Prevention key to managing blueberry root rot

Fruit growers are often attracted to blueberry production because the plants have few disease problems. However one disease, Phytophthora root rot, can completely decimate blueberry plants. This spring, agents and specialists with the UK Cooperative Extension Service have seen widespread cases of the disease across the state. [more]

Switchgrass project a success

In 2007, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture forage specialists, East Kentucky Power Cooperative personnel and 20 farmers in northeastern Kentucky began a pilot project looking at the biomass potential of switchgrass, a warm-season forage native to Kentucky. [more]

Research and Education Center to host commodity-specific field days

As agriculture producers have become more specialized, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture specialists are offering more commodity-specific field days to provide them with more detailed information about  specific production areas. In the past two years, the specialists have established two new field days. The newest, the Horticulture Field Day is June 27.

After surveying extension agents and producers, UK specialists decided field days focused on specific commodities would better meet their needs rather than the traditional biennial All-Commodity Field Day, said Richard Coffey, the center’s director. UK specialists have had previous success with field days targeting wheat and cattle producers. In August 2012, UK row crop specialists hosted the first Corn, Soybean and Tobacco Field Day. It was well received by attendees and will occur again Aug. 1. [more]