participants better understand the different management decisio
Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is one of the top yield reducing pests on soybeans, causing great economic losses all around the world. The SCN Coalitions is a multi-state group of Extension specialists, university researchers and agricultural company representatives who are trying to bring attention to the growing threat of soybean cyst nematodes. This is the second coalition, with the first one beginning in 1997. The reintroduction of the coalition is to help spread awareness that SCN has started
Author: Teresa Rogers
There were four KATS workshops in 2017 and four in 2018. With a planning committee officially put into place in the fall of 2018, we have set dates to increase the number of trainings in the 2019 growing season to at least six. Increasing the number of trainings per year also increases the number of opportunities for people to attend. Each training usually covers topics that are relevant at that time of the growing season, and having multiple trainings gives the best opportunity to e
The Kentucky Agriculture Training School (KATS) was developed to provide hands-on trainings to those individuals who are seeking advanced knowledge in various areas of agriculture and crop production. The program is open to everyone, but with the focus being on crop advisors, managers and others that may influence and assist producers. It is important to keep them up to date with new technology and research findings, so they may be able to help individuals make wise decisions that will affect pr
Author: Colette Laurent
The addition of the UK Grain & Forage Center of Excellence has brought with it new researchers and extension specialists who are expanding Grain Crop research and updating information. The challenge for the UK Grain Crops group is the timely dissemination of this new and updated information. Combining field demonstrations with current agronomic information relevant to decision making and education, is the balance we strive for at our annual Corn & Soybean Field day. To better
The UK Wheat Science Group and Grain Crops Group work to help Kentucky growers produce corn, soybeans, wheat and other grains more efficiently and sustainably. The challenge as a group is to plan and carry out programs that bring research and educational extension together for the benefit of KY Grain crops community. The groups meet annually in a central location to coordinate educational programs and research collaborations for the upcoming year. This meeting also provides
Author: Don Sorrell
Todd and Nancy Kloentrup called me with a voice of urgency and asked for help in determining what to do with 20 acres of silage corn that had been totally immersed (under water for up to 6 days) due to heavy summer rains. I coordinated a farm visit with Dr. Chad Lee, UK Grain Crops Extension Specialists, to look at the flooded corn. Three other farmers, who had flooded corn, also participated in our farm visit. This corn represented a major part of the Kloentrup’s winter feeding
Author: Shane Bogle
Industrial Hemp has been a long standing tradition in Kentucky. In the 19th and 20th century Kentucky was the world leader in hemp production. Then in the 1970’s the war on drugs outlawed the sale and production of cannabis sativa and made it a schedule 1 substance. In 2014 a bill was passed that allowed Kentucky to start growing and researching hemp development and production to offset a slowing tobacco industry. In 2014 there were 20 approved growers and 33 acres
Author: Leann Martin
Grain production is a huge part of the local economy in south central Kentucky but with lower grain prices and profit deficits, it has become a major focus for efficiency. With increased efficiency, producers are able to expand their margins and allows them to continue production. The increased need for efficiency can be achieved with education and it is for that reason, the KY-TN Grain Conference continues to strive to educate producers to reach their highest potential for success.The Cooperati
Author: Glen Roberts
Collaborators: ANR Agent, Glen Roberts, KSU SFA, Danny Adams, ANR assistyant, Terry Bertram, Wayne County Grain Growers, KY Corn Growers, KY Wheat Growers, and KY Soybean Growers, University of KY Grain Yield Contest, USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service, KY Field OfficeWayne Co grain growers are faced with a limited amount of available, suitable land for row cropping. They need to optimize yields and maximize efficiency in order to compete with farmers in other areas who have access to
Author: Matthew Futrell
West Kentucky Hemp ConferenceIndustrial Hemp has been a long standing tradition in Kentucky. In the 19th and 20th century Kentucky was the world leader in hemp production. Then in the 1970’s the war on drugs outlawed the sale and production of cannabis sativa and made it a schedule 1 substance. In 2014 a bill was passed that allowed Kentucky to start growing and researching hemp development and production to offset a slowing tobacco industry. In
Author: Patrick Hardesty
After glyphosate was introduced in the mid 1970’s, it was used primarily as a burndown herbicide in corn and soybeans. Since the introduction of Roundup Ready crops in 1996, glyphosate has been used widely for burndown and in-crop weed control with the increase in use and many dropping pre-emerge herbicides from their weed control program weeds have become resistant. Two weeds, palmer amaranth and waterhemp, were identified as resistant in 2005. These pigweeds are very a
Author: Chad Lee
A farmer reported corn during seed fill period that was flooded entirely. The farmer intended to harvest the corn as cattle feed. Don Sorrell, Campbell County ANR Extension Agent, and I visited several bottom fields where mud covered corn plants from the soil to the tassels. We identified areas of the fields where corn was more damaged than others. We worked with the grower to develop a strategy to monitor the crop and identify what areas of the field might be safe to harvest. We quickly identif
To support the Grain and Forage Center of Excellence, the Kentucky Corn Growers Association developed the UKAg Benefactor Program, which allows people to become lifetime members of the Corn Growers and simultaneously donate to the Grain and Forage Center of Excellence. As of this writing, that program has generated over $160,000 in donations, representing over 100 growers, crop consultants, county extension agents and other friends. This support is an example of trusted relationships built on ye
Through years of research and extension efforts in sustainable and profitable wheat production, farmers now produce a reliable wheat crop. That reliable crop attracted Siemer Milling Company to build a facility in Hopkinsville, KY and has allowed their business to thrive. Recently, Siemer Milling Company donated $1 million to the Grain and Forage Center of Excellence. This donation was a result of those years of research and extension activities and exemplifies the partnerships developed slowly
A farmer and seed dealer asked Boyle County ANR Extension Agent, Jerry Little and grain specialist, Dr. Chad Lee, to look at a commercial cornfield because of problems they were seeing with a particular hybrid they were considering putting in their variety line up to sell next year. The corn hybrid was missing ears on several of the plants in the field. We dug and looked at roots, cut stalks for examination, and we looked at healthy plants as well. Preliminary results showed that the plants miss
