Success Stories - Kentucky Extension Reporting System

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Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Cooperative Extension Service

Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Impacts

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Fiscal Year: 2025

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Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025

Success StoriesKentucky Extension Reporting System

Evaluating and Developing Resources for Kentucky Cattle and Horse Owner Fly Control Needs

Author: Hannah Tiffin

Major Program: Integrated Pest Management

Issue or SituationAcross Kentucky, livestock producers and Extension Agents have consistently identified flies as one of the most frustrating pests impacting animal health, comfort, and productivity—especially in beef cattle and horses. Despite widespread use of sprays for horses and feed-through treatments or ear tags for cattle, many producers report that these methods are time-consuming, offer limited residual control, and are increasingly ineffective due to resistance. With constrained

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Ryegrass field tour doubles in attendance in second year

Author: Travis Legleiter

Major Program: Integrated Pest Management

Once categorized as solely a perennial problem in wheat, Italian ryegrass has increasingly become problematic in all of Kentucky’s major agronomic crops, now affecting no-till corn and soybean acres.  Italian ryegrass if left uncontrolled in corn can cause yield losses of up to 60% and has been known to force farmers to replant corn fields.  To assist ag professionals in gaining a new respect and control of the worrisome weed, the second annual University of Kentucky Italian Ryeg

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In the Weeds with IPM

Author: Travis Legleiter

Major Program: Integrated Pest Management

Pest management issues can emerge quickly and affect all of Kentucky’s 120 counties similarly or differently. University of Kentucky pest management extension specialists initiated an additional forum with county agricultural extension agents to keep a reciprocal dialogue open, complete with updates and observations from across the Commonwealth. The forum, a bi-weekly Zoom call with county agents, referred to as In the Weeds with IPM, is held near the start of each planting season and cont

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University of Kentucky Crop Pest Management Webinars gain loyal audience

Author: Travis Legleiter

Major Program: Integrated Pest Management

Managing stink bugs in soybeans, maximizing disease control and return on investment for corn fungicides, improving herbicide applications, and the management of important wheat diseases in Kentucky. These topics highlighted the 2024 Fall Crop Protection Series organized by The University of Kentucky Grain Crops Integrated Pest Management group. The 4-week webinar series held in October and November of 2024 was designed to provide stakeholders with researched-based information presented by a dif

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Grain Crop Pest Management Research has Value to Kentucky Farmers

Author: Travis Legleiter

Major Program: Integrated Pest Management

Over half a million acres impacting an estimated $7.1 million. That’s the results from a recent survey of participants attending the 2025 Kentucky Crop Health Conference held Feb. 6, at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky.Recognizing farmers need the latest research-based data as they formulate their pest management strategies, the Kentucky Crop Health Conference is specifically designed to give audiences the latest research and information. The latest University of Kentucky

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2024-2025 Kentucky Keepers Invasive Species Monitoring with Citizen Science

Author: Jonathan Larson

Major Program: Integrated Pest Management

In partnership with the Kentucky Office of the State Entomologist, a citizen science effort focused on invasive species education and monitoring has been running for the last three summers. Carl Harper, Office of the State Entomologist maintains the statistics and distributes traps while Blake Newton and Jonathan Larson, UK Entomology, produce and distribute educational materials. The goals of this project are to expand the monitoring footprint for spongy moth (a threat to Kentucky’s white

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Grain Crop Pest Management Research has Value to Kentucky Farmers

Author: Jason Travis

Major Program: Integrated Pest Management

Over half a million acres impacting an estimated $7.1 million. That’s the results from a recent survey of participants attending the 2025 Kentucky Crop Health Conference held Feb. 6, at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky.Recognizing farmers need the latest research-based data as they formulate their pest management strategies, the Kentucky Crop Health Conference is specifically designed to give audiences the latest research and information. The latest University of Kentucky

Full Story

University of Kentucky Crop Pest Management Webinars gain loyal audience

Author: Jason Travis

Major Program: Integrated Pest Management

Managing stink bugs in soybeans, maximizing disease control and return on investment for corn fungicides, improving herbicide applications, and the management of important wheat diseases in Kentucky. These topics highlighted the 2024 Fall Crop Protection Series organized by The University of Kentucky Grain Crops Integrated Pest Management group. The 4-week webinar series held in October and November of 2024 was designed to provide stakeholders with researched-based information presented by a dif

Full Story

Ryegrass field tour doubles in attendance in second year

Author: Jason Travis

Major Program: Integrated Pest Management

Once categorized as solely a perennial problem in wheat, Italian ryegrass has increasingly become problematic in all of Kentucky’s major agronomic crops, now affecting no-till corn and soybean acres.  Italian ryegrass if left uncontrolled in corn can cause yield losses of up to 60% and has been known to force farmers to replant corn fields.  To assist ag professionals in gaining a new respect and control of the worrisome weed, the second annual University of Kentucky Italian Ryeg

Full Story

In the Weeds with IPM allows for shared observations and latest updates in pest management

Author: Jason Travis

Major Program: Integrated Pest Management

Pest management issues can emerge quickly and affect all of Kentucky’s 120 counties similarly or differently. University of Kentucky pest management extension specialists initiated an additional forum with county agricultural extension agents to keep a reciprocal dialogue open, complete with updates and observations from across the Commonwealth. The forum, a bi-weekly Zoom call with county agents, referred to as In the Weeds with IPM, is held near the start of each planting season and cont

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Living with Alpha Gal Webinar

Author: Linda McClanahan

Major Program: Integrated Pest Management

While still considered “rare” relative to other medical issues in the state, Kentucky is one of the states with the most cases of alpha-gal syndrome in the US, according to the CDC, with some Kentucky counties presenting the highest cases per capita in the country. This condition is developed in some people after a bit from a lone star tick. There is no known treatment for alpha-gal syndrome. Instead, lifestyle changes can be made that help manage and reduce the symptoms. This includ

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Alpha-Gal Webinar

Author: Jessica James

Major Program: Integrated Pest Management

Title: Raising Awareness: Alpha-Gal Syndrome and Tick Bite Prevention in Henderson County Relevance: While still considered “rare” relative to other medical issues in the state, Kentucky is one of the states with the most cases of alpha-gal syndrome in the US, according to the CDC, with some Kentucky counties presenting the highest cases per capita in the country. This condition is developed in some people after a bit from a lone star tick. There is no known treatment

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Private Pesticide Training

Author: Jessica James

Major Program: Integrated Pest Management

I had my private applicator training, which I host every year.  This training is for individuals that need to become re certified in order to purchase chemicals to spray on the farm. This year, I decided to do this differently by inviting Dr. Legleiter to conduct a hands on training along with other training videos that were shown. There were many farmers that attended this meeting. There were 35 participants overall. Evaluations were not given out for this but the overall goal of this prog

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Pesiticide Applicator Training

Author: Owen Watkins

Major Program: Integrated Pest Management

I was able to work with Kentucky State University's Farm Manager to set up a Private Pesticide Applicators Training for several of their students and employees. This class was just a modified version of the normal Private Applicator Training, but more focused on content knowledge. The goal was for the students and employees to further develop their knowledge of IPM but also to receive a tangible license that would make them more hirable as future or current members of the workforce. The

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Ohio River Valley Invasive Species Conference

Author: Robert Brockman

Major Program: Integrated Pest Management

The Boone County Cooperative Extension Service hosted the first ever Ohio River Valley Invasive Species Conference at the Boone County Enrichment Center. This conference targeted both local homeowners and professionals working in the natural area management space. The conference was put on in conjunction with the Midwest Invasive Plant Network, which included partners such as arboreta, universities, and conservation districts. Partners came from Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and across Kent

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2024 SOKY Commercial Pesticide Training

Author: Leann Martin

Major Program: Integrated Pest Management

Application of crop protection chemicals and lawn/landscape chemicals is an important industry in South Central Kentucky.  Professional applicators must receive training to stay current on issues, pests, techniques, and safety for the products they apply.  They need to receive continuing education to maintain their license.  The agriculture and horticulture agents of areas of West 7 and 8 responded to a need for a commercial training opportunity by developing the SOKY Pesticide Tr

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53rd Annual UK Pest control Short Course

Author: Zachary DeVries

Major Program: Integrated Pest Management

In November we hosted the 53rd annual University of Kentucky Pets Control Short Course. This 3-day program incorporated 23 1-hour talks from speakers located around the country who travelled to Lexington, >360 attendees from Kentucky and surrounding states, and a team of entomologists (faculty, staff, students) from the University of Kentucky.   This meeting, hour-for-hour, is one of the top pest control meetings in the country, which many others states imitate due to the quality of the

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Cockroach Control in New York City

Author: Zachary DeVries

Major Program: Integrated Pest Management

German cockroaches are one of the most challenging indoor pests to manage indoors. They are known to have serious health effects on humans and can be responsible for asthmatic episodes, disease transmission, and various indirect effects largely related to improper pesticide use. Even worse, these effects tend to disproportionally impact people based on socioeconomic factors, particularly those who lack the means to properly suppress and eliminate pest populations, posing a substantial threat to

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Acting Associate Dean & Director — Craig Wood, Ph.D.
S107 Ag. Science Center North
Lexington, KY 40546-0091
+1 (859) 257-4302

© 2024 University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment