Hemp is a new crop for Kentucky and for the US.   Urban myth describes hemp as resistant to disease and insect pests, but recent surveys and samples indicate otherwise.   Since 2014, hemp acreage has increased in the commonwealth, and disease reports have also intensified.  To date, over twenty-five different pathogens/diseases have been confirmed.  Some of these diseases are common on a wide range of hosts, while others are unique or specific to hemp.  For example, hemp leaf spot is a newly reported disease of hemp.  Since hemp’s resurgence, hemp leaf spot has been reported in 12 of the 73 counties that grow hemp in Kentucky.  Complete crop loss is possible.  The causal pathogen has never been described on hemp or any other dicot host; it is typically a pathogen of grasses, cereal grains, and banana.  To better understand the life cycle of this fungus and its potential to cause epidemics, field plant pathologists partnered with research faculty who specialize in phylogenetics.  Analyses of fungal genes and genomes led to recategorization of the fungus, which helped parallel the characteristics of this fungus with its known relatives.  Resulting projects have broadened the understanding of infection potential, spread, and management of hemp leaf spot.  Extension specialists are better able to educate growers and assist them in proper identification, as well as in implementation of cultural practices that help minimize disease severity.  Educational sessions and agent trainings have combined the research data with outreach materials.  Collaborations between applied pathologists and genetics-genomics researchers are critical in helping growers solve complex disease problems.