Overview of COVID-19 and its Significance for the Horse. Commentary by Peter Timoney, MVB, PhD, FRCVS, Professor, Frederick Van Lennep Chair in Equine Veterinary Science at the Gluck Equine Research Center

The University of Kentucky Department of Plant and Soil Sciences was awarded a Conservation Innovation Grant at the beginning of the year to study the ecological and economic impacts of resource conservation on horse farms. Funded by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this project was chosen among proposals nationally, all competing for a select few funding slots, and was fully funded with a budget of more than $350,000 over three years.

The eastern tent caterpillar hatch is underway, with the first instances seen in Central Kentucky March 12, according to entomologists in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, personal protective equipment has been critically low in availability across the U.S. and desperately needed. Several faculty members from the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture Food and Environment have jumped in and donated supplies from their labs to UK HealthCare. #TeamKentucky

Ticks are a concern for anyone who spends a significant amount of time outdoors. A University of Kentucky entomology graduate student is collecting ticks from across Kentucky to determine the make-up of the state’s tick population.

Lee Townsend, PhD, professor emeritus and entomologist within the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, provided this information.

Preliminary Results for New Herbicide for Warm Season Grass Control in Horse Pastures. Information was provided by University of Kentucky Department of Plant and Soil Sciences members Bill Witt, PhD, professor emeritus; in conjunction with Chi Jing Leow, senior at Asbury University and UK Horse Pasture Evaluation Program intern; Krista Lea, MS, coordinator of the University of Kentucky's Horse Pasture Evaluation Program; and Ray Smith, PhD, professor and extension forage specialist.

The Horse.com has partnered with the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environment to launch a new podcast series. Called “Equine Innovators,” the series, which is sponsored by Zoetis, interviews UK researchers to learn more about the important work they do each day.

The 2019-2020 foaling season has seen an increase in reports of Nocardioform placentitis, both in cases submitted to the University of Kentucky’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and in reports from equine practitioners in the field. Nocardioform placentitis is an equine placental disease affecting pregnant mares and their foals during pregnancy.

USDA APHIS: New Requirement for Equine Infectious Anemia Testing by Diagnostic Laboratories. Information provided by Craig N. Carter, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVPM, director of the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

By the time you read this, we will ‘officially’ be out of the recommended period for seeding most cool season species. Experience tells me, however, that we are not done seeding cool season perennials across Kentucky. This article addresses some of the questions that I have been getting this spring.

UK Forage Extension YouTube videos can help producers work through issues this spring. The KYForages YouTube page has more than 250 educational videos to help forage and livestock producers improve their operations, particularly during this time of social distancing.

With all the uncertainty in the world during the COVID-19 crisis, University of Kentucky animal scientists say people could learn quite a few lessons from farm animals.