Archives for May 2014

May 28, 2014

Right On Cue: Dollar Spot Disease

Exactly like Dr. Bruce Clarke teaches, Memorial Day arrives and so does dollar spot disease.

Dollar Spot Disease

Creeping bentgrass entries in one of Dr. Stacy Bonos’ evaluation trials that are
highly susceptible to dollar spot disease. Dollar Spot Disease seen in foreground.

Symptoms appear as round, brown to straw-colored spots approximately the size of a silver dollar. On short cut turf, the spots with advanced damage can become somewhat sunken. At taller cutting heights (greater than 1 inch), the damaged spots are larger and more diffuse.

Highly susceptible grasses will be the first to exhibit symptoms including annual bluegrass, creeping bentgrass (depending on cultivar), and perennial ryegrass. Tall fescue and most Kentucky bluegrasses will be more tolerant of this disease.

Cultural techniques that can suppress dollar spot disease include disruption of dew and guttation water in the morning and increasing N fertility (if it is low). Mowing early in the morning (disruption of dew) should also be helpful.

Filed Under: Turf
May 27, 2014

Veg IPM Update: Week Ending 5/28/14

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Click Image to View

Vegetable IPM Report 5-28-14 – Click to View | Download | Print

Maps for the Week
-European Corn Borer Population Map
-Pepper Weevil Trap Catch Map

Topics for the Week

  • Sweet Corn
  • Cole Crops
  • Peppers
  • Tomatoes
  • Pepper Weevil Report
  • BMSB

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
May 27, 2014 and

What to Do if Hail Hit Your Vineyard

If you were hit by a hailstorm on May 22nd, as we were at RAREC, you are probably making some hard decisions on what to do in the vineyard.

Hail-damaged Cordon on Grape Vine

Hail-damaged cordon on a grape vine at Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Shoots, leaves, and flower buds were severely damaged and most shoots were broken off.

Removal of dead and compromised leaves and flower clusters will help reduce development of fungal pathogens.

Stem wounding will be a big concern especially for vineyards with crown gall. Treatments that aid in wound healing or have bactericidal effects may provide some help. However, shoots severely damaged by hail may need to be pruned out.

New growth will continue to push as weather conditions allow. This new growth should be protected against black rot, powdery and downy mildews as you would in any other year.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Wine Grape
May 27, 2014

Major Hail Storm Hits RAREC Research Farm

A major rain and hail storm occurred at the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Bridgeton during last Thursday evening, 22May. Hail stones the size of marbles fell for about 15 minutes. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Tree Fruit
May 27, 2014

Scout Corn for Black Cutworm Damage

I was out late last week scouting some corn fields and checking some black cutworm moth monitoring traps. Fortunately, the number of black cutworm moths in the traps have been rather low. I did notice some very minimal black cutworm damage in one field. This does not mean growers should let their guard down. Pennsylvania and other northern states have been reporting large flights of black cutworm moths. It is recommended that growers continue to scout corn fields for damage. Remember many Bt hybrids are not that strong against black cutworm. This leaves scouting and rescue treatments as the most viable option for managing black cutworm.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates
May 26, 2014

Potato Disease Forecasting Report 5-27-14

Potato Disease Forecasting Report 5-27-14 – Click to Download

We will be tracking DSVs for Late blight development and calculating P-days for initiating the first early blight fungicide application.

The first late blight fungicide application is recommended once 18 DSVs accumulate from green row. Green row typically occurs around the first week in May in southern New Jersey. An early season application of a protectant fungicide such as mancozeb (Dithane, Manzate, Penncozeb) or Bravo (chlorothalonil) as soon the field is accessible is suggested. Please be vigilant and keep a look out for suspect late blight infections on young plants. No late blight has been reported in our region to date.

Remember the threshold for P-days is 300!  Once 300 P-days is reached for your location early blight fungicide applications should be initiated. Growers who are interested in using this model should chose the location above that is closest in proximity to their farming operation and should regularly check the Cornell NEWA website (http://newa.cornell.edu/) where this information is compiled from. Click on Pests Forecasts from the menu, select your weather station, and click on tomato diseases, set accumulation start date and a table of daily and total DSVs will be generated.

Filed Under: Disease Forecasting