The FDA expects fresh produce growers to prove their exemption or need for compliance with the FSMA Produce Rule starting January 2018. The catch is that they will expect to see records from the previous three years. Keep this in mind so that if you are asked to show your records in 2018 in relation to the FSMA Produce Rule you will be prepared with records starting in 2016. The FDA has not yet specified the exact documents that they are looking for. You should be prepared to show evidence of the total amount of human and animal food sold by the farm.
Archives for August 2016
August 2, 2016 Meredith Melendez
Recordkeeping in 2016 Important for FSMA Exemption and Compliance in 2018
August 2, 2016 Andy Wyenandt
Dickeya dianthicola update: 8/2/16
In addition to Dickeya dianthicola being found in potato fields in New Jersey, the pathogen has also been detected in fields from Long Island to Florida this summer. To date using PCR test results and North American Certified Seed Potato Health Certificates to track Lot No., the pathogen has been detected in 11 states (DE, FL, MD, MA, NJ, NY, NC, PA, RI, VA, and WV). Potato growers, crop consultants, and Extension personnel in states which grow potatoes from Maine or New Brunswick, Canada should remain vigilant by scouting their fields for Dickeya symptoms on a regular basis and by submitting any suspect samples for diagnostic testing. Dickeya dianthicola has been detected in the US in the past, and because of this, APHIS just recently announced that the pathogen has been designated as a non-reportable/non-actionable pathogen despite its potential to cause 100% crop loss. A link to the USDA/APHIS website for information on Dickeya dianthicola detection and control can be found here.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of misrepresentation of Dickeya dianthicola being presented to potato growers in the region.
- Dickeya is not a significant problem. To date its has been detected in seed in 11 states, originating from 2 sources, from numerous suppliers. There is no current policy in place designed specifically for regulating and/or controlling Dickeya dianthicola in potato seed, although such policy has been presented in the past.
- Dickeya is Blackleg. Dickeya is Dickeya, not Blackleg. Dickeya is seed-borne, Blackleg is soil-borne. Blackleg is caused by other ‘pecto’ or soft rot bacteria.
- Dickeya is endemic. If so, why wasn’t it reported as causing significant problems in potato prior to 2015/2016. Even without proper testing available, it would have would been noticed enough by potato growers to cause concern/raise alarms.
- Dickeya is the result of the current environment. What has changed between now and prior to its first detection in the US in 2014?
- The disease is less severe 2016 than in 2015. Dickeya is being tested for and reported more often in 2016 now that it has been brought to the attention of potato growers.
- Varieties differ in susceptibility to Dickeya. Dickeya has been detected in different lots of the same variety from different suppliers in 2016. Dickeya has also been confirmed in different varieties from the same supplier in 2016.
The best method for keeping your potato operation Dickeya-free is to adopt your own 0% Dickeya-tolerance policy.
For more information on Dickeya please see the following articles posted online – source(s) of information:
Dickeya: A new potato disease – Growing Produce
Blackleg is Once Again Being Observed in Potato Fields Across the Mid-Atlantic Region – Penn State University
Update on Dickeya detections in potato – University of Delaware
Dickeya Blackleg: New potato disease causing major impact. – Cornell University
Watch for Dickeya – a new potato disease – The Ohio State University
High security Aroostook farm advances tater technology. – Maine Potato Board
Slowing Dickeya, other pathogens in Canada. – North Dakota State University
Dickeya: A new threat to potato production in North America. – SPUDsmart
Dickeya is coming. – University of Wisconsin/North Dakota State University
Maine ‘Ground Zero’ for new potato disease. – Maine Department of Ag.
Maine seed potato growers looking to protect brand against disease. Maine Department of Ag./Maine Potato Board
August 1, 2016 A.Wyenandt, W.Kline, and J.Ingerson-Mahar
Potato | Tomato Disease Forecast 8-2-16
Click to View | Download Report 8-2-16
Potato Disease Forecasting Report
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 NJ. An early season application of a protectant fungicide such as mancozeb (Dithane, Manzate, Penncozeb) or Bravo (chlorothalonil) as soon as the field is accessible is suggested. Please be vigilant and keep a lookout 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 choose 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.
Tomato Disease Forecasting Report
Disease severity values (DSVs) for early blight, septoria leaf spot, and tomato anthracnose development are determined daily based on leaf wetness (due to rainfall, dew) and air temperature.
On a daily basis DSV values can range from 0 to 4 where 0 = no chance for disease development to 4 = high chance for disease development.
DSVs are accumulated during the production season.Fungicide applications are based on an individually determined DSV threshold. The first fungicide application for the control of these three diseases is not warranted until 35 DSVs have accumulated from your transplanting date. After that, growers can base fungicide applications on different DSV thresholds.
Reports generated by Ryan Tirrell
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
August 1, 2016 Andy Wyenandt
‘Yukon Gold’ potato seed from Canada test positive for Dickeya dianthicola in U.S.
‘Yukon Gold’ (2015-3079137-010) certified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has tested positive for Dickeya dianthicola in Virginia this summer. This is the second report of Dickeya dianthicola in the U.S. originating from seed potato from New Brunswick, Canada this summer. Importantly, Dickeya-infested potato seed has also been shipped from multiple sources in Maine to 11 states located in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Southeast regions this year. All potato growers are encouraged to scout fields and report any suspect plants/tubers. The best method for keeping your potato operation Dickeya-free is to adopt your own 0% Dickeya-tolerance policy.
