Rutgers University | New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station | Pesticide User Responsibility

Archives for June 2014

June 30, 2014

Beating the Bugs in the Bogs – Gypsy Moth

Gypsy moth is an occasional pest of cranberries. Gypsy moth caterpillars will readily eat the plants in outbreak years, when they are abundant in the NJ Pinelands, like in 2007. They prefer to feed on oaks, but when they encounter cranberry plants, their presence can have a devastating effect. Fortunately, since 2007, the caterpillars have rarely been seen in the NJ Pinelands. However, this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be prepared for their eventual return. Also, studying cranberry resistance against gypsy moth will teach us about the resistance of the plants against other important pests as well.

Gypsy moth larva

Gypsy Moth Larva


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Filed Under: Cranberry
June 30, 2014

Late Blight Reported in Erie County, NY and Cambria Couny, PA

Late blight was reported on potato in Erie County, New York and Cambria County, PA (west central) late last week. This is the first report of late blight in PA this season. There are also suspected cases of late blight are being reported on potato and tomato in Lancaster County, PA.

All tomato and potato growers in New Jersey should begin to scout their fields on a regular, if not daily basis. There have been no reported cases of late blight in New Jersey to date! However, all growers (conventional and organic) who have not initiated protectant fungicide maintenance programs should consider doing so. For organic growers, preventative copper applications should be considered. For more information on controlling late blight please see the 2014 Commercial Vegetable Fungicide Recommendations Guide.

Filed Under: Disease Forecasting Tagged With:
June 27, 2014

Localized Drought Stress is Here

As stated in an early post, summer stress is developing throughout the state. Summer stress isn’t widespread or severe but it is developing, particularly wilt stress, within very localized areas of many landscapes. Landscapes that receive little to no irrigation are especially prone to wilt and drought stress right now.

Turf Subtle Wilt Stress

6-22: Symptoms of subtle wilt stress. Healthy turf will likely to tolerate this level of wilt stress.

Turf Advanced Wilt Stress

6-25: More advanced symptoms of wilt stress. Suspend mowing until rain or irrigation restores soil water.


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Filed Under: Turf
June 27, 2014

Potato | Tomato Disease Forecast 6-27-14

Click to View | Download Report 6-27-14

Filed Under: Disease Forecasting
June 25, 2014

Veg IPM Update: Week Ending 6/25/14

Vegetable IPM Report 6-18-14 – Click to View | Download | Print

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Maps for the Week
–European Corn Borer Population Map
–Corn Earworm Moth Blacklight Trap Map
–Corn Earworm Moth Pheromone Trap Map
–Pepper Weevil Trap Catch Map

Topics for the Week

  • Sweet Corn
  • Cole Crops
  • Peppers
    • Pepper Weevil Report
  • Tomatoes
  • BMSB
  • Pumpkins and Winter Squash
  • Snap Beans

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Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
June 23, 2014

Potato Disease Forecasting Report 6-24-14

Potato Disease Forecasting Report 6-24-14 – 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