KY FY24 Solanaceous Survey 1S.0160.01

1,353 farms in Kentucky (55% of all vegetable farms) grow field tomatoes on 857 acres with a conservative market value of $44.2 million (KY Hort Council). Fresh market tomatoes represent one of the most valuable vegetable crops in Kentucky. In 2018, a report from the Center for Crop Diversification estimated returns of $5,000 to $6,500 per acre of tomatoes and up to $8,700 per acre for organic tomatoes. The market value of greenhouse tomatoes has gone up 40% since 2012 and is currently estimated at $3.6 million (KY Hort Council). Peppers are also grown in Kentucky, primarily for fresh market sales. Another solanaceous crop, tobacco is historically an important crop in Kentucky; however, following a national trend, the number of acres of tobacco harvested in this state has been steadily declining. Even with that decline, tobacco is one of Kentucky’s top 5 agriculture exports. This state ranks 1st in burley, fire-cured, and dark-cured tobacco production and 2nd in total tobacco production in the nation with a 2018 yield of 134.4 million pounds. Kentucky agricultural receipts for tobacco in 2021 equaled more than $269 million (nass.usda.gov). We will obtain permission from 15-16 growers to conduct a survey for 7 Lepidopteran pests of concern by placing pheromone traps in their fields. For this survey, we will place 1 trap for each of the following pests in each farm: Silver Y Moth, Golden Twinspot Moth, Old World Bollworm, False Codling Moth, Tomato Leafminer, Cotton Cutworm, and Tomato Fruit Borer. The establishment of any of these pests would have large negative impacts on the state’s solanaceous industry. To ensure excellent coverage statewide, five University of Kentucky employees and one independent contractor will conduct this survey. These individuals will visit each grower 5 times to set the traps, change the lures according to protocol, take moth samples, and remove the traps. Conducting the survey from late spring/early summer 2024 to fall of 2024, will encompass the life cycles of the target insects. In addition, in sites with tomatoes grown in commercial greenhouses, surveyors will conduct a visual survey for Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus and, if symptoms are observed, will use field test strips to test tissue samples. Accomplishment reports will be completed and submitted in the timeframe specified in the agreement and all data will be uploaded to the NAPIS database.