Success StoryExtension Addresses Timely Vegetable Disease Issue



Extension Addresses Timely Vegetable Disease Issue

Author: Brian Jeffiers

Planning Unit: Johnson County CES

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

Plan of Work: Home and Consumer Agriculture

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

In early June, the ANR agent fielded calls from three different tomato producers reporting similar symptoms. After visiting two of them, the agent submitted a specimen to the plant pathology lab, which confirmed sclerotinia rot. After reporting directly to all the involved producers, the agent also addressed the topic with the daily radio program, which has listenership of approximately 3,000. This allowed the message to reach many potentially interested producers in a rapid fashion, which was particularly important given the fast timeline of the disease the weather conditions supporting it.

After the program aired for about a week, additional calls were received at the office from clientele reporting similar concerns with their tomatoes. These clients had treated the outbreak according to recommendations from the plant pathologist, protecting the unaffected plants in those gardens from further disease spread.






Stories by Brian Jeffiers


UK Helps Farm Family Navigate Post-COVID Cattle Slaughter

about 4 years ago by Brian Jeffiers

With outbreaks of coronavirus at commercial processing facilities, beef consumers and producers coul... Read More


Fertilizer Program Improves Hay Yields

about 4 years ago by Brian Jeffiers

With many acres of strip-mined land dedicated to hay production, Johnson County farmers requested ed... Read More


Stories by Johnson County CES


4-H Grows with Gardening and a Pollinator Pavillion

4-H Grows with Gardening and a Pollinator Pavillion

about 4 years ago by Dianna Reed

The Johnson County Extension Council, 4-H Program Council and State 4-H Office identified Agricultur... Read More


4-H Shutterbug Shut In's Shine

4-H Shutterbug Shut In's Shine

about 4 years ago by Dianna Reed

In March of 2020, the Johnson Cooperative Extension Service along with government officials, local l... Read More