Author: Jonathan Larson
Major Program: Integrated Pest Management
In 2023 I was invited to join a group funded by the Southern IPM Center that focuses on helping Extension agents across the southeastern United States deal with delusory parasitosis, also known as invisible itches or delusions of infestation. Headed by Karen Vail, University of Tennessee, I was selected to be the team lead for a fact sheet that will teach agents and those who suffer with this condition how to deal with the situation. It’s hard to establish an economic impact of this projec
In 2022, a partnership between Extension and the Office of the State Entomologist was formed to build a citizen science project focused on monitoring for invasive species. This effort includes me, Blake Newton (Entomology Youth Extension Specialist), and Carl Harper (Office of the State Entomologist). The project is known as “Kentucky Keepers”. Last year we piloted the project with 4-H youth volunteers, Master Gardeners, and Master Naturalists. This year, professional arborists and r
Author: Jonathan Green
Beginning in 2021 a Zoom session titled “In The Weeds” was initiated for Agriculture and Natural Resource agents. These sessions were conducted on a monthly basis throughout the growing season and were intended as an informal discussion and dialogue on current issues, observations, and other weed relevant topics that were primarily associated with pastures and other forage crops. Approximately 30 to 40 individuals participated per session, which represented 25 to 33% of t
Author: Carl Bradley
The University of Kentucky Grain Crops Integrated Pest Management group recognized the need to organize and conduct a conference featuring both University of Kentucky Extension Specialists and guest speakers from universities in other states to provide a diverse range of topics and enhance education of integrated pest management practices. The goal was to create a better understanding of integrated pest management among stakeholders in agriculture, including producers, crop consultants and
The Situation:Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) (Heterodera glycines) causes approximately $1.5 billion dollars in losses to the U.S. soybean crop annually. Losses in Kentucky continue to climb as the nematode adapts to management tools (such as genetic resistance). The situation is too large and complex for one organization to address alone. Extension ResponseDr. Carl Bradley co-leads a national public-private partnership whose mission is to address the SCN crisis, known as ‘The SCN Coalit
The University of Kentucky Grain Crops Integrated Pest Management group created a 5-week webinar series in November and December of 2022 to provide stakeholders with research-based information, and provide Certified Crop Advisor continuing education credits, County Agent In-service training, and pesticide applicator training to clientele. The webinar series was organized by Jason Travis, Extension Associate, and hosted by the Southern Integrated Pest Management Center. Speakers and topics
Author: Kiersten Wise
The disease tar spot, caused by the fungus Phyllachora maydis, was first discovered in the United States in 2015. Since 2015, tar spot has become a major corn disease in the Midwest, causing yield losses up to 60 bushels per acre in fields where it is established. The disease was confirmed via laboratory diagnosis in two counties in Kentucky in 2021. In 2022, a state-wide monitoring program was funded by the Kentucky Corn Growers Association to scout for tar spot. Over 84 fields in 12 counties w
Author: Jason Travis
The Pest Management Field Day at the UKREC in Princeton, KY returned to the UKREC in 2023 on June 29, 2023. The 2023 event was the fourth year for the field day that featured research updates from University of Kentucky Pest Management faculty including Dr. Kiersten Wise, Dr. Raul Villanueva, Dr. JD Green, and Dr. Erin Haramoto. The event also featured walking plot tours of weed science research plots at the University of Kentucky led by Dr. Travis Legleiter. The weed science research plots feat
The University of Kentucky Grain Crops Integrated Pest Management group recognized the need to organize and conduct a conference featuring both University of Kentucky Extension Specialists and guest speakers from universities in other states to provide a diverse range of topics and enhance education of integrated pest management practices. The goal was to create a better understanding of integrated pest management among stakeholders in agriculture, including producers, crop consultan
Author: Travis Legleiter
The Pest Management Field Day at the UKREC in Princeton, KY returned to the UKREC in 2023 on June 29, 2023. The 2023 event was the fourth year for the field day that featured research updates from University of Kentucky Pest Management faculty including Dr. Kiersten Wise, Dr. Raul Villanueva, Dr. JD Green, and Dr. Erin Haramoto. The event also featured walking plot tours of weed science research plots at the University of Kentucky led by Dr. Travis Legleiter. The weed
The University of Kentucky Grain Crops Integrated Pest Management group recognized the need to organize and conduct a conference featuring both University of Kentucky Extension Specialists and guest speakers from universities in other states to provide a diverse range of topics and enhance education of integrated pest management practices. The goal was to create a better understanding of integrated pest management among stakeholders in agriculture, including producers, crop consultants and addit
The University of Kentucky Grain Crops Integrated Pest Management group created a 5-week webinar series in November and December of 2022 to provide stakeholders with research-based information, and also provide Certified Crop Advisor continuing education credits, County Agent In-service training, and pesticide applicator training to clientele. The webinar series was organized by Jason Travis, Extension Associate, and hosted by the Southern Integrated Pest Management Center. Speakers and to
Nearly all herbicide applications in corn, soybean, and wheat require the use of an adjuvant in the spray tank to ensure a successful herbicide application. While most farmers and applicators are aware of the need for adjuvants, they often don’t know why adjuvants are needed. The lack of knowledge of why adjuvants are needed often leads to marketing from retailers for unnecessary or inappropriate adjuvant packages for herbicide applications. Having a basic unders
Author: Lyndall Harned
In response to a phone call to the office, a follow-up farm visit related to a weed infestation of a new stand of forages was made. A huge infestation of weeds was seen in a new stand of forages. After several hours of traversing the farm and talking with the farmer, we knew what the issues was and how to deal with it. But this showed an issue that needed to be addressed. So, with the farmer whole heartedly in support, we decided to host a filed program at his location. The response was better t
Author: Zachary DeVries
Pests such as cockroaches, bed bugs, and rodents, continue to plague disadvantaged communities. Their presences is not only unsightly, but it can also negatively affect human health through asthma exacerbation and disease transmission. Therefore, I provided a two-day training program for the maintenance staff of Washington D.C. Housing Authority (DCHA), such that they could become more involved in pest control and protect themselves and others from indoor pests. Our collaborati
The University of Kentucky Grain Crops Integrated Pest Management group created a 5-week webinar series in November and December of 2022 to provide stakeholders with research-based information, and also provide Certified Crop Advisor continuing education credits, County Agent In-service training, and pesticide applicator training to clientele. The webinar series was organized by Jason Travis, Extension Associate, and hosted by the Southern Integrated Pest Management Center. Speakers a
