Archives for April 2015

April 21, 2015 Andy Wyenandt

Early-season Pythium and Phytophthora Control in Pepper and Tomato Crops

“What should I do to help prevent Pythium and Phytophthora in my pepper and tomato crops early in the season?” is a question most often asked this time of year. In the past, the answer was simple. Apply mefenoxam (Ridomil Gold SL, Ultra Flourish, 4) or metalaxyl (MetaStar, 4). Problem solved, right?

Not exactly, with resistance development in Phytophthora (P. capsici) to both mefenoxam and metalaxyl, the correct answer isn’t as simple anymore. It’s important to remember that both chemistries will work very well as long as resistance hasn’t been detected on your farm. How do you know if you have resistance? The easiest way is to follow efficacy. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: damping-off, pepper, tomato

April 20, 2015 Administrator

NJ Crop Insurance News Reminder

Apr 30: spring and fall forage seeding contract change date

Created to inform New Jersey ag producers about crop insurance, the Garden State Crop Insurance Education Initiative Team makes available important information through multiple media outlets. Get the latest news by visiting the website or follow via blog, Facebook, or Twitter.

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Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates Tagged With: Crop Insurance

April 15, 2015 Dean Polk

Fruit IPM Report 4-15-2015

Download PDF version

Peach:

Brown Rot: Blossom infections from the brown rot fungus can occur whenever pistils are exposed and a favorable climate exists. Infections can occur during any wetting period when temperatures are between 41 and 86°F. However optimum conditions for infection occur with wetting and temperatures in the mid 70’s. During long wetting periods (several days or more) blossoms can be infected regardless of temperature. Generally infections that occur when conditions are sub optimal are less severe. Blossoms and fruitlets will remain susceptible until the pistil desiccates (sometime between petal fall and shuck split).
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Filed Under: Blueberry, Tree Fruit

April 14, 2015 Richard Buckley

Gettin’ Over The Winter Blues

The Plant Diagnostic Laboratory is in recovery from SAD – not seasonal affective disorder – but sample affected disorder! Snow cover equals very few sample submissions, so with the exception of our talk show circuit, life in a plant diagnostic facility is pretty quiet in the winter. While it is certainly a pleasure to see everybody at the winter meetings, I would much rather sit in the lab looking at dead stuff than stand in front of everybody talking about it. Fortunately, as the weather improves from week to week, the samples are starting to roll in.