Rutgers Cooperative Extension
The FDA Proposed Produce Food Safety Rule Q & A conference call, coordinated by the Produce Safety Alliance, discussed domestic and wild animals. This conference call focused on the potential impact of the rule on production practices regarding animals.
1. The phrase is used “growers will act appropriately” regarding potential contamination from animals on the farm. This phrase is very vague; will there be guidance from the FDA detailing what is “appropriate” action?
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The Cougar Blight model at NEWA is predicting “Caution” for all Apple and Pear blocks with open blossoms starting May 7. The model is basing the prediction on the current weather forecast for both southern and northern regions. Keep a close eye on the weather. If conditions for infection occur (60°F or above with rain or severe weather including high winds) apply antibiotics such as Streptomycin, Mycoshield, or Fireline. Streptomycin is the most effective of the antibiotics. The Terramycin products (Mycoshield and Fireline) should be rotated with strep for resistance management. See the New Jersey Commercial Tree Fruit Production Guide for rates. Keep in mind that these antibiotics are best applied under slow drying conditions (dilute applications), and have limited residual activity.
From Mark Chien’s Wine Grape Information for Pennsylvania and the Region May 4, 2013
http://pawinegrape.com/
Full Newsletter
One topic Mark covers in this issue:
Early Season Grape IPMThe season has gotten off to a slow start due to cool weather across the region but once it warms up you can expect the shoots to grow very quickly.
Blueberry Bloom.
Photo by P. Oudemans
Blueberry bloom is progressing nicely and bee activity seems reasonably good. Our biggest enemies are wind and cold. Botrytis does not seem to be developing in blueberry fields and should not pose any risk in the next 7-days. Anthracnose is our biggest disease concern at this point. Hopefully all conventional growers will have made one application of Ziram and will be looking at an application of Abound next week.
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Septoria Leaf Spot – has been found in east Vineland this past week.
Leaf spots caused by Septoria blight are easily distinguished by small, angular to round leaf spots with grayish-brown centers with a definitive dark, brown margin. Numerous black fruiting bodies develop in the center of lesions (see VDOW). Septoria blight is spread by wind-driven rain and overhead irrigation.
Rotate applications of Quadris (azoxystrobin, 11) at 6.0 to 15.5 fl oz 2.08SC/A or Cabrio (pyraclostrobin, 11) at 12.0 to 16.0 20WG/A with Tilt (propiconazole, 3) at 3.0 to 4.0 fl oz. 3.6F/A every 7 days. A fixed copper at labeled rates can also be included if bacterial leaf spot is an issue.
Bacterial leaf spot (Pseudomonas syringae) of parsley can also show up at the same time as Septoria blight. Leaf spots caused by Bacterial blight appear as small brown to black spots on the leaves. The pathogen can be soil or seed borne and develops during cool, moist weather. The disease spreads during cool, rainy weather or with overhead irrigation; and is exacerbated by high plant density. The same control measures listed for Septoria will assist in preventing the spread of Bacterial leaf spot as long as the fixed copper is included with azoxystrobin and the fungicides are applied preventatively. If Oxidate is used, follow the label carefully. [Read more…]
