Archives for July 2013

July 18, 2013

BMSB Populations in Mid-July

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug week ending 7/17/13BMSB populations are significantly higher than last year and unsprayed fruit is already damaged.

Fruit harvested (mid-season assessment) around July 4 in a research trial under light management had very early season injury as well as recent feeding damage. Some of this is due to the wet June we experienced which reduced the effectiveness of treatments, but this is compounded by high populations.

The ranking of materials can be found in previous posts or in the Rutgers Tree Fruit Production Guide utilizing a short interval between sprays. It is anticipated that two good BMSB chemicals Bifenthrin/Brigade and Scorpion/Venom will be available at effective rates shortly once the Sect. 18 request has been filled. The maximum rate of Belay has shown good results as has Endigo in last year’s trials at RAREC. Always follow label instructions.

BMSB Black Light Trap Maps

Kris Holmstrom of Rutgers Vegetable IPM program develops a weekly map of BMSB catches in black light traps. We have been monitoring BMSB in black light traps at vegetable farms throughout NJ since 2004. This has proven to be a great resource for identifying the spread of BMSB. From 2004 through 2011, BMSB spread at a rate of 2.84 new farms each year and is now spread throughout NJ.

The black lights work to attract BMSB adults flying at night. They mistake the trap for the moon and get caught. We have been able to correlate trap captures with key periods of flight activity, such as development of the 1st generation adults and large movements between crops. In late May/early June, early catches tell us that BMSB is active on the farm and coincides with the beginning of egg laying. Currently, these traps tell us about the activity of BMSB in the landscape, not on specific crops. We are working to identify what trap captures mean in terms of management decisions. In the meantime, if there is an increase in BMSB catches in your area it is a good indication of activity in a crop and the possibly need for management decisions.  As Kris develops these maps each week, I will distribute them to the fruit growers.

This week’s map shows that activity in southern NJ has picked up as well as some spots in northern farms – a trend that I anticipate to increase.

Filed Under: Fruit
July 18, 2013

FDA Releases FSMA Factsheets for Farmers

FDA is expanding its outreach to small- and medium-size growers to address questions that have arisen since the proposed rule was issued in January 2013. According to Michael Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine, FDA expects and welcomes questions that arise during the rulemaking process. In a new interview, he emphasizes that FDA is committed to developing, with input, a final rule that prevents illnesses but that also is practical and adaptable to a wide diversity of growing conditions and practices.

Resources available on the newly updated FDA FSMA site are: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Food Safety
July 17, 2013

NJDA Plant Laboratory Offers Growers Mycotoxin Testing

The recent stretch of unusual rainy weather raises the potential of mycotoxin contamination in small grains, and other field or forage feed crops. Grain growers may be affected by price discounts and/or restricted markets. Mycotoxin contamination in animal feed and forage can lead to feed refusal, reduced productivity (reduced production of eggs, milk, and weight gain), reproduction problems (disrupted heat cycles, early embryonic death, abortion) impaired health, and in severe cases, death.

The NJ Department of Agriculture’s Division of Plant Industry Plant Laboratory offers concerned growers and producers services to test for mycotoxins: Aflatoxin, DON/Vomitoxin, Fumonisin, Ochratoxin, T-2 Toxin, and Zearalenone.

Sample Submission Form information. For questions or more information, please call (609) 406-6939.

Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Plant Diagnostic Lab
July 17, 2013

Veg IPM Update: Week Ending 7/17/13

Vegetable IPM Report 7-17-13 – Click to View | Download | Print

Current Week’s Pest Maps – Available Maps for the week are highlighted

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
July 16, 2013

Fruit IPM Report: Week Ending 7/20/13

Fruit IPM Report 7-20-13 – Click to View | Download | Print

Early Season Thrip Injury in Peach

Early Season (top) and Late Season (silvering)  Thrips Injury on Peach

In this report:

  • Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
  • Peach
  • Apple
  • Grape
  • Scouting Calendar
  • Blueberry
  • Trap Counts

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

BMSB adults nymphs and egg masses are present in orchards, although far from a uniform pattern. Black light trap captures indicate a significant increase in trap captures over the past 2 weeks, but individual insects may be difficult to find in many locations. Early pickings of Sentry show significant feeding damage, depending on tree location. We are monitoring this insect in commercial orchards with a several methods. These include random 3 minute counts, 3 minute counts on transect lines, use of a new USDA experimental pheromone in several trap types, and the black light traps in the vegetable IPM network. The bottom line for growers is that every treatment should include a BMSB active material. These treatments should be frequent. If treatments are applied on more than a 7 day schedule, then a 7 day border spray should supplement whole block treatments. Pyrethroid insecticides (permethrin, Baythroid, Mustang, Warrior, Danitol) can be very effective, but with the high temperatures we are having, they should be avoided this week. The neonicotinoids, Belay and Actara can also be very effective. Lannate has a short residual, but can have knock down ability.

We are hoping that the 2 best insecticides will be able to be used soon. These are dinotefuran (Venom and Scorpion) and bifenthrin (Brigade and Bifenture). These products had section 18 labels during 2012 (Venom and Scorpion had them in 2011), and were requested again for 2013. Although Venom and Scorpion are currently labeled in peach and nectarine, they are not labeled in apples. Nor are they labeled at the rate required to control BMSB, which is almost double the current labeled rate. The current maximum rate for Scorpion is 7 oz/A, and 10-12 oz/A is needed for BMSB control. The current maximum rate for Venom is 4 oz/A, and 6-6.9 oz/A is needed for BMSB control. Section 18 label requests originate in the individual states (usually a DEP) and are authorized by EPA in Washington, D.C. The bifenthrin package is currently in Washington. The dinotefuran package is with the NJDEP and has yet to be submitted. Brigade and Bifenture are the best materials we have for BMSB control. Since there will be a 14 day PHI, and a maximum of 2 applications not less than 30 days apart, let’s hope we get them soon, or they will see only minimal use.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape
July 16, 2013

Late Blight Update – 7/16/13

There have been no new reports of late blight in New Jersey or surrounding region over the past week. Importantly, now that late blight has been found in the region the threat for it to reappear will remain if weather conditions become favorable once again. The hot, dry weather forecasted this week should help reduce threat level for late blight developement.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops